"Wake up, Amamiya," Sora shakes Amamiya's body rather violently.
The young battlemage is still fast asleep, and it's taken Sora a few more efforts to wake her up. In the eventuality, the young battlemage is awake, due Sora's become annoying enough to disturb her slumber.
"Let me sleep a little bit! I'm still tired," Amamiya grumbled.
"I will, if today is not the day we depart on our first mission," Sora robs both blanket and pillow from the young sleepy battlemage.
Amamiya's eyes that just about to close again, suddenly open wide after hearing the reminder from her companion.
"Why you not wake me up sooner!?" she protests. Immediately leap out of the bed.
"I did. I already tried to wake you up for about an hour," says Sora.
"Uuugh, I need time to prepare," Amamiya frantically gathered all her stuff on her bed.
"Relax. I already packed your bag and you sleep with full uniform, including the boots. The only thing you need to do is to wear your armor."
Amamiya ignores Sora's comment. She hurriedly washes her face on the water basin and then combs her long hair. She spent quite a long time doing her hair.
"Come on, that is not the most necessary thing to do," Sora protests how long Amamiya is primping herself. "We are going to battle, not to the ball."
"A lady must look the best whatever the occasion," says Amamiya without stopping her effort.
The novice knight is rolling his eyes. "And she wonders why I keep calling her princess."
A moment later, Amamiya is ready. Thanks to Sora's help she manages to wear her armor swiftly.
Someone knocks on the door. Before the two heroes answer, the door is open. A guard enters the room.
"Captain Lydia waits for you in the courtyard," says the guard.
"Yes, please take us to her," Amamiya replies confidently in full display.
In the courtyard, the guard says that Captain Lydia is waiting, but in reality, she is not waiting alone. Roy, Gon, Master Reese, even Margaret and Cara are present. The only one who is not present is Horace.
"Come, say your goodbye to them," says Lydia.
Today the knight captain wears a brigandine instead of her usual armor. She also carried three swords, two on the left and one on the right. Sora noticed this oddness, but he simply dismissed the thought.
"We do this not because we won't straight to get killed in this mission, right?" asks Sora uncomfortably.
"No, not likely. But, they insist to see you both go. Besides, you two carry all of our hope with this journey."
"Very well," Sora walks towards the group, followed by Amamiya.
"Sora, wait," the Knight Captain stops Sora.
"What is it?" The novice knight holds his step. Amamiya is about to stop as well, but Sora gives her signal to go first.
"There is something I want to give to you," Lydia unhook one of her swords from the belt and handed it to Sora.
The sword is almost identical with the one Sora currently has. However, this sword has a longer blade and slightly longer hilt.
Sora seems confused with the Knight Captain present. "You already gave me a sword, why do you give me another one?"
"Your fighting style is requiring a sword that can be held with both hands. This sword is more fit to you than the one I gave to you yesterday."
Sora reluctantly accepts the sword. "So, should I return the other one to you?"
"No, no. You can keep it. Besides, there is nothing wrong to have an extra blade on your side."
"Very well. Thank you." Sora bows slightly in show of gratitude.
"Now, it's your turn to say goodbye."
As Sora greets Gon and Roy. Amamiya still converse a little bit with Master Reese. His good bye is quite brief with Roy since they didn't see each other much, and it's even briefer with Gon. The veteran knight only gives him a pat on the shoulder without saying anything. Master Reese gave Sora a proper goodbye and told him to look after Amamiya. Sora feels a bit tense when he greets Margaret and Cara. As usual Margaret jokes around. But Sora noticed that the Triarius eyes glittering with tears. Cara hugs him tightly, as if Sora is her son, and she is about to see him go to war. Sora feels a strange comfort in Cara hug. Somehow, he remembers that he experienced this before, but not remember where, when and with whom. Cara's embrace marks the end of Sora's good bye session, but someone is not satisfied. Just when Sora turns around, Margaret embraces him from the back. She hugs Sora so tight the novice knight feels a bit suffocated. Margaret whispered something that put a gentle smile on Sora's face. Eventually, the Triarius let his pupil go, albeit with great hesitation.
"Finish with the teary goodbye?" mocks Amamiya.
"Spare me, please. I never ask to do this anyway," says Sora, his face still red from all that mushy feeling the two ladies gave to him.
"But, you do not deny it either."
"Would you?"
"Good point," the young battlemage sighs. "By the way, who will be our escort?"
"Me," Lydia dropped her bag near the two knights.
"You jest?" Sora feels surprised and displeased.
Amamiya simply stunted.
"Unfortunately, no," the knight captain affirms her statement. "And before you ask again, I have my own reason to do this, and you have no say to stop me."
Sora sigh, "Fine. You, after all, the captain."
"Please don't say you are the only one who escorting us?" ask Amamiya with hope and a dash of despair.
In response to the question both Sora and Captain Lydia give Amamiya with pity yet convincing looks. Sora even serves it with a weak smile.
"The upper echelon thinks a knight captain is enough as an escort for this mission," says Lydia.
"You have a boss?" Sora was a little bit surprised. All this time Lydia is the top rank in the knight order.
"Of course, I have a boss."
The knight captain takes her bag. "Alright. It's time to depart."
Sora follows the leads. While Amamiya was still whimpering.
"We will die a terrible death aren't we?" she wallows.
