Chapter 13: The Red Wyvern, Magic Mirrors, and the War on the Alps.
Town of Gerth, Viola Region.
Ash sat on his seat beside the bar with a wooden mug in hand, filled to the brim with Siegbrau in it. The customers sang while Sieglinde continued her duty to serve.
Siegward sat aside nearby Ash while making a toast to the mercenary at his side.
"Cheers, Siegward!"
"Cheers as well, Alfred!"
The men laughed before drinking their beer. Ash quietly gazed around from left and right to see if anything suspicious would be happening. He knew that the four agents of the Demon Realm were being forced back to confine in their "imprisonment" once more.
That said, the Demon he took down earlier was handicapped and wounded up within a reserved room on the second floor. Unfortunately for Olivier, she was wrapped in bandages while her legs and arms were suspended by the ropes, Elen sitting nearby to guard the prisoner.
"I would like to have another cheese toast please~" Sasha ordered with a delightful tone. "It's too delicious! I've never tasted such soft bread mixed with cheese and ham!"
"My husband came up with a new type of bread called a 'loaf'," Jennifer answered with a smile. "They're surprisingly soft to chew, but my husband came up with new types of bread as well."
"Oh, yeah... but by the way, Jennifer." Sasha then turned around to the barkeeper with an intriguing look. "I've heard from Sieglinde that you were an Order Heroine, is that true?"
"Well, my own private secret isn't a secret anymore." Jennifer sighed while looking down, admittedly. "In fact, I was an Order Heroine hailing from the neighbouring Kingdom of Valaria... the Clergy over there were as strict as Lescatie, but less corrupt at least."
"Do they have inquisitions there too as well?" Sasha asked.
"Ha! Of course, they do. They were everywhere in many Order Nations, in fact, they were hunting me down for a stupid reason! That was years ago when all I just simply did was quit." Jennifer made a haughty laugh before shrugging off her shoulders. "They hunted me down because I just told them that I don't want to be playing in their part anymore. Do you want to know more after what happens next?"
Sasha stared at her for a moment in bewilderment and then nodded in much to her curiosity to know why.
"They branded me immediately as a Heretic for abandoning the mission of the Chief God." Jennifer sighed once more while reminiscing her younger memories filled with nostalgia and sorrow. "So I left the country and abandoned my old duty as a heroine. With the amount of wealth I still possess up to this day; I opened the very restaurant here in Gerth to do some business. All the food was mediocre at that time until Siegward came in after two weeks since its opening."
"So... what's your experience when you met Siegward for the first time?" Sasha raised her eyebrow in question.
"Well, he just came into my restaurant like normal while people see him as a funny jester for his Onion Armor and criticised my food for not adding spices and herbs once he took his first taste," Jennifer explained while feeling ticked off in defeat and glanced over to Siegward, who is busy conversing with the other guest, she exhaled again with a smile. "That's not until he decided to help me out by remaking the food even better, and thus that's how the legendary Onion Chef began his reputation in Gerth."
Sasha widened her eyes incredulously. "Onion Chef?"
"It's how people used to call him that." Jennifer nodded in content and grew a proud smile with confidence. "Even so, my husband is full of mysteries up to this day. While I knew his strengths, there's no hint of weaknesses in his side and some come up with bizarre ways."
"So... how did he earn the title of Onion Knight?" Sasha asked once more.
"Well, he did save the town several times from Mamono raiders and Demon infiltrations," Jennifer replies with an honest smile, Sasha looked up to her in awe to hear his amazing feats. She let those words sink into her mind. Siegward has done more duty around the town than any other Heroes and blessed warriors from Lescatie. Her mind paused for a moment before drinking her warm milk until Jennifer explained further. "Oh right, before I married Siegward; I still remember that I got turned into a Mamono, yet Siegward got a trick in his sleeve to turn me back into Human again."
At this point, Sasha immediately choked herself from drinking milk in disbelief. Ash spun around to see the commotion, only to witness Sasha rubbing her chest in much to her discomfort.
"Are you alright?" He asked her in worry.
"O-Oh! I'm alright!" Sasha smiled nervously as milk drools out from the side of her mouth. "I-I was careless while drinking."
"... I see, then drink slowly." Ash slowly turned around back to Siegward.
Sasha then leaned towards Jennifer and whispered loudly. "You got turned into a monster?!"
