The attack incapacitated the large swarm of bats at the entrance. Their bodies were shredded into pieces like torn paper. Dark red blood splattered across the ground.
No bat dared to enter anymore. The sound of their wings faded, becoming distant. Perhaps they had realized the greater strength of their enemy and decided to flee.
The three of us remained still for a few minutes, concerned that this might be a trick, and that the bats would return to attack us when we let our guard down.
"Are you both alright?" I asked Dimas and Shella.
"I'm fine."
"I'm alright!" Shella answered, her voice filled with excitement. "That was truly amazing! I didn't know you were this powerful!"
"It wasn't my strength, but this stick." I raised the viglet in my hand so both of them could see it.
Both Dimas and Shella stared at me in awe. Then their gazes shifted to the ivory-colored viglet with black markings that Prince Keylan had given me. They looked at it with admiration. I shared their awe. If I had used a regular viglet, I wouldn't have been able to create such a gust of wind. At most, it would have been a mere breeze. But with this one, the energy output from my Esze was exponentially larger.
If an amateur like me could produce such great power, what could someone with experience controlling Esze do? Almira, for example. I was sure that woman could devastate the entire city if she wanted to. Unfortunately, Almira hadn't used her full power during our training. Perhaps her decision was the right one. If she had, I might have been blown away by a tornado she unintentionally conjured.
"Anggi!" Shella called softly. Her voice was so faint it barely reached my ears.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Look at your back!"
At first, I was confused, but I complied with her request. I turned around to face her.
"Oh my! You're injured! There's a wound about fifteen centimeters long. It looks painful," she exclaimed.
"One of the bats almost bit me earlier, but luckily I managed to fend it off before it could sink its fangs into me."
"Let me handle this! I need to clean your wound before it gets infected."
Shella set her backpack on the ground, and her hands quickly began searching for something inside. She pulled out a clean cloth and a small bottle of alcohol. After dripping the liquid onto the cloth, she gently applied it to the area around my wound. The sting of the alcohol was excruciating, but I endured it.
This was only the beginning of the journey. It was too early for me to whine in pain. The attack by the Black Vampire Bats had been unexpected. While we managed to survive through luck alone, I wasn't about to back down.
I had already decided to see this journey through to the end, whether I survived or not.
It had been five days since the man left the barracks in the capital. The journey from Lurich to Glafelden spanned over a thousand kilometers, and it would normally take over ten days by horse. However, this man and his group managed to cut it down to just six days.
He rode on his warhorse through all weather conditions, be it scorching heat or storms. With minimal rest, it would tire anyone. But not him. Trained as an elite soldier, he and his companions didn't tire from such trivial matters. His gaze remained sharp, always focused ahead. His short-cropped hair, nearly shaved, was a signature look. He was Indra, also known as 'The Bald One.'
"Captain! The gates of Glafelden are in sight!" he called to a man riding just behind him.
"Good! Signal the guards to open the gates!" came the reply.
"Right!" At the order, Indra raised a banner high, emblazoned with the Royal Family of Lurivia's emblem.
The flag, bearing the image of a Phoenix and two crossed spears, symbolized the honor of those who had received direct orders from the royal family. Anyone within the kingdom who saw this banner had to kneel and show respect. As such, even the guards who were usually lazy were flustered, rushing to show their respect. They immediately opened the gates without inspection, as they knew this cavalry was not an ordinary royal troop.
The cavalry passed through the cobbled streets of the city center, attracting the attention of the townsfolk. It was rare for the citizens of Glafelden to see a full royal army with their horses. The only soldiers stationed in the city were guards and patrol officers, responsible for maintaining the city's security. Meanwhile, the military forces were usually stationed in Lurich or other major cities, deployed elsewhere only for specific missions.
It was clear the people of the city knew something was amiss. However, since the capital had not sent any word until that day, they still considered the situation safe and didn't feel the need to worry. The townsfolk returned to their daily activities after the cavalry had disappeared from view.
