Chapter 12

After we finished eating breakfast, we all went to the main hall together. We stopped outside the door and announced ourselves before entering. Our parents and some old men, about four of them, were talking inside. The old men looked at us as we curtsied and greeted our parents before sitting on our chairs. Father sat in the middle, to his left was mother and to her left was Athy. I sat on my father's right and sitting to my right was Uriel.

"As I was saying," father started to talk again, "you may use our carriages and you will be given funds for your travels. Sadly, we do not have any knights remaining to escort you home. I hope you won't take offence as you know our situation better than anyone right now."

"Don't worry your grace, we understand." The old man replied respectfully. "Your Excellency, what do you plan regarding your manpower? A noble house cannot be without maids, butlers and knights at the very least your Excellency."

"We will think of a way." Father answered. "For now, the spirits Athy summoned can work for us."

The old men looked towards the spirits standing in line by the wall and they visibly shivered. Athy smiled sweetly at the old men and they replied her with very awkward smiles.

"If you need help, please come and find us your excellency." Another old man with ox ears looked up at us. "Our clan have strong warriors, we can definitely be of help."

"Our house will soon be open for applicants," mother gave him a light nod, "we look forward to seeing your clan members. Please inform everyone you know that we are hiring maids, gardeners, cooks, and other household employees, especially warriors and knights starting next week."

"We will your grace." They chorused happily.

"You may use our portals so you can travel faster." Father added.

"Thank you your Excellency!" The old men thanked my father earnestly. "The injured and those that live further away can use it. We live a little closer, a day's travel is already enough, but some live further away so it would be a really big help."

"Then my eldest daughter, Mel, will help you activate it." Father raised his hand towards me and the old men looked at me. I smiled at them and nodded my head at my father. "I wish you safe travels."

The old men all went out to get everyone ready to go home. Our family went to my father's study to talk about our next steps. The problem that required much attention was our partially destroyed home. The ground is a mess, the employees side house was completely destroyed and the training ground was also destroyed. The knights quarters was semi-destroyed and we don't even have a single knight left as well as a single horse. The traitors, Rick and the blond knight are still in our dungeon which is guarded by two of Athy's summoned spirits. The issue with Marquis McClare will be dealt with later.

"What should we do now?" father massaged his temples.

"It's fine." Athy told him. "You and mother should take some rest. The hiring of personel will be handled by us. You would only need to choose the ones you want to serve you."

"Sis, I have an idea but I'm not sure if it is feasible." Uriel whispered to me.

"What is it?" I asked her. Athy and our parents also listened to her idea.

"How about we go around our territory and find people we like and make them work for us?" she said looking unsure. "Really strong people that can protect us and our people."

"You want to build The Knights of Noktis from scratch?" I asked her.

"Not just the knights, but also butlers and maids and other employees." She explained. "This way, our house will be stronger and the bond between us

and our people be stronger."

"That is a good idea," I agreed with her opinion, "but if we go out, we will be leaving Athy alone to protect this place."

"I bet she can protect the entire kingdom by herself." Uriel smiled awkwardly and looked at her unimpressed.

I know Athy is strong and her ability is quite effective against intruders but I am not confident to leave her alone. Her ability is still not something we know quite well. We don't know how long summoned spirits lasts or how long Athy can last if she summon spirits nonstop.

"I will stay here with her then." Uriel volunteered when she saw me doubtful of being away. "You can start looking for our allies if we are both here right?"

"Elder sister is right." Athy butt in. "We need allies we can trust and we need the people of our territory to trust us too."

"We need strong people that we can trust with father and mother too." Uriel added.

"Fine." I nodded. "I'll go and find people I want to be in my team. After I return, Uriel can go and find hers and then Athy goes after Uriel returns."

"I don't need to go, I can find people to serve me from those that applies." Athy declined. She did have a point there.

"Let's talk more about this after I send off the people outside." I stood up and they nodded.

After father gave me permission to go, I went out to meet with the people who will be travelling home soon. They needed me to open the portal so they could travel through it.

"Excuse me," I approached one of the old men I saw inside the main hall earlier, he was talking with some younger men. "My lady, we are almost done with our preparations."

"It's fine, I actually wanted to ask you which group has the furthest location." I told him.

"It should be the semi-demon clans my lady," He said pointing at a group of people with the old man with ox ears. "they live at the foot of Windour Mountain."

I looked at the group of people and thanked him before approaching them.

"Sir," I called out at the old man as I was approaching. He turned my way and bowed when he saw me. The others with him also bowed down when they saw him bow.

"Blessings upon House Castellan." They greeted. The greeting took me by surprise as it was the first time I heard it.

"Please rise."

"Thank you my lady." The old man replied smiling awkwardly at me. "My lady, I am called Nikathon, an old warrior of the Cabal clan," he introduced himself. A lady about a year older than me, stood beside the old man. "This is Teras, she was also among the women held captive by the whorehouse, she was a big help to us when we fought the guards there."

"Thank you for your help Teras." I smiled at her.

"It was nothing my lady." she replied, bowing her head a little before looking at me.

"The problem is that she has no memory of her past my lady." The old man looked at Teras. "Teras is the name given to her by her fellow captives."

"What does it mean?" I asked him and he looked at her sadly.

Teras looked at me and without a hint of emotion on her voice, replied;

"It means 'monster' my lady."