It wasn't the kind of dread that made them want to flee. Rather, it was one who encouraged them to push through. However, they would have to exchange something valuable in return.
That something valuable, to the knights and soldiers' understanding, was their lives.
The fire and the smoke appeared as if they were hungry for life essence.
Seeing the hesitation in his mens' demeanour, Commander Halkias gazed at the Gertrude Dukedom to throw some blame. The heat was starting to get through his patience.
Nearly everyone in his order was already sweating as if they had just bathed in a thunderstorm. Thankfully, the citizens within at most ten kilometres from the Dukedom had absconded the area on their own. For those who had yet to escape, the soldiers on the scene guided them.
"Everyone, assemble." Commander Halkias hollered as he alighted his horse.
He then handed the rein to the soldier beside him. Of course, the rest of the Order followed suit, tying the reins of their horses on nearby trees or structures. Once they were done, they arranged themselves into several ranks afore their Commander.
"Based on what I can sense, this fire cannot be put out that easily. We will have to await the sorcerers from the Obelisk. For the time being, knights, coat your bodies with at least five layers of shields. If you still have the energy, take care of the shields of the soldiers. If the Obelisk sorcerers don't make their appearance within five minutes, we will be infiltrating the Dukedom."
Using silence to show their agreement, the knights enacted Halkias' command. Meanwhile, the Commander himself simply watched the raging fire inside the Dukedom. As the time passed by, the fire's intensity didn't seem to be decreasing.
'What trouble have we gotten ourselves into? As far as I'm aware, the Duke and his son are sorcerers. If so, they might be the ones at fault for this incident. Or someone might have been targeting them. Well, we have to investigate either way. For sure, the Emperor will be enraged.'
Even if they guaranteed the safety of the citizens, Halkias knew that he, together with the other Commanders, would be reprimanded for letting such an incident destroy the confidence of the citizens in the Empire's forces.
For them to elude the blame, they have to capture the perpetrators. At that very moment, Halkias' sole wish was to find the Duke and his Heir-apparent alive.
"Commander Halkias! The sorcerers from the Obelisk have arrived!"
Ending Halkias' reverie was Sir Reverend's loud voice. He cast a gaze towards the sprinting young man, who was being followed by five individuals.
It was not possible to get a glimpse of the true appearances of the sorcerers sent by the Obelisk.
They were clad in white hooded coats and black leather gloves. However, when you stare at their faces, or any holes in their garment for that matter, the void would surely be staring back at you. Even their voices were distorted, as if ten people of different genders were speaking at once.
The Obelisk made sure that their sorcerers could walk among the streets without garnering attention, especially the malicious ones.
Commander Halkias never appreciated meeting any sorcerer from the Obelisk. Their presence was a source of botherment to him. It's because they're purposefully making themselves intimidating to ward off other people. Halkias believed that they were being paranoid.
The sorcerer leading the group bowed their head at the Commander.
{ "Commander Vatar Halkias, we are the sorcerers dispatched by the Obelisk. We came here to aid you in any way possible, though merely on the tasks that constitute the safety of the capital." }
Halkias inwardly snorted, taking offence on the sorcerer's words.
"Is that for me to decide or yours?" He queried, holding back his contempt.
{ "You know that answer to that, Commander Halkias." }
"Very well, I will heed your limitations."
It wouldn't be of use if he argued with the people who would be of immense help to them. Hence, Halkias yielded.
"I have a request." He then turned towards the Facade of the Gertrude Dukedom, pointed a finger towards it, and uttered, "Before the lot of you begin reconstructing the barrier, I implore of you to extinguish the fire. I trust that the task would be better given to the Obelisk sorcerers rather than letting my men waste the Manna within the vicinity."
{ "Since it's a request from the Commander, we're willing to take up the task on one condition." }
'Here we go again.' Halkias thought, resisting his desire to exhale his frustrations. 'They always come up with the most ridiculous of conditions.'
{ "Whatever you may find intact within the Gertrude Dukedom, you have to allow us to inspect it. Considering the time that has passed and the severity of the explosion and the fire, the objects that will manage to retain their shapes once we put out the fire are certainly artefacts." }
The Obelisk didn't have any influence on the House of Parliament. That's why they had no right to pieces of evidence that were acquired under the Empire's authority. Their circumstances warranted that response from Commander Halkias. Even if his father had a high-ranking position within the Empire, he didn't want to overstep his bounds.
Be that as it may, if he disagreed with the condition, he would have to find another method of extinguishing the fire. That alone would cost a lot of time, something that he couldn't afford at that stage.
Halkias looked at Reverend and nodded. There was solely one way to resolve the issue, and that was to be discrete.
"I understand. Have one of your comrades enter with me. Reverend will sort out the rest."
{ "I am grateful for your benevolence. Shall we begin?" }
Instead of replying to the sorcerer, Halkias chose to address his men.
"All of you, retreat at least twenty meters from the estate!"
The knights and soldiers swiftly did as they were told.
In quietude, the knights and soldiers of the Order of the Ghealach watched as the sorcerers put their abilities to work.
While the sorcerers were muttering their incantations, a rectangular portal -- surface coloured like the winter sky -- made an appearance on the ceiling of the Dukedom's barrier. As the sorcerers continued, it grew in size until it was enough to cover the entire territory of the Gertrude Dukedom.
Absent a warning, the portal allowed waterfalls to descend from all of its sides. The falls brought about a great flood. And soon, it drenched the whole estate.