Darkness crept into the vacuum left behind by the setting sun.

  The entourage slowed into a measured march as they approached their first pre-planned stop.

  Zain was only vaguely aware of it.

  As a squire, he was permitted to know the route and the stops. He simply hadn’t cared enough to ask. Right now, his attention was consumed by the discomfort stirring deep in his gut.

  What is this…?

  It wasn’t pain. Not hunger either. Just an unsettled heaviness that refused to settle no matter how he shifted in his saddle.

  “We’ll be stopping at an inn soon,” Cera said from his side. “If you need to go ahead, you can.”

  Zain turned his head slightly. “Why are you back here?”

  She was meant to be near the front, close to the Red Crow Knight, not lingering at the rear with him.

  “We’re close enough to the stop,” she replied. “Formation should matter less now.”

  “I see.” He looked forward again.

  “It’s not like I’d be much help either way,” she added.

  “You’d be less help in the wrong place,” he said calmly. “Disrupting formation.”

  Cera hummed, conceding the point. “Fair. But… is something wrong with you?”

  He glanced down briefly, one hand resting near his abdomen. “You noticed.”

  “You keep checking.”

  “Probably spoiled fruit,” Zain said. The lie came easily. “Nothing serious.”

  “Hmm.” She didn’t press.

  Silence returned between them.

  Zain used it to take in their surroundings.

  They had left the capital hours ago. Eight, if his sense of time was still reliable. The ride had been long and quiet, broken only by short water stops for mounts and riders alike. The only real pause came when the High Lady requested fresh air.

  Eight hours, he thought, and I still haven’t seen her.

  Not that it mattered.

  The terrain had changed gradually, almost subtly. Civilization had thinned until it was little more than a memory behind them. To the east, the land opened into a wide plain scattered with stone, rocks of every shape and size, too many to be natural debris, too deliberate to be coincidence.

  Zain frowned.

  Is there a mountain range nearby?

  The thought barely formed before understanding struck.

  This wasn’t just a plain.

  It was a battlefield.

  He was about to ask Cera about it when the familiar voice of the Red Crow boomed through.

  “Halt!”

  …

  Coming to a stop, Zain flanked the entourage to check up on what was ahead.

  The Inn.

  It was a huge building to say the least.

  It looked like a fortress without walls.

  Funny enough, it did have walls, they were just too short to qualify for what Zain would call a Wall.

  “A short wall to protect such a huge building.”

  Zain heard a warrior muttering as he passed by.

  Reaching the front of the Entourage, he rode over to the Aero Knight's side. Initially, he had been at the back too, but he left a tad bit earlier than Zain, probably after he sighted the Inn.

  “This is way faster than I thought.”

  Zain saw the Red Crow Knight staring hard at the Inn.

  “What is going on?”

  The one who spoke was Jonah. Confusion was written all over his face.

  “We are to prepare for an encounter.” Red Crow started, then he seemed to change his mind as he said, “actually, we are about to engage in a fight.”

  “I can see that. I am not blind, Red. I mean what exactly is going on here.” Jonah almost lashed out.

  “It is as you think, we are being attacked, Jonah. Do not test my patience, it is pretty thin right now.” Red Crow shot back.

  “Being attacked is normal. This is a premeditated encounter that you seem to be expecting. Do not bullshit me. Tell me exactly what is going on here.” Jonah did not back down.

  “Yes, Jonah. It was premeditated. We got word that the Entourage would be attacked on this route, so we asked the king for help, hence, you and Aero’s presence.” Six Sight answered on behalf of the seething Red Crow.

  “Hahahaha.” Jonah burst into a laughing fit. “I see, even you do not understand what is going on here.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “You asked for the King’s help and he decided to send a veteran Blessed Knight to help. A normal reaction. He would have to show both his might and prestige after all.”

  Jonah’s laughter slowly died down before being replaced with dead seriousness.

  “But he sent me too.”

  He pointed at himself.

