Even major military personnel didn’t know exactly how the beast’s nests came about. However, it did not stop them from creating theories. The nests mostly appeared in places of high mortality rates due to famine and infectious diseases. Although, there were a few exceptions.
The troops did not return immediately even after withdrawing from the base. The area was searched extensively for stray beasts. Usually, when the last Guardian is slain and the nest captured, lower-level beasts scattered about.
This was the reason why Knights of Templar and the Army were needed. Even if it was lower ranked, a beast was a beast nonetheless. They could only be killed by those who knew how to carry a sword. Still, it was possible to surround and trap them, and the knights would then follow afterward to kill them.
Baron, the commander-in-chief of the army, had to pay attention to all of these processes. Of course, he was always busy.
‘But not me…’
Seira was leisurely lying and enjoying a little sunbath at the back of the rear carriages.
The Knights of Askan, including her, were employed by the army as mercenaries. Although there were just about twenty people in their small group, they were not to be taken lightly. They were a powerful force as everyone knew how to handle a sword. Their mission was mainly to deal with high-level beasts – the Guardians to be exact.
Therefore, at the moment, they were free to do anything as the rest did their part.
Seira, the master of the army, mumbled here and there unnoticed.
They had unspoken rules.
They made a move only when money was offered. Even with a thousand gold offered, they never jump into a job that would risk their life. If they wanted to help, then they help only children, women, and elderly people.
Other than that, they were all left to their own accord. It was pretty simple compared to other Knights of Templar with established strict and detailed disciplines to follow. They didn’t experience much trouble and no one has been injured or killed since she created the Knights of Askan. It was rather the most efficient if she was to be asked.
“Your Grace.”
Seira opened her eyelids to a familiar voice from below.
Her memory of the night they spent together drunk on each other’s pheromones were blurred. Seira was very relieved. Because of that, she could look at him with a casual face.
“Yes, Aven. What is it?”
He was dressed in a knight’s garb and his gray hair was neatly tied up in a ponytail. With his black eyes and uniform, he seemed to be the darkness’ embodiment even in broad daylight. Only the silver pattern on his epaulettes, indicating he was a leader, shone under the sun.
“I have something to report,” Aven said.
Seira lifted a brow in curiosity, and asked, “Do tell.”
He glanced around, and with one hand on the edge of the carriage, leaped up onto the roof. The surprised groom looked up in amazement at Aven’s powerful jump.
Aven lowered himself, and put his lips close to her ear as he whispered. Seira focused on his report, ignoring how her body impulsively reacted to Aven’s presence.
“A horde of low-level beasts is approaching from about a hundred meters away,” he said in a low but clear whisper, “Their numbers are quite considerable, but the others seemed to have not noticed them as we already passed them by.”
“What about Baron?”
“As always, in the lead.”
“Hmm…”
Seira’s eyes squinted as a thought came to mind, ‘There must be one beast mixed in with special abilities.’
Among the low-level and intermediate-level beasts, there were sometimes a few with magic-like abilities. It would explain how they were left undetected by the troops.
“What should I do?” Aven asked.
Seira raised an incredulous brow at him as she said, “I am shocked you needed to ask, Aven. It’s pretty obvious.”
A smile spread on her face. At first glance, it looked as if just a pure smile, but beneath the smile was something more calculating.
“Yes, of course,” he replied immediately.
Raising his bowed head, Aven’s serious eyes locked in on Seira’s broody purples. He reached out a hand towards her, and tucked in a stray hair behind her ear. He swiftly got up, trying to veer his gaze away from her slightly parted lips.
They were as red as cherry, and as tempting as they had been last night, and all the other nights before that.
“I will be back in a short while,” he said in a monotonous voice.
Seira nodded and replied, “Okay, off you go then.”
He jumped off the carriage, and the Duchess of Askan’s eyes followed his disappearing figure in the distance. Aven put on his cloak over his shoulder, covering carefully his uniform and the sword tied to his waist. It was a no-brainer that blood would splatter from fighting the beasts.
Seira’s purple eyes sparkled as her gaze wandered far away in the distance. A soft wind blew from the east, and the grasses swayed accordingly, as if dancing to a tune no one could hear but themselves.
The quiet Duchess had one thought in her mind as a smile spread across her dainty face, ‘How much are we going to earn from this?’
* * *
Priest Vitol was going bloody mad at Seira. She didn’t even lift a finger as she watched the beasts running through the trees and trampling on the grasses at the distance.
She was the Duchess of Askan. Even if Vitol was the person in charge to lead the priests, he was in no position to tell Seira what to do. He was nothing more than just a priest too anyway.
Hastily, he recalled the holy water that the senior priest had given him charitably. He told Vitol that it would be necessary. The senior priest had been in-charge of the 10th suppression, and he certainly swore that Vitol would need an ‘extra life’.
‘Perhaps…’ an idea slipped at the back of his head.
Anything other than basic needs provided to the army in the temple was for sale. Holy water made through a special method was used to bless weapons. Even if it was only temporary, it greatly increased the army’s strength. Therefore, individuals had to offer substantial donations to purchase it.
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