Something had gone seriously wrong. Jerich could not believe the depths of betrayal at play. It had all started with a desperate gamble to gather a group of knights together and rush towards the Lost Range. He had gathered some of the best and most loyal knights. All so that three days later they could lie bleeding out upon the forest floor. As it would turn out, the plan to render the Princess defenseless up north had been intended to be noticed from the outset. The princess was not the primary target at the time. He and the most fervent knights who supported House Winfield were.
Andrea Lillie Martha stood over him. Her blonde hair swaying in the wind . Her blue eyes looking down upon him with a chilling smile. She was supposed to be the best of them. Though Jerich had always been called the greatest knight to the crown, it was only because Andrea had always held back and stayed her actions. She always let others take the spotlight. It was a secret of sorts. When he had pressed her one time, her answer had been that she could better serve as a hidden ace rather than a known threat to their enemies. It was for this reason that he had tagged her as one of the guards to take the task of protecting the princess. All said, it had been the worst decision he could have made.
She had taken to guiding the group north since they were passing through her hometown. It had been a lie. She was leading them to an ambush the entire time. She had been leading them when well hidden artillery golems opened fire on them. These were one of the few types of combat golems used by the forces of Aelunia. Golems may have had issues fighting on the front line, but they were useful for mounting heavy and bulky weaponry. Namely, they used cannons. Grapeshot ripped through the back lines of the unit. In an in, Jerich found that Andrea and four other women among them turned their blades on the survivors. They had all been at the front of the column.
As he felt his eyes growing heavy as his blood spilled and died the grass beneath red, he asked one question." Why?"
The traitorous knight laughed at this," Because Jerich, it has come time to cull our ranks. The Empire needs to move on. To become stronger and to some day bring it's full might to bear upon those monsters in the East.!"
"B-but... You-"
He never got to finish these words as Andrea ran her blade through his throat. It was too bad Jerich was too much of a fool to ever consider another path. Humanity was facing a trial. If it wavered at this time, the undead would overrun them. It might not happen soon, but it was most certainly going to happen before within their lifetime. She would do whatever it takes to bring about the down fall of the undead. After all, she owed them quite a bit for what they had done to her. She chuckled as she looked to her fellow knights. They were the her knights. They were members of the Broken Shield. Each one of them were refugees whose parents had managed to get them over the border in their youth. They knew the truth and that their blood was that of humanity's shield and that even as they drew breath the shield was breaking. There would be no more hiding. The only option was to leave and make a new seat of power for humanity by carving up the lands of the most savage races in the south. In time the old land would be consumed while humanity will have grown far greater in the south. Then, someday their sacrifice and sins will bring about the restoration of the continent as a tide of renewed and empowered humanity came back to these shores intent on the annihilation of evil that had taken so much from them. Her sisters of the broken shield may never live to see the day, but they will see to it that others will.
All the same, it saddened her that she would have to commit the greatest sin in her eyes. Higher ups in the order had made contact with and secretly been working with House Fulsitta for over a decade. She never liked the maneuverings of Jezelle. She always looked to the Empress with awe and respect. She had come to secretly care for Grace. Sadly, it was for this reason she had been set on this task. She always wanted to be the best. She wanted to be recognized by them. To protect and support them, but her own sense of loyalty to humanity as a whole held her back. She had first been assigned to watch them in hopes of becoming a contact. Honoria destroyed this option when she foolishly chose peace with the enemy. It had been a betrayal to her, but she still had hope in the Princess even now. The problem was that the order didn't share this hope and had written the entirety of House Winfield off two years ago.
Two years of hell knowing that you will be the one who has to kill what you still believe to be the a light and hope. Five years of watching that fool Jerich and his romantic feelings for someone beyond his station. It had felt so liberating to be done with the man. All the while, she wondered at how she felt about her princess. She had a mission to do in regards to her. It would be a wonderfully happy hell to protect and support her until the day they would both know release. A crazed look filled her eyes as she looked to the north. She couldn't say what would be better. Being able to finally watch over her as the guilt of her coming sin ate her or the end she planned to share. She couldn't wait!
Sadly, that is exactly what they'd have to do if they were going to hide the truth of what happened here and properly fabricate the means of their deception. It would cost them time in arrival, but that would only better support their claims if they made the right lies.
"Oaguz, you idiot!" Grizt yelled as she grabbed her friend by the front of her apron," Why would you tell that woman anything about the spirits!?"
"I-I'm sorry, its just that what she was saying was stupid! Any sage would have seen how to solve her problem and it's really hard to let go of stuff you've spent years being trained for!" She screamed back as she shoved her boss away," I mean seriously, she was planning on using talismans for a spirit's job!"
"Whatever! At least you can't teach her anyways," Grizt crossed her arms and gave a derisive snort," I mean after all. The spirits abandoned you when you turned your back on their path."
"Wait, why would that stop her from teaching the fake?" Weye asked.
Oaguz sighed at this," It's simple really, there's tow things needed to teach someone about this stuff... And if you try on your own, it's dangerous or impossible to begin with," Weye looked at her curious and nodded to go on," First, both student and teacher need the right aptitude as spiritualists. Next is something she sorely lacks even more. They need to respect one another enough to properly feel the essence of each other's soul."
"And how did Sis know?"
"Oh that's easy," Grizt chimed in with a smirk as Oaguz sighed.
"She asked me a while back about the same thing. She thought it would be interesting if her sword had a spirit in it. I still wonder at what she was planning, but it didn't matter. She had no aptitude while I seem to have lost mine," Oaguz answered with a bitter smile.
"Oh, so what are going to do about tomorrow?" Weye asked curiously.
It had been decided that Oaguz, without her permission, was to run through the entire process and teach what she knew to the best of her ability. However, she had other plans for that. She smiled viciously," Oh, just making sure she understands 'everything' SHE needs to know about the subject,"
Grizt started laughing at this statement," By the spirits! I envy you right now!"
"Seriously? Could someone let me in on the joke?" Weye asked. To this, the another presence reminded everyone she was there.
"Um, well, I'm not sure buuut... I think they mean she's going to waste her time teaching her nothing.
"Oh, that sounds fun!"
"Just be a little careful. I can't say why but uh, well," Stranbrai paused as she considered the best way to explain what she was thing about. She wasn't sure how to explain that things were different and that magic seemed to be of a very different kind here. Not only that, but she felt a certain suspicion in regards to what would be happening tomorrow. It's just that her thoughts wouldn't straighten out enough for any conclusion and decision. She need really needed a good stiff drink. Too bad there wasn't any in the manor.