Chapter 3 : Entering The Belly Of The Beast

Loud horns echoed throughout the camp as the early morning sun rose.

Victor Vincenzo : "Wuh? Huh?"

Wiping the sand off my eyes as I yawned sitting up from the wooden crate bed, my back hurt.

Victor Vincenzo : "What bloody time is it?"

I put my clothes back on and strapped my sword before opening the tent.

The light of the morning sun shined on my face as the announcements were read through the various speakers of each group by using magic to amplify their voice.

I couldn't see who exactly was speaking but I patiently listened as we would undoubtedly be entering the Dark Forest soon.

The plan was to split the army into groups to cover more ground, setting up checkpoints and establishing contact with the lost towns and villages.

Survivors were to be interrogated and kept prisoner by the holy men at checkpoints regardless of status or reason.

That last part really caught my attention as it would mean even the surviving nobility if there were any left would be interrogated and kept prisoner by the Church

My interest in this philosopher stone grew, to think that they would go to such lengths in securing it.

The Church and King were risking to greatly offend the noble faction should any incidents occur in this crusade,

Victor Vincenzo : ("From my own understanding of the situation the goal was to conquer the Dark Forest piece by piece until we either find the philosopher's stone or reclaimed the lost territory.")

Victor Vincenzo : ("Hopefully my poor living conditions will improve when we establish contact with a town or village and set up a checkpoint".)

Victor Vincenzo : ("It would be good to sleep in a proper bed tonight".)

I was assigned a group number : 6 , and followed the instructions of the speakers telling us where to rally.

Due to my noble status the group I would be assigned to was much larger than standard with 32 knights, 2 holy healers and 45 able bodied peasants and commoners.

Including myself we made up 80 total.

Our goal was to set up a checkpoint in the nearest town.

Leading the group was a veteran knight by the name of Sir Antonio Muratori

The two holy healers were a pair of apprentice and master one being a young boy and the other being an old man.

The boy was named Charlie.

While the old priest was father Marco.

to my surprise I would be joined by two fellow nobles Adrian Azzurro and Ezio Eugenio.

Pedro and Orlando were also coming and another peasant from my domain whose name escapes me, a fellow who worked in wineries I think?

After the supply wagons were set up and the groups had been assembled into formations the speakers of each group ordered to begin the march into the Dark Forest.

It was an odd sight to behold an entire army of thousands once stretching into a long line of endless men were now marching like ants to a colony in organized packs of dozens.

Each group disappearing along the forest border in different directions.

Our group had been informed that the trip to the nearest town would be a two day march three at the most if something goes awry.

Due to the formation of the march I would be closely accompanying the other nobles and the two holy healers throughout our journey.

The sooner we get to the town the sooner I get to sleep in a real bed.

Victor Vincenzo : " Let's get this over with".

Like the others, group 6 disappeared into the Dark Forest.

The last thing Victor saw before entering the forest as he turned his head back was the wide summer blue skies.

For once he entered the forest the tall trees would block out most of the suns light and skies making it difficult to clearly see the path ahead of him.