The Captain and his remaining foot soldiers welcomed the reinforcements arriving from the capital at Aurea Reach's valley gates at nightfall.
He led the way toward the makeshift command post tent. His eyes looked dejected, seeing the inadequate reinforcements the capital had sent. But he held his composure.
Chase looked around at the devastation and couldn't help but swallow hard. The night sky was bright and clear, almost serene, but the ambiance within the valley was completely grim.
The reinforcement followed the Captain toward the command post to receive updates and reports.
Kanan, standing just outside the makeshift tent where he would rest during the night, watched with disdain as the capital's reinforcements arrived. He kept his mouth shut, but his mind was full of resentment.
Tsk. This is it? After days of waiting? What the hell is wrong with this country's crisis response?
He gritted his teeth but held his composure. He was in no position to barge in and start a scene, given his aspirant status and the real reason for arriving in Azarette.
Inside the tent, the Captain gathered everyone and gave a rundown of what had happened and how much devastation the valley had suffered.
The reinforcements, including Chase, listened intently. Chase kept his face hidden beneath his cloak to avoid drawing too much attention.
The Captain treaded lightly while listing the reports.
More than three hundred farmers; men, women, and children alike had succumbed to instant death during the devastating upheaval of land.
Thousands of livestock were annihilated. Fields upon fields of cropland were destroyed in an instant. The mass grave for the livestock had already been burned to ash.
The remaining hundred fifty survivors were now in a makeshift tent and shelter. Only two surviving nurses were tending to the injured and orphaned children.
The Captain swallowed hard as he approached the most unsettling report, aside from the grim statistics he had just declared.
"A hemogoblin manifested from the mass death that obliterated the land," he said, pausing as he trembled at the thought.
"It has now trudged forth toward the southeast. Most likely passing by or through the fence of the Emberlit Diadem or heading straight to the borders near Ophiyllion within a week's time," he added. His voice was dejected.
The Crisis Marshal glanced sideways toward Chase, whose head remained bowed, his face still covered by his cloak's hood.
The Marshal asked, "How sure are you that a hemogoblin has manifested?"
The Captain looked toward the tent flap. "An aspirant from Enmaat arrived the day after the earthquake. He has provided us with insights regarding his knowledge of the maledict."
"But as you can see, Marshal, we are not just in need of nurses, physicians, and earth-wielders to rebuild this land. We are now facing a far more dangerous situation."
Chase bit the side of his lip as his jaw clenched, and his hands balled into fists. He remembered how, merely hours ago, he had severely undermined the devastation and mass death this land had endured.
The Marshal began calculating.
No work would be done immediately after their arrival. They had reached the valley in a single day; a journey that would normally take at least two and a half, because he had pushed them through the night.
Now, he feared a respite maledict might manifest among the exhausted reinforcements he had brought with him.
He looked around at the soldiers he'd gathered. With only one Royal Squadron available, whose divinity might not be enough to counter a fully formed hemogoblin, he knew they would need to request more reinforcements from the capital.
Chase stepped forward, finally removing his hood and clearing his throat. "If I may, Captain," he said, interrupting the racing thoughts inside the tent.
"I could write a follow-up letter to the King's High Office. With my seal, I am certain the urgency and authority will be recognized," he advised.
Everyone looked at him. None had noticed a royal Ashriel among the reinforcements aside from the Sister, the female physician, and the Crisis Marshal. Everyone bowed to acknowledge Chase's authority.
Chase rolled his eyes, clearly tired of the pompous treatment.
He knew he was nothing but a cousin to the sitting king, with no claim to the throne. Yet this kind of reverence from the subjects was still something he never enjoyed. He let out a long and exasperated sigh.
"Please, enough with the formalities. Raise your heads. Let's focus on the situation at hand," he instructed.
The reinforcements, including the Captain and his foot soldiers, followed suit.
The nurses and the physician were ordered to tend to the survivors, providing medicines and care.
The earth-wielders and construction workers were instructed to build a simple but proper lodging that could house the reinforcements for the duration of their stay.
Chase, along with the Captain, Crisis Marshal, the Sister, and the Royal Squadron leader, remained in the command post tent to strategize their next steps.
The Captain advised that aside from requesting additional reinforcements for the valley, they would need a group of Defenders, Daughters, and Royal Squadrons to head to the southern-central region of Azarette to intercept the hemogoblin's path southeastward.
"How were you able to deduce its trajectory?" the Crisis Marshal asked.
"The aspirant from Enmaat took it upon himself to keep watch on the maledict's movements since his arrival three days ago," the Captain answered. He explained that the aspirant's knowledge of hemogoblins had been helpful in tracking its path.
"Interesting. And what a convenient coincidence. Someone suddenly arrives from Enmaat, has well-established knowledge of hemogoblins, and is now offering help to this valley. Doesn't it seem a little too convenient, Captain?" Chase asked, his eyebrow slowly arching, insinuating that something else might be at play.
The Captain flinched.
"Pardon me, Your Grace, for my lack of competence in handling such a situation. I've enticed him with a recommendation to be directed to one of the Royal Squadron Commanders, should his efforts prove fruitful. He has, since his arrival, dutifully assisted us," the Captain replied as he cleared his throat.
"Hmmm. Well. We certainly can use all the help we can get." Chase pondered as he stared at the map of Azarette spread across the table.
The Crisis Marshal advised that an additional twenty Defenders would be needed, along with the Daughters and three groups of Royal Squadron, to intercept the hemogoblin.
