"Lady," Sir Denise said, lowering himself onto one knee and bowing his head with a surprising amount of grace for someone in armor.Nine's sharp gaze locked onto him, his stance shifting slightly—not in confusion but in quiet assessment. His eyes narrowed as he studied the man before him, taking in every detail of his posture, movements, and intent."Let's talk later," I said quickly, placing a hand on Nine's arm before he could say anything. "There's something more urgent to deal with right now." My eyes drifted toward the battlefield, where Rhian, Eli, and Tafi were locked in an intense fight against the monster horde.The scene was chaotic. The three young men moved in tandem, each fighting with their unique style. Rhian's sword flashed through the air, his strikes calculated and efficient as he felled one monster after another. Eli stood farther back, firing magic-imbued arrows with precision. His arrows tore through multiple monsters at once, glowing faintly before striking their targets. Meanwhile, Tafi was a blur in his berserk form, claws ripping through scaled hides and furred beasts alike. His movements were raw, powerful, and relentless.Nine glanced at the battlefield but kept most of his attention on Sir Denise, his posture loose yet ready, like a coiled spring. He wasn't about to drop his guard just because the man had bowed."You're right," Sir Denise said, rising to his feet. His tone was calm, but there was a quiet confidence in his voice. His eyes flicked toward the battle, and in an instant, he was gone.The sound of tearing flesh and thudding bodies filled the air as the vanguard of the horde was suddenly obliterated. Monsters fell in pieces, their upper halves flung into the air as their torsos collapsed to the ground. Sir Denise reappeared at the front of the battlefield, his massive sword held horizontally in front of him. The ground beneath his feet was cracked, and the faint glow of his Aura rippled around him like a living force.Nine's eyes narrowed further, his expression unreadable. He didn't react with awe or surprise like the others might have; instead, he tilted his head slightly, as though analyzing Sir Denise's technique and movements."That's the power of Aura," I murmured, watching as Sir Denise carved through the monsters with terrifying ease. "An extension of the soul. It's what makes a weapon master so formidable."Nine's lips pressed into a thin line. "He's good," he said simply, his tone neutral. "Fast, clean, precise. He doesn't waste a single move."Rhian froze for a moment, clearly stunned by the display of power, but Sir Denise's sharp voice cut through the chaos. "Stay focused! Don't get distracted!"Rhian snapped out of it, his grip tightening on his sword as he continued his assault. Eli loosed another volley of arrows, his aim never faltering. Tafi roared, launching himself at a larger beast and sinking his claws deep into its chest.Sir Denise moved like a whirlwind, his sword a blur as he carved through the horde. Each strike was devastating, leaving no room for the monsters to recover. The battlefield was littered with fallen creatures, and the tide of the fight shifted dramatically in our favor.Nine crossed his arms, his gaze still fixed on Sir Denise. "He's efficient," he said after a moment. "But reckless. He relies too much on brute force."I glanced at him, startled by the critique. "You think so?""He's skilled, but he's leaving openings. Against someone faster—or smarter—he'd have a hard time." Nine's tone was calm, almost detached, as though he were observing a sparring match rather than a life-or-death battle.I couldn't argue with him; Nine's mastery of martial arts gave him a perspective I couldn't fully understand. But for now, Sir Denise's power was exactly what we needed to turn the tide of the fight.With the horde thinning, I let out a slow breath. The battle wasn't over yet, but for the first time, it felt like we had a real chance.-After some time, all the monsters that had come our way lay dead. But even with the battlefield cleared, another wave of monsters was already marching toward us."This is a never-ending fight!" Tafi groaned, glaring at the approaching horde."I don't think I can keep going," Rhian muttered, staring at his trembling hand as it struggled to hold onto his sword. His usually stoic expression cracked, revealing his exhaustion.I glanced at him thoughtfully. Was this the life-threatening moment he needed to awaken his Aura? Time would tell."I was in such a rush that I forgot to grab a gate stone. If you could just hold on for a bit longer, I'll get one and come back," Sir Denise said, his breathing labored from the intense battle."Gate stone?" I asked, unfamiliar with the term."It's a special stone that functions as both a magic circle and a mana source to open a gate," Sir Denise explained between breaths."I actually have one of those stones," I said, pulling out a small glowing object from my pouch. "So, why don't we just use it to get out of here?""If you had one this whole time, why didn't you say so earlier?!" Eli burst out, looking at me like I'd committed some grand betrayal."Didn't Nine say this was supposed to be your application training?" I replied innocently, using the excuse to shift the blame. The three young men turned to glare at Nine, who gave me a dumbfounded look. I smirked, already activating my skill.What they didn't need to know was that I didn't actually have a gate stone. I could open gates anywhere, no stone required. How would I even begin to explain the mechanism of this skill? Sometimes, it was just easier to keep things vague.We all piled into the carriage, and I directed it into the shimmering portal. As soon as we passed through, the gate closed behind us, leaving the monsters outside Frasha's walls confused as their prey vanished without a trace.