Two knights, along with a group of soldiers, were preparing their horses, about to leave the village. They were here to collect fresh new supplies for the camp back in the nearby forest, as usual. One of the knights was a beautiful lady in bronze, white, and blue-colored armor. Her helm tied to the horse. As she walked, metal faintly clanged from her metal armor. She had beautiful long crimson hair reminiscent of the sun setting before nightfall. She had fair colored skin, and a beautiful pair of golden eyes. An extravagant, custom made sword hung on her waist.
“Miss Elyscia! Leaving already?” a little girl around nine years old shouted while rushing for the lady knight.
The lady, Elyscia Lilise Milisent, turned towards the girl with a kind smile. The little girl had an adorable, sad expression on her face.
“Of course,” she answered.
“But it’s far from sunset.”
“I got people waiting for us. We’ll meet again next time, in about a week. Like usual.”
Ever since she met this little girl, the latter would always hang with her whenever she was at the village. Elyscia didn’t know exactly what she did for the girl to like her, but that was just how it was. Perhaps because this little girl wanted to become a knight as well. She mentioned she found Elyscia cool and amazing. Perhaps she was looking up at Elyscia as some kind of role model. Charming.
The girl lowered her head in sadness. “Will you tell me more about the capital city?”
“Of course. Take care, Betty.” She patted the little girl’s head before heading for her horse.
“Uuugh! Why do I have to carry such heavy bags?!”
Elyscia turned towards the other fellow knight, who was loudly complaining and moaning in frustration. It was a young lady, younger and shorter than her. Her pink hair was tied in twin pigtails. She had pink bright irises, and her fair colored brow furrowed in annoyance.
This young lady was only added last week to their roster. Like Elyscia, she was also nobility.
“You carry them because it’s your job,” Elyscia said.
“This job sucks,” she muttered.
Of course, Elyscia heard that, but she could only sigh and disregard it. For some unknown reason, this young lady here was sent to this place, far from the capital city. Elyscia only knew that she was sent here to learn the proper discipline. Truth be told, the young lady, Avelyn Eluca Ismena, was a skilled knight. She was competent enough when it came to fighting, but in other aspects, she was quite challenging to deal with.
“Get on with it, Avelyn.”
With a complaining groan, Avelyn jumped up to her horse. Elyscia patted her horse for a moment before riding on the top of it. Some villagers approached and bid them a friendly and kind farewell.
“Take care out there,” said an old woman to Elyscia.
“You too. Don’t worry, as always, we’ll eliminate as many monsters we encounter so you’ll be safe.”
“Bye bye,” the little girl, Betty, waved her hand towards them.
Elyscia waved back. Afterward, the two knights and the rest of the soldiers moved out, their horses trotted towards the forest. Elyscia glanced back at the village as it gradually began to shrink in the distance.
“Do we really have to do this every week?” Avelyn asked with a frown.
“Yes.”
“Ugh.”
“It’s our job. So you better stop complaining or you’ll be given a harder job.”
“Can’t anyone else do this?”
“No.”
Avelyn sighed. “Things were better back at the capital,” she said with obvious scorn.
“What’s the reason you’re here, anyway? Your family is of a higher rank than mine. I expected you’d get more power to do what you want.”
“The reason is plain, petty, and simple. I’m sure you’ve been told.”
“To discipline you?”
“... Yes. What an annoying family I have.” She sounded like she resented them.
“Surely there’s more to it.”
Avelyn looked away. “Whatever it is, it isn’t for my benefit. I could have done something else.” She gripped the reins tightly. “I hate them.”
“Careful of what you say, Avelyn.”
“Whatever.”
Elyscia sighed. This girl had no filter sometimes, and it was tiring to constantly scold and control her.
“Despite your attitude,” Elyscia said. “You’re plenty powerful. And you’ve been very helpful in killing monsters.”
“It’s not like I wanted high magic power…”
Despite her young age, Avelyn was already almost as strong as Elyscia in magical power alone. Of course when it came to outright combat experience, the latter would win. But Avelyn had a lot of potential. She could become one of the most prominent knights in the Empire, but it would seem she wasn’t motivated in doing such. It made Elyscia wonder what this girl even wanted to do in the first place.
“Hm. I see. Then what did you want to do?”
“... Not this.”
Elyscia was hoping she would be more open. But it would seem she had no intention of doing so. So she let it be.
Some time later, they got into the forest and headed straight to their camp. It was deep into the forest, close to the main thing they were guarding. Fortunately, there wasn’t any monster that got in their way.
Their camp consisted of multiple lodgings made of lumber. With a well for water, a few proper bathrooms, even a little cottage They made this place comfortable as much as possible.
“Finally, you’re back,” said a man in his early thirties. He had a short beard and short dark hair. He had sharp dark green eyes and a light brown skin complexion. He was also wearing his knight armor.
This man was the leader of the unit, Gavin Osonia.
“Sir,” Elyscia got down from her horse.
“We got enough supplies for at least a week?”
“Yes. Even a bit more if we ration it well. Good thing they haven’t forgotten about us.”
