* Date: September 29, 1173

* Time: 6:45 PM

* Location: ENS Javelin Bridge

''Lord commander, we are approaching the drop point.''

''Excellent...''

''...Has there been any word from the missing priestess?''

''No, my lord, we've tried to contact them via rune orb but had no response.''

''I see. Keep our heading straight, captain. Later on, the Javelin will be instrumental in destroying the gate if all else fails.''

The captain nodded in agreement. Adelard then made his way out of the bridge and headed toward the deck. Passing several sailors of the light frigate, the commander soon reached the hangar.

[Good evening, commander.]

''Likewise, lady Vee...

''...Alright, listen up! As you all know, our objective is to find and disable the gate on Adel Village. The invader is likely guarding the device, so be wary of that...''

''...Lady Nadine, has there been no response from your twin sister?''

Adelard asked while Nadine indicated a negative response by shaking her head.

''No, lord commander.''

The priestess answered with a concerned look. To which the commander noticed immediately was a sign that this would weigh heavy on the priestess's consciousness. Knowing that there lies a possibility of her sisters being deceased before their arrival. Adelard knew that feeling, but they would soon find their answer.

''Very well, you heard the priestess loud and clear. Our second objective is to investigate the missing priestess. After our drop, the Javelin will not be keeping us company. Aerial bombardment is only reserved for the gate if we fail to disable it.''

''Understood!''

The men and women under Adelard's command responded eagerly. Meanwhile, the light frigate would reach its destination. Several kilometers away from the gate's location.

''Lord commander were above the drop point. Awaiting your command, lord.''

Announced the captain of the Javelin through a rune orb. The wyverns of the commander and his former rival presented themselves. Although, they would have to fly low to have the element of surprise with them.

''Captain, I want your light frigate to be hidden from sight, understood?''

''Of course, may the pantheons bless you, Commander Adelard.''

The rune orb then cuts off. Adelard then mounts his wyvern and prepares to glide down. Right next to him was Pauline, already mounted to her wyvern.

''We'll see each other down their hero.''

''Affirmative.''

As the two dragon riders would glide down to the forest. The rest of the team would be teleported to the surface. Stepping onto the teleporter, the occupants vanished from the light frigate's hangar. Moments later, they would appear on the surface of the forest. Right after, the Javelin then proceeded to sail away from the team.

''Lord commander, I'm picking up distress magic ahead of us.''

''It must be the missing priestess, double time people!''

Adelard barked out as the entire team moved with haste toward the source. Naturally, the hero was the fastest runner among them. Hector had a rough time trying to match the hero's speed with his horse. Meanwhile, Nadine was carried over the shoulder of Catherine's frame. Like the black knight, they had a rough time matching the hero's speed.

''Nadine, how close are we?''

''Almost there, commander!''

''Wait a minute...''

''...I see a body in front of us!''

The champion said out loud as the entire team rushed toward the unknown body. Upon arriving, the group was greeted by the corpse of a dead priestess. She had a gaping hole in her stomach, and her magic was the source of the distress.

[Oh no, we're too late.]

''Priestess, can you identify the body?''

Tale said bluntly without any semblance of emotion. The Kaynian was the cause of this, and the Ghost only felt anger. Seeing the body of one of her sisters, Nadine levitated to the ground and inspected the deceased priestess.

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''It is sister Lumiere's body, lord commander.''

Nadine answered as she closed the eyes of the priestess, letting her rest.

''I see, because of the nature of our mission. We cannot give the priestess a burial. There's no other choice but to leave her corpse be for a while.''

''Understood, commander.''

While the priestess mourned for the loss of one of her sisters. Prompting Vee to perform a deep scan of the forest and spot the footprints of the deceased priestess. This could lead them to the others and figure out what had happened to them.

[Adelard, I have heat signatures of the priestess's footstep still hot. If we follow them, it could lead to the other missing priestesses.]

''Lady Vee, allow me to highlight them for our comrades to see.''

Sarroth answered before utilizing tracing magic to brighten the footsteps mentioned. A path was then constructed out of bright light for the entire group to see. Adelard was delighted because of this, seeing they now had a clue where to go next.

''Let us proceed.''

''Lord commander, please allow me to cover Lumiere's corpse with magic so that no creature would eat her.''

''Granted, but make it quick.''

Placing invisibility magic over Lumiere's, no wild animal would consume her corpse. After that was done, the team then followed the path lit up by Sarroth. This time, the team did not sprint nor fly to their objective; instead, they walked.

''My daughter's champion, I spot something.''

''What is it, Lady Sarroth?''

''It seems to be a structure of sorts.''

In front of them was a reconnaissance base constructed by the priestesses. It was covered by invisibility magic, making it impossible to detect from a distance. Moving in, they saw another corpse this time. It was someone Adelard knew personally.

''Celine...''

''...By the pantheons, what did the invader do to you?''

Celine's body was sliced in half, and not only that, but her lower half was several meters away from her upper half.

[Be advised, I'm reading heat signatures directly east of our position!]

In unison, everyone had their weapons and magic drawn out. Catherine's enchanted staff transformed into a hammer. Hector and Tale had their swords ready, although the black knight also had a shield. The riders had their bows pulled, and their wyverns prepared for a fight. Nadine had all her magic ready for the invader to avenge her sisters.

''Hero, Catherine, check the area.''

''It will be done, lord commander.''

Both combatants then complied and proceeded to check the area ahead of them. Having Sarroth at the ready, the Ghost moved in with his ally and saw their objective. The gate was in front of them and was slowly constructing itself.

[Well, it looks like the gate's been busy.]

''Indeed, Lady Vee.''

The frame spirit agreed. Time was their only ally, and being separated from the Javelin also compounded this. This was the first time that anyone had seen the gate in action.

