War Meeting (II)

My eyes search for any one of my teammates. As I strolled around the garden someone came behind me and I roughly turned on my heel only to find out that it was a bunch of ladies.

'God not again.' 

The one to take the lead was of course Juno who I may or may not have given false belief last time we met. 

"We greet the Duke again." 

With a tight smile I say "Pleasure meeting you all fine ladies as well." 

Then they squeaked and started ranting, asking questions, too many at once and crowding over me. 

Suddenly the sound of glass clicking with a fork could be heard. We turned our heads and saw the King standing on a little heighted platform.

"What a pleasure it is to see all my loyal and trusted people standing before me. It gives me relief that the Ravial kingdom is in the hands of such great peoples." The king started his speech that we have heard one to many times. 

As I half listened to what he was saying I sensed a shiver down my spine. My danger sense tingling I looked around frantically. Then out of nowhere I heard a scream. I turned and saw Juno almost being crushed by a monster.

I ran and picked Juno up and rolled sideways barely missing its legs. I placed Juno down and kept my gaze on the beast. 

Screams erupted everywhere. And more monsters joined the party.

'Total annihilation before war? no...damn so that's what happening.' 

The beast broke through magic defense like it was child's play - which was not supposed to be like that considering the palace's heavy magic defense formation- leading them to come running in, causing everyone to run inside in a hurry. 

Fury the captain of the royal knights took order but that was still lacking, as the palace knights still just stood frozen because they had never fought the beastly little things. 

"Jasper!" The unfound man finally came into my view. He rushed over and arrived by my side. 

"Evacuate everyone and clear the area for me." I say to Jas before turning to Captain Fury and telling him "Captain Fury pull your knights back and direct them to helping the guest."

He looked at me and then barked orders at the knights. The knights finally coming back to their senses moved and so did I.

Opening the inventory I removed the moon sword and unshielded her. Blue aura covered her and I rushed at the monsters. One opened its jaws in an attempt to devour me, but my response was calm and as I had trained.

I ran to it and jumped, with a twist motion causing me to gain momentum. I came over its head and stabbed the sword mercilessly inside its head, through the brain. It stopped and fell on the spot. 

I moved to the next, sliding underneath it, striking its back legs making it fall face first. Suddenly electricity ran through the monster, reducing it to chatters. 

The man behind it came and stopped beside me "Like old times," he said and I readied for the next monster "Like old times." I repeated with nostalgia. 

"Duke!" Captain Fury came behind me and I gave him the next order "call the palace mages and set up a defense barrier." 

"They are on the way already," he replied. I nodded and the next wave came. 

I ran up to the nearest one and its legs came to attack me. I sliced the leg in one fine motion and it toppled over giving me its head. I punctured its brain with the sword. 

Behind it Jas has already finished one more. I switched the battle style. With three monsters charging towards me, I stabbed the moon in the ground and let the aura travel through the ground. 

The aura blades came out underneath the monsters and pierced through all three of them. While I was busy with the problems in front of me a monster sneakily came from behind me. Slipping through my defenses it jumped on me. 

I blocked it with moon but the weight of it caused me to take a knee. I pushed the monster with all my strength and Jas took its head. He gave me his hand and pulled me up. But before we stabilize ourselves more monsters came towards us. We got ready and took our stances. They rushed with rage and entered our attack field. 

Except the attack never came to us as the palace mage activated the defense barrier. They all crashed into the barrier. I sighed and walked out the barrier and put the moon back in the ground.

'Nothing stopping me now.'

With full power of my aura I eliminated all the remaining monsters. They all fell, turning in ashes and then scattered in the sky. The once beautiful garden was now grey.

I looked up at the moon-less night and thought 'this was....refreshing.' A smile escaped my lips. 

I hid the smile and entered the barrier with a stoic face. Everyone was already back out and looking at me. I brushed invisible dust off the jacket cape and placed the moon back in my inventory.

"Are you alright Kaan." Jas asked me.

"Yes." I said and looked around at everyone. The next second applause erupted. 

"Of course the protector of the Ravial kingdom stood to his title."

I bowed towards the king and said "it was nothing, just a duty that I had to fulfill." 

"And yet not anyone could do it Duke, don't undermine yourself like that." 

"If the sun of the kingdom says that then I must obey and take this compliment."

He nodded and turned towards the stage and carefully climbed on it. Jasper left my side and climbed after him and stood behind him. 

I frowned. 

All the nobles and high personnel again gathered by the stage and waited for the king to speak. 

My frown deepened.

'Well isn't this going to be wonderful.'