Ignoring the command, partly because I'm crazy and partly because I don't respond well to unilateral unexplained demands even from an old Exemplar, I shove Rowland's claymore off my shoulder with a lion strike.

The weapon cruises through the darkness towards the leader of the mercenaries and slams into his left arm, snapping the bone with a dry crack. The claymore drops back into the dirt. I twist at the waist, preparing to launch the weapon swinging.

“Arrh!” The mercenary screams, dropping to his knees.

“Leader!” One of the previously injured cries out.

“Jessica Freepath, any more than this and you'll be the one breaching the peace!” Siegfried exclaims.

“Ooh.” I murmur in excitement. I feel a tickling in the back of my mind as Liz perks up from her rest. “Does that mean you'll fight me, Exemplar?” I eagerly ask while keeping my eyes on the closest mercenaries.

“Do you mean to pick a fight with the Order out of misguided arrogance, Dame Freepath?” Siegfried asks with a cold voice.

“I'm thinking about it.” I cheerfully reply. “It will come to that if you demand I turn a blind eye to these people's activities.”

The mercenaries stiffen and start pulling away from my position, likely frightened by what it means for me to be speaking on equal terms with an Exemplar and considering doing battle with the Order.

“I assume you aren't speaking of these mercenaries who are merely fulfilling a contract.” Siegfried says. The old man is quick-witted. “I have no knowledge of what you've found but this is not how the Empire resolves issues.”

“You'd be surprised.” I murmur while shifting to face the Exemplar.

He is equipped with his sword but isn't wearing his plate armor, which he would be if he had been observing me for a while and came expecting a fight considering what he's seen me do.

“Or perhaps you wouldn't be but you dismiss actions of those you disapprove off.” I throw out a guess.

Siegfried scowls but doesn't answer. I hear the mercenaries take advantage of our conversation to promptly retreat with the wounded. Evidently intent on hiding behind the Order. It allows them to fulfill their contract without risk to themselves.

“What are you doing here, Siegfried?” I question.

“I heard battle and came to put an end to it.” The Exemplar concisely answers.

“No, what are you doing following me?” I press. “You're an adviser to Caeviel, if you aren't in Meiridin or with King Cenwalh, are you not meant to be acting for the benefit of the Kingdom or Empire?”

“I try to apply my advice where it will be listened to, I believe traveling with you will result in a gain for the Empire, whether through helping you or restraining you.” He replies with apparent honesty.

“I don't react well to constraints, old man.” I gripe.

“Have I truly restrained you? I believe there was never a need.” Siegfried says with a flat expression while slowly walking over with his left hand placed on his sword pommel. “These mercenaries are not the reason you have taken action tonight. I suspect the merchant's weapons attracted your attention, as they have ours.”

I hear a scuffle one tent over the one I came out of and a few cries. A few moments later, the quiet Templar drags a merchant out into this alley by the collar with a torch in his other hand.

“This one tried to flee, he should have the most information.” He declares.

The temple guard then throws the man flat on his face. Siegfried frowns at the action. The merchant, wearing a wrinkled robe, struggles up to his knees to glare at us with pinched lips.

“Mine is better.” I childishly contradict.

I walk back into the tent I cut open and scour the darkness. I find Jeobe hiding under a blanket in the furthest corner from the battle outside. I use the heavy claymore to push him outside.

“Please, I don't know anything!” He protests. “What do you even want?!”

“I'm sure you'll figure out, Jeobe.” I tell him with a sinister smile that causes Jeobe to awkwardly scamper backward.

“Yours is clearly too frightened, he won't be coherent and thus is untrustworthy.” The Templar notes.

“Bull-crap, yours is too stubborn to tell you anything important.” I argue.

He glares so I lock eyes to return it. You picking a fight? He can't hear you. Too afraid to comprehend words. I ignore Liz who completely undermined the tension with her silly remark.

“Jeobe, is it?” Siegfried speaks up. “I am Exemplar Siegfried of the Templar Order.”

“Arbitration!” Jeobe calls out in panic. “Keep her away from me!”

“Silence, idiot!” The other merchant snaps.

“I'm sure you realize we now have to investigate what it is exactly that caused Dame Freepath to seek you out.” The old Exemplar says with a flat tone.

“Heh.” I mock the quiet Templar because it's my win.

He, quite infuriatingly, turns his nose up to me by merely looking straight ahead. I snort and turn my eyes back to Jeobe, which makes the merchant flinch despite the fact my eyes likely stopped gleaming.

“Jeobe, don't you...”

Slap. The quiet Templar quiets the merchant he dragged over with the back of his hand. The man brings his hand up to his reddening cheek and blinks with a baffled expression.

