It was too early for them to rest. And so, they nap for 3 hours before investigating.

    The sky and clouds were tinged by orange and yellow with no source can be found. Equipped by light breastplate and fastened buckler, Alastor was confident enough to show himself outside. His equipment was similar to Linda but unlike him she’s equipped with headgear.

    Ken on the other hand, gave up any property of defenses and focuses on offense and mobility. He equipped brass knuckles, light headgear and chausses. All was made mixed in silver and iron. It appeared to be heavy to move but Ken was trained to use it.

    Outside, they heard rapping of axe. The guard with a heavy build easily cut off the log in to two. The others were busy talking to each other while some were scouting the area for security purposes.

    They all felt a familiar yet strange feeling of someone gaping at them. Although vague, they are certain it came from the group of people that is sitting down and talking just outside the mansion. They shrugged the uncalming gaze and moved on.

    The sun’s orange rays drenched the calm rice field in tandem with the breeze. They had known mesmerizing as they witnessed when they came down to the village. The rice field were set into 8 rectangular figures that stretched over the hill far away from the forest that resides fruits.

    With the much welcoming spring to usher new season, the farmers have prepared planting and saw for the last three weeks that the lush green earth had embroiled to bloom. In the later days, the farmers would have known enrichment from the crops they patiently waited to grow. The results of the last month’s harvest are the result of their efforts, but their scrutinizing gaze they felt from the villagers had foretold them that it is far from the truth. The dead glimpse in their eyes says otherwise. It had been a hoot for them to guard their land when the monsters have come to attack them and ruined their crops.

    Revelry has become foreign to them. It was normal for them to have revelries as soon as they have harvested the months of patience they have to endure, but when the monsters have arrived and destroyed to their land, they have not known peace.

    It is no wonder why their dread laden faces had overdriven their desire to go out in the rice field to check their crops for that they have feared that their life would be gone to waste and become the prey for the monsters. And with that thought, their harvest has come to minimum to none. They fear that if they astray from the nearer rice field they will come to meet death. This plague of thoughts has become a hindrance to fully gather the supplies they needed for the exportation.

    The lord cannot blame them for their inaction. He knew that it would cost them their lives if they ever gone far beyond his guards’ reach and it heavily tax his conscience if he let them die in vain.

    The villagers had thought of them intimidating, given what they wear, it can be hardly to oppose their thoughts. But their misgiving has been swayed off when they get to know them and all went smoothly on their part.

    The villagers had said that they recently stopped taking care of the crops ever since some of the guards has been wounded by the monsters. That was last week ago.

    From time to time the monitoring had become often to seldom. Instead of harvesting rice, they focused on harvesting fruits which is close to the mansion and has better security than the far part of the rice field. The downside to this is that the marketing revenue will decrease.

    The group had talk to the villagers. They have learned that most of the attacks occurred in the hill which is the northeastern part of the forest where they harvest the fruits. So, they have come to investigate the place.

    They saw a scorched part of the land, nearly the size of a beninghol which is 9 feet. The trees had torn off from their respective place and the claws, varying in sizes had made their mark across the land.

    Felt the odd displacement of traces that they had presume, Alastor raised a question.

    “Hmm.” He crouches and investigate the traces, “How odd. The marks from there and here implies that a battle between two monsters had taken over. Unlike these marks, the traces back in the forest are far older, maybe over months before being laden by the moss and regrown branches.”

    Linda crossed her arms and motion towards the marks. “It might be possible that the monsters brawled over the territory that they have found. But then again, it’s far-fetched to the truth. I don’t believe that it is simple as it is.”

    Ken had noticed presence behind the hill where they were overshadowed by the shade and has covered them under it. He dashed and leap over the top of the hill. He came down and passed over the tree before preparing himself for the unexpected.

    Ken fisted and walk carefully and thoroughly observed the trees. He witnessed that there’s mark and damaged trees in the forest. When he felt that a presence had strike chilling gaze at him, Ken immediately made a stance and quickly guarded himself.

    His eyes caught a silhouette fast as bullet piercing and hiding in the shadowy part of the forest. Linda and Alastor had realized that Ken is out of there sight and went over the hill as a hotspot to scan the area.

    Linda glanced at Alastor who’s remained silent for a while. She knew that he’s silent all the time in the mission, but his aptitude of uneasiness had gotten over her nerves.

    In fact, she’s right. His mind has been veering from the right track.

    “What’s on your mind?” Linda asked.

    Alastor who’s on top of his head was pulled back in reality.

    “What?”

    “I was thinking how we should deal with the monsters?”

    “Deal? You mean, kill them?”

    “Yes.”

    “That comes later. We have to identify them first before we conduct our plan,” She paused talking and head down the hill after seeing Ken, “But seriously, what’s going on inside of your head?”

    He sighed.

    “About the Renegades.”

    “What about them?”

    “I’ve been wondering why did the Renegades betrayed us.”

    His words are closer to question rather than a statement.

    “I can’t say that it’s easy to ignore, since it feels like the top brass didn’t tell us the whole story.” She continued. “But one thing for sure, just like anybody else, the Renegades are only following their desires for more.”

    “Desires huh?”

    She nodded. “When weak people have grown fond to peace, they willingly try to keep it that way. But when strong people have grown bored to peace, they will do everything to tear it apart.”

    “So, you’re saying Aurelius and the others are but a warmonger?”

    “It’s not simple as that.” She shakes her head. “We can’t even say what the hell are they trying to do, but they’re on to something big. Unfortunately, the glade is on the list. If they intend to leave the glade, they could have done it quietly.”

    “But they chose to show their fangs.”

    “It’s a reason for them and to us to break the chains.”

    “I get it, now. But allowing them to walk away like that, has its negative precipice on our part. If the enemies should know that our first line of defense had turned their back on us, eventually, they would take us easy and might come after us.”

    “Don’t gloat over that. We weren’t feared because of our secret weapons or our numbers, they feared us because of what we as individuals are capable of.”

    He did not reply.