''Hero, Catherine, care to fill us in on what you're seeing?''

''Of course, lord commander. It's the gate.''

''Very well, we're moving in.''

Following behind them were their comrades. Emerging from the forest. The rest of the group saw the gate. Adelard saw the gate as it constructed the third pillar for its final stage. The champion of Elvenia was uneased by the sight of the device that could potentially destroy their world. But remembering what the invader did to his subordinates, Adelard would not stop until this structure was disabled or destroyed.

''Hmm, it is evident that the invader was responsible for the priestess's death, but where is Lady Laetitia?''

Although they found the two missing, there was still a third. The group never saw the Laetitia; could this mean that the priestess is somehow alive? Or the invader has taken her prisoner.

''Lord commander! I sense another distress magic!''

''Where is it coming from?''

''There.''

Nadine pointed at the striped-down ruins of Adel Village. Tale remembered the village being abandoned and burned, but now. It was in the state of being harvested for materials for the gate.

''Sir, it seems that the Kaynian has taken the priestess as a prisoner.''

''This will become a hurdle to our objective.''

''I suggest sending someone to scout the village and confirm the Kaynian's present.''

''No, you will not go there alone, hero!''

''But I am the only one capable of scouting the premises of the village. It is my expertise as a Ghost.''

Adelard didn't want to agree with Tale, but he had a point. Remembering how the hero took down an entire base of bandits by himself. How he killed the bandits outside the base with stealth, the commander couldn't deny Tale's skill.

''Champion of my daughter, my master is more than capable of not being seen by the lone invader and scouting the ruined village.''

''Forgive me, Lady Sarroth, but the hero is too important. I can't just-''

Cutting the commander off was the Ghost's armored hand over his shoulder. Adelard saw the hero's helmet up close and personal. Seeing its alien design and features, Tale wanted to emphasize his point.

''Sir, if I don't do this. We will never know if the Kaynian Lord is already aware of us. That could lead to the entire team being picked off one by one. Nadine's twin sister is there, and maybe I can confirm whether or not she is still alive.''

Adelard didn't know how to respond without being disrespectful to the hero. The hero's reasoning had merits, but he was afraid to give the order. Giving out a sigh, the champion of Elvenia nodded in return.

''Very well...''

''...Scout the area and locate the invader and priestess. Right after that, you are to return and report your findings, understood?''

''Crystal, sir.''

It wasn't just Adelard who didn't want the hero to scout. The entire team was concerned for the hero's well-being. Although, they knew that the Ghost was more than capable of facing the invader. That didn't mean that they agreed to his decision to go alone. But alas, the order was given, and the hero went off as they sat.

* Date: September 29, 2173

* Time: 7:00 PM

* Location: Adel Village Outskirts

In the shadows of the night, the Ghost emerged from the shadows. In the distance lay his mission, the ruins of a once lively village. Transformed into material for the gate and its pillars.

[Okay, remember what we're here for. Scout the area and locate either the invader or the priestess...]

[...Meaning stay out of sight and allow me to scan the village. While not engaging the Kaynian, got it?]

''Affirmative. Moving into the village.''

Now equipped with his battle machine rifle, Tale proceeded to the village. Although armored, his footsteps were eerily quiet for a seven-foot-tall warrior. It wouldn't be long until the Ghost entered the ruined settlement and took shelter in one of the structures.

'Sarroth, where's the source of the magic coming from?'

'It's coming from the village hall, my master.'

'Place in the waypoint.'

'Done...'

'...Master, if I may ask you something?'

'What is it?'

'If this is a scouting mission, wouldn't it be more beneficial for you to become invisible via magic?'

Sarroth questioned, but she hadn't known of the Kaynian's ability to detect invisible combatants.

'That's because a Kaynian is more than capable of detecting magic. Vee was able to see through Adelard's invisibility magic via a scan. So the same could be said for the Kaynian.'

'I see now, so any magic similar to stealth is utterly useless. My thanks for enlightening me, my master.'

Moving in through the debris of buildings. The Ghost saw what he was searching for. In front of him was the village hall.

[Tale, I got a heat signature inside that building...]

[...I assume Sarroth telepathically told you that this building housed the priestess?]

''Affirmative.''

Sprinting toward the village hall, inside the establishment was the priestess. However, she was unconscious and was sealed by a thin layer of psionic field. It was probably how the Kaynian restrained the priestess.

''How is she, Vee?''

[Let me see. Well, I'll be damn; the priestess took a beating. Her ribs are shattered, and her skull is fractured. Internal bleeding, exhaustion, and hyperthermia are present in her body.]

''What about the field containing her?''

[Well, it's psionic, but I think Sarroth's magic can disable it.]

Vee suggested although she has not meddled with Kaynian psionics before. The former queen would be forced to for the priestess to survive. Materializing her spirit form, she constructed her avatar to be dimly lighted.

''I have never meddled with invader magics before, but I will try.''

Placing her hand on the psionic field. Sarroth had shattered the Kaynian psionic containing the priestess in mere moments. Soon after, Sarroth would utilize her magic to heal the minor wounds of the priestess.

''My master, since we are on a scouting mission. I am only able to heal the priestess's minor wounds. To completely heal her would jeopardize our location.''

''Vee, scan report?''

Appearing on his head-up display. Vee had compiled the scans of the village to report back to the commander. Although, they haven't found or seen the Kaynian Lord anywhere.

[This information is satisfactory for reporting back to the commander.]

''Good, we'll be making our way to the group.''

[Okey dokey. Make sure we aren't spotted.]

''Understood.''

Placing his rifle on his back. Tale then carried the unconscious body of the priestess and moved out of the village hall. Proceeding through the path he took, it wouldn't be long until the Ghost made it out of the village.

To Be Continued.