Late I know, got caught up with work but I feel inspired right now so I might post another chapter before the end of this week.
Chapter 2: Swords of Fire
"Banthus!?" both Aisha and Rena exclaimed.
The bandit known as Banthus was the man who stole the El the original members of the party chased after to retrieve the crystal.
But it is not the bandit there facing now, no there facing the captain of the guards under Elsword.
The former bandit grins widely "Well long time no see you two" he greeted like some old friend.
They instinctively draw their weapons; they knew Banthus was the original El thief that they have talked about before on their travels, all but Elesis.
Many questions started popping up on their minds right now: why is Banthus here? He is captain of the guards? Why Elsword would make him captain knowing Banthus as the El bandit they all fought before?
As they all wonder all of this, Elesis have something else in mind.
She crossed her arms a smirk on her mouth.
"So you're the captain my brother employs?" she said with a challenging tone.
Banthu's grin fell, he know the red-haired swordswoman's skill and being the eldest sister of the sieghart siblings, even with all the stuff he received from Elsword as a reward for duty like his sword, arm, and position, he would easily lose.
Plus today was supposed to be his day off.
"My brother fought you back then and won, you don't look as tough as you look".
The former bandit ignored the insult, he has better things to do, like going back inside and have fun.
He signed and ruffles his hair "You all know you called me out here for something" he crossed his arms "So let's get to business what is it?" he said sounding annoyed, he don't want to get into a fight especially all of them at once.
None of them said anything or moved an inch weary of a potential ambush, a trick or a trap, something they expect from a bandit lord by fighting dirty.
Banthus signed again, none of them are listening.
Understandable since he fought them before as a bandit they have every right to be weary, but today is not that day he's captain of the guards now can't they just let bygones be bygones?
He then noticed the wagon train nearby filled with supplies, he received a memo that stuff are coming from Elder to be delivered to the castle, these must be the supplies from the notice and it just so happen that it was them who was tasked to deliver them.
He let out a laugh and they all jump in surprise.
"So you're all here to deliver those to the castle" he said pointing at the wagons.
"It must be a coincidence that all of you were the ones delivering it, why didn't you all said sooner?"
He whistled calling for his men and they all started to walk out of the lion's den, some of them were still either drunk or asleep as they were being drag outside by their buddies while the others are starting to somber up.
"Those wagons are for Elboy at the castle make sure to bring them to him" He ordered the men and they all started to take the wagons carting them to the castle.
Meanwhile the El party is still keeping their guards up, they thought that he signaled the order to attack but they didn't expect that they will be taking the wagons to the castle; they didn't even bother on noticing them.
Banthus walk up to Elesis "the boys will take them to the castle and escort you guys there as well, suggest to get moving Elboy don't like waiting long" he said referring to her brother.
Her eye twitched when he said 'Elboy', no one dared to insult her brother in front of her nor should someone disrespect their superior.
"For someone who stole the El, It's odd that he's now working for the one who got him" Raven said.
Banthus scratch the back of his head "I was surprised as well when he hired me, but that's all behind us now right?"
He flashed them his signature wide grin.
They all slowly lower their weapons; so far he didn't do anything funny but the question still remains.
"Why did he made you captain?" Aisha questioned.
"Don't know, why don't you all asked him when you see him, now would you all excuse me I think I can hear the bar calling my name".
With that he turned and walked back in the bar waiving back at them.
They all trade glances, if they want answers then they should asked the man himself.
"Are you all ready to go?" a guard said behind them pointing at the wagons now with horses to be transported to the castle "we don't have all day".
They guards cut a path through the crowd, they hardly needed to as they parted like watching a procession, and they noticed that the people they pass by signed or shook their heads in disapproval.
Odd but right now they have too many questions that need to be answered.
"Why did he made that burly brute captain!?" Aisha yelled angrily.
"P-perhaps he turned for the better? You never know Elsword must have turned him" Chung defended though he too wonder why, haven't fought or even met the bandit in that regard but for someone who stole the El without thinking about the consequence to the land his claims prove to be difficult.
