"In the name of the Knights of the Order of the Transcendent, stop them and kill all who resist."
Among all the knight companies of Amalek, there was one order that enjoyed a special status: the Order of the Transcendent Knights, founded in honor of a traveler known as the Transcendent, who had mysteriously disappeared.
Kae Zêl Mâ GIN, the head of this order, was now giving instructions.
The Order of the Transcendents was about to storm a village under the control of outlaws, and after gathering the necessary information, Kae Zêl prepared to use the element of surprise to pacify the village.
Amalek was a monarchy, the most prosperous in the world, but the world was undergoing changes, and during these troubled times, brigands of all kinds were active, especially in the places farthest from the capital.
Remote areas generally became lawless, so punitive expeditions had to be carried out regularly, which required significant resources. Reducing the size of the armies to track down dispersed criminals was not a viable option.
Under the command of Kae Zêl Mâ GIN, the Order of the Transcendent took charge of the problem, tracking down one of the scourges of the Badlands — the Toothwolf tribe. More than a tribe it was mostly the name given to groups of immigrants engaging in theft and murders along the kingdom's border.
They had found their lair, and two scouts had been dispatched to assess the state of the forces and the village to determine the best course of action.
According to the report, the villagers were separated, the men locked up together, and the women kept apart with the children.
After studying the situation, Kae Zêl decided to wait until it was dark enough to launch the assault.
Night soon fell.
He had divided the troops into two groups. The other group, led by his second-in-command, Vishernuk, had cut off the main escape routes.
Finally, the order was given.
The element of surprise had the desired effect, and the operation went off without a hitch. The other side had neither mages nor significant assets to be concerned about, apart from their numbers and desperate actions.
Toothwolves were known for their cruelty, hence the need for the element of surprise — it would not have been good for Kae Zêl if they had started killing villagers like chickens to escape. Unfortunately, that was exactly what happened.
Even head-on, they were no match for the Order. They did not understand what was happening to them, falling one after another. Those who couldn't arm themselves in time were neutralized and paralyzed to avoid any nasty surprises, and those who attempted futile resistance often lost more than just their arms or legs.
The last remaining members of the Toothwolves were cornered in the center of the village. They had managed to take a girl hostage, hoping to negotiate for their survival, perhaps unaware of what had happened to their companions who had tried the same tactic. The girl seemed capable of using healing magic.
She was threatened, forced to cast her magic on the Toothwolves, and then their leader joined them.
Kae Zêl stood in front of a group of eight men, his sword in hand. It was a double-edged sword, without any trace of blood or grease on it, even though he had cut down many bodies that day.
The blade didn't seem to dull either.
As Kae Zêl approached the brigands, they shouted all sorts of things, but it all sounded hollow to Kae Zêl's ears.
The girl was terrified. On one side, the brigands held her roughly; on the other, a tall man in armor, sword in hand, frizzy hair, and a long, lion-like stature, advanced.
She was the only hostage left. The tribe of Toothwolves had deliberately been removed from where they kept the prisoners.
No words were exchanged. Before the bandit leader could speak, his head rolled on the ground. The others had lost their legs. It all happened in an instant — such was the difference in abilities.
"It's over! Kae Zêl heard Vishernuk approaching."
"We're done as well! he responded."
"Good. Free the villagers and set up a safety net in case we missed someone. Then, we'll get organized."
Kae Zêl approached the girl.
"Are you all right? he asked."
"Yes, I'm fine."
Sitting on the ground in shock, Kae Zêl helped her to her feet, then looked at Vishernuk.
"Take this girl back to the others. They need to rest. We'll deal with the rest of the details tomorrow."
"Understood!" Vishernuk replied.
In the morning, Kae Zêl had a brief meeting with the men.
He then reassured the villagers, telling them that with the Transcendental Order in charge of territorial pacification, they had nothing to fear for the time being, at least as far as the notorious bandits were concerned.
Although the villagers were still expressing some concern, Vishernuk explained that they would be divided into two teams: one to take the captives back to the capital or the nearest estate, and the other to stay for a few days to guard the village, then join the first team later.
