Knights of Lundri

"There are multiple injured in the mines! There's a vicious animal hiding down there according to some reports."

The soldiers mumbled among themselves in regards to the pressing nature of the situation.

"Fighting in the mines? That's going to be rough."

"I don't wanna stay there longer than we have to."

"We may never find the damn thing."

BAM

"Enough!" The mayor shouted as he slammed his fist against the table. He quickly adjusted his fine clothes and started to rapidly give out orders.

"Evacuate all the workers in the section where it was sighted in and station guards at the entrances near it."

"I can do it." Alden said as the soldiers all started to move around.

"You're still here!? What can you do exactly?" The mayor sneered as he stuck his face into a report on the incident.

"I can get rid of the animal, the road to Stonevalley wasn't exactly safe, so I have some experience there. We can decide on my payment later."

"Very well then, you may attempt to do something. One of you, show him to the area!"

"What's going on?" A man in battle-hardened armor suddenly stepped into the room. Behind him were several people who were just as armored.

"Ah, Baron Lundri's knights. We have a bit of a pest issue but not to worry. We have it under control, do feel free to enjoy my hospitality while you wait." The mayor smiled devilishly as he did his best to assure the knights.

'A Baron's knights!? Perhaps they will listen to my warning about Greshir.' Alden thought as he took a step towards the man who had interrupted them earlier.

"You there! What is your name? I am Kane, Knight-Captain of Lundri." The man said as he noticed Alden. Kane looked young for a Knight Captain, so Alden wondered if he deserved his position or not.

"I'm Alden, Survivor of…, no, "Bane of Greshir"

"Big words for a wild child. I'll give you some advice, forget whatever vengeance you may think you want, it's not worth it. You should go start a new life. Whatever happened to your village whether it was Greshir as you claim or wild animals, staying on your current path will cost you, "Alden the One-Eyed"."

Kane had started lecturing Alden and Alden was infuriated even more. From what Kane said, it seemed like he had overheard Alden's conversation with the mayor. But it seemed like Kane also did not believe Alden's claims.

"You don't believe in my words, but you'll believe in my skill. Just be sure to have gold ready."

CAW! Huginn angrily squawked, causing several people to part ways to let Alden walk out.

"Like I said Knight Captain, I have the situation under control, please relax and enjoy your stay here. Guards, please escort the brave knights of Lundri back to their quarters. And make sure they do not even have a thought of work, they are esteemed guests here!"

The mayor once again quickly buttered the knights up to not lose face in front of them. Baron Lundri had appointed him and he didn't the knights to speak I'll of him in any way.

"As long as we get our steel, mayor. The Northern borders need it." Kane said just before they were rather forcibly escorted out.

"This is going to be a nightmare!" The mayor sighed heavily when only his butler and soldiers remained. The tunnels were dark and cramped, who knows how many good men he was going to have to sacrifice to get rid of the beast in there.

"Captain, you're not going to let that young man run into the mines are you?" Aster, Kane's subordinate frowned as they closed the door behind the soldiers.

"He ignored my words, hopefully, his youth lets him make a mistake he can live with." Kane responded with resignation as he checked on the condition of his sword.

"Captain, he may take your words as pompous and pity-filled. You don't exactly connect with the people in the frontier who deal with the harshness of life every day." Yalgri, a tall dark-haired knight, said as he took a sip of the tea that had been left out.

"He may be foolish, but it leaves a bad taste when we could've easily handled this beast, we are Knights of Lundri after all!" Aster proudly declared while puffing put his chest.

"Now, who's the foolish one!"

"Ow!"

Yalgri had dropped his fist on Aster's head, rebuking the younger knight for having such thoughts.

"Aster, the mines are an extremely disadvantageous area for us to fight in. We need to know more about the beast." Nylane, a blonde knight, said as she tried her best to calm their young companion.

"I don't like though, we'll set off after the beast at dawn. I think we can get this done with the least amount of casualties." Kane gave everybody in the room a look, one they knew meant business.

"But on another note, do you believe that boy about Greshir?" Fleyn, another female knight, asked Kane as he started getting his armor ready for the morning.

"…It's hard to believe, there's no evidence to support it. They're facing the tribes in their northern borders as well, why would they attack us out of nowhere? But enough of that for now. We have a more tangible threat to the supply line for the north. Split up and asked around more about the beast without drawing attention to us."

Meanwhile, Alden had arrived at the edge of the ravine. There was a long set of stairs that were built on the sides leading down. The soldiers had already heard word from the mayor and let him through.

"What are you doing? You should be gathering more information on the Demon King, not hunting some beast in a dark hole." Daiyu frowned as she floated above the ravine with Huginn flapping by.

"The people here are a lost cause, we need as much money as we can to reach the capital. From what it sounds like, he's got forces that can put pressure on multiple nations without even moving. Forcing the desperate escaping people to choose between death from the kingdoms and subjugation from himself, what a brutal tactic."

Alden sighed as he reached to switch the eye patch from his right eye to his left.

"Why don't the kingdoms just let the tribesmen through then?"

"Hundreds of years of conflict, and the kingdoms barely get along with each other. Honestly, it's complicated human things."

"True, your village was complicated as well. There were many times I didn't understand why certain actions were taken."

"Well, O guardian goddess of mine, grant me strength!" Alden joked as he pulled his sword out and started to walk into the dark tunnels.