As a wild fire the news of the diapering villages were spreading through all the Northern Holy Kingdom, as soon as the notices came, it had spawned many theories of the reason, ''THE DEMI-HUMANS, THEY ARE HERE!'' ,''A CULT TO THE DEMONS!'' and even a ''Resistance Against the Government'', however for more that the worries of the people could be heard, they were not being answered, the Council was silent on the matter.
On the council room, full of vitrals and depictions of the great Holy Kings that created this nation on a circular shape room, having a total of eight seats, each seat being filled by one of the most important figures on the entirety of the Northern Holy Kingdom, the central seat was from the Holy Queen, Calca, on her sides the High Priestess Kelart and the Grandmaster Remedios, following on the side of Remedios there was a Southern representative, Count Queiroz, them the master of The Coin, Lord Belicus, however, looking at part of the table three of the seats were empty, where it was supposed to be the Minister of Peace,Matheus, the Minister of Justice, Ludeus and The Wall Manager,Gabriel, for all that it was informed, Matheus was on an important mission trying to avoid the creation of a kingdom made by an undead, Ludeus was busy with the strange number of crimes happening thanks to all the fuss about the mysterious situation and all the villages going silent, this that are making some population go insane thinking that somehow this is a sight of what will wait them and Gabriel was busy with the wall as per usual.
Calca sigh with the vision, the young holy queen with her long drained golden hairs, with her eyes a little deep for the lack of sleep on those last days with dark-circles beginning to form around her eyes, her white clothes representing her purity and her crown over her head, she locked eye contact with Kelart and spoke softly and tired. -Any news of the Paladins sent to Scout? -She asked with a glimmer of hope.
Kelart nodded negatively, putting one hand on her head and passing through her brown hair, she was't better them Calca, she was without any sleep on that reunion. -Sadly, I have to inform that none of the paladins have returned of their scout missions, we don't know with what we are dealing with, but Im sure that it will not stop soon, but at least we got a message. -She spoke putting her hands on the table, looking dead inside, while the next words came out as if she was on a funeral. -Matheus as send us a letter, the Sorcerer Kingdom was officially created, now a kingdom of the undead truly exists and for all that he could gather, there are present many things more them an undead, so beyond our internal problems, there's still that.
One smug laugh came from one of the seats, this laugh was from a strong man, with his dark skin and a great black-beard full of dreads with rings, his robes white with red coloration, being the representative of the Southern Holy Kingdom, Queiroz, he spoke with humor on his voice. -We probably should not worry too much about this stupid idea, undeads governing themselves?, this will probably fall under its own weight in no time once the Baharuth Empire sees on stupid this idea is. I Believe that we should put of focus where it matters, And I believe that is, what is going on in our coast. Villages going silent?, sure, it can happen once or twice, but now, more them a thousand people diapering?, we are talking about an immense number of people in the spam of a month, this is not the act of some, uncivilized or- He gestured with his hand like pushing the air in front of his face down with a smile, while he continued. -Some savage stupid demi-humans, this takes coordination, military coordination of the topnotch minimum.
Belicus a skinny man, using purple clothes with his brownish hair was looking a little pale over the entire situation, he also was not sleeping well during this time, the dark-circles being profound on his face and his small mustache being badly taken care, some lose hairs to all the sides, he was looking now to Remedios. -My queen, please, this entire calamity is escalating to quickly, I know that the scouts sounded like the better idea, but we need to take action now, our economy will not survive if more villages disappear like this and you need to make a pronouncement about it for the people, they need to be reassured that they are safe. What I suggest is that you equip Grandmaster Remedios and her man, take as many reservies of Paladins and Soldiers that we have all of you march towards the problem and end it right now, as fast as we can.
Queiroz looked shocked to Belicus, before smiling at him. -I never knew that you had it in you! -He spoke surprised. -I like this plan!
-No!, its to risky! -Kelart had to cut them both with a slap on the table, making the sound of the wood reverberate through the room. -If we send such a giant group out, we will create panic, and we also will probably show to all the Southern side that the situation is't good, however. -She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a second, speaking with them closed and a more reassuring voice. -I agree that we need to take action,but not as gigantic, Remedios have to stay here on the side of Calca in case of anything may happen, I will select a group of our best Paladins, including some of our reservies, some Clerics and some soldiers, in total we will send around five hundred troops to the coast. -She expected the reactions of those on the table.
-It sounds to be like the best option. -Calca supported Kelart plan. -At least we can say that the situation will be taken care off, people will be certainly reassured.
At first Queiroz was thoughtful on the plan, putting his hand on his beard to think, but after a little more them a minute he reached a conclusion. -I will them put some of my man on the line, lets make this numbers five hundred and fifty.
Belicus simple nodded. -Anything to solve the situation please, I cannot handle another person trying to invade my house and even some guards making me weird questions.