“Be silent, we are in Arbitration but do not mistake the fact you are already in the wrong. Our Emperor has long outlawed weapon trafficking without authorization.” He declares. “If you attempt to tamper once more, there will be more serious consequences than this.”

The mercenaries are observing from a distance away, some with slackened expressions of relief, others wearing tight angry traits as they take the retreat as defeat. Their leader is having his arm set and, apart from his slight frown, seems content to let the Order intervene.

I catch movement on my left and instantly lion's step two meters away while using the momentum of that leap to throw the claymore back upon my shoulder so that I can hack away at the threat as soon as it becomes visib...

Siegfried's knee touches the ground in front of Jeobe but his eyes are turned to me and the expression on the old man's wrinkled face is much too gentle as well as empathetic for my comfort, it feels like he's seeing right through me.

“Keep whatever is going through your head to yourself, Exemplar.” I utter with a snarl without letting my guard down because it would be embarrassing, an admission that I overreacted.

“Dame Freepath, how ab...” Siegfried begins.

“Don't.” I cut him off, wincing. “Unlike Rowland, I'm pretty sure you're not doing this to mock me but I'm not the kind of girl that responds to empty marks of respect.”

“Very well.” Siegfried acknowledges with a slight nod. “How about we separate these two?” We'll be able to cross-examine their testimonies, a good idea.

“That's fine.” I agree.

The quiet Templar grabs his merchant by the collar again and drags him away while Siegfried places his knotted hand on Jeobe's shoulder. I walk back over to crouch behind and a step besides the Exemplar.

“We will eventually put the pieces together, Sir Jeobe, it would be best if you told us what you know.” The old man tells him.

“I, we, it's.” Jeobe stutters. “You won't let it hurt me?”

“It?” Siegfried asks with a confused expression.

“Her, the mons... Freepath, her!” Jeobe utters while pointing and shrinking back.

“You're hurting my feelings Jeobe.” I lie with a crooked grin.

“I hardly think it appropriate for you to insult Jessica as I attempt to Arbitrate this dispute.” Siegfried says. “She may have overstepped but you remain under suspicion to have been selling weapons to people related to the rebel Sykus who has been declared an enemy of the Empire.”

“We haven't been!” Jeobe protests. “We're selling to people who want to protect their lands from bandits in the absence of their Lieges, we buy from Nobility so we have permission!”

“From who?” Siegfried asks pointedly.

“And how did you make it past Sykus' and Mirus' troops?” I ask.

“There are patrols but one can make it past if they know the lay of the land.” Jeobe replies.

“I doubt that, at least Sykus himself has to know he must keep a close eye on what's entering and leaving his zone of control.” I comment. “And he has locals working for him, they would know the land far better than merchants.”

“They may have been allowed through without their knowledge, it is even more likely if they work for a Noble house who may have made a deal with Sykus.” The old man cleverly remarks. “The other merchant shall confirm this, or documents in their belongings will shine some light on the matter.”

“So, I'm free to go?” Jeobe asks with a trembling voice.

“No, you've been lied to but that doesn't absolve you.” Siegfried denies. “Weapons are regulated for a reason, because it takes steel away from the war effort. Noble houses, whether they rule a Barony or a Kingdom, aren't anymore authorized to sell vast quantities spearheads to the population than you are.”

I spot a yellow light with a touch of orange at the center fall across the night's sky. It doesn't resemble anything I've seen before but the height and intensity of the flash makes me think that it is a flare used for communication.

“Either something is happening or these merchants are more important than we thought and someone really wanted to warn Sykus we caught them.” I speak up. Siegfried glances up.

“It appears to be splintering, perhaps the sparks have significance?” The Exemplar ponders with a concerned expression.

“It would be interesting to confirm what house they work for but I am quite certain they are the same who drew Sykus to rebellion against Mirus so I'm going to check up on this.” I tell him as I head back towards the alley where I left my gear.

“Take my horse, I'll send your companions after you.” Siegfried calls out from behind.

I shake the claymore resting on my shoulder to wave him off. As I fasten my cuirass back on, I hear a dull impact in the distance and feel some discreet vibrations climb up my legs from the ground.

As this approximately corresponds with the timing at which the light would've hit the ground, it causes me to reconsider my theory of it being used for communication.

An attack? Possible, there may be a battle up north but it's surprising no one mentioned soldiers in large enough numbers to require bombardment we would feel from here.

I use flow to quickly finish strapping my armor back on and hang my umbrella on my left half-shoulder before making my way to the small enclosure holding some of the village's livestock.

I swiftly strap the Exemplar's saddle on his mount and remove the oil-cloth bag holding his plate armor, attaching the claymore in its place. By the time I finish, the quiet Templar arrives in the prairie and starts equipping his horse with its saddle.

