I don't like the idea of being escorted. Lars gives me a worried look while we walk behind the group of soldiers. None of them direct a word towards us, and move with the precision of a disciplined army, holding spears in their hands.
The whole valley is a series of geographical accidents: land raised, going down and down, rocks, like a huge earthquake kept happening in the area and didn't stop for a few weeks. From the forest we had a nice view forward but as we progress we go around several boulders that are the size of a house. The river we were following bends east.
Curiosity gets the better of me and I walk forward. Not taking any chances seems like the right choice right now.
As soon as I open my mouth for the first word…
"My name is General Oswald of the 12th battalion of the Federation's Army." He says before any word comes out of my mouth. "And you must be Amber."
"Is every vulpin called Amber?" I question him.
"Not many walk around with a sword like yours and dress in exotic clothes. Your species is so rare I can take a guess it is you."
Fair point.
"What is the reason for this escort? Seems a bit much for a group of Movers."
"There has been an increase of monster activity in the valley." The general keeps looking forward while scanning the horizon. "We have orders to deal with them and to help any civilians, especially traders and people like the Movers."
Then it is more of an act to keep trading and the roads clear rather than just goodwill. And still, I do not enjoy being recognized so easily.
In the game, I was working middle time to make sure the Federation kept a neutral position with me because I was helping the Kingdom. The easiest access to the Nothing and the other hemisphere is through their borders.
Technically, I am not their enemy or their ally… but I was a Kingdom's ally.
I don't know what to expect anymore from this world. I look back at Aurelia, who smirks at me and nods. If they attack us or try anything, we must be prepared.
Lars seems calm, guiding everyone behind the soldiers. I cannot stop feeling this certain unease even when everyone feels calm.
It doesn't feel right to be recognized after all that has been happening, so I must trust in my own power and Aurelia's capacity to fight.
"He seems to be telling the truth. I can see several souls around us that seem to be monsters." Karina comments. "Some are even underground."
Then this whole place has roaming creatures. Great. But I am sure we can deal with them without issue.
"Any reason for that increase?" Lars asks.
The general points towards a huge castle looking building. "That dungeon… it has been there for a few Shifts and has not moved away… we believe it is stirring and letting monsters go out of it."
"No one has gone and cleaned it?" I ask. That seems odd. Even without clearing, dungeons should be gone after a few Shifts.
Oswald shakes his head. "No one has been able to. Everyone seems to get lost inside of it or something and return defeated."
That is something new… the rest of the dungeons, except for the permanent ones, usually just disappeared after a couple of shifts. For my part, I don't remember one in that spot in the world. It must be being held by something.
But right now, my focus is on other stuff. I might try to investigate it later as I am actually curious about it, but I want to reach town and rest, and buy stuff.
One of the soldiers raises his right hand and they all stop, including the general. They all get their weapons out and ready.
My hand catches Bloodless and gets ready. Aurelia chuckles and gets beside me.
Everyone else stops at that moment.
"Protect the civilians!" Oswald ordered and the soldiers immediately moved to cover something.
The soldier detected something.
"Something got in our way behind those rocks." Karina warns. "There are several."
"Why didn't you say something sooner?" I whisper so Oswald or anyone else hears me.
"I did not expect the turn the soldiers took!" She complains. "There are others around but they are not coming towards us."
A growling surrounds the area. From behind a stone a big wolf comes into view, baring its teeth at us.
Then we notice more start to appear in front of us from behind rocks in the area, a total of 13, surrounding us. The soldiers, in response, get between us and the monsters.
One climbs the rock, and howls. It is bigger and more menacing than the rest, and seems older.
"That seems like the leader!" Oswald says.
[Grey Wolf Pack leader Howls to its pack! All its allies are stronger! All its allies are harder to hit!]
The soldiers make a wall with their spears, waiting for the wolves as they approach, ready to attack back once they are in reach…
I cast [Vines] in the big one. Several vines protrude from the rock and catch the Pack Leader and binds it, pinning it down at the boulder.
Aurelia jumps over the soldiers and takes a swing at it with only her fist, killing it immediately with a heavy punch in the head.
"Ah…" Oswald answers in surprise at the display.
The wolves see how their leader got killed immediately and hesitate for a second. But another jumps forward and howls, and the other animals answer and start to walk forward again, threateningly like their leader was not just murdered.
Seems a new leader was chosen on the spot.
The soldiers, seeing the bigger one is dead, become more bold and start to approach.
"Attack!" Oswald ordered and the soldiers marched forward with spears in front towards the beasts.
They clash and the wolves are no match to the spears of the group of soldiers. With clear training and discipline, they moved their spears with precision while avoiding the maws of the wolves. In the end, only a couple got injured and the rest were unscathed.
The last three wolves, seeing themselves overwhelmed, decide to run away from the onslaught.
Oswald is looking at Aurelia, who is now squatting on the rock and looking down at the soldiers' fight as they wrap things up. I can tell his expression, fixed on her, shows his doubts on her. She is the threat now, not me.