Chapter 24: Integrity Knights
1440 Words
It's been a long road.
It takes a week for us to reach the Headquarters of the integrity knights. Located far from the city, hiding in the savage mountain an old mansion will be found. The mansion is covered by thick moss and seems to fall at any moment.
This place never changes I guess. Despite its ruin-like appearance, this building is very sturdy.
We stand in from of an old building. This huge old building with moss growing to its walls. Is the headquarters of the Integrity Knights.
"Ren, is this the place?"
Asked Hanayuki
"Yes, this is the headquarters of Integrity knights. Let's hurry up--"
Before I finished my sentence, we're attacked by a shower of daggers.
The dagger was in speed of sound. I avoided and Hanayuki behind me deflected all the daggers with her lightning magic.
"What was that?!"
Hanayuki said with an angry tone.
"Sorry, little miss I'm just checking if Ren's ability didn't dull after he left the organization... You can still dodge my sound like daggers, feels like you didn't change a bit. You're still in your prime... But today is the day I will en you're status as number 1."
The man said with a thief adventurer outfit.
With his magic, he created a magic dagger and started throwing it to Ren non-stop.
The dagger is in the speed of sound but I can detect the upcoming daggers because of my concentration. With that, I'm able to predict the dagger's movement and avoid it as fast as I can.
"Ren is really fast... I need to look at this carefully and learn some combat skills."
Said Alicia.
"Becoming strong can't be achieved overnight, Ren really trained hard in his travel. With experience, you can do it too Alicia. You can become a powerful adventurer. I knew you can you got an awesome pool of magic in you after all."
Said Hanayuki to Alicia.
"Well, not as huge as yours."
I pull my sword from my back and kick the ground. I charge at full speed toward him, in few moments my blade was pointed to his neck, and my eyes glaring at his.
With my fight these past days and months. I became faster and cool-headed. I was able to think and find a weakness of the opponent.
I guess, I became stronger.
"Don't look at me like that what if I wet my pants... You really got a lot stronger. I give up."
After the fight and prove myself to my previous workmate.
He walked us to the chief room and meet the head of the Integrity Knights organization.
"Hey, Ren it's been a long time... I saw your fight earlier. You're not using sound magic very much."
"Sound magic is just a support attribute of mine. Also, I wanted to sharpen my sword skills."
"I see, I see, then who is this girl? I never knew that you're interested in a little girl. For you to have two girlfriends. I can say that your such a playboy."
"We are not his girlfriend we are just friends."
Hanayuki and Alicia said.
"They just dumb you."
It hurts a little but I'm not interested.
"Well, I'm not interested in them either."
This guy in front of me is the captain of the Integrity Knights. His name was Kuro the swordman. His primary weapon is a katana and usually, he can use all four elements. Not only that, but he also gave rare magic called space magic. He can stop the movements in his area of magic like he is stopping time.
"Stop teasing Ren already."
The one who talks is the secretary of Kuro named Yuna. She was pink hair slender body and seemed always angry. Her eyebrows feel like always meeting. She was very serious and don't take a joke. She is the vice-captain of the Integrity Knights.
Kuro then gets some papers and seriously looks at me.
He started to talk about the important news he's about to tell me.
"Ren, you might already know about this news but the child of darkness is been located."
"Child of darkness you mean that creature that was said to destroy everything."
"Alicia did you knew something?"
Asked Hanayuki.
"I just read it in the castle library when I was young."
"As expected from a princess."
"EH? You knew that she was a princess?"
"Of course I knew that she was a princess. We have the most accurate intel after all."
Well, that's sleeping knights for you. It's one of the reasons I work here before. It's to find reliable information about the red robe general and kill him with my sword.
The child of darkness. very 100 years a baby that can be a witch vessel was born. The witch vessel should be killed immediately before she was possed by the evil witch at a certain age.
"The child of darkness we are talking about here Ren is non-other than you're a friend from a long time ago..."
"You mean Hikari..."
The discussions continue and Kuro said everything about Hikari and the darkness that resides in her.
In summary, Hikari was a vessel to a witch and if the witch gains a physical body the witch will destroy the world.
After that, Kuro gives me more information about an upcoming battle on a remote island in Arsland. a battle between William and Hikari. It said the battle was intense and William give his full strength to kill Hikari but in the end, other organizations stole to victory and get Hikari.
"Witch-cult."
The long conversation was over Hanyuki, Alicia and I go to our reserve guess room to rest and think.
Alicia being a knowledgeable princess, knew a little about how terrifying the witch was described in the stories and historic text. Hanayuki on the other side doesn't have an idea about it.
Looking at Hanayuki she was really an easy-going girl and loves eating fried chicken.
"What's with the stare Ren?"
"You're face is messy."
"Eh?! You should say it.
"I did."
As I continue my serious face.
Hanayuki walked to me and give me a chicken leg.
"Here... Don't think so much about it Ren. Isn't it great your beloved was alive?"
Said Hanayuki.
"That's right, I'm happy but also sad..."
"I don't really know anything about this witch thing and complicated stuff. Like everything that man named Kuro said but I understand only one thing. Witch-cult is bad and the Witch is bad. I'm going to kick their butt when I see them."
Said Hanayuki and started punching the air.
"But the witch might take over Hikari's body."
Alicia said.
"Then let's find a way to avoid that... I mean, if the witch possed her already, then the world should be destroyed by now. Looking at the beautiful stars outside. I think Hikari is still in herself. Ren, remember in Flore Hikari attacked a person to distract us right. The man after that day was miracle healed without a scratch in the hospital. I think Hikari go back and cast magic to heal him."
Hanayuki sure is a very optimistic person. That's something I like about her.
"That's right, the damage to the man is non-vital."
"See... Hikari is still Hikari. She just doesn't want you to interfere in her problem, but now a weird cultist kidnapped her."
I stand up and look at the stars outside.
That's right Hanayuki is right. Hikari is still herself. I will save her and find a way to prevent the witch's possession.
"Let's go and save Hikari."
I said.
Alicia and Hanayuki nodded.
...
Within 3 days, In the full moon, the witch will do their ritual to revive the witch. In the night before the day. The plan will be executed.
For now, we sharpen our skills and train.
The day before the full moon came and everyone prepared and got ready.
The Day of the full moon came and the ship toward the remote Island arrived. We make our first step to the island and look up to the tall tower build in the center of the Island.
I wonder how many floors it has?
"That tower is so high."
"The ritual will be held tomorrow night in the top."
Kuro said to his squad.
"We should go and --"
Before Kuro finished his words.
Mages suddenly appear behind us from the water. They started to attack us with magic. All of a sudden many adventurers from the Integrity knight squad were killed and some are injured.
Surprise attack?! How did they know we're here?
The battle in Steel Island begins.
- Writer
