Excerpt From The Mad Scholar's Wall—

Day after day passed, and fortifications and walls fell one after another as their defenders died or became too injured to fight.

The second layer fed into the third, the only difference being that it was slightly larger. In less than half a day, the third layer's gates were breached, letting the hoard assault the diamond-shaped walls of the inner fort.

The inner fort had a single passage on the far left side, with the gates of the third layer opening at their furthest point from it. The route was divided by tall walls which repeatedly turned back on themselves, funneling the beastmen.

A passage that centuries of legionaries stood shoulder to shoulder in blocking as they slowly ground the momentum of the hoard against their steel front.

Slowly, the legionaries were ever pushed back. The tide never stopped, and though the beast would trample their own into a past that smeared across the stone ground as it ran into the drainage system, not all of the gore could be washed away by the growing rain. The footing was too unstable for the legion to push forward, so as the bodies mounted, the lines pulled back.

And then the storm our knights had been gathering fully broke. Buckets of water fell from the sky, forcing the birds to land, freeing the legionaries constantly firing into the say a chance to change targets.

Then the lightning fell from the heavens, setting the Gauntlet on fire.

*********

"Do I know you?" I hesitantly asked the woman beastkin. I was trying to sound calm and not to give offense.

I had no idea what Kathren and the others were feeling, but my senses were screaming at me that I was in danger and to tread lightly. This beastwoman was far more dangerous than the eagle and any knight I could think of.

It was like, I was standing in front of a Lord. Not that I ever had, but that was the only thing I could think of that would give me this sense of overwhelming danger.

And then the feeling of danger crawling over my skin vanished as her smile stretched a little wider at my words. Ancestor preserve us… I silently prayed.

Anyone who has been around dangerous people knows there are two main types. Those who try to exude danger and confidence like it was perfume wafting around them, and those so confident in their abilities that they can turn it on and off with a flip of a lever. While the first is, and always will be, dangerous, you can usually guess why they would be so confident. A knowledge that will let you know if you can take them in a fight. The second is hiding their strength and abilities. And the danger of what you can't see coming is always far more than what is right in front of you.

The woman slowly sat up, letting her feet dangle off the branch. She grasped one wrist with the other and stretched it above her head, closing her eyes.

I heard a slight creak of wood behind me, and I lashed out with a mental tendril, "Oww!" cried out Kathren, and I heard the clatter of her bow against rocks.

The beastkin still had her eyes closed despite Kathren's shout of pain, but I never took my eyes off the beastwoman, so I noticed her slight reaction.

There was a slight hesitation of the languid flicks of her tails. And something besides tension began to build up in the air. I knew that if Kathren drew and released that arrow, the only thing that would happen would be her death.

"Ahh." She let out a quiet groan before opening her eyes, "I knew you were more than a pretty face. Despite what you like doing to the dead and the staff. I was starting to get quite a few doubts for a moment there.."

My cheeks heated slightly, and I knew I was blushing, "I wasn—

"I'm sure~. I'm sure it wasn't what it looked like at all…" She spoke slowly, drawing out her vowels. Despite what her words said, I did not get the feeling that she believed what she said at all.

Opening my mouth to say something, she cut me off again, "As to how I know you, I can't believe that you forgot!" She held her hand against her chest and her four tails swept up around her, two points coming to a stop below her chin and the other two to the sides of her face framing it. I noticed her usually sharp nose and pointed chin. My eyes moving up her face, I came to a stop and looked at her, fluttering her eyelashes at me.

I didn't really notice that, as I was focused on her eyes. They were a dark orange bordering on red, like the embers of a fire. As strangely fascinating as I found her eyes, they could not keep me from focusing on her… absurd words.

"There I was, standing under the moon! And suddenly, you came rushing forward, Green, sweeping me off my feet. Where our arms interlocked around each other as we went for a tumble. I wasn't prepared as it was my first time, and my clothes were ruined with bloody stains because of that feverish night, and the whole time all you did was lay there as I did all the work."

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No one said anything until I found the words that accurately conveyed our thoughts, "The fuck are you talking about."

"Waah!" She pulled her body back a few stumbling steps as if I had slapped her with my words. "He doesn't remember our first night together! Can you believe that?"

"Instructor?" Kathren asked in an accusing tone of voice. It was to be expected as the beastwoman was talking with such surety — and what had to be feigned honesty unless part of my memory was missing — that even I was starting to believe I had met her somewhere.

"I have no idea where she knows me and my name from."

She looked even more stricken by my words, and tears even started to well in her eyes and roll down her cheeks, "And here I even left you at the entrance to your camp after you used me the whole night…" At that, she turned her back, her shoulders hunching and falling like she was silently sobbing into her hands.