"You wouldn't believe my story when I told you about it... but believe me, it's true. That was years ago, and I remember the days that I got bitten by a werewolf and blacked out." Jennifer explained about her messy experience while Sasha listened closely. "I don't know anything about what I've done. It was dark and all I heard were muffling voices; It didn't last long until I woke up on the bed and saw Siegward sitting on the chair with his full gear on."
"Were you still a werewolf?"
"No, I was human when I woke up."
"Then how did he turn you back into a human?" Sasha then asked before waiting for an answer. Such a discussion like this with Jennifer made her excited to hear of this cure for monsterization. 'If her answers were true, then humanity can no longer be extinct!'
"In truth, this answer might get ridiculous as it sounds, but..." Jennifer then took a deep breath and exhaled. "... It was done by a kiss that I did unconsciously as a monster towards Siegward."
After a few silent ten seconds have passed, Sasha stood speechless with blank eyes. "... A kiss."
"Yes... a simple kiss." Jennifer smiled meekly with a blush before rubbing the back of her head while laughing it off. "I saw how many monsters tried to sway my future husband and intentionally kissed him. It never happened to them, except for me."
"But how? Everyone knows that a monster's kiss will immediately sway men into them." Sasha questioned herself while cupping her chin in deep thoughts. "That doesn't make any sense, although... It's implied that Siegward came from the same lands as Ash."
"Indeed, he is, and full of secrets beyond my cognition... when I explained about the Mamono to Siegward in his first time hearing it, he laughed it off," Jennifer started with a nod. "He also claimed that his homeland is filled with real monsters that roam there."
'The same words how Ash describes his homeland... Well, the rumours are actually true.' Sasha with a nervous expression while reminding her quest with Ash and Co. to fight terrifying monsters from the previous days. 'Still, the Sulyvahn Beast is still terrifying to face."
"Until now. I saw that large talking wolf outside the building... Its name is Sif, am I correct?" Jennifer asked the Warrior Nun, Sasha nodded in reply. "Then that means it's proven that real monsters exist and are appearing out of nowhere in just mere days. This worries me."
"The monsters we've fought together with Ash from the last days were proven to be difficult to take down," Sasha explained with a grim tone. "I've come to realise that these beasts came in different shapes and sizes, but not only that; they're very calculated and aggressive that a... "dog" savaged my arm very badly."
"Oh dear, that must've been ugly... then we have to stay diligent for the worst to come." Jennifer agreed with worry. "To think of it; I'm not sure how the Mamono of the Demon Realm would think about such unfortunate events that are currently happening."
"That we are not sure," Sasha stated before wondering. "But I got a feeling that they have the same fears as we do."
...
Court Alf, Theocracy of Al-Mar.
Al-Mar, one of the seven islands of Court Alf. Within this island is the White City of Al-Mar itself, the pearl of the theocracy filled with love, joys, and weddings which many sailors who came there stood swayed by the beauty of the city itself before finding their future loved ones.
But lest we forget, this city is a tourist trap for unsuspecting human travellers who come there to visit but never return. Inside a peculiar temple within the centre of the city, a certain green-haired Sea Bishop prayed to the altar of her deity in fear with the rest of the maidens, the acolytes of their Deity Poseidon, the Goddess of the Seas.
"Poseidon, please... heed my prayers- Ah!"
*RROOOAAAAARR!*
The ground rumbled like tremors as several ritual objects fell from the altars. From the outside, the citizens of Al-Mar fled in terror when a gigantic flying red lizard flew overhead of the city and breathed scorching fires which incinerated every object and living being in its path. It boiled the waters and scorched the beautiful white buildings.
Inhabitants that got caught by the blazing fire were reduced to burning corpses. The Mamono Seafolk tried their best to repel the flying Red Wyvern with their magic, but it was too high in the air as the Wyvern returned fire with its blazing hot flames. Despite some Mermaids successfully casting their shields to protect their fellow brethren from the heat, others did not do so in time. Despite being in the water, the temperature had risen to the boiling point that they were boiled alive.
Even on the cobblestone surface, the men and their husbands hid from the flying terror behind the buildings until a beam of plasma struck instantly, destroying several infrastructures and crushing the civilians with the debris.
Human soldiers and casters came alongside the Seafolk to fight against the flying wyvern. Only to see the lizard beast landed somewhere in the city before flying up with a dead Merrow in its mouth.
With the last victim snatched up, the Flaming Wyvern left the city of Al-Mar and disappeared into the clouds.
"By Poseidon..." One of the human guards looked over the smoked section of the city with dread before a certain Sea Bishop appeared behind him. "Oh! Diva of Al-Mar, you've arrived. The Red Wyvern has left carnage in its wake. It's a nightmare!"
