Chapter 9: Arlcliff City

Magnus had grown accustomed to the silence of the forest, a stark contrast to the lively hustle and bustle of Arlcliff.

The city, with its towering buildings, carved a labyrinth of paths and streets, while shops of every kind, from clothing to jewelry, adorned the sides of the cobblestone roads. And this was just the outer ring.

Nearer to the center, where a castle-like structure dominated the skyline, the buildings stretched taller, their elegance showing they were made for a higher class of people than the ones who lived where they were now.

Magnus had assumed that they would actually be heading towards that area, but their actual destination, which was the garrison, was closer than he thought. As they approached the large stone walls and towers, their horses started to slow down, and Magnus was able to get a better look at where they were heading. Although the garrison didn't measure up to the castle in terms of size, it was definitely imposing in its own right.

Pulling to a stop at the entrance, all three of them dismounted. The moment Magnus's feet hit the ground, his legs nearly betrayed him.

"Huh, are you okay?" Gerald noticed Magnus's shaky legs as he almost toppled over.

"Ya… perfectly fine…" Magnus said, his voice betraying his struggle as he steadied himself, following the others toward the garrison.

The guards at the city gate, decked in heavy armor, were a stark contrast to the garrison soldiers, who wore basic leather and iron gear, swords casually slung at their waists. Still, what the garrison's guards lacked in armor, they made up for in numbers.

In the short journey to the garrison, Magnus counted at least sixty soldiers patrolling the area.

"Halt! Identify your-" The call from a guard at the garrison's entrance was cut short, his voice trailing off in surprise as his gaze landed on Mia and the others.

"Cap- Captain Reiheim!? You're alive, Marcos, and Gerald too!" The guard's shock was mixed with evident joy at their return.

"Haha, still posted here, Pezar? It feels like you haven't moved since we left." Gerald's jest earned an awkward chuckle from the guard.

However, Pezar quickly brushed off the comment, realizing he had neglected to salute. Just as he was about to correct his mistake, Mia tapped his shoulder.

"Relax, Pezar. I know it's been a while, but you're already tripping over yourself."

"Uh… right, sorry. It's just that we lost contact with you all a while ago. After we received the last report from your messenger hawk, attempts to reach your company went unanswered. The Major General was about to dispatch a reconnaissance team if you didn't show up in the next week or so."

Pezar's mention of the company prompted him to peer past them, expecting to see more of their group but finding only Magnus and their horses.

"Wait... where is the rest of the 23rd Company?" Pezar's question immediately darkened the atmosphere, Mia, Gerald, and Marcos's expressions turning somber. Pezar's eyes widened in dawning realization and dread.

"No way... all of them?" Mia remained silent, taking a moment to take a deep breath before speaking.

"We need to speak with the Major General. Is he available?" Despite his shock, Pezar managed a nod.

"He's in a meeting with a messenger from Takerth Academy, sent by the Headmistress, I believe." Mia's frown deepened at this news, though she thanked Pezar for the information.

What could the Headmistress possibly need from the Major General?

The somber atmosphere stuck around for a couple of moments before it was broken by Magnus, who coughed in an attempt to ease the tension and remind the others he was still there, unsure of what he was supposed to be doing right now.

Mia quickly turned her attention to him.

"Oh, right, sorry about that. Pezar, this is Magnus; Magnus, Pezar. We need to file a report, so Magnus, could you wait in one of the guest rooms? I'll come talk to you later, okay?"

Magnus had no objections, simply nodding in agreement. Mia entrusted him to Pezar's care before she and the others entered the garrison. And with that, Pezar and Magnus were left alone at the entrance.

"Um, please follow me, sir." Pezar, adhering to Mia's instructions, quickly got used to Magnus's presence with a respectful nod, despite the noticeable age gap. Internally, Pezar was curious about Magnus's identity. His youthful appearance belied his significance; after all, he was in the company of Mia and the others.

Could he be a refugee? It feels unlikely; they wouldn't bring a refugee directly to the garrison and give him one of the guest rooms. He looks more like a nobleman's son.

Ultimately, Pezar decided to give up on his speculation as he shook his head; it wasn't his job to think about it anyway. The garrison sprawled over nearly a hundred thousand square feet, yet the guest accommodations Mia mentioned lay in a separate building.

