章節 24: HORDES

*********Larmaleilles Residence***************

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Yule overheard Adelle's stepmother and father talking over what she had done earlier. She entered the home, her steps were slow and deliberate. Kaniz and the other servant followed her, carrying the items that Kaniz had purchased at the Market.

"Honey! This foolishness. she ruined our daughter's reputation, just like that!" Melissa said, her cheeks and voice red with rage, furiously. The Marquess couldn't say anything, and Melissa kept bugging him. Eva was weeping out loud to make the Marquess feel sorry for her.

"Yes, but she's my daughter, don't forget that," stated the Marquess as he approached Eva, who was weeping. "I'll make sure she gets her punishment, but...what did you do to irritate her?"

"F-Father, I swear...I-I didn't do anything to her," Eva said while wiping her tears.

"See? Honey, believe me, that daughter of yours has a problem. send her away for good." Melissa said. the Marquess let a deep sigh.

"Meliss--" The Marquess interrupted himself when Adelle entered the living room, followed by Kaniz and another servant carrying a large number of bags and boxes. Melissa rushes up to her and slaps her across the face. The Marquess was unable to intervene. Kaniz drops everything she's holding as a result of the shock.

"That's for humiliating Eva in front of the nobles!" she said and slaps her again. " that's for calling me a bitch." she said. The marquess immediately grabbed Melissa's hand before she was about to slap her again.

"Honey, you heard it. she just call me a bitch earlier!" she refuses to calm down. Yule smirked sarcastically.

"Are you not?" she asked and laughed. the ambiance in the room immediately got dark and chilly. they were speechless to what she just ask.

"Adelle... what you did was wrong. you should apologize to your sister." Marquess said. Yule remained her head bowed. Eva is already smirking at the back.

"Adelle..." Marquess said and bent to level the height of Adelle. "You humiliate Eva, it means that you also humiliate this house."

'I anticipated this, maybe I get my hopes up for hoping that the Marquess would be on my side.' Yule said in her mind. She kept her head down and not saying anything.

"Father...It looks like sister Adelle, doesn't want to apologize?" Eva said and cried again. Melissa hugs her daughter and Eva smirks.

"Adelle, why don't you just say sorry. so we can all rest." Marquess said.

'Whenever Adelle did something right or wrong, in the eyes of the Marques she's always at fault.' Yule said to her mind.

"Father, when have I been right in your eyes?" she said, her head bent. She clenched her fist in rage. But she can't do anything since it simply makes her seem worse.

'If I have my magic, maybe all of you died here. but Adelle doesn't want that' she said to herself. 'I despise being weak'

Yule didn't notice that her eyes were flowing with tears. 'If Adelle was here, what would she do? maybe this is just nothing to her because she got used to this' she said again to herself.

"Adelle...wh--" the Marquess cut what he was saying.

"Why would I apologize for doing nothing? I did nothing wrong," she said and wiped her tears and looked at the Marquess solemnly but with a hint of sadness

"If you truly know your daughter, you'd know she wouldn't do something for no reason," Yule remarked, staring him in the eyes. This is Yule's message to the Marquess, not Adelle's. he looked, realizing what she just said.

"Why don't you just apologize Adelle? you did wrong and now you're saying nonsense." the Marquess said and stood up. Yule is not a surprise anymore. Eva notice all the boxes and things that Kaniz bought.

"Father, I know the punishment. collect all the things she bought with our family's fund," she said while smirking, Yule looked at her and laughed sarcastically, mocking Eva

"Whatever you do, you still an adopted daughter," she said. and walks towards Eva and then she whispers "Remember what I told you earlier. don't get too cocky." Yule said Eva shivered when she saw how terrifying Adelle's eyes were and walked out.

"Adelle!" Marquess shouted but Adelle pretended not to hear anything and went to her room.

"Honey, you need to teach her some discipline. she---" Melissa didn't finish her sentence.

"Shut up, Melissa!" the Marquess shouted which she and Eva startled. "This happened because you also failed to be a Mother to her," he said which made Melissa speechless. he sat down and face-palm.

"I know Adelle wouldn't do something that made her regret in the end, don't forget that... she's my only daughter. I know her." he said and widened the eyes of the two. Eva felt and realized what Adelle said to her earlier.

'My only daughter? How about me?' Eva said to her mind, staring at the marquess coldly.

{"...because, the blood of Larmaleilles, even the tiniest drop of blood...don't run in your system."} she just remembers and realizes.

"Honey..." Melissa said and hugged him. Eva just staring at the two.

"Adelle didn't do anything wrong. you just misunderstood her. you two always kept your distance around her, do you think I didn't know that?" Marquess said. Melissa started to cry.

