Survivors Chapter 9 Arc 1, a for honor fanfic

Mercy is sitting at the ground by the lake, the rain has stopped so thank god for that. She has her knees pulled to her chest and her bandage arm resting on her knee, using other arm to rip some grass and she looks up to the view seeing nothing but a huge water surrounding the lake, she has her hood up but not wearing her face helm, and her her hair is untied and seeing a flock of hair through her hood, gazing at the stars in the sky of night, she breathed through her nose before she exhaled, at least she knows where they are setting at but she doesn't know where exactly they're camping at but they will find out soon once they get there to secluded keep.

"Hey you."

Mercy looks behind her and she saw the Warden arriving at her spot. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep? It's not your shift yet." She frowned.

"Well I couldn't exactly sleep so I just decided to take a early watch but here you are. I thought your shift was switched."

Mercy shrugged. "I wanted to extend it longer, didn't want to sleep. Just wanted to enjoy the fresh air." She mutters.

He sat down on the ground next to her and watches the lake as well. They are distant meters away from each other like midway. Neither of them talk and it was silence for two mintues.

"What I saw, when the Shard fell. I knew it was just the beginning for the Blackstones. We're going dissolve till we're nothing left." Liam heard Mercy's comment for what she said, he looks at her confusion.

"What makes you say that? You don't believe that.." He said quietly, he had questions about their... Condition of living and having the iron legion and bounty hunters Mercenaries after them, sometimes he thinks made a wrong choice to to join them but so far... He likes the people well... Certain people.

She let out of deep sigh still looks at the stars at the sky. "We've been fighting for the Vikings and putting down rebellions for so long, I figured it's time we get a retaliation from our enemies. But do we deserve it? I don't know." She said quietly.

"Why haven't you left?"

"I don't know. Maybe i just have hopes that the legion will survive. But we lost alot of people when we're were traveling after the Shard fell, mostly of them died of their injuries or died out starvation. Some of them turned against each other... We're barely a army left and yet Master Apollyon... She is determined to keep the legion alive but me and her both know. We will not survive. Maybe in a year now, there will only a few of us left. We either die or leave the legion." She said as she put her head down on her arms, saddened but refuse to show emotions. But it's hard.

He looks down on the ground before he let's out a sigh under his breath. He didn't know what to say but he doesn't know what happened at their because he's still new to all this. "You may never know though. Only time can tell." He replied

"Yeah.. time..." She frowned, still has her head down on her arms.

"I- That guy who's tied up in the chair? Is he going get out anytime soon? I know he did something wrong but he's human you know?" He said worriedly.

"That's up to Vortiger or Apollyon. He hurted his own friend Delta who I got along with but... I don't know what happened to her." She rubbed her temples in frustration. "She got hurt and I tried to talking to her and the next day you know... She just left. I just thought she needed a break from here. But now... She's not coming back. I don't blame her but yet she didn't say anything when she left." She said saddened.

"Oh. I can't even imagine he hurted his own friend that he knew for so long." He said in sympathy as he looks at the water.

"He wasn't like that. Thats the thing. She had nobody after that enslavement and I just took her as a companion to look after and he just snapped and lost it and took it out on her. Maybe that's why she didn't want to say anything when she left , but I do hope that she's ok."

He grabs a pebble next to him and collect a few while he was was sitting, he swing by rearing his arm and throws it at the lake water. "It's like me. I miss being home with my family back at West."

She looked up to him by arching her head to gaze. "Whats it like? To live at the west?" She asked curiosity, she always wanted to know what was it like there, she heard tales from that place but not too much about it.

"It's... Different than here, it's peaceful and lot of civilization." He said smiling by looking at her.

"Do tell. Are the big cities and castles?" She let out a small smile.

He chuckled lightly. "There are actually, Kings and such. Iron legion has a lot of stability there." He replied

"I was going to go there before actually, before the Shard fell. I saved up steels and just to go for a tour." Mercy said, looking at the lake as Liam throwing pebbles on the water.

"It's really great there. But once you get used to it, it just same old stuff. But I prefer the quiet of the countryside." He said truthfully.

"I bet your girlfriend back home said the same like you just said now " Mercy snickers, but Liam looks at her in annoyed look on his face.

"We're-" The warden sighed at this. "Like I said. I wanted to chase my dream to become a knight and lend a hand for any legion." He frowned.

"Oh yeah? How did your family and your girlfriend react to that?" She asked, crossing her arms but her knees are still up towards her chest.

"My father supported my decision but my mother didn't, she wanted to drop my dream and just to marry a girl aka. Elizabeth. My childhood friend but her... Well she didn't like my decision either, she wanted me to become something other than a knight." He explained, looks at the ground as he tells.

"That's bullshit." Mercy snorts at the comment. "No offense to Elizabeth, she should respect your decision. Telling you what you can't do. Becoming something you're not." She grimaced.

"Well she was raised in a noble family, her parents didn't like the idea I was becoming a knight. They just wanted to force marriage to drop my dream so... I left. And here I am. But I still like Elizabeth. She recently told me her feelings like I said but now.. in her letter, she met a guy but she's having a difficult choice." He smiles sadly, shooking his head.

"Honestly. My personal opinion, she should respect your decision, I think becoming a knight is very noble of you." She answered with a hopeful motivation.

"You think so?" Liam raised in suprised, he stopped throwing the pebble.

She gets up in her feet. "Well duh? I am a woman myself, and I support your decision." Mercy agreed.

"Well.. thanks. That means a lot actually. Thank you." He said with a grin as he gets up as well and he dusted himself to wipe that dirt off.

"Yeah well-" Mercy said but she stopped her sentence early as she heard a crunch noises that is coming from behind them, and it revealed to be a conqueror wearing a Blackstone colors. Eating apple who is sitting down and resting his back against the tree.

"Stone!? Are you fucking kidding me?" Mercy snapped at this, she quickly looks at Liam who is confused as well with her

"Don't mind me. I was enjoying you two love birds confessing to each other! Honestly I was hoping you two can make out." Stone said muching a apple, but grinned perverted.

"S-Stone how long you been watching us?" Liam stammered, his eyes shift at Mercy who is embarrassed at this.

"That's a secret my friend. But please keep talking! Pretend I'm not here!" Stone grinned widely.

Mercy kicks the dirt at Stone who had fast reflex putting his arm to cover his eating apple but let out a laugh as she walks away. Liam sighed in annoyance, shooking his head. "Unbelievable Stone... Why- you just literally ruined it. Come on." Liam said annoyed, walking back to talk with Mercy.

"She's a keeper man. I tell you!" Stone laughs in hysterically, but he gets up to head back to the camp as well. But still munching the apple.

Harrowgate, Ashfeld.

Lucius got woken up from a noise, he is holding his crossbow rifle but looks around quickly, he rubbed his eyes to get rid of the tiredness. He holds the crossbow close to him, getting up from his chair, out in the window he sees a carriage coming by and horses. He assumes that's the people who took Stone, they are parking the wagon in the corner alleyway across and bunch of people are coming out but he sees no insignia or anything, he crouched down to look to get closer look, walking up to window by staying in hidden. He's at contraction site where the place is abandoned and nobody is using it, he's been waiting for the culprits if they were pass here and luckily he was right.

