My brother was there to see us off.
"Good luck on your stay in the academy and don't forget to send me letter when you are settled there"
"Yes brother, I will remember it"
"Ok then, have a safe trip"
Although father wasn't there when we are leaving but he called me the day before and inquired about my preparation for the trip. Even if he is cold and strict on the outside but I can sense a bit of concern in his actions and tone. Then, he took me to the family smithy and asked me to choose me from the weapons that the family master weaponsmith made. While I was looking at the weapon, I was immediately drawn a sword. It felt like it was calling to me. It was a one-handed long sword dark-bladed with predominantly black blade featuring blue lightning-bolt patterns. The hilt is dark grey with intricate detailing, a prominent crossguard and a dark, textured grip.
Every direct descendant of Vortigern family receives a personal sword forged by the master weaponsmith of the Vortigern family smithy when they come of age.
As chose that sword, my father gave me knowing smirk.
The master weaponsmith was surprised.
"Excellent choice, Your Highness. It is one of my prized creation. Although many might chose my other swords with beautiful designs but you have great eye for sword."
"Thank you, master Zhion."
"It's pleasure. It is mana cancellation as well as mana storage ability. You can use this sword like a magic sword and, also as a magic repellent and slice through it."
After giving our farewell, we started our trip to the capital city.
After travelling for 2 days, we reached our 4th stop for the travel. It was a mid-sized town called Abdin location at the central region of the kingdom. It only 3 days from capital city.
We settle in an inn to spend the night. While Sylvia was tidying up my room for the night. I noticed something strange in the town, it's as if the people looked much tired and they had a gloomy air around them. I didn't pay much heed to it as I didn't want to get involved in the story too much. So, I slept for the night without investigation the situation.
The next day, as we were preparing to leave the town for the journey, suddenly we heard a large explosion noise from the town center. Then I saw people running form the central town area.
"DEMONIC BEAST!!!!!!! EVERYONE RUN!!!!!!!!"
As I heard the commotion from the town center, I was first skeptical and surprised by it because we were in central region not in the northern region. So, it was impossible for the demonic beast to come arrive in this part without prior warning. Then, I saw the demonic beasts coming from the center. I first was confused of the situation but then quickly regained my composure. Then, I remembered there was a brief mention of this incident in the novel.
It was at the start of the novel, the MC just arrived at the Academy for the admission test. Some town were attacked by the Dark Star Church. It was one of the first strike made by the demon king to open the gates from the underworld for the demon army to enter this world. The attack on these small towns were made to make a distraction for their main operation to steal the holy artifact Amulet of Dawn from the Holy Dracian Temple.
The Dark Star Church was a cult that worships the demon god Zornorig. This was established by the demon king Thulen Celebus Sebrildos, to sabatoge the temple's reputation and help open the overworld gate.
As I saw the demonic beast rushing, I couldn't stay still. Even if I don't want involve myself much in the novel main plot but when it happens in front of me, I can't just put blind eye to it. I had the family knights to protect Catalina and asked two knights to follow me. It's normal for normal knights to follow such command and prioritize protecting but Vortigern family's direct offsprings are trained to hunt demonic beast and command group from a young age, so the knights follow my orders without in complaint.
We start move toward the town center clearing the demonic beast on the way. As the attack was done the cult, these demonic beasts must be summoned beast because wild demonic beast was hard to direct here without noticing their movement as the attack was in central region.
As I enter the corner to the town center, I saw the town guard were struggling to contain the beasts. After arriving the place, I ordered the knight to look around for any suspicious entity and started to look around myself. I was sure the summoner must be somewhere near.
Searching along a deserted alleyway, I noticed some corrupted mana in the air. As I move along the alleyway, the mana is becoming denser. After going through the alleyway, I notice 4 people with black robes. Amongst them, there was a person wearing black robe with golden trims casting some kind of spell. I assumed, he was main summoner. They seem like dark magician.
They seem to notice my presence right way and 3 mages started to charge at us protecting the gold trimmed robe guy. One mage started to cast a spell. I felt some weird sensation around me, then it became normal. I didn't think much of it as I had to act fast with the other two mages but I was cautious about it. Other 2 mages used ice shard and reinforce magic on it. I used fire wall to eliminate the ice shard and rushed with my sword to slash on the mage in the front. Then I used binding magic to bind the other mage. While I was dealing with the 2 mages, the summoner and the third mage started flee.
I quickly noticed them and started to chase after them. They were really quick, we run out of the town and we reach an abandoned cave. They quickly went inside the cave. This was a risky position, so immediately used my fire magic like a flare to signal the knights of my position. They response was very quick and arrive just after my signal. Along with them, I entered the cave. As I entered the cave, I saw structure and equipment as if it was used as their operational base. There were several pathways leading to various rooms. If there was escape route in the cave, we will lose them. But if it was only meant for temporary stay, we have a chance of capturing them. I told the knights to separate and enter each cave.
After searching for some time, I reached a room where they were preparing their escape. After seeing them, I rushed toward them. They tried to retaliate but it was not effective. I quickly tried to restraint them but was only able to restraint one of them. The main summoner avoided my entrapment and in the process his hood was ripped.
After his face was revealed, I noticed he was Vexor. He appeared in of the later events in the novel. He was one of the High Priest of the Dark Star Church and known as the Shadow Seer. He infiltrated the academy several times during the MC's third year. He was only defeated in his fight with the MC in the final year graduation party when the Dark Star Church tried to attack high official of the academy who was also a descendant of one of the hero party member.
He was the Grand Strategist of the Dark Star Church. He had appraisal skill and could see through item and people's skills which gave him advantage in make unique strategies.
After his hood ripped, he quickly backed off and managed to escape terra forming the cave wall. I blasted off the wall but only met with more earth wall. After going through those walls, I saw an exit to the outside and he was nowhere to be found.
I went back to the mage I restrained and saw the knights were already there before me. They reported back to me.
"Your Highness, the mage is already dead. It seems he committed suicide through a hidden pill under his tongue."
It's seems we won't be able to get any information from them. Although I tried to restrain him in order to get some information because even if I know the future and novel direction but the novel does not provide all information. Some information might help me in the long term.
I knew this cave might have some clues. So, I started searching for any hidden places and any clue around. While searching around for clues, I stumbled upon a desk. There some potions and coins laying on it. I started to go through the drawers of the desk.
I found some documents and a grimoire. I looked closer to the documents and noticed that it letters from the Dark Star Church headquarter. It contains some location of the base across the kingdom but many important parts were missing. I think the important parts were burned to conceal the information from getting leaked. Then I took the grimoire and after packing up left with the knights.