The World They Left Behind

Arga gazed at the scenery without saying a word. However, the corners of his lips slowly curled into a small smile, one rarely seen.

"Do you think I brought you here just to enjoy this beautiful view and hope you'd confess your love to me?" Ningning looked at Arga with an enigmatic gaze.

"I'm not that naive," she added, a small laugh escaping her lips—a laugh that was either soothing or shrouded in mystery.

Ningning extended her hand, pulling Arga along without waiting for his consent. "Come on, follow me."

Arga hesitated for a moment, trying to decipher the meaning behind her smile, but eventually let himself be guided. Their steps led them to a large boulder at the peak of the mountain. The gentle breeze carried the scent of damp leaves, brushing softly against their faces.

"Arga, look over there," Ningning said, pointing northward.

Arga lifted his gaze, following the direction of her finger. "That… is Soltera City," Ningning began to explain. "That city is ruled by a cruel leader, yet its people remain oblivious to the fact that their leader is slowly destroying them, like stripping flesh from their bodies bit by bit."

Arga nodded, his eyes filled with curiosity. "It's so vast," he murmured in awe. "I used to live there," he revealed.

Then Ningning turned, pointing westward. "And to the west, look at that…"

But before she could finish her sentence, Arga exclaimed, "Wow, it's stunning! Those buildings, so modern. It's such a stark contrast to Soltera and Kasghar."

Ningning gave a faint smile. "You're such a country bumpkin, Arga," she said with a small laugh. "All those towering buildings, and you call them modern?" She laughed again, and Arga could only manage an awkward smile, trying to hide his embarrassment.

They shifted their gaze once more, this time to the south. Ningning pointed hesitantly. "To the south, that's Alderan City. I don't know much about it. Its architecture is strange, like nothing I've ever seen before."

Arga nodded slowly, observing intently. "Yeah, it does look like that," he murmured, still peering through the small binoculars he had brought along.

"And finally, to the east," Ningning pointed again. "That's the city of Siferia. This city... how should I explain it?" She paused for a moment, then continued. "They say there's someone there who is considered to be like a god. That person is said to be able to do things beyond comprehension—bringing rain, granting immense wealth. That's why the people there are so devoted and worship him. What's the name of their 'god'? I don't know either. But that's the story I heard."

Arga remained silent, his eyes fixed through the binoculars. His face turned serious, filled with curiosity. "The Selvianism religion, worshipping the god Selvian?" he asked.

Ningning was surprised. "How do you know?"

Arga replied, "In Soltera, this religion is growing rapidly. They have many followers, mostly because they are poor and can't even afford to eat."

Arga continued, "This city is quite close to the Kasghar mountains," he murmured. "And Kasghar itself is in a strategic position among these major cities. But because of the hills and valleys surrounding it, not many people know that Kasghar stands within. The person who built this city must have been very clever."

Ningning only gave a faint smile, letting Arga be absorbed in his observations.

Suddenly, Arga straightened up, his breath caught. His eyes widened, fixed on something in the distance. "What is that...?" he murmured, his voice nearly drowned by the whisper of the wind, but the tension in his tone was unmistakable.

Ningning quickly grabbed the binoculars from Arga's hands, her eyes narrowing as she followed his gaze. At the edge of the horizon, right on the outskirts of Siferia, a terrifying sight began to unfold. A black mass resembling a storm slowly moved. It wasn't wind or mist but a massive formation of troops moving in perfect formation, like an unstoppable wave of iron.

Heavy thuds mixed with distant rumbles shattered the mountain's silence. From afar, they could see massive figures clad in iron cloaks, their synchronized footsteps pounding the earth. The sound of spears striking the ground echoed like the tolling of war bells, sending vibrations to where Arga and Ningning stood. The rumble of large war machines added to the ominous atmosphere. The dim light from the setting sun reflected faintly on the moving metal, enhancing the sense of inevitable threat.

"That's... the Siferia army," Ningning whispered with a serious expression. Her lips pressed together, as if trying to confirm what she was seeing. "Why are they moving? Haven't they always stayed within their territory?"

Ningning was mostly talking to herself, but Arga caught every word. "Riveria won't stay idle if this really turns into a major threat," he added, his voice reflective but trembling with concern.

"What do you mean?" Arga asked, shifting his gaze from the binoculars to Ningning. His eyes probed hers, as if trying to read the hidden meaning behind her words.

"Riveria and Siferia have always been at odds. They're like eternal rivals—a cold war that never truly ends," Ningning explained.

"Of course I know that. Do you think I'm stupid? I'm a graduate of a prestigious academy, Ningning," Arga retorted, his tone slightly annoyed.

Ningning chuckled softly, her mischievous smile reappearing, enjoying the moment. "Relax, I'm just teasing," she said lightly, trying to ease the tension between them.

However, Arga's attention was drawn back to the sight before them. "Judging by their movements, this looks more like a patrol... but the numbers are far too many, even for a patrol," he said, furrowing his brow.

They began descending the mountain peak, their steps cautious. The evening wind blew gently, carrying the scent of damp leaves and fresh earth. The sun slowly sank in the western sky, wrapping the world in a peaceful golden-orange glow, contrasting with the dark threat they had just witnessed.

At the foot of the mountain, their carriage was already waiting. However, even as their bodies moved back to a safer place, their minds remained on the mountaintop, entwined with the vision of the iron-clad army rumbling in the distance.