“Well, if they did, that would be bad for us.” They’d had no choice but to send a herald to the nearby city. But one of the heroes was leading that city, and considering the significance of this place, they wouldn’t just forget about the soldiers here so easily.
“Finally,” Avelyn jumped down from her horse and flipped her hair, relief evident in her voice.
“Did she give you any trouble?” Gavin asked, glancing at Avelyn.
“Well, she was pretty noisy, but nothing too troublesome.”
“Good.”
Elyscia looked at Avelyn, who was pulling her horse to the hitch. “You think she’d even survive being here? I mean mentally, of course.”
“Well she has to if she wants to get back to the capital with peace of mind. Poor lass.”
“Why are they forcing a girl like that to be a knight, anyway?”
“How should I know how nobles work? Isn’t that your area of expertise?”
Elyscia frowned. “You got turned into a noble.”
“Yeah but I wasn’t born as one. All I know is battle, not politics.”
“You really have to tell me some of the battles you experienced against the demon king’s forces.”
“I’m not keen on glorifying a bloody war.”
“No one said about glorifying anything. I just want to hear the stories of events.”
Gavin sighed. “Next time when I’m in the mood. Anyway, get those supplies sorted out.” He turned towards a group of soldiers. “Hey you! Help them out.” Then he turned towards Avelyn. “Girl, help them out too.”
“W-What?!” Her eyes widened as though they were about to pop out of their sockets. “B-But—”
“No buts. And make sure to address me as ‘sir’!”
Avelyn’s face contorted in irritation before turning away with a different expression, it was as if she was about to cry. But her pride refused her to shed tears. “Y-Yes, sir.” And begrudgingly, she worked on putting the supplies into storage.
“Do you have to be hard on her?” Elyscia asked.
“Well, that’s what’s instructed.”
“... Did she piss off her family or something?”
“Might be.”
“Huh.” She turned her head to look at the farthest part of the camp. In particular, the cave with a big pair of doors that blocked the entrance — which was good. “No changes, I assume.”
“Of course.”
The victorious heroes were wary of this place. Therefore, some time after the war with the demon king, knights and soldiers were sent here to guard over the cavern. And they were warned to never open it. Elyscia couldn’t fully understand why the great heroes were so cautious and worried about this place. They were powerful enough to even defeat the demon king, surely no one could threaten them.
All she knew was that the heroes had a bad experience in there. Where they lost the knights that were assigned to them, and some of the other heroes. Perhaps that left a mark on them. Or perhaps there were indeed powerful beings within the cave, and they should be thankful that it was closed.
Still, it was fortunate the knights were here. Otherwise, no one would be able to clean up the monsters in this region. The villagers that settled nearby would be in dire danger if they got unlucky. That was one of the benefits of being stationed here. In a way, it was no different from any other outposts all over the Empire.
“Anyway, let’s eat.” Gavin patted her shoulder.
“Yes. I am a little hungry.”
Together, they made their way to one of the cabins. Suddenly, the ground shook. Elyscia paused, the mild earthquake lasted only for a moment. But it was strange. They barely have earthquakes. She and Gavin looked at each other cautiously. Maybe it was just nothing, just nature doing its thing.
Just as she was thinking that, Elyscia suddenly felt a surge of power. A foul wave of energy spreading all over their surroundings. Judging from Gavin’s confused face, he must have sensed the same.
“What is this?” Elyscia couldn’t help but ask.
Gavin looked around, searching for the source of that foul power. It was then that one of the guards shouted from the distance.
“THE DOORS ARE MOVING!”
What?!
Elyscia immediately turned towards the cavern entrance, where soldiers had already started to gather.
“Sir Gavin.” Elyscia placed a hand on the hilt of her sword. Anxiety growing within her. It was one thing that the heroes were worried about, and now that place had started to move after all these years.
“Crap.” Gavin kept his composure. “Everyone! Gather at the cave entrance!”
Their forces quickly equipped their arsenals and headed straight to the cave entrance. They kept their distance and watched quietly, glaring at the stone doors, looking out of the slightest of movement that may come from the other side. Everyone steadied their breathing as they remained silent, anticipating anything that may happen.
Sound of stone grinding sounded out as the heavy stone doors slowly opened further.
At the front center of the line of soldiers, Elyscia and Gavin stood firmly, their swords in hand, pointed at the doors. Avelyn stood next to Elyscia, gripping her sword tightly, her breathing a little bit shaky. It was apparent from her expression that she was feeling apprehensive, glaring intently at the cave entrance. But overall, she didn’t seem like someone that wanted to be here.
“W-What even is in that place?” Avelyn asked in a slightly shaky voice.
“No one knows,” Gavin answered.
“What in the world does that even mean?”
“It means we don’t know. Now stay sharp.”
The three knights raised their guard up, waiting for anything that might come out of the cave.
Once the doors fully opened, it completely stopped moving, utter darkness loomed within the cave. Elyscia took in a sharp deep breath. If it was something that had the heroes worried, whatever was inside that cave, it must absolutely be no small matter. It must be something incredibly dangerous.
Everyone was silent. Nothing but the sound of the rustling wind and leaves filled the air.
And then something finally moved from within. A thin hand emerged from the shadows and into the light, crawling on the ground.