4 Chapter 3 - The Howling Valley.

Camilla and Major walk the path with the mysterious stranger in a crushed silence, both of them cautious of their new powerful ally. Walking a few feet behind, Camilla clung to Major like a safety net.

His glare never leaving the Casters back as he keeps his hand close to his sword. The Princess notices and places a hand over his.

"There's no need, I believe he would've killed us by now if he wanted us dead" she reassures him but his eyes never left his target.

"Better safe than sorry my lady"

The caster suddenly turns around and starts walking backwards.

"Did you know that witches have amazing ears~" he says snarkily.

Stopping to walk with his new royal friends, a plain smile on the inside of his mask, his hands laying behind his back as he gazes at Camilla.

"What's your greatest skill Princess?" He asks her before Major switches sides with her, his stern eyes glaring down upon the stranger.

But she replies regardless.

"Id have to say my loyalty and my abilities as a diplomat"

The stranger chuckles lightly.

"Loyalty isn't a skill, but diplomacy has its uses~" he elaborates as his eyes shift to major with appeasing eyes.

"And you? What's your greatest skill soldier?"

"Protecting my Princess...and cutting down Witches" Major sneered at the witch as he laughs with delight.

"Nothing like a man wanting to kill you...I'd be scared if I thought you were capable~"

"Why you fucki-"

"Enough! I'm tired of listening to your bickering" the princess intervenes as the stranger and Major walk away from each other.

"How long away are we from the capital?" She asks as Major looks up at the daytime sky, a beautiful blue sky lit up the blackened wood of the forest.

Not a single monster in sight and tree stumps are getting closer to the group.

"Pretty close, we'll pass the wolves in no time" he mentions as the witch looks at him funnily.

"I guess you haven't heard then" the stranger crosses his arms and looks away.

The two look at each other confused before the princess stops in her tracks, sitting on a rock as the rest of the group hangs back with her.

Stopping for a break.

"What do you mean?" Major asked as the witch takes a breath.

"I passed through there not too long back, I was expecting resistance but...they were attacked by a prowling group of hunters"

"What does it mean?"

"It means that the hunters have grown in numbers again, making a comeback" Major explains as he sharpens his sword with a whetstone.

"Exactly, which means that that vile group has been going around targeting everyone" the stranger said with conviction as Camilla goes into thought.

Major looks up at the witch with a hateful gaze.

"They're heroes, doing the realm some good"

"They're murderers! They killed women and children in that Valley!" The witch shouts at the soldier, getting in his face.

He pushes him back and draws his sword on the stranger, poking the end against his cloak, not enough to pierce anything, just to threaten him.

"You may have magic but id cut you down in seconds"

"Then you clearly don't understand magic~" the witch replies, grabbing a hold of the blade with confidence.

Major looking down at it with shock as the metal begins to melt under his touch, approaching closer as the sword melts all the way to the hilt in his hand. Stopping just a few inches away from his face, the witches eyes burn into major with a passion he was missing the first time.

For the first time scared of him, but he keeps a straight face.

"You have honor I can see it...but when the time comes, I will kill them all...stay out of my way or die" the witch finishes his threat and walks ahead.

So far ahead Camilla and Major lose track for a moment before he shows up leaning on a tree, tapping his foot aggressively.

Camilla looks at Major with concern as he hadn't moved yet.

"Are you alrig-"

"I'm fine, lets just get this over with so we can leave this bastard to whatever" he says, his chest puffed up and an angry face staring out into the forest.

Accompanying the princess as they continue walking. The uneasy silence following them on their journey to leave Stoxwood unharmed. A task that got easier with their new ally.

Monstrous gurgles and grunts come from their right, the Witch quick runs over to the two and begins waving his arms in a circular movement.

A grayish spell formulates in his palms as an invisible force-field domes them inside, from the inside they see everything, but on the outside.

They were nothing but still air.

The monster was close enough to see, a Chimera strolling through the woods, taking a break to scratch its lions head while the goat and snake limbs snap at each other. The lions mouth erupting in flames breaking up the fight, the group completely invisible to it as it strolls away roaring loudly.

The spell wearing off.