"Listen, we come back here alright? If you anything moves or anything suspicious. You get the fuck back here got it?" The group nodded but one stranger spoke out.

"Is this going be clean and quick?"

"The man himself wants it done, we kill the target and hopefully end the search."

"Wouldn't that things makes worse?"

"No. They will think the blackstones are involved as long we play it safe. So we do this quietly. Come on. Three of you cover each side for ant blindspots and you come with me for backup." The head leader signaled them and the group nodded and went their separate ways, leaving Lucius to wonder.

Lucius straps his crossbow around his back, to follow the two men who were after someone, he shoved his bottle of liquor that he was drinking and his stuff in the bag, carrying it with him. He run the downstairs to head outside and he opens the door wide, he looks to his left and see the two men in the distant.

He jogged towards them to follow clutching to his crossbow and his bag, but trying to keep quiet. He stopped in the middle of the streets, hid behind the wall, he is heavy breathing and takes quick peak. Seeing the two men across the sidewalk and heading into alleyway.

He crosses the streets to head towards the alleyway, but he sees the three people that he is reunited with the two men, talking to each other they are going to the inn to get their stuff sorted and the other two men are going to look for their target, no ambush yet of their so called target. He decided to follow the three men to take them out and deal with them first. As the three men walked at sidewalk he follows them on their way to the inn.

Lucius opens the door to see a lady at the counter while everyone is sitting at their each tables laughing and having drinks.

"Hello sir, you need anything to help?" The maid asked at Lucius who walked in.

"No need ma'am. I'm fine. But I would like to have one drink though." He let out a kind smile to her, the lady smiled back.

"I'll get to you right away!" She bowed leaving to go get his drink of bottle.

Lucius nodded in smile but he went to back to his grimace look as he looks upstairs of they went, he walks up to the stairs, holding his crossbow and his bag. He sees a corridor that has many doors, he sees the man that went inside quickly. Lucius walks to the corridor at the far corner and stopped his tracks, he pressed his ear against the door, he hears muffling nosies but he can't make up what they are talking about. He sets his bag down on the floor next to him, unstraps the crossbow and helds it. The nosies downstairs definitely helps reduces if he's going in to kill them.

Lucius stands in front of the wooden door, he breathed and glaring at the door with a menacing look on his face, he grimaced than ever. He shoved his foot by kicking door the down, he approaches into the room and aimed this crossbow rifle at the man who was sitting at the chair shuffling through his bag, he looked up to see Lucius with a confused look

"Who the fuc-" the man didn't say to his words as the bolt pierced though the back of his throat, he helps both his hands and tightly wrapped around his throat, gagging and falling down from his chair.

He lower his crossbow, letting out a heavy breath before another man opened the door from the other room, he aimed his hand crossbow and Lucius threw himself at the matress, the bolt hit the wooden wall, he moves the flaps of his coat, unsheathed his Gladius, he reared his arm and swung his gladius into the man's chest.

"AAAH!" the man shouted, as the gladius pierced into his chest, dropping his hand crossbow on the floor and he fell onto his back, Lucius got his bolt from his pouches and load it into his crossbow quickly and he looked at the other room and saw third final man, he was scared of what he saw, Lucius gets up from the matress and sprinted towards the other room, he aimed his crossbow as the man getting out through the window, he pulls the trigger. The bolt grazed the man's cheek, yelped in pain. Lucius heard the man fell on the ground, he quickly approaches to the window where he fell out, he looks out through the window and saw the man still alive, limping to get away from him.

Lucius runs out of the room to rush downstairs to get the man of their information where the two men are going locate the ambush, he approaches to the entrance before he heard a voice behind him.

"Sir! You're forgetting your drink!" The servant called out to him, Lucius stops his tracks to get the alcohol bottle, he snatches the bottle from the counter and he raised his bottle as cheers. He runs out of the door and he saw the limping across the streets, he rushes to go after him.

Lucius stopped his tracks to see him as the man got his hand crossbow, Lucius took cover quickly behind the wall, the bolt hit the corner wall causing the dust to come out, Lucius got his crossbow, he moved out of his cover and aimed at the man by shooting his thigh. He screamed in agony, getting up to his feet quickly, he rushes up to the man and saw two guys who he saw earlier to regroup, he took over behind the wall again, this time it was the steps.

"That fucker shot me! Kill him! He killed all of them!"

Lucius loads another bolt into his crossbow quickly as hears the man shouting in the middle of the streets where nobody is out.

"Get back to the wagon quick! Fuck the guy we're after! We need to fall back!"

Lucius got out of cover as he saw the two men helping his friend to walk faster, he aimed his crossbow to shoot the injured man but he misses as the bolt hit the Assassin's head who was helping his friend, an instant death. The Assassin shot Lucius with the bolt, as once again he took cover behind.

"Fuck him! We need to get the hell out of here! Hurry!"

"We can fucking leave him!"

"He's dead!"

Lucius hears a wagon coming by where the two men are shouting each other, he peaked his head to look.

"Get in you scums! Hurry the fuck up!" Tiberius yelled at the two men to get on the wagon, the Assassin is helping his injured to get in.

"AHH! MY FUCKING LEG!" the other Assassin shouted in pain as he helped by his friend.

Lucius got out from his cover to aim at the assassin who was helping the injured man, he shoots the man that the bolt pierced through his skull, he fell on the ground dead.

"Damn it! Fuck it. We're getting out of here!" Tiberius shouted as he slaps the reins on the horses, they wined and starting to ride away from Lucius who got out from the cover,

Lucius went to go after the wagon by it was no use. He stopped in the middle of the street of the buildings, seeing the wagon riding away. Leaving the Assassin injured and made it alive. He looks at two bodies that was laying on the sidewalk.

He heard a agonizing scream of terror of a woman who got out of her own house, seeing two bodies in laying on the across each other from the sidewalk. Lucius strapped his crossbow around his back and started to run away to hide from the scene.

Jacques is walking up at the sidewalk to head to his house, it was good to talk with talus again that he haven't seen in awhile, when he was approaching to the doorstep to head inside but he saw Evelyn open the door and she hugged him tightly. He smiles and patted her back.

"The soup is ready father!" She let's go of her father and looks up to him, smiling at him.

"Good let's-"

"Grandmaster Jacques! We need you right now! Hurry!" The iron knight shouted at home as the iron knights are running at the sidewalk to rush the scene.

"W-what's going on father?" Evelyn said worriedly, Jacques puts on his helmet to catch up with the iron knights.

"Stay inside and lock the doors ok? Stay safe." Jacques informed her in serious tone, she nodded quickly. He leaves to go with the iron knights.

"Good lord... These men were shot." Edmund said in disgust, kneeling down at the two bodies that they gathered in the sidewalk.

"Two men are also dead in the inn. One stuck to his chest with a gladius. Whoever killed these men. It was savagery." Malcolm said coldly as he approach to his commander, Edmund is standing at the bodies.

"Did you say gladius? An a ancient weapon from the old legion?" Edmund said in shock, getting up to look at him.

