People of upstanding character are always the most well received. Whether they be in positions of command and authority, or working in the bottom spectrums of society, they all had an ability to gather the approval of the masses.
Staring at Duke Berferd refusing to escape for the sake of his duchy's people, Shirou had already decided that he couldn't turn a blind eye to the Duke's predicament.
The rustling of leaves beneath his feet prickled at his ears, but he was already used to the New World around him. It was his new reality, and nothing around him was a game any longer.
Children were sobbing, mothers weeping for the loss of friends and family.
Nothing in YGGDRASIL could replicate the authenticity of the tears he could see before him.
His hands balled into fists as he let out a sigh.
He had already sent Cu to stop the approaching enemies, but it didn't resolve anything in regards to comforting the people in front of him. Moreover, he still had to convince Duke Berferd that he and his men didn't have to stay behind to buy time for the elderly and children to escape.
On one hand, it would probably be easier if he just explained the matter of Cu running interference, but there was a problem with that method. He'd have to reveal that there was more to him than what Vincent Berferd must have had already reported to his father.
He subtly glanced at Arturia's direction.
She was standing guard near the children and elderly in precaution for any unforeseen incidents, however, she seemed to be having a difficult time maintaining her vigilance. The stronger-willed children were running around her, staring at her up and down in awe due to the regal disposition she exuded naturally. Eventually, she could no longer maintain her neutrality when the one and two-year olds who'd escaped their mother's grasp began attempting to climb up her legs.
She was fine with it at the beginning, yet she never had the experience to deal with children to begin with, especially toddlers.
She stared anxiously at him, but he pretended not to see her predicament when one of the children started drooling on her blue mantle and crying when she tried to take it away.
"A-A child must not cry when they don't get what they want," she rebuked to no result. The child merely stared at her before unexpectedly laughing, forsaking Arturia's mantle in favour of climbing her shoulders.
Arturia's lip twitched, but it was too dangerous to allow the child to climb any higher without support. Reaching out with her arms, she supported the child with her hands but grew dismayed when the child simply used her actions to settle nicely over her head. She could hear a distinct gurgling noise before the feeling of wet saliva began trailing down her forehead and then down her face.
Her complexion turned ashen.
She could not possibly name a time when such a situation had ever befallen her.
War and the battlefield were all that she had devoted her life towards.
Child rearing had not once crossed her mind, let alone how to deal with them. Proper reasoning and rationality would not work in the face of a baby who could not understand.
With a child clinging onto her head and numerous other children and toddlers starting to climb up her legs, she looked absolutely miserable. Well, miserable was perhaps taking it to far, but she was distinctly uncomfortable nonetheless; unable to utilize any of her strength lest she harm the children. Her mouth was opening and closing, wanting to cry out for help, for salvation, but unable to shed her dignity as Royalty in front of so many individuals, she could only force herself to tolerate.
She tried to signal to Shirou with her eyes, but the moment she turned her head, it was to the sight of another toddler who made his way to latch onto her shoulder. Inwardly, she felt like wailing in frustration.
Looking at Arturia, Shirou smiled in mirth.
Yes. Arturia and the others were the reason he could not divulge his capabilities too much otherwise it would be too difficult to extricate himself and the others from the New World's problems.
If Shirou were alone, he probably wouldn't care for such a result, but the point was that he wasn't. Under him were numerous NPCs of his own creation looking to him for guidance in the New World, some more than others.
Until he was certain that his actions would not implicate them, he would first attempt to remain as low profile as possible. After all, he cared for all of them.
Lost in thought, he suddenly felt a tug on his sleeve.
Ignore it Shirou. Ignore it.
What he couldn't see, he couldn't help.
Just from the sound of giggling and laughter around him, he was certain he knew just who exactly was currently tugging on his sleeve. Turning his head now would give him more trouble than it was worth, and besides, he still needed to convince Duke Berferd that the danger had passed.
