The cavalry was left with nothing but a sham of despair. A pretense of hope that wouldn't be able to justify the real truth of their deaths. The undead is pretty much only the scratch but the real reason is entirely focusing on the witch that was planning to invade the academy. Even so, the day continued and the knights were entirely focused on paper works including the partial monitoring of the venue for the sake of the Triathlon event.
Inside the office of Commander Henry, a knock from outside can be heard. As he tried to sign the paper, he retracted from his progress and placed his pen down on the table. He raised his head.
"Come in..." The doorknob twisted and the door made a scratching sound. A representative knight from outside the capital saluted in front of the commander.
"Sir, we received reports that the quadrant B group of the cavalry that was initially heading to the east were ambushed by multiple zombies on their way back. It has been a day and there is no news about them coming back, only one member of the scouting legion managed to flee from the scene." He reported.
"What? Ambushed by the undead? That's impossible, there weren't supposed to be monsters on the east. How did it go?" Commander Henry stood up from his chair, looking perplexed.
"Well, according to the member, they stumbled upon a large horde of these monsters on a seemingly unknown forest far from the east. It was an undiscovered land that we haven't really set out yet. It is most likely that this place is not lamented on the map yet." The representative answered.
Henry started making a dubious look as he thinks for a while. Aggravated from his work due to unforeseen circumstances, he began to question more about the current situation.
"Weird... It is really weird. To think that there will be another location there that was not yet discovered. Moreover, how come a horde of zombies would instantly spawn there? The east was known to be peaceful on its horizon. Someone or something might have been stalling there in that forest. It is pretty dangerous to think about what would happen if they were to know that humanity is just a few miles away." He pondered as he walked through the window and took a glance at the city.
"What should we do, Sir?" The representative asked for instructions.
"Investigate the location and try to find the quadrant cavalry. Bring more knights with you and keep your guard. If there is any indication of engagement, do not fight or hold them off. Your primary objective is to confirm the place and search for the group. We don't want to repeat the same mistake. After you have secured it, return back to the base as soon as possible before the Triathlon event, we might be dealing with something far more catastrophic here." Commander Henry laid out the plan.
"Yes, Sir! I will be preparing a fourth of them." With another exchange of salute, the representative made his way outside his office and closed the door.
Henry scowled his eyebrow and made a serious look while taking it out on the city. He clenched his fist and after a short while, he dropped a sigh and sat down on his chair, continuing the work that he was signed earlier.
I should inform the division about this...
***
Back in the Dukedom of Silvestre.
Aran was waiting for Mahrisse. He purposely stalled on the fountain for a while and started leaning towards the water. Seemingly fazed by the fact that he hasn't seen one of the capital yet, he extends his right hand over the wave that was pouring down out of the statue and washed his hand.
"It is cold..." He muttered to himself. He withdraws his right hand and started walking around the path. Over the side of the mansion was a big log of a park wherein several carriages, as well as horses, can be found stalling on it.
The stable is also vast while the fences in which they keep all of the grains are also staggered in a large space. There are also several stones and a few ponds leading up to the big farming land just outside the mansion. Some farmers are doing their usual jobs over it and the rest are feeding the horses and the cows.
"Heh... I didn't think that this place would have a similar nature to mine. The farm looks so big and there is a lot of animals here." Aran said. Hearing his comment, a farmer decided to head over the fences to greet him.
"Oya? Hey, young man. You new around here?" He asked. It looks like he takes his job seriously but also relaxing in easiness.
Startled by the greet, Aran quickly shifted his head to glance at the man who asked him.
"Ah, y-yes. Um... Duke Frederick, His Grace invited me over for a dinner." Aran answered.
"Oh! You must be popular then?" The farmer widened his eyes.
"Popular?" Aran questioned him.
"Not just popular, but maybe you're also one of those humble young ones. Hehe, lucky you eh? His Grace is often generous to give those who have a great reputation his pieces of treasure. But the reputation that he requires is those who are eager to share the treasure with others. So that means, you are humble and I take it that you are not from here? Where are you from?" He raised another question as he humped the shovel on his shoulder.
"Ah... Yes, I am from Knightstar. My name is Aran Crossford." Aran bowed as he introduced himself.
"I am Cain! The capital eh? Seems like a good place, but I haven't really gone over there."
"Eh? Why?"
"Well, you know how it works here, we commoners who don't really have that much rank don't really deserve to step on that place. It is common knowledge. But that doesn't matter, here in Silvestre everyone is happy because His Grace treats everyone equally and with respect. He doesn't discriminate against others with the ranks. We are pretty much living our lives here without worrying about our fundamental rights. He even gave us homes for our families."
At first, it was hard to grasp and understand what discrimination practices and applies. But seeing the smiles of these farmers, Aran knew that he was doing the right thing. He knew that everything is conditionally bound to change if someone will risk the foundation of being the eye-opener. After receiving that amount of prize, he was obliged to do what he can to improve the lives of others.
"Uh... Mr. Cain!" Aran called out to him.
"Hmm?"
"Will I be able to make everyone happy as well if I did what His Grace did here?" he asked. Cain showed a perplexed reaction, gasping over a vague yet seemingly calm question. He closed his eyes and smiled.
"You know, Aran boy there is not really an obligatory option for you to pick. Everyone in this world is bound to have their lives tied within the connection of each other. You don't have to admire someone or have a great goal in mind to help the poor... You just need this..." Cain approached Aran and pointed out his chest. An indication that he is referring to his heart.
"Kindness comes from your own natural feelings. It is a not by-product of your choice and goals. Of course, you don't have to force yourself. Whatever you do with your companions, friends, families, or even your love interest, they are all within your natural feelings. So just do what you really want to do. And if it makes people happy, then continue living on that path. You don't have to live up to the expectation of the others from you." Cain followed.