It's been days since the Rift of the Convolution happened. Strange creatures had appeared in Court Alf. First were the sightings of horrible aquatic abominations that attack unsuspected couples at night and leaving dead bodies at dawn. Second were the sightings of a large beast with multiple snakeheads like a Hydra lurking within the deep dark waters where mermaids who dove too deep never returned. Then today was an uneventful tragedy for the city, a massive red draconian being attacking the inhabitants of Al-Mar indiscriminately. She knew that no Mamono would ever inflict so much pain like that.
Arial, the Diva of Al-Mar and the Songstress of the First Island was in tears once she felt a massive wave of despair, agony, pain, and death that swirled around the atmosphere. She prayed for her deity; she begged for the blessings of Poseidon to protect her domain from these murderous beings of the previous days. Thinking that they would be saved until the "Red Wyvern" attacked her city without warning, which only left the Songstress in shock and heartbroken.
"Why... why did she do that..." Arial looked down with blank eyes, unable to fathom the situation. "Why did Dragonia allow this being to inflict such misery...?"
Not in a hundred years. It was a long time since Al-Mar got attacked during the Asuramis War before the Theocracy itself became a part of the Demon Realm. No conflicts had ever happened in her domain after the conflict. But the Red Wyvern that did to her city is nothing but short as an act for a Declaration of War; Dragonia is the only sole region where the deepest parts within the empire where red wyverns lived dominantly on those lands. Like Court Alf, that place is also a tourist trap.
The Temple Guards gave out their expressions of worry towards the Sea Bishop. "Songstress Arial..."
"... I must tell Difina about this tragedy and send a message to the Queen of Dragonia." Arial grit her teeth, then clenched her fists with a fit of anger. "Whoever that wyvern might be... she must not go unpunished!"
The Temple Guards and some of her aides recoiled back in disbelief at her angry state. Never before had they witnessed the Songstress of Al-Mar so angry and furious at such unfathomable levels.
"Once we've found her hideout, we can rip off her mask... and demand justice."
...
Empire of Dragonia.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Queen Deonora stood up from her throne, enraged, as flames breathed out in fury. "The Songstress of Al-Mar is accusing me that I allowed one of my subjects to attack her city?!"
"Yes, it's how she described it," Difina replied defiantly with a nod. "It's a red wyvern to be precise."
"Complete hogwash! I have not allowed ordering such acts!" Deonora raised her voice towards the Magic Mirror before she slammed her fist against her armchair. "Whoever that wyvern must be; she should be put down at once!"
The Great Songstress stood appalled on the other side of the Magic Mirror from the raging dragon. The Undine stood in silence for a while before someone entered her room. Asura Mythra and one of her subordinates came in a rush much to her surprise. After an immediate small talk, the Undine nodded to the Kraken before turning around towards Deonora through the magic mirror.
"I see then. If this weren't your doing, then you must provide aid to Al-Mar to fend off this rogue wyvern." Difina spoke up straight with heartfelt optimism. "Together, we can find out who this murderous rogue is and what caused her to wreak havoc over the City."
"Then this will prove that the Sea Bishop's accusation against me should be wrong," Deonora said with a calm voice before slowly taking her seat on her throne. "Difina, I have also had some last words before we can end this talk."
"Then what is it?"
"From the previous days, stranger things had happened across my empire." Queen Deonora said while expressing curiosity before leaning forward. "There have been some occurrences of strange creatures and foreign domains that had appeared out of nowhere."
"You're aware of it too? It also happened in Court Alf." Difina replied with a tone of sorrow and worry. "The six islands have got no single issues, but Al-Mar was struck with unfathomable tragedies. Even the inhabitants themselves were moving out from the city."
At this moment, Deonora widened her eyes in bewilderment before cupping her chin in wonder and curiosity. "Just Al-Mar?"
"Yes, it is indeed unfortunate," Difina exclaimed before she spun around in another direction, facing her aids who stood beside the Great Songstress. "Wait for a moment... Huh? One submarine from Queen Diana gone missing?"
"Yes, they took their voyage through the dark waters to bring aid for Al-Mar from a mere hour ago, and then suddenly... they lost contact."
"Strange, that has never happened before."
"It could be the rumoured Hydra that has been hunting down the Queen Diana submarines with no signs of warning."
"Did Songstress Asura take action?"