Inwardly apologizing to Arturia in his mind, he pulled away from her grip just as she tried to step in front of him, making it impossible for him to say he didn't notice her plight. He stifled his amusement. For some reason he could have had sworn that he had heard a forlorn whimper of helplessness. It was borderline on the verge of despair.
No. There was no way he was going to help her right now.
Besides.
Shirou's expression grew exceedingly neutral as he subtly glanced at Arturia at the corner of his peripherals.
He was enjoying the view.
A recollection that he would store away and never forget.
The King who was generally composed and always carrying a regal aura, suddenly reduced to the disposition of a mother suddenly realizing the difficulty of raising newborns. It came with all the perks too: disheveled hair, twitching eyes, and drool, plenty of drool that stained her armour and clothing sticky.
His mood exceedingly bright at a new treasured memory, he made his way towards Duke Berferd and left a crestfallen Arturia behind.
Duke Berferd was standing with his arms crossed staring in the direction he knew the enemy to be chasing from. Beside him was Vincent and the other Knights of the household who were setting up a defensive line using their camping supplies as make-shift barriers.
Vincent was the first to notice Shirou's approach, yet before he could notify his father, he momentarily froze in shock when he caught sight of Arturia. Unlike the elderly and citizens being escorted, Vincent and the others had busied themselves in preparation for an attack. As such, when Vincent finally turned to Shirou's direction, the sight of Arturia buried in a pile of children was what awaited him. His mouth hung open before closing abruptly, pretending as if he didn't see anything when Arturia tried to call out to him and the other Knights.
Shirou for his part, forcibly maintained his neutrality lest Arturia figure out that he was intentionally leaving her to the wolves rather then having an objective. In which case, the time for idling around was over.
With another step, he arrived by Duke Berferd's side, the man glancing over at him by rolling his eyes to the left. From the frown on his face, Duke Berferd was clearly displeased with how the situation was unfolding.
He glowered, his arms uncrossing as he turned to face Shirou.
"My men and I are putting are lives on the line to allow you and your colleague to lead my dukedom's people to safety, and yet, why do you not run?" He chastised harshly. "Are you belittling the convictions of the men you see before you?"
Many of the Knights Duke Berferd brought were haggard, their eyes sunken in and the tips of their fingers caked with blood that had dripped down from the fuller of their swords. A foul odour persistently clung onto them which only became more apparent the closer Shirou stood from them.
These men had probably been marching and protecting their fellow citizens for hours give or take an entire day. Yet still, they didn't voice any discontent on Duke Berferd's decision despite their armours and weapons having long since their luster.
With a simple Observation skill which displayed an individual's basic stats and status, Shirou understood that the lesser enchantments branded onto the apparel of the Knights had worn out. The chest-piece of the Knight nearest to him for example used to have a durability of fifty and an enchantment of + 1 Power and Healing. Now however, the enchantment was rendered useless and the durability a measly seven.
There was no denying the courage and principle which drove these Knights to be so selfless. It was fully in line with the Code of Chivalry Arturia was at the pinnacle of, and this was why she had insisted that they were to remain safe.
Shirou in no way meant to tarnish the valour Duke Berferd and his Knights were displaying.
"Not at all." He waved his hand in front of him in a gesture of good-faith. "Would you believe me if I said that the danger has passed?"
"No," Duke Berferd spoke bluntly, his brows furrowing. "The chasing enemy is too vast to be dealt with using common means unless you're implying that you have an army to combat them?"
Well, Shirou did all things considered.
His expression became oddly stiff.
Many of the NPC's he'd created lived up to the title of 'one-man-army.' Gathering them all up together could make for an almost impossible challenge for any enemy or Player period. And yet, he would not due such a thing without understanding their stances on what they want to do in the New World. Therefore, it was best to stay away from the topic.
"I have my means," he shied away from Duke Berferd's inquiry before pressing a hand to his chest and staring the Duke in the eyes. "The enemy won't have the time to catch up so we can take the time to move as a large convoy."
The surety of his tone caught Duke Berferd by surprise. The man stared at him in appraisal for several seconds before releasing his breath.
