A Tale of Strategies For the Throne

Inside the prison cave, a girl with a flaxen ponytail was sitting on the edge of the stone wall and eating. Although it was still an unpalatable porridge that exuded a rancid smell, the portion was much larger than the previous few days, and there was also Grandpa’s share. , Grandpa and grandson no longer have to share a portion of food and go hungry together.

She swallowed the food bit by bit. It was already dark, and the torches hanging on the stone wall outside were burning, and the light of the fire shone on her face.From the prison hole came the voices of children talking among themselves, the clattering of spoons and basins, and the sound of sobbing that still resounded from time to time.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the prison is very oppressive, the air is so heavy that it is difficult to breathe, every child's face is full of fear, because they all know that after dinner is over, someone will come here, Pull one of them out and become a sacrifice on the altar in the distance.

No one knows if they will be the next sacrifice.

This depressive atmosphere infected everyone, and even Keli, who was lively and tough since childhood, became taciturn.

After being framed and almost dying, the little boy who wanted to protect almost died instead of her, and finally the boy who killed her became a sacrifice and died—this series of things, the innocence of a child that still existed in her eyes yesterday It has dissipated, and it is no longer as lively as it started.

During this day, apart from eating, and occasionally looking up at the place where Garlan is closed in the distance, she almost always sat quietly at the foot of the stone wall with her knees folded, her head bowed and she remained silent. .

Her grandfather felt heartbroken seeing her like this, but he couldn't imagine it.

Seeing Goddess Sun drinking the porridge in silence, the old man followed suit, took two sips, sighed, put down the bowl in his hand, and wanted to talk.

However, before he could open his mouth, there was a crisp sound of metal crashing, and he subconsciously turned his head to look, and then saw that the locked cell door creaked open.

The red fire light came in from the outside and reflected on the small figure standing at the prison door, forming a reddish halo in the outline, making that figure look like a Vulcan appearing in the flames.

In the darkness, he came with fire and light.

The old man's heart beat violently, and he subconsciously rubbed his eyes, only then did he realize that it was the blond kid who called himself Gal who opened the cell door.

Before he could react, Keli, who had been silent beside him, stood up abruptly.

"Gal!"

The girl shouted excitedly.

She took a few steps forward, only then did she realize that the cell door had been opened by Garlan, and she was a little dazed.

"You...how do you put this...you are..."

Garlan nodded to Ke Li, but did not answer her words.He swept his eyes across the prison hole. At this moment, there was still a little sound in the prison hole, as if time had stopped, and all the children were told, "The person who opened the prison door was actually a child like them." She was stunned by this incident, unable to turn her head around, and could only stare blankly at Garlan.

"come out."

Garlan said in a deep voice, "Everyone come out immediately, there is no one outside now, we can escape!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Keli's eyes lit up, she rushed out the door without saying a word, stood beside Garlan and looked outside, and was surprised and delighted when she found that there were really no guards.

Before she recovered from the surprise, Garlan stuffed a bunch of keys, and the old man who came out right after her was also stuffed.

Garlan said, "Quickly, open all the other prison doors."

Keli nodded sharply, then quickly ran to the nearby prison hole, trying the big bunch of keys deftly.

The three of them split up, and quickly opened all the four or five prison holes on the mountain wall.After completing the task, Keri ran back to look for Garlan, and when she was about to show her merit with a happy face, she saw Garlan looking solemnly at the cells.

Keli subconsciously followed Garlan's gaze, and when she saw it, she was stunned.

The doors of all the prisons are open, but except for a very few children who can't wait to run out, most of the children are huddled in the prison, looking outside with timid eyes, although the eyes looking at the prison door are full of longing , but no one dared to take a step outside.

They dare not.

Kelly is in a hurry.

"Why don't you come out?"

She couldn't help shouting at the children who were huddled in the hole and refused to come out.

Garlan glanced outside subconsciously, and after confirming that there was no one around, he didn't stop Keli from shouting.

"...There is no escape."

A child responded with nah nah.

"Correct."

"We can't escape."

"We don't even know where this is."

"How to escape?"

"Definitely...will definitely be caught and brought back."

The children looked over with their godless eyes. In the darkness, their eyes didn't have the slightest light, as if they were completely shrouded in shadows.

The children who ran out were all sent here yesterday just like Keli.And those children who have been here for a long time to feel the fear brought by the cult have completely shattered their self-will, like walking dead, without self.

Kelly, who didn't understand this point, was angry and anxious for a while, looking at those children with a look of hatred, but was helpless.

Although the old man who understands that these children's minds have been poisoned by the Myriad Things Sect understands a little bit, he doesn't know what to do at this time. After all, the time is too tight, and there is no telling when there will be people from the cult. come over.

At that time, no one can escape.

"Are you going to wait here to die?"

A loud voice suddenly sounded in the night.