"She did, but they couldn't find it to no avail. Even her most experienced sailors and krakens were sent to search for the submarines have disappeared as well."
"Now this is worrying..."
Their discussion through the magic mirror intrigued Deonora and she spoke up. "I presume that Court Alf is experiencing the real dangers of these unknown creatures."
"As you could say that, then yes." Difina nodded in reply. "We do not know from where do those creatures originated, and it's causing more deadly harm than a simple trouble... this worries me."
"... In my Empire, it's not the first time that we have just experienced troubles like today," Deonora said before her face fell into a wretched and pitiful expression. "Have you remembered years ago that I endured the dreadful days when he appeared out of nowhere?"
"He?... Wait, you mean the Golden Knight that you dragons fear of?"
"Exactly... him, of course," Deonora spoke with a grim tone until an agonizing expression struck across her face. She clenched her fists with a painful reminder. "That wretched knight... I couldn't just simply forget him for what he just did to me and to my people that fell under his boots."
"Wait, I thought you've dealt with him after our conversation with Mari of the Royal Makai," Difina said with a dumbfounded expression. "Until today, you still haven't got him?"
"It was a lie... in truth, he was more than a man... more than human himself and no..." Once Deonora drags down her royal cloak, Difina stood speechless and couldn't fathom what she just saw; her left arm was missing as if it were amputated. "He isn't blessed by any deities. I couldn't sense his essence... but he is bestowed with unknown powers of lightning that we Dragons grew to fear of him. Even our mightiest weapons made of Dragonite couldn't stop him."
"Did you do anything to stop him?"
"I'll have you know... I tried to bring him to justice, but it brought a burden on me instead." Deonora corrected before her face fell further into bitterness and spite. "I've led an army to subdue him for killing my brethren by just doing their quest to hunt their future husbands and try to make him as one... but it was fruitless. In just mere minutes; my personal army... all of my best Knights and Champions numbering in the eight hundred... were all but vanquished by his wretched spear... and I was the only one left."
"By the gods... how horrible." Difina gasped with a horrified look to think that there exists a human who is even capable to bring down an army of Dragon Knights and even the Queen of Dragonia herself. "Did you know of his name?"
"We didn't receive his name until just before he disappeared from the battlefield as I fell unconscious." Deonora then hissed in anger once his name resurfaced in her mind while trying to suppress her emotions. "His name... is Ornstein, a Dragonslayer who hailed from a foreign land called Lordran."
"Lordran?... then why haven't you told me about it earlier?" The Undine speaks up in worry. "You should have told this to the Demon Realm to request for aid."
"They did and Druella sent some of their agents to search for him... and they never came back," Deonora replied with a snarl which brought an icy shiver through the Great Songstress. "And this injury... left a stain through my Empire that can never be washed away. After that horrible battle, my citizens soon realize that there is someone who can bring down the mightiest Dragons and nowadays we live in fear because of him."
The Great Songstress fell silent once more when she saw the mournful face which Deonora made. Despite they were far apart from their respective realms, Difina couldn't help but felt an amount of sorrow and dread that radiates from the Queen of Dragonia, Deonora picked up her royal cloak and covered her gravest injury that never healed her spirit before turning away from the magic mirror. The Undine knew the Dragons were strong, prideful yet arrogant and greedy creatures, but seeing her state like this can come into one thing; fearing death and mortality as if another form of Death who looms over the Dragonian Queen, which doesn't side with Hel, the Goddess of the Underworld.
It was in fact truly Death itself and awaits patiently for the end of her time, which lies somewhere else in the future. Undine couldn't help but shed a single teardrop on her cheek. Death has decided to end her life despite her near-immortal lifespan, and it still never left her side.
"How dreadful..." Difina quietly mourns dreadfully. "As if the world is turning against us..."
...
Town of Gerth, Gaul's Regional State of Viola.
...Evening...
"Shall we go in? I'm havin' a real knack of beer today!" Elaine raised her arms joyfully before heading inside Horseback Inn. "We might try out the Siegbrau, I heard it was everyone's favorite drink around the town."
"Why not? Let's get in." Gerome shrugged his shoulders with a smug before opening the door. Upon entering, their noses smelled the sizzling grills of fresh food coming out from the kitchen windows while customers around them just sang and played music in joy. "Quite a lively place to eat aaaannnd... we'll just take a seat right there!"
Gerome pointed out to the bar stools and they swiftly took their seats beside the bar as the Barkeeper came in with a friendly smile.