"Are you asking me to trust you?" The Duke spoke softly, his tone gravelly and rough. "Do you know how big of weight I have on my shoulders to look after my people? To place their lives over a gamble, what makes you worthy of that level of trust?"
He nodded inwardly at the Duke's caution for it was only natural. If the Duke agreed too quickly then it would too suspicious either way.
"We have just met for the first time, therefore nothing," Shirou freely admitted while stretching out his hand. "However, that doesn't mean I can't offer assurance."
Duke Berferd peered at Shirou's outstretched hand in curiosity. "What assurance can you possibly have to sway my opinion?" He asked.
Noticing the seriousness in Duke Berferd's demeanor, he responded in kind.
"This," his face displayed no signs of movement whatsoever as potent magical energy manifested over his palm. "Should the enemy catch up to us, then I will be the first to offer resistance. I won't allow anyone else to get hurt."
Shirou was fully intent on carrying out his promise.
Duke Berferd assessed Shirou up and down before realizing that Shirou was dead serious. Moreover, even with his level and experieicne, he could not assess the depth of the magical power he could see on Shirou's palm. Besides, just from Shirou's disposition alone, there was not an ounce of indecision to be found anywhere on him. Duke Berferd trusted his senses, more so because of his experience and the special connection men had to assess each other without the need for words.
When Duke Berferd looked at Shirou, he saw the valor of his younger years.
Duke Berferd cast away his serious demeanor and suddenly burst into laughter. "Very well, this Duke shall take on this gamble," he said, clasping Shirou's hand and giving it a good shake and squeeze.
Shirou for his part didn't feel it at all as he dissipated the YGGDRASIL-based magic in his hand. He was too busy attempting to use the right level of strength such that he didn't crush the Duke's hand by accident as his body was still under the effects of reinforcement just to be cautious.
Pulling their hands away, Shirou was stunned for a moment when he noticed Duke Berferd gingerly stretching his body without a care.
"Are we not leaving yet?" Shirou couldn't help but ask. With Duke Berferd's agreement, Shirou was already prepared to gather everyone and start moving, yet the Duke seemed too relaxed all of a sudden.
Hearing Shirou's question, Duke Berferd raised a brow while he sheathed his sword on the strap connected to his waist.
"What's the rush? I thought you said the enemy wouldn't be coming," Duke Berferd spoke absently, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Besides, I need more time to observe the one that's caught my son's admiration."
Duke Berferd was openly staring at Arturia. Now that he wasn't weighed down by the threat of an enemy, his true nature as a soft-hearted old man appeared.
"Your partner is quite a kind person, isn't she?" Duke Berferd asked him as the man placed a thumb beneath his chin. "How good of a character must she have for the children to accept her without hesitation? It's inconceivable as children of a young age are the hardest to get along with aside from their parents."
Shirou silently agreed with Duke Berferd's assessment but didn't open his mouth to speak. He didn't need to for Duke Berferd, Vincent, and all the other people nearby to understand. Despite being outside her comfort levels, Arturia put up with the children playing around her and even made sure that they didn't injure themselves while doing so. By this point, her clothes were covered in patches of drool and her hair was in absolute disarray. There was even a toddler playing with her ahoge; the little tyke tugging and twisting it so roughly that Shirou grew concerned that it might fall off and release a dark aspect.
For the time being, everyone stared at her for what she was.
She was kind. Kinder than most.
More than just being a King or wise ruler, it was this aspect of her that Shirou had always loved.
"Have you looked enough Duke Berferd?" Shirou asked, a tender expression on his face as his focus remained on Arturia.
Duke Berferd gradually nodded his head. Even though he hadn't seen the capabilities Vincent had described Arturia to have, he was already won over by her integrity and natural charm.
"I've seen enough." Duke Berferd turned his gaze away and shifted his attention back towards Shirou. He nodded. "Please lead the way."
