Chapter 33

Chapter 33 – In the Village

“Wow… I still can’t believe we’re actually heading into battle,” Neo said, adjusting his grip on his sword one final time before engraving the defensive runes into his armor. Each movement was careful, precise, a ritual more than necessity. Ten stood beside him, nodding, as he traced another rune over his helmet, muttering to himself as if speaking to the metal itself.

“Everyone’s probably feeling the same,” Neo continued, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Even on the first day, thanks to the Commander, we mostly just reinforced the wards and had time to rest. I mean, compared to the chaos that’s out there now, it felt almost peaceful.”

Ten shifted uncomfortably under his helm, his brow furrowed. “I’m still… nervous,” he admitted. “Commander rarely tells us to etch runes into our gear unless it’s serious. If she’s insisting now, it can’t be good.”

Runes were normally supplemental, mere enhancements. The first division knights could usually fight effectively without them, their skill and training sufficient against almost any foe. But Erin’s warnings carried a weight that left no room for doubt.

“If the undead can slice through a neck and keep moving, who knows what other monsters can do?” she had said, her eyes steady, voice unwavering. “Etch runes into your armor and weapons. No excuses.”

And so, even the most skilled of them obeyed, chatting among themselves as they worked. The unusual calm in their banter belied the tension crawling beneath their skin. None of them could truly grasp that the battle they were preparing for had already begun.

Neo finished first. The runes etched into his armor glimmered faintly, the protective magic humming under his skin. He had even inscribed runes on the incomplete armor of knights and the soldiers under Chedre’s command. While assisting, his eyes caught someone new—a recruit barely in the division long enough to have been thrust into the front lines.

His appearance was striking: silver hair that caught the morning light and green eyes with a slight downward slant, paired with a calm smile that seemed almost unnatural in its steadiness. Yet his presence commanded attention. Despite his delicate frame, his swordsmanship and magical ability were more than competent. Erin favored keeping him close, much to Ten’s obvious irritation.

“What’s your name again? Carlisle?” Neo asked gently, crouching beside him and brushing a strand of hair behind his ear as he spoke.

“Yes, thanks to the guidance of my senior,” Carlisle replied with a polite bow. His composure was flawless, every movement meticulous without being stiff. Neo felt a quiet surge of pride watching him.

“You’ve only been here a short while. How does it feel to be sent into battle so soon?” Neo asked, teasing lightly, though his tone carried genuine concern.

“Given the situation, there’s no other choice,” Carlisle answered, his fingers brushing nervously against his rune-marked helmet. “We just have to resolve this quickly, right?” His smile faltered for the briefest moment.

Neo chuckled, ruffling his hair playfully. “Of course. It’s not like anyone else but our Commander is leading the charge.”

Carlisle hesitated, glancing around before leaning closer and lowering his voice. “Actually… there’s something I wanted to tell you.”

Neo raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What is it?”

“It’s about the knight who survived,” he whispered, his tone cautious. “He keeps lingering near the Commander’s room. I thought you should know.”

Neo frowned, touching the back of his neck as an uneasy sensation crept in. The knight was an exception for this sortie; unless he returned, they wouldn’t see him again. Still, the knowledge left a subtle weight on his shoulders.

“Understood. I’ll inform Ten and keep an eye on him. Thanks for letting me know,” Neo said, ruffling his hair once more before standing. “You’re on the front line too, right?”

“Yes, please take care of me, senior,” Carlisle said with a gentle smile. Neo responded with a playful grin of his own.

“Neo! Commander’s calling!” a voice shouted from the rear.

“Got it! I’ll go ahead. See you later,” Neo called back, vanishing at Erin’s summons. Carlisle—or rather, Gabriel—watched silently, observing the departure with a faint tilt of his head.

“What is he up to?” Ten’s sharp voice cut through the quiet, his posture stiff with suspicion as he approached.

Gabriel tilted his head, examining his newly rune-inscribed helmet with a faint smile. “I do not understand what you mean,” he said evenly, keeping his composure.

“Everyone, including Neo, has been… compromised,” Ten pressed. His green eyes narrowed, full of wariness.