-Its resolved them, please Kelart, follow the plan, I will prepare a discourse to the people. -Calca spoke with determination while standing and going out of the room with Remedios going soon behind her and them the others.
3 Days Later
It was a difficult task to reunite as many Paladins, Soldiers and Clerics without the people noticing all of them, this was supposed to be a little more secretive on how many they were, since they din't desire to make the situation look bad. Kelart has entrusted the entire command of the Five Hundred and fifty man and woman to one of her best Priests and a friend, Priestess Vento Blanco, she was already an old priestess on her sixties, but she was still a very capable warrior if needed and an even more skilled battle priestess, having confronted many Demi-Humans on the walls while protecting the sick and the injured ; All of them were reunited far from the capital on the woods, were the camp was settled to reunite them, while Vento was preparing herself, even if her small stature body could not wear an armor anymore, she would still use a cloth armor, with her face full of wrinkles and her short gray hair, her blue eyes were fixated on all of those lives entrusted to her, all of those man and woman that would go to the unknown dangers on the coast, she was thinking with herself what would be the cause of all of this, she never heard or seen something like this in all her life, 'So many in just an instant, but how?, I would imagine being impossible, but maybe its... Teleportation magic?, in theory it could explain it, however... No, its impossible to teleport so many people, even the most powerful mage would not be able to teleport more them five people, imagine a thousand, even if in a mouth, this sounds to absurd.' she began to get up from her thoughts, walking to one of the Veteran Paladins, this that had a great black-hair, with a dragging leg, the man should be around his twenties, looking at Vento a little scared.
-I see that your leg still bad. -Vento spoke with a bit of humor while smiling to the young veteran. -So, how it is going Fernando?
The young veteran was pale for some seconds, before smiling to the elder. -Im fine, thanks for asking and, thanks again for, well, fixing me up. I probably would be a goner if was't for you, but, Priestess Vento, with no offense, aren't you kinda...
-Kinda?... -Vento replied with poison on her voice.
-Unprotected for the mission. -Fernando preferred to break visual contact with her, glad that he though twice on his words.
-Oh, of course Im, my body cannot handle this heavy armors anymore like you young lads, so Cloth will have to do, but hey, consider the following, I will not need to worry if I have people like you by my side and honestly? -She looked around with a satisfied smile. -I can recognize many of the faces here, many that i already saved the life at least once from certain death on the healing tables.
Fernando smiled to the sigh in front of him, passing a reassuring hand on her back. -And you will save many more after we end up with this mission, Im sure of it.
However, even with those sweet words coming out of Vento's mouth, her eyes were worried about a certain group, the Southern Man, using the red of their group, she was worried about them trying to sabotage the entire situation, after all, since the avoided Civil War, they were still trying to take Calca out of the Holy Queen place, since she was a woman, depending on what they found out on this mission, it could spell demise for Calca's position if she was't careful handling it, she could understand more why Kelart choose her to lead, she had the trust of all the Northern soldiers, if she spoke about killing the Southern, they would listen and comply with her orders, of course, this was only and hypothetical scenario but still sent chilling's through her spine. Vento walked in the direction of the Southerns and saw the one that was their representative, one unit of a man, having an iron mace with the head of a lion shaped top, his armor was also of immense quality, and she could notice at least two magical rings on his fingers, his dark skin contrasted with the golden rings on his beard like of his father, with his golden eyes, truly the son of Queiroz, Nalart.
Nalart focused on Vento seeing the elder approaching him, a pitty vision of the future that awaits all, even more when he though with himself on how pretty and beautiful she must had been in the past, all deteriorated by the time, one of the problems of being human, but he was sure that he was blessed by the gods to not end up in such state. He curved himself in respect of not just the elder, but his superior on this mission, speaking with confidence with his loud voice. -Miss Vento, a pleasure. -He smiled at her.
Vento was looking at him, understanding more of the situation and the risks. -I hope you are ready to the travel and I'm hoping that your horses are feed. -She spoke with a playful voice to the man.
Nalart laughed. -They already ate a lot and are ready for the travel, as my man, now, lets end whatever is bringing end to the villages, shall we?
The Horses began to move as the small army created to explore this mystery, at first all had seen normal going into the coast, some villages were reporting the same that they lost all contact with some other villages more to the coast but their inhabitants din't had seen anything weird or strange, in their own words, they din't knew what it was causing the silencing of the vilages. Vento, afraid of losing the soldiers, preferred to maintain a single group, instead of spreading and trying to find the culprit of all, she preferred that all their lives were preserved, and they moved slowly in the name of safety, until they got on the first village with no traces of human life for weeks, it was a village of fishers, but all the fishes on the boats was putrid and full of fungus, the houses were abandoned and some house pets were wild in the streets, walking around, eating the roting fish, meanwhile others, like some cats, just began to hunt for the birds and others simple could not handle the fact that their owners weren't there anymore, looking through this village no trace of any human or conflict was found, the army looked in each house, each floor plank, each hole, nothing, not even blood, how is this even possible?, Vento could't understand in how someone was able to disappear with so many people without lefting one hair behind, but they din't had time, they had to move foward, and so they did, the army moved to the next village, this was with their walls intact but their wooden gates were blown open, looking inside at first during the night, apparently there was't nothing, however all changed when one of the Paladins screamed, all the man and woman were ready for battle, driving in the direction of the scream, only to find a body in advanced stage of decomposition, the corpse was using an armor of the Paladin order, there was a giant hole on his chest, burned and melted, like his flesh, bone and armor had being melted and pushed through his heart, the smell was terrible. Since the village was inhabited Vento decided to occupy the village as a command poste for now, she also was preparing herself to send a letter to Kelart relating the gravity of the situation.