"That's not yet to be decided?" says Lydia, trying to encourage the young battlemage.
"The way we will die, she means," Sora shatters the encouragement.
Their journey starts by riding a gondola to the northern gatehouse. In the gondola, Lydia explains the route they will take to reach the northern outpost.
"We will not take the main road, instead we will walk through a shepherd path through the hill. And there, we will reach one of the caravanserai," she explains while pointing the route on the map.
"From there how we will reach the outpost?" asks Sora.
"If we are lucky, there will be a carriage we can rent."
"If not?"
"We walk again from there until reaching the outpost. Be ready to fight when nearing the outpost. We might have to punch our way through the gate."
"How long will this journey take?" It's Amamiya's turn to ask.
"4 to 5 days. With the carriage, we can cut a day's journey."
The young battlemage looks at the map closely.
"Is there a forest near the route we take?" she points at the map.
"Yes, the path will take us through a forest," Lydia confirms.
"Will we encounter any monster?"
"I plan not to cross any nasty creature in the way, so I advise both of you to be as stealthy as possible."
Sora and Amamiya nod.
The gondola stops. They have arrived at the gatehouse.
Leaving the gatehouse, through the road the three knights begin their journey. That day the sun shone brightly, the breeze blew gently and the sky was blue. The perfect weather condition to go picnic if someone can say so. Lydia, Sora and Amamiya walk with swift and light pace. They need to conserve energy in case they meet with "hindrance" along the way. Even though all look at peace, it's been a trying time for Blue Continent and its denizen. The scar from the demonic invasion still not completely healed and much of demonic creatures still lurking. Not to mention the recent appearance of Battleguards. No one ever completely saves during their journey at this time of age. Even that is not all the danger. Hardship has made the desperate folks to become more industrious and more pragmatic to gain livelihood. They resort to banditry, or those who choose it as a profession called "voluntary yet forced road tax collection".
After many paces, Lydia realizes something is amiss from Sora who is supposed to be the hoplomachus. Turns out, the novice knight does not appear to bring hoplomachii's signature weapon, the spear.
"Where's your spear?" she asks.
"I don't bring it. Too cumbersome for this kind of journey," Sora replied.
"Too cumbersome. For Frea sake! I don't know you can be this lazy," the knight captain seems displeased. "That is your unit's weapon, and you trained to use it as well."
"Yes, but I also have been told a knight should be flexible and versatile for all conditions," the novice knight tries to argue his way out of a lengthy lecture.
"True. But, not bringing a spear just because it's inconvenient is just plain irresponsible. Amamiya still brings her staff and does not think it's cumbersome. Just like all the battlemage."
"Well, it's because she can ride her staff," Sora points at Amamiya who sits on her floating staff.
Lydia speechless. The young battlemage has been sitting, floating on her staff all this time, and she does not realize it. Instead she only notices the absence of a spear from Sora armaments.
"She's been like that since a few paces back," says Sora.
Amamiya senses the odd attention from Lydia.
"Is something wrong?" she asks.
"Y-you, you can do that?" the knight captain asks back, still in disbelief.
"Yes, of course," Amamiya answers plainly.
"You do not know about this?" Sora asks out the knight captain for her ignorance of Amamiya's ability to ride her staff.
Lydia flustered. "Of course, I know. All mages known to do such tricks. It just happens I never witness it in person.
Both Sora and Amamiya chuckle. They never saw the all decisive and confident knight captain flustered and seemed out of her element.
***
Finally, their journey reaches where they need to cross the old shepherd path. This path is just a small trail that is already overgrown by tall grasses. The knights enter the path cautiously. Sora is especially more cautious. He keeps grabbing his sword, ready to swing it. Last time the novice knight venture along tall grasses is just after he arrived in Blue Continent, and immediately ambushed by giant caterpillars.
They spent all afternoon walking past the shepherd path. When the end of the path is reached, the sun is down and the sky is already turning orange. Now, the three knights stand in front of the forest entrance.
"We make camp here," says the knight captain.
Without further order, Sora and Amamiya pull their sword and cut down all the grasses around them to make a clearing for the camp. Lydia digs a shallow alcove and fills with firewood which she gathers from the surrounding area.
Amamiya cleans her sword and sheath it. "Well, that is done. Now, let's make the camp."
"This is the camp," says Sora, putting his sleeping mat on the ground.
"What!? You're joking, right?" The young battlemage seems to have a different perception about the camp.
"No. What do you expect actually?" ask Sora to his confused friend.
"W-well, Captain Lydia said to build a camp. Camp normally has tents. So, where is the tent?"
"This is enough for a camp, actually," says Lydia who just came back from foraging more firewood. "With this, we will avoid unnecessary attention.
"Besides, this is a camp for three people, not three regimens," Sora added.
Amamiya is still not convinced about this less important matter.
"Nevertheless, it is still dangerous to sleep without proper lodging," she argues. "I still think at least a tent is not an excessive necessity."
"Think what you want. This is enough of a camp for three of us, and that's not arguable," the knight captain ending the discussion.
Amamiya grunts angrily.
"You need not worry about the safety. We will take turns to watch the camp," Lydia points at Sora. "And he gets the first watch."
"Suuure, why not," the novice knight agreed half-heartedly.
