The clashing of steel rung across the training grounds. The Knight hadn't moved to dodge from the strike of Vurion's sword.
It struck the Knight vambrace (forearm part of armour). His sword vibrated, but his stance remained steadfast. The Knight had not even drawn a weapon, not to underestimate him, but because of the proclamation he had made before the fight.
A bit earlier, they entered the ring, and he said.
"Can you please take me instead – my sister doesn't know anything about the journey to come. My mother is also stubborn and would never change her mind. So, for her sake can you pick me instead – I know what she will be forced to face, and it terrifies me knowing that she'll be facing such, even more than I ever did."
This time the Knight was about to answer, but expecting an unsatisfactory answer, he instead continued, making a deal the Knight didn't mind.
"I know I might not seem like much, but if I can move you from where you stand will you take me instead."
The Knight looked at him, and stood there, urging him to come. And for the past hour he had been striking the Knight tirelessly, but none of the attacks did anything. His level wasn't even enough to damage the Knights armour, and neither was it enough to graze the soul.
'I wonder if Kitrino is up? – Kitrino…'
"Yes...!"
She replied in the Knights head – meaning this back and forth had to end. And the knight didn't even have to say it, because right as the Knights nature shifted, so did his. He knew he couldn't keep this up, so he changed his approach.
His aura became as that of an elite Ellerian Guard. His hair lifted elegantly, like a soft but strong wind blew on it. His sword became a light lime colour, losing all the earthy colours it had – making it look less like the wooden, but stronger than steel sword it was.
Multiple ferries started appearing around him. Then One big ghost appeared, covering him like a suit of armour, that somehow also looked like a second body. He then lunged at the Knight, who slowly raised his hand, and squeezed.
The next moment he fell flat on the ground not even having the chance to use his power. For a second, the Knight had stopped any and all desires that he had of staying alive. His heart then seized up and he collapsed. This would have killed him if he had not just done it for a second.
The Knight watched him get up, coughing blood, still surrounded by spirits.
'Not a push over huh?'
Then the Knight raised its hand once more, but before it did anything the spirit armour vanished as he collapsed to the floor. Simply put he realised even the Knight was just as stubborn as them.
The Knight had no intention of bringing along someone with so much spirit as him along with it. It could imagine all the heroics he would try to pull. It would have a better time, convincing Forg to stay back and leave things to it.
It then told the nearby guard to take care of him. And left – the time had come...
As the Knight approached the room, it heard the moderately loud noises. It had actually grown to despise this noise. This was the light noises made by the paladins returning from training. Actually, even Poli had started joining them, even acquiring the paladin rank. And they trained high above the clouds, so the noise was them landing on the welcoming grounds.
And just as always, Commander Braona, ran through the hall, telling all of those who were off duty to gather in the training grounds. They had also returned from their surveying guard duty – but she was faster.
A few minutes later everyone was gathered, all the commanders, Bachelors and the Banneret, the knights were all stationed outside. There was a person here with a communication skill. And for transmission to those without the skill was a sphere like mineral ore, with complete carvings on it glowing.
But everyone was here. Even Karen, Igal and Zoldi, it had been a while since everyone was here. Even the scout squadrons had returned. Kitrino was sitting on the ceiling, barely paying attention.
The three paladins all stood there. It owed one a favour. Today, however, it didn't look like they came for the usual reports. The Banneret – Solace, was going to address them this time.
"The Seneschal has issued out new orders. The woods have been labelled safe for the time being. The entire woods have been cleared of any darkness related anomalies. The guards have recovered ever so slightly, and simply put we are no longer needed here. Derell has trained as many of them as he could – so they should be good to go.
Our time on standby has been cut, so we will be returning back to the city of Arulli. From there further orders will be issued. By the looks of things, we will be sent to Soufon. The situation there is worsening.
But the Seneschal said as we pass through HQ on our way there, we might be assigned to another area. So, currently our destination is Soufon. We depart in a months' time, so prepare accordingly."
She/he turned around and left. Adriel then stepped forward.
"Before you all head out, we have one more thing to add. For any of you that are interested. There is a group of monsters headed for Elleria, it's a whole army out there. Reports seem to indicate that there must be a demon 'king' amongst them.
The guild is offering luthergite for its head. And Karen is offering to make custom armour for the victor. Also, please use this chance to get some training in, some of y'all might be getting soft. His monster hunt is our farewell to this place, so go crazy."
They all turned to Karen's voice as she started speaking – "Don't think for a second it'll be easy, I'll be participating, so that luthergite is mine."
Instead of being discouraged, someone yelled out – "Good, we almost thought it was a joke. Are there extra rewards for how fast we can slay the demon king?"