"Oh my, if it isn't the Knights of the Sunlight Covenant themselves." Jennifer flashed a smug before making a question to the three Knights. "Let me guess... you three going for an errand?"
"Ab-so-lutely~!" Elaine nodded jovially while raising her fists. "We just got trouble in the previous days. We've gotten into a fight with some red-eyed Knights and ran away from a giant hippo."
"A giant... hippo?" Jennifer raised her eyes in bewilderment. "Here? All the way from the Desert Regions?"
"Um, it's actually humanoid." Arcturus corrected. "It has one eye like a cyclops and has a horn on its head... it's also more hideous."
"I presume those beasts are not of these lands..." Arcturus paused for a moment once he heard a voice beside him before he spun around, where much to his surprise and his cousins, there sat a Knight wearing the iconic familiar Silver-Blue Armor with his helmet half-opened; only revealing his mouth. "What's your name, lad?"
"U-umm... I'm Arcturus, sir. Arcturus of the Astora Family." Arcturus greeted the Silver-Blue Knight before introducing his companions. "This is Gerome and Elaine, they're my cousins and companions as well."
"Hmmm, are your cousins' siblings to themselves?" He asked.
"Uhh... Yeah? I mean, they are... unless you believe those rumors are true." Arcturus replied with a sheepish grin while nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "Gerome is her older brother despite his sister being an Orc."
The Silver-Blue Knight then looked up to the two siblings, who both shared their worried expressions before the Elite Knight gave out a sigh while forming a smirk.
"Then I believe you." His answer gave a bit of a startle towards Arcturus. "No, I mean really."
"Didn't expect that you believed our family's reputation so quickly," Gerome stated with an astonishing reaction before leaning past Arcturus. "Then what's your name?"
"The name's Ash, Ash Cyrus. Just a simple mercenary who came far from these lands." Ash introduced himself before a certain aqua-green-haired woman curiously peeks out from behind. Ash then points his thumb back at his partner. "And Sasha Fullmoon, an acquaintance of mine who accompanied me on my travels."
"And his lovely maiden, of course," Siegward added with a tease which made Sasha gawk in embarrassment. "Oh, I'm just making fun~"
Ash sighed deeply at the Onion Knight before turning back to Arcturus. "Just don't mind him."
Meanwhile, on the second floor, within the medical quarters, sat a demon on her bed. Olivier watched cautiously in the dark corridors to see if anyone was around but only saw a lamp that stood on top of the table, which was lit with a small bright flame that illuminates the room. It was quiet, and no sound was made before the Fallen Heroine summoned a small version of a Magic Mirror until the face of Druella came into her view.
"Oh, my~ Olivier. It's been a while since we've talked." Druella asked while her chin was held up by her arms. "Anything new about the Silver-Blue Knight?"
"Well, as you can say that we've been caught in a... very complicated situation." Olivier corrected with a nervous smile but sighed in defeat. "It turns out that we're unable to capture the Knight and we're stuck here as prisoners."
"Hmm~? How did that happen?" Druella asked while raising her eyebrow with an unanticipated look on her face. "Olivier, could you tell me how you failed?"
"Umm, it turns out that the Silver-Blue Knight gained seemingly powerful allies." Olivier felt a sweat flowing down through her forehead. "Even a man in his ridiculous Onion-like Armor is terrifying to face."
"Then have you gained some useful information about him?" Druella asked, but Olivier tilted her head sideways in much to her dismay.
"Sadly, we have no information about his weaknesses, but we learned of his name and his origins," Olivier answered before gulping down a lump through her throat. "The real name of the Silver-Blue Knight is Ash Cyrus and according to the information shared from one of our agents, Daniella, who got it from Sasha Fullmoon about his homeland; he hailed from a distant land called the Kingdom of Astora."
"Kingdom of Astora?... Not the Family Astora?" Druella asked dumbfounded before Olivier nodded to her question. "We've never heard of that Kingdom before... nor does it exist in our maps which we shared from other monster-friendly states and those that came far away from the east; what is that land about?"
"Well, Sasha explained it was a much more refined land than Lescatie itself and ruled by a Royal Family," Olivier explained the details. "She told me it is a kingdom of brave knights, skilled craftsmen, and overall beauty."
"Hmm... Interesting, maybe we should find this Kingdom of Astora in the future, and let's see that we could turn it into a Demon Realm." Druella said amusingly with a wide devilish grin plastered on her face, but Olivier tilted her head sideways. "Huh? Not possible?"
