Eiwin tried to maintain her composure as she stared at the Captain. “How do your men know Master Hector was wounded?”
“We sent some of our best scouts equipped with talismans to keep track of the horde’s progress.” Orvin said. “They witnessed most of your elder’s fight against the alpha, or at least as much as they could see from a distance. He seemed to be doing fine in keeping the creature distracted, but earlier today, my scouts saw him fall down from the sky after being struck by a bolt of light. He didn’t resurface after that.”
The young woman’s expression continued to worsen. “Your men haven’t found him?”
The captain shook his head. “They didn’t have the privilege of searching. After your elder disappeared, the wolf and what remains of his horde immediately started heading west again. Some of our scouts were even caught in its path and ended up dying. Those that were lucky enough to survive didn’t stay around the place to investigate.”
“This is all wrong!” Narcha slammed her fist on the table in anger. “Hector said he was confident in keeping the wolf occupied! What changed so suddenly for him to get wounded in their exchange?!”
Orvin sighed. “Your guess is as good as mine. However, considering what we already know has been happening here, it’s not impossible to discard the involvement of a third party. Our scouts were incapable of discerning the presence of such a person, though.”
Red and the rest of his companions were still digesting the information. Hector, the person who most of them held in the highest esteem, lost to a monster and now was possibly dead? It was too large of a shock to absorb all at once.
One person didn’t seem too affected by the information, though.
“Relax, you lot.” Rog said with a relaxed expression. “Hector is definitely not dead. I can guarantee you that.”
His words seemed to grab the attention of everyone in the room, including Gustav’s bodyguards.
Allen looked at the hunter eagerly. “How do you know that, Rog?”
Rog shrugged. “I just know he has survived much worse.”
They didn’t know how to react to his response. There was no logical reasoning behind his words, yet the confidence with which Rog said them made it seem like it was the most reasonable and evident explanation.
Even Red felt compelled to believe the hunter’s words.
Eiwin, too, seemed to regain some of her composure upon this.
She nodded. “You’re right, Rog. There is no way Master Hector would die in that kind of situation.” She looked back at the Captain. “You need not concern yourself. He will show up again sooner or later.”
Orvin frowned, but just nodded. “I’m inclined to believe you, but that still doesn’t solve our root problem. We now have a Greater Ring Realm rushing straight at our fort who could be here within the next day, and our strongest cultivator is now no longer available to deal with it.”
Eiwin sighed. “I wish I could offer you our help, but the truth is self-evident. Without Master Hector’s help, there is no one in this camp who can keep that wolf at bay.”
The reality of the situation seemed to dawn on those gathered in the tent.
Narcha gritted her teeth. “Does that mean we need to retreat?”
Eiwin nodded. “It is the most reasonable option. Even if we risk getting ambushed on our return trip, at the very least we will have a chance against these monster, while against the alpha wolf… I need not tell you that it would be a one-sided massacre.”
Captain Orvin hesitated. “… I need to consult the Baron in this matter.”
The man took out a talisman from his side pouch.
Eiwin raised her eyebrows when she saw this. “Your communication talisman is working?”
“Indeed.” Orvin nodded. “Why? Is there a problem with yours?”
Eiwin exchanged a glance with her sect members. “We have been unable to activate any of our communication talismans.”
The captain frowned. “That is indeed strange. However, I can’t imagine the reason as to why.”
Red’s companions seemed to share the man’s bewilderment. The boy, however, was already thinking of a possibility.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
They had gotten these talismans from the imperials, so maybe these same imperials had a way to deactivate them remotely. However, the sect had gotten the talismans six months ago when Red stole it from them, and the imperials were completely aware of that, as the boy had come to know.
So why wait until right now to do this? It didn’t make much sense to Red.
While Red was thinking, Captain Orvin walked outside the tent and into a private area to communicate through the talisman. It took ten minutes of almost complete silence inside the tent before the man came back.
His expression upon his return, however, seemed a bit conflicted.
“What did the Baron say?” Narcha asked with impatience.
“We are to keep our ground.” Orvin said. “He is coming over as soon as he can with a means to deal with the wolf.”
The woman looked shocked. “The Baron himself is coming over?”
The captain nodded with a troubled expression.
“Isn’t this what his enemies want?” Narcha asked. “What about the town? Is he leaving it unprotected?”
“You waste your breath asking me these questions.” Orvin shook his head. ”I raised the same concerns to him, but he told me everything will be taken care of and that I should only do as he says.”
Those around the room seemed at a loss for words.
