Bryce, Hannah, and Evelyn retired to the dining room to examine the letters they just received.
"There're demonic wolves infestations across the eastern region of the Euphrates Province. Duke Shaughnessy is ordering all counts, viscounts, and barons in his domain to send their knights to help with the people evacuation and demons extermination." said Bryce.
"On the other hand, a pack of demonic gargoyles, around 20 or so, just raided and occupied the Stonewall town in our domain." said Hannah.
Evelyn sighed to these worrying news.
"(I remember reading in my past life that the case of demon infestations in the Mortalia Empire increased rapidly ever since Princess Mariana was born. These infestations led to many other horrible implications which brought great danger to the Empire in the years to come.)"
She stared at the two letters harboring terrible news.
"(The demonic wolves and the gargoyles infestations in the Euphrates Province are only a few of many demon invasions to come. In fact, I believe another demon hordes are also gathering at the northwest border of the Empire in the Gihon Province at this point in time. It will only get worse from here on.)"
Bryce laid down the letter from the duke and looked at his wife.
"The eastern situation is dire, but I'm more concerned about Stonewall, my love. What happened to the people there?"
"The town chief said there were casualties, but the remaining townsfolks managed to vacate the area." answered Hannah. "Thankfully the gargoyles didn't chase after them once they reached the woods."
"Gargoyles are very territorial." said Evelyn suddenly. "They like to hide and wait to ambush their prey. It's very likely they intended to turn Stonewall into their deathtrap."
Evelyn looked outside the window, toward the Guardia town in which the Leonardo Estate resided.
"We currently won't have to worry for the gargoyles flying over to Guardia or the other towns and villages in our domain. But if we leave them be in Stonewall for too long, they'll search for a new hunting ground and raid another place."
Bryce and Hannah watched silently on their daughter's detailed analysis on the gargoyle. They wondered how Evelyn could know such things.
But considering their daughter had been acting differently ever since she woke up for the first time ever since she was cursed, they did not bother to question her insight any further.
"Gargoyles... I managed to encounter them once while I was travelling the Empire to train to be a knight. They're quite a nasty creature." said Bryce. "There were 40 of us and only five of them. But they managed to kill more than half our number before we could kill them all."
In the world Einsof created, mages of the past were able to create a statue that could trap low-ranked demons. It was called the Demon Prison.
Unfortunately, if the artifacts aren't purified from time to time, the demonic spirit trapped inside would possess the statue and use the artifact as its own body.
That was how demonic gargoyles were created and the reason why people were not using the Demon Prison anymore.
"But I'm confused. I thought in Mortalia Empire the gargoyles could only be found in the Pison Province west of our province, way over the Jibril Mountain Range. Why would they end up here in Euphrates?" wondered Hannah.
Mortalia Empire was consisted of four provinces divided by great mountain ranges: Pison in the southwest, Gihon in the northwest, Hiddekel in the northeast, and Euphrates in the southeast.
The cost for one Demon Prison was so expensive that only the rich, typically nobles, could afford them.
The Pison Province used to be the land of nobles where Demon Prisons were installed basically everywhere in the region.
But ever since Mortalia's old capital, Havensground, located in Pison fell to the demons hundreds of years ago, many nobles in the province abandoned their territory.
It caused the many Demon Prisons in the area to turn into gargoyles over time since they weren't purified. Which was why gargoyles were known to be typically found in this province of the Empire.
In regards to Hannah's confusion, the four provinces of the Empire were bordered by huge mountain ranges which made travelling between regions difficult:
Jibril Mountain Range divided Pison and Euphrates. Israfil Mountain Range divided Hiddekel and Euphrates. Auriel Mountain Range divided Hiddekel and Gihon. And Mikhail Mountain Range divided Gihon and Pison.
Which was why she wondered how come gargoyles from Pison in the southwest bothered to cross over to Euphrates in the southeast when the two provinces were divided by the grand Jibril Mountain Range.
To be noted, the Leonardo Domain lies in the southwest corner of Euphrates, bordering the Jibril Mountain Range.
Evelyn nodded to her mother's confusion and proceeded to clear it.
"Because they ran out of hunting grounds, mother." said Evelyn. "The demon population in the Empire has increased significantly over the years and causing a lot of Demon Prisons to be activated, which consequently creating more gargoyles. The more gargoyles there are, the smaller the hunting grounds there would be."
Evelyn then looked out the window where the knights were strolling around.
"And isn't there word going around that most of the Imperial Army is currently stationed at the Empire's northwest border in the Gihon Province? That could explain why the gargoyles managed to get past Pison's border patrol. There's just lack of personnel over there."
Bryce took both letters and presented it to Hannah.
"We need to decide our course of action for these two situations." said Bryce. He looked up to his wife, the lord of the Leonardo domain. "What shall we do, my love?"
Hannah sighed upon this dilemma.
"Our priority should be to secure Stonewall. But we can't neglect the duke's order either."
"Then I'll take our knights to Stonewall and exterminate the gargoyles. After that I'll take them to join Duke Shaughnessy's forces in the eastern region." said Bryce.
"I'm coming with you! I can help since my vessel has been unsealed!" said Hannah.
"What?! No, my love!"
"Remember, mother, although your vessel has improved, your mana supply is still about the same as before. It'll take time before you'll be able to fully utilize your vessel."
"Bryce, you said it yourself that a mere five gargoyles managed to kill more than 20 knights when there were 40 of you." stated Hannah.
She then pointed outside to where the Leonardo knights were training at.
"Our barony only has 25 knights and there are about 20 gargoyles in Stonewall. We also can't afford to wait for reinforcement since the gargoyles might move again and all forces in Euphrates are already focused to help Duke Shaughnessy in the east. You'll need all the help you can get!"
Bryce and Hannah continued to argue over what they should do.
Meanwhile, Evelyn retreated to her mind and judged the situation.
"(Demonic wolf infestations in the east and gargoyles in the west. 25 soldiers at disposal.)"
Evelyn was reminded of her grand plan she just formulated in her room.
(Hmm… I should use this opportunity to expedite my plans.)"
Evelyn formed a smile on her face. She had finished formulating her next moves based on the circumstances at present.
"Mother, father, I have an idea that would settle this dilemma." said Evelyn interrupting Bryce and Hannah.
"What would that be, my daughter?"
"We can't lose favor from Duke Shaughnessy and we need to stay cautious with the movement of the demonic wolves. Which is why, father, you should go with five of our knights to help the duke evacuate the eastern region." proposed Evelyn. "The duke won't mind that you only bring five soldiers with you since there's a demon invasion in our domain as well."
The young lady then looked to Hannah.
"Mother, I know your vessel has been unsealed. But it's all the more important for you to stay in the estate since we never know if there'll be another pack of gargoyles crossing over to Euphrates."
Bryce frowned at Evelyn's proposal as it failed to address one significant issue.
"And who's going to Stonewall to exterminate the gargoyles?"
Evelyn smiled and grabbed the letter sent by the Stonewall town chief.
"I will." said Evelyn without hesitation.
Bryce and Hannah gasped in disbelief. Their faces were struck with horror.
Evelyn stood and looked at them with a very confident face.
"I will lead 20 of our knights to Stonewall and exterminate each and every single one of the demons without any casualties."