EBE #155 - Chapter 1 Phantom (I)
#155 - Chapter 1 Phantom (I)
In the year 297 of Aegon's Conquest, after a heavy snowfall, the sky gradually cleared. The temperature was rising, signaling the approaching end of winter.
With a 'creak, creak' of the mechanism, the outermost gate of the Wall was raised. A ranger patrol of three, riding horses, emerged from the deep tunnel. They extinguished their torches outside the gate, a routine patrol to scout for any unusual activity among the wildlings.
In recent years, life has become increasingly difficult for the Night's Watch. About six years ago, the wildlings suddenly began a large-scale southward migration, with even the cannibals from the Great Ice River and the cave dwellers from the mountains appearing. Caught off guard, they fought several major battles with the Night's Watch, resulting in significant losses on both sides.
After severe torture, the reason was extracted from the mouths of wildling prisoners. However, the interrogation results caused Lord Commander Jeor Mormont and his officers to frown, mainly because the results were too far-fetched.
According to the prisoners, terrifying monsters, black demons and white ghouls, had appeared in the north. Few who encountered them escaped.
In particular, the black demons were numerous and had already destroyed the most powerful Thenn tribe, and even the neighboring Hornfoot men had suffered a terrible fate. Afterwards, people went to the former lands of the two tribes and found that all the people were gone, leaving only empty houses and all their belongings, even food that had not been taken from the cellars.
Later, some people had seen from afar a large group of humanoid monsters covered in black scales, hunting scattered wildlings. The wildlings' spears pierced their bodies but were deflected by the scales. Then the black demons dragged away the people, whether dead or alive. At least the cannibals on the Great Ice River would leave bones behind.
Afterwards, the Land of Always Winter saw the emergence of pale, blue-eyed monsters. They would kill every living thing they could find with extremely cruel methods. They were more like the legendary White Walkers, and fear spread among the free folk.
Under the pressure of survival, a new King-Beyond-the-Wall was born among the Nightrunners. Many wildling tribes began to migrate south on a large scale, many of whom joined the King-Beyond-the-Wall's forces, and some small-scale wildlings continued to harass the vicinity of the Wall.
The leading young knight spoke, "We're here. This forest is not small. Let's split up and pay attention to our respective tasks." The two Night's Watch rangers were veterans of several years and naturally would not be afraid. They rode their horses into the forest.
Two days ago, the guards on the Wall discovered that there were many campfires in this forest every night, indicating that a new small tribe of wildlings had migrated here. This ranger patrol was specifically sent to investigate.
Will rode his horse through the forest, carefully examining the traces on the ground. Before joining the Night's Watch, he was a poacher, often hunting in the forests of House Mallister. Once, while skinning a deer, he was caught by the free riders of Lord Mallister. The lord gave him the choice of wearing black or having a hand cut off.
To save his hand, Will chose to wear black and become a member of the Night's Watch. Now he had served on the Wall for four years. Will's stealth and hunting skills were excellent, which greatly helped him in performing ranger reconnaissance missions.
Will was scouting in the front, and he soon discovered an anomaly. Not far ahead of him, smoke was rising. Will tied his horse to a tree, fearing to disturb the unknown enemy. He crawled forward on the snow. When he peeked over the snow wall, he was stunned. This was a small camp, but there were no living people inside, and not even much blood. Dismembered wildling corpses were arranged on the ground in a bizarre symbol. He hurriedly prepared to retreat, and when he turned back, he saw a wildling child nailed to a tree trunk.
Although Will was an experienced scout, the scene before him was too strange. He hurriedly found his other companions at the other end of the forest. Will reported his findings to Gared and their superior, Ser Waymar Royce.
Ser Waymar Royce said indifferently, "Barbarians act barbarously, of course. Maybe they had a feud with other wildlings and were retaliated against. For example, if they stole the other party's sheep, the other group of wildlings would definitely not suffer and would come back to kill everyone."
Will: "But this is not the way wildlings act at all. I haven't encountered such a thing in these four years."
Ser Waymar: "Are you sure? Did you get close enough to investigate?"
Will: "I couldn't get any closer. I was almost lying on top of them."
Gared said in a deep voice, "We should return to the Wall immediately. I have a bad feeling."
Ser Waymar: "Heh heh ~ Are you scared by dead people?"
Gared: "Our mission is to track down these wildlings. We have found them, and they will no longer harass us."
Ser Waymar: "Heh heh ~ So what? Do you think that when we go back, the superiors won't ask about the cause of these people's deaths? Go get the horses, we're on our way."
Gared sullenly turned his head to tidy up the tack, but Will still wanted to argue. He said, "No matter what those things are, they don't even spare children, and they are very likely to attack us."
Ser Waymar: "Fortunately, we are not children. If you are afraid, then escape over the Wall and go back south now. Even if I don't pursue it, you will be beheaded as a deserter. Now go get the horses, I will give you one last chance."
Will and Gared exchanged glances. In this world, there are privileges everywhere. The noble-born Waymar Royce was not only of higher status than them, but even his strength was stronger than the two of them. And since Waymar insisted on checking the wildling corpses, they had no choice but to obey.
Forcibly suppressing the unease in his heart, Will led them to the camp, leaving the horses not far away. When they arrived at the camp, wary, all the corpses were gone.
Waymar said disdainfully, "It seems that the dead people you mentioned knew we were coming and have moved their position."
Will: "Those corpses were all dismembered. Unless they can be resurrected."
But Gared was still very nervous, gave Will a look, and said softly, "Look around, be careful."
Will, carrying his sword, went around to the back of the camp. Ser Waymar believed that the wildlings were not actually dead, or perhaps not completely dead. He ordered, "Gared, climb up the tree and see if there are any signs of campfires."
As Gared climbed to the treetop, Waymar's foot seemed to step on something. He even wanted to pick up a lump of red entrails from the snow. Just as he wondered, "What the hell is this?" he heard a shout from above.
"Danger, get out of the way!" He noticed a black shadow coming from behind him. Waymar subconsciously lunged to the right. As he rolled a few times and got up, he met a pair of eerie blue eyes. Standing where he had been was a tall, humanoid creature with pale, cracked skin. Its eyes glowed with blue light, and its features were distorted, clearly not human. The creature held an ice crystal weapon that resembled a spear and a sword, which was deeply embedded in the ground. If not for Gared's reminder from the tree, he would have been pierced through. He thought of the rumors among the wildlings, White Walker! A fitting description.