Ayaka followed closely behind Laurelena, gently brushing her with her pair of tails as she approached her.
"And so? What are you going to do?"
She softly spoke into Lau's ear, sending a wave of warm air that caused Lau to blush bright red.
"Fine, I will do it."
Lau then proceeded to bring Kay's fingers close to her mouth, kissing each one before a small golden light entered Kay's hand, forming a soul contract between them.
Then Kaylessa status bar got updated [Laurelena Soul Companion], and so did Laus status status: [kaylessa Soul Companion]. Now, they will share their hunting experience and become a couple, despite Kaylessa overlooking that aspect.
For now, Kay was more focused on her new companion status window.
Lvl 5|Laurelena|Sunflower Dryad|Hp:500/500|ET:650/650|Exp:3000/4000|
[str:10][Dex:10][Vit:9][Def:5][MDef:20][Crit:4]
Status: [Kaylessa soul companion]
Skills: [Stone blast 1/-] (20)
Bloodline: [The Almighty Me!!]
[Taunt]
Kaylessa found it surprising that the skill used to summon Grandpa Turtle had such an interesting name; she wondered if it was due to its immense ego or for some other reason. As Kay thought about this, Ayaka was engaged in a conversation with Laurelena that would eventually bring both joy and trouble to Kay.
After a brief moment of reflection, Kay suddenly returned to reality and noticed that now it was Ayaka who was in charge of the cooking, with Laurelena approaching her carrying an ancient and bulky book.
"Lady Kaylessa, this book was a cherished possession of my grandmother, and it holds details about military equipment and formations used before the cursed crusade. Perhaps you may find it helpful."
"Oh, a book written before the gods fell. Let me explore the interesting content within. BTW, you can refer to me as Kay from now on. We are companions now."
Lau blushed as she agreed with Kay's words and handed her the book. Afterwards, she headed to the kitchen to assist Ayaka in cooking, not because she needed to eat as a dryad but to gain some culinary skills now that she was married and wanted to please Kay with delicious meals.
Kaylessa was engrossed in a book that detailed strategies for organizing army formations into legions instead of individual units. The book also discussed the importance of discipline, the lack of army laws, and regulations for equipment. Interestingly, unlike today, soldiers used whatever they wanted.
She was deeply absorbed in her book, so much so that she failed to notice Ayaka standing right in front of her until her hand landed on the book.
"Kay, are you ready to have your meal now? You can continue reading later, once we are traveling. Just keep in mind that we have to rush to the next town if we want to arrive on schedule. Come over to the dining table and take a seat so we can eat. Lau is already outside enjoying the sun, so let's not keep her waiting."
After those words, Kaylessa shut the book and joined Ayaka for a meal. When they finished eating, Ay assisted Kay in trying on the garments given to her by a woman huntsman without charge.
After stepping out, the soldiers tasked with protecting the residence greeted them with salutes, and the thunder militia knelt down before Kay. It was clear to her that the creature desired to go back to its own realm to recuperate; the bond between a summoner and their summoned being was truly fascinating.
Laurelena noticed them in the distance and hurried over to them. As soon as she reached Kay, she took her hand and led her towards a structure resembling a warehouse.
"My grandfather constructed this warehouse; he referred to it as his personal storage space. Upon his passing, he entrusted me with the key. Now that I am saying farewell to the village permanently, I propose we unlock the doors and explore its contents."
Upon entering the warehouse, Kay was met with a flurry of dust and a few unsettling insects, but she paid them little mind as her attention was captivated by the sight of 20 lengthy spears measuring 2.5 meters each and 20 sizable, rounded shields made of bronze.
Kay hastily retrieved the book that Lau had previously given her from her bag. She proceeded to scan through it in search of images depicting these weapons. After some time, she came across information detailing the equipment used by soldiers in the Hoplite Phalanx formation.
Once there were 20 or more shield warriors in this formation, their defense strength would increase twofold, making it easier for them to withstand enemy attacks. However, the drawback of this formation was its slow movement once activated, yet it was ideal for defense.
The addition of spears provided the shield warriors with a means to also launch attacks, which was unusual since they typically do not engage in offensive tactics.
Kaylessa was ecstatic, like a child who had just discovered her first toy. She eagerly instructed one of her guards to fetch all of the shield warriors. Upon their arrival, she directed them to switch out their equipment with the items stored in the warehouse.
After altering their armor and other elements, they appeared incredibly powerful, resembling a solid bronze wall that could not be penetrated.
After completing the task, Kaylessa instructed them to march in formation behind her towards the village entrance to entertain the villagers. Prior to beginning, Kay instructed Lau to accompany Ayaka to prepare everyone outside the village to leave as soon as they passed through the village gate.
Shortly after Lau departed, Kay was able to instruct the soldiers on proper marching techniques as outlined in the manual. The process was fairly straightforward, allowing them to grasp the concept quickly as they proceeded to march towards the entrance of the village. As they marched, they struck their shields with their spears, creating a loud metallic noise that added to their impressive appearance.