Kae Zêl walked quietly through the village, watching as they organized themselves. A girl soon approached him.
The girl wore a rather worn outfit, but unlike during the party, Kae Zêl could now see her face clearly. She was a teenager, with brown eyes and dark brown skin, which was almost black.
"Sir, you're leaving soon?" she asked.
That morning, Kae Zêl had learned that her name was Lore, and she was about twelve years old.
Vishernuk arrived at the same moment, gave his report, and seeing that the girl seemed to want to speak with Kae Zêl, he left them alone.
In response to her question, Kae Zêl replied, —Yes, I must return home. There are things I need to take care of there. Some of my men will stay here for a few more days, so you have nothing to worry about.
The girl shook her head as if reaffirming her determination. She mustered all the courage she had; for a common girl like her, seeing a knight was a rare event, especially in these remote villages. And this man had saved her life.
"I'd like to come with you!" Lore said resolutely.
Kae Zêl looked a bit surprised. He hadn't expected this turn of events. Smiling, he tried to think of how to respond.
Sensing hesitation, and perhaps fearing rejection, Lore hurried to add, —I'd like to serve you!
She is quite insistent, Kae Zêl thought for a moment. From what he had learned, Lore was not originally from this village. She had been captured in her home village and dragged around by the Toothwolves. Luckily, she had not been harmed further, but it could have easily been worse knowing their violent tendencies.– he had seen so many villagers traumatized by this band of killers who just happened to also be thieves. Without doubt, the only reason why she was spared of any harm must have been her gift for magic.
A truly marvelous gift rarely found outside of nobility if at all. Kae Zêl could definitely use someone like her but having a slave did not interest him. Not only her physical condition wasn't ideal thanks to injuries she suffered from the attack on her village, but his upbringing couldn't let him use another human as a tool.
It wasn't quite a matter of principle, it was a matter of pride – he couldn't imitate those primitive strangers and their savage ways. As the apex of what an Amalekian should be, he couldn't fall to their level which is why he suggested she follow the other team to the capital where she could be placed in a suitable institution.
But the girl refused.
Even when he proposed other alternatives, she still refused.
Lore was a calm yet dynamic girl, and it showed in her actions. She knew what she wanted; going with Kae Zêl was an opportunity, one she couldn't afford to miss. Kae Zêl understood this well—the girl in front of him had a look far too mature for her age, the look of someone who knew what she was doing and where she was headed.
"I know I'm asking a lot, and I know I'd probably be of no use to you, but I really want to come with you!"
Lore stepped closer to Kae Zêl, her gaze even more determined. She wasn't overdoing it, but it was enough to convey her resolve, as if she knew there would be no tomorrow after this.
After careful thought, Kae Zêl decided to take her under his wing. He didn't have the heart to leave a child without guidance, though he wasn't entirely sure what to do with her either. But for now, that didn't seem to be a problem.
Soon, everyone was ready to depart. The villagers bid farewell to the knights who would take the captives to the capital.
Lore and Kae Zêl rode separately, after packing their mounts with a few bags containing basic supplies and food.
They galloped off, leaving behind a unit that would leave in two days.
"Sir, where are we going? " asked Lore, visibly intrigued, noticing that Vishernuk and the whole troop were heading in the opposite direction.
"Don't be so formal, you can call me Zêl if you like; he replied. —We're going to the village of Autarcie for now. My wife is pregnant, and I'm worried about her.
"Your wife?" Lore asked cautiously.
"Yes, that's why I'm not going to the capital with the others — they'll manage without me.
The capital must have seemed like a fabulous place to someone like Lore, and she wondered why Zêl, who surely held a high rank, hadn't made his home there. This curiosity led to her next question.
"Mr. Zêl, you're a knight. Why don't you live in the capital?"
On that day, she didn't fully understand Kae Zêl's answer.
Kae Zêl stopped his horse, scratched his cheek lightly, and chuckled.
"It's all because of the succession battles; he explained. —I was looking for peace and quiet. I only go there for work.
"Sounds complicated" Lore remarked.
"Yes, it is" Kae Zêl replied.