The host of the Uprising was moving slower than I thought it would be.

During the march from Silvercrest to Helstein, we’d been moving much quicker than we were now. And while I know it could possibly be attributed to how our forces had swelled following the Prince joining, it didn’t feel like that. Being up on a wagon unlike most of the ground-pounders, I was high up enough that I could pick out the officers among the different regiments and divisions of the Uprising forces.

They seemed to be far more alert than I’d ever seen them. I watched as one human officer astride a horse scanned the horizon with an almost suspicious eye.

Something was going on.

Sylvia and I had ended up essentially cuddling on the bench of our wagon for a few hours during the march, simply talking quietly to ourselves. However, we’d mutually decided to break apart when we’d seen Grey coming back from his meeting with the leadership. While we weren’t ashamed of our new…status, we’d talked about how we would prefer to keep it private.

Very private. As in, we simply didn’t want other people knowing about us. Not even our friends, mentors, or family in her case. We wouldn’t deny anything if they asked, but we would ask for our privacy. Sylvia had disappeared off into the host after a quick kiss on my cheek, mentioning ‘duties’.

I knew what that meant, now. I’d probably have ‘duties’ of my own, soon enough.

Real, or cover.

When Grey asked about Sylvia, having settled up on the bench with me, I made a gesture to my face to indicate a mask. He seemed to understand.

Grey nodded, puffing on his pipe once more. I’d noticed that he had started smoking more often than he used to. “Yes, the officers are on high alert. Frankly, everyone is. We’re in dangerous country now, Nathan. For more reasons than one.”

I cast at look out at the almost picturesque scene we were traveling through. Vast, rolling hillscapes rolled along the horizon in every direction, dotted with the occasional patch of forest in the peaks and valleys. This late in the year the leaves of the trees had long since died and fallen to rest on the soil below, carpeting the forest floor in sheets of brown and grey. There was a wind in the hills today, whistling quietly and blowing the leaves our way. I reached up to snatch one out of the air, frowning.

I couldn’t deny that the scene had an odd note of menace.

I turned back to Grey with narrowed eyes. “What’s going on?”

“A few things, as I said,” Grey said placidly. Still, I noticed his eyes were fixed on the horizon as much as the officers were. “This is a notoriously dangerous stretch of the continent, for one. The Aether density in the hills just south of Helstein is notably higher than anything north of the Helstein range and south of the Barren Forest. This has resulted in notably higher monster presence in the region, with the resulting creatures being stronger than average as well.”

I frowned. “But…I haven’t seen anything.” Which…now that I thought about it, was strange. We were only about half a day’s ride from Helstein, but I would have expected to have seen something at least. The occasional monster attack on the fringes of the host were something I had come to expect, in my travels with the army. It was just an inevitability, I’d found. So many people gathered in one group drew monsters in like moths to a flame. At least, the younger and dumber ones.

But I hadn’t seen the fringe scouts engage anything.

“Yes, and that’s the problem,” Grey said ominously.

“Does the leadership suspect enemy action?”

“It’s…hard to say,” Grey said frustratedly. “As you well know, there are individuals among the Loyalist cause that have the ability to influence monsters.”

Yeah, I hadn’t forgotten that prick Leonard.

“But this could just well just be a natural phenomenon. It’s…theoretically possible that there have just been lower spawns this year.” He continued. “We’ve had scouts ranging ahead of the army for days now, ever since we set a date for deployment. However, they’ve found nothing. Little to no monster presence, and absolutely nothing from the Loyalists. Not even a patrol.”

“Then they’re planning something,” I said bluntly. “We’re probably marching into a trap.”

Grey sighed. “There’s nothing we can do about that,” He said wearily. “We can’t turn back, and we can’t move any more cautiously than we already are. And there isn’t a port for leagues that could accommodate a force of this size. Not if we hope for our supplies to last, and more importantly, to protect our supply chain. All we can do is place our trust in our scouts.” He gave me an exaggerated eye wink at that, obviously trying to lighten the mood.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

Still, I guess I knew the ‘duties’ that I was going to be assigned soon.

All I had to do was wait.

………………………………………………………

Turned out, I only had to wait for nightfall. I received my orders, but not from a person I expected.

“Here,” Honoka said to me roughly, shoving a wrapped parcel my way. I took it, looking down in surprise.

It was dark now, and the host had stopped a few hours ago. Once I’d gotten done setting up our little camp site, surrounded on all sides by Order forces, I’d remembered Honoka telling me to find her. It hadn’t taken me long to locate the hastily erected Healer’s tent. While they seemed to have a steady supply of patients even after a single day’s trek, Honoka hadn’t been busy. The older woman had looked to be acting as a supervisor. She’d been watching the comings and goings of her own little division with a stern look and crossed arms. If anything, at the sight of me, her stern expression had transformed into a glower. Still, she’d jerked her head in a motion to follow her around the back of the tent.

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Which led us to now.

“What’s this?” I asked her curiously.

“Your orders,” Honoka said bluntly. “And some gear that was prepared for you.”

I blinked. “From…you? Or…?”

“No, not from me, you idiot,” Honoka said, irritated. “Of course it’s from the Nocturnes.”

Ah, of course. I didn’t let Honoka’s temperament get to me. I was getting used to the crotchety old woman by this point. Instead, I just opened the small parcel. Inside was…

A waist pouch, not dissimilar to my own. It was slightly bigger, though. Opening it, I saw a small selection of potions in vials no longer than my thumb, two small coins, a lockpicking set, and a familiar wad of flesh-colored material. A tightly wadded cloak and my still plain mask were inside as well. Everything was incredibly tightly packed together but done so in a way that it wouldn’t clang or clank together and make noise. Wedged in the center was a small, tightly folded piece of parchment.