It is like a sharp sword that can pierce the darkness, pouring into everyone's ears clearly.

The children, whose eyes were full of timidity, subconsciously turned their gazes to the person who made the sound.

In the dark night, Garlan stood there, the firelight illuminating his bright blond hair.

"Listen, there are no guards here now because they are preparing for a major ceremony. Therefore, the sacrifices they will offer tonight are fifty."

With a bang, there was a commotion in the prison.

50 people, nearly half of the number here.

Some children dare not or do not want to escape, because they imagine that the [-]% chance will not fall on them, but now half of the people who are going to be taken away, no one can guarantee whether they will be among the sacrifices a member.

"Listen! Not one, but fifty!"

Garlan repeated again, "Now half of the people here will be dragged to the altar, their throats will be cut, and they will watch their own blood flow dry. Don't think that it won't be your turn next!"

Having said this, Garlan's voice suddenly rose.

"If you don't want to die, stand up and run—no one is there now, escape! The forest is outside! The river is below! Jump into the river if you can swim! Run into the forest if you can run!"

Garlan knew in his heart that he couldn't explain any great truth to these young children, he could only use the most straightforward language to encourage them.

"Those people only need fifty people!"

He said, "As long as you can outrun the others, you don't have to die—"

Keli looked at Garlan in astonishment, how could this be?She thought, isn't this just telling those children that if you beat others, you can let others die and live by yourself?

She couldn't help but want to ask Garlan, how could he say such terrible words?

But before Keli could utter the question, there was a sudden movement in the cell, and a slightly older child rushed out.

Garlan's words had an immediate effect. At this moment, the children's desire for life overcame their fear of cults.

Immediately afterwards, a few more people rushed out.

As soon as someone takes the lead, it is like a breach in a dike, and the flood surges out in just a moment.Almost all the children seemed to be different people, scrambling to rush out.

When they got to the back, they were squeezed out in groups of people, for fear of falling behind.Most of them got into the forest, regardless of the scratches on their hands and feet, and kept going to the dense bushes.Others ran straight down to the river and jumped into the water.

"let's go."

In this chaotic scene, Garlan said something to the stunned Keli, then turned and left.

He took one last look at the three or four children who were still numbly staying in the prison, and without saying anything, he quickly rushed into the dark forest.

——People who have given up hope of life by themselves cannot be saved by God.

…………

........................

In the dark night, in the dense jungle, there are one big and two small figures shuttling through the bushes.

The bright moonlight penetrated the branches and leaves and fell into the jungle. Garlan looked up at the cloudless night sky and cursed inwardly.

Obviously there was no moonlight at all last night, but it is so bright tonight.

After scolding, he had to move on.Keli held the old man's hand, bit her lower lip, and followed behind him without saying a word, not daring to stop and rest, but holding back her energy and desperately walking forward.

Keli didn't know how long she had been walking, it seemed like a long time, but it didn't seem to be too long, the mountains and jungles in front of her seemed to have no end in sight, her face was flushed, her forehead was covered with sweat, and her body was covered with tears. The scraped place was burning and painful.

She looked at the front, and the scratches on the blond child in front were much more serious than hers, probably because the skin was fair and tender, a slight scratch would reveal a conspicuous red mark, and the exposed skin was densely covered with scratches, and there were some places It was red and swollen, and it looked shocking, but she didn't hear the other party cry out that it hurts.

She remembered that when she was about to fall into despair, the figure that suddenly opened the cell door and appeared in front of her eyes accompanied by a bright fire.

So small, but in her eyes at the time, she was taller than anything else.

That seemingly small figure could hold her hand and pull her out of the abyss of despair.

Kelly thought, Grandpa always said that King Kamos is the patron saint of Aaron Landis, but she felt that the so-called patron saints are not necessarily as powerful as King Kamos, but also like Gal In this way, he doesn't look strong, but he can give people hope in the dark, he guards her heart that was almost shattered by fear, and awakens the withered hearts of those children——

She thought that this beautiful child who suddenly appeared in front of her and her grandfather must have been sent by God to help them.

Just when Keli looked at Garlan's back and felt extremely relieved, a loud voice suddenly came from behind.

Kelly was startled—it was the sound of people talking, the sound of bushes being pushed aside, the faint sound of dogs barking in the wind, and the sound of running footsteps, getting closer and closer.

The pursuers are coming!

Panic instantly filled Keli's chest, and she couldn't help shaking while holding Grandpa's hand.

For some reason, or maybe it was instinct, she subconsciously looked up at Garlan.

Garlan also heard the voices of those who were chasing them. He looked around, and then pushed Keli and the old man under the fibrous roots of a huge tree protruding from the ground.The crooked fibrous roots criss-crossed and covered with ivy, so dark in the shadows that people couldn't see clearly.