"You heard me right. I'm starting to think the blackstones are infiltrating us, killing these men for no reason. We need to act fast. More than ever." Malcolm suggested to him.

"What the hell is going on?" Jacques said while approaching to the two men.

"There's a killer out in the loose, murdered four men out in the streets and inside the inn, we have no description of what he looks like but we need to find this murderer and bring him to justice." Edmund said in determination, walking away from the scene.

"Wait what? A murder? That never happens-" Jacques said before his words cut off by Malcolm.

"You heard him you templar! Notifiy commander Sofia in her quarters that we have a killer on the loose. Possibility a Blackstone." Malcolm snapped at Jacques before he takes leave with Edmund.

"Goddamn it.. here I was about to eat dinner with my family. Perfect..." Jacques sighed as he goes to find Sofia.

"Great my father is gone and Mia is still out. I wonder where she is." Evelyn mumbles to herself, walking up the stairs to get some sleep. Walking through the corridor till she stopped at her room, she opens the doorknob.

She heads inside and closes the door behind her, she looks behind her bedroom and gasped...

It was a stranger inside her room wearing a dirty coat and has a crossbow on his back and carrying a bag on his hand. She is shaking in fear and her eye are wide. Scared of her situation.

"W-Who are you?! And don't k-kill me please! I-" Evelyn started to tear up, stammering but she couldn't hold her tears back. She's scared for her life.

"O-Oh ok." Evelyn is still shaking by him, she looks at him as he takes a seat at the chair, setting his bag. He takes off of his coat and throws it on the ground, wearing a plain shirt. And a wound that grazed his arm.

"Do you have medical supplies?" Lucius said coldly.

"I-I uh.. um." Evelyn stammering in fear.

"Y-Yes!! I-I do! I'll be right back!" Evelyn yelped in fear and running out of her room.

Lucius snorts, he lays his back against the chair waiting for the girl, he spotted a paper of drawing, a another girl who she is hugging her. He takes the paper of drawing, they are both smiling together as like they were both taking a picture together, he flips the paper and the name it was revealed to be Mia and Evelyn with a heart symbol. He can automatically tells if they are love together, he smirked at this. A girl falling in love with another girl. That's rare to see, til he heard the girl is coming back in the room holding the medical bag.

"H-Here you go sir." Evelyn said quietly, handing the bag to him. Lucius snatches it the bag.

"This girl here. You in love with her?" Lucius said as he pointed at drawing picture.

"Don't lie to me. If you even dare tell anyone about my presence, I'll kill you and her. Or anyone living here. You understand?" Lucius threatened the templar girl in fear. Who was shaking of being scared.

"I-I u-understand." She whimpered, standing meters away from him.

"Good. Then we have a understanding." He grabs a needle and a stitches for his wound.

"W-Wait... It's you. You're the guy who slept on the bench.."Evelyn gasped of this shocking moment.

"What about it." Lucius scoffed at this, stitching his wound on his arm, focusing.

"I didn't expect you to be some kind of mugger or anything. I thought you were lost and homeless." She said quietly, standing at the door frame.

"I am homeless. I just wander around now these days." Lucius sighed as he almost finishes stitching his wound.

"Then what happened to you? You have a nasty cut on your arm." Evelyn stated out.

"Got into a really bad fight, bad people. So I put a end to it." Lucius coldly said.

"People like you? Invading people's home. Were you the one kidnapped commander Stone?" Evelyn asked him with a quiet tone still.

"Hehe. Don't be foolish. I never kidnapped no one in my life, I'm trying to look for your commander, I was hired by Sofia." He glares at her, went back to stitch his wound.

"Sofia? You know her?" She said in a relief, knowing that this man was not a threat to her. Thank god. She didn't want to die today.

"I do. Bad people came into construction site and trying to kill certain someone but I don't know who it is, but i intend to find out who they are and why." Lucius replies, finishing stitching his wound.

"That sounds bad at all but please-don't exposed me. I love her with all my heart, I know it's bad to love another person like me but. Please understand-i really love her and I don't want her or me to face the consequences." Evelyn said worriedly, choked out from her tears that she started to show.

"I'm not.. I could care less about your relationship." Lucius replies to this, gathering his bag to leave before he stopped his tracks.

"Please know. My father comes here and I don't want you or Mia to get caught by him." She said worriedly.

"I'm just going stay for one night, then I'm out of here. You never saw me, I'm taking one of the empty rooms if you don't mind." Lucius said to her as he goes to the other room to rest and hide in plain sight.

Evelyn is sitting at the table with Lucius eating a soup fanatically, all the food is scattered everywhere on the table, bread, fruit and pork chops and drinks all over. He takes bite off of the crust of the bread and munches it. Evelyn looks at him in quiet and suprised that he is eating so much. It's like he never ate proper food before, Lucius sips his drink sets it down next to him. He looks up to her with a grimaced eyes.

"Don't look at me like that. It's not like I'm holding you as hostage." Lucius spoke, eating his food.

"N-No. It's not like that actually. I- are you a Roman sir?" Evelyn said in curiosity.

"One and only." He snorts as he sips drink once more.

"Oh my god... you're actually a Roman. Like a centurion? From the old tales?!??" Evelyn said in awe.

"I'm not a Centurion. I used to be. But those days are over for me." He frowned.

"But you are though. Mia will be surprised by this! I always wanted to meet a centurion! And here I am! Witnessing a Roman!" She said excitingly, it's like she's seeing an alien like.

"There's nothing special about me being a Roman.."

"But that's where your wrong! My class talks about the Roman culture! Literally everyone talks about the Romans in Ashfeld. Like how they disappeared and their land used to be call old rome and such. Do you have any people like you?" She stated.

"No. It just me. I don't got nobody." He said quietly.

"Oh... I'm sorry.. anyways! Next question! What legion you served?" Evelyn changed the subject.

"The fourteenth. 14th legion and a ex centurion." Lucius answered.

"I was. After my discharged of being a centurion, I was close to the emperor of the fourteenth when we found Ashfeld to settle a new home, and I was close friends with a guy name Damocles during my praetorian days." He said as he explains.

"This Damolces guy. What happened to you friend? If you don't mind me asking?" She said wondering.

"He died. A long time ago. It's been decades since his passes." Lucius sips his bottle of liquor.

"Would you like to talk about-"

"No." Lucius interrupted. "We don't talk about him, let's talk about something else.

"But it's always good to talk about it you know? Share it with your friends and-" Evelyn tries to explain.

"Do you want me to kill you? Because I am close to murder you if don't stop talking about him." Lucius glares at her.

"O-Oh ok! S-Sorry." She said quickly to change the subject. "I.. I'm sorry for my rudeness. I don't mean to. I just wanted to help you talk about it of your friend."

"You know what should you do? Just shut up and leave me alone, I don't need someone to ask my fucking history." He grimaced.

"Oh... Ok.. I'm sorry to bother you." Evelyn said in depressed tone, leaving the table to go to her room, leaving Lucius to eat alone.

