Chapter 32
"What kind of power was that…?" Lily breathed, lying on the ground as the grass around her lay flattened by the shockwave.
Drufas slowly turned his head toward his injured team, his eyes widened with disbelief.
"This has to go to the king…"
____
Hours later — The Capital
Drufas knelt before the king, torchlight stretching long shadows across the marble floor.
"What news do you bring?" the king asked, his voice echoing through the grand hall.
"The village… it was wiped away. What the slums brought… it was nothing compared to what we saw," Drufas said, head bowed.
"Did you manage to stop the raid?" the king asked, rising sharply from his throne.
"We did… my lord. But at the same time, we lost," Drufas whispered.
"What do you mean?"
The king walked to the tall arched window, staring out as though expecting the threat to appear.
"I believe their aim isn't the kingdom itself…" Drufas raised his head slightly. "I believe their aim is to destroy our main supplies."
"What do you mean by that?" the king asked, turning back. Drufas immediately lowered his gaze again.
"Their leader… even after losing all their beasts, he stood firm. He said their mission was still incomplete."
"Rise," the king ordered, returning to his throne.
"Thank you, my lord."
Drufas stood and withdrew a rolled leather map. He placed it on the table between them.
"This is the map of the kingdom and its outer villages. Here—" he pointed to the destroyed settlement. "Eldervale supplied our capital with maize."
He moved his hand to another village.
"The smartest plan would be to strike here next. Without supplies, our army starves. And no one would expect an attack from this direction."
The king's eyes narrowed.
"They returned after destroying Eldervale... No, they're not retreating… they're repositioning."
"They're planning their next coordinated attack," Drufas said.
"And the next strike would be on…"
"Ravenhollow," they said together.
---
Outside the Castle
Ten minutes later, Drufas stepped outside and found his team waiting for him.
"Shouldn't you all be healing?" he asked.
"How can we heal when those monsters are still out there?" the archer said, stepping forward with his hand wrapped in cloth.
"The king has requested all his Crosses back. We've been dismissed," Drufas said with a small smile.
"How can you smile when we've basically lost our jobs?!" the male dark mage snapped.
"Because we've been given a new mission," Drufas replied with a grin.
---
Hours Later — The Inn
Drufas and his team sat at a long, worn dining table while waiting for their food.
The inn was warm and rustic—lanterns flickering from iron hooks, a fire crackling in the stone hearth, wooden beams darkened with age, and the smell of roasted meat drifting from the kitchen.
"Are you joking?!" the executioner roared, standing and slamming his hands on the table.
"That's absurd… That's the Forest of Banishment we're talking about…" Lily said lowly. "No one who enters ever comes back."
"I'm afraid that's not entirely true," Drufas said, placing a brown leather book on the table.
"This is my family record. It foretells all monsters recorded through our bloodline. Two people entered that forest and lived to tell the tale… before going back in. If we succeed at this mission, our power could surpass even the Gold Cross."
The executioner sat slowly, jaw clenched.
Uneasy glances passed among the group.
"I know this mission will be hard," Drufas said, rising to his feet.
"But the reward… could finally give you all a peaceful life. A chance to rest. A way out of this warrior's path."
He turned toward the stairs.
"We'll discuss the details tomorrow."
---
Morning
Drufas descended the stairs the next morning only to find the table empty. He sighed and sat down.
"I guess I have no choice but to rehire new warriors…"
"And why's that?" the archer asked from behind.
Drufas turned and saw them...his entire team, fully armored and bandaged.
"Shouldn't you all be healing?" he asked again.
"I quickened things," Lily said with a bright grin.
"Yeah. And we better get going," the female knight added. "We'll get the full mission details on the way."
Drufas stared at them for a long moment.
"Well? Are you gearing up or what, leader?" Lily said, hands on her hips.
"Yeah, yeah…" he muttered, shaking his head as he rushed back upstairs.
His team sat around the table, waiting.
---
To be continued…