The Night Critters (4)

Like his subordinates, Iris noticed that the demon lord wasn't afraid of these Night Critters. She chastised herself inwardly right then. How could she forget Ricci's words earlier? The faerie said that Lord Kieran and his Frost Guards were in a long war with the Night Critters, keeping them out of Asnar and Dravial at the same time. It's no wonder nothing surprised the demon lord now.

The hooves slammed on the ground as they continued advancing. She turned her head back and realized that their small camp was nowhere in sight.

"They are safe for now." Lord Kieran said. "Like the rest of Calaren Town, it depends on you whether they will live or not."

Iris gritted her teeth and gripped the saddle horn tighter. How could he say such words? Being chosen as a tribute to Asnar was as good as a death sentence for her and the rest of those maidens. He made it sound like she had a choice over the matter of life and death.

"You are a mage. You have magic at your disposal. Use it and prove to everyone that you aren't weak and your kind isn't as detestable as your fellow humans think you are."

His words stirred something inside of her. The need to unleash the real her and prove that she wasn't a weakling.

"Can you feel it? The slight tingle on your skin as your magic emerges?" Lord Kieran continued to whisper in her ear.

"Yes." She responded, feeling her magic swirling inside of her, waiting to be unleashed.

"Now, look ahead and focus. Command your magic to heighten your perception. Feel everything. You should be the one commanding your mana and not the other way around."

Iris scoffed inwardly as that was easier said than done. Not when she was pressed against the body of a man and could feel his very presence next to her.

Still, she did what she was told and looked ahead, despite the wind whipping harshly on her face, trying to see way past the horde of Night Critters who were screaming their senseless battle cry.

In a blink of an eye she realized that it wasn't just a horde of Night Critters, but a swarm of them. Would Lord Kieran and his Frost Guards be able to defeat and annihilate all of them?

"There's so many of them. A swarm of Night Critters has just reached the foot of the mountain and are advancing in this direction. There's another swarm that is still making their way to join the rest." Her voice had a hint of worry in it.

"There's no need to panic. We brought enough Frost Guards to deal with them. Now, can you tell where the leaders of the swarms are?" The demon lord asked while drawing his own sword as they were about to join the battlefield.

Iris hesitated, debating whether she should listen to this darkling. However, thinking about it, this darkling never once tried to harm her, even at her weakest point. She tried not to wince when his blade decapitated a few Night Critters that rushed towards them. Iris then noticed how swift and clean his attacks were.

More of the Night Critters surged towards them, but the demon lord made sure none of them were able to get through. Black blood stained his blade and Iris thought that he was like a grim reaper, collecting souls in the middle of the night. With every slash of his sword, enemies would crumble and fall on the cold ground, lifeless. No wonder this demon lord had a reputation like a war lord, not only in Asnar, but also in the remote villages of Dravial.

Iris reminded herself that they were in a battlefield and she should get used to seeing blood if she wanted to live in Asnar. Dravial wasn't a safe place anyway and no different from the land of the darklings, except the latter had more vicious fights amongst them.

Then, suddenly, she saw a Night Critter riding a horse ahead of them. It had a sword in its right hand, dressed in a pristine white tunic, in contrast to the other Night Critters whose clothes were in tatters. It had eyes, much to Iris's surprise. Dark obsidian eyes looking blankly at their direction, directing the other Night Critters to attack them.

No—Iris corrected herself. It was more like it was staring right through her, as if it was confused to see her here with the demon lord. Why did this high Night Critter make such an expression upon seeing her?

'Riding a horse?' Iris was confused.

Was this one of the high Night Critters the darklings were talking about earlier? She couldn't figure out why this high Night Critter was interested in her. Was it because of her magic?

"That's the leader." She told the demon lord and Lord Kieran followed the direction of her view and saw the high Night Critter himself. He was slightly impressed at how fast this magus was able to track their target. There were other Night Critters riding horses scattered around them, but she was able to spot the leader so easily.

A murder of crows arrives and surrounded the high Night Critter. Their red eyes confirmed what Iris assumed earlier about the crow she had killed. Their caw hurt Iris's ears and she groaned as some of them made a high pitch sound before flying away from the battlefield.

"How long would it take before the other swarm arrives?" Lord Kieran's question startled her, but Iris was thankful because it broke the unwanted connection she had with the high Night Critter.

Iris shifted her attention back to the mountain range, realizing that the other swarm had already reached the foot of the mountain. She cursed inwardly, wondering how they managed to arrive so quickly. She was sure as hell that it hadn't been over ten minutes when she spotted the two swarms of Night Critters.

"In about five minutes, I think." She replied, not knowing what else to do. Once the second swarm arrived and joined these Night Critters, their numbers would be enough to form a legion.

"Then we have no choice but to split from here." Lord Kieran replied, sending her into a fit of panic.

"What? You can't possibly leave me here!"