Eventually, Amamiya accepts the fact that she and her companions are sleeping in the open under the night sky. She puts her sleeping mat. To her surprise, Sora's sleeping mat seems to have a pillow, and her companion lay down in full relaxation while reading a book. When she asks about it, Sora shows that the pillow is actually a pile of grasses they cut before. Fortunately, the novice knight happily shares it to her, so she can have her own "pillow".
"Alright, I'll go hunt for dinner now," says Lydia.
"Wait, you want to go hunting?" asks Sora.
"Yes, you want to come?"
Sora looks at the sun. Only a little light remained. "It's better if I'm the one who goes hunting."
"Why is that?" The knight captain feels her hunting capability is being questioned.
"Your armor is too noisy for hunting,��� says Sora.
The knight captain sees the brigandine she's wearing. Whenever she moves, it creaks.
"Point taken," she agrees. "Ok, you can go. Don't take too long though."
"And don't pillage the piya nest again," warns Amamiya.
The novice knight left his bastard sword on his mat, and entered the tall grasses with the other sword in hand.
A few moments later, the sunlight is nearly gone, there is something rustle from the tall grasses. Lydia and Amamiya immediately on alert, but not for long. Sora emerges from the tall grasses with bloodied swords on one hand and two dead piyas on the other.
"Well, you didn't say not to kill the piyas," says the novice knight with a prideful smile.
Lydia takes the piyas. She cleans and seasons the fowls with the spices and herbs she brought. Finally, the piyas is grilled on spit roast over the campfire.
Sora cannot believe they are having this kind of feast. Amamiya is really happy they are having this kind of feast.
"Don't get used to it. I only had enough seasoning for this once, "says Lydia.
Then, the three of them happily devour their dinner. Oddly, that night, Sora eats every little, considering he usually eats in large portions. After dinner, the girls fall asleep. One can argue the sleep so fast because first journey exhaustion. However, Sora knows the real reason, and the spirit of two recently departed piyas will say the same.
The novice knight begins his first watch by drinking a drop of potion. His bastard sword sticks on the ground beside him. The night goes silent. Not even the sound of cricket or other nocturnal creatures can be heard. Only gentle creaking from the campfire present as the silent music.
The moon has risen high in the night sky. To this time, Sora has been passing his watch by making rope from the grasses. His hands move diligently weaving the grasses to rope. His eyes, on the other hand, keep alert on the surrounding. At this moment, the ever caution Sora, sees a movement from the knight captain sleeping mat. She just wakes from her slumber.
"Trouble sleeping?" asks Sora while he keeps weaving rope.
Lydia yawned and stretched her body. "It's time to switch, right? You can sleep now."
"I'm fine. You can go to sleep again."
"Come on, sleep. That is an order," Lydia sits beside Sora. "I cannot afford you limping tomorrow because of a lack of rest."
"I'm sorry, Captain. Even though you order me to sleep I simply just cannot do it. I drank a drop of Concentration Potion before, and now I'm not feel sleepy at all."
Lydia chuckled. "And you know that potion also makes you rather hyperactive, right?"
"True. You can see that by measuring the length of the rope I made to this point."
The knight captain sighs, and smiles. "Fine, then. I'll accompany you until the effect of that potion wears off.
For a moment, the two knights sit in silence. Then, Lydia tries to strike a conversation.
"I say, you are quite a diligent person, Sora," says the knight captain.
"Thank you," Sora responded plainly.
"Even though you refuse to follow the path given to you when we first met. And now, you seem accustomed to all the new circumstances around you."
"Ah, well. I feel it's best to just follow the current and adapt rather than against it. Less bothersome that way," Sora visage turns dark. "To be honest, I already forgot the idea that someday I could come back to my world."
Sora's last sentence strikes Lydia's nerve. "I-I don't know what to say about that."
The novice knight only smiles. Symbolically, saying "nevermind". He then stopped weaving the rope.
"Do you know I am not always willing to go to training?"
"Of course. Amamiya as well," Lydia interest is picked. She knows that hoplomachus want to tell something important.
"You know why?"
Lydia shakes her head. "Tell me why, then."
"Because I remember that this is not the first time, I saw this world."
The statement confuses Lydia.
"What do you mean?" she asks.
Sora thinks for a moment. "It will be rather difficult to explain it to you."
"Please do try to explain."
"Fine. Hmm, how do I begin? I think about ten years before I went to this world. Something odd happens to me when I look at my computer."
"What is a computer?"
The novice knight sighs. "This is the part that is hard to explain. Suffice to say, computers are something that you look for information or entertainment. Like a book."
Lydia nodded. Satisfied with the explanation. "Then, you say something odd happens. What is it?"
"I saw this," Sora shows the photograph of the previous hero and his companion. "At that time, I also do not know what it is."
"It seems your destiny has already been decided a long time ago."
"Indeed," Sora puts back the photograph into his pocket. "After I saw that picture. I got sucked into the computer."
"Are computers something that you go into?" Lydia asks out of curiosity.
"No. Of course not," the novice knight sighs. "I struggled to let myself go, and I succeeded. My mind was cloudy, I went for a drink, and went to sleep. Since then, I keep hearing songs. It's faint, incomprehensible. Most of the time, thinking it's just imagination. However, I heard the same song just before I was thrown to this world. With enough knowledge about the Blue Continent to venture through it."
"Hmm, curious." Lydia still not completely understand, but she found Sora explanation enlightening.
