Burning Soul

“Oye, you call him sir and call me by name? That’s not fair!” Milot was still complaining,

“Huh! Why should I call an idiot, irresponsible, stupid, pervert with such a title?

Don’t interrupt me while I talk to My lord, I’ll punch you” She glared back at him with a scary look quieting him for good.

“Are all girls that scary?” Nuae asked Vivian who was already rubbing her forehead due to pain.

“What happened to Eric?” Dimitri asked in a serious tone.

“He was sent to investigate a matter regarding a request by some villagers. It was about some Monsters appearing in the nearby vicinity. As some useless person was not being on guard, he had no choice but to send Sir Eric to investigate.” She told him about it.

“Useless!” Milot tried to break in the conversation but only glares were enough for him.

“Somehow I see someone I know in him!” Vivian looked at the scene with a worried look.

She was certainly talking about Aeneas, another person who fits in the description.

“For him, the mission should have been simple, a mere hour was enough but he hasn’t returned yet. Master Duvrion was worried sick so he dispatched us!” Agnes explained!

“Any clues?” Dimitri was worried as well.

“Not yet, but rest assured, we will track him down in no time.” She replied with confidence easing his worry a bit.

“Why don’t you let him be?

He’s been like that right? He’ll be back!” Milot said so casually,

“How can you…” Agnes was about to scold him but Dimitri took the role,

“We should never overlook this matter just because he has a habit to go unchecked, what if something happened to him!

Agnes, you go ahead and look for clues, and report back if you find anything suspicious.” Dimitri ordered her to which she nodded and walked back to the forest along with other sentinels while looking at Milot for the last time with regret in her eyes.

“Why did she...” Miot was still mad at her for behaving with him in such a manner.

It took them a while to get to the Tavern and prepare for Dinner, even though Dimitri seemed worried he had confidence in his forces, something made him worry.

“What was all that!” Vivian asked Dimitri on behalf of everyone,

“What?” He was confused as to what was she referring to,

“Yeah! Who was that?

It seemed like she knew him!” She asked him referring to Milot who was sleeping rather carelessly after getting stuffed with food and wine.

“Ah, that you say!

She was his fiancé!” Dimitri replied with a hint of a smile,

“Fiancé?” It was quite news for everyone.

“Yeah,

She is significantly a skilled warrior, also a dependable general. She’d been commanding all Sentinels for a while with no gaps for enemies to slip through. It was her who captured you all as well!” Hearing him they tried remembering seeing her on that day.

“Ah, it was she who knocked me!” Catherine remembered getting knocked out on that day as she was trying to search for sentinels that day.

“Also, she happens to be the daughter of Duvrion’s old friend. He wished her to marry him and Duvrion forced the proposal on him. Guess what happened next?” He looked at Vivian who replied to him in a low tone, “He ran away!”

“Hahaha

Yeah!

He ran away and came to me.

He was scared, he said he wasn’t ready for this yet. Taking responsibility and governing, he was afraid of what will happen if something went wrong. Duvrion always hoped him to be his heir as he’s quite knowledgeable, he’s also a fearsome warrior and has a very kind yet destructive personality. Unlike Eric who’s always been a bit spoiled with power.”

‘Ah, how could we forget that!’ Nuae remembered the interrogation.

“But, him running away was not a good move. Due to that, Agnes was embarrassed in front of nobles and Duvrion took his act as a foolish child trying to run and hide from reality. He challenged his own child to fight him and if Milot won, he’d listen to him, but as it happened, Milot lost miserably. Not once or twice, over 100times.”

“Over 100 times!” Everyone figured it to be only expected.

“Well, that’s enough for his story!

Your journey from here on is going to be tough.

Allow me to help you with something!” Dimitri stood and spoke while looking for something in his storage.

“With what?” Vivian asked curiously.

“Allow me to help you with your levels!” He took out an artifact,

“Wait, isn’t it….” Vivian was shocked by the existence of the artifact he pulled.

‘Staff of Sagehood’

…

“All preparations are complete!

Don’t you dare leave me behind if anything goes wrong, we have a contract!” Someone, far deep in the forest spoke to his partner

“What do you take Gnosis as? We are loyal to contracts,

To the very end.

And rest assured,

You are being escorted by one of the Xenos of Gnosis.

Nothing shall stop you!” His partner replied while drawing out his Dagger which glowed in the pitch dark forest.