As the battle came to an end, Orion looked at the surroundings in defeat as the only people left were him and Orlog. It was a big loss for the county as they lost six knights and some soldiers who were showing good progress, as some could even manifest aura soon, but to no avail. Most of the strongest knights of the county were guarding the borders, and the only available ones were the rookies.
"At least some soldiers got away because of that tree."
"... !!!"
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Shut it and look for a white-haired kid."
"Oh, you mean the guy who beheaded that worshiper?"
"Yes, look for him."
"Alrighty."
They searched and searched, but to no avail; the white-haired kid was nowhere to be seen alive, and not even his dead body.
"Did he run away?"
"Perhaps when he saw the black knight."
"I'm surprised he could."
"Because of fear or ?"
"Yeah, I even saw some soldiers shivering when that thing appeared."
"... Should we bring that thing back?"
Orion asks as he looks at the body of the black knight, but something unexpected happens.
"!!!"
"Damn it, what the hell?"
A dark energy flew from the black knight's body that started to disintegrate into the air as it made its way deeper into the forest and
"Should we track it, Orion?"
"No... it's too fast, and we don't even have horses."
"..."
"Rest assured some people will come and bury everyone who lost their lives today."
"Curses..."
It was a horrifying sight, as staying for longer in the middle of the massacre that just happened would inevitably mess with your head. Everywhere was blood and bodies of both demonic worshipers, knights, and soldiers.
"Let's move, Orlog; it doesn't help anybody if we stay here."
"... Behind you."
Quite regretful. Orlog follows Orion close behind, closing his eyes until blood and bodies weren't around anymore. Orlog wasn't a weak man, more like an empathic one; to see such a massacre happening was not an easy thing, not even for a knight.
"Sadly, I think we will see even more things like this, Orlog."
"The times are changing."
"And we must not back down."
"Yes..."
Making their way into the forest, who was now healing after the storm caused by the demonic summoning, Orion couldn't help but wonder what happened with the black knight's body and the black energy that flew deeper into the forest but the white haired boy was the thing he was thinking about the most.
"Heya Orion, are you still thinking about that boy?"
"... Yes, something about him makes me intrigued; that sword path was unexpected."
"Yeah, maybe he wielded a sword before."
"No... it was not a cut that was polished; it was brutal and untrained."
"Huh? You can tell that this easily?"
"I don't know... it didn't seem like a strike that was practiced before."
"So you are saying that it's pure talent?"
"I don't know."
"Hey, why the hell are you opening such a topic if you don't want to talk?!"
"..."
"Stop ignoring me!"
"..."
Walking through the destroyed forest, Orion kept ignoring Orlog and started to think about the white-haired boy again; a feeling inside him kept telling him that it wasn't just a random encounter.
"Open the gates! We are knights of Count Theodor of Ranavom. Sir Orion and Sir Orlog!"
"Y-yes sir! Open the gates."
After they got out of the destroyed forest, they found their horses, who were bound to a pole with a sign showing the way to the nearby cities, arriving in a hurry to the city of Sturma of the Ranavom county.
"!!!"
Entering the gates, the soldiers who were separated from the main group lined up on each side, making way for the two knights drenched in blood. No one dared to ask what happened as soldiers looked down in shame. Some may ask themselves, what if the tree didn't fall? Maybe with them there, there would be a different outcome, and others may be grateful for not having to fight this day and living another day.
"We won't leak what happened in the forest to anyone but Count Theodor, but be sure we are the only survivors."
Maybe Orion felt obligated to say something in this confusion, but even so, what happened in the forest was confidential, something that only the count should know.
"Prepare the horses and carriages; we are rushing back to Ranov!"
"Yes, Sir Orion!"
Everyone started to move loading supplies in the carriages or getting the horses from the stables as Orion and Orlog went to clean their armors while the preparations were being made for their journey back to Ranov.
"..."
"..."
Silence engulfed the room where Orion and Orlog were cleaning their gear until Orlog spoke.
"You know, Orion... my son told me one day that he wanted to become a knight."
"Oh... following your steps?"
"I guess all the stories I told him got to his head."
"Congrats."
"No... I kept quiet that night as he looked at me confused and sad, asking me if he had done something wrong."
"What?"
"I'm scared, Orion... I love my son, and I wish for him to follow his dreams. That's why I didn't reject his wish... but deep down I'm scared."
"..."
"What we saw today, those poor kids, we only saw the cages open."
"I... "
"Yeah... with your mind fixed on the white-haired one, you forgot about the other ones."
"... Damn."
"Poor kids, they are probably in the forest... That's what I'm saying! What if one day it will be my son in that cage?!"
"Orlog, but what if one day he will be the one to open the cage and free others?"
"... That."
"Maybe he will be able to do what we couldn't save the children and not lose any comrades."
"I don't know, man..."
"It's okay; you don't have to make a choice now." Orion said as he put his hand on Orlog's shoulder.
"Thank you."
"Don't mind it—"
"Sir Orion! The preparations are ready!"
A soldier knocks on the door, informing the two knights that it's time to leave and head to the city of Ranov, the capital of Ranavom County.
"Let's move... the count shall be informed."
"After you."
The two left the room as blood from the rags used to clean mixed with the water inside the water buckets; it was time to inform Count Theodor about this madness.