Shirou took a moment longer to stare at Arturia before moving to her aid and coaxing the children to leave her. Most of them ran back to their mothers, but several had actually been orphaned due to the attacks on the Berferd dutchy.
The orphaned children stood in place awkwardly as Duke Berferd and Vincent organized the others into a proper convoy.
Shirou stared at Arturia, and she stared back at him.
She probably knew what he was going to say even without him saying it.
He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she slowly tried to shake her head in refusal.
"I-I ugh, I've done enough," she whispered. "It's your turn," she insisted while attempting to wipe the drool out of her hair.
Although he could understand the point Arturia was making for the sake of fairness, whose fault was it that the children took a liking to her?
Over the course of Arturia whispering to him, the orphaned children had only been staring at her alone.
Of course, Arturia noticed this fact with her high level of awareness, and that's why it made it all the more difficult for her to refuse. Her shoulders sagged as she resigned herself to her fate. She could only hope that Merlin wouldn't see her in her current condition or she'd never hear the end of it with him.
"Y-You all…fine," Arturia spoke dejectedly as the orphaned children once again surrounded her.
With Arturia preoccupied, the job of leading fell onto Shirou's hands alone while Arturia reluctantly trailed from the back, her eyes hollow as kids clung to her arms, legs, and shoulders.
Unknowingly, Arturia's actions raised the overall level of trust Duke Berferd and the others had. Vincent didn't even have to be considered. His trust in Arturia was almost borderline fanatical.
Leading from the front, the entire group walked at a leisurely pace to accommodate for the elderly and young.
As time passed on, it became exceedingly clear to Duke Berferd that Shirou had not in fact been lying. If the enemy had still been pursuing, then there was no way they wouldn't have caught up by now since the opposition possessed cavalry.
Duke Berferd assessed Shirou quietly. Although it was true that he already had a vague outline of what to make of Arturia, Shirou was still a mystery.
From the way his son had spoken, Duke Berferd had assumed that Arturia was the leader, yet from the way she stared at Shirou with respect, it threw Duke Berferd into a loop. If Arturia was already a formidable individual, then what did that make Shirou who she regarded so highly?
Duke Berferd didn't know the answer and simply kept his questions to himself. Moreover, he was currently skeptical.
He had been to this particular area in the mountains many times during his seasonal hunts and he knew that the direction Shirou was leading them would lead nowhere. Was he perhaps taking them to shelter themselves in the narrow cave opening by the slopes of the mountain? No, it clearly wasn't the case otherwise the entire group should have turned east on the last natural cornerstone.
Where exactly was he going?
Duke Berferd couldn't figure anything out no matter how hard he wracked his brain for an answer. Even then, the sight that suddenly appeared before him after passing through the forest clearing still caught him flabbergasted. He was gawking and he knew it, but there was no way he could hide his sheer astonishment.
A-A castle wall?
Duke Berferd forcibly maintained what was left of his composure but the same could not be said for his son. After all, it hadn't been more than a couple of days since Vincent had left the vicinity of the forested mountains. It was inconceivable that he could have missed such a monumental structure.
"J-Just what is going on here?" Vincent murmured to himself, a hand pinching his leg and causing him to hiss in pain. "Nope. Not a dream."
Duke Berferd and Vincent weren't the only ones to be in shock. Everyone was.
The walls were of a pale ivory the likes of which no one in Roble had ever seen before. It carried a majesty and grace that seemed to belong on a whole other plain of existence. It was something sacred. Something Holy.
Father, I met the Holy Maiden, the Valkyrie of Roble.
His son's words played ceaselessly within his head, and just from the majesty of the castle he saw before him, Duke Berferd slowly found himself being convinced. He turned his attention towards Arturia who was still lagging in the back and just then realized that there was a type of aura exuding from her that was different from anyone he'd ever met. The same kind of feeling originated from Shirou.
His intuition was warning him.
It was the feeling of powerlessness against the face of behemoths.
What Duke Berferd was suddenly experiencing was the concept of Level Suppression.
