And so two days passed, at the northern gate just before the bell tolled for the first time, people dressed in various equipment meant for combat gathered. All of them carried weapons of different kinds adding to their looks it made them scary and boorish that this looked more like a thugs' meeting.
Meanwhile in the corner there was a group different from the rest, they stood out as there's no one wanted to get closer to them as they gave off menacing vibes, especially Tron who's height giant most of the people here.
Clap! Clap!
The claps called for everyone's attention making the place fall into silence, they then all looked towards the front where the sound came, there stood a man in full plated armor he was past his prime but wisdom was still in his eyes and power can be seen in his body.
“Hmm, I offer my thanks to all of you that joined me here. This expedition would take a long time but with us there it would make the citizen more at ease.
“The mountain and forests are swarming with monsters, kill them and you will be rewarded as we would pay for the monster you hunted in a higher price than market, also the one to hunt the strongest or the most monsters in the span of the hunt will be by the Count himself, so do your best and kill as many as you can out there!”
“Ooohhh!”
The smell of money, for people like them it was an irresistible scent that's why like the hounds they will offer themselves chasing for it, as they say, the greater risk; the greater the rewards.
Alexis scanned at the place and he couldn't help but felt his blood rush to his head it made him high-strung and unusually excited, it took his best to stopped himself from shouting like them.
“Let's go.” Lance said, walking towards where their wagons is.
As it would be too bothersome to took care of that many horses they rented out another wagon, it also so that they could carry their loots easier later on.
Alexis followed them and took his seat on the first one before he took a peek outside where the other mercenaries too started to board there own way of transportation, some are like them that used wagon, others were much more fancier using carriages, some only rode their horses, and he even saw one of them use a big wolf as a ride.
Then a loud sound of clattering metal chains resounded ahead of the group, Alexis stretched his neck but his sight was blocked by other wagons in front of them so he stood up and even tip toed while holding at the roof of the wagon to balance himself just for him to see how the big gate that was made of heavy-looking metal slowly being raised open.
It was as simple as opening a door for others but for Alexis it was as magical as magic, he was so awed that he didn't noticed that they already started to move.
Only when the horses hooves sounded and the wagon shook threatened to let him fall did Alexis went back inside.
“Why are you doing something that makes you look like an idiot?” Kyrille who's in front of him asked in exasperated tone.
“I saw those heavy gate being raised up high!”
She gazed at his excitement filled-face and sighed.
“That's normal thing in a city, in the capital there's much bigger gate than that which leads to Emperor's palace, and there was even a land that float in the sky.”
Alexis did not believe the latter part however he still showed an interest in it.
“Really?” he asked in both tone of awe and suspicion.
Seeing his expectant eyes made Kyrille show a satisfied look before she told him more about the other wonders that could only seen in capital.
Meanwhile outside of their wagon, the mercenaries moved out the opened gate following the lead of the count's knights and soldiers, they are heading towards northeast to the mountain that was closest to the city, Mt. Clement.
They stirred dust on their wake when they left the main road and traversed the plains. However as the army got closer to the mountain the more monster they met.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
At first they did not bother to stop instead they stomped them but the monsters started grouping up and attacked them together, still it did not posed too much of a problem as these creatures were the weak ones who escaped from their multiplying predators—except for stalling their precious time.
That the army arrived at the foot of the mountain the same time when the sun placed itself in the middle of clear blue sky.
They moved towards a clearing that was close to a brook, it was the knights’ camp base who was supposed to do this job, it was what they use when there's an expedition like this one.
“The capital is nice I wish I could there someday.” Alexis muttered as he took Kyrille's hand helping her to descend the wagon.
“Eventelle, that is the name of city that no one could compare to.” she boasted when her feet touch the grassy ground.
Alexis took back his hand and look around the big open space surrounded by greenery as the mercenaries tainted it as they came one after another, meanwhile those who arrived first started making their tents at a space they mark as theirs.