"I just favor you more, Eva," he said and walked towards Eva, holding her hand. "...because you don't have a father by your side," he said that made Eva cry.

{"Your father is not the Marquess. his blood doesn't run in your system. even a bit" } She then remembers all the things Adelle said and makes her feel more jealous and envy.

"Melissa, Eva, please understand Adelle more." he said and walked towards Melissa. "I'm sure if our daughter gets to experience what Adelle has gone to and see how everyone treats her like nobody. of course you also get mad. I'll get mad because I love our daughter."

Marquess said and touched the belly of Melissa.

"Honey, I'm sorry for not being a good mother to Adelle," she said and hugged the Marquess. Eva's eyes widened when she saw the two, the Marquess holding the belly of her mother. She suddenly remembered what Adelle just said.

{"Of course, you can't get rid of me. because I'm the real daughter and you're just the adopted child. even if you do. you're still the adopted child. soon, when your mother bears a child, and my sister or brother comes into this world. I'm sure MY FATHER will be delighted and you, what will happen to you?." } she remembers, clenching her fist tightly, so tight that her hands start to bleed.

And then ask herself 'What will happen to me?'

"Mother, are you pregnant?" Eva asked her.

"It's just a hunch" she answered which made Eva fall into her tears.

*****SOUTHERN BORDER******

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the southern border, Jack and his subordinate stood vigilant. Their eyes scanned the horizon, alert and watchful for any signs of impending danger. Jack, a seasoned knight with years of experience under his belt, exuded an air of calm and confidence that was contagious.

Their position at the southern border was strategic, offering a clear view of the vast expanse that lay ahead. Jack's subordinate, a young but determined soldier, mirrored Jack's vigilance. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

Jack and his subordinate have been defending the border for the possible threat of hordes. since the new King of Equinox had claimed the throne, countless hordes have been seen on the border.

"Master Jack, Captain Elijah reports that they are approaching here at the southern border, maybe in a few hours," one of Jack's subordinates tells him. He gave a nod.

'I wonder what happened...' he said in his mind.

Suddenly, a brilliant flash of lightning cut through the darkness, illuminating the landscape in a stark, eerie glow. The deafening crack of thunder echoed a moment later, reverberating through the air and sending a chill down the spines of all who heard it.

*rumble* *rumble*

As the echoes of the thunder began to fade, a new sound emerged from the direction of the Chatoyant Mountain. It was a low, guttural growl at first, growing louder and more menacing with each passing second. The ground trembled beneath the weight of countless footsteps, signaling the arrival of a horde of monsters.

"Men, get ready!"

As the monstrous horde advanced from the Chatoyant Mountain, a line of brave knights stood their ground, their figures silhouetted against the stormy sky. Their armor glinted in the sporadic flashes of lightning, their weapons held high and ready for the impending battle. Their faces were set in grim determination, their eyes focused on the approaching threat.

With a thunderous battle cry, the knights charged towards the horde. The clashing of steel against monstrous hide echoed through the air, mingling with the roars of the creatures and the shouts of the knights. Each knight fought valiantly, their movements swift and precise, their attacks fueled by a fierce determination to protect their land.

Behind the knights, a group of mages stood in a protective circle. Their hands were raised, their voices chanting in unison as they cast protective barriers around the armies. The air around them shimmered with magical energy, deflecting the attacks of the monsters and shielding the knights from harm.

Among the mages, healers moved quickly and efficiently, tending to the injured. Their hands glowed with a soft, soothing light as they healed wounds and soothed pain. Their faces were calm and focused, their actions a beacon of hope amidst the chaos of battle.

'This is sudden, perhaps it's connected to the thunder.' Jack said to his mind.

"Kill all the hordes, avoid casualties!" he said while slashing the throat of the hordes. hordes just kept coming one after another. All of the armies have been fighting for the sake of the kingdom.

Hordes are monsters summoned by a demon; occasionally the hordes are generated from the demon's bad emotions. However, if a human is half a demon, he has no possibility of summoning one because it all comes down to pure blood or royal blood.

A pure-blood demon is a formidable foe. Many kingdoms desire the presence of a demon because it provides protection and status. However, after what happened to the Kingdom of Solstice 11 years ago. All demons and even half-bloods are absent or have gone missing. You can tell the difference between a demon and a half-blood.

The pure blood had a snow-white complexion, crimson blood-tinged eyes, and black hair. While half-bloods can have any hair color and skin tone, they are distinct. The half-blood's eyes are distinguished by the fact that one is crimson blood and the other can be a variety of hues. Their eyes can only be seen when they utilize dark magic.