Unwilling to travel with the man, I hop onto my mount and send it trotting. Once I've left the village, I provide the horse with enough energy to keep it galloping for at least a few hours.

As I climb atop the first hill, I witness an orange-yellow glow perhaps a few dozen kilometers away which could be the sign of a fire. While I didn't think it likely, this reinforces the theory that there is an ongoing battle.

I launch the horse at triple-gallop, giving it even more flow to sustain the very basic strengthening construct the horse has been trained to use. During the ride, I spend quite a bit of time improving that construct without truly changing anything out of fear I would mess up.

The yellow-orange glow ahead fades once I make it within a few kilometers. I almost completely dismiss my theory that there is a battle because I haven't encountered any patrols or scouts and there is no visible sign of troops having marched in the area, not to mention there have been no more constructs launched.

I glance behind but don't see any sign of the quiet Templar, which suits me fine. I pick a hill to climb and stop the horse atop of it to let it rest while I scour the area.

I enhance my eyes as I gaze in the distance where I can see small flames still burning on the side of a hill around a gleaming red spot. I almost feel my irises widen to their full extent and catch sight of a baffling scene.

There is a long bulbous structure seemingly made of metal which is charcoal black at the base but resembles heated iron at the top. I peer through one of the breaches in this thing and spot shapes made of a translucent material.

Around and inside this thing, which by all appearances fell from the sky, are creatures of various shapes moving panically like ants, fighting each other. They seem crazed as not a single one stays out of this battle and there is no pity to be found as the defeated are ripped into pieces.

I instantly deploy my hundred and sixty portions of flow in a shell around myself while also preparing a perception construct. I prepare to block everything from kinetic force to lightning to shredding constructs.

It's difficult to assess the size of these things from this distance, or even the height of the structure which does not seem to have been a comet. But if there is one thing I can say for certain, it is that these are not Rykz, Humans, or Lisilese.

A fourth species, I wonder if they'll taste good to us or if we'll taste good to them. A shiver goes courses down my spine. Liz. What? Eventually someone is going to try, I might as well awaken just a little while to take a bite. Down girl.

One of the creatures, a silver ball with dozens of hexagonal sides but with a tear across most of its circumference, flies out of a breach and slams into a dark-purple cube which is periodically expanding and contracting, as if breathing.

Sparks fly out from the point of impact. Both crash into the burnt soil, making small craters. The hexagonal sphere rises back up first with dozens of angular tendrils whizzing out of its body to tear open the cube. It takes out its preys organs and begins shoving them into itself while using a bright tool.

It seems like they're using the very advanced technique of welding my master-smith demonstrated for me once but that makes no sense unless these things are made of metal.

I observe other creatures to gather more information about what's happening and notice that all the creatures are doing this without exception, fighting in duels with no apparent sides with the winner stealing bits and pieces from the loser.

The slaughter continues, the more their numbers dwindle, the fewer pieces the survivors take but the more alive their shells become. The silver hexagonal sphere activates a shimmering shield to, apparently, protect itself.

I notice, rather late, that a small number of these creatures haven't been fighting but in fact working together on the large structure. None of the creatures, not even those on the verge of death, have attempted to attack them, not even the weakest and most injured among them.

That in itself feels utterly foreign to me. When wounded and on the verge of death then most living beings will do what it has to in order to survive, especially in the midst of a battle.

That not a single among these many of these metal geometrical creatures has is incomprehensible to me. The battle, or rather slaughter of the least capable to defend themselves, continues until only two dozen remain.

Most have a shape similar to the hexagonal-sphere but some are weirder and have spikes covering their almost perfectly spherical shells from which small arms extend.

Lastly, I notice that apart from the cubes that change sizes, there is a rare type that more closely resembles living creatures. These are tripods that do not fly which are taller but not larger than the rest and have four thicker arms located equidistantly around the round headless torso.

If I had never met the Rykz, I would have qualified these things as belonging to different species but these have common behaviors and qualities that leads me to conclude they are of the same branch.

A few pairs are still fighting on the outskirts, the weakest of them all fighting for one last chance at survival, while the rest are returning to the wrecked structure to begin helping the others heal themselves.

The last of the fire on the thing that fell from the sky are extinguished by these creatures using tubes that spit out a shining gel-like substance which coats the ground and remains behind once the flames have been taken out.

They begin spreading the liquid evenly on the glowing red top of the structure which I can now safely conclude is a flying building of some kind. The question remains, where did they come from? Perhaps one of the distant lands the Rykz trade with where there are other groups of humans.

As the hull of this bulbous ship-like structure cools down from their actions, lights begin flicking on and the creatures start moving faster as well as with apparently more purpose.

It may be their actions were desperate since there didn't appear to be two factions in conflict. I choose to keep observing, both because I'm not close and because I wish to learn more before interacting with these things.