Soria opened the door to the room and stepped inside. The room was sparsely furnished with a small bed, wooden desk, and chair. There was a window that was facing the town square. She closed the door behind her and took off the large sword that was attached to her backplate. She set it against the wall. The sun’s light made the black metal shine.
Soria walked to the window and looked out. There seemed to be even more people moving about in the square. She noticed that there were also quite a handful of travelers who were acquiring wares. But, her attention was acute to something else. There are Korgrans here, she thought. I could smell them. An eager smile came to her lips. I will wait until nightfall to greet them.
She walked to the bed and sat down then she took the Chappa meat out of her knapsack. She removed the package and looked at the raw meat. A ravenous hunger took over her and razor-sharp teeth appeared in her mouth. She bit into the meat and quickly devoured both pieces. If there had been anyone to witness this, they would have seen Soria’s eyes were a red color with a black void that were her pupils.
***
“Did you see that woman in the red armour and that huge sword?” Marenon asked his fellow knights. He was standing against one of the worship buildings in the town. His eyes were were scanning the square but he knew that it was pointless because Korgrans only appeared at night.
“Yeah! I’ve never seen a sword like that before! A black sword! Is there a thing as black metal?!” Lissa said in excitement. She was standing a few feet away from Marenon and was also watching the square for anything out of the ordinary.
“I’ve heard tale of an island off of Sylia that has a black mineral that is only native to that place,” Noryet said. She was standing near a vendor’s cart that was selling various pots and pans. “I can’t remember the name of the mineral but I have heard that it has been used to make small swords or for the tips of arrows but never a sword like that!”
“That sword had to be about six feet tall! I mean she was tall too but the sword was taller than her! How is she able to wield it?!” Lissa asked. “It must be so very heavy! Goddesses, this sword took some time to get used to!” She held her sword in her hand for a moment and looked at it. A feeling of inadequacy came over her as she thought about the gigantic sword that she had seen on the woman’s back.
“Her armor was unique too!” Marenon said. “A dark red color almost black too! Those spikes looked just as formidable as her sword!”
“Who do you think she is?” Lissa asked. She turned and looked at Noryet as if she had the answer. Noryet was the most senior knight among them and tended to know a lot of things.
“Hmmm… I have heard about a warrior that kind of fits her description,” Noryet said. Her green eyes seemed to look off for a moment as she tried to remember. “A warrior who hunts down Korgrans and other monsters.”
Marenon snorted. “But there are mercenaries who do so too! I bet they call themselves warriors too! I actually can’t remember the last time I met a mercenary.”
“Because, not too many of them live to tell about their encounters with a Korgran or other monster,” Noryet said. There was a somber tone to her voice that wiped the amused smile off of Marenon’s lips.
Lissa felt herself tremble at Noryet’s words. She was the youngest knight among them and still inexperienced. She had joined the Knights of Vylantis as soon as she was of age in hopes of leaving her small village and to also answer the call of ridding the world of Korgrans. But so far, she had spent her time guarding small villages similar to her own where nothing ever happened. She had even guarded small farms from hungry wolves that wanted the livestock of farmers. Of course, no wolves appeared during her time at these farms.
When she had been assigned to come to this village due to Korgran attacks with Noryet and Marenon, she had been excited. Finally! Some real work! She had thought. It hadn’t dawned on her why a junior knight who had no combat experience at all, especially with powerful beings like Korgrans had been recruited for this assignment until Noryet had told her. The Knights of Vylantis were dwindling down due to what the leadership feared were even powerful beings. Lissa had heard stories about these beings that were apparently sighted by people throughout Vylantis. They were different in size and shape but were dark monstrous creatures that feasted on humans, elves, and other creatures alike.
Lissa’s mind ran wild with what these creatures looked like and where they had come from. Vylantis was filled with monsters and creatures but many of them could be easily subdued except for the Korgrans which had been a constant foe for the past fifty years or so. But to think that there was an even more powerful adversary arise was terrifying even for a knight who wanted to rid the world of monsters.
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When Noryet had told her about the estimated amount of knights remaining in all of Vylantis, Lissa had felt a shiver run down her spine. It had shocked her completely. 1000?!!! The number was unfathomable because Vylantis was large with many cities, villages, and towns. Half of that number protected the great city of Yelwaf!
The recruiting campaign that had made Lissa sign up had not mentioned the low amount current knights. She could now understand why so there were many people who chose not to join, especially her childhood friends from her village. No one was interested in becoming a knight and being sent to a place where Korgrans were and being slaughtered. They would rather take their chances with running and hiding.
