Chapter 22

The First Xin Infantry Battalion marched forward in their battle formation with full steps, marching with haste, kicking up clouds of dust as they move.

"Trot'thar, keep an eye on the ogres and inform me of any relevant information"

Xiao Chen said as he marches alongside his army, thinking of ways to convinced the mounted humans that they are not hostile.

*****

"Commander Eru, we need to find a way to let the high priestess escape"

A knight mounted on a black stallion said as he approached his commander who was doing his best to drive the savage ogres away from where the high priestess is at.

"Savage monsters... we haven't had proper sleep for days because of them"

Commander Eru said angrily as he threw away a huge ogre towards its fellow ogres and knocking them down to the ground. He had a thin figure like that of a woman, a long and thick blonde hair that covered his entire forehead almost poking his eyes, he had quite the good-looking face, a lady-killer type of face. He is a captain of the Light's Order, protector of the holy priestess and the teachings of the Goddess of Light.

He doesn't have the look of a warrior nor a knight, he looked much more like a pampered nobles' son who spends a lot of time playing with women, his dazzling smile made a lot of girls scream in glee wherever they go, his companions even gave him the moniker 'Ladies Man' because of his ability to make all ladies very fond of him with just his smile.

He was proficient with strengthening and fortification spells which allowed him to be as resilient as a city wall and strong enough to topple even ogres who are known to sometimes overpower the war-loving race, the orcs.

Commander Eru was given such a moniker by his peers but contrary to it, he was a devoted and loyal man, he only had his eyes on the High Priestess Luna and made a vow to himself that he will protect her even at the cost of his own life.

Backpedaling a bit, he dodged an ogre's huge club then retaliated with his trusty claymore, leaving behind a nasty gash on the ogre's abdomen. With his strengthening spell, he quickly toppled the suffering ogre who was clutching his bleeding stomach and preventing his innards from coming out.

Blood, a lot of blood and some of the ogre's intestines spilled out of the nasty wound inflicted by him, the heavy scent of metal, long had filled the air, a little sniff and look will send anyone with a weak will and stomach to surely puke at the sight of so much gore in the surroundings and heavy scent of blood that had long polluted the air.

Human bodies with some parts missing, bitten off by the ogres, squashed human meat like a medicinal paste, intestines, eyeballs, heads and other human body parts were littered all over the place.

"How many of us are left?"

Commander Eru glanced at his second in command, a middle-aged man with a thick mustache and sideburns, stern looking face and piercing eyes.

"We already lost four platoons sir, those who are left, still able to fight are scattered and their numbers, barely enough to form a single platoon, sir."

His second in command reported as he slid down on the ground after quickly dismounting, giving his ogre opponent some heavy wounds on the ankles restricting him in place. With quick practiced maneuvers, he scaled the ogre's body and plunged his sword on the ogre's left eye, the ogre then roared in pain and tried to slap the pesky human away but only managed to hit nothing but air.

The veteran knight already jumped down on the ground after successfully blinding the ogre's left eye, with precise timing, Commander Eru then pulled the ogre's right leg and made it fall down to the ground with a loud thud, the ogre's head slammed against a huge rock, knocking it out of consciousness.

With a quick jump, he stood just above the ogre's chest and with both hands on his claymore, slashed at his opponent's neck, blood sprayed and bathed him with blood, his armor and clothes that were previously soaked with blood but already dried because of time were soaked wet yet again with the fresh blood.

Wiping his face clear of the ogre's blood, he approached his second in command who was already panting heavily, they were fending off the ogres for hours already and loss many of their companions. There were six platoons escorting High Priestess Luna on her return from the capital of the Threian Kingdom after finishing the task given to her by the Archbishop Kalla.

Observing the progress of the situation, they had no chance of successfully defeating the ogres, his men were already tired and even he himself was already near his limits, his mana also almost depleted after fighting for a long time.

Commander Eru finally made a decision and approached the High Priestess Luna's mount, a very fine white stallion, majestic yet also very violent and only listens to the high priestess.

"High Priestess, we won't last much longer. We will carve a path on the ogre's encirclement and give you a way to escape. I can only spare you two knights and my second in command as escorts, the rest will delay the ogres and deny them of any chance in pursuing you"

He said with his head lowered like an obedient child to his master. The steady gaze of the High Priestess soon waned, her clear blue eyes soon started to moist, tears threatening to spill out. She had the look of someone who was just wronged but she had to maintain her composure, she must be strong, steady and fearless like how she was trained to be since young.

His feelings for her, she knew of it very well but the church's teachings forbid her of expressing her true feelings nor allows her to return the gallant knight's feelings for her. It was a taboo for a high priestess to fall in love with someone nor ever learn the relationships between men and women but she had long known these things, since she was still being trained with the teachings of the church and before becoming a priestess, she had long been with Commander Eru when he was also just a simple trainee knight.

"May the Goddess of Light give you strength and bless your souls. She will not forget your sacrifices"

High Priestess Luna soon said and choking at the end of her words and tears started to trickle down her face. Commander Eru raised his head and smiled at her, that same smile that he had always shown her, the smile of satisfaction whenever he accomplishes something.

"I'll come find you...I promise... don't cry...the goddess will protect and guide me as much as she guides and protects you"

He said then called upon the two nearest knights and his second in command.

"Protect the High Priestess with your lives, we'll make a path for your retreat. Keep her well protected or I swear, I'll haunt you the ends of this world"

He said then turned around to aid and rally the remaining knights who were about to collapse because of exhaustion.

"Knights of the Light Order, heed my command! We'll carved a path for the High Priestess' escape. May the Goddess help and guide us."

He bellowed and was passionately replied by the scattered knights, fighting with more energy and zealousness. They were forming a path of escape, the knights fought with renewed vigor as they drive the ogres to the sides and clearing a path in the middle.

"Don't forget your promise..."

High Priestess Luna said as she took a glance for the last time at Commander Eru who just smiled and waved at her before continuing to battle the ogres. High Priestess Luna along with two knights and Commander Eru's second in command gallop away with their mounts and successfully escape the ogre encirclement.

Just behind her, High Priestess Luna could hear the screams of agony of the knights left behind to hold off the ogres. She knew very well that they were left behind to die, and Commander Eru's promise, she knew it was almost impossible but she can't help but hold onto it, and believe in him. Praying silently to the Goddess of Light for Commander Eru's survival and his knights who bravely remained to let them escape.

"Please...please...please...protect him...my goddess...just this once...hear my selfish prayers..."

She muttered in a low voice; her face already wet from the tears that trickled down her eyes.