The carriage driver's voice was hoarse as he alerted the group of their arrival back at the settlement. Leaning from his seat and looking over the man's shoulder, Patterson looked ahead as he spotted a large collection of men and women entering the settlement. They all stood collectively waiting to enter as the rain assaulted the grounds they stood on.
"Who the fuck are they?" Patterson asked.
"Don't know. Could be the Volunteer Corps." The man said in return as he adjusted his straw hat.
Lucas snapped up from his seat, almost stumbling over the collecting of bags on the floor. "The Volunteer Corps?" He said alarmed. "I need to get to them now!" Before the driver could snap his reigns, the archer clambered out the front and began his bare-footed sprint towards the large group.
"Pearl! Pearl!"
Lucas's voice exited his mouth like a roar as he gained the entire group's attention. Mud covered his feet and ankles; rain stained his makeshift cloak. Water streamed down the sides of his face and any remaining splotches of dried blood washed off as he watched a short woman move through the center of the group towards him.
"Pearl is that you!?" His voice cracked as he nearly tripped making him stumble.
Forcing her way out of the group the female newcomer rushed towards Lucas. She wore a green cape, and when the hood fell due to her sudden movement, golden-yellow hair was freed and scattered wildly in the stormy wind. Freckles adorned her pale face, and her eyes widened at the sight of the battered man before her.
"I-I…" Stopping in front of Lucas and covering her moving mouth, words failed to exit as she gasped several times looking for something to say. As the carriage stopped just behind the two, the Rangers and Princess Lecca exited into the downpour. The woman's eyes had long glossed over with salty tears, and with two shaky hands, she forced the non-resistant Lucas into her arms.
"Pearl…" Lucas said as he took her small trembling hands into his own.
Embracing Pearl, the two collapsed to the ground. Thompson and his men walked behind the two, and on the opposite side, members of the Volunteer Corps watched them with calculating and careful eyes.
Wiping away several teams from the young woman's eyes, Lucas let out a sigh as he looked up to an old man in front of the group of mercenaries he led.
"Old man…" Lucas muttered out as he rose from the ground. "What is she doing here?" He asked as he motioned to Pearl as she too stood from the muddy ground.
"She takes after you Lucas." The man simply said as he adjusted his grey cloak sitting on his shoulders. "If it weren't for the boy's letting me know of her plan, she would've been killed the moment she stepped outside of the camp." He paused before asking a question that had been on everyone's minds, "How did you survive? It's been three months old friend."
Swallowing his guilt and half-turning to the group behind him. The archer shook his head as he gave the old man an answer, "Might be better to not focus on the past. That is a nightmare I wish not to remember."
Brushing off her high cut boots, Pearl stood tall as she attempted to rid herself of emotions she found to be "unnecessary". Just underneath her green cape was a leather chest plate sitting above a form fitting white dress. She wiped away at her now rosy, tear-stained cheeks as she pulled her hood back over her head.
"I'll have to notify the scribes of your survival." The old man said nodding his head at the two standing in front of him. "In other business, I assume those behind you are responsible for your rescue. They are the ones that heeded our call?"
With a perplexed expression, Lucas found it hard to answer the question. "Yes." He said unsure as he contemplated his answer. "I did not know of a search for me or the others. I thank you all for posting a search within the guild, yet you knew I would've stood against the notion."
"Surely you jest." One of the Corps members said aloud gaining several grunts of approvement from those around him. "Your survival is imperative to this group."
The old man nodded his head once more as he turned his attention to the leader of the group behind Lucas, Captain Thompson. "I assume you are the leader?" Gaining a 'yes' from Thompson, the man quickly distributed his orders, "You will come with us. You are a capable warrior; thus, we will need you in our next mission to another settlement within he frontier."
Nor Thompson or Lecca argued at the sudden order. Their mission was to go deep into the frontier to locate and commence a survey of the Demon Lord's primary army that was believed to be marching towards the heart of the kingdom.
Princess Lecca watched as Thompson conversed with the old man. He took the liberty of saying he and his men were on an assignment for the King, though thankfully he spared any details of the mission. Turning away from the two men, her brown eyes swept over Lucas and Pearl-father and daughter.
