"Good day Captain Redway!" Chara called out to the knight captain seeing him standing in wait for the duo after they had exited the carriage and waved of Sir Damian.
"Well good day to you as well Chara, how was the capital treating you girls?"
"It was fine, Alicia got flirted with." Chara explained with a smug grin, causing Alicia to redden in embarrassment and punch her lightly on her arm.
"Oh ho, flirted with you say? Who was the idiot that tried to flirt with our squads little sister." One of the knights asked, having heard Chara's words wanted to know which noble dared to mess with them.
"It was the heir of house Donnie..." Chara simply explained, knowing the coming reaction of her fellow knights.
"Albert Donnie! that idiot?! How dare he?!" The four knights standing nearby erupted in shouts of anger and frustration.
"Calm down guys, he simply tried to get in Alicia's pants drunkly, if he tried anything hands on I would have broken his wrist."
The knights nodded in agreement, promising themselves to send word to their fellow knights to forbid any messenger from house Donnie to not enter their encampment. Meanwhile Chara looked over at the still flustering Alicia, "Is my lady still thinking about this noble perhaps?" Alicia awoke from her lucid daydream and answered, "Of course, I could sense that the man was a creep. However... It was the first time anyone had flirted with me, it felt weird."
Chara suddenly turned to the captain and asked, "it doesn't matter, Captain Redway, have there been any news from the city or the academy in regards to Alicia?"
Thinking for a moment he answered that the academy had sent over a messenger two days ago and called for Alicia for a monthly test in two weeks. Hearing the command Alicia simply nodded in agreement, already used to the workings of the professors and their constant wanting to test her abilities, especially Professor Cael. Alicia and Chara bid farewell to the captain and returned to their lodge, Alicia unlocked her room and headed inside, dropping down her bed she sighed in tiredness. "Nothing beats a real bed!"
"I agree, these days on the road have been tiring on the body for you, have you become used to living with the knights by the way?"
"Yes! The knights are really welcoming and fun to talk with, especially Captain Redway. What do they mean by the squads little sister?" Alicia asked, confused by the title.
"Well, I'm not certain but I think the knights think of you like a little sister, since you are not a knight they can't spar with you as well as with another knight, and therefore they have a sort of protecting sense towards you, don't take it to heart. Most of the knights just joke around with each other, trying to get closer to you since you are pretty much a stranger to them." Chara explained, scoffing in her fellow knights actions.
The day passed but on the morning of the next day Alicia was abruptly awoken by the bedroom door slamming open and the alert voice of Chara started her awake. "Alicia, we need to head to the training field, the captain has important news for the entire squadron." Alicia could sense it was important and her sleepy mood instantly was gone, putting on her dress and her shawl the duo headed towards the field where Chara could see the last group of knights arriving with their fellow escorts.
Captain Redway looked over the knights, eighty trained knights were standing in order before him atop a makeshift raised platform. Chara could see sweat slowly streamed down his temple.
"Knights of Ruun, today our service are needed in the direst of threats, I received this morning a call for help from a friend residing in the nearby town of Syben. They have spotted spawn scouts a days ride from the town. We are to saddle up and give proper assistance. Lieutenant Davis, Lieutenant Barda, take your squads for a recon mission of the area outside Syben, inform me and mayor Harris for any danger. Lieutenant Sal and Lieutenant Amari, muster you squads and follow me, we are to enter the town of Syben and give support to the towns guard. Briefing over.! With a thunderous voice the captain ended their meeting and the knights could be seen rushing towards their chambers to gather their armor and weapons for the coming battle, Alicia and Chara stood in place due to Captain Redway hinting a nodding gaze towards them.
"Chara you are stationed in my squad, but since you are the personal knight of lady Alicia its up to her if you are to be sent with the squadron. Lady Alicia, your order." Captain Redway's usual merry tone had disappeared and in its place the stern tone required for a knight captain could be heard.
"We will assist you Captain Redway!" Alicia promised.
"Good to hear lady Alicia, its not every day we have a dual essence mage in our battles, your support will be essential."
Chara looked at the towering back of Captain Redway as she turned to Alicia and asked if she is prepared for battle against the spawn.
"I wont deny I'm nervous. But you are a member of Captain Redway's squad, and have a duty to uphold, why not use this battle as training for my magic as well then." Alicia explained, her grin couldn't escape Chara's notice as Chara muttered some unheard words.
"Alright, but you are to be staying behind the walls, I can't afford to keep an eye on you and my squad at the same time."
"I understand, I promise." Alicia nodded in agreement, understanding her companions worry for her safety.
Another hour passed by as the whole squadron was lined up outside the encampment, their helmets held on their hips and their other hand resting on their sword pommel, a medium large shield was strapped on their back.