In the same way an ant would tremble from the footsteps of an elephant, a being of a lower level would face the pressure of a being of a higher-level.
Sweat dripped down Duke Berferd's brow but no one realized it in their captivation. He took a breath to compose himself then lightly coaxed his legs to continue stepping forward without wobbling.
Still, for all his efforts, he'd underestimated the perception the Holy Maiden possessed.
"Are you alright?" Her voice spoke directly next to him, her hand holding onto his arm to support him.
Duke Berferd dared not impose on her. "I'm fine," he said respectfully.
Arturia gave Duke Berferd an odd look due to his sudden change in demeanor but thought nothing of it as the kids around her were quick to distract her.
"Quiet little ones," she admonished sharply, her head held up high. Perhaps because she'd been forced to look after them for so long, she'd been able to instill some form of discipline into them. With but three words, she had the children that had been clinging and running around her, obediently following her steps like ducklings. Her lips gradually curved upwards before she nodded in satisfaction. "Good, the first trial of any aspiring Knight is to listen and adhere to discipline before becoming a squire! Work hard all of you, now march!"
"Yes!" The children chorused one by one.
Duke Berferd noticed Shirou smiling dumbly from the interaction between Arturia and the children but he didn't comment on it as his fool of a son Vincent was just the same.
Duke Berferd shook his head, and didn't know what to think anymore. However, one thing he was certain of was that Shirou and the Holy Maiden were strong. Each of them possessing the strength he needed to save his people. To save his Kingdom.
Duke Berferd balled his hands into fists and swiftly followed after Shirou as he arrived at the front gate of the castle wall.
Two Knights were stationed on guard duty known as Enforcement Knights, lvl 50 mob characters that defended the Kingdom of Camelot during raids in YGGDRASIL. So long as Camelot stood standing, a set interval of a thousand of them were respawned every day. The number itself could be increased using a specific summoning skill possessed by the Knights of the Round and Shirou himself.
As soon as Shirou and the others drew close, the Enforcement Knights promptly saluted with their swords.
"Greeting to the Lord and Master," one of the Enforcement Knights spoke. "It'll only take a moment to open the doors. These are?"
The Enforcement Knight gestured to Duke Berferd and the escorted citizens.
"Guests," Arturia was quick to reply.
The Enforcement Knight merely nodded as it wasn't his place to continue questioning further. However, that didn't mean that he couldn't give a little warning to Duke Berferd and his Knights not to cause any trouble.
For their parts, Duke Berferd and the rest were already at a loss for words. Just staring at the Enforcement Knight was enough for them to realize the difference in capabilities. Duke Berferd was confident that it would take at least a party of six individuals to take down a single Enforcement Knight alone.
No matter how he thought about it, the only explanation he could think of for such a gap in strength was due to the Holy Maiden. It had always been a mystery in Roble about what had happened to its Valkyrie at the vanquishing of the Evil Gods, but it was all becoming clear in Duke Berferd's mind.
Roble's Valkyrie didn't disappear, no; she bided her time and fostered a true Order of Holy Knights for Roble!
Duke Berferd grew visibly agitated, and nearly lost his mind when the doors of Camelot were opened to reveal hundreds of Enforcement Knights patrolling through the streets found within.
Just the sight alone rivaled the grandness of Northern Roble's most populated city in which Calca Bessarez ruled over. It was a combination of gothic architecture and nature. Buildings of grand scales built alongside trees, shrubs, and bushes. Even the streets were clean and tidy, many lined with open markets where Knights were providing aid to the other refuges that Shirou and Arturia had recued earlier.
It was a sight that caused the other refuges from the Berferd Dutchy to rush forward in excitement. Neither Shirou or Arturia stopped them as this was their goal from the beginning. The only problem however was the time it took to coax the children following Arturia to join the other citizens of the Berferd Dutchy.
Thereafter, the only ones left standing near Shirou and Arturia, were the group of Knights taken in as Prisoners of War and Duke Berferd and his Knights who were still getting over their shock.