"The captain is coming that way, maybe they encounter hordes while on the way here!"

"Master Jack! these hordes are so many!"

"Master we need back up!"

The knights are panicking because of the countless hordes.

"I should have brought more men," he mumbled to himself as he slew several hordes. and then a great light shot forth from Chatoyant Mountain. That's when he realizes the captain has arrived.

"The captain comes to help us, hold on!" Jack says as he creates a whirlwind and burns them with his fire magic. Because of Yule's eagerness to encourage Jack to study magic, Jack has been unable to wield it correctly in the past. Because Jack primarily uses his magic to increase his physical powers and to attack physically, he is dubbed the "Attacker."

**************************

As the battle raged on, the southern borders stood strong, defended by the valiant knights and the protective magic of the mages. Each clash of steel, each protective spell, and each healed wound served as a reminder of their unwavering resolve to protect their land and their people.

Countless hordes were lying outside the borders, A carriage envoy was making its way towards the border, its progress slow and cautious. The sight of the carriage, a symbol of peace and diplomacy, was a stark contrast against the backdrop of the ravaged battlefield.

"The captain is here!"

"Where's Elijah?" Jack asks the horseman.

"At the Mountain, they're dealing with the countless hordes there. I came here to bring out the soldiers who have injuries," he said.

"But you have a healer.." Jack said. he's talking about the apprentice of Annah.

"Yes, but they lost consciousness because of the explosion. that's why I need some of your healers," he stated. and the others carry the people who collapsed.

"I'll go with you," Jack said and rode the carriage. because they're too exhausted to use teleportation.

***************************

As Jack reached the summit of the mountain, his eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the breathtaking view. The air was crisp and thin. However, his attention was quickly drawn to a group of five individuals standing a short distance away, dressed in the distinctive uniform of the Equinox mages.

The mages stood tall, their robes billowing gently in the mountain breeze. Each one exuded an aura of wisdom and power, their eyes filled with knowledge and experience. Jack could sense the energy emanating from them, a tangible presence that hinted at their proficiency in the arcane arts.

"Captain," Jack said to Elijah as he approached him,

"Jack, you're here, what's the situation at the border?" he asked while using his fire to burn all of the horde corpses that filed up.

"Many hordes have lying dead. but for the soldiers I believe we have no casualties." he said and pulled his sword and started slaying hordes. "by the way, they're from Equinox?" he said and pointed at the five men. Eli nodded

"They said they're here to provide aid. because their King knows our situation." Eli said. and look at Jack " King Gustavo is alive." he said widening Jack's eyes.

"I'll explain later after we deal with this," he said.

*************************

Eli, Jack, and his subordinates, as well as the five Equinox mages, successfully destroy the hordes until daybreak, with no losses.

"Captain Elijah, we are honored to fight alongside you." one of the mages said.

"Thank you for helping us, please relay our gratitude to the King of Equinox." Eli said.

They bowed and left using teleportation magic.

"Elijah, what happened? why did you return so soon?" Jack asked.

he turned around and said. " Later, I need to inform the King first," Eli said and rode a horse back at the border.

*********Royal Palace of Solstice*******

"Greetings to the blazing sun of Solstice. your majesty, the King." Eli and Jack bowed their heads while greeting the King.

"Elijah, why'd you return so soon?" the king asked as he rose to the throne.

"King---...former king Gustavo is alive," Eli said and immediately widened the eyes of the King.

He rushes towards Eli "What did you say?".

"Your Majesty, I saw him with my own eyes," Eli remarked, turning to face the king. "He turned into a demon."

The king turned his back and went back to the throne. "Do you believe it?" the king asked.

"No, Your Majesty, that's why after seeing him, we stayed for a couple of days to investigate but we haven't found anything suspicious."

"Why is that?"

"Because I feel something is very odd. if King Gustavo is actually alive and turned into a demon. how come the news came up to us that he has been killed?" he said. and looked straight into the eyes of the King "... King Gustavo is a person that can't be underestimated. I simply don't trust the new King."

"I see. I did feel that Gustavo was no longer here. His presence faded away." the King said with a sad expression. "We can't let our guard down for now."

"Your Majesty, it appears that the Kingdom of Equinox wants to have a good relationship with our Kingdom since they assist us in eradicating innumerable hordes in the south," Jack stated. The king gave a nod.

"We'll keep a watch on them. Maybe they'll send envoys soon, or maybe the King himself will travel all the way here to have a diplomatic connection with us. all the knights and mages must be informed, that anybody who comes into our Kingdom from Equinox must keep an eye indeed," the King added.

"Yes, Your Majesty"