Ch 10 - The dark cult approaches

In a dark cave somewhere in the world eleven hooded figures covered with long cloaks were sitting around a circular table.

The place was dimly lit, a few torches shined little light only on the blackish coats on everyone’s back. The place was silent as the twelfth chair was still empty. The air in the cave was cold and the figures were silently waiting.

“Has anyone heard of Jumon? It’s late and we are wasting time”

A female spoke, her tone was impatient and her voice was dry.

“Moraea calm down, he should arrive soon the appointed time is yet to pass, it isn’t like we are going to act anytime soon”

An old voice, male sounding somewhat tired answered the question previously stated by the woman, which seemed to calm her impatience as she stopped her movements and just nodded in her seat.

*steps*

Steps could be heard getting closer from behind the empty seat.

As the last person was reaching for his chair, another torch light up behind him, bringing a tiny bit of light into the cave while at the same time casting a shadow on his front.

Just like the rest of the figures in the place, the torches were dim enough to cause the front of the figures to be covered in shadows while casting light on their backs.

“I apologize for my tardiness, but making plans to cross the dragon sea is a torturous thing, hello my fellow apostles, I’m glad we were all able to meet without much problems, should we begin our meeting now?”

A man spoke while sitting on the remaining empty chair, and all the people around the table drew swords, placing them pointing to the center of the table. There a horned face resembling a deformed goat carved in the stone could be barely seen.

“Welcome back Jumon, we were worried you encountered problems on your journey, I’m glad that wasn’t the case”

The same woman that spoke before said with a dry and cold voice, some heads shook while she was talking.

“So then, the first order of business is the relaying of the message received by Clovea, could you please state the contents of it?”

“Gladly, now then allow me to rely the content of my vision”

Small whispers could be heard yet nothing loud enough to be heard by anyone, there was a sense of unrest among the people reunited in the cave.

“War, discord, destruction, flame and thunder, an unfamiliar country, red flame, black shadow”

The voice of this woman was also old, very old, and sounded really tired, as she started speaking all the whispers in the cave dissipated and everyone was paying attention to the message that was being relayed. And so the old woman continued talking.

“A black armored army, flag with a bird, a red haired man, strong and organized”

*cough* the old lady coughed and from inside her robe picked up a leather canteen and drank from its content.

“Fire and thunder, red flame, black shadow… that’s what I saw my fellow apostles, the land was strange to me is not a place I’ve ever visited in my long years and my vast travels”

Murmurs rose again in the crowd, people speaking to those at their sides were noticeably seen. The first woman to speak rose from her seat.

“Oracle Clovea, do you mean to say that the time has come during our watch?”

“That’s what I mean to say indeed Moraea, the time for the return of the fallen is drawing near, and we need to prepare, *cough* it’s likely that during our watch this era of peace will end, and we may witness the beginning of the dark times again”

“Ha! Such a joyous day for us then, after so long and many generations passing the secret down, it’s our time to rise in glory and open up the black gates”

*clap clap*

“Don’t get ahead of yourself Moraea, this just means that the time is close, and it could mean that is our job to prepare the field for the next generation to release our lords”

The man who arrived last spoke, his tone was cold and severe.

“We should first explore and find those unfamiliar lands, as they are likely beyond the dragon sea, and that will take time.”

*hmph*

“Speaking like a weakling again Jumon, what’s wrong with hoping that the gates will be open in our watch? Isn’t that the greatest of honours for our order? To free the fallen ones? Or you are not a true believer? Our sacred scriptures speak of the return of the fallen, after almost forty thousand years, and our faith prepare us to welcome them”

“Do not mistake my intentions and words with weakness, nor ever doubt my faith, to reach the stature of an apostle takes severe proof of it as you are aware, all I’m saying is let’s prepare and investigate properly, hurrying because of impatience will not be well received by the fallen ones”

The murmurs were settling down as many of the people in the cave nodded in agreement with Jumon words, but Moraea didn’t like it and clearly spoke her mind.

“Then let me take over the exploration of the lands beyond the Dragon sea Jumon, while you prepare as you like I’ll spearhead an incursion to investigate and if possible subdue any opposition we find on the unknown land”

Jumon grabbed his brows massaging them and bent down his head as he pondered for a couple of minutes, and nodded with some disdain in his words.

“If you are in such a hurry Moraea, go ahead and explore we will finish the preparations on this side of the world, while expecting your letters once you reach your destination”

“He! Thanks Jumon, you shall receive news of my success soon enough.”

She placed her hands in front of her face, cupping them against each other and chanted.

“For the Fallen ones return, and the darkness spread eternal!”

And the the rest of the table chanted again in unison.

“Let the hunt begin then!” she said while walking away from the table - “This is going to be fun!”.

-----------------------------------------

The sun is setting in the horizon and leaves are falling down from the trees, I am close to the entrance of the advanced term building of the Royal academy.

Turning right at the intersection fountain is a group of six knight apprentices, all following a tall and curvy figure. Her red hair was moving as if it had a will of its own, the two hilts shown above her shoulders were her trademark weapons.