-"Welcome to Frasha," Sir Denise said as we crossed through the gate. The desert's dry, stifling air seemed even more oppressive within the city walls. The streets were rough and unpaved, scattered with patches of sand. On either side of the road, beggars of all ages sat slumped against crumbling buildings, their hollow eyes following our every move. They were gaunt, their clothes tattered and their skin clinging tightly to their bones, reminding me starkly of the slaves I saw a while back.The hopelessness in their stares made my chest tighten, but I quickly turned my gaze to Sir Denise, who stood waiting for us to follow."This isn't the place to talk," he said, his tone serious as he motioned for us to move. "Let's head to my barracks first."As we followed Sir Denise, I noticed how different Frasha was compared to its description in the book. The grand city I had envisioned, bustling with trade and life, now seemed like a shadow of itself—a place barely holding on amidst the chaos of the world outside."Is it always like this here?" I asked, glancing at the skeletal remains of a market stall nearby, its colorful fabric roof torn and hanging limply in the dry breeze.Sir Denise glanced back at me, his expression tight. "It's been worse since the monster waves started. Resources are scarce, and people who couldn't afford to flee were left to fend for themselves." He sighed, his voice tinged with frustration. "That's why the garrison is here—to provide some semblance of order. But it's not easy."After what felt like an eternity of walking, we finally arrived at a large, weathered building at the heart of the city. Its cracked stone walls loomed over us like a grumpy old sentinel that had seen better days. Soldiers hovered near the entrance, their armor barely holding together, much like their morale. They had the look of people who'd seen one too many nightmares but were too stubborn to give up."It's more of a... gathering spot. Let's head inside" Sir Denise said as we approached.The inside wasn't much better than the outside—dim lighting, mismatched chairs, and a lingering smell that could only be described as "wet socks meets despair." A long table sat in the center of the room, its surface scratched and battered, like it had been through as many battles as the soldiers themselves.Sir Denise gestured for us to sit, and we shuffled into place, each of us side-eyeing the creaky chairs before committing."This is Sir Denise," I began, introducing him to the group. "A knight from the Empire I met a while ago. Sir Denise, these are my companions: Nine, Rhian, Elliot, and Tafi. They've been with me through... well, a lot.""Thank you," Sir Denise said, bowing slightly. "For your help. The number of monsters you've taken down—it's no small thing. Truly, you've given us some breathing room."Nine leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "If that's true, then why does it feel like we're just bailing water from a sinking ship? Why are there more monsters now than before?"Sir Denise sighed, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of the city rested squarely on them. "That's the question, isn't it? No matter how many we kill, more appear. It's like... like they're being summoned endlessly, or drawn here by something we can't see. We're barely holding on.""And the people outside?" I asked, glancing back toward the entrance. "The beggars. The kids. Are they all civilians?"Sir Denise hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line, as though the words themselves were too heavy to say. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and grim."Yes," he began, "the civilians were evacuated to neighboring territories at first. It was the only choice we had—get them out of Frasha before the situation worsened. But the funds ran out faster than anyone anticipated. The neighboring territories couldn't afford to house and feed them indefinitely, especially with their own resources stretched thin. So, bit by bit, they were sent back here."He paused, his eyes distant, as if replaying the memories. "When they returned, we did what we could. We tried drafting the men—anyone strong enough to hold a weapon. Farmers, laborers, even boys barely old enough to hold a sword without falling over. But untrained men don't last long in battle. They became fodder for the monsters, dying faster than we could replace them. And each death chipped away at the morale of those who remained."Sir Denise's hands clenched into fists. "When the Knight's funds finally dried up, so did the food. Rations became smaller and smaller, barely enough to keep the soldiers going, let alone the civilians. The merchants stopped