“Our capital is currently under siege by the demons. If the capital falls, then it will be the end of all humans! Therefore, we cannot stay and do nothing. We must rise up to defend the capital at all costs. We must ensure the Purificator is protected until it is ready to save humanity from the demonic invasion. For the sake of our race. For the sake of our kingdom. We must join the capital’s garrison and hold the walls. We must ensure our descendents will continue thriving in the kingdom.

We implore all able bodied men and women to join in the fight for humanity! Gather at the courtyard by noon so you can change history. For humanity! For the king!”

Jon did his best impression of the announcement and he got the attention of everyone in the mess hall. Dreu could see the determined look in the man’s eyes when he spoke. The call to arms made him feel like a higher power was calling out. After all, defending the capital was basically defending the human race from extinction. What greater goals can one achieve in life? Following a short silence after Jon’s announcement, the people roared in the mess hall. Dreu noticed that even the cooks were cheering as everyone was ready to answer the call. The atmosphere felt overwhelming to just a few minutes earlier.

With renewed purpose, the adventurers, like many others in the mess hall, went to their rooms in preparation for the journey to the capital. Dreu eagerly packed his things as he wondered what the capital was like. He had never been to the place but he heard so many stories about it. As he was about to leave his room, Bayard stood in the doorway barring him from leaving.

Is there something on your mind? Maybe it’s related to the demoness?

The fire within Dreu was snuffed out instantly as soon as he mentioned the demoness. After arriving at the fortress, something was nagging him and Dreu suspected Bayard withheld some important information.

I haven’t intentionally withheld information from you emperor. Some matters are best disclosed at a later date.

Dreu knew studying the footman wouldn’t get him anywhere. His summons all wore full body armor and their faces were never revealed, not that he was even sure there was a face underneath the helmets. Even when they spoke, he couldn’t discern anything human about them. They acted like what one expected of summons. Yet, he somehow detected humanity within them. Having been around Bayard for as long as he did, he felt the footman was more than just a footman loyal to him. He also appeared as a protector, mentor and a being with lots of responsibilities on its shoulders.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I guess I will learn in time. What’s on your mind right now?

Please be careful in the capital! There are those who wish you dead. Don’t trust anyone and always be on your guard.

Why aren’t you telling me to refuse to go there then?

With what happened to Geoff, I doubt you’ll live if you refuse. It’s not hard to come up with a reason for execution for an outsider like you.

You are saying that, despite the capital being a den of snakes, I still have a better chance of survival there.

Yes.

Bayard stepped aside to allow Dreu to walk through the doorway. With a sigh, Dreu walked towards the courtyard with Bayard and Rohese in tow. He now had dread within him but he still forced a smile on his face. Joining the adventurers, he couldn’t help but wonder what awaited him at the capital. With a demon army sieging the city on the outside and threats from within, he was making a terrible decision. However, he knew Bayard was correct. This was the trap set by his enemies and he couldn’t escape. Heading to the capital was his only move forward.

When Dreu joined the adventurers, Jeane and Sadon were excitedly asking Jon about the capital as neither of them had been there before. While Jon described the five layers of walls and the great castle in the center where the king resided, Dreu listened to gather any information that could prove to be of use to him. In the back of his mind, he was also amazed how crowded the courtyard was. From the conversation with Jon earlier in the mess hall, he got the impression most of the denizens in the fortress were heading to the capital. He and Bayard both agreed that, with the destruction of the Amplifier, there was little value in the fortress for either the humans or the demons.

Once Jon finished, Dreu realized the man only described the capital during time of peace. He spoke of the busy marketplaces and the many attractions the capital had to offer. Time of war was completely different. They were about to enter a city caught up in a siege filled with death and despair. The idea of willingly entering such a city made Dreu shake his head. As he pondered about his uncertain future, a shout got his attention. Above the main gate, a Holy Knight on a Pegasus got the attention of everyone in the courtyard.

“Denizens of the Cleric Fortress of Ujun! You have answered the call to arms for humanity! I, like many of you, will soon be taking part in the most crucial battle in the history of humanity. While many of us will perish, our descendants will remember our sacrifices. The bards will sing of our great battles with the demons who wish for nothing but destruction and death. They will sing of our battles where we fight side by side with the strongest human heroes to achieve victory. Many of us will also have the great honor of fighting alongside the Right Arm of Xemir. Remember what you are fighting for. For humanity! For Xemir! For the kingdom!”

“For humanity! For Xemir! For the kingdom!” chanted everyone in the courtyard.

With the people’s spirits raised, the Holy knight brought out a crystal the size of a human skull and activated it. Dreu watched as a light similar to that of a teleport crystal engulfed the entire courtyard.