  “Not to be that guy, but do you have any idea how valuable I am to the King? Do you have any idea of the depth that is my power? Do you think the king would send me in for a minor matter?”

  He pointed at Red Crow as he addressed Six Sight. “Look at the eyes of your comrade, those are the eyes of a man that has accepted death.”

  Six Sight frowned for a beat before he gave in and turned to look at his comrade’s eyes, an action he regretted instantly.

  “Haha, see?” Jonah snickered.

  But he was not done.

  He turned to Zain.

  “What is your mission here, young prodigy?” He asked.

  “To protect the duke’s daughter.” Zain replied, seemingly unfazed.

  “I see.” Then to Aero, “you?”

  “The same, Power Holder. I was directed to protect Duke Star’s daughter.” Redington answered dryly.

  Seeming to have gotten the information necessary, he turned and asked Red Crow.

  “Who or what the fuck is the Duke Star’s daughter that the king is interested in her survival?”

  Red Crow took a deep breath in, suppressing his towering anger. “That is for me to know and for you to wonder. Power Jonah, the mission assigned to you by the King is to protect the High Lady's safety, failure to do so…” He left the rest unsaid.

  To the others.

  “Prepare for attack.” He shouted.

  “Yes Sir.” The unified sound came back without a hint of fear or doubt in it.

  “This is why we despise you cowards. All that power and you are nothing but chickens afraid to die.” Red Crow whispered to Jonah as he passed by his side.

  …

  Zain rode back to his designated position at the back.

  “What is going on?” Cera asked.

  “Yea, we are about to engage.” He replied as he got off his Wein.

  “Engage? Engage with who? Bandits? Beasts? Cultist?” Cera bombarded him with questions.

  Zain could hear the subtle fear beneath her voice, but the most prominent emotion was excitement.

  “Not quite sure just yet.” Zain gave his reply as he closed in on one of the language carriage.

  He gave a gentle pat to the Moon Lizard pulling it before jumping in. In no time he came out with a spear in hand, three shorter ones were strapped to his back.

  “I thought you used swords.” Cera pointed at the sword by his hip.

  “Do not pay that much mind. I only use it when dueling.” Zain said as he approached her.

  “What?” She asked as she stared down at him.

  “Come down.”

  “Why? Aren't we going into battle right now?” Cera blinked.

  “Yes we are, and unfortunately, neither of us are knights yet, so it is kinda pointless being on a steed in battle.” Zain explained.

  “But-”

  “Are you an official Calvary?” Zain interrupted.

  “No.”

  “Then no ifs or buts, you would be easily dismounted and killed on the beast.” Zain took her hand and dragged her off the beast.

  “Ahh!” Cera glared hard at Zain after managing to gain her stability from the sudden relocation. “This makes no sense. Are we to now run up to attack a fortress with just our feet?”

  “Attacking what fortress?” Zain shook his head in pity. “Do you seriously think you would be allowed within a kilometer of the Inn during the attack?”

  “What?” Cera could not come up with a counter argument. “Okay then, why am I dismounted if we aren't going to attack?”

  “To take up defensive positions.” Zain simply said as he dragged her towards the front of the Entourage.

  There, a short meeting took place deciding the attackers and those who would stay behind to protect the High Lady.

  As expected by Zain, he and Cera were made to stay behind. Others to stay behind include the Power Holder, Jonah, the Withering Flower Knight and some ten odd Warriors headed by a High Warrior.

  …

  Zain stood on a relatively larger rock in the vicinity as he watched the small unit advance on the Inn.

  He looked back to see the camp that had been set up.

  They had moved from the open space to more rocky terrain.

  The rocky terrain is better for defensive situations.

  But… There are way more people here than I thought. Zain thought as he looked at the multiple maids and servants working around the small camp. Can't say that is a good thing though.

  Just as he was over viewing the camp, the door to the High Lady's carriage opened up.

  And at the same moment, his twisted gut feeling intensifies by a great magnitude.

  With the sudden increase in unease came a brief moment of vulnerability to which Zain unconsciously reacted against.

