XVIII.

The two sat idly while waiting for the Truth Guild members and other adventurers to get situated. Apparently, they all were not going to search in the same area. Groups and party members like to go out together and leave in groups. In Madoka's experience, there were always belligerent adventurers despite an odd encouragement of comradery or fellowship with others. So, she sat with Audrey near the dwarf's wagon and avoided other people.

The horses attracted her attention again. Beasts like these apparently were also in Audrey's old world, she approached the plain brown one first. He was chewing at the grass and her presence did not disturb him. A snort of approval puffed out his nose as she pat him. Audrey kept her distance away from the beast, but observed Madoka as she decided to see what they were talking about.

"You, hue-hue, hee," the horse whinnied. "Maybe we should have made like the new guy, hee."

Hue-hue? Human? Madoka wondered. That was a term that Audrey used for Narms, but even the princess confirmed that their kind were quite different than humans of her world. The spotted horse next to him continued the strange conversation, while she decided to not interrupt.

"Pitter, patter, pity," the other one did not make sense with his words, but it sounded like agreement. "This hue-hue and the other her-her makes me wish I was he. Nervous, makes me a he, new guy he, pity."

"You'll be fine," Madoka told them in Commoner, stroking the strange horse's mane. His spotted lips flapped as he snorted, seemingly satisfied that Madoka was talking to him. "Just stay put."

The horses seemed to agree with her statement. Madoka wondered how Ciara talked. She refrained from feeling sorry, and resorted to her old belief that she was still at the Northern Estate.

"You like horses, eh?" Gromrak laughed, nearly startling Madoka out of her nostalgia. She towered above him, but in sheer muscle volume he beat her by a lot.

"Yes, sir," Madoka nodded. He seemed like a sir, so she addressed him as such. The Terros laughed along, his gut bouncing like the heads of flowers swiveling on their stalks in the wind.

"We... We're not going to ride those things are we?" Audrey peered from behind the wagon. Somehow, she ducked further away as the horses showed interest in her.

"Hush," Madoka dragged her out and muttered. "'Drey-Drey."

"Wha—" Audrey stood straight. "You know how I am with horses!"

"Smart her-her," the spotted horse remarked. "Smoky, smoky, makes danger in the trees, pity."

Madoka guessed it knew danger lurked in the woods, but could not interpret the rest of its rambling. Gromrak ceased his laughter for a moment as Arudite approached with her servant. He nodded, the sternness settled back on his face as he turned towards the forest. Other adventurers paired with researchers as they entered the woods. It was their turn.

"We're commencing the expedition!" He growled. "Be on your guard. Just like I said in the wagon on the way here: You see anything much larger than you, run away! Bwahaha!"

Madoka recalled no such thing, but perhaps she was too busy trying to decipher what the horses were saying.

"Aye, aye, captain!" Audrey saluted, but her eyes settled on the path before her. She was clearly tracking something that only she could see, so Madoka decided she should try the same with her own magic. She found it easier to adjust her sight to the magic strands, but they were distracting at times. Was it like that for everyone? She has never actually met a mage before besides Audrey, who seemed to use a different kind of magic entirely.

They traveled awhile, but slowly. Madoka noticed that there was quite a few differences between the Truth Guild and the Adventurer Guild. They had trouble traveling over everything, and were out of breath simply crawling under the large tree roots jutting out the ground. She realized she was used to climbing because of all the traveling they did over the mountains. Eventually, strands traveled through the air and formed links around small tracks.

"Tracks," she told the Terros. He squeezed out from under a gap in the roots and his belly flopped as he stood up. Madoka nearly groaned at the sight. "Boot prints and..."

"Ah," he pulled down a device on his head over his goggles. "Wolves, too."

"Wolves, eh?" Audrey was looking at another marking on the ground. Madoka quickly found out why. "This is a pretty big paw track."

The imprint on the ground was a lot larger than any of the other tracks. She remembered fighting wolves in the mountains and wondered if these kinds were similar.

"Hmm, a King Wolf is no good," Gromrak remarked. He kept following where the boot marking's path headed towards.

"King Wolf?" Madoka asked.

"A Gold Ranked monster," Arudite replied. "According to the Guild's Handbook, monsters have threat levels, or danger class, associated to their rank. A King Wolf can destroy even a small fort, making it apart of the Castle danger class. It takes a team of Gold ranked parties to defeat one."

"Handbook?" Audrey chirped. "I want one!"

"You're quite the studious one," Gromrak clapped, lifting the device off his goggles. Madoka felt apprehensive about finding such a large creature. A Castle danger class monster seemed just like the right amount of trouble Audrey seemed to like. "You, on the other hand, don't seem like the type!"

He laughed, but Madoka agreed.

"I am her servant, I cannot read," she sighed. "No matter how much she wants me to learn."

"It would be helpful," Audrey muttered. "Do you know what danger class a King Slime is? Uhh, asking for a friend."