"Say, did that happen to the previous hero, too?" asks Sora.
"I don't know. It's the first time I heard such a thing," Lydia replied. She then looks at Amamiya sleeping. "Do you think she experienced such an event, too?"
"I don't know. I never ask," he, too, look at Amamiya. The novice knight smiles, seeing how peaceful his lady companion sleeps.
Sora takes his bastard sword and leans it on his shoulder. "Could be this something that I'm the only one who experienced it. Probably, that is the reason I adapted so fast in this world, and the reason why I have the idea to stay."
He chuckles. "I never imagined that I would spend the rest of my life in the other world."
"Well, fate always has a twisted way to direct our future," says the knight captain, throwing a piece of branch to the campfire.
"I agree."
Now, the two knights stare at the campfire in silence. The night is still long, and they nearly exhaust the topic they can talk about. In addition, the effect of Concentration Potion Sora's drunk, is not giving any sign of wearing off. Nobody likes awkward silence, including Sora. To him, it's better to discuss something petty than stay shut like an inanimate statue.
"Do you know one of my greatest fears is my own fut-."
Before Sora can finish his sentence. A big rustling sound can be heard from the bushes around the camp. He and Lydia are on high alert. They cautiously look at the surrounding. Because the tall grasses and the thick bushes, both Sora and Lydia cannot see clearly out there in the dark. However, both of them are certain there is something out there, and it has evil intentions toward them.
"We've been stalked," says Sora, he slowly draws out the bastard sword.
"Yes, by a quiet large group nonetheless," Lydia added.
More rustling comes out from the bushes, and then, a lot more from the grasses.
"They got us surrounded," Sora looked at the tall grasses at the back.
"Wake Amamiya up. We might need to fight," Lydia stood ready, drawing both of her blades. Schiavona and a swordbreaker.
"Nothing like fighting an ambush to spice up a long night, eh?" says Sora in whisper as he walks slowly toward Amamiya.
Sora shakes his companion gently. "Wake up."
Amamiya awake with releasing grunt. But, it was soon silenced by Sora's hand. The cold sensation on her mouth from the novice knight's gauntlet, startled her. She wants to scream, but she can't. Her eyes open wide, looking at Sora who is giving her signal to stay silent. Amamiya relief by seeing that annoying face.
"We've been surrounded," Sora whispered, lifting his hand from Amamiya's mouth gently.
The young battlemage was clearly shaken by that revelation. She stands up with Sora's help, and grabs her staff.
"Ready to fight," says Sora.
Amamiya nods, with resolution and fear filling her heart.
The three knights stand back to back. Waiting.
"Should we engage?" asks Sora, standing ready with a shield stance.
"No. We wait to decide whether to attack or not?" says Lydia.
Amamiya stays silent. Her mind still cannot fully grasp the situation. In her silence, the young battlemage tries to clear her head and concentrate, so she can cast spells effectively.
More and more come from the surrounding camp, making the knights restless. Then, suddenly a meat cleaver flies toward Sora's face. He fortunately managed to block it, but that first contact starlet included both Lydia and Amamiya. A terrible shriek comes from the dark, followed by another, and then, anymore shrieks come out. Creating a cacophony of terror. Not long, the shrieks turn to war cries as the creatures jump out from their hideout with a jagged blade in hand, and charge from all directions toward the knights. Their visage is hideous, but somewhat familiar. Long snout with yellow long chisel shaped front tooth and a pair of long ears. Their eyes are red and murderous. Their bodies are riddled by scurvy.
Amamiya is the one who throws the first attack. She cast a firebolt that pierced one of the creatures, instantly turning it to ash.
"Flamethrower!" The young battlemage casts the next spell.
Stream of fire came out from her staff, burning all the attackers along with the grasses behind them and all that hid in it.
"They are… are…. rabbits," Amamiya stunned by the appearance of the creatures she burns.
"Cannibal rabbits. Result of corruption from the demonic invasion," Lydia explained. She catches the blade that launches toward her with the comb like serration of the swordbreaker, and then decapitates the blade's wielder.
"Aren't they lovely," says Sora sarcastically while stabbing a rabbit that charges at him with open guard.
The fight goes on as the waves of monstrous rabbit hordes keep charging toward the three knights. Amamiya flamethrowers manage to slow down the horde, due the flash from the flame blinded them, and the flame itself burns far through the grasses, unabling the horde to charge effectively. However, one of the cannibal rabbits which is wearing crude armor, manages to go close enough to thrust its jagged dagger at the young battlemage. Alas, his thrust falls short, and way too slow. The rabbit gets stabbed in the neck by the spearhead on top of Amamiya's staff, and drops dead on the spot. Nonetheless, it sacrifices to fill the purpose, stopping the stream of flame. Now, its brethren can charge in full might. The speed of the horde forces the young battlemage to stop casting spells. However, the murderous rabbits make a mistake if they think Amamiya is powerless without her spell, a mistake that they pay dearly with their scorched soul and charred limbs.
Amamiya is still a formidable opponent with only a spear-staff in hand. The cross shaped spearhead enabling her to stab and swipe to heart content. Her staff's spearhead glows bright because Amamiya enchants it with fire magic, making it bright white hot. With that enchantment, the young battlemage can easily slice through bodies, limbs and necks.