"Unfortunately, his homeland fell into ruins by some curse. It didn't turn into a Demon Realm or something like that, only in ruins," Olivier replied with a hint of sorrow before she expressed her anxiety. "Sasha also told to Daniella that the curse itself is a malevolent entity on its own that turns humans and other living beings into actual... bloodthirsty monsters, hence it must be the reason why this man, Ash Cyrus, is inimical towards the mamono... therefore Druella, we're dealing with an actual Monsterslayer."
"Seems like you've talked too much." Olivier yelped in surprise to hear another voice beside her until her small magic mirror got swapped away from her hands. "Sharing information with your boss, huh?"
"Olivier, who's that?"
"Hey! Give it back- Ouch!"
...
Within the Royal Castle of the Demonic Kingdom of Lescatie, Druella witnessed the shaky view of the magic mirror. She can clearly hear a scream which belongs to Olivier before a loud thud can be heard and her agent cried out in pain. The Mirror stopped before it came into view; a face of a very curious dhampir while the other girl beside her sat Olivier with a painful bump on her head.
"Is this thing on...?" Druella sat dumbfounded on her armchair with surprise. "Oh right, it does things strangely."
"Uhh... who are you?" Druella asked whilst the Dhampir replied by raising her eyebrow in question.
"So you must be Druella, the one who liked to stalk Ash, huh." Elen greeted her with an uninteresting look in her eyes. "Oh, and I'm Elen by the way."
'A Dhampir...? On his side?' The Fourth Born stood stupefied. 'I thought he's inimical towards the mamono... it doesn't make any sense.'
"Ahem..." Druella made a small cough for a moment before clearing her throat. "Well, this must be... an uneventful evening... haven't we, Elen?"
"Uh yeah, but sheesh, you looked frightening enough." Elen cringed herself while looking towards Druella straight into her face. "No wonder Ash and Sasha were struggling to get away from you along with the kids."
"My! What rudeness do you speak in front of the Princess from the Royal Makai?" Druella recoiled in agape towards the Dhampir, yet Elen shrugged it off while the Fourth Born felt an angry tick on her forehead. "By the way, why are you on his side? Aren't you a mamono?"
"...I am and so... what about it?" Elen replied blankly in much to Druella's disbelief. "I sat on top of the ceiling while taking care of the prisoner here for the entire time."
"But how?! I could've sensed you while you're here!" Druella heard the sudden cries of Olivier from the other side view of the mirror. "How were you able to mask your scen-MMMPFF!"
"Shut up! You're annoying as hell!" The Dhampir retorts back with her voice raised while covering the mouth of the demon. "By the way, your goons here were a bunch of screw-loose."
As Elen kept Olivier's mouth closed shut, Druella remained speechless as she couldn't fathom herself by witnessing a ridiculous scene until something malicious came up into her mind.
"Hmm, say Elen, why don't you side with us?" The Lilim asked while forming a dark smile. "Our side has many offerings, which can make your life even better~!"
The dhampir paused for a moment once she heard those words before turning to Druella through the mirror with eyebrows raised in confusion.
"... And why was that?"
"To think of it, why would you spend your entire life without experiencing the world of pleasures?" Druella then made a malicious smug to the Dhampir. "I'm sure that your life will be fulfilled once you obtain a husband, what do you say?"
"...What are you trying to say?"
"Elen... you and I, we're mamono. We have our purpose to get a husband." Druella explained with a tone of malevolence and lamented in amused smugness. "After all, it is our duty for the Demon Lord, my mother herself, to grant her vision to become a reality. It will be a waste if you won't side with us!"
"That's it? You're telling me to become a harlot and simply having a husband that I do not know of?" Elen replied with an unimpressed gaze. "Seriously, that's some cheap talk coming from a psychotic bitch like you."
Then Olivier made a small gasp in horror from the other side of the mirror. at that moment, the Fourth Born snapped upon hearing those words in front of her and she never felt such a tremendous amount of rage.
No one, no one, has ever called a Lilim like that in her entire lifetime, not even the mamono themselves would ever call her that because she is a Lilim, a royalty, and a respected daughter of the Demon Lord. Humans and neutral mamonos might call her an extremist and other malevolent titles, but never she was called a "Bitch". Such words are indeed a direct insult towards any mamono since they were in fact, faithful and monogamous to their respective husbands. Unless if it involved a love affair between an unmarried mamono and a virgin husband of a unicorn.
"How... HOW DARE YOU CALL ME THAT!?" Druella yelled in a fit of anger while slamming her fist on her armchair. "YOU DARE TO SAY THAT WORD IN FRONT OF ME!? A LILIM!?"
