"But the Bacharoth has just emerged. It will take them quite a while to absorb all Manna particles in the area. The Obelisk Sorcerers used the most Manna dense water from the north to extinguish the fire as well." Commander Percival queried, "Can you please elucidate further, Lady Gertrude?"
Ilya raised her hand first and looked at Dantalion.
"Lady Dantalion, do you have a bottle of drinking water? I'm quite parched."
Dantalion nodded her head immediately, fetching the item right after. Upon receiving the bottle of water, Ilya emptied the bottle in an instant. Once she was done, Ilya started massaging her neck.
Like the sting of the bites of a thousand bullet ants, Ilya felt as if her mouth and throat were on fire. The pain traveled down to her limbs, giving her the sensation of walking on flaming charcoal with needles piercing the soles of her feet.
Ilya shut her eyes tightly as she endured the agony, rocking back and forth. A small whimper escaped her flaky dry lips.
The Commanders in front of her didn't know how to react. They wanted to do something to help, but refrained from doing so since Leahmir Dantalion was already eager in easing Ilya's suffering.
"Your Grace, please drink this." Dantalion said as she showed the pill to Ilya, "It's medicine to battle body aching. I'm not sure if it will be effective, but let's t--"
Ilya forthwith shook her head and pushed Dantalion's hand away. She coughed a couple of times and gasped for breath. But soon enough, she found brief soundness in her mind and body.
"I-- I'm alright now. Leave that for later."
"Howe-"
"Please tend my wounds foremost. They're the ones bothering me the most."
Lumbered with no choice, Dantalion heeded Ilya's request with a sigh. Having addressed her own matter, Ilya looked at Commander Percival and resumed her briefing.
"Commander Percival, Bacharoths don't confer with our critically conceived notions. Though we have seen patterns, that doesn't mean that another Bacharoth wouldn't be capable of straying from what we have seen."
"Yes, that does make sense. However, what I need is your concrete findings regarding this particular case alone. I apologize for being presumptuous."
Ilya acknowledged the essence of the Commander's statement. She also believed that her previous utterance was irrelevant at best.
"I'm the one who needs to apologize." Ilya said as he lowered her head, "According to what I've experienced, I was able to wield Manna within the first hour. But when I met Marquis Benedict, all of the Manna shields that I covered my body with vanished in an instant. Also,"
The lady then pointed a finger towards the Obelisk Sorcerers. The Commanders quickly gave the Sorcerers a look, getting cold feet as they did so.
The concealment spell used by the Obelisk Sorcerers was gone. Hence, their faces were open for anyone to see. The Sorcerers themselves were peeved about the matter. Now that Ilya could marvel at the deep lines on the face of the leader, she swallowed a laugh.
"With that out of the way, I'll proceed," Ilya spoke, garnering the Commanders' attention once more.
"Please do."
"Have any of you looked back at the gate?"
The moment she raised the question, everyone's focus went to the gate. Withal, most of them saw nothing. Only the two knights, standing at the very back of the group, were able to catch a glimpse of the Bacharoth.
The two young knights fell to the ground, their rears absorbing all the impact. Their faces were the model of bewilderment, wide-eyed and mouths agape. The Commanders and the Obelisk Sorcerers made their way towards them in a hurry.
When they were near the gate, the aforementioned individuals stopped on their tracks, their gazes fixated on the entryway.
Sans allowing them the opportunity to digest their situation, Ilya went on with her speech.
"That's the Bacharoth in question. However, that's only one of them."
"Them?" Commander Percival exclaimed all the while wishing that he just misheard Ilya.
"There are 236 of them placed around the border of the Hamlin Estate. They will only be visible if you're five meters, or less, away from them."
Commander Percival ran back to where Ilya was seated. He proceeded to kneel on the ground to be on an eye level with Ilya before whispering, "Are you saying that there isn't only one Bacharoth?"
Ilya slowly nodded her head, a response that the Commander didn't want to anticipate. Though surely, he was already aware of Ilya's answer from the back of his mind.
"May they be imperfect clones or a complete Bacharoth each, it does not dismiss the fact that we have 236 enemies. I'm not even cognizant whether that's the final count. I was only able to survey the border."
The Commander was on his feet afterward, his hand on his chin as he contemplated. While Percival was preoccupied, another Commander entrenched on the conversation.
"I'm the Commander of the Sixth Order, Your Grace. I'm Theralia, Countess of Marzen."
"It's a pleasure to be of acquaintance to you, Commander Marzen." Ilya responded with a nod.
"What are your other findings? To me, it seems that you have yet to tell us everything."
"Oh, right, I apologize." Ilya then cleared her throat, "I believe that the Bacharoth by the lake holds the answer if the 235 are clones or not. I think that's highly plausible since all 236 have their own distinguishing features, a black spot on one of the ribs or a crack on the skull for instance. Furthermore, the skeletons ranged from that of an infant's to a six-year-old child."
"I see. It's fortunate that the Bacharoth hasn't made a move yet." Commander Marzen said, heaving a sigh thereafter.
Ilya raised an eyebrow at the Commander's rejoinder. She scoffed as she covered her face with her hand. Commander Marzen knitted her brows at Ilya's reaction, so she asked about it.
"What's the matter, Lady Gertrude?"
The Lady raised her head and glowered at the Commander, "Be relieved as long as you can, Commander Marzen. However, the actuality that the border was erected means that the Bacharoth is already on the move. And worse, Commander Halkias and Count Schatten are nowhere to be found."