To the right of the main garrison, connected only by their walls, stood a structure more akin to a manor than a military facility. Though it echoed the garrison's architectural theme, its refined appearance, highlighted by a sprawling courtyard with a central fountain surrounded by lush flora, was definitely more welcoming.

Navigating through the courtyard to the building's interior, Magnus took the time to admire what he saw. It may have been simple, but everything was kept clean and in order by the abundance of maids focused on upkeep.

Damn, you could probably get lost in this place with how many rooms it has.

"Here you go; this room is prepared for any guests or visitors of the Major General. Please, stay within the premises to avoid any complications," Pezar advised.

"Right, thanks." Magnus expressed his gratitude to Pezar, who responded with a nod before leaving. Stepping into the room, Magnus was immediately taken by how spacious it was. The sizable king-size bed, decked out with crisp sheets, plush covers, and fluffy pillows, was practically inviting him to rest on it.

The room was furnished with a dresser, a desk paired with a chair, ink, and paper for writing, a comfortable couch beside a long table, and various decorative pieces that gave the space a refined atmosphere. It even had a clear mirror off in the corner.

On Earth, such furnishings might be taken for granted, but here, they signified a level of luxury and status reserved for esteemed guests.

"Wow, this place is nice," Magnus mused. The only thing he found odd was how close this place was to the garrison, but he wouldn't complain about finally having a room to himself after sleeping in a tent.

Fatigued, Magnus let himself fall onto the bed, feeling the toll of the journey and his not-yet-mended injuries. Still, despite his weariness, he didn't actually feel sleepy.

It was one of those moments when the excitement for what was to come was enough to keep sleep at bay. So, with nothing else to do right now, Magnus blinked, and as his eyes reopened, the Command Console materialized before him, though it looked as if he were staring at the ceiling.

Alright, I've been lenient with you since so much crazy shit has been going on. But now that I know for sure you can actually do something, today is the day I learn how to use you!

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"I apologize for the delay. The last few days have been hectic, and I've been swamped with work. But I must say, it did catch me off guard to hear that the Headmistress of Takerth Academy had gone to the trouble of dispatching a messenger directly to me. It can't help but wonder why she would do such a thing, especially with the City Council Meeting just a couple of months away."

The room, adorned with intricate woodwork and stonework, resonated with the voice of the middle-aged man who was sitting at a desk.

Before him stood a figure cloaked in white and gold, lacking any distinguishable insignia or symbol, only a peculiar pattern adorning their attire. Their face remained hidden, and their body shape gave no clue to their identity or gender.

The word anonymous perfectly fit this person.

"We do not question the Headmistress's commands. We simply execute them," replied the cloaked figure, their voice unwavering, almost eerily monotone.

The man sighed deeply, settling into his chair behind the grand wooden desk. He fetched a glass and a bottle of golden liquor from a drawer, pouring himself a drink with a nonchalance that ignored his visitor's presence. After savoring a few sips, he leaned back, shifting his attention back to the messenger.

"So, you're not going to give me a moment's peace until I agree to listen, huh? I should have known; persistence is a hallmark of her people, isn't it? Very well, what does she want?" Upon hearing his agreement, the cloaked figure spoke, but this time their voice mimicked that of a charming older woman.

"Major General Arbarth, forgive the intrusion. Under normal circumstances, I would have met you personally, but we're currently facing a bit of a crisis. As I'm sure you're aware, I've been providing you with both Adept and Master-level mages in order to combat the Kryle invasions along our northeastern frontier.

Regrettably, however, we've observed a more than thirty five percent increase in casualties among these mages and their accompanying units over the recent weeks, an alarming and unprecedented surge." Despite the dire nature of her message, the Headmistress's tone remained surprisingly indifferent as she proceeded.

"Both you and I are well aware that it's nearly impossible to defeat a fully trained mage through sheer numbers alone or with basic weapons. Yet, given the unusual Kryle activities in the region, we've yet to identify a plausible reason for this sudden spike in casualties.

It pains me to say this, but unless swift action is taken, I will be forced to terminate our existing agreement. I cannot, in good conscience, continue to expose my people to such risks, especially given the kingdom's current challenges, both internally and externally.

I intend to raise this matter at the upcoming City Council Meeting, and I'm confident they will support my stance. Therefore, you have until then to uncover the cause of these increased fatalities. I wish you luck, Major General." Throughout the delivery of this message, the cloaked messenger didn't need to pause for breath.