"A King Slime?" Arudite looked at her. "A Platinum ranked monster... It's rare to see such a monster. I believe it is a Country danger class threat."

Madoka gulped. Since they defeated a King Slime before, she realized why Luxgor offered to skip their early ranks. She still had trouble thinking she was powerful, even if Audrey had immense magical power. They should make her princess Platinum ranked instead of herself, she concluded. The Terros tugged at her sleeve, moving her out of her thoughts.

"You should try my brother Thibrelt's forge out at the Artisan's Guild, lady," he winked. Why did he wink? "Have you two sorted out already. You seem like the one that likes hitting things personally than the Noble lady, don't you, eh?"

Eh? Madoka shrugged. Well, he was not wrong.

"He'll teach you all about crafting the perfect weapon," he assured her. "It will be worth it for your types of adventuring. I promise you."

"We'll see," Madoka felt something stir in her chest when she gripped her shoddy axe's hilt. "A perfect weapon to defend her with..."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Audrey was busy talking with the other reseacher about magic. Madoka considered asking about Knotting magic, but realized the tracks were getting more scattered and erratic. Thoughts were pushing closer to her, so she suddenly stopped. She also noticed she was in the lead by accident.

"Something big is coming," Madoka growled. "Quiet."

"Big? Miss, we need to evacuate!" Gromrak reached for her, but she drew away and growled again.

"Do not make a sound," she warned him. The presence was approaching, and by now the group went quiet as the ground shook. She held whoever was closest to her still, but the tremors continued and the thoughts were getting near her.

Prowling?

Hunger?

No. Madoka shook her head.

Fear.

A dozen smaller thoughts echoed after the largest one, looking at it for guidance. Could a monster capable of destroying a castle experience fear? Madoka wondered. If so, then what? The tremors settled, but a shadow covered them. She turned to see who she grabbed, and luckily it was Audrey. Magic tugged at her skin, but Madoka gripped her hand.

No, she mouthed to her. The researchers were terrified, but listened to Madoka's command and remained quiet. The watchtower sized head of a four eyed wolf gazed upon the defiant maid, who returned his glare with her own.

"The sky is falling, and your murderous ilk is here still," it snarled at her in Royal. She supposed since it was a King Wolf it was natural for it to speak like one.

"Forgive my unworthy self, Your Majesty," she returned her thoughts to it in Reverent Royal the best she could, but mixed it up with Noble instead. At the detection of her thoughts, the beast lowered its head in front of the group and bared its fangs with a roar.

Still, Madoka remained steadfast, though she was annoyed at the gross film of saliva soaking her skin. If she declared any hostile intent they would end up being swallowed instantly. So she simply bowed her head low. Audrey noticed this and also bowed her head, despite Madoka feeling guilty for causing her to display such a blasphemous pose to another.

"You know your place well, fool," he rose his head. The creature's four eyes were blazing red with power, and purple needle-like strands of magic coated its surroundings in an aura of hazy light. "Speak. What have you unleashed upon this sacred place to make even the One Above slaughter us?"

"This unworthy self does not know, Your Majesty," Madoka sincerely offered. "We are investigating it right now."

"Fool," he growled. Catching a glimpse of the rest of its body, she noticed that it rivaled even the huge trees that surrounded them. This thing could crush Gladeban if it drew near. Smaller wolves clung to its underbelly, cackling at her. This was amusement, she realized. "You should flee like the pups you are! But your bravery outspeeds your intelligence, even though it runs and runs to catch up."

"The Heavens above shall reign upon these lands," the King Wolf declared. "We shall seek the Shadow Forest, the Lands Our God has granted you and Us for Tomorrows—" His head glared at her group and his growl rumbled the earth. "You should do the same if there was any wits left inside your head instead of hunting. Perhaps, I should end your misery now as a mercy, but as a Bearer of Metal around your Neck, I think you deserve a true death from the One Above."

"U-Understood, Your Majesty," Madoka kept her head bowed. The growling ceased, and the small wolves howled as they heralded the King's glorious exit. The trees parted and crashed down as the beast made its way towards wherever the Shadow Forest was, until it was out of view. Arudite sputtered from its nasty spittle, with Ilalune frantically trying to wipe her off. Audrey coughed, making her realize she should also attend to her princess.

"W-What was that?" She asked. "How did you speak with it without the magic pendant? Did you even commune with it or scare it away by your terrifying face?"

"That's rude," Ilalune scolded her dryly, but did not put any effort correcting her. Madoka sighed.

"Her face is kind of scary," Audrey pouted, tapping her fingertips together. She looked at the maid and nodded, indicating that she should explain to the researcher her ability.

"I did," she said blankly.

"Incredible," the Terros finally uttered. Unbeknownst to Madoka, the short man tripped into a small hole in the forest ground and remained unnoticed by the King Wolf. Fitting, she supposed he would simply be just a fat appetizer for such a monster. "I've never seen such a fine specimen up close! There's so much research to be done and you! You can speak with them?"