Lucius grabs a bottle from the bag next to him and uncorks it, he started to chug the drink till few liquor drops were coming out, missing to drink. He dropped on the ground when he fell out of the chair and the bottle of liquor as well, he was staring at the ceiling with glare until his eyes started to change, he grabs the bottle next to him and drinks once more.

"Wherever you are, I hope you and her have a good life. While I'm just here to suffer as always. I shouldn't never said your name. Cause I knew- why am I even alive at this point." He said as takes he sip from his drink, staring at the ceiling as he chugs the drink.

Evelyn came running down the stairs. "Lucius are you ok-oh.." she looked at him of laying on the floor being drunk, it's like... He was sad about something like a trigger about saying his friend name, she feels guilty for talking about it. "Lucius. You should get up, Mia is going be here any minute. I don't want her to think that you're a Intruder or anything."

"Just leave me the fuck alone. I don't care who arrives here... I just don't care.." Lucius mutters as he looks at the celling with despair eyes.

"Listen you don't have to like me. I only want you to lay on the couch and rest easy, just please? And I'm going take this bottle away from you ok?" Evelyn begged as she slowly takes the bottle of liquor away from him.

"Fine." Lucius gets up groggy, as he walks up to living room to sit down at the couch, he blumped into the couch and his head leaning on his chin, almost like he's falling asleep.

"Finally." Evelyn breathed in relief, she turned around to go back upstairs till she saw a door opened with a key, it revealed to be Mia. She smiles widely and she ran up to embrace her. "Mia! You're here! How did the job go?!" She looks at her close friend.

"The job...Oh yeah the job it went well. Got a few drinks or two afterwards.." Mia said with a smile as she hugged Evelyn back.

"Is that where you went!?! I got worried that you ditched me! And I got a Roman invader sleeping on my couch! Well... He's passed out from drinking too much!" Evelyn replied, let's go of her but holding her hand. She glances at Lucius sleeping

"Roman? The hell? I thought those people didn't exist.." Mia said with a sigh as she looked at the sleeping man on the couch. "That's my spot to pass out from drinking too much on."

"I know right? A bummer I wanted to ask him more..." Evelyn sighed until she got an idea. "We can go down to your basement to sleep so that way I can tuck you in." She smiles kindly at her.

"Yeah my feet are killing me." Mia admitted as she began to walk down to the basement. It was clear that she was tired and worn out. Likely a few drinks in too.

"Aww you definitely need rest love, that's what happens when you gone out for too long." Evelyn joked with Mia, as they walked down the basement.

"One bad thing a out my rifle is how heavy it and the ammunition is. That plus a sword and armor? Jesus." Mia laughed once they got down and Mia flopped onto the bed face first.

She grabs the blankets from her bed and cover her with the blankets. She takes the longsword and her rifle settling her stuff next to her bedframe, Evelyn tucked mia. "Good night love, drink lots of water when you wake up. You'll going have a hangover in the morning." She kisses her forehead, patted her shoulder before she leaves to go upstairs.

"No Ill drink more Whiskey.." Mia said but her voice was muffled by the pillow. She fell asleep moments later.

Next Morning...

Lucius wakes up from the couch and looks around him quickly but it was just him. He groggly gets up and sat to gather his bearings, he grabbed his coat and his bag. He didn't want to wake Evelyn or her lover up, he walks up to the kitchen, eating the leftover food. Munching the crust of the bread. He pulls the bag to his back, he walks back to the exit of the door. He was about to open it until he realizes something... He's been cruel to the kid and he felt some kind of guilt inside him, he sighed heavily.

He takes out a paper and ink from his bag to heads towards the kitchen table. He writes a kind message to Evelyn about thanking her hospitality and apologizing to her of his anger. He tells best luck to her, he rolls the paper and goes upstairs to her room. He approaches to the door and he opens the door slowly, taking a peak of her room and there she was... Sleeping in her bed peacefully. He walked up to her slowly holding the letter message, he lays the letter next to her. He leaves out of the room to head outside to go to meet Sofia at the Harrowgate capital about the news he found.

Mintues later as Lucius is walking up to the capital with his hands on his pockets and his crossbow is attached to his back including a pack. When he walked up to the steps he was stopped by the iron knights who are guarding the capital.

"Sorry sir, we can't let you in." The iron knight said formally, blocking the door with the spear in front of him including the other knight as well.

"I have permission to come here, you can verify sofia that she knows me." Lucius said impatiently, he really doesn't have time for this.

"A low class peasant like you? I doubt it." The iron night snorts.

"You know it's better for both of you that I come in to see your commander before I do anything rash." Lucius grimaced.

"We are not letting you in and that's final and you-GAHHH!" Lucius grabs the man by the collarneck by ramming him until he was pushed off from the steps and he fell into the garden.

Lucius scoffed as he goes inside to see the commander inside the capital, but the iron knight was shouting behind him.

"Sir! I must warn you, you assaulted a one of our own! It is a crime and you will face punishment! No one is allowed to see the commander!" The iron knight shouted across the hallway but Lucius kept walking, ignoring him.

"Commander Sofia!" Lucius yelled across the hallway of each rooms to get her attention somewhere, but the knight was catching up to him "Commander-" Lucius got cut off as the knight grabbed his shoulder but he resisted as he pushe the knight towards the wall in anger.

And out coming from her office would be commander Sofia whom was already in a bad mood from the start. She came out to not only the yelling but in addition the yelling of her name.

When she saw the two men begin their fight, a sigh would escape the mouth of the commander.

"Both of you enough, and that is an order!" Sofia then shouted at the two men with anger clearly present within her tone.

"Now what is the issue ?" She then asked whilst crossing her arms.

"This stubborn peasant wouldn't listen our order! He pushed my friend out of the stairs!" The knight said as he was getting up on his feet.

"He's fine. He landed in the garden." Lucius rolls his eyes in annoyance.

"You should have walked him to my office instead of trying to send him away, Corporal!" The commander replied with a glare upon the Knight.

"Your friend signed up for things that induce more pain than a minor fall, he'll be fine."

"Oh to hell with him! He should learn how to listen orders!" He grumbles after that when he goes to leave, leaving Lucius and Sofia alone.

Lucius sighed heavily and looks at Sofia. "Didn't know that everyone is on alert after last night." He responded as he walks with her through the hallway to go to the main office room

"Everyone is keeping their guards up, they don't want to end up in body bags just like those two men.." Sofia explained whilst she walked.

"What did you come here though to converse with me on, Lucius ?" The Commander then came to ask.

"About last night, I found those guys at the construction site. They were carrying assignment to a unknown. A group of fixers perhaps, luckily I stopped them their schemes before it was full effect." Lucius informed her, as they stopped to halt. "One got away before I can get answers of your missing sheriff. They won't be coming back anytime soon."

As Sofia and Lucius and to a halt, she would simply give a somber nod.

"Them being here shows they have been here before, if they are smart enough they won't come again. But if they do, we will already be on alert of their presence.." Sofia said, her hands were rested behind her back, covered underneath her long black cloak.

Lucius nodded to her. "I'll still try to find your missing commander as I uphold my word. But if he's dead. I'm sorry." He said frowning.

