This is the day the Reilaean Scouts found a huge horde of monsters marching forward to the north where they immediately sent a message via carrier talon they summoned to the Adventurers Guild and to the Queen. And this is also the exact day Christa met and learned quite a number of things from the black armored man.
In the far northern lands right at the edge of the territorial borders of Reilaea Country, five Reilaean Scouts continues to follow a number of monsters they noticed as they push towards the direction in a certain place called Tarasque Mountain.
Their nimble and soundless moves, and them blending behind the shadows of the trees, tall bushes and huge rocks helps them to keep up with the monsters unnoticed.
Soon they'll reach the end of the green land they use to conceal themselves as they get close to the backside of the half dome mountain, where the mouth of the sleeping charcoal black spikey volcano is peeking right at them.
As the monsters take their exit from the vegetated land, one of the Reilaean Scouts points his finger towards the top of the half dome mountain, the rest nodded in response.
And with a swift and silent footsteps and climbings, the five Reilaean Scouts reached the top of the half dome mountain all safe and sound, where a barren land of black terrain surrounds the haunting dark volcano residing at its center. But what caught the attention of the scouts is not the volcano slumbering rather quietly but the place where the monsters are heading after right at the foot of the Tarasque Mountain - A monster fortress.
Everything seemed like it was made just from the same hardened magma terrain they are residing with and bones from the animals they took and possibly feasts on. From the watchtowers placed on each end of the two story spikey walls guarding every monster inhabiting the fortress, to the structures built inside the said wall. There are also guard towers placed from a distance not far from the fortress, all in to keep the fortress for intruders. But what's more is that right between the structures that seems to act as barracks for the orges and orcs, is a giant hole that goes through inside the volcano.
The five Reilaean scouts quietly glances at the hole as monsters goes in and out of it.
"That hole..."
"Yes... Their true hideout must be inside that hole."
"Anyway, we've confirmed that this volcano is where the monsters are going. Knowing the possibility of them having a demonic pillar should be the Adventurers' responsibility from here on."
"I will summon another talon to send a message of confirmation to the Adventurers Guild and to her majesty."
One of the Reilaean Scouts summons a magic circle on his right hand and onto mid-air as he summons a carrier.
"Come forth!"
A talon appears below the magic circle, standing on the ground as it is waiting for the message it's going to send. One of them takes out a small piece of paper wrapped tight with a red small twine, with written words about the monster fortress they found at Tarasque Mountain.
One of the Scouts extends his hand to give the letter to the one who summoned the talon, there he began wrapping it around one of the talon's leg.
"Alright. Deliver this back to the Capital, let the Guild Master and her Majesty know that the threat of demons is not too impossible anymore."
The talon let out a scream as it immediately take flight, heading straight down south where the capital city of Reilaea is.
"We need to stay here and watch these monsters until the adventurers arrives."
"Right."
Two of the five Reilaean scouts talks to each other as they stare down at the giant walls of the small fortress from the foot of the mountain. Meanwhile, the other three is watching the talon going further and further away as though they want to make sure it goes well and safe.
But at that exact moment...
"Wha!"
An object that looks like an axe is flying towards the talon in which it hits the poor bird directly right in its head. That precise aim caused the talon's head to be severed from its body. The summoned talon falls to the ground along with the letter that is supposed to be delivered to the Guild Master and the Queen.
"The letter!"
"Wh-what happened!"
The two watching the fortress quickly turns around to see the poor talon falling down inside the woods.
The axe that flew straight right into the bird's head turns back to where it came, landing to a hand of a hobgoblin who's glaring at the Reilaean Scouts from the top of the half dome mountain.
"A hobgoblin!"
"Dammit! Kill it before it calls the others!"
With their enhancing magic to increase their speed in movement, the five Reilaean Scouts charges towards the hobgoblin to silence it before the other monsters finds out that they are in their territory.
*Roar!!*
However their agility is not enough to stop the hobgoblin from letting out a loud deep roar. They did manage to kill the hobgoblin, but its final roar definitely alerted all the monsters who are also keeping watch all around the area.
"We were too late!"
"We need to get out of here now!--"
Without warning, an enormous spiky club smashed one of the Scouts' head out of nowhere, killing the Scout in an instant. An ogre appeared as it pulls the club it used to kill one of the Scouts' head.
"Damn you!"
Blinded with anger, one of the Scouts dashes towards the ogre who killed one of them, leaving his back wide open from the other monster who sets its eyes on him.
The other three Scouts screaming at the one charging against the monster sees an object spinning like a wheel as it catches up to the lone scout.
"Hey! Look out!"
His warning is too late for the scout to notice, the spinning object hits the man behind his back with great force that broke his spine. What's more, its thorn like spikes stabs the Scout's body.
Despite a brutal attack, the object continues to torment the human as it grows the spikes that stabs the human, piercing through him onto his death.
As the three scouts were left standing in the background, the object began taking shape of a human body as it stands up. The thorn-like spikes returns to its normal size which frees the dead man's body from the tormenting pain, lying down behind the humanoid creature.
"That monster..."
Dark green skin, grisly mosses hanging in every sharp edges of the thorn-like spikes around its back, it's medium-long messy black hair, sharp claws, gritting and drooling crook teeth, and it's terrifying eyes that glows yellow in the dark.
"It's a great swamp troll!"
"What's a monster that lives in the swamps doing here?!"
"Here I was certain you humans would know. Considering what you guys have spoken to each other earlier."
A deep eerie voice spoke from nowhere, making the three remaining Reilaean Scout nervously concious around their surroundings. The cloudy daylight scenery suddenly blackened with the skies turning pitch black, small pairs of glowing light began appearing one after the other as everything around them were being swallowed by the dark, until it was only their feet and small part of the surface can be seen. But that didn't last long as the darkness eventually stole their footing as they all felt their bodies sinking in the dark.
"The evil brings forth fear, fear that evokes the encroaching darkness, darkness that can swallow everything even the fearless light. But do not fear the dark, for it is not to devour, but to bring everyone to salvation."
Hands came from the dark that crawls all over them as their bodies sinks further and further down, until there is nothing left that not even a single piece of their hair are to be seen. As the three humans disappear in the dark, the voice speaks the last of his words, perhaps a warning to the beings living in the world.
"Know this, you ignorant humans and other living beings who live their lives filled with power, greed and hatred. The time to open the gates that bridges worlds has come, for it is now our turn to take a stand to protect the world from the nearing catastrophe."
As the voice spells the last of his words towards the three humans who were devoured by the hands of darkness, everything went back to normal, the Reilaean scouts and the monsters they encountered disappeared into thin air. And the five Reilaean Scouts were never able tell anyone of the threat that is coming their way.
.
.
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The time goes back to the present, as the entire day is filled with yet another celebration. But this time, the occasion is set in the capital city of Reilea, with the prince, Edle, in the center of everyone's attention. The day goes fast forward further at sunset as the time for the event everyone are waiting for draws near - The Banquet Hall night celebration.
Meanwhile, at the southern part of the city, Christa and Titania stops as they finally reached their destination.
"What you said back there is right, Christa. Nothing seems to be happening in the city.
"See? I told you there's no reason to be in a rush. But that fireworks sure is something." Christa replied as both of them gaze at the stunning beautiful display of the fireworks coming from capital city of Reilaea. "I wonder if something amazing is happening inside the city?"