The other two knights also make the hunt of the cannibal rabbits any easier. True, both Sora and Lydia have shorter range and they also cannot cast spells, but they have weapons on both hands. Sora uses his shield not just for blocking attacks, but also to slam the attacker. Every time a rabbit charges without much thinking toward him, the novice knight slams his shield on its snout. It gets pushed back hard, and hits the other on its back, all of them fall and stagger. Last thing these monstrous rabbits know is they become prey of Sora's blade.
The horde that charges at Lydia most likely meets the same fate. With a swordbreaker on her left hand, the knight captain masterfully catches the rugged weapon that the rabbits use to attack her. When a blade is caught between the swordbreaker serrated back, Lydia only gives a little twist and it will break easily like a twig. Before the wielder realizes what happened, it already becomes Lydia's other headcount.
The fight drags on. The horde of cannibal rabbits keeps pushing on. The sight of mutilated bodies of their fallen brethren does not seem to discourage them.
"They're relentless. Are they that hungry or they just do not care?" Amamiya commented.
"The more beastial they are, the least they think about morale, or death," says Lydia.
"I think it's best for us to flee from this place," Sora suggested.
"We need to make an opening first before we can run," the knight captain replied.
One of the rabbits manages to sneak toward Amamiya. As it jumps to attack, Sora slices it. The young battlemage starlet by the sudden attack. This situation was used by another rabbit to strike, but only be cut down by Sora again. The third rabbit, its head split by Amamiya's spear-staff.
By helping his lady companion, Sora let his left side open. An eager rabbit jumps on the opportunity and raises its sword. Sora urgently turns around and slices the rabbit mouth. It staggers back, and is immediately used as a jumping stone by the rabbit behind it to hop above the novice knight. Pity, it landed on the tip of Sora's sword, and stuck on it. Sora throws the bastard sword and pulls his other sword. Still, he fights ferociously even with a shorter blade.
Far inside the dark and tall grasses, a group of rabbits plan to end the knights with their unusual weapon. They swing it then, throw it to their targets.
Lydia, who is busy cutting down her opponents, only has split seconds to realize three hooks with chains flying toward her. Somehow, she managed to deflect all of them.
"Watch out. They want to drag-."
Before her warning is received, more chains fly. This time toward Sora. The novice knight manages to block one of the chains, but one manages to hook at his shield. He wrestles with the chain, tries to pull the rabbit on the other end. Soon, another wave of chains comes. This time Sora was unable to evade. The chains hook onto him, and with a great force, he is pulled into the darkness.
"Sora!!" Amamiya screams in terror when seeing her friend being pulled.
The sound of shriek, scream and grunt mixed as the many rabbits pile on Sora, and try to finish him.
Filled in fear and anger, Amamiya chanted a spell in silence. Her eyes lit like flame. She thrust out her staff into the ground, and it shook. Red burning spots start to appear on the ground.
"Vermillion Blast!"
As her echoing voice spread, towers of fire erupting from the ground. Turning everything that is in them or near them into ashes.
When the spell is finished and the fire is dead out, silent come. There is no sign from the rabbits nor from Sora.
The young battlemage staggered back. She uses a lot of energy to cast such devastating magic. Lydia catches her before she falls.
"Are you alright?" she asks.
"Sora… Sora…," mumbles Amamiya.
"Here," Sora emerged from the darkness, coughing smoke from his mouth.
As if she finds her strength back. She stands up and looks at Sora with joy.
"You should be careful when casting that kind of spell," Sora criticizes. He pulls out the hook that stuck on his shield. A severed hand still grips that hook. "You nearly torch me."
Amamiya jumps and hugs her companion. Filled with relief, she cannot help to shed tears.
"Thanks Heaven, you're alive," says her.
Lydia pats Sora's shoulder. "It seems not your time, yet."
The novice knight smirks. "They should have brought sharper blades."
Amamiya lets her hug go.
"And we should get out from here," she suggested.
"True," Lydia stares at the forest entrance.
Sora takes out his bastard sword from a rabbit carcass, and sheaths it back.
"Into the woods, then." Says him.
Without much more consideration, Lydia, Amamiya and Sora run through the forest.
"How far is the caravanserai?" asks Amamiya.
"Two days journey. It's on the other side of this forest. If we keep running, we might reach it sooner," the knight captain explains.
"I think that possible," says Sora.
"Fine. We decide our pace. Rest only when the sun is up, and we run only during the night."
Both Sora and Amamiya nod in agreement.
The knight captain explanation, made the journey sound perilous yet doable. However, the practice is always more difficult than the theory. There is a reason why Lydia says only to rest in the day. Even that does not make them completely safe when they sleep or take a brief stop for a breather.
When in guard, Sora always has both of his swords drawn. He knows something in that forest is stalking them. Waiting the opportunity to strike.
"Is something out there?" asks Lydia to Sora, who is leaning on a tree.
The novice knight is on guard, but with swords on both hands, he is ready to attack at any moment.
"There is always something out there," says him. "I can't see what it is, but it's there. Waiting. And always waiting.
Lydia peaks from the back of the tree where Sora leans on. She looks at lines of trees. There is nothing there. Only soft rustling on the branch and creaking of the trees can be heard.
"You are right. It's spriggans," Lydia concludes.
"Forest nymphs?" Now, Sora also looks at the tree lines. Still, nothing there.
