Since the infestation of demons across most regions of England, the church became a major pillar for the Crusaders army; that's why the high ranking bishops and priests always get a say in almost everything
But during these dark days in Hailderguard, few members of the church already loosing faith and it's bad!
Palm Closter was still in ruins but it still had a designated area, across the far ends of the Western lands - Northington and his team of crusaders rode through the visible roads, it was a two-day journey to the fallen land and Northington wanted results immediately.
"Vice Captain, what is it?" Anastasia asked Maximus
"I don't know, I'm hoping the Deliverant Unit can solve the mystery" Maximus said, standing upright from the ground
"So they're approved?" Old Kent asked the Vice Captain
"Zenemiah, Shadrach and Victoria are temporarily the Deliverant Unit until the bishops approve them"
The job of the Deliverant Unit in itself wasn't risky; but the grade or rankings of the tasks carried out by the unit is risky.
"Enough talking, let's check this out" Zenemiah turned to his sister and friend
Without warning, the ground began to crack! - forming a jagged space on the earth's surface, just close to where Vice Captain Maximus Pierce was standing!
"Step back now!" Anastasia driving the children and Old Kent away from the depleting ground surface
"Ahhh" Misplacing his footsteps, Maximus fell into the jagged-created hole caused by the crack on the ground surface.
"Vice Captain!!!"
Few minutes after, all that was left was the light dust from the hole
"this is bad!" Victoria exclaimed
"Certainly" said Old Kent.
"What about Vice Captain Maximus ?" Shadrach called out.
"He's in the hole!" Zenemiah yelled, Anastasia then rushed to the hole open side
"Judging by the way crack formed , it doesn't look natural" Zenemiah said to the Keystone archer
"That's right.." Victoria walked towards the hole open site to observe "For the ground to open up like this , there must have been a structural defaults underground - the earth surface opening up itself"
"Vice Captain " Shadrach called out into the dark hole that seemed to go in forever
"I'm alive, thanks for asking!" Maximus replied to the call, He wasn't injured - just few light stings of pain on his face "oh my God!"
"Whatever is the matter, Vice Captain?" Old Kent asked
"The walls of the hole, they seemed to have been carved….created by something even" Maximus observed closely the hole, the crack wasn't natural at all."
Created by what sir?" Anastasia asked, being worried
"Most likely a demon….,it was the demons!" Victoria said reading through the Book that contained demon knowledge with fear.
"Demons! how ?!" The stuck Vice Captain asked - realizing the hole had passages inside
!"According to past knowledge..." Victoria reading through the DK "Before the fall of Palm Closter, a man named Gallimore led an expedition to a hole suspected to be made by demons deep in the ground surface" She was interrupted
"There are passages here, it confirms the fact that those demons that were killed earlier had to be scouts - for an infestation" Maximus concluded
"An infestation! !"
"That could mean the end of Hailderguard!" Victoria exclaimed.
"Then we must be ready for what is to come!" Anastasia knelt down to see Maximus face, the sunlight has illuminated the hole allowing them to see rhe bottom where Vice captain Maximus had fallen
"I'm getting you out of this hole Vice Captain!"
"No, I have to see what lies in these passages, get to Captain Leo - there is a possible infestation upon us, go now!" Maximus ordered.
"I can't leave you here" Anastasia called out
"Ana, Go now!" Maximus ordered again
"Old Kent!" the Vice Captain called out
"Yes sir?" Old Kent replied
"Get to the Crusaders army base, inform them of what we enquired and let them prepare for the worst!"
===
Maximus was still in the hole - after giving the Deliverant Unit, Anastasia and Old Kent certain instructions, all he was waiting for was his patrol crusaders to rescue him from the hole.
Using the time left, he noted and viewed every small detail of the passages in the hole - one thing was certain, the demons were there - in the hole - the whole time !!
"Vice Captain Maximus Pierce!"
That was the voice of Balor - throwing a rope into the hole, Maximus was brought out to the evening light of the day.
"Are you alright sir?" Balor asked
"I'm fine " Maximus answered, breathing heavily he had spotted a trace of one to many demons and lucked out.
"What's the next course of action Vice Captain?" Balor, handing over a bottle of water to the panting Vice captain
"I want you to remain here with the rest of the patrol crusaders; set up a camp here, monitor any suspicious activities going on in or out of the hole, if you see a demon, kill immediately!" Maximus ordered, drinking water like he was thristy for a month.
"Understood sir " Balor saluted.
Riding off to the first gates of Hailderguard - Anastasia hoped to inform Captain Leo of a possible infestation that could bring about the fall of the Eastern land. Luckily for her, she blocked the captain and his squad of crusaders, just few meters away from the gates.
"Officer Anastasia?, what manner of approach is this?" Captain Leo was dumbfounded at her sudden approach
"Apologies Captain" Anastasia getting down from her horse to address the captain "But we may have a possible infestation upon us"
"My dear God" The captain exclaimed .
Anastasia without wasting a breath reported the crack that had formed due the tunneling of demons and the possibility of a nest
"Everyone else, get back to the base.." Captain Leo giving directives to his crusaders.
"By my order, I want every crusader on every nook and cranny of Hailderguard right now"
"Yes sir!" the crusaders echoed in respective, leaving the scene.
"Anastasia"
"Sir" responding to the Captain's call
"come with me, the Duke and Duchess of Hailderguard has know of these, come now" The two fierce crusaders off quickly.
Meanwhile, Zenemiah, Shadrach and Victoria were asked to warn the church about the possible infestation, jumping out of the carriage, they stormed into the church when a prayer session was holding, a mass service!It was an awkward moment!
Imagine three hundred and fifty six elderlies, young people and the priest staring at Zenemiah, Shadrach and Victoria; it was embarrassing! But no, they had to pass the message.
"I didn't know a service was holding in church today " Shadrach whispered to Victoria.
Rushingtforward to the altar, staring the congregation and the church priest who were still in awe; climbing the altar, Zenemiah cleared his throat to speak.
"You're going to die!" Zenemiah layed it straight!
The people muttered, murmured, rumbled and grumbled amongst themselves
"Please young man, leave the church!" the priest tried to stop Zenemiah, but that didn't stop him.
"There's a possible infestation upon us all, and you know what that means ".....Zenemiah sighted Nicholas; who stepped out, facing the center of the church, to say something really stupid!
"Are you all listening to this brat!" Nicholas began to mock Zenemiah "Infestation...the crusaders will protect us all"
"Protect?!" Shadrach marched forward to address the congregation "My friends and I were just with Vice Captain Maximus, who was trapped in a hole that the demons dug - the end of Hailderguard is nigh"
The church priest gasped
" According to history, Palm Closter's downfall happened in a similar manner" Victoria added from the entrance of the church.
"Lies, demons are not real" Nicholas shouted, not realizing he was sounding very stupid.
"If you all want to live to see another day...." Zenemiah stepped down from the altar to face Nicholas - "pray in faith and believe that God can save Hailderguard" With that being said, the Deliverant Unit walked out of the church, driving the carriage to the Saint Claire household.
===
Zenemaih was upset and pouting "you think they believed us".
News of the Delivernt Unit hadn't been spread neither had the Bishops and priest had time to approve it
The cherry on top was that no one would expect kids not up to the age of 19 would be it's main memebers, but Zenemaih's annoyance would cease to exist