The matter with the Prisoners of War wasn't difficult to deal with as they obediently followed the instructions of an Enforcement Knight to set camp in Camelot's western interior. They weren't bad individuals, so Arturia requested the Enforcement Knights to give them a comfortable stay.
When only Duke Berferd and his Knights were left behind, Arturia was taken by surprise when Duke Berferd suddenly appeared in front of her with his head lowered.
"As a Duke of Roble, I herby request a formal meeting," He bowed using a Nobleman's common etiquette.
Understanding the significance of Duke Berferd's actions, Arturia nodded her head solemnly and acted as a King should. "I permit it, please follow me to the court so that I can formally hear you out."
Duke Berferd had no complaints with the arrangement, and Shirou was content to allow Arturia to act at her discretion.
Leading the way, Arturia soon led everyone to a grand hall.
A red carpet was rolled down from the center isle which led directly to a throne where Arturia sat in all her regality. Standing on either side of her in two neat rows were Lancelot, Gawain, and the other Knights whose combined presence prevented any of Duke Berferd's Knights from stepping forward due to a feeling of inadequacy.
"Father," Vincent whispered into Duke Berferd's ears as the two of them approached. "Those are the Knights I was talking about."
Indeed.
From their disposition to their appearance, there wasn't a doubt in Duke Berferd's mind that the Knights in front of him were at the pinnacle level of the profession. It was all the more reason that Duke Berferd was willing to follow through with his decision and cast aside his pride.
Arturia sat waiting for him to speak.
Shameless as it was and as it felt, Duke Berferd didn't hesitate.
"Please," Duke Berferd dropped to his knees. "Save my countrymen. Although you've given me and my people temporary shelter in your castle, with my absence, the snakes in the nobility have lost their common enemy. It won't be long before they start biting at each other's throats, and by then, thousands of innocent lives would be lost to needless violence!"
Duke Berferd pressed his forehead to the ground in a show of his sincerity.
"Venerated Holy Maiden, please unite Southern Roble under a single Banner!"
Silence.
Time itself seemed to have stopped as each Knight of the Round and even Arturia had flashbacks of a war-torn land. Duke Berferd didn't have to elaborate on anything, Arturia and the others themselves already knew the implications of his words.
Pillaging.
Massacres.
Civil unrest.
They as the protectors of a land named Britain had experienced it all before.
"My King…"
Agravain was the one to speak, his meaning clear.
The Camelot he had envisioned in the past had failed once.
He nodded towards Arturia even as he started calculating a course of action in his mind. In the name of a goal, an ambition, and a dream for a Kingdom of prosperity. This time,
It would not fail again.
-Hours Earlier.
The wind was cold, biting as it seemed to pierce through her skin and down to the marrow of her bones. Even then, Tyra knew that it wasn't the wind that was causing the chill to travel down her back.
She pulled the furred mantle around her shoulders closer to her body as she spurred her horse into a heated gallop.
Faster.
She had to run faster.
The grass swayed under foot, trampled beneath panicked hooves and rushed movements.
Her heart beat furiously within her chest in fear. She could feel the way her head throbbed as her blood rushed through her body, but she didn't care.
There was a pressure surrounding her that made it feel as if she was suffocating. Her eyes were bloodshot, her ears ringing with the screams of the others around her.
Death.
Death was coming.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she shuddered.
A howl carrying in the air.
They were being hunted, one by one like animals to a slaughter. Worse, the casualties were targeted, the rest of the army long since broken into disarray and forced into retreat.
The very bulk of the chasing army Tyra had once led with her fellow officers had been reduced to just her and a few others that she could count with her fingers.
She didn't want to die.
Fuck the bastard who said this was going to be an easy mission!
Tyra ranted in her head, but the silence around her alerted her to a chilling fact.
Her eyes darted left and right, yet found that she was alone, none running by her side panting and out of breath. Panic welled up from within her. "Conrad! Milchester! Damn it all you bastards answer me!" She yelled nearly in hysterics.
No reply.
She didn't dare turn around.