"They are hunters of the forest. Practically invisible among the trees," the knight captain explains.
"Are they dangerous?" asks Amamiya who appears from behind another tree.
"Normally, they are friendly and would ignore anyone. Now, they're mostly driven mad from the corruption of the past war. They will haunt us for sport."
The sound of trees creaking grow louder, and there is a faint howl carried by the wind.
"I think we already have enough rest. It's time to go," says the young battlemage.
Without making any noise, Sora and Amamiya run toward the direction pointed by their captain.
For two days the three knights journey through the forest by running. Their hunters tailed them for every step. When they move, they also move. When they stop, it's also stop and watch and wait.
In those two days, the knights only ever stop just to drink water. There is no stop to eat nor sleep. All three of them know they are not just being chased by the spriggans that Lydia mentions, but also by all other creatures of the forest. They are constantly being chased, and need to keep moving. The chaser is always near them. Sora particularly thinks whoever creatures that tailing is always one step behind him.
Finally, on the dawn of the third day, the knights exit the forest. Panting, exhausted, out of breath, but the sight of their destination with sunrise in the horizon gave them hope and relief.
Sora nearly collapsed from the exhaustion. Amamiya needs to hold the novice knight to keep him standing.
"Come on, only a few stroll left," says Lydia, trying to encourage her subordinates.
"Ehhh, can you walk for me?" Sora's plea sounds more like a groan.
"Walk! You are not the only one who is tired," Amamiya pushed her friend, forcing him to move.
Luckily, Elzen has a message relay station on this caravanserai. When they arrive in front of the gate, the guards take them to the station via a small passage between the watchtowers. Then, the station officer, who has been given news of their coming, prepares a quarter for the knights to rest. Sora and Amamiya immediately fall onto the bed. Meanwhile, the knight captain goes out. There is something she needs to do first before taking the much needed respite.
***
"Wake up!" the knight captain pokes Sora with a broomstick.
She has been trying to wake the novice knight for twenty minute, but there is no sign from Sora to come back from dreamland anytime soon.
"Hey, wake up!" Lydia pokes Sora again. This time she pushes the broomstick at his cheek.
Sora whisk the broomstick from his face and finally, open his eyes, partially.
"Can't you wake me up much much later. I'm still tired," he groans.
"Collect all the energy you can muster and wake up. We need to go," says Lydia.
The hoplomachus sits on the bed like a crooked spear.
"So soon? Is something a matter? Emergency?" he inquires.
"Something like that. The outpost has been attacked. Constantly. We need to go now. The carriage which we will ride also brings provision to the outpost."
"Ugh, escort mission," Sora mumbles.
The novice knight sighs. Not much choice besides to wake up and continue their journey. He takes the broomstick from Lydia.
"Wake up!" Sora pokes Amamiya's ribs with the broomstick to harshly wake her up.
The jolt wakes the young battlemage instantly.
"Can you wake me up much much later," she groans the same words as Sora before.
After dumping their face into cold water, both Sora and Amamiya are ready to go. Before embarking the carriage, Sora visits one of the vendors and then returns with a spear in hand.
In the carriage, Amamiya continues her sleep, while Sora and Lydia stay awake.
"So, you decide to buy a spear," says Lydia.
"Yup. I feel we will fight as soon as we arrive, and I have a hunch for the coming fight will be hard," the novice knight explains.
Lydia only nods in agreement.
"How long will it take to reach the outpost?" asks Sora.
"We will arrive just before dusk," the knight captain replies. "For the moment, just rest and collect more of your energy."
Sora scoffs. "We would have full energy if we did not go through that damn forest. Now I know why the shepherd path is overgrown. Nobody passes through that place anymore."
"Yet, it is still the fastest and most practical way to reach the caravanserai," Lydia counters Sora's argument.
"But, it's not the safest. Why we not use the main road."
"If we use the main road, we will encounter a group of bandits who take control of a small fortress, and since the road circling the forest, it will take more time to arrive at the caravanserai."
"I still prefer the main road even with all of that. Being hunted by something you can't see is not fun."
The knight captain only smiles. She understands the hoplomachus feeling, and she agrees to it.
"However, that is not the most bothering problem about this mission," Sora adds.
"Oh yeah, what is the other problem?"
"You," the hoplomachus stare at his captain with a sharp look.
Lydia stunned. "Me?"
"Yes, you. I know you already explain that the upper echelon in the order thinks a captain is enough of an escort for me and Amamiya. But, I think it's just an awful reason."
Lydia listens in silence and anxious. Her left hand holds the swordbreaker hilt.
"Sending one knight to accompanying two greenhorns is just plain stupid. I think whoever gave this order has something of a grudge to you, Captain."
"And what is the grudge?" Lydia leans slightly toward Sora.
"Knighting us without permission and proper order, for example."
The knight captain leans back. She becomes tense.
"W-what are you talk-."
"Don't play coy," the novice knight cuts Lydia's excuse short. "I know what sword you give us in the armory. It's katzbalger. Only a knight, a full fledged knight, carried this sword. You think I wouldn't know?"
"Well, to be fully honest, yes I think you would not know. You two only been three months in this world," Lydia sighs. "It seems I was wrong. You are a lot sharper than I thought. I'm sorry for taking you as a fool."