"He's strong..I know he's alive. Wherever he is..." Sofia said, he voice growing ever so quietly as she looked away from Lucius. She had hope that stone was alive, but a small part of her was thinking otherwise.

"But nonetheless, these killers must be found.."

"I'll find them whoever is involved, if I find something I'll let you know. I injured one of them so their trail couldn't gone far." Lucius answered, looks at the window that is bright outside. "I'll began my search when I make preparations." He said before he turns his back around to leave outside of the capital.

"Lucius, thank you.." Sofia said to Lucius as he began to walk away." Thank you" were the two words that Sofia almost never spoke.

"You didn't have to offer a hand and yet you did, I won't let you leave without a reward, Lucius. Once this is over, expect a massive amount of steel to show up in front of you one of those days..." Sofia then said before she too turned sharply upon her heel and headed back for her office.

Lucius hears those words from the commander, she can tell she was grateful that he's helping her. He sighed and shooked his head. The steels is very tempting to take, but he doesn't know if he should take it or not. He opens the door outside to walk out.

"I'm on my way!! Hold up I just need-UGH!" She moves the pads away and the paint cans as she was painting the Templar leg pads, Evelyn gets up from her table while wearing an apron but it's covered with paint. "I said I'll be right there!!! Jesus! What's wrong with people these days!" Evelyn thought out loud, walking towards the front door to open it. "Listen mister I said- oh!... It's you!"

Lucius looks down on her. "Indeed. Looks like you've been busy." He said mellow.

"Y-Yeah. I been painting... For the squires of course! It's a assignment." She let out awkward laugh.

"You're a teacher?" He raised his eyebrow in surprise.

"For now! I'm working on uniforms and armor to dye the paints!" Evelyn grinned.

"I see. I'll like to apologize for my behavior of threatening you, I'm not usually good at these but I am sorry." He said, Evelyn looked at him in surprise.

"Oh! Um. You don't need to apologize! But I forgive you though!" Evelyn smiled kindly looking up to him.

"That's it? I didn't expect you to forgive me that easily." Lucius said surprised.

"I don't hold grudges, I learn to forgive and forget because I believe in second chances!" She answered, moving away she can let him in, Lucius wents inside the house.

"That would get you killed to be truthful." Lucius snorts, looking at the living room.

"Why? How come you didn't end me where you had the chance? Just saying." Evelyn gave a mix with confusion and upset look, crossing her arms.

"I don't kill innocents who don't deserve it. Besides. You're just a kid." Lucius grimaced, glance at her before he looks back at the living room. "If a person tries to kill me, I do what I must. Merely in self defense and surviving." He replied.

"You sound like Mercy. I think you and her will get along. She says the similar things like you!" Evelyn said in awe, how ironic of those two are alike.

"You should listen your friend more, maybe she is right." Lucius agreed.

"Pssh I doubt it! But what brings you here!? Any news of commander Stone?" Evelyn said eagerly, standing with Lucius at next to the front door.

"No sadly, but I do have a lead somehow. Finding a missing person is way out of my league, it's difficult than I thought." Lucius sighed.

"Oh." Evelyn frowned as she looks at the ground in sadness. But she quickly gave a idea. She looks up to him. "You can ask Mia for help! She's a ex blackstone and she hunts for a living for tracking. She's been out there more than anyone else, she can help you." Evelyn suggest the idea.

"No. I don't work with Blackstones." He said coldly. Evelyn was taken back of his aggressive tone. "I don't need another person to slow me down. I work alone."

"But I insist! Well she's not a Blackstone... But she was held against her will, but just give a her chance! I trust her!"

"I said no. Blackstone or not. Like I said I work alone." He said sternly, glaring at her.

"Look. Lucius right? I want commander Stone to be found too, and my father has no leads or anyone of where his whereabouts. But you though, you got close encounters of stone almost being found like you said!" Evelyn explained as she tries to convince him. "It wouldn't hurt to have someone watch your back you know? Safety in numbers!"

Lucius stare at Evelyn for a few seconds with a grimace look on his face. "Fine. I'll consider your offer, but if she slows me down. She's going back home with you. I'll let you talk to her alone." He replied bluntly, going back outside to sit at the steps.

Evelyn looks at him as he closes the door in front of her, she smiles widely than ever that he will take her offer! She wishes she can go but she has to field with Travis and others, but this will be opportunity that she will Mia more outside with finding Stone with Lucius, she heads to the basement by going downstairs and she saw Mia sitting up from her bed.

"Mia! You're awake! Be careful, having a hungover can be annoying." She grinned, sitting next to mia on the mattress.

Mia was still sprawled out barely wearing anything to keep the airflow maximum in the basement. "Hangover is my middle name and I enjoy my suffering."

"You shouldn't drink too much. It's bad for you though."Evelyn lets out a nervously laugh.

"But still though careful, my aunt once told me that my father used to drink alot when my mother passed away. But after convicing him to stop drinking. He finally went sober." Evelyn smiles as she looks at her.

"I guess Ill think about it a little." Mia said as she kept the blanket around herself as she stood up. "What's going on today?"

"Oh! Um. Off track right. Well... This is going be a long story.." She replied, laying her back against the wall but still sitting at the mattress,

Grace pours the tea in her metal cup to drink that she's sitting on a log. Their new location is widely open and around them is surrounded by trees, everyone is adjusting to their new location so everyone can do their work, bounty hunting, Mercenary work, hunting food and gathering supplies for the camp. Their old location was flooded by the storm, she had that blackstone peacekeeper in her sights but she was good. Damn good at fighting. She underestimated the Blackstone, the three people that she killed were very easy to kill.

Hey Grace! How are you earning those steels so fast in one day." Tiberius chugged his bottle of liquor that he took a seat at the other side, including Ambrosius and his friends joining in. "Prostitution work? HAHAHA" Tiberius howled and the red eagle soldier started to laugh with him as well, and Ambrosius chuckles. "Prostitute." Tiberius said grinning shooking his head.

"That's funny coming for you Tiberius, I don't remember asking how I get my steels unlike me I don't slack off in this camp." Grace glares at him before she gets up from the log to and drinks her tea. "You should study more, perhaps you'll learn something." She replied as she leaves.

Tiberius watches her leave and but yet still grinning, his eyes shift his gaze to look at his friends. "Well that's a one sorry ass bitch. What do you think there Ambrosius? People like her will make it?" He asked to Ambrosius who is pouring tea on his mug, he looks at Tiberius and shrugged as he takes his seat.

"Huh-uh I have to tell you that's what I previously I saw." Tiberius paused as he drinks his bottle and he sets it on the ground. " I mean sometimes I just look at the people and I know, I get this feeling that they are not going make it, there's no fucking way." He stated.

"Just like those guys who died who went into Harrowgate?" Ambrosius said as he sips his tea.

"It just happened so fast. The guy who I helped just damn bled out on me. Died from blood loss, i was sure it wasn't the iron legion got them. It has to be the Blackstones. I have to tell you the truth, it has to be." Tiberius replied.

"Last time I heard of what Amorges and Malcolm said. They don't go to Harrowgate anymore. They're hiding out in the wilds, probably could be watching us right now." Ambrosius said truthfully, laying his back against the log.