"That was close"

"Too close, we wouldn't have won that fight" the witch exclaims as Major begins calming down.

Seeing it as an act of kindness. Smiling at Camilla as the forests edge is in sight. A black rocky mountain side could be seen through the clearing.

As the group approaches, they get a great view of the valley from their height, a giant ravine cutting through the mountains, just beyond that is the capital.

"There it is, The Howling Valley..." Major exclaims as Camilla watches on with anxiety riddling her face.

"Its...so deep, how many wolves are in there?

"Their numbers are low, but believe me, they're still kicking" The witch says as he begins climbing down the rocks slowly.

"You're climbing that?!" Major looks down with dread in his eyes as Camilla gets startled by the idea.

"I hope you say no..."

The witch sighs with an annoyed grunt climbing back over the ledge. Looking at the two with bored eyes baring from his mask.

"Am I really gonna have to use my magic again..."

The Princess and Major look at each other confused as the witch throws his arms out.

"Brilliant! I'll just use it all in one day! Why not..." he groans as he begins conjuring another spell, circling the two with a light green orb.

Enveloping himself with glow as he steps behind them.

"Brace yourselves" he says, laughing slightly.

"What?" Major says before Camilla and Major are pushed by the witch, flying over the edge, the drop was a death pit as the two scream in unison.

Before realizing their speed, falling slowly as the witch leans off the edge, floating down to them as they both exclaim in different ways. Happiness, relief and fear slowly dissipating away as the stranger laughs to himself, Major elbowing him.

"Not funny! You could've warned us" he whines as the witch slowly back flips in the air.

"Oh please, the feather fall spell is the most harmless spell in the world, you're fine" he says as they make their way to the ground.

"This view is gorgeous though..." Camilla sighs dreamily as her clothes ripple in the air, looking out over and past the ravine.

Seeing so much land and greenery, the Capitol was far, but you could see trees from a mile away with their tall peculiar color. The tower was shining with a bright blue portal at the top.

They all touch the ground with their feet as their decent was over, seeing the entrance to the ravine, guarded by two burly men.

A wooden gate with steel edges, and entrance to the massive caves inside. The group approaches cautiously as the witch leads them to the gate, taking off his masks as the burly men unfold their arms.

"Its you! Quick we need you now!" One says running forward to the stranger as he reattaches the mask to his face Camilla and Major watch on as they take him in like he was family.

Following as the tight walls inside begin opening up, into a complicated cave structure multiple caves on different levels in the ravines walls. Few paths of stone in-between the walls with holes in the rocks acting as cubbyholes for families, multiple women and children huddled in them.

Men scour the bottom floor with spears and war make up, a certain strength about them as they prowl. Sniffing at the new arrivals. People in the caves began greeting the witch with warm smiles and brief hugs, he welcomes it as he looks on at the injured on the bottom floor.

Bandaged people of all ages in the center of the ravine in the biggest room. He approaches worried with gentle hands, examining everyone with precision.

"What happened? I thought I healed all the wounded before i left" he says with a focus voice.

A woman comes forward standing next to him.

"You did, but they attacked us again, we tried fighting back but...this was the result" she says sadly gazing at the wounded.

The witch sighs as he begins conjuring a spell, but it quickly fades, clutching his head and wincing.

"I'm sorry, I've used too much magic...I need to recharge before I can do anything" he says with a sadness in his voice, but the woman rests a hand on his shoulder.

"Do not worry, we are lucky you are with us again Endar, you and your friends may stay here as long as you like" she says, Camilla's eyes light up as she walks forward.

"Thank you, you're too kind!" She says gleefully as the woman smirks at her.

"You are welcome, Camilla Elffire"

She raises her brows, slightly surprised.

"You know of me?"

"Not exactly, but we are glad you are alive Princess...for your brother says that you were dead...all of Caspia belongs to him now"

The entire room goes silent as she processes it, the gall of her brother to fake her death...hes going ahead with his plan she thought.

"How do you know this?" Major asks as the woman's gaze flits to him. Her eyes flaring angrily as she gets in close.

Smelling around him as she growls deeply.

"You stink of hunters!" She growls as everyone around notices, growling with her.