Aran was completely blown away by his answer. But somehow, deep on his words, he knows that it will someday reach Aran's deeper feelings as he grows up and understands the flow of life and the meaning itself.
"Sorry for the wait!" Suddenly, a woman voice reciprocated the situation and Aran turned back to see who it is.
"Oh, Mahrisse..."
Mahrisse confronted the two with her newly compounded fashion. She really changed herself and was willing to go out with an exaggeration.
"Ah! Good morning, Milady!" Cain bowed.
"Good morning, Cain!" She responded.
"Well then, Aran, I hope you two have a great day. We still have more crops to harvest." Cain left the fences as he waved his hand to both of them. Aran smiled and waved back to him as well.
"What are you guys talking about?" Mahrisse asked.
"Oh nothing, I just like the view of this farm. It reminds me of my days when I was still a kid. I and Lisa used to harvest crops, feed the horses, and water the plants. It was fun." Aran answered with a widened smile on his face.
Hearing 'Lisa' on his answer, Mahrisse converted her reaction to a saddened state but Aran didn't notice it. She twitched for a while.
"Also..." Aran walked closer towards her. Mahrisse snapped back from the startle he caused and stepped back.
"Huh? Umm..." He is too close!
Aran leaned his face further to her face, almost an inch away.
"You look kinda different..." Aran commented as he placed his hand on his chin. Mahrisse was panicking over the situation. She had herself wheezing out of embarrassment and nervousness. Her heart beats with a rhythm that is considered abnormal.
"Mm! Yeah, you look great as heck! Shall we go?" After his compliment, Aran waved back on his place and smiled at her.
"O-Oh! Um... t-thanks... yeah, we should go." Mahrisse blushed for another time and her cuteness overloaded the space.
Since they are still in their formal clothes, Aran raised his left elbow for her to cling and after that, they made their way to the city of Silvestre to look for the amazing landmark.
The place was big enough to put that many buildings, but the most prominent place was the waterpark where the buildings and the other houses and facilities were floating in the water and the only way to venture into the place was to ride a boat. The coolest district in the whole part of the territory. Swimming onto the different paths, Aran and Mahrisse purred into the marketplace wherein they managed to buy a lot of treats and foods that can be brought home for the others to eat.
The delicious compound and the sweet flavor of the fruits is also one of the remarks that haven't been passed on this place. Aside from the shopping district were some events that are held on the center wherein many performers including other circuses departments are dancing and doing extraordinary stuff.
Mostly as they stall, they all witness everything that this place has to offer. Without noticing the time, Mahrisse suddenly stopped their streak.
"Hold on, Aran! It is already afternoon, we should probably go back." Mahrisse said. Although she was a bit forced to counter that schedule, they don't have a choice.
"All right..." Aran responded and they walked back together.
***
Back in the academy, Nikki took a few breaks and ate some food. Huck and the others have filled her with the information that she needs to know.
"Nikki... Can I talk to you for a bit? Alone?" William confronted her and the rest of the group looked at him. Nikki smiled as she gave them a nod. Huck, Eunice, and Lisa left the room including the nurse and William sat down on the nearby chair.
"Um, what is it that you want to talk about?" Nikki asked. William was not playing his card this time.
"I know that you already know the reason why you are here... Let me ask you something. What did you encounter before you dropped on the ground." He asked. His tone doesn't have the same joking manner and she can tell that William is being serious this time.
Nikki slightly shook her shoulder, sending chills down to her spine while remembering the horror that she had experienced and the pain of shouldering the voices of the soul that was gathering. It took some time before she can gradually take the initiation to start talking again. William can feel her fear and devastating feelings.
"I... I heard voices from my head... I-It's like... they are screaming... I don't understand what they are saying but umm... it is painful for me and I am scared about what is happening... those whispers... I can't take them... they are scary... they have a deep connection..." She began to talk but her lips are trembling and her whole body is shaking with fear. William curled his eyebrow.
"I don't know the reason... Why is it happening to me? Why do the others don't have any connection with it? What is going on?" She asked William.
A full minute has passed before he can give his answer.
"I am not a hundred percent certain about this, but... Your mana is getting leeched by a curse..." He answered. Nikki gasped.
"W-What do you mean?"
"You have a high capacity for mana, that is why the curse targets you... And that curse is lying around somewhere in this academy. Most like coming from a cursed magic book of some kind." He stood up from the chair and opened the curtain to see the daylight.
"A curse you meant? How on earth did it get here?" Nikki looked down and asked.
"A witch... The only one who can invoke a curse is a witch..."
That answer alone represented a lot of horrid outlooks that might come in the near future.
Turning the event of the call or an inevitable resurrection that might unfold. It is seemingly constructed by a lot of mana coming from different candidates.
"A witch you said... I didn't really believe in them... So it is true?" Nikki asked.
"Yeah, they were common knowledge for about a hundred years ago. Some of them were able to survive but their new location is unknown. Most likely, someone or something delivered a cursed book here, and the academy lost its existence. I saw a cloud of black smoke from where you have fallen. I followed the trail but it quickly disappeared. That particular being of some kind, a monster that is sucking up your mana is the reason for your pain. And those voices... I can only recall one possible answer to why is it happening..." He turned back to gaze at Nikki. She braced herself.
"That Witch is planning on summoning the undead..." He said with a straight face. Nikki widened her view for a mere second and frowned upon the answer.
"I see..." She muttered.
"It is mere speculation. I knew all of these because ever since I got here, I already sensed the dark energy that is looming around me. If we can only find the original location of the cursed book, we might be able to stop the curse that you are holding." William retracted.