In the end though, no-one found the demon king – Kitrino had gone ahead and killed it herself. And the Knight collected the luthergite as a reward.
It had no need for armour from Karen, so the second part of the reward was a bust. She is extremely good at pattern smithing, but with luthergite, the best armour she could make would not be able to compete with the Knights [Vile Armour].
The entire horde of monsters had been cleared in less than an hour after first contact. Only a hand full of the Knights had gone. This kind of horde was enough to wipe out a continent on its off-day, and this one was even larger. Actually, back in the ancient times, hearing demon lord or demon king, used to spell the end of entire civilisations, and now, a single knight could fell the army, let alone an entire squadrons worth.
***
The Knight and Kitrino spent most of the month perfecting their crafting and even achieved it – but due to the lack of monsters, they didn't get a chance to try them out. Actually, the Knight had almost forgotten about them and just placed them in inventory.
The month passed rather quickly. Princess Forg had even made her goodbyes to her family; the queen was surprisingly more sentimental than the Knight had initially thought.
Vurion looked at her, "Are you still sure I can't convince you…"
"You wouldn't have let me trade places with you either, if you had been chosen instead. So, stop trying, and make a proper goodbye to your sister. Don't forget about my sanctuary, please. It doesn't need much work, but you should check up on them, just to make sure they're taking care of themselves…"
"I will."
Then she waved goodbye, and ran to the Knights side, who had been walking ahead.
And as they left the palace the last time, the Knight looked at the palace, thinking.
'You know what Mugaw, I'm starting to think this place is cursed too.'
"Yeah – I can see that."
'First the Darkness, Keiper the Lord of Spells, Chimera Council, and an entire demon march in one year.'
And this was the major events the Knight knew about, it didn't account for the Lemurgarine true beast incident. Also, the shady activities like the ins and outs made by people who tried to take advantage of the situation.
On another note, the Knight also happened to be a problem. In its fight with those of the void, it created pure nothingness out of nothing itself. Then it almost blew off a tree when Kieper's spell activated. It also wreaked major havoc at Abio Facility.
It looked back, remembering also the many objectives the vile army had accomplished covertly.
So, for the sake of this place, the Knight leaving was a good thing.
"Knight, can't you just carry all of us to HQ."
"I told you – I don't use that strength so liberally."
"No, I mean your Dragon friends." – said Zoldi.
Even Solace had turned her head back at this idea.
Sure, they Knew the Knight possessed a few dragon 'friends' – but they hadn't figured out, just how much more it knew. Being the conserver of time, it was, it answered.
"Sure. He only ever let me ride, so he might be rough with you guys, just be mindful of where you sit."
They then travelled southeast eventually reaching the boundary of the most prominent forest, the woods of Elleria, onto the barren lands.
Nothing but baren lands for as far as the eye could see. Plants had avoided growing anywhere, that had not been protected. Most of the land is like this barren – even plants fear what cometh. This is also part of the reason the ancestors chose to manifest as forest folk and make Elleria – or so the Knight read in their normal library.
They were all on the branches of the south-eastern most tree. Tracking on the ground was a little harder that travelling by branch. All this took two weeks – even at their speeds – a testament to the sheer size of this place.
They all reached the end of the branches and looked out expecting something. Nothing came, so they moved their gazes towards to the Knight.
They all scrambled to the front, even making a race out of it because they remembered the Knight marching with about ten dragons, and everyone wanted a chance at the free ride. The Knight walked through the crowd. Then it continued to the edge of the branch.
Then its armour glowed red, emanating a crimson glow of a furnace as [Flame Dragon Absolute Rule] Activated.
Outside the first time – the time it used it to force them all to return on that red tainted night, Red Scorch had been willingly obeying the Knight. So, this was the second ever time the Knight used it. The heat coming from it even singed the branch it stood upon.
Some stepped back as they heard the Knight. As the pendant had not translated the sentence – so they heard the noise of the Knight, as it spoke the long-lost ancient tongue, the one it had known since its times of being human – the Aust tongue.
"Come to me!"
Then a dragon flew through the thick clouds. Then a few more followed. The Knight then Teleported onto one's back. Then before their eyes, an entire armada of dragons, numbering way over the thousands emerged, even covering the entire skies.
Way more than they had bargained for, and even enough for all of them. Everyone starred at the sight with open jaws.
In a spectacular sight, all the knights climbed onto the Dragons. The entire army – for this was all scattered pieces of Red Scorch, for the humans had not yet realised they were all single being.
They all rode on the Dragons, the Knight ahead of all of them, its only companions Kitrino, Guilos – who had been snuck out, Cathina, and her brother.
The Vile army used teleport and had already reached HQ.
Just one look at the spectacle, and one would think they were the real demon king army. And nothing could stop this procession.