“Everyone get your weapons ready! Protect the carriage at all costs!”

The soldiers formed a human barrier around the carriage and got their weapons ready. Those who held spears stood in an outer circle as the first line of defense. Those who only had swords stood behind them ready to strike when the time was right. Despite the heavy rain and dense forest, the soldiers could tell they were surrounded. Glowy green eyes glared at them from the shadows. They weren’t moving...just staring.

“Why are we encountering wolves now of all times? We didn’t run into any monsters on the way here. It’s only been 3 hours since we left and we’re already facing trouble.”

The commander tried to make sense of things as he figured a plan out. The rain was falling hard, the forest was dense, and he had no idea where they were.

“This is not the same route we took before. Just what was that man thinking?”

*flashback*

Arcane and Myer approached the commander an hour after they had departed. Through Myer, Arcane informed the commander that another route needed to be taken to go back to the capital.

“And you’re telling me this now?! Why do we have to take another route?”

Arcane whispered in Myer’s ear.

“It’s for safety reasons. If there is a possibility that we were followed, then an ambush could be waiting for us. There is also the possibility that we could have attracted the attention of monsters on our way here. It’s been over a decade since so many people walked through the path we took. Now that so many of us came that way, we would have to worry about traitors trying to take the vessel away and be attacked by monsters.”

“You expect me to believe all that nonsense boy?”

The commander was starting to get annoyed. Even though they had been assigned by the crown prince, he could not bring himself to trust them one bit.

“Let’s go back the same way we came. I don’t see any need for why we should take a different route.”

“Sir, we have to change course. If not, the safety of the vessel will be at stake.”

“Well, you two seem rather desperate to go a different way. For all I know, you could be taking us to an ambush right now.”

Arcane glared at the commander.

“Easy commander, you don’t want to say things you will regret.”

Myer noticed the change in Arcane’s demeanor and tried to calm the situation.

“What? Am I wrong? Or am I right?”

The commander stopped and looked straight at Arcane.

“You know what I think masked man? You could be the traitor of the throne that has the crown prince so paranoid to the point of coming up with such a foolish plan to retrieve the vessel as we are doing now.”

Arcane swiftly grabbed the commander by the neck and brought him close to his face. The commander felt as ice cold eyes pierced into his soul. Sweat fell down his back as he unsuccessfully tried to remove Arcane’s grip.

“Let…go…”

“Arcane.”

Myer approached the two men and tried to separate them. Arcane moved his face close to the commander’s ear and gave him a shivering whisper.

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“Now listen to me, commander. Notice how I never asked for your name because I could care less about who you are or what you think of me.”

Arcane’s grip tightened as he lifted the commander off the ground.

“Ugh!”

“You can insult me behind my back all you want. You can doubt me all you want. I do not care. You are not the first or last person to do that. What you will not do is call me a traitor of the throne and much less…”

Arcane’s voice got deeper and sharper.

“...will you dare to insult the royal family in front of me. Your filthy mouth is not worthy to carry their names.”

“Arcane!”

The masked soldier released the commander from his grip, who ended up falling on the muddy ground.

“Cough, cough”

The commander held his neck and tried to take in deep breaths.

“Commander!”

Some of the soldiers approached and took their swords out.

“Ugh, now you’ve done it. I warned you to watch what you say, commander. Just because a dog doesn’t bark does not mean he can’t bite.”

Myer stood between Arcane and the rest of the soldiers while he held both his hands out.

“It’s alright everyone. No blood has been shed yet. It’s all a misunderstanding.”

Arcane bent down and with the same emotionless voice he whispered,

“You have two choices, commander, either follow the path I am instructing you to follow or…”

Arcane looked in the other direction.

“...you and your men can die a useless and pathetic death.”

Arcane held out his hand to the commander.

“So, which one will it be?”

“Tch”

The commander looked around him as his men waited for his orders. Though he did not trust Arcane, it was true that they wouldn’t be able to survive without his help. He gave him one final defiant look and grabbed his hand.

“Jeez, so much drama could have been avoided if you had just agreed from the beginning commander. I’m glad we’re all on the same page now.”

Myer mockingly smiled and shook the commander’s hand.

“Hmp”

The commander composed himself and signaled the soldiers to lower their weapons.

“Commander, the lady asks if everything is alright since we suddenly stopped.”

“Oh dear, look at the lack of manners we men have. We even made the young lady worry.”

Myer looked at Arcane who said nothing and turned to guide the rest of the way.

“Tell our lady that we were just a bit confused about which path to take but we have it all figured out now.”

Myer sent the soldier away and sighed with relief that things didn’t get too heated. Arcane was usually a calm and quiet person when surrounded by strangers, except when the royal family was involved.

“Such a loyal fellow.”

Myer moved his brown wavy hair from his face and scratched his head.

“This rain just won’t stop. Let’s just hope it doesn’t become a problem later.”

“Let’s keep it moving! Follow the masked soldier!”

*End of flashback*

“Grrrrrr”

The commander and the soldiers heard different growls echoing around them. The soldiers held their breaths as neither they nor the wolves made a move. Things had been so peaceful until now, but it’s possible things were too good to be true.

The commander gave a bitter glare to Arcane who stood close to the carriage. Was this his plan all along? Were all those words just a way to force him to make the dangerous decision to follow him? Why did he look so calm…as if things were going according to his calculations?

“It’s so hard to read a man who has a mask on!”

The commander clenched his teeth. How many were there anyway? 5? 10? 20? 100?

“As it matters, in this weather and unfamiliar area, just one is enough trouble!”

In the carriage, Agatha and Daliyah sat next to each other holding hands. Agatha took deep breaths as she looked at the shortcake she had dropped after being startled by the shout of the soldier outside. Things were quiet, except for the raindrops and the occasional growls.

“What do you think is happening outside? Why is everything so quiet?”

She whispered worried that if she spoke too loud then wolves would hear her and everything would be over.

“I do not know. Don’t worry my lady, as long as we stay inside the carriage we should be fine.”

“What if they attack the carriage though? Wouldn’t we be trapped in here with nowhere to go?”

“The soldiers are surrounding the carriage. They won’t allow anything to come near us.”

“Wait, he said wolves, I read that wolves are just big dogs. They should be easy to deal with right?”

Daliyah shook her head

“My lady, people call them wolves because that’s the closest comparison they could come up with. If it was your regular wolf then it wouldn’t be a problem. These wolves though…are true nightmares. They were among the monsters that crossed through the gate.”

At the mention of the gate, Agatha’s hands started to tremble. Though she had never seen monsters before, she had been taught by Elwood back at the fortress the destruction and calamities they had caused. She knew there were different types of monsters that terrified anyone who saw them. Creatures of unknown origin that had crossed the gate and changed human history forever.

“But once the ritual is completed…then she will end this.”

Agatha placed a hand over her heart.

“Once the ritual is completed…then I’ll-”

“They’re moving! Keep your positions!”

Agatha heard another shout that told her that the wolves were making their move. She felt her heartbeat grow louder. She approached the curtain that covered the window and reached out to take a peek.

“My lady!”

Daliyah whispered in a panicked voice.

Agatha moved the curtain enough for her left eye to see outside. For a few moments, she held her breath. Finally, she could make out a creature walking out from the shadow of the trees. Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth and moved away from the window.

“My lady, are you alright?”

Agatha barely managed to say a few words as she couldn’t stop her lips from trembling,

“Th-those…tho-se…”

“...those are demons straight from hell!”