On the other hand, when it came to the message's contents, Major General appeared unfazed, continuing his drink as the message concluded.

"What a mess…" he muttered quietly, just as the cloaked messenger prepared to take their leave.

"We have delivered the Headmistress's message; goodbye." With those final words and without any hesitation, the messenger darted out through an open window to the right of the Major General. In an instant, they vanished without leaving a trace.

Left alone, the Major General remained silent, his expression unchanged. However, the sudden sound of glass breaking snapped him out of his daze.

"Hmm? Oh, these glasses were a gift from Shilve, weren't they?" Observing the cracks spiderwebbing through the glass in his hand, he sighed, his grip loosening. He then took a few moments to finish his drink, lost in thought, until a knock on the door disrupted his solitude.

Straightening up, he shifted seamlessly from a state of contemplation to one befitting a man of his station. His eyes sharpened, his posture corrected, and his voice deepened, resonating with authority.

"Come in."

As the door swung open, Mia, Marcos, and Gerald entered, their movements synchronized as they lined up in front of him, offering salutes and announcing themselves.

"Mia Reiheim, Captain of the 23rd Eastern Border Defense Company, reporting back, sir!"

"Marcos Zulg, Leader of the 23rd Eastern Border Defense Company's Recon Group, reporting!"

"Gerald Lerium, Leader of the 23rd Eastern Border Defense Company's Knight Platoon, reporting!"

The Major General's initial shock was clear, rendering him silent for a moment before a smirk slowly broke across his face.

"Well, and here I was beginning to think you three had died. I wasn't exactly keen on the idea of sending platoons of knights to deal with you three at once if you all ended up being turned into Kryle-Human Hybrids." Despite maintaining a mostly stern demeanor, there was an unmistakable hint of relief in the Major General's voice.

He was clearly glad to see them alive.

"Forgive my forwardness, sir, but I doubt a few platoons would've done much against us anyway." Gerald's jest prompted a chuckle from Arbarth, who nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, that would have been unlikely. You three represent some of the finest we have. This leads me to wonder about the long silence from your company… what transpired?" The shift in the room's atmosphere was immediate, from somewhat jovial to gravely serious. Mia's face darkened, yet she was the one who had to step forward.

"It pains me to report that Clearview Village has been destroyed, overtaken by a sudden surge of Kryle. I've never seen them in such large numbers before, and nearly all were hybrids. Our escape was successful thanks to sheer chance, heading west and crossing a river via bridge. However, I regret to inform you that the remainder of the 23rd Eastern Border Defense Company was slaughtered."

Arbarth clasped his hands together, closing his eyes momentarily, perhaps to gather his thoughts or to manage his emotions. When he opened them again, his gaze was serene.

"I see. Clearview Village was crucial for its agriculture. Their trade was vital for mitigating the food shortage crisis we've been facing in the surrounding towns. If the kryle have penetrated that deep, it indicates a breach in our border defenses.

The presence of hybrids among them is particularly alarming, suggesting that Clearview Village may not be the only victim of their onslaught. This event aligns with their recent more unpredictable behavior, a point I plan to raise at the City Council Meeting."

Each word seemed to weigh heavily on Mia, causing her to bow her head further, while Marcos and Gerald clenched their fists tighter. The fall of Clearview Village was a burden they all bore, a shadow over their spirits that no amount of joking could wave away.

"Sir, I am ready to accept any punishment deemed necessary-" Mia's voice was laden with gloom, but Arbarth interrupted her with a raised hand.

"What we need now is not the penalization of yet another soldier but to rally more efforts towards rectifying our situation. This applies not only to you, Mia, but to Gerald and Marcos as well. If you seek a chance to redeem yourselves, then be ready for the challenges ahead.

Be prepared, both physically and mentally, for your next assignment once the 23rd Eastern Border Defense Company is reinstated."

Mia and her companions' initial surprise swiftly transformed into a visible surge of motivation.

"Yes, sir!"

Their unified response prompted a nod from Arbarth, who then added, "In any case, unless there's more, you can document the full details of the incident at a later time."

At his words, Mia shared a brief look with Gerald and Marcos, who both subtly nodded in agreement, signaling her to proceed.

"Actually, there is one more thing of note that I believe warrants attention."