Maxi strode to the tent where the mages were hard at work. She sat down and immediately began packing alongside them.
“Could I have a moment, my lady?” Hebaron’s voice called from behind. He dramatically feigned terror when Maxi eyed him warily. “I’ve yet to say a word.”
“I already know… what you are going to say, Sir Hebaron,” she replied, her tone prickly. “If I were to hazard a guess… you want me to join the returning party instead of staying behind to potential danger. I am used… t-to such treatment from you and the others. All you knights see me as a helpless damsel and a nuisance. But have you considered this? I’ve always done my part, and I once made a significant contribution. Yet… you men continue to push me to rear. Well, I refuse! I have already obtained Master Calto’s permission to remain, and there is nothing you can do to stop me, Sir Heba—”
‘Whoa, whoa. Please, my lady.” He appeared genuinely flustered. Taking a step back, he continued, “Hear me out before you judge.”
Maxi squinted at him and raised her chin in a haughty tilt, daring him to speak openly. Hebaron scratched the back of his head with a sigh.
“As far as the commander is concerned, your safety matters above all else. I don’t think he could bear it if anything were to happen to you.’
“Th-That goes for me as well,” Maxi replied, her voice quivering. “If I were in danger… Riftan would risk everything to come to my rescue. S-So why… would you think I’d be any different? If something happened to him… l…
Her voice began to crack. It would not do to collapse into a pitiful puddle of tears in front of these knights. She whirled away, bringing an end to the conversation, and pretended to tie the straps of her bag.
A low groan issued behind her. “I understand. ‘
When Maxi turned back to look at Hebaron, her eyes full of suspicion, the knight shrugged and added, “As you pointed out, I have no authority to stop you. But I still had to try.”
His lips curled into a mischievous grin.
“I endeavored to dissuade you, my lady, so you must come to my defense when the commander tries to murder me. I’m confident your temper will have even
Riftan Calypse cowering in fear.”
“I-I am in no mood for jests,” Maxi said coldly before looking away.
Despite her curt reply, his teasing manner did lift her spirits somewhat. She found comfort in his conviction that Riftan was safe.
Before long, Hebaron and Kuahel Leon’s deliberation reached a conclusion.
About thirty knights would remain while the rest would leave for Eth Lene Castle. When the time came to decide who would go to the monster base, Maxi emphatically put herself forward for the position. To her relief, Hebaron merely heaved a resigned sigh with no further objections.
Calto spoke as they were making their selection among the mages. “I would like to go this time.”
A snort came from the corner.
“So we can bury your corpse on the way?” jeered Ruth. “Consider your age, you old— Ow!’
The elder’s long cane came down on his nephew’s head. Afterward, he turned to Kuahel and spoke with firm resolve.
“My stamina may not compare to the younger ones, but you cannot deny that I am the most powerful mage here. My presence will be indispensable in times of crisis.’
Kuahel regarded the elder carefully before nodding. Soon, Calto, Ruth, Maxi, and two senior mages of Kabala mounted their horses. Though others had insisted on going, their limited resources could only allow so many members.
‘Why am I always passed up while a weakling like Maximilian is selected twice?’ Miriam complained, scuffing her boot in frustration.
“Because you’re dispensable,” Nevin teased. “Why take you when there are senior mages from Kabala who know what you know and more?”
Miriam flashed Nevin a burning glare before storming out of the tent. Under normal circumstances, Maxi would have been delighted to see Miriam put in her place, but she was currently incapable of feeling pleasure.
Relieved, Maxi hopped on Rem and trotted to the ravine. Now familiar with the path, the party traveled much faster than the first time around. Still, it felt too slow.
They had been riding for a while when Hebaron abruptly stopped his horse to sniff the air.
“I smell blood.”
Reining his mount in, Kuahel furrowed his brow, his eyes sweeping the area. “A monster?”
“With a stench like this? Most likely,” Hebaron replied, reaching for the hilt of the claymore slung across his back.
Hunching her shoulders, Maxi nervously peered ahead through the ravine.
Ruth was in the middle of a search spell, his hands raised in the air. “I do sense life not far from here,” he said, “but I can’t be certain if it’s human or monster.’ “We should go check,” said Kuahel.
Ruth nodded and led the way. Maxi nervously wet her lips. Her head was a jumble of nerves, fear, hope, and anxiety. If Riftan’s party were on their way back after meeting up with Elliot, there was a chance they would come upon them. After all, they would surely opt for the fastest route as well.
“They might need help,” Lucain, a mage of Kabala, muttered out of nowhere.
The mage carefully studied a rock, a grave expression etched across his thin, serious face. When Maxi followed his gaze, she quickly grasped the reason for his comment. The surface of the rock was visibly scorched.
“There was a skirmish here, and quite recently at that.”
Hebaron’s face twisted slightly at Lucain’s observation. The knight spurred his horse and galloped through the ravine. Soon, they came upon a steep slope made of stacked rocks, and Maxi maneuvered Rem over the uneven path with surprising prowess.
They had gone quite far along when they spotted a thick, elongated scaly tail. Maxi drew a sharp breath. Squashed beneath a pile of rocks was a worm, dark blood spilling from its mouth.
“A fresh kill,” Kuahel commented, looking down at the monster grimly. ‘The fact that they left without disposing of the corpse means they were unable to use divine magic. We must hurry.”
“Allow me to search the area,” said Calto, stepping forward on his horse.
Maxi scrambled to slide off Rem first. “L-Let me help you!”
She placed both hands on the ground and allowed her mana to flow into the earth. Her senses felt nothing in return.
As she was anxiously gnawing her lip, Hebaron called out from near the worm carcass, “There’s no need for that. They went this way.”
Maxi leaped to her feet and rushed over. There was a narrow path strewn with rocks, along with blood spatters and hoof marks. Hebaron cussed under his breath.
“It’s not like the commander to leave such a trail.’
‘Which means they couldn’t stop to cover their tracks,” surmised Kuahel.
After staring at their faces in horror, Maxi hastily mounted her horse. Hebaron started down the trail, and she frantically galloped after him, gasping for air. She stopped breathing altogether when she spotted riderless horses gathered next to a jagged boulder up ahead.
Talon was among the exhausted steeds slumped on the ground. For a brief moment, her head spun with relief. Before anyone could stop her, Maxi leaped off Rem and beelined to the boulder.
As she got close, she saw a cave concealed behind it. Whiffs of smoke spiraled out of the shadowed entrance. Without hesitating, she sprinted inside.
Something pounced on her in the dark. She gasped as she hit the ground. Something large and heavy pinned her down, and the cool touch of steel pressed against the back of her neck.
Maxi looked up in terror, vaguely making out the chiseled features of her attacker. His face went bone-white, so much so that it was stark against the gloom.
Eyes wide in disbelief, Riftan withdrew his dagger…
