Chapter 29

"Even if you're sleeping, be alert. You never know what might happen in the middle of the night," Yjhan said. He climbed on top of a thick tree trunk and sat there.

Nash looked at him.

"What?"

"I was planning on sleeping there," she pouted.

"No. Sleep there."

Nash had no choice but to sleep on the ground. They used their bags as their pillows and cloaks as their blankets.

Nash was separated from the others.

She lies down and gazes up at the dark sky full of stars. She spent minutes just staring at the stars trying to sleep but for her, the sky was too bright.

When she sleeps, she prefers a dark environment where a small light cannot be seen.

She was able to sleep after covering her face with the hood of her coat.

...

[Bite]

She woke up when she suddenly felt something bite her. She realized that her arms were out of the cloak. She took off the thick cloth and found two poisonous snakes inside that were biting her arms.

[Throb]

"You know... you're just making me stronger when you keep injecting poison in my body," she calmly said as she sat down. She pulled the two snakes off her arms and beheaded them.

Poison is one of the major substances that triggers a demon. It strengthens a demon, acting as an energy drink for them.

"Ah... there's blood," she said, looking at her arms. After she removed the snakes, her white inner shirt was stained with blood. "I'll deal with it later."

She tried to sleep again but couldn't because of the surge of energy in her body.

"It's probably almost 5 in the morning. I should just take a bath,"

She uses her sword to write on the ground.

BRB

She gathered her belongings and proceeded to the streams. She also catches some little fish for breakfast.

When she returned, the others were already awake and talking to one another.

"Oh! You're awake! Good Morning!"

The others all have a frown on their faces as she walks towards them.

"Why? Are you perhaps hungry? Look, I caught some fish!" She shouted this with zeal, while the others were still frowning. "How come you're frowning so early in the morning?"

"You should have stated that you're going to the streams!" Yjhan stated, 'Why is her footsteps and movements so quiet?'

"You could've at least wake me up!" Aidan said.

"There, I wrote a letter!" She pointed to the ground beside her bed, where a "BRB" was scribbled.

"Where?" The other asked.

"Here!" He encircled the BRB she had written, "It means Be Right Back".

"Where does that word come from?" Kane asked.

"Oh... I thought you knew. I apologize," she said as she bent her head.

"Tsk. Next time, wake me up, I'll accompany you," Aidan said.

"But I took a bath," she said, innocently causing Aidan's face to flushed.

"T..then just... at least tell me where you're going!" he said after flicking Nash's forehead.

"Okay! Let's eat!"

Nash didn't say anything about the snakes that bit her.

...

"Let's go now, it will be a long journey to Albite Town," the members nodded and followed Yjhan with their horses.

They traveled for 2 weeks before arriving in Albine Town.

"Finally! We're here!" Nash said while looking around.

"Not yet," Yjhan says, causing Nash's smile to fade.

"Again!?"

"It is said that the location of Serio is in Topaz Village. It's a couple of hours away from here."

"Then let's get going now!" Nash said, and suddenly a thought entered her mind, 'They must be preparing for the coming of age as of now. It's only two week before December, and the coming of age will be held on the 1st of January.'

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Aidan asked.

"I'd like to know who this Serio is that the Emperor has requested."

Having said that, they wasted no time and went to Topaz Village to find Serio.

...

(Week before Squad 15's departure.)

Duke Eiler, he was the head commander of the Dark Knights, these are the knights who could work secretly. They have accomplished a lot of missions regarding such crimes such as slave trading and drug dealers.

"It's been a long time since we last met, Duke Eiler," Roven said.

"As I've told you before, you can just call me Mattheus. Stop behaving as if we weren't by each other's sides back then," Duke Eiler smirked.

"I'll think about it," his smirk faded and his face became solemn. "There have been signs of movement within the Forest of Asra. A newly formed cave has appeared inside the Forest of Asra. We asked the local villagers, who replied it was not their doing."

"Suspicious..." he said, his gaze fixed on Duke Eiler. "Have there been any new victims?"

"There was none,"

"Did you try entering the caves?"

"We did, but there was nothing inside, but there are signs of someone or something living there," Duke Eiler explained, "My guess is that they're trying to stay calm as of now, I think it's because it's almost winter. They are weak in this season so they could not attack carelessly."

"They could also be preparing for something in the future," Roven said.

"Like what?"

"A war. It's possible that a war between humans and creatures will erupt once again," Duke Eiler furrowed his brow as he listened to the Emperor. Duke Eiler already thought about it, but he thinks it won't be possible anymore.

"Why? What is the reason this time?"

Roven didn't answer.

"The priest before... they stated it's still possible that a war will break out if someone becomes a vessel for another demon," Duke Eiler mentioned.

"I know,"

"Should we investigate if someone made a deal with a demon? It might be possible to put a stop to it," He stood up and was ready to order his knights when Roven stopped him, "What? I will order my knights to investigate and search for someone who summoned a demon."

"There was none,"

"Huh? Then how is this possible!? You know how difficult things were in the midst of the war in the past. And you still want the same thing to happen in this generation where it's already peaceful!?" Duke Eiler couldn't suppress his anger as he had a painful past.

"There was no one who summoned or made a deal with a demon."

"How did you know that?"

"There is someone who became a vessel," Duke Eiler's eyes widened.

"Who..."

"My daughter,"

"Celeste? But she doesn't have those red eyes like yours. As far as I know, it is not hereditary."

"I have another daughter,"

"You... you cheated on Empress Ivelisse?!"

"Who cheated who!?"

The door smashed open, and there entered Ivelisse. Ivelisse was just passing by when he heard a shout.

Roven held his temple and sighed. "How did it go like this..."

"Roven said he has another daughter beside Celeste!" He pointed to Roven.

"Ohh! I thought he really cheated on me! Tsk! I was already prepared for a long speech..."she sat down on the couch of Roven's office, "Is it possible to hear what you are talking about?"

"We were talking about the war that may break out soon," Duke Eiler stated.

"Ah... that..."

"You knew about it?"

"I knew that could happen at some point in the future."

"What... what the hell is happening... really. Tell me something I'm not aware of, Roven" Duke Eiler was mad.

"As I have said before, my daughter, my youngest child, became the vessel of a demon in order to keep her alive."

Duke Eiler was shocked once again, 'Yes... I heard that Ivelisse's child was in a difficult situation before and had died but... the child was actually alive.'

"Is she... here?"

"She joined the Squad Knights."

"I see," Duke Eiler sighed, 'I should see her myself.'

"Don't you dare come and interrupt her. I'll call for you once she visits here and introduces her to you," Roven said, glaring at the Duke.

"I see... then I'll wait for that day."

They finished the topic about Nash and continued on about the creatures.

"It would be best to be prepared for the worst," Duke Eiler muttered, 'I'm furious, but because it's already happened and it was his youngest daughter, I have no choice but to be prepared for what is to come.'

'I also need to forget things that happened before and focus on the present,' Duke Eiler thought to himself.

"We should prepare healers first, train all the knights and prepare for defense. The empire people's lives matter, "Duke Eiler stated.

"I already worked on with the knights training. Lawrence was preparing for defense. The only problem are healers. The only healers available are the priest. It will be a nuisance to ask them," Roven said.

"Then ask for Serio," Ivelisse cut in, "He's still alive."

"But he's living in Topaz." Duke Eiler said.

"And so? I'm sure he won't hesitate to help." Ivelisse crossed her arms looking at the men talking.

"Then I'll order my knights," Duke Eiler said.

"No. I'll ask a squad for that," Roven said.

"But they might start a rumor and cause the people to be anxious!"

Roven sips his tea and says, "You don't have to worry about that."