She was alone.
Utterly alone.
The last one.
What if the Demon was already on her back?
Her muscles were cramping as terror and agitation nearly drove her to insanity as she began to overdraw on her available mana.
"Lesser Detection!"
Nothing.
"Lesser Detection!"
"Lesser Detection!"
"Lesser Detection!"
"Lesser Detection!"
"Lesser Detection!"
F-Found it!
She spurred her horse in an attempt to make it gallop a different direction from her pursuer, but to no avail.
A sudden feeling of weightlessness caused her to topple over and tumble over the ground. Bruises formed on her arms and legs yet she could hardly care when she noticed the barbed spear pierced through her horse's neck.
Her eyes dilated as her horse gurgled, arcs of blood showering over her as a pair of red eyes appeared in her view.
D-Demon.
She took off running without hesitation, anything to get a chance at living.
"Lesser Detection!"
"Lesser Detection!"
"Lesser Detection!"
She continued to chant, each use of her magic exhausting her in her attempt to flee, but no matter how hard she tried, it was to her shock that with each use of Lesser Detection, a red shadow arrived closer and closer to her.
Her breath hitched in her throat as she staggered forward.
Like a hound running through the plains in chase of a rabbit.
No, faster! She had to move faster.
Her feet trampled the earth beneath her in heavy steps that left distinct foot-prints in the mud, but she could no longer be bothered to think about covering her tracks in her hysteria. In which case, there really was no getting away.
Appearing in the position where Tyra had just been mere moments ago, a man holding a barbed red spear clicked his tongue when he noticed the foot prints in the mud. "Amateur," Cu muttered in disinterest before disappearing.
Tyra for her part was running out of energy and fast.
She could hardly move her legs, and worse still, she could no longer cast Lesser Detection. With no idea where the Demon could strike her from, the trees and shadows around her appeared to her like gates to the Underworld.
She swallowed, her composure all but gone as she considered her options.
-Footsteps.
She sucked in a breath.
This feeling, like being stared at by a predator.
It was right behind her.
"W-Wait don't kill me!" She yelled out before anything else, her hands waving around. "I-I can be of use to you."
Tyra's throat suddenly dried. In front of her was a spear's tip that was placed directly under her neck. She didn't dare move. The only thing she could do was stare helplessly at the Demon that appeared before her.
Now that the Demon had stopped chasing, Tyra got to look at her assailant for the first time since the hunt began.
The Demon was tall, with blue hair and long cylindrical silver earrings. Wearing a form-fitting blue jump suit and steel shoulder pads, Tyra didn't have the heart to insult her assailant's fashion sense.
On the other hand, Cu was actually considering his options.
"Hmm, an interesting proposition, but," Cu's eyes narrowed into red slits. "I don't like snakes and backstabbers."
Tyra felt the spear at her neck press forward and hurried to explain herself before she could be instantly killed.
"T-Then what if I wasn't on their side from the beginning?" She spoke determinedly.
"Infiltration then?" Cu gradually pulled back his spear before frowning.
Infiltrators were nothing more than spies which was probably worse than common backstabbers. After all, the very same friend who would be smiling at you at one moment could be simultaneously plotting your end in the same instance.
Recollections of a Fake Priest entered Cu's mind and his expression soon became frigid with the surfacing of the name of a woman he was certain he did not know.
Bazett.
His teeth gritted together, his jaw clenched tightly in agitation even as the impulse to stab forward nearly overwhelmed him.
Inadvertently, the pressure he exuded intensified ten-fold, the air coming to a still as magical power erupted from around him.
Tyra shivered, her complexion paling as the world seemed to dim, converging upon the crimson spear pointed at her chest.
It seeks the heart.
A barbed spear made from the wood of a yew branch.
Weapon of the Witch of Dun Scaith.
The number of warriors, soldiers, and people it killed were innumerable.
The sheer bloodlust that exuded from the spear made Tyra keenly aware of a single fact. It was cursed. A lump formed in her throat.