He raised his hand and made a shh gesture at Kelly, then poked his head out to look.

In the next second, the sound of a dog barking made his eyes tremble.

He originally thought that he could hide and wait for those people to find them and run in another direction, but those people brought their dogs, so they might not be able to escape this time.

……Do not.

It's not that 'they' can't escape.

Listen to the sound, those who tracked only brought a dog, so...

Garlan glanced back, and he saw the girl squatting behind him looking at him nervously, her big bright eyes were full of trust in him.

He turned his head and lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes covered his eyes, as if he was thinking about something.

A second later, Garlan raised his eyes and looked forward.

He got up.

Keli, who was squatting under the intertwined tree roots, had been looking at Garlan nervously, so when Garlan moved, she immediately felt it.

"Gal?"

she yelled softly.

Keli saw Garlan who had already got up turned his head again. In the darkness, she couldn't see Garlan's face, but the blond hair on Garlan's cheeks reflected a little light, allowing her to see the child's slightly raised point. lips.

She was startled.

During the second she was stunned, the figure that had paused because of her shout moved again.

Subconsciously, Keri reached out to grab it.

But she missed it.

She instinctively wanted to shout Gal's name, but her whole body trembled, she grabbed an empty hand and drew back abruptly, covering her own mouth with force.

She squatted stiffly on the spot, and watched as Garlan, who was running towards the other side, alarmed the people who had already chased him not far away.

A big dog barked excitedly and chased after Garlan.

All the people also followed the dog.

The girl crouched in the darkness, staring ahead with wide-open eyes.

She tightly covered her mouth with her hand, and big tears fell from her wide-open eyes and rolled onto the back of her hand, scorching hot.

Her grandfather's helpless and sad sigh came from her side.

…………

It was impossible for a child to outrun the vicious dogs, nor could they outrun the strong guards. Naturally, Garlan was caught after running for a while.

Together with those children who were also captured, they were escorted back by a team of guards.

They were not escorted back to the prison, but were sent directly to the huge altar.

The bonfire on the altar has been lit, and the raging fire is burning in the darkness, and the red light illuminates everyone's faces.

He was shoved and shrugged, and walked towards the wooden cage where a bunch of children had already been imprisoned.

On the way, he heard anxious conversations between his captors and believers near the altar.

"Only more than 30 have been caught now, not enough!"

"The time for sacrifice is coming soon!"

"If you don't catch as much as you want, you can sacrifice as much as you want, and the rest will be caught—"

"No! The priest said that there must be fifty children, not one less. Otherwise, not only will not be able to please the mother goddess, but it will anger her."

"But our manpower is limited, and it will take time to catch those brats back!"

Hearing the anxious conversation of those people, the corner of Garlan's mouth twitched.

Yes, that's his purpose.

He knew that with those children, it was impossible to escape success by themselves without the help of outsiders.He didn't expect those children to escape by themselves. He knew that even if those children escaped, they would be caught back sooner or later.

Therefore, his purpose was only one from the beginning - to delay time.

Hundreds of children ran away together, enough to make this group of people in a hurry, and it would take time to catch those children and come back, so it would delay a lot of time.

The sacrificial ceremonies of the church are strictly regulated, and there is nothing wrong with it.As long as the number of sacrifices is not enough, the ceremony will definitely not be held. In this way, the sacrifice time will be missed. Therefore, even if the large-scale ceremony is abolished this time, the lives of the fifty children will be saved.

Come again, just wait for Brother Kamos to come...

Just when Garlan, whose plan had been successfully implemented, breathed a sigh of relief, he suddenly felt the silence around him, which was a little scary.

Turning his head, he found that there was no one around him, and even the guards who escorted him backed away, with their heads bowed and respectful expressions on their faces.

There is a weird atmosphere in the air.

Feeling something was wrong, Garlan turned around abruptly and looked up.

In the next second, his pupils contracted forcefully.

The person who should have been standing far away by the bonfire on the altar, wearing a black and blue robe, quietly appeared behind him at some point.

The hood of the robe was worn over the man's head, hiding the man's face in deep shadow from view.

But Garlan could feel that a terrifying gaze that made his blood seem to freeze fell on him from the shadow of the hood.

"...bright...soul..."

The man said, his voice was low, as if it came from the deepest dark abyss.

It seemed to be the deepest sigh, inexplicably creepy.

"...and, life force with light."

As if muttering to himself, the man in black looked up at the believers behind him.

He said, "Start preparing for the sacrifice now."

"But, my lord priest, the number of children is not enough..."

"enough."

A pale hand protruded from the black and blue robe, and the man in black grabbed Garlan tightly, drawing deep bruises on his wrist.

The man in black said, "This one is worth the souls and blood of hundreds of children."

His low voice was like a sigh, with a deep breath of satisfaction.

"This will be the most satisfying sacrifice for our Mother Goddess—"