Those twin swords were forged of black steel with an odd design not seen anywhere else but her hands.

Those sharp ruby eyes were enough to intimidate anyone in her path, she has grown a lot in this past years. Her body is no longer that of a child but a gorgeous goddess sculpture in the making.

Clad in a very dark-red sturdy leather armor, with blackish metals covering her chest, arms and legs, (clearly different of the usual knights armor attire) was Lady Gatriel Decebal, entering again after returning from a knight's mission assignment.

Right behind her clad in black leatherish armor, tightly drawing her gorgeous figure, with her head covered by a black hood that went from her neck to her brows, casting a shadow on her face was the other frightening existence of the Royal Academy, The flame’s shadow, Aliyah Galeran, daughter of Clay Bricot Galeran The Pegasus’s Lion one of the pegasus’s lions. Then following those two, the rest of the party. I’ll introduce them later.

“There she comes, arrogantly as ever”

“So are you going to challenge her at last Grant?”

“I might, I’m fed up with her already, taking on advanced missions when she’s not yet on her fourth year”

“I’ll buy you a worthy coffin then, whom should I address your will?”

“Be done with the jokes Leo, I’m a fourth year already, I haven’t challenged her because she’s a girl, but I’m the strongest knight in the Academy. These past two years she hasn’t entered the yearly knight apprentice competition, she is underestimating us too much, just taking advanced missions since joining as an advanced freshman.”

“Well It’s been two years since she came to the last term of the Academy training, in two years she’ll graduate. And she hasn't failed a single mission since then you know Grant? Even you have a ratio of 7-3 her record is not to be scoffed at”

“That’s not what I mean Leo, and that’s highly likely due to her ‘friends’, she’s a girl you know, a weak little fifteen year old girl”

“So you are implying that her success is related to possibly hidden bodyguards sent by her fiance?”

“Yes, there is no way a freshman group could finish that many advanced missions without a single failure in two years”

This boy who’s complaining is Grant Rawkin, son of a high noble family without a military position. He is strong indeed but he has never bothered watching that red haired goddess fight.

Oh sorry, I’m Leo Ihone and my father is Lord Roget Ihone a nobleman member of the Royal Guard, that’s why I know who she is and have heard of her prowess.

What? Do I like her? Not quite but yes, I mean who wouldn’t? She is a real beauty, but I’m heartstruck by her cousin Aliyah.

Not only she is more approachable, in my eyes she is a star fallen from the heavens.

Her black as darkness eyes, her straight long black hair that dances at her back, her white skin and those dark rosy lips.

Her figure is just otherworldly and I can’t get enough of seeing her.

“Grant, lower your voice please, she will hear you and I don’t want to be involved in any kind of enmity with her cousin!”

Grant seems to be really angry, but I think it’s just envious that a girl younger than him is stronger (well that’s what I think, they haven’t fought yet).

If you compare their mission completion record, Grant went through the proper scale, starting with beginner knight missions on his first year, medium knight missions on his second and third year, and advanced quests now on his fourth year.

He’s a good man and friend just a little too proud for his own good.

His total missions are 12 from first year till today, and his ratio of win-lose is nine to three, which means he has failed three missions. Believe me that’s an AMAZING achievement, worthy of being recruited in royal guard straight out of graduation.

Gatriel’s record on the other hand is just unbelievable, I can see how he thinks that she’s been receiving help from the shadows.

Since her coming to the advanced term of the Knight Academy she takes on advanced missions every two weeks, once a month!! Two weeks preparing and resting, two weeks carrying out the missions.

And what prick’s Grant the most is that she has never failed a single one! That’s just astoundingly amazing, I mean come on twenty four missions in two years?, that’s double of Grant’s record in just half the time.

Let me repeat just to make it clear, all of them of the advanced tier. It really is incredible and any normal student would agree with Grant’s point of view.

But I know better.

My father is close with the first prince, and there has been no deployment to help her at all.

While I’m lost in my thoughts Grant just couldn’t take it anymore and blocked the group’s path.

“Gatriel Decebal, junior apprentice knight. I hereby challenge you to a duel for the spot of the strongest knight in the Royal Academy, refusing the duel with this many witnesses would dishonor both the school and your lord father, what say you?”

I immediately separated myself from Grant while discreetly glancing at Aliyah’s beautiful figure, who was standing behind her cousin.

“~ho ho~ Gat, Gat, this boy wants to fight you! Can I take his measurements ~can can~?”

Uh? Measurements? What’s Aliyah talking about?

While thinking that Aliyah closed her left eye and started measuring with her fingers moving her hands horizontally and vertically in front of her open eye.

“~nee nee~ Gat two meters tall by half a meter width coffin should suffice ~tehe~”

uh?.

Thanks for reading my fiction! I hope to get your comments and help from now and in future issues.

Give and Take you know undefined, you help me, I help you! isn't that the main reason why most of us gather here in RRL? to learn from each otner?

Cheers.