Location
Refugee camps of Elkana's capital that was established
2 days after the battle between the 9th apostle and Chhan
A major reconstruction was going on around the camp with earth mages on hard work along with support and healing classes, rangers especially were busy hunting and searching for survivors and patrolling the area with the other guards
The logistic department were also hectic in this time organizing the situation and dealing with various situations,Shizela herself was busy with this
Meanwhile the nobles and lords of different sections of Elkana were busy with foreign affairs themselves, recieving envoys and messengers from their previous friendly kingdoms and dealing with those that posed a threat to them using delegations as best as they could with the help of those friendly kingdoms, Briheim the kingdom of the South was a big help to them
Their monarchy ruled by the queen who was the sister of Stephen's mother supported them in both financial and military means by a lot
And right now the first princess of Briheim was to arrive a few moments later in the after noon as a messenger and platoon commander along with the supply squad to help with reconstruction and protection
And it was afternoon now so no one knows when she would arrive
Stephen who as usual in recent time was busy with work in his office,these days since the collapse of the kingdom he was having a hard time keeping track of his schedule as new appointment and troubles kept surfacing so he wasn't in the best condition, had it not been for Carmen who begged him to rest ,he probably would look a lot worse right now
Signs that he lost weight along with eye bags , depression was also written all over his body language of one looked closely, strictly speaking he was tired ,and right now after finishing the preparations to receive Princess Galina Briheim by preparing her residence and her schedule for her ,he was now going to make himself presentable as he headed back to his tent before Carmen approached him among the crowds
" Master "
Carmen called with a worried look on her face, looking at her beloved master ,the sight of his weariness and grief pained her heart very much
And responding to her Stephen turned to her and replied
" Yes Carmen ,did anything happen? "
" He's back ".
Stephen stood silent for a whole moment while processing the info he just got, as funny as it was ,he couldn't believe it even though he believed in him.
" Where is he? "
***
A few moments earlier on the outskirts of the capital a platoon of 70, people, knights, mages & support classed magicians ,all were 7th rank humans and high humans
[ High human - Humans with superior ability in all aspects, they are usually 2 times stronger in every physical aspects and are all known for their beauty which rivals elves and for their crimson red hair ]
And all these men and women were leaded by a young female high human on her horse, in her late teens she was also the only 6th classes entity , high human here ,with a shoulder length crimson hair and a tall build ,she had an very developed body with a rather precious/cute face that did not suit her build, cladded in red plated armour with a blue cape on her back ,on the cape was the symbol of Briheim, the Crimson Dragon with emerald eyes, and on her back were two swords
She was princess Galina Briheim, the heir of the throne of Briheim
And right now she and her platoon were marching towards the destroyed capital of Elkana on her mother, the queen's order to help her uncle out, and they currently marching on the outskirts of the dark forest
" So this is the dark forest "
One of the Briheim knights looked at the eerie sight of the dry and dark woods of the dark forest and peeked through the darkness of the deathly forest only to find corpses of monsters
" Uggh "
He got visibly disgusted
And so did the others especially the women , Princess/Captain Galina too wasn't fond of this place but since they were in a hurry they had to match through this path to save them 3 days of travel
Princess Galina suddenly widened her eyes and raised a fist causing the whole platoon to stop and instantly readying themselves for anything
Galina :" Hermann ,Ismael do you sense it as well? "
The two men who were riding on horseback just behind her replied
Hermann was a blond haired knight in his forties, dressed in silver armour also wearing the blue cape
" I do Captain ,should I check? "
And Ismael was a knight in his late thirties , he was a black haired knight and hailed for his spear skills and he too was dressed in the same manner as Hermann
" I'll go "
Ismael then got off his horse and head towards the forest, he was a spearman so he held his spear and approached the place where he sensed something running at him at a rather high speed
And as the thing the headed to them got closer and closer ,he make out the figure of the thing now
Ismael was a bit surprised and called out to the silhouette of the thing that he found out was a teenager unarmed and relatively unharmed running out of the forest with a calm look
" A kid? "
***
It was a kid , black hair with the facial features of an oriental human, he was tall and well built and looked rather average
And seeing all the attention he drew the kid shouted first before he got attacked
" I MEAN NO HARM, I MEAN NO HARM SIR KNIGHT!! "
On his words Ismael responded
" Stop right there then "
Chhan stopped with his hands raised
" Who are you kid ? And what are you doing in this forest ?"
Ismael asked the kid with a sharp gaze ,and ofcourse his gaze wasn't normal at all, Chhan could sense it all too well now having experience something similar with Martha Flameheart
" I am Chhan, An adventurer of Elkana's capital guild, 6th classed , and as for the reason I was in the forest I can't disclose the information here to a knight of a foreign Kingdom even if you're friendly sir "
He wasn't unfamiliar with the politics of this world after living in it for a while now, seeing the symbols on their cape was all he needed
" Hoo? "
Chhan : " Hmm?(turned to the voice) "
Ismael :"( Turned around ) Captain? "
A voice come from behind the black haired knight ,it was Galina who approached the kid with an intrigued expression
End of chapter