"We don't know until we reach the castle" Raven said putting the conversation to an end, he don't want to assume anything Elsword have a very good reason to promote Banthus of all people.
"There are too many unknowns, Elsword will answer them" Eve added.
"I don't know but that 'lion's den' have Elsword's name all over the place" Add mentioned the pleasure palace they just visited.
It's hard to believe that someone like him would support building such a place, this only complicates things and even more questions stars coming up.
"I'm sure my brother has a very good reason" Elesis defended him.
Of all people it was her that seems the most effective she's the eldest sister after all, if there's anyone more worried about him it would be her.
The El search party is now making their way to Elsword's castle with the guards escorting them, as they walk through the cobble road they noticed something unusual.
The normally crowded streets started to thin, many stayed indoors and those outside hurried to wherever they need to go, if there is something they found common is that fear is present in their eyes.
The closer they get to the castle the less people until the streets turn into a ghost town, a feeling of dread hangs in the air.
"Where are all the people here?" Rena asked one of the guards.
"There are no people here, this part of town been abandoned" One of them answered unaffected by the empty streets or the ominous feeling in the air.
"Why is that?" Chung said.
A guard scoffs "there all just superstitious! They say they can see something from the castle like a huge winged monster flying around or they see balls of fire dancing".
"What do you believe in?" Raven questioned further getting something from the watchman.
"We don't see or hear anything like that, we deliver supplies regularly like this one, and the only thing unusual is the people itself" the guard answered.
"Care to elaborate?" Elesis pressed the guard further.
The guard placed a hand on his chin recalling anything he knows.
"I think it was almost two years ago when he recruited us, there was people here before but only a few as time pass people started to move away from the castle, this place is empty for a year now".
Another guard joined in the conversation "lots of rumors too, they say ghosts haunts the place at night and something like will-o-wisps along the walls, for some reason every night there's this heavy mist and what's strange it's only on the castle".
"Don't get me started on the new one" a guard driving the wagons added.
"There's a new one?" a guard asked his companion.
"Didn't we talk about this one before? Anyway two weeks ago someone from the castle left town heading to Ruben's direction, only us guards know about this the gate was oddly open that night and anyone that was there swear it was close whoever this guy is he vanished after passing the gate before we confront him".
"What do you think Aisha?" Raven said to the mage crossing his arms.
She pinches her chin "Honestly I don't know, the mist must be magical in nature but I don't sense anything odd around".
"How did Banthus become captain anyway" Chung questioned one of the guards hopefully getting some answer from their many questions.
"Oh man you guys should have been there to see it!" a guard said still feeling the excitement he felt that day.
"It started when he went to our hidden base on the cave outside town, we were doing our business when suddenly the front door burst in flames and he step in, he changes a lot last time I saw him".
"Got a bit taller too" a guard added.
"Beside him a red knight that looks like a lion and a red eyed nasod drone, he told us he want all of us to work for him as town guards which is funny, why hire a bandit that steals stuff to prevent a bandit from stealing other peoples stuff!?".
The bandit said the question that lingered on their minds.
"Boss was like 'Ha what a funny joke why hire a bandit that steals stuff to prevent a bandit from stealing other peoples stuff!?' and heft his sword and Elsword was like 'I think it was a good idea'. Then Boss swings his sword at him and he blocked it with a cane A CANE! WITH ONE HAND! Why he have a cane instead of a sword I don't know but the shock on the boss face!"
The guard fell from the wagon rolling on the ground laughing.
Another guard continued where his friend left off "He grabbed him by the collar and throw him aross the room and with a blink of an eye he knocked everyone out with his cane".
"After that he help boss to stand up and offered to work for him again in which the boss agreed, he made him kneel and Elsword draw a sword from his cane he then dubbed him on the shoulders with the blade like when dubbing a new knight he even dubbed all of us the same way".