"It's always like this," Sora mumbles. It's not the first time someone hides a secret from him just because they think he is not smart enough to understand.
"Yet, I think I do, not uncommon. Other captains also do that unofficial knighting. And the punishment is a lot lighter than escorting novice knights through a perilous journey."
"Really? So, there is another reason?" Sora pretends to be coy.
Lydia scoffs. "I don't think I want to tell you, this reason. You just simply need to guess."
"Like, You're from Zandar, and the order not happy having a Zandarian as a captain in Crimson Drake Order."
The knight captain was clearly surprised that her origin was found out. She rises up, and grabs Sora on his armor shoulder straps.
"HOW DID KNOW!? WHO'S TELLING YOU!? She forcefully shakes the answer from the novice knight.
This action rocked the carriage, and awakened sleeping Amamiya. Fortunately, she was still half asleep, soon back to the slumber.
Sora calmly hushed the angry captain. "You do not want anyone else to know, right?"
Lydia releases her grip, and sits back.
"Now, tell me. Who's telling you that I'm from Zandar?" she asks again with a calmer tone.
"No one," Sora gives a simple reply. Only being stared back with disbelief by the knight captain.
"I ask again. Who is telling you?" Lydia repeated her question. Now, with her hand back gripping the swordbreaker hilt.
"Alright. It's you who tells me." Sora raises his hand to stop Lydia from doing any action. "Before you do anything reckless, I do tell the truth. You tell me of your Zandarian identity. Well, indirectly telling me. You see, I stumbled upon a swordsmanship book that was filled with a lot of different styles. Including the one from Zandar. The style you taught me a month ago. In addition, you also brandish a swordbreaker when fighting the horde of cannibal rabbits. And from what I heard, only Zandrian knights fight with swordbreaker."
Lydia is silent. She cannot believe a person who just arrived three months ago was able to collect a substantial amount of information.
"I-I see," her head tucked down. Then, the knight captain starts chuckling. "Margaret warns me that you are a dangerous person, but I don't listen."
"In my opinion, you should have listened. And also, I advise you to stop taking me for a fool. It makes you look like an idiot."
"You're right. Thanks for the advice."
"One last question, though. Why did a Zandarian become knight in Elzen's knight order? And how"
"Same as you," Lydia looked at the road from the gap of carriage hind. "I got stranded. Do not know where to go, so I ended up in Elzen. I entered the order through the militia, in the end I became a captain due to my ability."
"It seems we all here are lost children. Does this mean we are siblings?" Sora jested.
"Apparently," Lydia mumbles, then smiles. Somehow she feels relief.
After all that argument, both Lydia and Sora feel the fatigue again. They fall asleep. They need the rest. The knights must be in tip-top condition before reaching their final destination.
***
The carriage stops with a rather violent nudge, waking up everyone that sleeps. Lydia is the one who comes down from the carriage to check the coachman.
"Why stopping?" she asks. "We have not arrived, yet."
"I cannot pass this bridge until you secure the road from any battleguards," says the coachman.
Lydia scoffs. The outpost is just across the bridge of Lalali River. It's so close, she practically can see the guards from there.
"So be it. Sora! Amamiya!"
The two knights she called jump down from the carriage. They already understand the situation and what needs to be done.
"Alright, let's get this over with," says the hoplomachus.
Amamiya stretching. After all that sleep, she looks refreshed.
"Get enough rest?" ask Sora.
"Yup, and I can't wait to burn some battleguards," the young battlemage seems enthusiastic.
"Really? What with the sudden bloodlust?" Sora can't understand someone who is eager to fight the creatures that smash knights on a daily basis.
"I dreamt of our last fight during my slumber. It makes me feel… excited," Amamiya smiles like a madwoman.
Both Sora and Lydia look at each other. They think they might accidentally create a monster. Nevertheless, that kind of enthusiasm is what they need. This possibly will Sora and Amamiya first encounter with the battleguards.
As the knights approach the outpost, they can see some of the guards stand in formation outside the gate.
"What are they doing? Are they preparing for a fight?" says Sora when he sees the guards' formation.
"I think so," Amamiya cast a spell. "Scry."
Her eyes turn purple. With that spell she can see for a great distance. She peered to the road that the guards were facing, and to the tree line along the river. There, she saw something moving in haste.
"Something moving from that tree line toward the outpost," she concludes her vision.
"We must hurry. We have to help them fend off this attack," the knight captain gave the order.
They run to the outpost. Near it, both Sora and Amamiya witness the horde of their enemies, fighting the guards with fearsome weapons. The trees. With their immense power, battleguards can easily rip a tree from its roots, and use it as a club. Sometimes, even as oversized javelin.
The attacking battleguards numbered no more than twenty. However, they manage to overwhelm the defender which is much more in number. These horned beasts lift the guards like a ragdoll and throw them on the gate, the wall, and sometimes over the wall into the outpost. A single battleguard only can be killed by cooperation of five or more guards. With their long spear, the guards have a small advantage over their massive adversaries. However, these do not pose much of a threat to the battleguards which are taller than any humans and have thick muscle.
A group of guards manage to kill a battleguard, but before they reform their rank, another battleguard gives them a hard tackle with a tree. The line is splintered. The battleguard rises its tree club high, about to pulverize a guard who is lying helplessly on the ground. Suddenly, a blade flies toward the battleguard and pierce its throat. Lydia with a boast from another guard jumps high over the battleguard and lands on it, burying her schiavona in its chest. The knight captain stabs the monster over and over again until it falls with a great thud.