A scary thought entered Lissa’s mind and she turned to Noryet. “Do you think there may be one of those…powerful beings here that are attacking people? That it may not be a Korgran?”
Marenon sat up a little from the wall and looked at Noryet with an anxious expression on his face. His hand even went to the hilt of his sword as if readying himself for immediate battle with this monster.
A contemplative look came to Noryet’s face as she thought about it. Her eyes even appeared to be looking far away too. “I honestly do not know. The wounds on the victims were similar to those from what a Korgran would do: the necks were bitten into and flesh was removed and the hearts were removed from the chest as well. But, we have been here for two days and there have not been any attacks. The villagers are even appearing a little more comfortable with being out.”
“Yeah! Look at all of these people!” Marenon said in a relieved voice. The square had been packed since the early morning hours. There were even travelers who were brave to enter there.
“But…at night it is not the same,” Noryet said in a matter of fact voice. “All the doors and windows are shut and there are many who sleep with weapons.”
Lissa nodded. The victims that Noryet was referring to were why they had been assigned at that village. There had been a family of five and a knight who had been slaughtered by what was deemed a Korgran. The village’s mayor had requested more knights to help protect the village from the leadership of the Knights of Vylantis.
“Maybe the Korgrans have fled?” Marenon said with hope. “It’s been a few days and nothing has happened.”
“I don’t think so,” Noryet whispered. “I think they are lying in wait somewhere. Biding their time for their next attack and probably feast.”
Noryet’s voice made Lissa turn and look at her. There was a funereal look upon her face that made Lissa anxious. “How many Korgrans have you faced in your time, Noryet?” Lissa asked her.
Noryet took a while before she answered. Lissa wondered for a moment if she had even heard her as that faraway look had come to Noryet’s eyes again. Marenon also looked at Noryet with anticipation.
“Many,” Noryet whispered. “Dozens, I think. Large mature ones with unbelievable strength. I am lucky to be alive.”
“Dozens?! I’ve only faced three of them and they were smaller ones!” Marenon said in surprise. “Have you ever been injured?”
Noryet nodded. “Countless times. On many of those assignments, I came close to death but the healers in the villages have helped to mend my injuries. But I have lasting scars from those encounters.”
Lissa felt her anxiety rise even more but she quickly pushed it aside. A determined feeling went through her body. I am a knight of Vylantis and I will face any foe that threatens the lives of its citizens. The creed of the Knights of Vylantis came to her mind and she felt emboldened by it. She would not allow herself to feel fear.
“Marenon and Lissa, go and get some rest,” Noryet suddenly said. “We will meet here tonight once the sun has descended. I will continue to stand guard and will patrol the village.”
Since they had arrived, Noryet would have both Marenon and Lissa rest for a while during the day before they spent the night hours walking about the village. Lissa had been amazed at Noryet’s ability to stay up for hours and not get tired. To think of it, she did not think she had ever seen Noryet rest. It made her even more in awe of the elder knight.
“Yes, Noryet,” Marenon and Lissa both said together. They nodded at Noryet and then walked toward the inn where they were staying. They moved through the throngs of people who were moving about. Lissa was not tired but she knew that she was going to have to force herself to sleep because they were going to be up all night until the sun arose.
“I can’t believe that she faced dozens of Korgrans! Mature ones too!” Marenon said in disbelief. “Noryet is incredible! We are very lucky to be assigned with her.” They entered the inn. There were many people who were drinking and eating at the tables. Several newcomers were sitting with the town’s citizens and appeared to be goaded into buying drinks for them. The innkeeper was checking in several new travelers as well.
Lissa nodded and a bit of that anxiety came back. “Do you think that there is a mature Korgran here?”
Marenon frowned and then let out a laugh. “Are you afraid, newbie?”
Lissa tensed up. Even though she was so junior, she did not want to appear afraid or worried in either Noryet’s or Marenon’s presence. She disguised her anxiety with a chuckle. “No, I’m just curious.”
Marenon clapped her on the back. “Get some rest. I am sure that it will be another uneventful night. The Korgran has probably fled from this village by now and we will be notified about another assignment shortly.”
Lissa was both disappointed and eager by Marenon’s words. Even though she wanted to face a Korgran and finally know what they look like without word of mouth, she was also wanting to leave if the Korgran had fled. She was feeling antsy and just spending several days just waiting around was getting to her. She had spent many days doing that before when she was guarding farms and this assignment was starting to feel like that. She was enjoying getting to know both Marenon and Noryet as they were senior to her and more experienced with Korgrans, she wanted to face a Korgan already!
“Alright, I will try to get some rest. See you in the evening hours, Marenon,” Lissa said. She tried to hide the disappointed tone from her voice as she walked to her room.