"And that's how we started working for him" the guard said "he's the boss now but boss is still our boss so he's our boss's boss?"
The group tuned out the mini debate the guards are doing as they mulled over what they learned.
Based on the guard's story he seems to grow stronger to beat all the bandits at the same time with a cane in which the cane is another question but they decided to park it for now.
So far they didn't get too much information out of them but it was better than nothing, the questions that still left unanswered is the empty part of town, the unnatural mist, the stranger that left the castle, though the part that hiring bandits still needs confirmation.
The caravan reached the castle gates and a banner of Elsword's personal heraldry welcomes them.
"Where are you guys going?" Add said to the guards.
The guards are untying the horses from the wagons and returning back to town.
"We just leave the wagons outside and let them take them all inside, you guys should wait until they let you all in" a guard said, he too have left with the others.
They would ask them who are 'them' that they mentioned but they were spared when the gates began to open.
The 'lions gate' as it was called due to the large lion's head engraved on it opened just enough to let the wagons in but not enough to actually see anything clear on the other side.
'clank'
From the gate men in full suites of red armor walks out and in perfect column formation, their armor is plain and unadorned red but with jagged and sharp edges giving them a menacing look to them armed with only longswords strapped on their hips with their scabbards.
At the front of the column they assumed to be the officer of the knights is different, it's armor are heavily ornate with the lion as a primary motif a lion helm with an open jaw with an expressionless facemask, the shoulder pads are image of a snarling lion their open mouths is where his arms go through, and faces of a proud lion displayed prominently on the chest armor arm guards and leg guards, to finish it off a fur coat wrapped around his neck imitating a lions mane.
A red armored knight that looks like a lion just like the guards story, the one that accompanied Elsword to Banthus cave.
The officer appears to be weaponless only a baton on hand like leading a marching band on parade, he pointed at the wagons with it and without a word the knights attend to the supplies like routine.
What unsettle them is that they all did it without making a sound, with the ghost town behind them and the knights doing their work silently only the clanking of metal can be hear as they cart the wagons inside, they didn't even spoke to them or notice them.
"Umm excuse me" Elesis called a knight to get his attention but she was ignored; only the officer responded and approached them.
"Identify" the officer said monotonely, there was no hostility in his words but they can tell he's weary of them.
"My name is Elesis, Elesis Sieghart I'm here to see my brother Elsword Sieghart" she answered.
The officer stared at them for a full minute with his emotionless facemask before answering.
"Denied"
"What?"
The officer turned around and with a swing of his baton the knights file in to return inside.
"Hey wait!" she grabbed the officer by the shoulder but when she touched him she felt her hand got burned like touching a hot still burning stove and instantly pulled her hand back, her glove even catches on fire quickly patting the fire out.
In a flash the knights draw their swords wielding them two-handed; they didn't like the action to their captain.
The officer turned slowly and faced them again, it was hard to tell what he was thinking with the face mask on, the way he move shows that he is calm and collected but even then they can feel his gaze is not welcoming.
"Leave" he stated, the knights around him taking a step forward ready to attack at any time.
"Not until I see my brother" Elesis said challenging the captain.
"Call him out here!" she demanded.
Something is definitely wrong Elsword sent them a letter to visit him; they expect that the guards would let them in.
"Wait!" Aisha shouted.
"We were invited here by Elsword, we have proof see!" She took out an envelope presumably the letter that Elsword sent to them.
Elesis took the letter from Aisha's hand and handed it to the captain.
The letter even have Elswords signature on it, if they showed it to him he should let them in, surely Elsword warned that his friends are coming to visit especially the captain of the castles guards, Banthus was an exemption he only knew the wagons are coming he never heard they'll be coming as well.
The officer opened and inspected the letter that was handed to him, still they couldn't read him he stood there motionless as he read the contents of the letter, and then he raised his head and did something unexpected.
He burned the letter to ash.
"Leave…Now!" the baton expanded into a sword and pointed the blade tip at them threateningly.