“Its like they are building a town.”
“Look at it once again tonight and it will truly be a town.” Damian who was carrying something said as he passed him.
Alexis looked towards where he came from and saw how others took their supplies out of the wagons, he hurriedly offered his help to carry those things they needed to build their tents towards their chosen place.
“Cough! Cough!”
If it was not to get their attention amidst their revelry the owner of those fits should have check his body's condition.
Still it did its work and stopped everyone from their tracks just to looked at where it came, then they saw the knight earlier this morning on top of a wooden platform that was placed in front of the biggest tent that is situated at the center of the camp base.
After he saw that he had their attention he started to speak.
“We will be knowing each other for a long time so let me introduce myself, I am the previous Captain of Green Lions the knight order lead by his Excellency Count Cartel, my name Louis Bandrel.
“I know you lot do not want too many rules that will make you feel bounded, so all I need to remind you is do not make this place too chaotic or else...” pausing for a moment he scanned the surroundings with his stern eyes making those who was bit unruly remind themselves to be careful, his expression then turned bright as smile shown on his dried lips before he continued.
“I hope a good hunt for the rest of you.”
“As for those who are leaders a group or solo come at the tent and take a map around this place, if you have any info after you finish a hunt you can tell it here where we will pay it for the right price.”
After ending his speech, the man—Captain Louis went down the platform and entered the big tent.
The mercenaries then continued their work while some who finished hurriedly went to take their map, maybe a little excited to have the honors of starting this expedition.
Meanwhile Alexis wiped his burnt forehead unconsciously, “That was suffocating.”
The man was like the guards in his town but scarier, he then continued back on helping them unpacked their things.
When they finished building their tents the group then entered inside the biggest one after Lance came back from the central and called all of them.
He used the table made of stone as he laid down and spread the parchment he held.
“This is the map of the mountain and the forest surrounding it.”
Lance then points towards the marked spaces there and informed them, “And this is the habitats of different monsters.”
“So where are we going captain!?” Ezekiel asked in anticipation.
He pointed at the one of the crossed mark in the map.
“Its meaningless for us to hunt near the camp where mostly preys lives. So let's go to where the predators are.”
“What monsters lives there?” Old Man inquired.
“From what they said it was mostly Bullhounds.”
“Mmm.”
Damian raised his head up from the map and asked, “Looks like we are not climbing?”
“Yes” Lance nodded, “The sun will set on us if we climb, for now let's go here. ”
He then looked at Irushka and asked in a curious tone, “Can you be our pathfinder?”
“That's easy.” she complacently proclaimed.
“Who are the one's going then?”
Lance looked around the members before he spoke, “All of us.”
Damian doubted what his ears heard and asked once more, “Did I hear it right? If so what about our items here? You don't believe in those mercenaries to keep their hands in check do you?”
“Of course I am not, I already asked Captain Louis for a favor.”
“It must've cost something right?”
“There was none remember what I have.”
He showed them the badge before stashing it back.
“Tsk.”
“While they could stay here before winter comes we are not, we will stay here only for three days at most...”
Lance then raised and showed them his right hand, “And before that time comes we must finished our agenda here.”
His index finger rose, “First, earn money, to earn faster we must hunt monsters that was considered strong.” his middle finger moved up, “Second, teamwork, all of us except for the two has a lot of experience in a fight but we have a little to none together with this group, if we want to fight the dragon we at least needed to see what each other's capabilities.” Finally his ring finger followed, “Third and last.”
Lance looked at Alexis straight in the eyes and said, “Your test.”
Alexis couldn't help but gulp feeling a sudden hint of nervousness.
“What kind of test?”
He lowered his hand as he replied, “I'll tell you later.” he shifted his gaze towards the rest of the group before he added, ”After completing all of our agendas here, we’ll head back to the city to prepare for our departure.
“Now go and ready yourselves.”
They all nodded in agreement before heading out of the tent.