"I can see it!" I said while descending from the sky.
"Really?" Rivena excitedly asked while clearing snow off her face.
I looked down at Rivena we had been flying through a blizzard the result of that was us both being caked up by snow, flying at those speeds was although essential.
'I'm sure those demons wouldn't have directly attacked the camp, even if it was them they can't defeat an army made up of some of the most powerful forces... Unless they brought their own army.'
[Don't jinx it Rei.]
'Sorry.'
Setting Rivena down and stepping on the snow I yawned. Using Draconic Force at maximum power made me extremely sleepy, and now I just wanted to make our way into the camp and drop into a bed.
Approaching the camp now within seeable distance for at least Rivena, I calmed my nerves. I would most likely meet some of the humans I once knew here. 'Perhaps I'll see Dawn.' My thoughts brought a smile to my face.
[Even if she's here it wouldn't be a good idea to interact with her, did you perhaps forget that you're trying to hide your identity... By now most of the higher-ranked humans should know what you are. We can also add the facts that it's been multiple years and she probably doesn't eve-]
'Stop. You've become rather cheeky over the past few years don't you think.'
[Your happiness annoys me, also use me in your next battle.]
'Okay...'
"I'm also very excited we have arrived at the camp Lord Arulwyr."
I tilted my head in confusion hearing her words.
[Your smile Rei.]
"Oh!" I lifted a finger to my air.
"What's wrong?" Rivena looked at me slightly perplexed.
"Ahem-ahem." I cleared my throat. "Yes, I'm very happy."
"You don't smile very often," Rivena said while walking towards the camp.
"Is that so?" I replied while catching up to her.
The camp looked to be a stone giant castle surrounded by a massive shield in the shape of a dome. The entrance was guarded by holy knights, a long line of people were lined up, and even more, exited the castle traveling in between warp gates.
'How the hell did they build a castle out here? And why didn't we just use a warp gate...'
[Are you asking me because I don't know either.]
'No, they were just thoughts to myself.'
***
"Take off your hood."
We had arrived at the front of the line and the knight's immediate disrespect made me sight, pulling out an insignia from my sub-space I waved it in his face.
The knight's eyes widened and he took a slight bow, "Forgive me for my disrespect, it's been a long day and I didn't expect you to be the guest of the High King of Elves."
'Did he just not see Rivena? Does he think that an elf just comes out of thin air?'
[Rei he's just doing his job, why are you so grumpy?]
Facepalming I let out a deep breath to calm down. The fatigue I had built up from using my Draconic Force was affecting me, putting me in a strange mood.
"It's alright, I believe you guys set up accommodations for me and my companion?"
"Yes, we did sir... Ah. What's your name?" The knight asked in a sincere tone.
"Arulwyr."
"Sir Arulwyr, I will lead you to where you are staying... After you get settled in you can explore the fort, and tonight there will be a meeting in the Center Chamber."
"Center Chamber?" Rivena spoke up for the first time.
"Mmm, it's a building in the middle of the fort where plans are spoken... With your arrival, we have mainly everyone we need here."
***
Entering the room with Rivena the knight said his goodbyes and then left, the room was fancy, and despite the walls being made out of stone it looked to be made out of some type of wood on the inside.
This entire fort seems to have been constructed using magic, it's layout was a large road in the middle, and the Center Chamber was at the end of the road in the middle. There were 10 large buildings around the road, we stayed in one that was rather close to the Center Chamber. And at the edge of the fort was a small mansion.
'Who the hell needed a mansion?' I glanced at the map sitting in front of me slightly confused. 'Looks like I'm going to be staying in a one-bedroom with Rivena again... Did the high king not inform them two people were coming?' I buried my face into my hands sitting on the bed, I was slightly stressed out thinking about the demons I had fought earlier.
I needed to meet some of the people here because, with just me and Rivena plus a few useless fighters, we won't be able to face off against those Prince-ranked demons. The demons may even bring an army with them, or perhaps another Prince-ranked demon.
'Maybe I shouldn't have fought them... If I just ran away they wouldn't have been able to gauge my strength... Actions have consequences.' Looking up at the ceiling I slid into the bed.
"Are you going to sleep Lord Arulwyr?"
"Yes."
"I'm going to explore the fort, I'll be back to wake you up in time for the meeting," Rivena said while opening the door to leave.
"Have fun."
***
"You know you're going to have to speak tonight?" Silas said looking at Dawn laying on a sofa gazing out of a window.
"I'm aware." She replied looking at him with an emotionless expression.
Silas sighed walking out of the room. "Do something about your appearance." He said over his shoulder while walking away.
Taking his advice Dawn got up and walked into a bathroom, she soon approached a mirror and her eyes twitched seeing her face.
She had long black hair reaching to her back, she was much taller, muscular, and much more developed than she was when she was a teenager. Dawn had eyebags and a dark tint under her eyes showing her immense stress. Dawn traced her finger over a large scar over her right eye, recalling a time she and her friends were put into a life-or-death situation that seemed impossible to survive.
During the years that past she had been through many trials and it seemed unfair, even with the help of the most talented people there were, she simply couldn't compare to the threat of the demons. To her it seemed like every time she got stronger she would be put into a near impossible-to-deal-with situation, and the situation now was one.
Though the information had not been told to everyone at the fort, there were armies of demons entering the Scorchlands from all sides, and even one reported Prince-ranked demon reported that had her in an extremely stressed-out state.
'I'm tired...' Dawn thought while clenching an amulet that hung around her neck.
Picking up a bottle she chugged it down, her eyebags and face cleared up, and after a bit of grooming, she was in a much more presentable state than earlier. Finishing up her preparations she put on a suit of light armor she wore every day accompanied by a white cape, and she tied her hair up in a neat ponytail.
After checking out her appearance she put on a fake smile and began practicing lines that she would say in a speech at the Central Chamber tonight. Dawn wasn't excited about what was to come, she knew they were leading everyone to death by not telling them the full extent of the danger purposely.
Dawn gritted her teeth thinking about the old men who cared about nothing but themselves, not only was the Hero's party at risk but also everyone who is participating in a fight they were given false information about.
Most of them hardly knew about the Prince-ranked demon they would be fighting, and perhaps even more prince-ranked demons they didn't know about. None of them knew about the army approaching.
Fixing up her expression Dawn continued to practice her lines in the mirror while holding a bright smile on her face.