The Last Path's

Juda

The royal palace of Phantasia was located in the western part of the royal territory. The castle was built magnificently, all the buildings were silver gray and glittering in the sunlight with jet-black colored gates asserting strength. At the gate of the palace were two guards and two magical creatures guarding it. This creature was a horse and a human head with a spear in his right hand and a shield in his left hand, next to them appeared human soldiers who accompanied. Before entering the palace all were checked by the gatekeepers, to ensure that they did not bring any objects that could harm the castle or the royal family.

Arriving at the palace courtyard, they saw many residents who had gathered. On the bridge stood King Ficta, in his great clothes.

“Representative of Phantasia, thank you for coming. Although heavy, the time has come for me to announce who the villain that will be made an offering for Nightwalker. We decided this by weighing the weight of the evil that He had done, which was to kill his lover without mercy. Then at the full moon that will come two more nights, Judah will be offered. For families or relatives who want to say goodbye are welcome to come into prison by following the terms and conditions that apply. That's how I announce this sad news.” King Ficta closed the announcement with a wave of his hand which then disappeared behind the curtain.

Some residents seemed to whisper and walk towards the palace, some immediately left the palace courtyard.

“We'd better follow those who are heading to the palace, maybe they want to say goodbye to the man named Juda. If we can blend in between them and go to the palace prison maybe we will get information on how many criminals are left.” Dogma's advice was immediately approved by the three of them.

After they were examined and declared to have escaped to enter the passage beside the castle, they were escorted by a guard. This hallway is quite large but not exposed to sunlight. On the side of the hallway there is a torch lighting the way to the dungeon, although dark and not clearly visible but felt the floor is very moist.

There are four people who visit the man who will be the offering, they are the father, mother and two younger siblings. Dogma and Freya claim to be friends of the man. Since entering the hall they just quietly followed the guard until one of Judah's five-year-old sister asked her mother.

“Mother, will Brother Juda die soon? Will Brother Juda not play with me again?”

The mother stopped for a moment to hug the child, then continued the journey while holding the hand of her sister Juda without saying a word. The palace's underground prison was located a fair distance inside, to reach it they needed to walk for about fifteen minutes.

Arriving at the prison door, they saw a cell inhabited by about nine women.

“Uncle, why do they flock in one cell?” Freya asked someone who was delivering them.

“It was a women-only prison, for criminals who committed petty crimes they were put in the same cell. If new heavyweight criminals are placed in a separate room.” Clearly their introduction was upon seeing the bewildered look on Freya's face.

“You please walk straight, Juda prison is on the far right. I'll be on guard here.” The officer wearing the black uniform said.

Along the way they only encountered an empty cell. Arriving at Juda's cell, they saw a very thin man sleeping. Once he realized there was a visit for him, the man immediately got up and approached the bars.

“Mother! I trust you, I didn't kill Lili. I won't do anything bad to her.” The man said while holding his mother's hand.

“Mother, Brother Juda is not evil, even He never hit me and sister.” Juda's ten-year-old sister also convinced her mother.

“Mom believe you, I trust you, Jeni and Juni also believe you.” The woman said as she continued to hold her son's hand.

After the sad conversation was over and Juda realized that there was an unknown figure, he immediately turned his back on Dogma and Freya.

“Who are you? Why are you guys visiting me? Are you the spies of that damn king?!” The young man who had spoken softly was now filled with anger.

“We are not royal spies and sorry maybe we mistakenly thought you were our friend.” Dogma said politely.

“You are not my friend, now go from here.” Judah said reluctantly.

“We'll be leaving soon, but what happened to the prisoner who was once in this blank?” Dogma asked as he pointed towards the cell without the occupant.

“They've all been made into the king's pet food. After I was supposed to be the female prisoners on the other end. They actually only violate light regulations, such as throwing garbage in rivers and other small things. Although I will die tomorrow, I truly sympathize with them, among them there are children.” Juda said while staring at the nanar.

“Then what happened to you to be in this place?” Dogma ventured to ask Juda something personal.

“When I visited my friend who was being held captive and was going to be made into a full moon Nightwalker meal ago, I saw the creature coming out of the king's palace walking side by side with the princess. After that the next day when I left with my lover, then there was a mob of people who attacked my lover and killed him, I tried to fight back by seizing their weapons, they said, but the royal soldiers who were on patrol saw me carrying a weapon and near me was my lover who was covered in blood. The criminal said that I killed him and the royal army believed it. I was directly inserted into this cell.” Judah's story with a sad and angry face.

“After I entered the cell, I found out that the criminal who killed my lover was one of the royal soldiers. I'm framed! At first I did not know why, but I remember apparently seeing the creature coming out of the royal palace was the cause. Maybe the king is hiding something.” Judah said softly but with those eyes

implies hatred.

“Travel time is up!” The soldier who was driving them shouted as he approached the cell.

Judah's family said farewell to Judah one last time, before following the soldier out of the dungeon.

Along the way out of the prison they spent in silence, no one would bother to break the atmosphere, their minds were already divided.

The death of their kinsmen is overshadowed, Dogma and Freya try to digest the words Juda, Pati and Pita have been completely silent since entering the dark aisle of the dungeon, none of them knew that this pair of doves could speak. After exiting the palace, before parting, they chatted for a while.

“Uncle, how usually the tumbar is worshipped to the creature?” Ask Dogma.

“Usually they will be put on a small boat with hands and feet tied near the waterfall, it is said that the creature lived in a cave behind a waterfall and took offerings exactly at two 12 p.m. The next day his body will be found under a large tree near the waterfall.” Juda's father replied with a sad bow imagining his beloved son would be treated as such.