But Endar lifts his hand, and beckons the wolves attention.

"Please, they're both with me Kana, as much as I hate to say it...but hes not a hunter" he calmly speaks as the wolves back down.

Majors face solid and unmoving.

"Even if he was one a long time ago..."

His eyes open wide, looking at Endar with shocked eyes, going to defend himself but seeing its no use, sighing.

"How? How did you know that?" He asks as Endar scoffs at him.

"I'm not an idiot, magic is powerful and she's right...you do stink of hunters, but i know you've served the Elffire family for years...the worst things the hunters did was after you left" he explains as he hangs his head.

Camilla looking him with empathetic eyes, the people around now on edge with Major around.

"I...I don't..." he struggles for words, a rack of guilt building up as his true feelings begin pouring out. The stoic face gone.

Looking at all the wounded, reminding him of his early days before serving the king.

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.

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Commander Albert Major was only 16 when he joined the hunters and their cause, believing in protecting humanity from the beasts of the world.

Purposely killing man eating monsters, and for awhile the hunters were praised for their work. But for some unknown reason, they began dying out.

No one knows why, but as time went on the remainder quit...but stories of the atrocities they wreaked when they came across towns of peaceful creatures.

Murdering children, women and men left right and center with a psychopathic happiness.

When Major saw this, he went AWOL, deserting his position and leaving his fathers legacy behind before the hunters began disappearing.

Joining the kings army not too long after, serving his life to his king and his family.

Regardless of how mad he was.

And all he can remember from those days was the fire...and how fast it spread.

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.

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Back in the ravine, Camilla and Major share a cubby room together, sitting beside each other...dealing with filthy glances from all the inhabitants of the cave.

The moonlit sky shining a dull light in through the crack. Brightening the innocents inside.

Walking by and staring judgement into their souls, Major barely hanging on...a ton of guilt sticking to his existence, of how he killed those innocents. Going off his orders, even if he didn't want to, and Camilla held his hand softly. Bringing him back to the present.

He smiles at her.

"Apologies my lady"

"What for?"

"Not telling you who I used to be, I'm not proud of it"

She looks away and sighs slightly, giving him a warm smirk.

"It doesn't change anything, you stand by me, and that's all that matters to me~"

He smiles back and squeezes her hand lightly. Taking time to speak his mind with her.

"Princess...you're the only one who made me feel like a real soldier, I have honor because of you...I owe you my life and more" he explains, his eyes never leaving hers.

Her hand squeezing harder as a light tinge of pink flushes her cheek.

"Major..." she whispers, the two of them feeling the tension. And while prying eyes are away, they could get away with anything.

Leaning close, Major breathless feeling himself getting flustered when she closes her eyes. Getting up just before she kisses him, starling her as she squeaks quietly as he stands there awkwardly, looking away from her.

"I'm sorry Princess, I need to check on the witch...you know...in case he...does something"

Quickly running off to find Endar close by the medical room. Approaching him carefully as they stand beside each other not saying anything.

Endar looks over at him, Major looks away crossing his arms.

"Don't get the wrong idea witch, you're right, but I'm not that person anymore"

"I know you're not, you live to serve the future queen...that's as noble as it gets"

Major looks at Endar with calm eyes, feeling a little respect for him.

"I apologize for my actions before...it was rude of me"

"And after i saved your life too, very rude~"Endar teases, before a torch falls from the sky, everyone looking up as the ravine falls into silence.

Light brimming from the top, as a large amount of men and women clothed in blood red armor and the hunters crests.

"MONSTER SCUM!" One shouts as they begin piling into the ravine through the front gate, the only way out is up. As everybody scatters for cover, Major pulls Endar into a cubby, protecting him from a crossbow arrow.

"Thanks Albert~" Endar teases more as Major scoffs.

"Don't mention it Endar" he mocks the witch with equal sarcasm, his eyes immediately looking towards the cubby Camilla was in.

"Will you help us fight them?!" Kana runs over as Endar nods, Major looks at the swarming hunters being held back at the gate.

His eyebrows furrowing in determination, grabbing a nearby spear.

"I'm with you!"

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