coming. Who would risk traveling to a monster-infested wasteland with no guarantee of profit? The trade routes shut down, and with them, the lifeblood of this city. The economy collapsed entirely."He took a deep breath, his voice growing quieter but somehow heavier. "And then... things got dark. Desperation does terrible things to people. It started slowly—whispers of theft, scuffles over scraps of bread. But as the hunger grew, so did the atrocities. People began to turn on each other. The first time we discovered cannibalism, it was almost too shocking to believe. A young man was caught stirring a pot of soup over a fire, laughing and crying all at once. He was delirious, broken. And inside the pot..." Sir Denise trailed off, swallowing hard."The rumors said his mother told him to do it," he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "That she couldn't bear to see him starve, so she told him to... to end her suffering and use her to survive. It was the only way she could think of to save him."The room was silent except for the faint creak of the building as the wind pressed against it. Even the air felt heavier, as if suffused with the weight of his words."And that wasn't the only incident," he said, his tone bitter now. "Kidnappings. People vanishing in the night. Those who were once neighbors and friends became predators, hunting each other out of desperation. Reports of missing children, of families disappearing without a trace, came in almost daily. No one trusts anyone anymore. The city has become a place of fear and suspicion, where people barricade themselves in their homes at night, praying they'll live to see the morning."He looked down at the table, his shoulders sagging under the invisible weight he carried. "I don't even know how we've lasted this long. The lords of the territory abandoned us weeks ago, taking what was left of the treasury and leaving us to rot. And now..." He trailed off, shaking his head.The silence that followed was suffocating, each of us processing his words in our own way. I could feel the despair in the room, like a thick fog settling over us. Even Tafi, who always had a quip ready, remained uncharacteristically quiet.Sir Denise looked up at me, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm sorry to lay all of this on you," he said hoarsely. "But you needed to know. Frasha isn't just dying—it's already dead. What's left here is barely hanging on. And unless something changes, it's only a matter of time before the monsters aren't the only threat we have to worry about."Sir Denise turned to me fully, his expression a mix of desperation and resolve, his voice trembling as he spoke. "Lady Anya, I know this is asking far too much, but please... help us. Not for me, but for the people of Frasha. They've suffered more than anyone should. They don't deserve this."Before I could even open my mouth to respond, Sir Denise dropped to his knees. The movement was so sudden that it startled everyone in the room. He lowered himself into a full kowtow, his forehead pressing against the cold, dusty floor."Please," he whispered, his voice breaking.The air in the room grew unbearably heavy, the weight of his plea sinking into all of us. Even Tafi, who was usually quick with a snarky remark, sat frozen, his mouth slightly open but no words coming out. Nine crossed his arms tightly, his jaw clenched, while Rhian avoided looking at the scene altogether, his gaze fixed on some distant point on the wall.The only sound was the faint rustling of the wind outside, a low and mournful whisper that seemed to echo Sir Denise's desperation. It was a chilling reminder that beyond these walls, the monsters still lurked, waiting, watching.I felt my throat tighten as I stared at Sir Denise. His back trembled slightly, either from exhaustion or from the sheer weight of what he was asking. Maybe both. The sight of a proud knight, someone who had likely stood tall against countless enemies, now bowing in such humility, struck a chord deep within me.Finally, I broke the silence, my voice softer than I intended. "Sir Denise... please stand. There's no need for this."He didn't move. "I'll do whatever it takes," he murmured, his voice muffled by the floor. "If it means giving these people a chance, even just a sliver of hope, I'll swallow my pride and beg. For them, not for me."The rawness of his words hit me like a punch to the gut. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I won't promise anything yet," I said carefully, "but I'll see what I can do. Stand up, Sir Denise. We can't have a proper conversation like this."Slowly, he raised his head, his face streaked with dust and something close to tears. His relief was palpable, but it was tempered by the exhaustion etched into every line of his face. He sat back on his heels, looking at me with an expression I could only describe as hope clinging to a thread."We'll need to understand the full situation before we can act," I said, glancing at Nine, Rhian, and the others. "But one thing's certain—we won't just stand by and watch."Sir Denise nodded, his lips parting as if to say something, but he stopped himself. Instead, he bowed his head again, though this time it was a gesture of respect, not desperation.