"Knight Captain Redway, the squads are ready, give your order." One of the lieutenants called out, standing at the front of his squad consisting of twenty knights including their squad leader.
"Affirmative, Knights of Ruun, mount up and ride out, follow your squad leader, lets hunt some monsters!" Captain Redway ordered as he flung his body atop his warhorse. Alicia was helped up Chara's horse as Alicia couldn't ride her own horse.
At sunset the group of knights stopped for the knights to rest the horses and eat dinner, mounting off their horse Alicia and Chara were called over by a fellow knight in Redway's squad to eat dinner with their squad.
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"Excuse me lady Alicia, but I must ask. Will this be your first battle against the spawn?" One of the knights asked whilst they were sitting around their bonfire, eating and talking with each other about the coming battle.
"Yes, before I got back to Ruun I was living in Port Al-Asar down on the southern coast, there aren't any spawns there yet due to the Salviri Desert."
"Salviri Desert... is it really able to keep out the spawn?" One of the knights asked.
"I guess so, it is nearly impossible to traverse it on foot, except for the trained merchants and guides. But even then your body will be basking in the sun for weeks with close to no civilization for days."
"Then I guess Salamish and Sharlev will be unscathed from the spawn."
"Im not to sure about that." Suddenly the voice of Captain Redway joined their conversation. "What do you mean Captain Redway?" The same knight asked.
"As you heard from lady Alicia, the Salviri desert is a natural dead zone for most living beings, but the spawn doesn't adhere to normal rules for us. It isn't that they can't do it, its just that they haven't reached it yet. No one knows how the spawn will interact within the desert."
"I understand sir. Did the message say how many spawn we can expect?" Another knight asked, his metallic armor shining from the light of the bonfire, his short auburn hair and clear eyes showing his young appearance, Chara knew this knight, Sir Leon Alrik, he had joined the squadron at the same time as her and she had fought with him a few times since then. His blade work wasn't the finest but his defensive capabilities is one of the strongest in their group.
"I didn't say exactly, the mayor informed me in the letter that two travelers had spotted half a dozen scouts during their journey, such a large group of scouts at one place is concerning. But it wont be the last time our squadron fights these accursed creatures." The captain exclaimed and a wave of shouts echoed in response to his proclamation.
The following day went as well as the first day, the knights passed by several trade caravans heading towards the city of merchants, and a few adventurers were traveling towards the town of Syben to join their ranks against the spawn.
"It seems more and more people are joining in this battle, perhaps the danger is bigger than initially thought." Captain Redway muttered to himself. He looked over to his second in command and asked if they have received any news from lieutenant Davis or Barda. Receiving the intel he was initially shocked. Barda had spotted a large gathering of spawn two days ride out from Syben while Davis had spotted another group of spawn four days out from the town.
"Hmm. This is concerning, if we fight the spawn separately we might come unscathed, but if they join together there may be a bloodbath." He talked to himself, thinking of strategies and ideas. Acknowledging that he must talk with the mayor before any concrete plans are established.
A few hours later the three squads had arrived at the bustling town of Syben, showing the two sentries the letter from the mayor and the knight captains own insignia they mounted off the horses and handed them over to the stable master. Walking through the town Chara noticed all the towns guard and adventures talking and eating with each other, otherwise what would be a joyous sight now had a dark undertone, knowing the coming battle ahead would be a certain bloodbath.
"Knights of Ruun, Lieutenant Barda and Davis will join us in a few hours, meanwhile Amari, Sal and I will meet up with Mayor Harris to discuss the defense of the town. We have rooms in the two nearby inns, the two squads here will take the drunken pig whilst the other groups will have the fermented apple inn. We will meet up early tomorrow morning at the break of down in the town square. Be on time!" The knight captain ordered as he left along with his lieutenants.
"Should we head towards the inn?" Chara asked Alicia.
"Of course, Im so hungry!"
Walking back towards the town square the duo looked for a moment before entering the inn, Chara saw the active crowd inside eating, talking and playing card games with each other. Finding a seat next to a two people already seated and drinking some sort of cider Alicia and Chara had to wait a few minutes before a barmaid joined up with them. Astonished by the weird pair seated at the table, one a female knight fully clad in plate armor with a shield on her back and a sword on her hip. But the girl opposite her was even weirder looking, Fair skin on her lower face, with a black traveling dress with intricate silver design embroidered on her arms and chest. But it was her shawl covering her upper face along with bandages covering her entire forearms.
"Ehem... Excuse patrons, What would you like to order." The barmaid shook her stare free from the duo and regained her professional stature.
"We will take two dinner plates and a cup each of your local cider." Chara told the barmaid.
Would you like to pay now or later?"
"We can pay now if it isn't any problem."