Cursed weapons were on a tier of their own. It didn't matter what level of skill she had either in martial arts, magic, or augmented apparel, curses bypassed all depending on the intensity of the curse. The higher the level, the more certain that the curse would be afflicted.
Just from the sheer aura she could feel from the spear alone, there was no doubt in her mind of the level of curse running through the red spear's shaft.
She swallowed, glancing despondently down at her armour. It was enchanted with lesser magic which gave her + 2 resistance to elemental attack and + 4 defence against piercing damage.
And yet, she had absolutely no confidence that her armour could even hope to delay the attack of the red spear.
She'd heard stories before that those who'd died of a curse would not know peace in death. The thought terrified her enough to clasp her hands together in prayer, hoping that her faith could pull her away from whatever curse was bound to assail her in her near future.
God have mercy on this soul!
She closed her eyes and prayed with all her might, her body tensing as she imagined the spear stabbing through her heart.
And yet, nothing came.
There was no pain, nor anguish, only the stillness of the air and the noise of rustling grass.
Maybe she was already dead?
She couldn't see anything. She didn't want to. The moment she opened her eyes, she feared that she would see a hell far worse than any hardship she'd ever undergone.
"Oi oi, the hell are you doing?"
It was the voice of that Demon!
Did he perhaps follow her into a cursed realm?
The voice jolted her enough to open her eyes in surprise, and when she did, it was to see an outstretched hand in front of her, an expression of reluctance on the Demon's face.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" The Demon spoke impatiently, red irises narrowed into slits. "You said you'd make yourself useful."
Tyra's mind momentarily blanched before she subconsciously placed her hand over the Demon's without realizing it. Thereafter, her consciousnesses caught up with her, unable to process just what kind of a deal she had just struck with a Devil.
"The name's Cu," Cu smiled indifferently. Personal feelings aside, work was work, and he wasn't exactly in a rush to return to his teacher's side. "Now you lead, and I'll follow. Oh, and you better not try anything. This spear doesn't have to be facing you to kill you."
Tyra felt the blood rush down from her head in terror at the clear warning.
"R-Right," she stuttered, pulling herself up using Cu's hand as a support.
Cu simply snorted, ignoring the way Tyra whispered 'monster' under her breath. It wasn't his fault that the enemy was incapable anyway. If Cu had it his way to begin with, then he'd probably do much more than simply warding away.
For the time being, his targets were the captains and generals of the opposing army, and for that he would use Tyra to direct and point. For if she was a spy or infiltrator like she implied, then she wasn't exactly a direct enemy.
And an enemy of an enemy, was a friend.
In another part of Southern Roble, two figures were stealthily making their way out of a dense thicket near the wall that separated the tribes of Demi-Humans and the citizens of the Holy Kingdom. Not only was it one of the most obscure locations, it was the best point of entry to enter Southern Roble without detection due to the irrational fear people had of the walls spontaneously breaking.
Then again, it hadn't been very long since the past incident with a certain species of Demi-Humans that breached the integrity of the walls and started a massacre of the local citizens.
Fear and anxiety were still running rampant, making it the best opportunity to take advantage of the situation. The fact that the two possessed skills in the Ranger class made it even easier for them to navigate the area without difficulty.
As the two individuals exited the vicinity of the thicket and out into the open territory of Southern Roble, their identities became readily apparent from the emblem they wore on their cloaked figures.
They were people of Northern Roble sent by Calca Bessarez to scout the events of the South.
Pavel Baraja, and another individual from the fallen Hawthorne Family of Nobility.
What they would discover in the south was something far more than a dispute between Nobles.
It was the beginning of a tale between Roble, a Valkyrie, and a Holy Sword.
Not the Fake Holy Sword possessed by Remedios Custodios, but the one blessed by Holy Light.
A pinnacle weapon adored by Paladins and Holy Knights alike.
For it was the Sword of Promised Victory.
The Sword of the People.
And of the rightful leader of the Holy Kingdom.
Thanks for Reading!
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