"If they are. Then I'm going to make sure they see this." Tiberius gets up from the log. He picks up the knife, approaches to the boar that is being cooked and he laid his blade at the side of it's head starts to cut of it's head. Hearing the blade as cuts through the skin. The red eagle soldiers cringed and get chills as they hear the bone being cut.

"Hey Tiberius. You don't need to cut the head, you can hear the bones cracking." The red eagle bandit pointed out but Tiberius ignored home as he keeps cutting the flesh of the boar to rip out it's head.

"Hey!" Tiberius gave a sharp glare and pointing the hunting knife at him. "If we're going fuck with these blackstones for killing our friends and infiltrating us?! You toughen-" Tiberius got cut off as the arrow grazed his arm. "AAHH!!" Tiberius yelped as he fell on the ground holding his injured arm. The red eagle bandit and the others got up of where the shot come from until an arrow pierced through of bandit's eye. He let out a groan as he falls on campfire where boat is being cooked and the fire is catching on him.

"Stay down! Don't move!" Ambrosius yelled at the group, taking cover by the log with Tiberius.

"Shit. They grazed my arm, but I'll live." Tiberius wrapped some bandages on his arm, he looks up to see where the arrow come from before he saw some red eagle troops getting hit by the arrows as well. And they hear shouting from the woods. "It's the Vikings. Fuck... We can't leave the pelts and our stuff behind." He replies to Ambrosius.

"V-Vikings!? Fuck this! Im running back to the Wagon! We're surrounded!" The red eagle soldier started to run out in the open to her back to the wagon transport.

"You fool come back here!" Tiberius shouted at him before he witnessed him as a an arrow hit on his back, and another arrow hitting his shoulder. He let out a agonizing scream as he was laying on the ground in pain.

"They're trying to lure us out, we need to run back to the wagon and move somewhere." Ambrosius said as he load out his crossbow but kept his gladius with him, the red eagle men are holding their swords and bow arrow in case.

A viking group roared in war cry as they rode on horses and some of them ran in foot towards the large camp, fighting the red eagle group, clashing their swords and bloodshed everywhere through ground and tents, the red eagle bandit got his crossbow to shoot one if the riders but it was too late as as the dane axe went into his face, that splattered blood coming out of it into air and his face, the raider yelled at war cry raising his axe in air, shouting in his language to raid, a bolt hit into his shoulder and he fell out of his horse and lands on the ground. clutching to his shoulder in pain, he grabs the bolt to rip out of his shoulder. Tiberius came running and kicked him in the face.

He grabs the bag of supplies and carrying the pelt, the red eagles and viking are scattering everywhere that became a skirmish in one area.

"Grab the important stuff go! Don't forget the pelts! We need them! Hurry up!" Tiberius yelled at his group as he's carrying a bag and a pelt on his back.

"Move! Go to the transports!" Ambrosius yelled as he shoves the eagle men to move, he turns around to see a viking roaring in war cry, rushing up to him but Ambrosius smacks him with the side of the crossbow, stunning him and finally headbutts into his face with the back stock of the rifle. Ambrosius picks up the pelt and shoves on his back to carry. "Keep moving! Everyone! Head to the wagons!" He yelled among the fighting the crowd, the red eagle hunters are running back to the wagon, carrying supplied and some of them are still fighting the Vikings.

Tiberius shoots his hand crossbow to see a viking archer in the trees, he hear branches snapped as the Viking archer falls through branches and landed on the ground.

Ambrosius was running towards the wagon untill a raider tackled into the ground dropping the pelts and supplies, they both started wrestling each other but Ambrosius got his gladius out of his sheathe and he shoves the gladius into the raider's side, he yells in pain but Ambrosius turned him over as he is on top of him and stabs the raider's chest, blood flowing out of him and the raider coughs out blood, Ambrosius stabs him once again and rips the gladius out of his chest. He gets up and grab the bag and belt. He sees Amorges running with the bag of supplies with his troops,

Grace pins a viking down aganist the tree and she slashes his throat with her dagger, he fell on the ground, she started to run towards the wagons as she grabs supplies from the ground on the ruined camp.

The red eagle's are running at the open carrying supplies, pelts and weapons as they moved forward to the Wagon, a viking grab a fire flask out of his pouch and throws at the tents, the bomb bursted in flames, the red eagle hunters were caught in flames and screaming in agony hysterically as the flames consuming them, Tiberius ran passed by of the men getting caught on fire, a berserker jumped on his back but Tiberius spun him around to get him off and he fell onto the tents that was on fire, letting out screamingly. Tiberius kept running to the Wagon.

A viking ran towards the man with a pike that pierced his guts, the bandit screamed in pain as the blood sprayed out tent flaps. Few vikings are looting the camp and corpses for any reasons, the red eagle bandit ran up to the village, stabbing him multiple times in his stomach before an arrow hit the side of his head dropped dead on the ground.

Amorges sat back of the wagon and taking Grace's hand to get inside the wagon and helping other people to get in as well, the red eagle were shooting their crossbows and bows as the vikings tries to rush at them.

"Everyone!! To the wagons! Move!" Ambrosius shouted at them, as they approach to carriages to get inside.

"Grab the pelts! Grab the-Come on! Get up!" Tiberius helping the man up after he tripped, grabbing his arm to help him up. "Grab the fucking pelts! Let's go!!" He shouted once more as he ran towards the wagons.

"Hurry up we need to get out of here!" Amorges yelled out to them while he shot his crossbow at the rushing viking, he sets the crossbow down before the red eagle passed him another crossbow to shoot so it won't take up the reloading.

Ambrosius throws the pelts and the bags into carriage, he grabs the bars to support to head inside, he got his hands to help put the pelts Inside, Tiberius hands the pelts to Ambrosius as he shoves them Inside. He climbed up to the carriage, the red eagle bandit tries hop on board but the arrow hits the man eye and fell on his side on the ground, the rider's of the wagons were slamming their reins down to leave the skirmish, Tiberius shot the crossbow rifle, he puts it down and grabbed another crossbow to shoot the vikings.

They see the camp in flames and smokes coming out as the Vikings are running around killing the remains of the red eagles. The vikings tries to catch up to the wagon but it was no use. They already left.

Mercy is walking on the water with Liam holding their spears to catch fish in the water, she's walking slowly and looking carefully in the water to see any fish swimming around. She's letting her hair flow and her hood is down.

"You ever did spear fishing before?" Mercy asked smiling, holding her spear as she looks at Liam who has his helmet off as well. Holding his spear, he glanced at Mercy and smiles.

"Nope never. I was a farmer who just picks cabbages and vegetables from the ground." Liam chuckles setting his spear on stand in the water.

"You really have to walk around slowly so you won't scare them away, stand still as a statue and if you see them close to you, you just thrust your spear and you got it." Mercy explains to her walking around to look any fish around.

"Really? You make it sound like it's easy. But to me it's hard." Liam let out a laugh.

"You mentioned last night about a Shard. That heavily fortress right?" Liam asked her, she looks at him in frown

"Yeah. We used to live there till those Vikings came out of nowhere, don't know which clan was it but some say it was the warborn who invaded the shard." She answered.