At that, I finally understood the bush she was beating around. “Oh… Well… I guess that I should thank you. You saved my life by bringing me back to the legion, and it's more than I can expect from most of the fellows." I gave her a bow as I spoke, showing my genuine gratitude that she brought me back to the Triad. But the fact she did it at all… to get that close was more than disturbing. Horrifying was the only way to put it.

When I looked up from my feet, she was leaning down inches from my face, a slight smile curling her lips, causing me to freeze in place. I noticed that her long hair hung down to her mid back, was actually a deep red that looked black when not seen through with a backdrop of light. "Oh, I saw how much they think of you, Handsome," her lips curled slightly more as she studied me, showing her fangs, then she leaned forward and sniffed, “…You… actually mean that?"

It took every bit of my self-control not to jump back at her sudden appearance inches from my face. And the sniffing and sharp teeth didn't help, but sudden reactions didn't seem like a good choice right now.

Unclenching my muscles, I sent out a quick pulse for the trainees to be calm and wait as I intentionally started coming up from my bow at the same pace as before. The beastwoman raised her head, keeping it level with mine right up until I stood to my full height.

I looked into her eyes and noticed that she stood a head shorter than me, which was surprising as she was a woman, and I stood at least a head taller than human males. Even though I was taller than her, I was under no illusions.

I was not the one in control of this situation.

"Would I say it if I didn't mean it?" I asked.

"Most Olimpians I have met would, once they realized their situation."

"Ohh, I am quite aware of the situation, and I still mean it. Such mercy is rare to find among one's enemies. But I think there is something more to your actions than just mercy."

"Why would you think that? I am just a kind soul passing through the world helping all I encounter in need." Her tails curled around her body again, and her face took on the mast of purity and kindness.

"Because you're here," I said matter-of-factly, ignoring her antics. "And you're not browbeating us with your strength. Shit, you're hardly even showing hints of your power. So you want something from me that you can't just take."

“Hmmm…" she hummed as she started walking around me, looking me up and down like a piece of meat. "Looks and a brain, aren't you the rare find for a man. You won't mind if I claim him? No? goody."

Something soft brushed against my left arm, and I tried to stare straight ahead, ignoring the provocations of the beastkin and my growing annoyance. Then my right side felt the soft contact, and I could not stop myself from turning to look. I found nothing. Only to feel it again on my left side once I turned to my right.

As I turned to look again, I stopped, seeing the beastwoman standing a few feet from me, her hands held at her waist right over left. Her entire demeanor changed, taking on a serious professional air that made it seem like she would never mess around.

My abrupt movement slowed, and the anger that was building inside of me as she fucked around began to simmer down. Seems like she's finally getting down to business. I thought to myself.

"It seems I made the right choice in saving you," she said with a sharp self-satisfied smile.

“…So, what do you want," I asked after a few long seconds, in which she said nothing.

"To help you." I wrinkled my brow at her words in a silent question, but she didn't answer. Instead, her eyes flicked to those behind me, saying, "But first, we need to get rid of your followers."

My back stiffened, and I could feel a cold drop of sweat run down it as I asked, "Why?"

"Because they can't follow where we have to go, and I'm not going to give them more to report unless we… come to an agreement."

I took a moment for her words to sink in, then nodded. Turning to the trio standing huddled together with their back to one of the trees marking the edge of the beastkin camp, I walked over.

Stopping a few feet from them, I gave them a nod, "You guys did good during the fight. And don't feel bad that you didn't notice them before the ambush. I only noticed by chance." I said, tilting my head towards the bodies lying on the ground.

"How did you notice, Instructor?" Asked Jim. "If I can ask."

"Now's not the time, Jim," I said with the slightest emphasis on his name and shift of my eyes to the side. I wasn't sure if he got it, but I kept talking, "Head back the way we came. It should be clear. Then wait for the other squads if they aren't already there. Send one back to report and one to skirt around the border of the forest until they find something."

I didn't want to say 'search for the spot where the turma of cavalry was ambushed' due to the beastwoman. She probably heard everything we said for a while, but there was no point in not being cautious. Though I did not say the words, my eyes shifted to the saddle off to the side, and Kathren gave a nod of acknowledgment as I looked back at her before her eyes darted to the side, and her face reddened.

"The rest of you," I continued, "Wait for me until I get back."

"What if you don't, Instructor," Asked Lutious, throwing a wary glance over my shoulder.

I followed his look, seeing the beastwoman standing there inspecting and scraping at something under her nails, seemingly ignoring us. "I'll be fine," I said, shaking my head, "Whatever she wants, she wants me to report it, and she's strong enough to make sure I come back alive."

They gave half-convinced nods of the head, but I jerked my head to the side, signaling them to leave. We were wasting time, and I had a feeling deep in my stomach that we were running out.

Less than a minute later, their back was turned to me, and I was watching them leave.

"Well, I guess we should begin," Whispered a hushed breathy voice in my ear.