He had been to late to save his family. But perhaps he was not to late to save everyone else...

[i]Everyone.[/i]

Rhys was not an ordinary farmer. He was a retired soldier. He had lain down his sword in favor of a solve. He sought to lead an honest life and absolve the sins committed during war. He had fought his way out of the village and to the city. 

He sat across from two people.

One was the Commander of the city's guard. They were loosely acquainted, having both served under the same commander once. His name was Lemure.

The other was a representative of the Magnus. The woman had announced her title, but Rhys could never figure out the mage hierarchy. It seemed all twisted and incestuous. He hoped that whomever he was talking to had some sway in the counsel. For what he had to say was important. 

"What you describe is magic." The mage, Carine, wore a long black robe with a red sash. "It can not be. We monitor magical activities very carefully. And that is far to much magic for a rouge-wizard, or to go undetected by our divinations." She sat and folded her hands calmly. "Perhaps a hallucination?" She seemed cold and uncaring, but Carine had to consider every possibility. That was her job. 

"I hallucinated nothing." Rhys looked at her with tired eyes. 

"I believe you." Commander Lemure, recognizing the look of a soldier after battle. "But who could have done such a thing? And how?" He turned to the woman. "You claim that you would detect something of that scale, but are surprised... is the counsel hiding something? Another rouge experiment perhaps?" There was a quiet grudge between the magic-users and those without 'the talent' in the city's politics.

"No. This is something else. We need to know more. Surely there are other survivors. Let us search the country and the city for them and gather them to be questioned."

"Questioned? Perhaps we should help them as well. I know that's a quaint idea for civil servants..."

"Agreed. We will find any other survivors and question them, and assist if we can." The commander stood, ready to take action. "I will also prepare a team to investigate the township. Best send mages with them as well, the magic creatures might be strong there."

"Find them quickly." Rhys groaned and limped on his old leg as he moved. Rhys wasn't sure how much longer they had until the monsters came for them here...