"Must been rough." Liam said empathy.

"You don't know the half of it, they just storm the gates in the lower levels, killing us one by one as they progress the upper levels till it was nothing. It was a massacre, it's a miracle that we made it out." Mercy sighed and she looks at the reflection of herself in the water. "Since the west iron legion are here, they'll probably claim the fortress." She frowned.

"Oh. It doesn't sound right if the iron legion take the fight aganist the viking and claim it that was once yours." He said.

"Eh. The world is moved on, nobody cares about us. We're just a fading legion, it's either get killed for our crimes or run away to start a new life." She explains quietly

"Ever tried reclaiming it back?"

"Some did. But they never came back and master apollyon was so eager to reclaim it back the fortress but... She had to some sacrifice choices. She gave us the order of not go after the Shard anymore. So... They just settle there as their new home."

"Jesus. Do you know anyone else made it out?"

She shooks her head. "They either died by Vikings or succumbed to their injuries or worse... They took the easy out during the shard fell." She said sadly.

"Can't imagine all that happened in one night, it's no wonder vikings is been increasing outside of South." Liam said sadly as well.

"It's the only land we been living here since a month." She said honestly, she looks to see some fish swimming towards, she held the spear in air and thrust into to stab the fish, she yanked it out. She smiles at this, shift her body to show her earning. "Caught one!" She smirked.

"Already!? How did you make this so easy!?" Liam exclaimed

"Practice liam. It's all about practicing." Mercy grinned walking back to the land to put the fishes on the net, she continues her work with Liam as they bonded more.

Lucius had his hood up over his head and his hands are inside his pockets, snoring to himself, he opens his eyes and shift his gaze to see the girl just next to him at the bench.

"You talk in your sleep old man." Evelyn pointed out, Lucius adjusted himself by sitting up on his seat. "Must be a bad dream. I hate bad dreams."

"Me too." Lucius grabbing his bottle of liquor next to him, he uncorks the bottle to drink. "So how did it go?" He sips his drink of liquor.

"Well. You're going be mad at me." Evelyn said

"I said something else besides the thingy. I didn't mention about her going." Evelyn said shamefully

"Care to explain why?" Lucius said wondering.

"It just... She just seemed so happy here and she just joined a legion to be close with me and she even lives me! I'll feel bad that she doesn't want to go out there." Evelyn stated.

"I know. I know. I'm sorry I couldn't help it- I just. It doesn't feel right just sending her out there again. She just started a new life here."

"Your sheriff is missing, don't you want him back? Don't you want to see Sofia and the others happy that he's back?"

"Of course I want him back. He always makes sure everyone is ok in this place, Sofia and him are great leaders in the settlement, but... I'm pretty sure the others can still find him." Evelyn answered frown.

Lucius shooked his head. "They're not going find him at this rate. they have no leads, but I can find him faster since I found more leads, like you said earlier safety in numbers. I'm still willing to give a try." Lucius said as he look at her.

Evelyn looks on the ground in frowned. "She.. gone through alot, she had a horrible experience in her legion. That's why i was hesitant to tell her to help you. Please don't be upset at me." She said quietly.

Lucius sighs as he puts his bottle down next to him, he leans forward. "I'm not upset, I understand. You care about her and you don't want nothing happened to her."

"Yeah. But at the same time. I hate seeing Sofia being miserable. She's always go home and isolate herself. I want commander Stone to be found." She looked up to him.

Lucius nodded before he looks at her once more. "You said something about if I want to talk about my friend. Damocles, last night."

"Yeah? But I figured it was rude of me to ask-"

"He died... By the Vikings, I left him with a person that I trusted of Damocles favor. I got two people out of there, his wife included. I couldn't leave him behind so I went back to go look for him and his friend... When I heard the news." Lucius shuddered under his breath that "He was dead... And I blamed myself for that. It should've been me." He said as he grabs the bottle to drink his sorrow.

Evelyn looks him with no words that escaped her lips. "Don't blame yourself of your friends death. It wasn't your fault, he wanted you to get his wife to safety."

He sniffles, he kept his eyes on the ground holding his bottle. "Yeah. But still it should've been me. He had a wife and a baby on the way. But... Sadly she didn't make it. The kid? I don't know, disappeared I guess. People I knew are already dead. That's why it just me." He said while he sips his drink.

"Oh I'm so sorry that happened to you Lucius. I-.." Evelyn paused as she let out a shuddered breath. "I'm so sorry. For both of them, but... He wouldn't want you to be like this, he may be dead but if you think about it. He's there with you, all the time. I think he would be proud that your trying to help someone in need." She offer a smile to him.

He chuckles before he sniffles, he takes a sip from the bottle. "Is this your pep talk? But thank you.. for.. listening." He thanked her.

"Of course and Haha! I'm a bit religious. But that's not the case! You know... You should come by over tonight! Mia and I going to eat at dinner table together." She smiles.

No. I'm fine. I don't want to be a burden."

"Come on! You should at least get to know me and her! Mia is a very nice person that you will ever meet." Eve smiles widely at him.

Lucius sighs at this. "Fine... Food sounds nice." He had to admitted.

At night in Harrowgate...

"You know... There's a reason to eat with a spoon right?"

Lucius stopped eating his plate that he was eating with his hands like an animal. He scowled, grabbing a spoon nearby next to him. "Pardon my manners, I'm not used to eating proper homemade food."

"Well. It just two of us and she will be coming up any minute as she finishes of what's she doing. And we have to do our prayers for the food." Evelyn stated.

"Prayers? I don't think so. I rather just eat my food in peace."

"But you have to! It's to blessed the food! And we have to wait for her, so we can't eat without her." Evelyn exclaimed.

"Ugh... Fine." Lucius grumbled putting his spoon away on the table, he crossed his arms.

"Hey! I have rules in this house so you better-" Evelyn heard the door open and she saw Mia that she was coming out of the basement. "Hey Mia!! Remember our friend here?"

"Yeah the drunk fuck. What about him?" Mia asked crossing her arms.

"Hey be nice! he's a guest!" Evelyn said, tapped the empty seat so she can next to her. "His name is Lucius and I invited him here!"

"What a nice introduction of your friend." Lucius shooks his head as he sits up from his seat to ready to eat unti he heard someone clear their throat.

"Prayers remember?!?" Evelyn huffed she Interlock her hands to lay her elbow on the table.

"Just an observation based off of his smell." Mia said with a shrug as she sat down. She wasn't a religious person but she was respectful.

"Ah I see." Lucius interlock his hands to pray on the table. Evelyn smiles at everyone at the table.

Evelyn spoked out as she finishes adjusting. "Dear lord, thank you for giving us for this wonderful meal and giving us strength for my family, to our families, to our community, to our home. Please bless this food we about to share, those who prepared it, those who serve it, and those who have worked to make today the special occasion it is. For all of this we give you thanks. Amen." Evelyn finishes her statement.

"Amen." Lucius replies as he got his hands to grab the spoon to eat and Evelyn was grabbing her spoon as well. "So...you two seem close together."

Once Evelyn was finished praying Mia was quick to begin eating her food silently.

