The moment we got out, Athy immediately noticed the people who were panicking. She looked up and saw black smoke on the mountain.
"Father?" She asked still looking towards the mountain.
"Still up there." I nodded towards the mountain. "I already sent Seb to pick them up."
"What is happening?" She asked as we started walking to our tent again. Loki was carrying Susan who was petrified with fear.
"Saintess Sachi will explain when we get to the tent." I told her and we moved faster.
We arrived at out tent and mother was having tea with lady Rutchel who was obviously still worried. When she saw her daughter safe in Loki's arms, she immediately run towards her.
"Thank you, Lady Mel, Lady Athy." She thanked us.
"No problem." I smiled at her and sent Uriel a quick glance.
"Saintess Sachi?" Mother noticed the saintess who was behind me. "You were here?"
"I came here for a very important mission, but I think that I am already late." Saintess Sachi sighed.
"What's wrong?" Mother asked and she led the Saintess to sit with her.
"Loki, inform all the knights to get ready for battle." I instructed Athy's butler who bowed and went out to fulfill my orders.
"What do you mean battle?" Mother looked at me with worry.
"Saintess Sachi will explain everything to you." I told her. "I need to get the knights ready."
I gave Saintess Sachi a glance, telling her to tell them everything and she nodded in understanding. I walked out of the tent while they listened to the saintess's explanation.
Loki had summoned all our knights together. Roughly twenty of what was left after father took the others to his team. Klent is the only one with a high rank among them.
"Knights!" I shouted in front of them to get their attention. "Someone opened a portal with the intention of destroying the entire northern territory. In a few moments, this place will be swarmed with demon beasts."
The knights remained silent, their full attention on me.
"We still have time to leave, but if we do, those who will be left behind will die." I stared at each of them directly. "The villages, towns, the people living in the northern territory will all be destroyed and killed as they will have no time to evacuate everyone. The northern territory or much of it, will cease to exist."
The knights looked solemn at the news.
"The northern territory is not part of Westreon, neither is it part of any Castellan territory. The nobles who owns this territory is not even connected to House Castellan." I informed them. "But, the people here are Elleveire people and this is still a part of the Elleveire Kingdom. Just from those, we, the Castellans, as protectors of the kingdom, have decided to stay and fight."
I turned to look at my sisters who were walking out the tent and stood beside me.
"As Knights of Noktis who promised to protect the people with us, I am asking you to stay and fight with us." I looked at the knights again. "I will not blame you if you leave, but right now, the only thing we can do is fight the demon beasts who are approaching to give others time to safely evacuate to a safer place. As the saintess had informed, the demon beasts will outnumber us. We cannot promise your safe return and we will not blame you if you wish to leave."
The knights looked straight at me.
"We will not abandon you, my lady." Klent replied, his face serious. "We have made our oath to fight your enemies and protect the people with you. Am I right knights?"
"Yeahh!!" The other knights shouted in unison.
"I am a Knight of Noktis, my life is in your hands." Klent said as he knelt down on one knee and placed his right hand over his chest.
The other knights followed him and also repeated their oaths.
"If you are willing to fight with us, get yourselves ready." I commanded. "It will only be a matter of time before those beasts reach here.
The knights all went to prepare for battle while I went inside the tent again. Mother was sitting on a chair, she was comforting Lady Rutchel who was trembling in fear.
"Lady Rutchel, I shall prepare a carriage for you." I said as I stood in front of her. "You should leave with the little lady while we are fighting the demon beasts."
Lady Rutchel looked up at me. Her eyes were brimming with tears and she hugged Susan close to her.
"I cannot leave, lady Mel." She smiled weakly. "I may not look like it, but I also used to be in the frontline. I am not as weak as I look."
"You may be strong, Lady Rutchel, but what about your daughter?" I said as I glanced at the girl in her arms.
"My daughter can go first." She said as she stroked her daughter's hair. "I need o stay her and wait for my husband."
"What about your sons?" I asked her remembering that she has two other children.
She smiled and shook her head.
"They will leave with her and protect her." She answered.
"No!" A boyish voice came from the entrance of the tent.
Two blond boys came in together. One looked to be my age while the other looked to be the same age as Uriel. They were wearing armors and looked ready for battle.
"Sky, Bob, what are you wearing?" Lady Rutchel was surprised to see her two sons.
"We heard about the demon beasts that are about to attack and decided to fight with the others." The older boy answered her. "The Salvatores are also getting ready for battle. You should return first with Susan, mother. We will wait for father here in your stead."
"No!" Lady Rutchel strongly disagreed.
"Mother, we are sons of a Knight captain." The boy said as he knelt in front of his mother. "It is our job to protect you."
I thought Lady Rutchel would argue but she just bowed her head and cried.
"My lady." Klent called from outside. "Someone is here to see you."
I turned around and saw Countess Polit standing at the entrance of the tent. Her eyes were calm and she still exuded an aura of a noble lady.
"Countess Polit, please come inside." I invited her.
"My lady, may I and my people stay here?" She asked as soon as she entered.
"My lady, this place will soon be swarmed with demon beasts." I told her. "Why would you want to stay here?"
"I would like to fight together with you." The aged noblewoman answered, her face was filled with seriousness.