They looked shocked at what he did somehow they know he knew about them coming the letter as well but instead of following orders he disobeyed and denied them.
And then the knights around them did something that they didn't expect as well, runes glowed to life on their weapons sheathing them in fire and their armor as well a cloak of flames, and any open crevice of their armor fire flare out even their visors, only the captain is not wrapped in fire.
"There not human" Raven stated as he ready his sword, everyone else followed.
"Then what are they?" Chung said entering in berserk more and readying his destroyer.
"Fire spirits…" Aisha said inaudibly but enough for Rena to hear.
"What?"
"Fire spirits" she answered this time for them to hear "I felt it just now, there fire spirits inside suites of armor normally their volatile but their more disciplined more…militaristic" she explained.
The fire knights slowly close in maneuvering to surround them, the knights behind the front line called forth spears of fire ready to throw them like javelins.
"Looks like we need to fight them to get through" Elesis drew her sword.
"Why won't they let us pass?" Ara channeled Eun's power.
"We can't reason with them" Lu entered a fighting stance with Ciel beside her.
"Oberon, Ophelia, Ferdinand" Eve summoned her nasod servants
Add spread his arms dynamos flying out of his sleeves and covering him in his hard light nasod armor and cracks his fists "This is going to get rough"
"Leave now!" the officer giving them a final warning.
"Not until I see my brother!" Elesis yelled gritting her teeth, their denying them to see him they must be hiding something these fire spirits.
The officer lowered his blade slightly like its conflicted but along the battlements of the walls bonfires lit up revealing more knights manning the walls armed with bows and even spears of fire ready to lose their missiles.
Then slowly the officer raised his sword again, the runes of the blade hummed as power being channeled into them the sword is covered with a lick of fire and small flames grow across his body.
"Is that so?" with a roar the officer burst in flames charring the ground beneath him, even from a distance they could feel the intense heat radiating from his power.
The face mask contort to life into a man being burned alive molten metal ooze out of its eyes like tears, the helm screeched and the lion part of the helm bit down hard crushing the mask.
"THEN!" the lion helm or head said spewing molten iron like spittle and its main burning like the sun with the heat to match.
As his armor blazed the lion faces engraved on his armor too began to animate roaring flames and dark coal eyes, the entirety of it is like a fire demon appeared in front of them.
Elesis wiped the sweat from her brows, she really pissed him off a quick glance to her friends to assess the situation and what she saw lowered her confidence.
They're scared, as they looked at the enraged officer and even more fire knights flood out the gates there being overwhelmed by their sheer power alone and the fight haven't even started yet.
She took a deep breath and braced herself for the fight to come.
"YOU WILL ALL BURN!
Elesis saw a glint of steel in front of her instinctively raised her sword and crossed blades with the lion, a dust cloud and broken ground on his original position.
!
She didn't see it coming and the heat from him is unbearable enough to burn a man alive, she channeled her pyromancy to protect her from the heat.
"WEAK!" the lion roared and pushed her back.
He leaped cracking the ground to cut Elesis down, recovering quickly the red-haired knight blocked the attack; she winced at the pain on her shoulder when the blades meet she is being overpowered.
"Elesis!" Aisha exclaimed.
She felt pain and a burning sensation on her back, the lion landed a deadly blow on her burning her clothes and skin, it was thanks to her magical defense that it wasn't life threatening but it was still fatal.
'Tsk he's faster than me too' she scolded kneeling on the ground with her sword supporting her; she didn't thought it would end that badly.
But the lion wasn't finish.
In an eye blink he closed the gap between Raven and him.
Raven raised his sword but the intense heat from the lion cut through his blade like a burning sword through butter, he raised his other arm to absorb the attack but it was futile.
The lion slashed across his nasod arm ruining it, metal and components fly and pain flared to new heights.
The fire demon leaped again and targeted the royal guard, Ciel fired down on him but once he fired his first shot the lion suddenly appeared before him he jumped back allowing Lu a chance to confront him.
