Exodia : Tales Of An Unwilling Raven

Request

“Watch out!” Lina yelled out as she kicked me.

I stumbled forward, barely avoiding a blade. I fell into a roll, pushing myself up. Immediately my eyes darted around. We were surrounded by Heralds. Each armed with a blade. They were nothing like the last. They moved like seasoned soldiers.

How did we end up here? Well let me take you back to this morning.

EARLIER THIS MORNING

The Nest was unusually quiet. No clanging of blades. No fights. No quarrels. It was almost peaceful. But it also didn’t feel right.

I sat on the couch observing everyone, wondering why things were quiet. Mira wasn’t her usual self. She laid alone, hugging a pillow in her hands. She hadn’t said a word to me since I woke up.

It turns out despite being a flirt, she can’t handle being flirted with.

Kora on the other hand was almost the same. She munched down on some cakes but her usual mumbling and humming wasn’t there.

Lina sat in a corner, observing her blade. She muttered some words I couldn’t make out. Shira and Shiba were nowhere to be found. I had learnt not to ask where they were or where they would be.

Last time they were out hunting monsters and well asking led me right into the middle of that.

As for Sylvi, she was surprisingly next to me. Her arms wrapped around mine. Her head leaned against my shoulder and she peacefully dozed off.

Is this some kind of prank? That’s all I could think of. Was the goddess playing tricks on me?

I had never experienced peace since I came here. It felt so wrong.

Just then, a knock came at the door. A stranger.

I could tell cause it sounded nothing like the girls. I glanced at Lina. She nodded, pulled her sword to her side and walked to the door.

“Who is it?” She asked, reaching slowly for her blade.

“A squire of the General. Sir Garland.”

My eyes narrowed. Lina glanced over at me. I nodded. Our communication had gotten better without words.

She opened the door.

On the other end stood a man, dressed in simple clothing. In his hand a scroll.

“A request from the General.”

He said, handing over the scroll. Lina took it and tossed it to me. I caught it mid air but by doing so, I shook my shoulder. Sylvi’s head dropped and she woke up.

“What’s going on?” She asked sleepily.

Her gaze shifted to my hands. Her eyes widened.

“Why do you have a request with the Royal seal in your hand?”

Royal seal?

The phrase seemed to spark the life back in the Nest.

“Wait what?” Mira sat up, turning around finally.

Kora threw the remainder of her cakes in her mouth before rushing to my side. Crumbs still clung to her face.

“Let me see.” She reached over but I pulled my hands away.

Lina shut the door and walked hastily towards me.

Why were they all excited about a Royal seal?

“Why are you guys all excited all of a sudden?”

They gave each other glances.

“The Royal seal means the request pays. Unlike other requests, if the Royal family gives you one, it comes with a price.”

I can see how anyone will be excited about this. But not this unit. They don’t seem to need money ever and one’s the literal Princess.

“Is that all?” I asked, not impressed.

Kora leaped over me, pulling the scroll from my hands.

“Not one bit.” She replied. “The best part is that the squad given this request can make a request in return after completing the mission.”

Oh. I see. That makes more sense. But I never remembered the Drake unit receiving one.

“Most units usually never get to see this kind of request. Even the Drakes never received one.” Lina said almost like she read my thoughts.

A sudden crack quickly caught our attentions. We all turned to Kora who now turned with a guilty look.

“I might have cracked the seal.” She muttered.

I stretched my hands out. She slowly handed it over to me.

“Well what does it say?” Mira leaned close. Her face was next to mine.

I turned to her and her gaze shifted to me. Her eyes widened and she jumped back. I couldn’t help but smile.

Who knew the best way to disarm the flirt was to flirt back.

I turned my attention back to the seal. I opened the scroll.

“It says. From the Royal Palace of Exodia. Raven Unit this is a request from your King. On the Eastern areas where your Headquarters reside, a village is located nearby. There have been reports of bandits attacking merchants and raiders taking from the villagers. You are to go and put a stop to this by Royal Decree. As always, there is a price. A thousand silver coins.”

I paused, looking up at the girls. They all had huge grins on their faces. I went back.

“As for the request to be made by your unit, you are granted three to be made at anytime.”

Three?

“Three?” The girls yelled unanimously and excitedly.

Before I knew it, Kora and Mira were jumping around. Lina and Sylvi smiled hard, trying their best to keep their composure.

But to me something wasn’t right. The mission sounded simple enough. Even easy for our unit. A thousand silver coins is four months worth of food. Add three requests. Something very rare. Something isn’t right.

I observed the request.

“To be carried out today.”

I guess I’ll find out what’s wrong once we are there.

BACK TO EARLIER

We all stood with our backs against each other. Our blades in our grips. Mira muttered a chant under her breath.

The Heralds walked forward, their blades angled and ready to kill. My gaze went beyond them, catching a red hooded Apostle seated at the back. Unlike the last, I could see his eyes and something was completely wrong. He was far too calm. Far too dangerous.

To Be Continued…