"Wow, spoiled much?" Elen then flashed an amused smirk before haughtily shrugging off her shoulders. "Damn, no wonder why the word "Bitch" offended them so much... but nah, ain't my problem."
"Y-You got the nerves to enrage someone powerful such as I, Druella, will erase your pitiful existence!" The Lilim stood up with a hardened gaze until she perked up in realisation as she witnessed the dhampir chuckling mischievously, much to her disbelief. "What's so funny!?"
"Oh wow, is this really your leader?" Elen gave a smug towards a shocked Olivier. "She's pathetic, isn't she?"
"Y-You called her a Bitch!" Olivier spoke up incredulously. "She won't forgive you calling her that!"
"Then all of you in the Radical Faction are actually screw-loose." Elen lamented in mockery. "A bunch of harlots if you ask me~"
"Ugh! That is even worse! I. can't. take. THIS!" Druella raised her arms and summoned her magic orb before destroying her magic mirror in a process that shattered into a million pieces. The Fourth Born then yelled across her room that her muffling screams brought the attention of the Dark Knights who were passing by through the hallways.
"I want that girl dead! You hear me!? DEAD!"
...
On the mountains of Viola Region.
On the mountainous area within the region of Gaul, an army of Orcs that numbered a few hundred marched through the pathways of the snowy Alps. A single High Orc looked over her soldiers before passing on the next road in the corner to their eventual destination. It's been almost a week that has passed and strange occurrences were happening all around their territory. It spoke of strange creatures and knights that came out from the caverns to indiscriminately kill any living being on their way.
A batch of expeditionary groups coming all their way from the Demon Realm was sent in to investigate the source where all happened, but most did not come back and the only sole survivor of the expedition, a Dark Knight named Voladea, made it back on the surface and told stories of horrible abominations that lurk within the caverns. At first, the High Orcs laughed at that rumour and pride themselves as the greatest warriors that no human would ever come to bring them down. Much to their arrogance.
But tragedy struck without warning once those demented-looking Knights along with their horrible dogs came out from the caverns and ravaged her tribe with no remorse. The Orcs, their husbands, and even their children were mercilessly slain and not one survivor was spared. In a fit of her rage, she united the rivalling Orc Tribes across the mountainous regions to end the horrible nightmares that brought death and destruction upon their homes.
"Voladea, how far are we?" The High Orc asked the Dark Knight.
"We aren't far Theia... but it's close," Voladea replied before she sensed a strong tingling sensation of dread and malevolence. She unsheathed her sword at ready. "However, I've sensed that they're here as well."
Once Theia took her notice, she grabbed her axe and pointed onwards. "Soldiers! Prepare yourselves!"
Once the Orcs heard her order, they prepared their shields and axes at the ready and waited as the cold snowy winds pressed against their skins. For a few moments, they waited, catching glimpses of a shadowy being in the distance. It was unusually large, larger than any human or from the rest of the dreaded red-cloaked Knights, and it held a large Axe and wore some sort of northern helmet with deer horns on top. The army of Orcs tensed while making a defensive shield wall. Theia and Voladea stood firm until they heard his roar.
Once the snowy winds fell weak, they saw an opposing army behind the gigantic axe-wielding warrior. The Millwood Chieftain then raised his weapon, and a hail of arrows was flung into the air. The Orcs saw these arrows with their shields up; but upon a closer look, these 'arrows' appeared to be as large as spears before they impaled any unlucky orcs that caught in their marks. Then they were hit with powerful blasts that sent the surrounding mamono flying into the air like rag dolls.
Theia grits her teeth in anger as she witnessed more of her kin being slain. She gripped tightly on her weapon and raised her axe.
"Charge!"
The Orcs then charged into battle with their war cries, but as soon as the Millwood Knights saw them coming, they dismissed their Greatbows by slinging on their backs and pulled out their massive weapons. Once the two sides were about to clash, many Orcs in the first line paused in horror once the Millwood Knights suddenly leapt into the air and came crashing down against the first line of orcs. The mamono were dazed and paralyzed in fear once they came close to see their new types of enemies, which were much taller and aggressive than the previous opponents.
The Millwood Knights then cleaved against a rank of orcs with their weapons like scythes cutting through thin grass. Soldiers sprouted flames from their torches to burn them alive and the Chieftains dug their axes into the ground as the earth trembled like an earthquake before sending many orcs into the air.
