Tarin, Calvus and Denter were breakfasting at the officers mess the next morning. As the cooks served up healthy portions of eggs, ham and bread, the three senior military officers discussed the various defenses of Everdawn.

Tarin started the conversation by expressing his admiration of Denter staying outside the city gates till the last refugee entered Everdawn. Denter waved off the compliment by saying any of the three in the table would have done the same in his shoes.

As Calvus buttered a crumpet, his brows were knitted tight as he considered the required amount of troop strength required to garrison Everdawn in their absence.

Denter paused in raising an egg to his mouth as he agreed with Calvus about how the demon horde should not be taken lightly in any manner. He further expressed his thought that were the expedition to the contested lands not of such high priority, Calvus and Denter would have volunteered to stay behind to oversee the defense of Everdawn.

Tarin speared a slice of tomato and munched on it as he deliberated his reply.

“His highness intends to recruit the Direwolf tribe, Gentlemen, I am sure that I have no need to reiterate how important it is this endeavor succeeds for Everdawn. Look at the bolstering in military strength by simply recruiting 5 normal sized spirit beast tribes in the Mulberry Forest.” Tarin said as he drained his mug.

Calvus and Denter exchanged a look of acknowledgment between themselves.

“In addition, you cannot always oversee the troops at all times. There will be times where the troops will have to function on their own and prove their capability be it in defense or offense. It is such a time now. The troops remaining in Everdawn will have to hold it by their own merits.”

“Tarin, I understand where you are coming from. I just do not like it that we seem to be taking an unnecessary risk and endangering the civilians.” Calvus replied.

“Unnecessary? Not at all, it is necessary. Considering our current circumstances and available strength, it is of necessity for the troops to be blooded where possible. Better now than later during the beast horde congregations.” Tarin said as he stroked his chin. “Moreover, if we were to win additional military strength back to Everdawn we would be effectively carrying out our duties to the civilians.”

“Calvus, I agree with Tarin in this instance. Trade offs must be made and this is the best trade we are going to have.”Said Denter in a low voice.

“Ultimately, our opponents this time around are beasts. They are not racial opponents capable of conducting complex raiding attacks. Even if you stayed, your specialty will not come into play either.” Tarin related as he refilled everyone’s mugs. “Far better to leave the running of the defense operations to our second in commands and conduct a comprehensive review when we return.”

While Calvus had an unwilling look, he had to concede to the logic presented. “Very well, let us review the state of the battlements as well as the readiness of the troops we will be leaving behind later.”

—

Balls of flames danced in the air as Tiffany’s hands weaved in the air. The balls circled, cycled then shot upwards to the sky where they dispersed.

Caine glanced from the tinkering shed and remarked that the Tiffany was gaining mastery of the flame amplification ability of the salamander core. Tiffany had a wide grin as she walked towards the shed.

“You are not that bad yourself, 27 golems already. I am impressed, that has to be a new record among the golem magi, is it not?”

“The synchronization with the spider queen core went far better than I expected. I would be paying a visit to the Mulberry Forest soon.”

Tiffany had a worried expression but she simply asked if Caine wanted her to accompany him to meet Reine.Caine smiled and declined, stating that this was something he had to do by himself.

Tiffany decided to forgo further comments.

—

Caine rode on a castle steed towards the Mulberry forest later that afternoon.

As the wind whipped his raven hair, he heart pulsed rapidly as he neared the forest.

He considered various angles and considerations regarding Reine and him spirit contracting. Finally, he decided to relax and simply go with the flow.

(What will be, will be. No point trying to force fate)

—

The spirit beast guards allowed Caine to enter the moment he announced his name.As Caine was escorted in, he mused that Reine must have already been expecting this visit.As expected, Caine was conducted to a wide clearing where Reine was already in combat mode.

“Let us cut to the chase, let me see how much you have improved since receiving the spider core.” Reine said as she brandished her wicked looking black lance.

Caine did not say anything. He simply summoned all 27 golems of his and went into an open stance.For near an hour, sounds of battles echoed throughout the clearing.

—

“Impressive… The strength of your combined golems far exceeds my expectations.” Reine said as she extracted her lance from a ruined golem. Caine’s eyes twitched as he surveyed his golems, half of them lay in ruins after his duel with Reine.

“For a spirit beast yet to achieve King class, your strength is already at that level. I wonder who exceeded whose expectations.” Caine replied in a languid manner as he retrieved his golems.

Reine merely gave a half grin in reply.

“I will give you an answer before we head to the contested lands,” Reine said as she left the clearing.

—

In the practice ground, sword met glaive in a shower of blue sparks.

The black glaive blows had the imposing aura of a sea and struck out with the rage of a dragon.

The sword appeared to have an aura all of its own. It appeared neither hurried nor slow as it received every blow from the black glaive.

The gems of the glaive glowed and the glaive smashed down towards the ground creating a crater.

Aureus side stepped the heavy blow and moved in as his own gems glowed.

His sword was poised as Johan’s neck in the next moment.

However, Johan had let go of his glaive after the move missed and drew a gladius and had it positioned at Aureus’s midriff.

The two combatants gave a smile before disengaging.

Edward headed over, carrying two pitchers of water which he then threw to the two in the ring.

“You have improved once more, Johan. The day where you surpass me will not be far.” Aureus said after taking a deep draught of the pitcher.

“Highness, you overrate me. If you had the time to practice the blade, I doubt I will surpass you in this lifetime.” Johan replied after he took a drink.

Edward rolled his eyes and asked Aureus jokingly about just how easy did he went on him in their initial bout. It was Aureus’s turn to be amused as he replied that he did not lower his guard for a second during his first duel with Edward.

“Basic combat mode and Full combat mode are far too different to be compared. I did go all out during the duel.” Aureus replied blithely as he finished the pitcher of water.

As the three made their way to the stand where Brandon was situated with a stack of reports, Johan summoned a battered looking sword and began polishing it with the supplies stacked at the entrance of the grounds.

Edward’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the dilapidated sword but Aureus did not say a thing and handed over a bottle of clove oil to Johan.

Edward reported his progress with the cores transmutation and said that he had prepared a reserve of grade 4 and 5 cores and that they would be transferred into the castle’s treasury on the morrow. Brandon tipped his hat as Edward mentioned about the treasury transfer.

Aureus nodded and proceeded to pepper Edward with questions about technology from his realm while making jokes about how ludicrous some of them sounded- such as the Large Hadron Collider. The idea that so much power could be generated by something that could not even be perceived by the naked eye was causing Aureus fits of laughter.

Meanwhile, Johan applied the oil to the sword and began wiping it with a cloth of wool with slow and careful motions. Edward’s eyes roved over Johan as he did so but he did not break conversation with Aureus.

Finally, Johan was done and the three decided to head to the dining hall for a sumptuous meal.