  A shattering sound reached the camp at that moment.

  Zain's hidden gold neckwear shattered simultaneously with the gate of the Inn, destroyed by Aero Knight in a single lance attack.

  The whole camp’s attention was drawn towards the Inn. All excluding five individuals who instead turned slightly to stare at the figure on the boulder, Zain.

  “Shit!” Jonah cursed under his breath as he willed his Power to move.

  “Protect the High Lady!” His voice boomed into the surrounding as he clapped with immense force.

  A great barrage of mist shot out from his figure, a great deal shaping into spears all directed at the High Lady's direction.

  “Got to make it.” He muttered under his breath as he pushed his Power to solidify the constructs faster.

  It was a pointless worry though. The one he had placed his trust in to not make this mission fail did not let him down.

  The air sang in a high tune as a spear shot down and impaled the attacker.

  This brought back the attention of everyone, refocusing them on the camp.

  “What the…?” The Withering Flower appeared by the High Lady who had just got off completely. His eyes were both on the thrown spear and the attacker, who was apparently not dead even with a gap in his heart.

  “It is a freaking ambush. Dark Magic!” Zain's gentle voice reverberated through the camp as he let loose another spear. The same spear he had used to impale his own attacker’s heart causing them to desecrate.

  The spear shot straight at an empty space with immense force before it was violently shattered.

  “How strong.” A charming young male voice came from the spot as the illusion power cleared off.

  Standing at that spot were at least twenty people, if most could be referred to as that, led by five individuals with distinct appearance.

  The young male who had just spoken, was amongst the leaders. He held his right hand with his left as if examining it, but his glowing red eyes did not waver from the camp.

  “So many fresh meals.” His fangs caught the moonlight shine as his lips parted into a disturbing smile.

  “Tch. Vampires.” Zain muttered in disgust.

  (Chapter End.)

  Withering Flower:

  Name: James Seafield.

  Species: Human.

  Age: Thirty-six (36).

  Affiliation: East Duke (Duke Star)

  Status: Named Knight - Withering Flower.

  Talent: Hand-To-Hand Mastery (Master), Combat Mastery (Master), Wein Riding (Master).

  Ability(s): None.

  Armor Ability(s):

  Spectral Reserve: A rechargeable port of usable Spectral Energy. Comparable to a Weak level Spectral Energy holder.

  Ambient Absorption: Absorbs the Ambient Power present in the surrounding. *Recharges the Reserve.

  Withering: Short range teleportation. *Consumes a large amount of energy.

  Flower: Creates mini sized blades(Spectral-Constructs).

  Strength Evaluation: Superior (Super).

  Six Sight Knight:

  Name: Shola Bryer.

  Species: Human.

  Age: Thirty-four (34).

  Affiliation: East Duke (Duke Star)

  Status: Named Knight - Six Sight.

  Talent: Dual Sword Mastery (Master), Combat Mastery (Master), Dagger Mastery (Master), Wein Riding (Master).

  Ability(s): None.

  Armor Ability(s):

  Spectral Reserve: A rechargeable port of usable Spectral Energy. Comparable to a Weak level Spectral Energy holder.

  Six Sight: Create up to six Spectral clones. Clones can be used for both spying and fighting. *Draws energy from Spectral Reserve.

  Ambient Absorption: Absorbs the Ambient Power present in the surrounding. *Recharges the Reserve.

  Strength Evaluation: Superior (Super).

  World Building notes:

  The Anma Kingdom's capital, Skyfall, is widely accepted as the most prosperous city in the Eastern part of the continent.

  To Skyfall's west was Will city, ruled by the West Duke and the Power Court. It sat comfortably as the second most prosperous city in the continent.

  To Skyfall’s East was Starpond, ruled solely by the East Duke, Duke Star. It recently regained its position as the fourth prosperous on the continent ranking.

  Duke Star's name was tremendously praised for managing to rejuvenate a city sitting in a war and crime torn region.