The aftermath of the battle lingered in Arren's mind as he returned to the barracks. Despite the accolades and the emperor's recognition, his thoughts were heavy with unease. The organized nature of the monstrous attack was unlike anything he'd seen before. Something—someone—was orchestrating this chaos.
Fri greeted him with unbridled enthusiasm, bounding across the room to nuzzle his leg. Arren knelt to scratch behind the pup's ears, the simple gesture grounding him after the horrors he'd faced.
"Missed me, huh?" he murmured. Fri barked in response, his tail wagging furiously.
Arren placed the emperor's pendant on his bedside table and sank into a chair, exhaustion tugging at his every muscle. He absentmindedly glanced at his magical pouch, where the dragon egg rested. For a moment, he debated checking on it but decided against it. It was best to keep the egg undisturbed, especially with so many eyes watching him after his performance on the battlefield.
He leaned back, closing his eyes, but rest eluded him. Flashes of the battle replayed in his mind: the snarling monsters, the screams of his comrades, the scent of blood and smoke. His hand tightened into a fist.
The next morning, Captain Velrik called a meeting in the main hall. The knights, still weary from their recent ordeal, assembled quietly. Velrik's expression was grave as he addressed them.
"The emperor has expressed his gratitude for our efforts," Velrik began. "But we cannot rest on our laurels. Reports are coming in from across the empire—more unusual activity, more monster sightings. This is not an isolated incident."
The room buzzed with murmurs. Arren exchanged glances with Noor, who frowned deeply.
"Our intelligence suggests that these attacks are not random," Velrik continued. "They are coordinated, and the evidence points to a single entity behind them: the Ashen Order."
A wave of shock rippled through the knights. The Ashen Order was a name spoken in hushed tones, a shadowy organization thought to have disbanded years ago.
"They've been operating in the shadows," Velrik said, his voice grim. "Their influence is spreading, and their goals remain unclear. But what is clear is that they are a threat to the empire."
Arren's chest tightened. The Ashen Order. Lyara's warnings about dark forces suddenly made sense.
Velrik continued, assigning tasks to various knights to investigate leads and fortify defenses. Arren was among those tasked with patrolling the outskirts of the capital and gathering intelligence from nearby towns.
As the knights dispersed, Noor approached Arren.
"This is troubling," Noor said, his voice low. "If the Ashen Order is behind this, it explains the monsters' coordination. But it also raises more questions."
Arren nodded. "I'll keep my eyes open during the patrol. If they're operating near the capital, there might be clues."
Noor placed a hand on Arren's shoulder. "Be careful. The Order isn't just dangerous because of their monsters. Their influence runs deep."
Arren departed the barracks with Fri trotting by his side. The morning air was crisp, and the streets of the capital were bustling with activity. Merchants shouted their wares, children played in the alleys, and the scent of fresh bread wafted through the air. It was a stark contrast to the battlefield, but Arren couldn't shake the feeling that danger lurked beneath the surface.
He made his way to the outskirts of the city, where rumors of strange occurrences had been reported. Farmers spoke of livestock vanishing in the dead of night, and a few mentioned seeing shadowy figures near the woods.
As he moved through the rural areas, Arren's keen senses picked up on subtle signs—tracks too large for any ordinary animal, scorch marks on trees, and an unnatural stillness in certain areas. Fri sniffed the ground, his ears perked, as if sensing something amiss.
They eventually stumbled upon an abandoned farmhouse. The door hung ajar, and the interior was in disarray. Broken furniture and shattered glass littered the floor, and a sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air.
Arren stepped inside cautiously, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Fri growled low in his throat, his hackles raised.
"What happened here?" Arren muttered, scanning the room.
In the corner, he found a piece of torn fabric. It was black and embroidered with a faint, swirling pattern—a sigil he didn't recognize. He pocketed it, suspecting it might be connected to the Ashen Order.
As he explored further, he discovered faint traces of magical energy lingering in the air. It was dark and twisted, unlike anything he'd encountered before. It made his skin crawl.
Before he could investigate further, a noise outside caught his attention. He turned sharply, drawing his sword as he moved to the window.
A group of cloaked figures stood at the edge of the property, their faces obscured. They carried weapons and exuded an air of menace.
Arren slipped out the back of the farmhouse, motioning for Fri to stay close. He circled around, keeping low, until he was within earshot of the group.
"…progress is slow," one of them was saying. "The captain expects results soon. We can't afford any mistakes."
"Relax," another replied. "The monsters will keep the knights busy. By the time they realize what we're doing, it'll be too late."
Arren's jaw tightened. So the Order was indeed behind the attacks, and they had a larger plan in motion.
He considered confronting them but decided against it. He was outnumbered, and revealing himself now could jeopardize his chances of learning more. Instead, he quietly retreated, taking note of their appearance and the direction they headed.
When he returned to the barracks, he immediately sought out Captain Velrik and Noor.
"I found something," Arren said, placing the torn fabric and his observations on the table.
Velrik examined the fabric, his expression darkening. "This is the sigil of the Ashen Order. There's no doubt about it now—they're active and close to the capital."
Noor frowned. "If they're coordinating attacks and diverting our forces, they must have a larger objective. We need to find out what it is before it's too late."
Velrik nodded. "We'll double our efforts to uncover their plans. Arren, your findings were crucial. Good work."
Arren felt a surge of determination. The Ashen Order's threat was becoming clearer, and he knew the battles ahead would be even more challenging. As he left the meeting, he glanced at Fri, who wagged his tail.
"We've got a lot of work to do, buddy," Arren said. "But we'll face it together."
The shadows of the Ashen Order loomed over the empire, but Arren was ready to stand against them, no matter the cost.