Before I could even ask Honoka about the contents of the pouch, she continued speaking. “Took some time to put that together, as they’re short on supplies right now,” She said shortly. “So, they just handed it off to me.”

I nodded to show my understanding, and took out the parchment. I unfolded it, finding the page blank. I looked at it quizzically, but didn’t get the chance to speak. Honoka preempted me again.

She sighed. “Just press your thumb in the center. They already have your Aetheric signature.” She said irritably, before muttering under her breath. “Lazy bastards don’t even bother to train before sending them out these days…”

I did as she said, pressing my thumb into the center of the parchment. Words written in a dark blue ink bled onto the page, slowly filling it from top to bottom.

Hangman,

Inside you’ll find:

2 X Uncommon grade Healing Potions

1 X Vial of Forgetfulness

1 X Vial of Concentrated Arsenic

1 X Vial of Muffled Steps

1 X Vial of Water Breathing

1 X Vial of Truth

1 X Standard Far Eye

1 X Communication Coin (Gold)

1 X Location Coin (Silver)

1 X Code Book

1 X Lockpicking Set

1 X FAT

Your Orders are as follows:

You are to begin scouting the host fringes. You are to search and destroy every individual monster discovered. If a hive is discovered, use Communication Coin and request reinforcements. If a Prime is discovered, retreat and then do the same.

You are to do this until you have reached level 70, as it is noted in your file that you are near that point.

If enemy presence is detected, your orders are to subdue individuals and call for reinforcements. Additionally, call for reinforcements if a group is discovered.

Your contact is Lady Honoka.

This message will wipe shortly. Dispose of parchment.

That was it. The note wasn’t even signed, which made sense I suppose. But what did it mean by wipe?

I got my answer.

The ink on the page evaporated before my eyes, leaving it blank once more. I blinked at the sight, before laughing. Of course a clandestine operation like the Nocturnes would have a way of making sure messages didn’t get intercepted. I’m guessing I was the only one capable of reading these communications.

“Alright,” I said, holding the parchment over a nearby torch with my golden hand. It burst into flames, and I held it unflinchingly as it burned to ash. I barely felt the heat with my muted sense of touch in the false appendage. I shook the ash from my hand and took out the cloak, snapping it open. Throwing it over my shoulders, I focused back on Honoka. “So, you’re my contact? I was surprised when Hook told me you were going to act as my cover. I didn’t think you liked me that much.” I said teasingly.

“Don’t get a big head, boy,” Honoka said warningly. Still, her tone wasn’t as sharp as I sometimes heard from her. “I’m doing this for Sylvia.” She sighed. “But here’s how it’s going to work. You actually are going to be doing work for the Healing Corp. Sometimes. When you are, you’ll be reporting to me. But for now, they need you out there keeping a watch.”

I nodded. “Yeah, Grey was telling me about the leadership’s suspicions. You think they’re valid?”

Honoka shrugged. “Could be. If they are, I’m hoping I’ll get another shot at Leonard.” She nearly snarled the name, with a suddenly hungry look in her eye.

Ooookay then. I took out my mask and affixed it to my face, calling on Thorn Cloak as I did so. My previously plain grey cloak sprouted vicious red hooks and thorns, in an interaction I’d only discovered recently. If I was already wearing a cloak of some kind, the Skill just activated on top of what I was wearing instead of creating something from nowhere

“I’ll see you later, then,” I said to Honoka, my voice muffled by my mask. As I turned away to melt into the tree, she stopped me with a word.

“Wait,” Honka said, surprisingly somber. Looking back over my shoulder, I was startled to see a rare serious expression on her aged features. She took a deep breath, before meeting my eyes through my mask. “Don’t think Greycton and I haven’t seen what’s going on between you and Sylvia.”

I felt myself flush under my mask at the unexpected words.

How?! That literally only happened a few hours ago!

I was grateful that she couldn’t see how embarrassed I grew, as she continued to speak.

“We’re fine with letting you two work it out,” She said quietly, before grimacing. “Just…please be kind to her. Arrangements like yours are rare, and they can be…volatile, in circumstances like these.” She sighed, before smiling bitterly. “Speaking from experience.”

I didn’t know what to say. I just nodded to show my understanding, which seemed to be all Honoka wanted from me. She waved me off, and stalked back around the tent back to her post.

I sighed, and stepped out into the tree line to start my range. Thankfully I had my full Order uniform on, with my Oninite blades affixed to my hips and my usual pouch on my back left hip. I affixed my new pouch to my back right.

Honestly, I had expected her to threaten me or something. Honoka struck me as the type of person to be fiercely protective of people she cared about. But she'd seemed almost pleading to me. Well, as much as Honoka could, I suppose.

I shook it off and took off into the darkness. Once out of sight of the encampment, I dialed Sylvan Vigor up to thirty percent, and vanished into the forest.

…………………………………………………...

I was unsurprised when Fade found me about an hour into my scouting. He seemed to have an outright supernatural sense of my location at all times. In the time I’d searched by myself, I had found no traces of anything yet.

Grey hadn’t been kidding when he said the scouts had turned up very little.

Still, that didn’t mean there was nothing out here. With the young grey wolf’s help, we encountered signs of a monster relatively quickly. Following them, I smiled grimly at the almost nostalgic sight of a Warg. This one was even more screwed up looking than the strange bear wolves I’d run into around Addersfield. It was strangely droopy looking, with almost mossy fur. Observe told me it was a level fifty-six Marsh Warg.

I exchanged a glance with Fade, hiding down in a bush below me from my tree perch above the creature.

I dropped down onto the beast from below, and got to work.