With an agreement made before she could overhear the specific details, the collective group of now thirty-five fighters moved into the settlement with little to no resistance by the guards or other citizens. Quickly stepping forward in her mud-crusted boots, Lecca filled the steps left behind by her knights as she crossed the boundary that separated her from forest.
"This mission is to reinforce a local settlement and their current garrison of forty Corps members." The old man explained as he led Lecca's men towards the guild.
Thompson hummed as he walked up to the main counter. "I guess our missions will force us to cooperate for now, but I suppose that is for the better."
"True." The old man said. "I still question if your loyalties truly belong to the throne. You are not one of our people, that much is obvious."
Turning around to the noise that came behind her, the same attendant that approved the request to Lecca turned around. Her purple eyes widened, and her brown hair shuffled due to her sudden movements. Placing a stack of papers down on the wooden table, she fixed herself as she stood tall in front of the two men. Her pale skin shimmered in the light as she nodded at the old man next to Thompson.
"Mr. Que, and-"
"Captain Thompson."
"Right." She said nodding her head. "I am surprised to see you back so soon, and to have Mr. Que alongside you, I assume your mission was complete?"
Opening his mouth to give an answer, Thompson was cut of by Mr. Que who. "Indeed. Lucas was found alive, yet the others perished during the mission. A recovery team is needed to secure the remaining bodies, though that is if there are any bodies." His words came out forcibly and he nearly let out a snarl.
"Sir?" Thompson said with a shallow look on his face.
"It's fine. I'll send a letter to the Guild Master and the local Magistrate."
The nearby groups of mercenaries, and other adventures fell silent as they overheard the conversation. Many whispered amongst themselves of the identity of Thompson and his men. Many of which questioned why there were affiliating themselves with Mr. Que and the other Corps members.
Unsettled by the words being spoken, the old man turned back to his companion as he covered his face with the hood of his cloak. "How'd they do it?" The old man overheard a gruff man wondering aloud. This single question made him wonder how Captain Thompson and his men were able to dispatch Ruin Golems. They were servants of the Reavers, and a large group, up to fifteen people were required to complete such a mission, and yet it was still proven that even the corps members were still incapable of fighting such a foe, evident by Lucas's survival and mental state.
"Captain please come with me." He commanded making the thirty-year-old freeze. "We have much to discuss about you travelling with us." He said while turning around, "And you." He said addressing the guild attendant, "Come with us. We will need your expertise for this mission."
"O-of course, sir." The girl said meekly.
"Don't worry. I will notify the guild master of your temporary departure." He said with a small smile.
Stepping out of view from the large collection of people that occupied the guild, Mr. Que led the Thompson, the girl, and the rest of the soldiers outside. Rendezvousing with the rest of the volunteers the collective group of thirty-five gathered around the several carriages under the crying sky.
"Listen up!" A large-burley man called silencing those that whispered to each other.
"Members of the Volunteer Corps, members of the kingdom's military!" Mr. Que shouted as he climbed onto an uncovered carriage. "The mission to Stragea is to commence in a single hour! Gather the weapons and gear you need, fill your stomachs! Our meeting point in the eastern gate, and from there we will march to the settlement to support our brothers-in-arms! Dismissed!"
As the group scattered all around the settlement, Sergeant Randall walked behind Thompson, "Sir? What's the call?" He asked as Princess Lecca moved to his side.
"Princess?" Thompson asked passing the question to the young woman.
"Gather your men at the nearest tavern. Your meals will be provided by the King's coin." She said.
"Agreed." Thompson said as he turned to address the other's, "Rangers! On me!"
--
Publicly Available Information: Humanity's Reach:
Surrounded by unknown and non-traveled waters, and a large desert "No Man's Land" beyond the kingdom of Yondel, over 130 million people occupy the lands noted, and over 100 nations exist to this day.
Controlled lands count up to 3.012 million miles^2, yet this number has been distributed as several nations have begun colonization efforts on a large island to the south of the mainland, and the further reach to a recently discovered continent to the north.