Gabriel let out a soft chuckle, tilting his head. “Erin instructed us to blend in, wear the uniforms, and act accordingly. That is all.” His calm tone was deliberate, almost teasing. Slowly, he met Ten’s gaze. The suspicion and alertness there reminded him of a memory, one he had not thought of in years: sunlight streaming through the leaves, and a girl standing quietly before him, her eyes reflecting his own. The absurdity of the thought made him laugh quietly to himself, though he had to clear his throat to regain composure.

“If we follow orders precisely, I believe Erin will praise us,” Gabriel said teasingly, passing Ten a glance.

“You’re doing this just to show off, aren’t you?” Ten shot back, narrowing his eyes.

Gabriel’s grin widened. “I have simply learned to read the room under Erin’s command.”

He handed Ten the helmet, now fully inscribed with runes not only for protection but for purification—holy runes that drew upon divine energy. Ten’s eyes widened as he caught the faint glow, unsure how such a thing could exist in Gabriel’s hands.

“Can a demon even create these runes?” Ten asked, bewildered.

Gabriel tilted the helmet, meeting Ten’s gaze with steady calm. “Survive until the end. If you die, Erin will be saddened.”

Ten’s jaw tightened. “You… what exactly are you?”

Gabriel paused, choosing his words with deliberate slowness. “…I am the demon Erin wants dead most of all. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Ten started to protest, recalling that all demons and monsters were born from mana. Using holy power directly contradicted that notion. But Gabriel’s eyes warned him not to continue.

“Just… understand it that way,” Gabriel said, turning to walk as the signal for deployment sounded. His movements were slow, deliberate, yet filled with an effortless confidence. He passed Ten without another word, disappearing toward the sortie.

“Hey… wait!” Ten called, urgency in his voice, but Gabriel had vanished like a shadow. The helmet he left behind seemed to thrum with latent power, almost alive, leaving Ten with a sense of unease. Yet there was no time to hesitate.

***

Chedre surveyed the surrounding devastation, gray ash smothering the landscape. The fields, once bustling with early morning activity, were silent and lifeless. He swallowed hard.

At this hour, families would have been tending their crops, he thought, the loss pressing down on him like a physical weight. The suddenness of the catastrophe made everything feel surreal, unreal.

Erin halted the horses at the cliff’s edge, surveying the village below. From their vantage point, it appeared surprisingly intact—minimal scorch marks, no scattered debris, homes and shops still neatly aligned. It could easily be mistaken for a small city in both structure and scale.

Erin’s eyes scanned every detail, her sword drawn from thin air, the blade gleaming faintly. “Begin,” she commanded.

Immediately, Ten conjured a bow and arrows midair, firing them skyward. Each arrow glowed a stark white, forming a web of light as it spread across the village.

“They’re checking for monsters inside,” Erin explained calmly. Chedre watched in awe. He could now understand why she spoke so confidently of her knights’ abilities.

The magical net spread rapidly, blanketing the entire village. Soon, certain sections darkened, signaling the presence of hidden threats.

“Move out,” Erin commanded, launching herself from the cliff. Chedre’s heart leapt into his throat, but he saw Ten calmly preparing to follow, moving with a quiet precision born of trust in his leader’s immense power.

“Sir Ten… is this really safe?” Chedre asked, voice tense.

“We would only be in the way,” Ten replied evenly.

Chedre’s mind wandered back to the first time he had seen Erin in action—incinerating undead with nothing but her magic. With power like that, I suppose I understand her confidence, he thought.

Arriving in the village, Chedre’s stomach churned at the sight of streets streaked with green blood. Monster limbs littered the area, and his soldiers winced in unison.

“Please… help!” a woman’s shrill scream cut through the chaos. She ran toward the knights, her body trembling violently as though each step might collapse her entirely.

Before she could finish, Erin’s hand encircled her neck, snapping it with fluid precision. The body crumpled, revealing demonic horns and a tail that had been hidden beneath human features. Chedre’s stomach twisted as he took in the scene.

Neo’s voice floated from somewhere behind them. “We’re a bit late, Commander,” he said with a teasing edge.

Erin allowed herself a brief smile, clapping her hands lightly. “Area secured. Unpack.”