"Eat this!" she swing her demon fist with full force, the lion simply raised his hand and absorbed the impact the ground around them crater in and a strong wind rushed outward, he took the full blow and didn't even flinched.
"IMMPRESIVE" the lion said as he held Lu's fist, a pillar of flame erupted like a geyser consuming him and the demon lord.
"Lu!" Ciel said alarmed.
The fiery tower dissipates and Lu falls to the ground unconscious.
"Tsk!" Ciel clicked his tongue and charged at him with Rena and Chung providing cover fire and Add close behind him.
A large rune appeared protecting the lion from the ranged attacks while patiently waiting Ciel to close in and make a mistake.
"YOUR LOYALTY" he started and charged at the royal guard, Ciel swing his sword only to pass empty hot air, his weapon glowing red and started to melt, the lion passed him and kicked Add on the chest not expecting he would pass him, destroyed his nasod armor and knocking him on the ground a few paces away.
"IS LACKING!" Ciels rifle glows brighter he let it go but it was too late, the weapon exploded and engulf him in flames, the lion swing his sword and a wave of energy cuts through the stunned guard knocking him out.
"We need a plan!" Chung said firing another salvo only to be blocked by the same rune before.
"Aisha can't you cast something to hold him down!?" Reina loosed more arrows.
"I can't something's wrong it's preventing me to use magic Eve co-" She didn't finish what she was going to say, behind her Eve and her nasod servants are on the ground.
"Eve!"
"The heat…is too much…system overheating" Eve said her voice cutting in and out.
Before she could assist her the lion with great speed past through Chung.
"Oh no!" Ara screamed in alarm
He slammed his sword on the ground and fire erupted beneath scattering them and lashed out at them sending a flurry of attacks in a single moment.
Chung's armor and destroyer cracks as it absorbs the lion's series of attacks, a swing took out his left shoulder armor and burning his skin, the destroyer itself is severely damaged.
Aisha was quick enough to create a barrier but it wasn't strong enough to block all of his attacks, some got through while others simple destroyed her defense burning and cutting her across her body.
Ara shielded herself channeling her chi forward enduring the relentless assault, with a thrust the fire sword pierced through, it would have been fatal if Eun didn't intervene taking the hit for Ara.
Rena being the fastest dodges but the lions speed was greater than her own she barely manages to escape with minor wounds.
"Everyone…" she stood in silent shock as to what occurred, it was so fast that even her sharp senses and their combined effort didn't even touched him, she was about to drop to her knees in defeat but the lion held her up with a closed hand on her neck.
Struggling in his grasp only made his grip on her tighter making it difficult to breath made her pass out.
"A WORTHWHILE EFFORT" he commended bowing slightly to no one in particular.
The El search party has been defeated most of them are on the ground or incapacitated, Elesis looked in horror as she watched the one sided fight unfold, the pain on her back is still there preventing her to stand up, it didn't even help that the other fire knights placed their swords on her neck.
The knights all this time closed in on them restraining those that were already taken down.
The lion approached Eve slowly still struggling to stand
His body returned to its original states the fire dying out and the lion helm opening its mouth wide to reveal the same emotionless face mask.
"So you're the nasod queen he mentioned so fondly" he bowed before eve with a clenched hand on his chest "he talked about you very ofter".
"You already…know us?"
"Indeed" he replied
He moved to Eve's side and raised his sword like an executioner.
"No! Don't!" Elesis yelled at him only for the knights to grab her shoulder keeping her in place making her watch.
Eve closed her eyes as he brings his sword down, a sharp clang pierced her hearing, and her eyes shot open to see what happen.
Between Eve and the lion a man wearing long red robes blocked the sword with his own.
The fire knights quickly sheathed their swords and bowed deeply to the new comer letting their charges go.
"Now Leo this is not how we treat our guests" the man said in a scolding manner like a parent to his child.
"…my lord"