Chapter 37 - WISDOM AND FATE

Five days later, deep in the mountains in the northeastern region of the Euphrates Province, Bryce and his five knights were cornered behind a patch of bushes. Hiding behind them were a 5-membered family of farmers.

Rushing back and forth outside the bushes were countless hungry demonic wolves. 

For some reason, the demons did not care to notice Bryce and his party despite them being so close and within the beasts' sight.

"It worked… The camouflage potion Lady Evelyn informed us… it worked!" said one of Bryce's knights. 

"Everything Lady Evelyn listed about the demonic wolves are true, my lord!" said another.

Bryce nodded to his companions.

"Indeed. If it weren't for the information my daughter provided us, we would've been mauled by the demons just like the rest of the provincial army in this rescue mission."

"Will we be able to get out of here, then?" asked one of the farmers.

"Don't worry. Once we pass through the clearing ahead, we'll be able to see the camp where the reinforcement Duke Shaughnessy sent us are stationed." said Bryce.

He then showed the farmers a vial of black liquid from his pouch.

"Just remember to pour your body with the potion we gave you once the odor on you is beginning to fade off."

Bryce looked to his surroundings. When he saw the demonic wolves ran to the other part of the forest, the baron stood up and gestured to his party.

"Alright, let's move!"

At the same time, in the southeast region of the Pison Province, a 19-year-old boy in a shining white armor was journeying on horseback to a ruined castle guarded by an army of heavily armored knights.

"Sir Hayworth!" shouted the captain of the knights as the boy approached. "We thought you're in the northwest frontline!"

"I requested Countess Gerhardt to send me back after I received your message." said the boy while dismounting.

Although his ivory skin, slightly-freckled face, forest-green eyes, and wavy dark hair enhanced his youthful and charming look, the boy carried the aura of a brave and strong warrior.

In comparison to the other knights', the boy's white armor had a more refined design. The golden patterns on the armor also gave an immense sense of antiquity to it.

The armor the boy was wearing was definitely one of a kind.

He then inspected the castle the knights were guarding.

"So, the gargoyles inside escaped?"

"Yes, sir! Eight days ago we discovered the bodies of numerous patrol squads behind the castle. That's when we decided to check the interior if the demons managed to escape the place."

"All of them managed to flee?" asked the boy.

"Yes! All 143 gargoyles, sir!" answered the soldier.

"How about the other sealed grounds in this part of the province? Did the gargoyles there escape too?"

The captain nodded to the suspicion.

"We've contacted the knights guarding the other 3 neighboring sealed grounds. They reported all of the gargoyles in their castles had fled as well."

The boy sighed at these reports.

"That's got to be at least 400 gargoyles in total." said the boy.

He pointed his finger to the great mountain range to the east.

"Have you tried tracking them down? Considering the location where the patrol squad casualties were discovered, I suspect the gargoyles were heading toward the Jibril Mountain Range."

"We've sent out scouts, sir. We managed to confirm that the gargoyles from our castle and the surrounding sealed grounds were indeed heading toward the Jibril Mountain Range."

"Then we've no time to waste. Gather all the soldiers guarding the gargoyle sealed grounds in this region!" ordered the boy. "I needed to be back to the northwest frontline in three days. So I only got two days to locate these missing demons."

"Right away, sir!"

The boy looked toward the Jibril Mountain Range in the distance.

"If the demons were heading toward Jibril, then eventually they will cross over to the neighboring Euphrates Province. Have you heard news of any gargoyles attack over there?" asked the boy.

"No, sir. Unfortunately, we're in a secluded area. The last news we received from Euphrates was about the demonic-wolves invasion." said the knight. "That being said, if there is any assault by the gargoyles in the Euphrates Province, we should be hearing about it any day now."

The boy nodded.

"It's been eight days since the gargoyles have been missing. If we haven't heard anything from Euphrates, it could mean the demons were still hiding in the mountains or the gargoyles' advance was quickly subdued by the provincial forces along the western border of Euphrates, hence quelling the panic and slowed the spread of the news."

"What are the odds it's the latter, sir?" asked the knight.

"Our job is to figure out exactly that, soldier." answered the boy.