After finding a large mansion to rent, so as to house the convoy, Regis was invited to see the city lord.
While he was gone Eris and Erin dealt with the management of the group. Although the mansion was quite large, but there naturally couldn't be enough places to sleep thousands of people, so the students were given the choice to either rest with many others in the rooms or they could pitch a tent in the open areas of the mansion.
Isla saw that a large amount of the students opted to share the rooms, so she chose to grab a tent, and walked towards the well maintained garden.
Sila had no complaints, she also wanted some privacy after all these days of sharing tents with a group of strangers.
The two found a quiet and serene area, a bit far from the pathways running through the garden. They both worked in tandem to set up the tent, which didn't take much effort, so it was quickly finished.
The two sat next to each other at the entrance of the tent. Looking outside at the overcast sky, and the odd group that shuttled by to find their own place to set up their tents, Isla felt a rare sense of peace. Even knowing that there will be danger in the next few days couldn't stop the joy she felt at this moment.
She leaned her head against Sila's shoulder, letting out a contented sigh.
Sila didn't speak, she just sat there, allowing Isla to rest comfortably. The two of them had been too tense on this journey. Following the group, they had to restrain themselves to acting as ignorant children, needing to be protected.
Although the danger of this trip was higher than they've experienced. The two of them have always been more comfortable making decisions themselves. However they have to get used to it. They might have the ability to walk sideways in Rusvil, but the capital is different. The powers of the whole empire are centralised there. If it hadn't been for the hope of achieving greater strength, the two of them probably wouldn't want to set foot in the capital, at all.
Isla and Sila spent the afternoon like this, silently enjoying each other's company. Regis came back and gathered the group, letting them know the city lords request.
"A beast tide is a very dangerous event. It usually consists of countless lower rank monsters, but there may also be high rank monsters interspersed.
The beetle horde we faced a few days ago pales in comparison to the destructive capability of a beast tide.
I won't force anyone to participate. For those who have not started practising, you'll wait in the mansion. The guards who don't want to go, will stay and protect the students who remain. "Regis explained with a solemn attitude.
A lot of the senior students refused, as well as most of the recruited students. Regis wasn't surprised by this outcome, most of the recruits were powerless, and the senior students consisted of noble born children. Very few have the heart to help others.
However there were still some that accepted the task, including the twins. Regis could see that of the recruited students, there were at most five who had obvious experience and of those five, only two of them accepted. The rest of the students were from the senior group and the majority were from the noble military families.
Regis nodded his head, he himself was from a military family, so he expected their attendance. Both the second son of the Retwick family, and Erin refused to participate.
Eris didn't show any disappointment with Erin's choice. She was going to fight the beast tide, not to help the people, but because her husband would be outside the wall facing the tide itself, with most of the more powerful warriors. How could she not be there to help him?
The guards were much simpler to ask. They were battle hardened veterans, most of them had at some point taken oaths to defend the empire, so they quickly accepted, leaving a group there to protect the group of students.
Regis saw that everyone had been assigned their roles, so he spoke out "The beast tide will appear tomorrow, so go back and get a good night's rest. For those who are going to fight, prepare your equipment, eat well and be ready and we'll rested by morning".
The group dispersed with the chatter from the group. Isla and Sila did exactly what Regis said, they had a hearty meal and checked their equipment. After seeing the enchanted armour and weapons of the academy's group, the two of them felt very unprepared.
Isla's storage ring had all the loot from there time adventuring in Rusvil, she looked through it very carefully. Before the two of them had little need for anything, so she had only hastily looked through it, but she remembered they had found quite a few sets of armour and weapons from the dwarven ruin, in the goblin den.
She searched bit by bit, finding many things she had overlooked. Although she wouldn't be as lucky as finding a full set of equipment that perfectly fit her and Sila, she did happen upon some things of benefit.
She pulled out two swords. Clearly a pair, both were sturdy, double sided blades. Except one side on each sword was serrated.
Isla had seen these swords before, but her and Sila relied on speed, and daggers were much more beneficial to them. However a beast tide isn't something that speed alone can combat.
What made these swords special was actually only the hilt at first, she noticed the magic crystal embedded in the pommel, a beautiful clear crystal. If memory served correctly, she guessed that they were wind type magic crystals,and the size wasn't small.
After all the bigger the crystal, the stronger the power inside. And after unsheathing it, the two found runes inscribed on the blade.
After a little deliberation, Isla and Sila both agreed to take one sword each. Their daggers were made of powerful metals, but without enchantments, the two weren't sure if they could last the wear and tear of the battle. They could not allow any chance, so they would keep the wind swords on them as their main weapon for tomorrow's battle.
The two washed up, before laying down beside each other. The night was sleepless for many in Arqin, but it didn't affect Isla or Sila. Their calm and shallow breathing sounded in the tent.