He also proposed that, with Chase's seal, they inform the King's High Office directly, bypassing the Defender's Keep and Royal Chancery.
After some time had passed, the Marshal offered to lead a tracking team alongside the Royal Squadron and the Sister. Their goal: follow the hemogoblin's trail and cleanse the corpse-fingered path it had left behind using their divinity.
Everyone nodded in agreement, except Chase.
"I would like to come along as well. Let's have that aspirant assist us on the trail," he added, his voice serious.
Chase thought to himself, I need to make sure this hemogoblin doesn't reach that house by the border. He clicked his tongue, his brows knotting in worry and frustration.
A growing fear and unease enveloped him.
The Marshal cleared his throat, preparing to object to Chase's decision. He feared for Chase's safety; if anything were to happen, he was willing to give his life to protect this divine royal.
Seeing Chase's conviction, the Marshal sighed, a heavy surrender lacing his tone.
"Haahhh. I understand your willingness, Your Grace. Please allow me to protect you with all my being," he said, bowing low with one hand on his heart.
The Sister and Royal Squadron leader followed suit.
Chase observed their commitment, then turned his eyes toward the center table.
He wrote the formal letter that would be sent to the King's High Office, sealing it with his personal mark and detailing the additional support needed.
Two foot soldiers were dispatched with the message, strictly instructed to rest properly and avoid exhaustion to keep a respite maledict at bay. The soldiers understood and left for the evening.
Chase left the command post tent and began surveying the survivors and checking on the foot soldiers.
He needed to inspect whether any had begun to manifest even the smallest signs of malediction. To his relief, none showed traces.
As he reached the makeshift shelter where the orphaned children and elderly had gathered, he felt a heavy sadness in his chest for their plight.
Kanan watched silently from the shadows, choosing not to interfere with the relief efforts. He let out a quiet sigh. At least now, they had more provisions to last them a little longer.
As Chase finished his rounds and left the shelter, he walked the dimly lit path toward his lodging. He noticed a tall silhouette up ahead.
The figure's vest and formal attire seemed out of place. He tilted his head slightly, uncertain if this man was among the regional foot soldiers.
Kanan stepped forward, bowed low with one hand over his chest.
"Good evening. I'm Kanan Oratama, the aspirant from Enmaat who arrived the day after the land's devastation."
Chase studied him from head to toe.
The weariness and tension in the man's face, even in the dark, were unmistakable. Chase didn't needlessly suspect the convenient arrival of this aspirant... but he still couldn't shake the feeling of an ulterior motive.
He waved a hand gently to set Kanan at ease. "Pleased to meet you, I'm Doctor Chase," he said dryly, omitting his full name.
"I didn't mean to pry, but I understand who you are, Your Grace. I was informed by the foot soldiers earlier that a divine royal was among the reinforcements," Kanan said softly, still keeping his head bowed, not daring to meet Chase's eyes.
Chase, still guarded, concealed his thoughts. He nodded, resting a hand on Kanan's shoulder.
"Thank you for your kind assistance. Please rest for the evening and accompany us tomorrow to survey the maledict's trail."
Kanan nodded in agreement, slowly stepping back to allow Chase to pass. He watched silently as Chase entered his lodging for the night.
His aquamarine eyes, daunting and imposing, glinted under the moonlight.
— — —
"Hey, Ms. Yukari," Kanon asked, lying on her stomach atop Sena's bed, her bare feet kicking gently in the air as she propped her head in her hands.
"How did you manage to do all that in a day?" Her voice was a blend of utter disbelief and curiosity, her gaze fixed on Sena, who leaned against her bedrest, engrossed in a book.
Sena turned her head from the page, looking down at Kanon, who had made herself entirely at home on her bed.
"I don't know, Kanon," she mused, a brief flicker of memory from the day's training passing through her mind. "I guess Idris is just that good of an instructor."
Kanon shifted, rolling onto her back to stare at the ceiling. She held one hand up, as if reaching for something invisible in the air.
"I want to be able to exert that much force, too, Ms. Yukari." A moment of silence passed before she continued, her voice softer, "I wish I could be just half as formidable like you or my brother…"
Sena gently placed her book facedown beside her. Her left hand reached out, finding Kanon's head, and began to softly pat and caress her hair.
"I'm sure if you had been training for as long as Kishi has, you'd be just as formidable as him." She paused, choosing her words carefully, wanting to avoid sounding arrogant after only a single day of training.
"As for me… there's really nothing to envy about raw, unhinged, and uncontrolled power, Kanon. I fear I might just end up hurting the very people I want to protect."
Sena then lifted her hand from Kanon's head, holding it before her own face, staring intently at her palm. She felt a quiet sense of pride at having uncovered an ability she could now consider her Silent Veil.
Yet, she knew she needed to train harder, not just to stop an incoming potential attack, but to truly defend herself with precision and control.
"To be honest, I want to be as effectively agile as you, too… You're not the only one who's envious," she managed to chuckle, her gaze dropping to Kanon with a gentle smile.
Kanon looked up at her, her eyes wide and hopeful.
"Can I sleep here with you tonight, Ms. Yukari? If it's not too imposing?" She let out a small sigh.
"I've always wanted an older sister. Is it okay, for the time I have here at Mr. Noorgareth's house, can I at least pretend to be your younger sister?" she asked shyly, her voice barely a whisper.
Sena settled herself, lying down beside Kanon, resting her head on a pillow.
"Of course, Kanon. I would love that."
And with that, the girls settled into the evening, enjoying the shared peace and quiet, the silent comfort of newfound family.