"We've arrived, Captain Gufiy!" one of the knights reported when they reached the gates of the Glafelden city hall. "I've already arranged with the mayor to assist us in our investigation. Accommodations have also been prepared for our stay here."
"Good work, Erik!" Captain Gufiy responded, snapping his fingers as he pointed at Erik.
After the servants opened the gates, the soldiers dismounted, and the horses were led to the stables behind the courtyard.
Captain Gufiy led his troops to meet the mayor, who was waiting at the entrance. The mayor, a slightly hunched man, looked starkly different from the tall and imposing Captain Gufiy. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, a necessary ritual when meeting someone after such a long time.
The elite troops arrived at the mayor's office in the evening, just in time for dinner. The mayor had prepared a lavish meal for them, including roasted honeyed beef and grilled ribs. It was not required to serve such extravagant food, but due to the royal tradition of "making guests feel comfortable," the mayor felt compelled to offer a feast. After all, these soldiers were from the capital, carrying royal orders with them.
After dinner, the entire troop was tasked with investigating the whereabouts of 'Anggi, the Mixed-Race Girl,' who had become their target. The information they had about Anggi was limited—just that she was a Haier-Elvian woman named Anggi. The description of her features was vague, only noting her long hair. In a city like this, there were many young girls who fit that description. They realized they would need to work hard to find her.
But that didn't mean they wouldn't find her. As elite soldiers, they were trained to track down the scent of a person. A lack of information only slowed them down, but didn't stop them.
Indra and Erik knew this very well. As friends of Anggi, both from the same world, they couldn't bring themselves to betray her. A few days prior, Indra had sent a warning letter to Shella in the city. Both of them had no choice but to betray their unit for the sake of their friend.
That night, they were assigned to gather information, knowing full well that sooner or later, one of the soldiers would learn of Anggi's whereabouts. So they decided to act quickly, hoping to find her before the elite troops did.
They had already arrived at Saantya's clinic, but couldn't find Shella. Everyone at the clinic claimed to not know where the girl had gone. The only clue was a letter Shella had left behind, stating she was leaving with Anggi, but without a clear destination. Even the twins, Vian and Vani, only learned that Anggi had left the city.
"I think I know where she went, Captain Indra!" Vani said when they met her at the restaurant where she worked.
She then briefly explained what she had learned about the Indemnius Crystal of Souls that Anggi had discovered. It was something completely new to Indra and Erik. Understandably, both of them wore serious and disbelieving expressions.
"It's hard to believe, but if that's true, they're heading to Elvian territory right now!" Indra scratched the back of his head, though it wasn't itchy. He was overwhelmed by all the new information.
"I don't know exactly where they are going. Maybe you should ask Old Grussel!"
Indra scratched his head even faster. He felt lazy to move whenever he heard Grussel's name. Back when he was in the hunter's headquarters, Grussel would always shout at him and assign him even more work due to his large frame. No wonder he felt annoyed at Grussel.
But what could he do? He had to see him if he wanted to know Anggi's whereabouts and her intentions.
Indra and Erik eventually went to see Grussel at the hunter's headquarters. Initially, Grussel mocked the two of them, wearing full royal armor with their warhorses. However, Grussel was willing to share all the information they needed.
"The city of Arnest," Indra said, clenching his fist tightly. "We must leave immediately to catch up with them!"
"Are you sure?" Erik asked, hesitant. "If you do that, it means you'll betray our troops!"
Indra paused for a moment, glaring at his friend. "Since we've kept our mouths shut and hidden information about Anggi from them, we've already betrayed them. What difference does it make if we betray them now or later?"
Erik smirked. "That's just like you. You may look tough, but you still care about your friends."
"Are you saying I should leave my friend behind?"
"Of course not." Erik mounted his horse and urged it forward. After a few steps, he stopped and turned around. "Why are you still standing there? Did you only talk a big game earlier?"
Encouraged by his close friend, Indra quickly mounted his horse and followed him. When they bade farewell to Grussel, the old man gave them provisions for the journey. As the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. Who would have thought that someone with a tough exterior like Indra and Grussel would have kindness and compassion hidden deep inside?