Theia brought down another Millwood soldier into the ground and bashed her axe against the head, killing the hollow. But as soon as she looked up, she saw that many of her brethren of the unified Tribes were struggling to keep up a fight as the large hollowed men got the upper hand.
Another wave of great arrows hailed into the Orc side, and many more fell by their explosive blasts. Theia got almost caught by a greatarrow that landed beside her while another blast sent the High-Orcs flying through the battlefield. Voladea saw around the battlefield that the situation has got worse as many more orcs fell before she ran to the leading High-Orc and grabbed her by the arms as soon as the Orc army in the rear section fled in every direction as the situation has worsened even further while most got caught in the slaughter in the battle.
"It's no use! We have to retreat!"
"But what about the other High Orcs!?"
"They're dead!" Voladea replied with dread on her face. "There's nothing that we could do!"
*AAWWOOoooo!*
From the battlefield, the Dark Knight and the High Orc caught the sound of howls from a wolf, yet the tone is far louder than any creature. Then, from the icy fogs of the winds, a gigantic wolf pounced on an unfortunate hapless orc. She screamed for mercy until the gigantic wolf bit her upper body and shredded the mamono into pieces.
Voladea caught a person riding on top of the gigantic being before the surrounding soldiers of the unified orc tribes attacked the beast and it's rider simultaneously. However, the Champion steered his wolf companion around before it sprout out its icy breath, the surrounding Orcs and even some of them that were blessed by their deity, stood frozen as ice until the Gravetender Wolf smashed them into pieces much to the horror of other orcs that witnessed the deadly capabilities.
"That's impossible..." Theia went speechless with horror upon witnessing the battle. "I knew some of them are supposed to be blessed by Ares."
"Just forget about their blessings and signal the retreat!" The Dark Knight yelled into her senses before the High Orc grabbed her horn.
The sound of the horn signaled the orcs into a retreat. The mamono ran for their lives. The battle was lost as the Millwood Knight picked off every surviving mamono left on the battlefield. Theia, the Chieftain of her own Tribe, grits her teeth in anger and despair; the Unified Tribal Army has come close to seal the caverns of abominations, only to get caught in a bloody battle against an army of giant hollowed men and their gigantic wolf.
They've won many skirmishes against the abominations after the Tribes unified themselves to pick off any red-cloaked Knights in sheer numbers, but their first battle for the Gaulian Alps has turned the tables. The war turned bleak and retreated to their villages to defend their homes, Theia couldn't do anything but be wracked with grief after witnessing a massive amount of deaths that sprawled throughout the battlefield. This was the first bloody battle for the Alps and a crushing defeat for the Unified Orc Tribes.
Then, from sorrow and grief, the High-Orc silently cursed to the heavens. To her patron Deity, Ares, who gave them her blessings that did not even help them to fend off the abominations, the remains of the Orc Army fled in fear and despair before the gray wolves rushed in to hunt down the unfortunate stragglers into their deaths. Theia wouldn't forget such a tragedy which she had witnessed.
...
At the other side of the mountains, on the cliffs, stood a couple of knights, one clad in silver with an eccentric design, whilst the other clad in gold.
"The battle was almost one-sided. Some Millwood Knights were killed and I'm impressed by it," The man wearing silver armour spoke while sitting on top of a rock. "What do you think, Sir Artor?"
"It was a hopeless battle indeed," Artor said while sighing deeply in disappointment before he slung his spear on his shoulders. "Sir Ledo, should we go?"
"Ah yes, I almost forgot, he is indeed waiting for us on top of these alps." The Silver Knight slowly stood up with crossed arms. "I wonder what Sir Ornstein could teach you in your next lesson."
"Hmm... father would come up with something unexpected." Artor groaned in irritation while massaging his temples. "I do hope it doesn't end up in strange ways."
"You'd soon understand, young Dragonslayer," Ledo spoke up with a motivated tone. "Remember, your father is a captain and one of the Four Knights of Lord Gywn. I am sure that you can carry on his legacy."
Artor sighed deeply once more. "As if Sir Ledo... as if."
...
Chapter 13: Ends.
Authors note: Guys, I am very happy to see the second trailer of the new Demons Souls Remake that I might buy a PS5 soon, and what excites me is the upcoming news for Elden Ring since there was an update in FromSoftware Twitter. I'd hope to see the new lore of the series! Don't go hollow my dudes, Peace!
Authors Note #2: Ledo in this chapter is the same Silver Knight from the Ring City as a Red Phantom.