"Reform!" she ordered. And a shield wall formation lining around her.
Sora helps a group of guards fighting another battleguard. They manage to hamstring it, then stab the big bastard with their long spear. Amamiya blasts the two battleguards charging toward her group with fire bolts. Her magic only manages to destroy the attacker tree clubs, but the explosion blinds the battleguards. That is enough opening for the guards to finish them off. The young battlemage, then cast a magic barrier around the shield formation. She enchants the guards' spear with a fire spell. This spell also gives the guards additional vigor and courage. They're bashing their shield and releasing a warcry to taunt the battleguards.
"Advance!" Lydia gives another order.
The shield wall moving forward. With a great roar, the remaining battleguards charge. Only to be skewered by the enchanted spears. Then, the battleguards start throwing their tree clubs like javelins. Amamiya's barrier holds up against the rain of trees. However, Sora's group has a giant tree falling upon them. The tree manages to break the barrier, and makes it explode, scattering the guards.
Sora fell flat on his face. His head is ringing, and his vision is disoriented. With the help of his spear, the novice knight stands up. He sees a reddish skin battleguard lifting a guard and opening its mouth, trying to eat the poor sod. Before the battleguard shoving its prey to its mouth, there is a prickly sensation around its side. Turns out a spear stuck between its ribs. The spear that Sora throws to stop the battleguard and draw its attention. And it worked.
The reddish battleguard lost interest with the guard and threw him down. It pulls out the spear from its ribs and breaks the spear like a twig.
"Seriously," Sora cannot believe being stabbed on the side did not weaken the big bastard even in the slightest.
The battleguard charged with a roar toward the novice knight. Sora holds the massive charge with his shield, and at the same time stabs the hand of his attacker. With a swift succession, Sora is stabbing and slashing the battleguard's stomach. Bleeding and in pain, the battleguard down to its knee. However, it's not out of the fight. Before Sora delivered his finishing blow, he got backhanded and sent flying. The landing is rough, the novice knight squirming on the ground. The battleguard picks him up to pulverize the little hoplomachus. Yet, the battleguard forgot, its opponent carried two swords, and with this other sword Sora sliced its throat. The battleguard staggers back, then falls. Drowned by its own blood.
Amamiya manages to keep the rest of the barrier stable, so when it's broken, it won't explode. Fighting alongside the guards, the young battlemage casts a barrage of flaming arrows at the battleguards. However, her spells weaken. Her energy is depleting due to maintaining the barrier. Eventually, all the barriers were broken. A battleguard ramming the shield wall is a big tree. The guards hold vast to their shield and repel the charge with their long spears. There is still some vigor left inside the defender.
Something unexpected happened. Another battleguard manages to flank Amamiya's line. It's ramming to the line and bashing it with the tree club to splinter. Two other battleguards approach the broken line. Now, Amamiya stands alone facing three battleguards.
"Firewalls!" she cast the spell, then waves of firewalls crushing towards the battleguards.
The spell manages to injure them, but also makes them angrier.
Amamiya is panting. Not much energy left, and not much can be done. Fortunately, Sora is rally his group and repel two battleguards away from the young battlemage. Sora himself jumps onto the third one, and stabs its back with both of his swords. With full rage the battleguard yanks Sora like a mouse and throws him to the outpost wall. The wall hits hard on the novice knight's body, and he falls unconscious.
"Sora!" seeing her companion's limp body, Amamiya feared for the worst to happen.
The young battlemage channels all her remaining energy, and amplified with rage, she releases a torrent of flame. The flame blasted through the battleguard's head, cutting it off. After that, Amamiya hastily approaches the unconscious Sora.
"Sora… Sora… Oh please, open your eyes," Amamiya prays her friend is still alive, even though she clearly knows Sora is in terrible shape after being slammed to a wall.
The novice knight groans, and opens his eyes. He was clearly beaten up and broken, but still alive. Amamiya cannot be more relieved.
However, the same can't be said to the knight captain who is still fighting the last of the battleguards. After the long fight, she finally realizes that her line is the only one that is still standing. The rest is already broken and scattered.
She and her line face the last five battleguards, and they push hard to end the fight. The battleguards overwhelmed by the long spear. Then, a single guard, who looks like more like a knight, sprung out from formation and charge two other battleguards with a horseman axe in hand. A battleguard tries to swatted him like a fly. However, this guard skillfully avoid the attack and clip the battleguard's kneecap, downing it. The finishing blow is the axe to its neck, and the battleguard is fall. When this extraordinary guard looking to other battleguard, it's already lost its head to Lydia. The other three battleguards is stabbed to death by the remaining guards. The battle is over.
This single guard pulls out his axe from the battleguard's neck and hooks it to his belt. He then takes off his helmet. Revealing his hardened face donning a thick mustache across his upper lip, and messy brown hair.
"How many casualties this time?" he asks one of the guards.
"No one died. Some crushed, but still alive. I hope they will survive," the guard replies.
"I hope so as well."
He noticed three knights, who have been helping repel the attack, approaching him. One of them is badly injured and being carried.
"You must be Captain Glenn," Lydia shakes the mercenary captain's hand.