Once the gates were fixed and some of the houses were barricaded and considered 'safe' to be occupied the soldiers began to rest, each house would have the maximum soldiers as possible on the same space, this was for their own safety, with the only exception being their officials, they would have a house for themselves to pass the night and be the operation and message center.
Vento was resting on the chair, writing the letter when she could hear the heavy footsteps behind her and someone pulling a chair, the light of the candles soon illumined the figure, revealing being Nalrat, the man was still confident, even without all of his armor and using his civilian clothes, he was now on Vento's side.
-Did you ever saw something like that?, the hole of the corpse. -He asked with his eyebrows raising, he dinsn't knew exactly how to react to such wound or even what has caused it. -Do you think it is some...Demi-Human magic?
Vento stoped her hand, pushing the paper a little far from her and putting one candle cup over it so it would not fly away with any blow of wind, now looking towards the young man at her side, she sign -I already saw armors being melted by second tier magics, but never saw bone and flesh going like that, melting, mixing, it was the first time that I ever have seeing such injury. If I had to guess, I'would say that it was a Third Tier magic, and honestly, i don't like to imagine a demi-human with this level of power. -Her old bones trembled on such thought, a creature with this power would be devastating.
Nalart was now focusing on the table, trying to process the information, the situation just changed a lot. -Theres someone on this vilages that might be, i don't know, some ex-veteran that was capable of such? -He suggested trying to grasp the possibility.
-Even if such existed, i never saw any paladin do something like that, neither a cleric. If you look to the eyes of the corpse, you see that he din't even noticed that he was dead until it was too late, he could not even see what hitted him, what is even worse. -She shivered now noticeably, while her eyes focused on the man. -It was not some spell that would take time, it was instantaneous for all that i can imagine, and the worst is, I think I know that corpse.
The eyes of the young man now were sharped by the new information, nodding his head as to asking for Vento to proceed. Vento continued with a trembling voice. -I think his name was Rafa, Rafa Sol, he was an intern, he never saw true fight outside the city and would time to time hunt some bandits for the sake of doing it, ending up hurt by the lack of true experience, it was a good boy however ; He had been sent with a Veteran, Almeida Pureza to investigate everything, however, we only found one corpse.
-So Almeida probably knows what happened if we find him. -Resumed Nalart simple, with a calmer tonality on his voice. -It sounds simple, but, we need to also understand one thing. -He approached his head towards Vento, speaking on a lower voice. -What if is a demon?
Vento trembled on such a thought, something that din't crossed her mind until now, with her eyes wide open. -Why do you think that this is even possible?
-You Northers are always worried about the Great Wall, however, we Southern are always focused on exterior affairs, we heard about a kingdom being raided by demons and having many of their populous being kidnapped, now with the ascension of an Undead to power, I would not be surprised if a demon was trying the same, maybe do a demon kingdom.
-This is heresy, the gods would never permit such! -Vento spoke with fervor on her voice.
-The gods permitted all of that until now, maybe its part of their plan,or even that they don't feel that their true champion is on the throne or maybe, well, this is an ascension of a new age of terror to come, and we need to be ready, Vento, please, listen to me ok?, you are a smart woman, if this is proven to be a case of demons, we will need both Southern and Northern kingdoms together to withstand the threat, and for that we would need a stronger King.
The eyes of Vento closed as her expression contorted to hatred for an instant, before becoming deception. -So this is what its all about?, on this moment a thousand people have disappeared and this is what you are thinking?
-Im thinking on the future and you know that im right, if things get worse, we will need a Holy King, not a Holy Queen, and i hope that when the time comes, you choose the right side. -He spoke while getting up of his chair, walking away.
Vento was now alone, looking at the letter that she was writing it before, she had to think for a second, the letter would basically explain the situation until now, confirming the death of one paladin and now would have to include the strong opinions of Queiroz son. Vento took the paper and slowly putted it on the flames of a candle, letting it burn with his words, Calca and her council were already in extreme pressure, revealing only bad news would make them take actions before necessary or extremely rushed, she had to acquire more information and at least one good news before a letter. With this decided for herself, Vento had gone to her sleep, she had to think her next step carefully.