Heilis was beginning to think this scouting mission was all just an excuse to try and kill him. His training had been increasingly intensifying to the point he could barely keep up. Every night his body would be aching and his muscles acting up like crazy but Karlmine on the other hand was still the same cold and aloof person he was. His muscles did not seem to bother him and he sometimes complained that the training was moving slower than he anticipated.
"Can I ask you a question Sir Karlmine?"
During dinner Heilis spoke in between wolfing down some roasted mackerel and fruits. He had grown to like the fish so much he just wouldn't stop eating once he saw them.
"You just did."
A brief and cold response as usual but Heilis was now used to his mortal master, it was not because he was intentionally being mean but Karlmine was like a child his emotional levels where very low to apprehend the damage his responses caused to those around him.
"How about another one?"
Heilis pressed on.
"You just did but I get what you are trying to say and I allow it."
The fact that Heilis did not flare up and burst after receiving such a condescending response from a mortal was proof of his growth in socializing.
"You are impossible. Anyway why did you choose to side with us in this war?"
He had watched him since they started their journey and he had come to understand a lot about Karlmine but only that part remained a mystery.
"If I said it was on a whim will it quell your curiosity?"
He replied with a question of his own.
"No."
And Heilis immediately refused.
"Your question is flawed."
"…."
Heilis did not reply and waited for him to explain what he meant.
"I did not side with any of you just the princess and that is because I am indebted to her."
"Indebted to her?"
"I have recovered some of my memories but not all of them and even the ones I have recovered are fragments and haphazard so much that I am still clueless of most things about my past as such I do not know how I ended up in the forest where the princess found me but from the stab scars on my chest I presume I had been left for dead so I am indebted to her for taking care of me probably saving my life."
"For someone with the moniker of demon you sure are an unexpectedly noble person."
He teased him but he could understand actually the elven race also never rested until their debts were paid.
"Well my memories are not yet completely returned the possibility of me being a bad guy is still huge."
"Well I pray to Tiamat that this does not happen."
And again it happened, the moment Heilis spoke that word a strange sensation invaded his body and he started hearing Heilis' voice with an echo no actually he heard him normally but his voice also echoed from within Karlmine.
"Heilis, I have been meaning to ask this of you?"
"Okay."
"Last time you said it was Tiamat's presence that used to protect this forest right?"
"Exactly."
"So what happened to her?"
"You are a very astute person Karlmine, this is a closely guarded secret of the residents of the forest but Lady Tiamat's presence vanished a few years ago eight years ago to be precise."
(Eight years ago huh, If I recall correctly that was about the time I was supposedly killed.) Karlmine was still caught in thought but then he suddenly turned his focus to the woods in front of them."
"What is it?"
Heilis asked reaching for his sword.
"There are soldiers approaching from the front a squad of about thirty soldiers all big men wearing heavy armour. I believe they are from the ogre clan."
The calmness of his voice was just not suited for someone who was speaking about them being possibly in danger.
"How can you tell?"
"I can smell their armour and hear the heavy sound of their footsteps from the vibrations on the ground.
"How far are they?"
Heilis had stopped not believing in Karlmine. It was a known fact that the other races had superior senses compared to humans but Karlmine was an exception his senses outclassed even that of a seasoned swordsman elf like Heilis.
"By the time I finish my meal they will appear before us."
He replied and went on to devour his food with nonchalance.
After a few minutes Heilis finally caught the scent of the coming soldiers and indeed they were from the ogre clan but since Karlmine was not showing any signs of running he decided to trust in him and seat though his hand never left the hilt of his sword.
Just as Karlmine had said the moment he took the last bite of his fish the leaves rustled and the heavy footsteps of the ogres echoed around them. Out of the gigantic trees of the forest appeared a group of ogres all muscular and gargantuan. Their faces were scarred which testified that they had been into countless battles before. All of them shared two traits in common their crimson eyes and blood red eyes. Without a doubt these were troops of the ogres that were in war with the elves the_____
"Red Ogre clan."
Heilis spoke with a barely audible tone. He was a genius swordsman no doubt but he was just a child as such he had never been to a real battle thus being face to face with an enemy was nerve wrecking for him.