Elizabeth Rose

Chapter 2. Marching to Azria Steppe

Meanwhile, as Rose was drifting upon the Stygian River before getting rescued by the old man Bam, as the human kingdom, The Crimson Legion, triumphantly claimed victory over the fallen town of Folmen, their army swiftly and flawlessly executed their plans as if guided by a brilliant tactician. The once-struggling peasants, who were already struggling for survival due to the ongoing war, were now subjected to even harsher conditions, especially those who were non-human.

The town hall had been annexed by the Crimson Legion, who had transformed it into their new stronghold, while the town square now served as their training grounds. The Crimson Legion, in their usual modus operandi, pressed the townsfolk to join their ranks, but the majority were either too frail or too aged to partake. Nonetheless, they did not hesitate to loot what little produce the people could muster, despite it being scanty at best.

Amidst the grandeur of the town hall, a venerable head bishop garbed in splendid attire had just arrived, accompanied by his assistant. The old man, with a flowing white beard and a countenance of sagacity that befits his age, donned a dark coat and an exquisite nine-pointed star necklace, a token of reverence for the ancient magic revered by humans. In his hand, he wielded a mithril staff with a golden orb, encrusted with precious gemstones that shimmered in the light. This esteemed bishop went by the name of Ignatius Darkwood.

Remarkably, his assistant was none other than the stunning Felinus, a ravishing redhead who stood a little taller than Rose. Ignatius had saved the young Felinus from her previous predicament and had christened her as Arin Emberlyn. Arin diligently assisted the bishop with his health and made sure he took his medication. As a beast-kin servant, Arin was often treated unfairly by the other servants, especially the humans who regarded her as nothing more than a lowly helper. Sometimes however, the bishop valued her service and occasionally stood up for her when she was in trouble. Because for him, finding another competent servant was a daunting task, and Ignatius could not afford to lose Arin's dedicated assistance.

The two individuals coincidentally crossed paths in the lobby, where they came face-to-face with one of the commanders of The Crimson Legion and her cohorts. The commander in question was none other than Sylhprena Grimshaw, daughter of Kaelen Grimshaw, the leader of the thirteenth battalions of The Crimson Legion's army. Her vanity was evident in her attire, embellished with gold and silver coating to complement her hair color and her mithril greatsword. Sylhprena's conceit was unfounded, as she possessed the ability to augment her own physique with ancient magic without sacrificing her awareness, granting her strength beyond that of her fellow human soldiers. She had mercilessly slaughtered numerous humans and non-humans alike, and on one occasion, she had even taken someone's life purely due to their unsavory appearance or scent.

Beside Sylhprena stood her trusted second-in-command, her beloved younger sister, Calandra Grimshaw. Though not as towering as her elder sister who was taller than the average woman, Calandra was still taller than Arin Emberlyn and Rose, and radiated a similar air of haughty pride. Her lustrous blonde locks and ivory skin mirrored Sylhprena's, but her weapon of choice was a modest short sword forged from a blend of steel and iron. Though she longed to wield a more prestigious mithril blade, Calandra still not yet worthy of such an honor.

As the two groups met, Arin cowered behind Ignatius, hoping to avoid Sylhprena's intense gaze. "Greetings to you, head bishop," said Sylhprena with a respectful bow, followed by her subordinates who mimicked her gesture and placed their hand on their chest where the Crimson Legion's symbol was attached.

"Not your usual self to greet me, General Sylhprena," remarked Ignatius with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"It's merely a small gesture of appreciation for how flawlessly you captured Folmen, Bishop. But it will be the last," Sylhprena retorted, returning to her stance.