"Alright, five silver please." The barmaid asked as she held out her right hand. Fishing out five silver coins from her pouch she handed it to the barmaid, seeing the correct payment she thanked the duo and headed of to the kitchen.
Chara looked over towards the two people sitting beside them, the one directly next to her was a female of average height, her traveling cloak covering her entire upper body, the man opposite her meanwhile had a dark navy blue traveling coat covering a white woolen shirt underneath some leather armor, at his side a blade was hidden partly underneath the coat, but Chara at one glance could se the expert craftsmanship of the blade. Sensing the mans eye looking at her Chara turned her head hastily and began talking to Alicia about the battle ahead. Not hearing any words regarding her from the man she sighed in relief.
Their dinner finally arrived and the duo continued their conversation, After their plate was empty Chara wiggled in her seat before leaning over and whispered in Alicia's ear, "Can you use the communication spell, I need to talk with you."
"Of course." Alicia simply answered as she snapped her finger and the telepathic link opened up between them.
"Can you use your divination magic to see the mana core on the two people to your left, I feel uncertain about them."
Not fully understanding her companions words Alicia agreed and controlled her mana to redirect her essence to the familiar jade colored shard. The usual empty sight suddenly lit up in a bright starlit sky as she could see that nearly every patron in the inn had a mana core. looking over to the two people in question her breathing stopped for a moment in shock. Chara saw the reaction and called out in their mind link about what happened.
"I don't know, the one next to you is like a whirlpool of essence, I have never seen such a cluster of mana before, meanwhile the person next to is empty, he doesn't have any core." Alicia's words entered Chara's her brow frowned thinking about the two travelers.
Suddenly the voice of the female traveler spoke, "Will, it seems the female mage next to you is interested in you, she used mana to inspect our cores." Before Chara could react the male called Will in lightning speed drew his blade and held it across the throat of Alicia.
"Well, Well, miss mage. Why did you feel think inspecting my companion and I, don't you know its rude without ones permission, especially so close to the one you are prodding." Cold sweat ran down Alicia's temple after hearing the man's words.
"Ahem. dear traveler, can you please drop the sword, otherwise I can't ensure your safety." Chara spoke with a cold tone as she hastily drew her blade and held it ready. Noticing the several looks the four are getting the man thought for a second before speaking once again, "It seems like we are disturbing the patrons of this inn, should we find a quieter place perhaps." He spoke with a joking tone, causing his female traveler to shake her head in reject. Chara could hear her words, "Will you said we would keep a low profile during our stay here, We can't further delay our journey to Ruun." Unsure of her words she asked Alicia telepathically if she were okay, getting a positive answer she agreed to the mans word. Leaving the inn with the man and female in the front with Alicia still held by the man, they found a quiet part of one alley as Chara saw the man and women turning around to meet her.
"Can you please let go of my companion, she didn't mean any harm." Chara asked, thinking rapidly about a way to rescue Alicia.
"No hurry dear knight, or should I say Lady Chara Fersun, sister of Faelan Fersun." The man spoke with an amused tone. A shocked expression covered her face, Chara asked him how he knew that. "I know a lot about the southern realm, including the fame of your brother." He simply responded.
Looking for an opening Chara suddenly heard the voice of Captain Redway passing by alongside a group of knights, not hesitating the slightest she called out for help, a few moments later Redway and the five knights beside him could see chara in a standstill opposite two people holding Alicia hostage.
"Drop lady Alicia you scum, or we will kill you directly." Captain Redway's tone was chilled, his stare icy and cold towards the man holding the sword.
The man looked at Captain Redway for a moment before his expression turned a knowing gaze, "If it isn't Captain Reginald Redway, is your father Luthor Redway well?"
"How do you know my father, introduce yourself scoundrel!" Redway ordered, his confusion apparent in his stare at the unknown man. "How does he know my father's name?" He thought to himself.
Looking at his companion, the female nodded in agreement seeing the half a dozen knights standing before them.
"My name is Will Marlow, you may have heard of it Captain Redway." He answered, a knowing grin on his lips.
"Marlow... Where have I heard that family name?" Captain Redway asked himself, thinking for a few moments his eyes suddenly stared at the man in shock as he saw the sapphire pendant hanging on the mans pommel, a silver wolf etched into the sapphire by a master engraver. "You... you are the lost prince of Aclan!?"
"In the flesh Captain Redway." As he answered he dropped the sword and let go of Alicia, Chara rushed over and helped Alicia stand up, her fatigued body stressed from the encounter.
"What are you doing here your highness, last we heard you died in the destruction of Almadas eight years ago."
"And I'm currently standing here before you, in the flesh."
"Captain Redway, what is happening, do you know this man?" Chara asked, shocked confused and angered by the man.
"Of course I know him, nearly every knight knows him, He is the second prince of the north, William Tíriel Marlow!"