08
Hailderguard is a bounded geographical area, and as such it has two exits border gates - one that connects the Eastern land to the rest of the cities and towns and the other; close the borders
Captain Leo got an approved letter from the church to render Northington twenty crusaders - all armed and ready for the mission .
Northington on the other hand, was still trying to explain to his wife; Caroline, the importance of his mission.
"Does it have to be you?" His wife,Caroline asked in a broken tone.
"It was my responsibility in the first" Northington answered, already prepared to leave
"I lost my son, I can't lose yo..."Caroline already crying.She was always emotional.
"You won't lose me "Northington assured, kissing her on the cheek. With his faithful horse waiting for him outside the Magruder household, he was ready to leave, turning back to see his wife one last time - he might not return.
"God be with you my love.." Caroline said.
Northington wasn't a man of faith nor he had a belief in the church but this time,but for this mission, one could say he needed God more
"Amen" he answered and rode off.
====
Old Kent and the soon to be Deliverant Unit arrived at the border gates staring at the heavy artillery around the captured demon.
"It's risky bringing these children here Old Kent!" Anastasia shouted.
"I'm aware Anastasia, but they can help, and I think you know that" Old Kent said staring at the caged demon
"We just need to discover how useful they are, inst that part of why you captured the demon and didn't kill it "Old Kent began to indulge in Anastasia's thought.
"As you wish sir"Clearly, Old Kent was right.
Zenemiah, Shadrach and Victoria stood five meters away from the chained demon.Victoria was frightened; her first encounter with a demon.
Zenemiah was already experienced at the church's crusaders training camp so seeing a captured demon wasn't new to him.
Shadrach on the other hand, studied the demon's exostructure.
"The demon was lurking, wasn't it?" Victoria asked Anastasia.
"How do you know?" Anastasia was surprised by how the young girl was able to determine that
"This was the first event that happened in Palm Closter; few demons will scout the army for the final infestation to happen" Victoria said with a smug look on her face
Victoria loved reading, so for her, knowledge was her power.
"But in Palm Closter, it was different, a doorway from the ground opened" a Crusader said.
Ninteen meters away from the border gates, Vice Captain Maximus Pierce and his patrol discovered the ground surface was losing it's structural integrity; it was almost like a cracked glass - observing the area, he noticed the border gates wasn't far and ordered his patrol crusaders to march forward while he checked the ground surface.
"Old Kent, please examine this demon, it's fully strapped "Anastasia assured.
"One thing my father told me about demons..." Zenemiah faced the anxious Shadrach "Demons don't like being caged
"Before Old Kent could get his kit ready, he stared at the demon in close proximity, then the most dreadful thing happened.....
====
The Famed Captain Leo of the Peridot household stood at the first gates of Hailderguard with twenty of his best crusadersarmed and ready for the task at hand.
"Captain if I may ask, why are you not leading this mission?"A red-haired crusader asked
"Well, the Duke and Duchess of Hailderguard already deemed Northington Magruder to supervise this mission - he will be your captain on this journey, not me" Captain Leo answered, regretting it already.
"Aye captain " Northington got to the gates just in time - "Captain Leo, I see you met to my demands!" said the cocky unbeliever."I have a real responsibility here in Hailderguard..."
Captain Leo sighed in annoyance before turning to Northington "Off you go, Magruder"
Facing the crusaders who were ready to go, Northington gave a signal for their departure."Alright, onward!"
The faithful horses galloped with speed in the direction of Palm Closter.
===
"Old Kent watch out!"Anastasia called out, preparing her bow and arrow, The strapped demon wasn't down.
It waited patiently to recover it's strength and while watching for the perfect timing, in that brief moment of unlocking its cage, the demon pulled and loosed through all the restrains, it was free!
"Attack!" The crusaders stationed behind the very cage charged towards the tall grimmimg demon, Old Kent was immediately pulled back from the demon's attack range by Zenemiah, who was surprised as to how the demon escaped from the restrains.
"They're evolving… this wasn't in the book!!" Shadrach uttered,…Victoria was scared, not because of the demon, but because of the chance crusaders aren't able to kill it
As swift as possible, Anastasia aimed and fired two direct shots at the forehead of the demon which landed with perfect accuracy,
But the demon simply kept walking, it was unfazed by the attack
"What?!" Anastasia shocked.
"Burn it down with the mechanized blowtorch!" Anastasia ordered in a breathe
She couldn't let herself be stunned by the dexterity of the demon —if sticks don't work try stones and if that doesn't work try steel—
Two hefty crusaders fired immediately at the demon landing a hit on it's back, burning the shrieking demon.
The order of weaponry in the Crusaders army was divided into three groups.
[Melee] ; Swords, Spears, shields
[Ranged] ; Archers and gunners
[Artilery] ; Flame launchers and cannons
The combination of other variables would then create their class as either knight, calvery and the rest
Captain Leo took led the knights specialized in shields and swords crusaders; Vice Captain Maximus Pierce head the guns and cannons and Anastasia took charge of the archers and blowtorch mechanists(Artillery unit).
But the demon didn't stay down!, Still in flames, the demon slowly walked towards the surprised crusaders
- "die, demon!" Anastasia fired two more arrows at the demon landing on its eye and chest region ; which kill it finally.
"Is it dead now?" Victoria asked, standing behind Shadrach.
"It's not it death that matters..It's why the demon resisted, like it was grower" Old Kent uttered.
Arriving at the scene, Vice Captain Maximus patrol crusaders got to see the burning demon - "is there need for assistance officer Anastasia?" Balor, one of Maximus strongest crusader asked.
"No"Anastasia replied, scanning the Crusaders behind him "Where is your Vice Captain?"
"Few meters away from the border ma'am"
"Okay, as you were" Anastasia shifted her attention back to the demon corpse, part of its body burnt and covered with her arrows
The patrol left the scene, leaving Anastasia and her crusaders at the border gates.
"Get this to the lab at the base…." She ordered "…Deliverant Unit!"
At first, Zenemiah, Victoria and Shadrach were surprised to hear that, but when Anastasia marched towards their faces - they knew she was referring to them.
"Old Kent, Deliverant Unit, come with me, we have a Vice Captain to see"
Back to the inexplicable Saint Claire household, Eve arrived home with her handmaid from a business siting.
"Welcome home Madam" Bartholomew opened the door to acknowledge the presence of the wife of late Kish Saint Claire.
"Oh bartholomew" Eve smiled, sitting on her favorite cushion in the sitting room "How are the children doing,Bartholomew?" Eve asked.
"Ohhh, well..." Bartholomew answered in an awkward manner."They went out, to have fun with the young lord Shadrach Hastings"
"By this hour?" She asked
"No madam, they went out earlier today, with Young master Shadrach…something about…building tree houses" Bartholomew was a bad liar, but his white lie worked
"Normally I would have sent the bulter to bring them home, but I think it's best if I let them be" Eve sighed as she looked at the window
Bartholomew was surprised, but he paid attention to listen more it felt like the lady was going say something .
"After their father's death, they never smiled, so let them their fun" Eve got up, heading upstairs."After all, they're with Shadrach, right" she asked
"Y-yes madam" Bartholomew shuttered knowing in heart that the children were elsewhere….
Anastasia, Old Kent and the newly formed Deliverant Unit reached the spot where Vice Captain Maximus Pierce was observing the cracked nature of the ground's surface….