"We are! and you ever did special occasion with your friend Damocles?" Evelyn said to him before Lucius nodded slowly.

"I did. I bring my daughter to his house to eat with him and his girlfriend but they weren't married at that time." Lucius replies cutting the bread to corked into his mouth, munching it.

"You have a daughter!?" Awe! How old is she??" She said to him in curiosity.

"I rather not talk about it, too much." Lucius said quietly eating his food.

"I understand. Sorry to ask. Let's move to another conversation!" Evelyn said to talk about another different topic! And enjoy our meal!" Evelyn said to the with happy tone in her voice.

Malcolm is looking through table that is filled with papers and letters, he was looking through he opens the cabinets and shelfs, growling in frustration of this soft hearted commander of harrowgate. He was about to open another cabinet before he heard a door open and it was revealed to be Sofia entering her office.

"Ah commander Sofia I been meaning to talk with you. I want to know who was that peasant that you were talking in the hallway this morning before." Malcolm asked her. "One of the iron legion knight informed me that he barged in with no permission?"

The commander would come to halt dead within her tracks, letting out a silent sigh behind her long fur cloak as she removed it from its perch upon her head.

"You and this peasant talk..." She said as she looked upon Malcom.

"He had been granted access to this building by me-personally. But you choose to operate behind my back, so why is there a problem now when ask for a helping hand ?" The Commander then came to ask as she cocked a brow and a narrow gaze filled her eyes.

"So this is even between us? May I remind you that I hired professional Mercenaries to disable the blackstone activities, you should be grateful that I'm doing what's best for this iron legion. And you? You been sulking and wasting your time to find missing drunkard!" Malcolm snapped at her, looking at her with full glare in his eyes.

"You took the weak route, the Blackstone route, my dear Malcom..." Sofia replied with the most calm and relaxed tone she had ever had before. And to say the least, that should be your cue to run. But as Stone was mentioned, her calm natured look turned almost into a seething glare.

"What would the west say about your recent actions, hm ? Because I know they surely wouldn't be happy to hear you had brought in Mercs for hire.." She then spoke with a smirk as she ever so calmly looked up at the angry man, but oh did she ever want to bitch slap him.

"We'll see about that commander Sofia." Malcolm chuckles at this as he steps out of her office but stops his tracks at the door frame. He turns around to look at her once more. "If Edmund wasn't charge of this operations, I would've had you by gone of this operation. But luckily i respect the man." He grimaced and he turns to leave out of her office.

"Oh how blinded by you are by your cherished rank..." Sofia came to say with a chuckle of her words as her gaze simply stayed locked upon her office.

"You are in the city the I overlook, defend. What gives you any jurisdiction to remove me from my own commanding post ? If I were to be court marshaled, I wouldn't be the only one being thrown in the dungeons..."

"One way or another, Commander. You are wasting your time to find a missing person! It's time that you find another!" Malcolm voice can out loud in the hallway as he kept walking away.

"You learn to not lose hope, Malcolm...we all need some of it.." Sofia muttered silently to herself as Malcolm made his leave. After they had parted ways, Sofia would simply go into her office and threw her cloaks hood down before sitting down behind her office desk with a somber sigh as her head came to rest upon her dark oak desk.

Meanwhile at blackstone camp...

"It's about to be two months since we been living here. Summer is almost over." The blackstone knight said who is sitting down at his chair inside a small tower that they built, the second Blackstone is looking at the window and holding his crossbow rifle.

"I'm not ready for Fall. We won't make it here when winter arrives, food will be scared and less supplies." The second blackstone said with a sigh.

"Hey at least we're alive."

"We're surviving. That's what you called being alive?" The second man said sternly, he grabs the spyglass scope to look anything usual.

"That's how I see it. Just look around you." The first knight said, he pointed his hand around the environment. "Think of it as a weekend camping, there's berries around those bushes, fish to catch at nearby lake and we can hunt! Come on! It's way better than living in the Shard, out here? We can do whatever we want."

"Are you even hearing yourself, I'm assuming those almost two months has already drove you to madness." The second knight, looking through the spyglass.

"I'm speaking common sense, if Apollyon is not even doing nothing to save this legion. We're on our own."

"You bastard, she's doing whatever she to save this legion and you're speaking nonsense that I even understand you!" The second shot up a glare but still looking through the scope till he saw a group of Vikings on horses riding through roads. He gasped in shock.

"What is it?" The first knight asked.

"Get to the camp and warn everyone! A group of Vikings are on their way, not a horde but a wanderer group " He warned him, the first knight nodded his head quickly as he climbs the down the ladder to run to the camp.

"Haha! You're actually serious? You know how to play the lute?"

"Mhm i'm serious. I would go to a town square in the middle of the fountain and to play the lute in front of everyone. And surprisingly, people will just give me steels."

"You're fucking with me." Mercy laughed out loud, holding her bottle of liquor that she got from the basket and they brought it over before they went spear fishing. They are sitting at the shore where the lake is, sitting down next to each other to watch the view of the lake.

He sips his bottle before he sets it besides him. "Even though I don't have it with me. I left it back home, I might have to find one to buy." Liam replies, laying his arms resting on his knees.

"You know you're the third person I met who plays the lute. William for example and Evelyn, they're so obsessed with the thing." She chuckles.

"It's a good instrument to play! You should try it someday!" He smiles at her, but Mercy shooks her head fanatically.

"No no no. I'm not very good with instruments, I'll probably be horrible at it." Mercy awakardly said to him.

"Can I join you guys!?" A voice can be heard behind them, it revealed to be Stone. "I don't know the people in that camp, so I'm just going uhh hang out with you guys for now." Stone chirped, coming out of the woods to sit down with them, he sat between next to them, making Mercy grimaced than ever that he had to ruin the moment, she turned around to drink her liquor. The warden sighed of this.

"Stone we were just-" Liam tries to say something but he got cut off.

"Ho Ho! You guys were having picnic? Here don't mind if I do!" Stone grabs the wine bottle to drink, Liam couldn't help to feel sorry for the man who doesn't know people in the blackstone. But Mercy is annoyed at the situation.

"We were till you interrupted Stone." She said glaring at him.

"Hey don't blame me! I got no friends here besides you guys, you were the only people I got rescued, normally I would send a letter to my beloved woman Sofia but it pains me that I can't put on her risk in danger including me." Stone frowned at this as he uncorks the bottle to drink.

"I'm pretty sure that your safe to go back you knucklehead." Mercy scowled.

"Not really. You got those guys that they are paid to get rid of me and if I go back, they will realize I'm alive and they are deep pockets with the commander. Can't risk my presence like you said." Stone stated the fact.

"You're screwed either way but sticking with us, you do realize your affiliated the blackstone as wanted criminals." She replies.

"Well shit. Guess I'll die happily. Cheers." He raises his bottle to them and drinks it, causing Liam snorts of laughter. as they sit together watching the stars at night.

Hope you enjoy the new chapter! sorry for taking long! Mercy and Warden aka Liam are finally getting along! and put some action there to spice things up :)Till then next chapter! I'll fix some wording along the release like I said!