"It mentioned something even more dangerous is here," Madoka informed them, ignoring his amazement at her ability. "We should get out of these woods if we want to live."

"Aye," Gromrak agreed. "With a Castle threat leveled monster like that we should commission the Adventurer Guild and..."

He paused, noticing the purple haired researcher and Audrey were fixated on the path the King Wolf tore before they encountered it. Another smell hit Madoka's nostrils, as she and the Terros were standing there. She tugged Audrey's shoulders, snapping her out of her distraction. That stench was of mutilated dead. She scrunched her nose, realizing that things were getting more dangerous now.

"Bad things are down there," Madoka warned the Terros. "I think that's where we'll find those missing scouts."

"Take it by the look of ye that it isn't going to be pretty," the Terros tapped Madoka. Hasn't this man heard of personal space? She sighed.

"It won't be, no," she confirmed. Gromrak looked at the Nobles to see if they wanted to continue. Audrey and Arudite glanced nervously at each other, but they decided to vote for an investigation. The path was cleanly carved out by the giant wolf.

"Still, I c-can't believe it... A person... No less, a slave, can..." he muttered. "Can I write a paper on you?"

"There would not be much to say," Madoka lied and shrugged. She pointed to Audrey. "She's the esteemed one you should write on."

Audrey nearly spat.

"Hell, no," she scoffed. Madoka did not know why, it seemed like it would be a great honor to write about her. "I'm boring, too!"

"Very well then," he laughed heartily. "A paper on you both shall do!"

"I'm way ahead of you!" Arudite furiously scribbled notes on her own book. It seemed to be inspired by the princess's own notes.

Both girls gulped. The Terros busted out a laughter, but the smog of death rolled over them like a fog. Madoka halted her steps and everyone stopped with her. What, was she the leader all of a sudden? Purple mist swirled in the area, but she ignored it. What were they going to find besides bodies in that dreaded spot?

The researchers gasped when they came across the scene. Madoka had trouble figuring out what exactly she was looking at. Through the blasted trees and the canopy of low hanging branches, a sunlit opening revealed a large rock. It was covered in brownish, disgusting organic material. Vomit? Madoka was tempted to pull Audrey away from the slop, but she was smart enough to not touch it.

"Plant growth? What is this... goop?" Arudite checked on it. Madoka did not know either, but Audrey stood in some thought, before staring up at the sky. White bony chunks stuck out of the coating, and smeared red streaks ran along the rocks. Madoka realized that this was indeed the final resting place of those scouts.

"It's vomit," she concluded.

"V-Vomit? I can tells ye I'm about to do some of that myself!" The Terros grumbled, but he took out a glass vial and scraped some of the slop into it. What could they possibly need this disgusting slop for? Madoka wondered. Audrey looked at her, and she could tell the princess was wondering if she could detect thoughts.

"I hear nothing," Madoka confirmed. "No monsters anywhere."

"If that King... Guy or whatever, Wolf was on the move," Audrey remarked. She kept her eyes in the sky, but continued to the researchers. "Which means whatever chased it out left..."

"This is a territory marking?" Arudite studied the rock, but kept her nose plugged. Her servant gagged, while both Audrey and Madoka were unmoved. They have seen and tasted death before in their own ways. The brown ooze seeped in the ground and reeked of death, like mud. "What kind of—"

"It's what's left of your scout teams," Madoka interrupted her. Silence fell upon the researchers, while they were finishing things up on their projects. She was more than ready to get out of this place, and evidently so was Audrey.

"Say, you two," Gromrak grabbed their attention. "Do you have an official party name? So I can write that down in the paper."

"Uh," Audrey stopped and looked towards Madoka. She shrugged. They both realized they never actually thought of forming an actual adventurer party. "It's just the two of us, so we ah..."

"You better come up with a name soon," the Terros laughed. "You're going to become famous after I'm done writing about you!"

"Well, what do you think?" Arudite piped in. "You two are my heroes, so you should come up with something brilliant! Like House Arudite's Heroes! Ahhh..."

Was she swooning? Madoka shuddered. Luckily, they were beginning to make their way out of here, away from the mist and bloody goop. She mulled over ideas in her head about Audrey's party name. It should be heroic sounding, something worthy of her princess without giving her identity away.

"How about..." Madoka mused aloud after some time. The horses' thoughts were nearby, and they did not seem troubled. She sent a prayer of thanks to the kind gods. The King Wolf did not come this way.

"Hm?" Audrey peered over at her.

"House Dalion," she came up with the party name on the spot. "Our party should be named after you."

"House Dalion..." Audrey seemed like she was going to cry. For what? Madoka moved to attend to the girl, but the princess smiled in agreement. "I was thinking of something cool, like the Dragonic Devastators or something, but House Dalion it is!"

Madoka groaned, but Gromrak laughed.

"Gotcha, it shall be a memorable party for ages to come, I am sure," he declared. "And when I tell you something, I make it a promise. House Dalion shall be remembered."