The captain continued, looking at Red and the others. “Of course, his orders only extend to his men. It does not involve your sect. We would appreciate your help in the battle to come, but he told me that if you wish to retreat, then we shouldn’t get in your way.” He looked over at Gustav’s bodyguards. “This includes you two.”
The large masked man hesitated. “… We will need to consult with our patron.”
“Fine.” Orvin nodded before turning to look back at Eiwin. “What about you? I understand if you would like to retreat to town or go looking for your master. That being said, your help in the coming battles could prove invaluable, and we all would most certainly be grateful for your assistance.”
This question gave Eiwin some pause. It was clear she was conflicted by the choice presented to her. On one hand, Hector had given her the responsibility and orders to keep all of their sect members safe and retreat as soon as the situation became out of control. On the other hand, their Grand Elder was now missing and the lives of all the soldiers and townsfolk might very well be in their hands.
As much as Hector wanted Eiwin to be cold and calculating in her leadership position, when it came down to it, how could the woman just ignore the plight of others? Such a conflict was visible in her expression, but she didn’t make the decision for the group.
Instead, she looked at her companions one by one.
Narcha and Allen looked back at her with resolute expressions. Their opinion on the matter was clear. Rimold looked more hesitant, but he simply nodded at her, as if to indicate he would go along with whatever Eiwin thought best. As for Rog, the hunter seemed as indifferent as ever.
Her gaze finally came to rest on Red. The boy, more than anyone, could tell that there were large undercurrents running below this conflict that could very well blow in their face before they knew it. He shared Hector’s opinion on this matter, that they all should retreat as soon as they could.
“It’s a Greater Ring Realm monster.” Red said as Eiwin stared at her. “It’s a bad idea.”
He made his feelings clear. Even if the Baron had a plan, was it wise to rely on it?
“It might be,” Eiwin nodded with a smile. “But we could still use your help… They could use your help.”
Red sighed. If his companions were going to stay, what choice did he have?
He simply nodded at Eiwin.
The woman seemed reassured to see this and looked back at Orvin. “We will stay and help you.”
Orvin looked relieved at these words. “You have my most genuine thanks, Miss Eiwin. The men will all be happy to know they can count on your help tomorrow.”
“That is good.” Eiwin nodded. “However, I hope you understand that none of us have any intention of dying here. If the situation is beyond saving, we will retreat and I would advise you and your men to do the same.”
“That goes without saying.” The captain nodded. “Our scouts are keeping us apace of the horde’s progression, so we can have a planning meeting when the time of battle is night. For now, you may focus on resting and recovering.” He looked over at his second-in-command. “Arrange a tent for the Water Dragon Sect. They will need their rest and a space to prepare for the battle tomorrow.”
The soldier nodded. “If you would follow me, please.”
Red and the others followed the man. They were led through the still chaotic camp towards a tent not too far from the center of the fort. This tent was fortunate enough not to be touched by the fire, too.
“This is the tent of another of our officers…” The soldier said in a somber tone. “He won’t be needing it any longer, though.”
Eiwin frowned at this but didn’t say anything.
The man continued. “It is not very big, but it’s the biggest we have available. I will make sure our men bring you more beds and any supplies you may need.”
“Just the beds will do.” Eiwin said. “Thank you for your help.”
The soldiers nodded before walking away again. The sect group was finally left alone at the tent’s entrance.
Allen looked over at Eiwin. “Did you mean what you said about retreating?”
The woman nodded. “I did. We all want to help, but it’s pointless if we lose our lives because of it. It’s also my responsibility to keep all of you safe, after all.”
The young master seemed conflicted at this, but just nodded.
The group started to walk into the tent. Red was at the back, and just as he was about to enter the tent, he felt a familiar fluctuation appear not too far away from him.
The boy felt a pair of eyes boring into his back.
He froze.
“Are you not coming in, Red?” Eiwin asked upon seeing the boy’s frozen figure at the entrance of the tent.
Red hesitated. “… I need to do something first.”
His companions gave him strange gazes.
Eiwin looked at him with a frown. “Make sure not to wander too far.”
“I won’t.” Red shook his head before walking away.
He wandered towards an empty area of the fort, while this familiar fluctuation kept a constant distance from him. The boy could still feel their gaze staring at his back.
Only when Red was sure there was no one close by did he stop and turn around. He looked at an empty spot not too far from him.
There was no one there as far as his eyes could see, but Red knew better. His crimson sense felt it, as clear as day.
That invisible individual.
“What do you want?” Red asked.