Chapter 106: Gray roads 1
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Days came quicker than ever. The warband left the capital and made way to the gray roads immediately. Oswin spent the past days gathering new equipment. He got a studded doublet with mail, leather pauldrons, leather trousers, leather boots, and a cloak.
He carried his silver sword along with his bandoliers. His trusty steed, ever so tall was with him. It was a fine steed and he could never leave anywhere without it. With his arsenal and tools, he parted the capital. Not a word from the Princess. She was busy.
Oswin never really had it on him to ask for a goodbye. He knew he was a lowly knight. Instead, Oswin thought of his place and his duties to his new temporary lady of arms. He followed her behind. In her gilded armor and her sword that has been reforged over and over again for three years.
She was fond of the sword and the name of the sword. Astra—her sword’s name—it means the ‘star’ in common tongue. He doesn’t know why but the Lady Sena kept the sword with hers. Outright refusing any sword given to her or having the swords given to her melted down and used to enhance her sword.
Some may question her but nonetheless she reasons. The sword of her is bright as a star. Hence, the sword owned by Sena rightfully belongs to her.
Oswin felt that sword could cut through anything. It had runes on it and the sigils on the hilt were enough for Oswin to recognize that the sword is a killer for both men and monsters. Sena is powerful but she was no fool and she was ready all the times.
Oswin could tell the lady was a no-fun warrior. Serious in her duties and had a well-placed racism and hatred towards the nonhumans past the gray lines.
She never spoke that much while journeying. Her lips were sealed and the only thing that makes it open is her duties. She would spend her time studying the map and checking on her subordinates. She asked Oswin some questions. Most of her questions were about his abilities and experiences in hunting monsters and men.
Somewhere along the night, she praised him for being a good hunter. That he would be a great huntsman if he tries. Oswin accepted the compliment but never was happy with it.
The huntsmen were getting rowdy. When he was traveling bloodies he encountered a party that was rather rowdy and tired, He could tell they were injured so he helped them. But the next morning they disappeared without a trace. Luckily they didn’t steal his horse, which made Oswin grateful enough not to hunt the huntsman down for the disrespect.
After the odd questioning, the road was sane and normal. Oswin saw the villagers tilling their land. Praising the warband of the lady and cheering for them to bring the nonhumans down to a peg. The pride or at least the hatred of the people was high as ever.
Wartime and the support of the people were high. The disaster on the day of the Dunwich monastery and the hundreds of knight slaughtered that day still lingers fresh in the hearts of the people. Oswin at least knew that the person in question—the one who did was not the blue-haired girl he delivered.
The girl was tough and powerful but not enough to do something like that. Oswin has fought Capri demons and the fighting style of the girl or at least her abnormally strong magic power could not possibly do some explosion like that.
Like most people or at least those who remembered the strongest mage killer. Oswin believes that no one but the mage killer could have done something like that. The elves are a far too traditionalist when it comes to fighting. The Orcs and the dwarves are not and will never find their way in the deep farmlands without being spotted.
Oswin knew the legends of the mage killer and he knew that the mage killer was gone or at least in hiding. He heard the last time he was seen. In Mesh and he thinks that there was no way for the man to be still roaming quietly.
The church made use of the mage killer, at least without the mage killer’s consent/ Oswin knew that there at least. Considering he knew the workings of the sun’s crown and their propaganda. If he wasn’t the one that delivered the blue-haired then he wouldn’t even think of this.
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The church is good an all but they are people who sacrifice. They are stingy and black-hearted despite being servants of the God of Light that should be keeping their hearts like a warm hearth on a cold night. Oswin sometimes thinks that being in the role changed them up badly.
Anyway, the band went past the rural villages and suburban towns. They arrive in the middle continent where the stenches of the battlefield were ripe. Oswin along with horse looked at the wasteland that is the middle continent. Camps everywhere, dead bodies, soldiers with missing limbs, pots filled with rust and dirt and broken men without a light in their eyes.
Oswin was once a soldier in these fields. He has learned the cruelties and even the warband he’s traveling changed tune the moment their horse's hooves and their boots step on the lands where blood are shed everywhere. He followed along the land quietly.
He was with his temporary master and along the way, he was greeted with either scorn or applause. Most scorn was for him and the applause for the star of the battlefield, the ever idolized Astra Knight who shines under the moonlight and the sun.
Oswin doesn't like the battlefield at all. He never wanted to come to the place and if it wasn’t the princess asking him, then he would never want to go back and fight like he did in the past. He hated the battlefield yet he follows obediently like a dog.
It took days but the warband arrive on the gray roads. It was burnt and soldiers are all around the places. Oswin saw the burnt trees towering like watchtowers. Along the way, he also saw pyres for the elves that were about to be burnt. They way they scream echoed in his ears, yet it never bothered him.
The warband was greeted or at least welcomed into a war camp containing three banners. The original war band of the Saclea is around. Oswin followed the lady to the constructed fort made of the woods from the forest. It was sturdy enough for offices and was comfortable enough for the leaders of the army to settle down.
Oswin wasn’t that much of a talker. So when the lady entered her office, remove her coat and helm, she spoke to Oswin who was quietly following her.
“Go around and see what you can do. There should be anything you can help around the camp.”
Oswin nodded. He then left the office, with his hand on his silver sword. He sees the tents around, the flying banners hovering around, flapping wildly as the wind blows from the north. The Lady wanted him to do something. And because of that, he started walking around the camp.
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Sena settled down in her office. Her hand was on the desk, pressed lightly. The travel caused her vertigo and she wasn’t feeling well. Usually, Susan would care for her but she isn’t here to help her. She has already casted a healing spell. Her mind was a little bit drained about the constant numbing.
The days have been tough for Sena. Three years ago she was less tired and was more spirited. But now she felt like her soul would go about any second. Fatigue from the battlefields and the constant killing made her rather tired. Not that she wants to abandon it all. It is her duty and now she was close to achieving the invasion against the elves that are in the forest.
The forest is home to the elves. Never the humankind has gone this far. It only happened because the army facing the front-lines is now killing everything in the dwarven lands and the Orc high mountains. The army that is invading there are the main ones, the veterans and the people from the Empire of Light.
Their invasion was surprising and bold. Enough for it work in their own favor and somehow start the invasion there while Sena and others hold the line in the gray roads. The gray roads are just front of the elven forest, the location of the cities or their tranquil gardens are hidden by illusions.
To dispel them Sena has to burn the forest, and leave it scorched. Doing this allowed the land to weaken and the mana trembling like no other.
Sooner, the elves are going attack. Sena somehow managed to arrive just in time. The summons of the princess was unexpected but something that could not be ignored. It was a good thing that there are other two banners that managed the camp and somehow made the army ready enough for the strike.