The ground started to shake lightly, as if hundreds of horses are stomping on the ground near us. The knights glanced at the ground and strengthened their resolution.
"My lord!" Eric, my aide, exclaimed and pointed in front.
A thick fog started to cover our sight of the Castellans and their knights until they were invisible to us.
"My lord, what is your command?" Eric asked. It was obvious that he was worried that we could not see far from where we stood anymore.
"Stay in your ground." I answered him. "Whatever comes out of that fog that is not human, kill."
I glanced at Sky's direction, he still looked calm. I know he said that we should not underestimate the Castellans, but at a time like this, it was difficult not to. They were just little girls, far younger and smaller than me. They may come from a strong family but they were still girls, I don't believe that the archduke would train them in combat this young.
The ground started to shake stronger, Heavy footsteps and growling sounds could be heard indicating that the demon beasts are close.
"They're here!" A sharp shout from inside the fog was heard, followed by sounds of slashing, snarling, loud thuds, as if something heavy fell on the ground. Inaudible shouting could be heard and sparks could be seen from time to time as well as black smoke and flames. The snarling, panting and growling was now louder, but no demon beasts have emerged from the thick fog.
"Something's coming!" A scout shouted from the front and ran towards us.
"Knights, get ready!" Sky commanded and all their knights went into position.
"My lord?" Eric asked on the side.
"Let's follow their lead and get ready too." I answered him and glance at Sky who looked at me with a nod before putting on his helmet.
I nodded at Yan who was also leading their knights, a signal to get ready. The other nobles who stayed to fight also went into position. I looked around to check who was leading the royal knights but I did not see any of them.
"Eric, where are the royal knights?" I asked my aide.
"They escorted the empress and the second prince back." He replied, his contempt unhidden.
The royal family and the royal knights have abandoned us here. How them.
"Demon beast!" Someone shouted when a gigantic silhouette was seen in the fog, moving towards us.
A reptilian demon beast with scaly body emerged from the fog and came dashed towards us followed by smaller horned demon beasts.
"Knights. Attack!" I commanded and ran towards the demon beasts, aiming for the biggest one.
The knights attacked the smaller demon beasts in groups as I fought with the biggest one. I tried stabbing it with my sword but its scales were too hard that I did not even hurt it in the slightest. I leaped up to its back, trying to find a weak spot where my sword could penetrate it. The demon beast started to shake its body to throw me off, I had to hold unto its scale to keep myself from falling off. That was when I noticed that it was missing a scale on top of its head.
'If I could stab it there, it would definitely kill it.' I thought to myself and started to move towards the head while trying to keep myself from falling.
When I reached close to the weak spot, a monkey-like demon beast saw me and leaped towards me. I was in an inconvenient position, holding unto the scale, and unable to deflect the attack. I was ready to let go and defend the attack but before the demon monkey could hit me, a fireball hit it straight in the body, throwing it back to the ground.
I looked to where the fireball came from and saw Countess Polit, her surrounding has become molten magma. No demon beast was able to come near her, and she could throw her magma like cannon balls which never missed. She was indeed the golden aim, the only woman who was able to turn the tides of battle against the Southern Kingdom.
I focused on the enemy in front of me and moved towards the part with the missing scale. The demon beast was not thrashing as much as it was earlier so I was able to move better. I reached the head and unceremoniously stabbed my sword straight into the empty spot. The demon beasts roared loudly before it fell heavily on the ground with me kneeling on its head, holding unto my sword which was still stuck on its skull.
"My lord!" My aide ran to me and checked if I was injured in any way. "Are you alright?"
"Don't worry about me and help the others." I shouted back at him as I pulled out my sword from the Demon beast's head and moving to fight off another one.
I ended up close to the place where the thick fog was keeping still, like it was purposely placed there to keep whatever happening inside a secret. Could it actually be that the Castellans does not want others to see them fight? If so, why did they volunteer to fight in the first place? Are they hiding something? Do they not want people to see the goddess that they could summon?
It was already quiet inside, are they still alive?