Reincarnated as the Lady Prodigy

Forty-Five

Marching of Death 1

It's been over three hours since the undead rose and wreaked havoc that ruined almost half the once beautiful city of Griselda. The most destroyed part would be the plaza which is now in complete ruins. There is no longer a trace of the statue of a knight that proudly rose its sword.

Within the estate of Duke Franklin, knights swung their swords tirelessly.

A glowing red sliced the marching undead, in a blink of an eye, the undead turned to ashes while the undead with flesh simply drops to the ground. The red-like glass blade shines every time Geubert swings his sword.

THUD

THUD

THUD

Those that were hit by the red lightning from Geubert's greatsword ceased.

"DO NOT BE DISTRACTED! KEEP YOUR SWORDS POINTED TO YOUR ENEMY KNIGHTS OF THE DUKE!!!" Geubert screamed which strengthened the knights' morale.

"OOOOOOH!!!"

The battle resumed. Amidst the battle, there is a lone knight who takes the attention of not only the awed knight but also the big monster, as if they were drawn towards this particular knight.

Plate silver armor lined with black and red on their shoulder plate, the knight's help is simple but the detailed markings are enough to understand that the helm is far from ordinary. The black gloves with a faint gray light that matches that of his sword continuously glowed along with his sword.

Like Geubert, this knight's attack is wide as well, but unlike Geubert who used a single move to turn the skeleton undead into ashes, the knight attacked from one place to another but with every swing, the enemies ceased.

The other knights are in awe after they finished off the third batch of the undead. A while back the undead was seemingly endless but now they can see that they are decreasing.

"Father!" Geubert called his father, Duke Franklin, the latter took his helm and swing his sword once to remove the lingering blood. His sword's blade is gray. "I finished off the undead on my side." He informed with a large grin but with a hint of formality.

Geubert knew his father was a great swordsman. Since he was young, he rarely saw his father fight and use his sword because his father was busy managing the duchy, but when they decided to temporarily move to Griselda for vacation and to help Marquess Rolfe, he was able to see his father swing his sword more than the time he saw his father used his sword at the duchy.

Duke Franklin was a great swordsman, hailed as the best in the entire kingdom, although he wasn't able to attain the title of a sword saint which he badly wants to, he was still far stronger than other knights.

"Very well. Have you received word from Rolfe?" Franklin asked.

Geubert shook his head, "I haven't received a word from their side father. Should I send another message?"

"Yes, do that. Return to the camp and check the condition of our knights." The Duke ordered.

"Yes, Father. By the way, Father, the potions Lady Istorya sent are already consumed by half. Should I send a word to her?"

Franklin contemplated. Their mansion also has stocks of healing potions and other potions that help assist the knight in terms of their strength and speed but the scale of the attack consumed every of their potion, it was then, a Glacier Sterling flew by carrying a basket of potions, a letter and a storage ring came.

Istorya sent help at the right time. It would have been difficult for them to defend if their exhausted and wounded knights continued to fight in their state.

"Yes do that. We will compensate for the potions once this is all over." Duke Franklin replied.

"I will Father. I'll be going now." With a nod of his head in response to his son, he reminded him to keep vigilant.

It was then when a mixture of black and gray light started to slowly cover the sky. That glass-like light stretches from all directions. Suddenly, Duke Franklin caught sight of the five mages with them falling to the ground, gasping.

The Duke quickly went in the direction of the mage.

"My... my magic is running out of cont— ack!!!" The mages started trembling uncontrollably, the white of their eyes showing, and then, they fell onto the ground unconscious.

Duke Franklin called for the knights to take the mages to a safe place. Once the mages are gone, the duke looks up at the sky feeling ominous energy from it.

Once again, the ground shook, this time, it's twice as violent as before.

-

The spacious auction hall is packed with civilians, the employees are busy handing out food for the refugees.

"Here, have some food. Do you need anything else?" Soka, the manager of Faceless Shop handed the tray filled with one piece of meat, bread, a bowl of soup, and a glass of drink. The auction halls stage served as sleeping quarters for the refugees, the VIP lounges on the second-floor area became the place for the family with elderly, children, the disabled, and pregnant women. They are the priority of the auction house.

So far, everything has been going well. There was some confusion from families who got separated from their loves ones, fortunately, their family members are already inside the auction house, sadly though, not everyone is as lucky as the others.

"Thank you very much..." the woman thanked Soka with teary eyes.

He simply nodded his head and smile. He and the other employees are relieved that their family is safe because of the protection granted by the auction house. Their family members are now staying at the employee quarters within the protective barrier of the auction house.

Soka walked towards his superior and also friend, Blake, the latter was watching the auction hall while leaning on the door.

"You should be resting right now, Blake," Soka commented nearing Blake.

Blake turned to him for a second before his eyes went back to the refugees inside the hall. Without saying anything, Blake turned his back. "Let's go."

Soka watched Blake's retreating back before he sighed. "What were you thinking while looking at them?" He asked. It was obvious from the way Blake looked at the people inside the auction house that he's been in deep thought before he approached him.

"They were lucky."

Blake's curt answer made Soka tilt his head. "Of course they are! They were rescued by you!" He exclaimed feeling proud for Blake as his friend.

"Mhm," Blake hummed. They continued walking, no, in actuality, Soka continued following Blake wherever he might want him to go. "They were lucky this auction house is here. They're alive. Some are not as lucky as them." Blake said all of a sudden, afterwards, the two fell into silence.

Soka glanced at his friend but did not say anything. From the sound of Blake's voice, it seems like he was reminded of something from his past. Blake sounded regretful and relieved at the same time. For Soka, it was unexplainable.

-

Inside the meeting room gathered some of the employees with a high positions on the auction house.

Seated on the long rectangular table from the left are Alarkson, Vana, Kiera, and Siren. Across them are Eufema, Blake, Elise, Soka. At the very end of the table is Zaire with a serious expression on her face. No, it's too simple to call her expression 'serious'. Shadow looming on her face made her expression dark accompanied by a heavy and ominous aura around her.

None of the people present spoke a word but one can see Elise glancing in Zaire's direction from time to time, worried for her lady.

Sigh~

A single sigh from Zaire straightened everyone's back like soldiers on a drill.

"I would like to confirm that every single member of the employees and their families are safe. Elise, your family is well, they were automatically teleported to one of the mansions under our protection. The elder blacksmith along with the others are with them. I sent some of my trusted aid to protect them just in case."

Elise quickly nodded her head and expressed her gratitude. She knew her family is safe. When Lady Jozine guaranteed their safety she wholeheartedly believed her. She trusted her ladyship that much.

"With that being said, let me get straight to the point."

Once again, the aura around Lady Jozine turned heavy.

"The mages outside this mansion are losing their magic. Some lost their magic instantly and were extremely weakened, some suffered from their magic going out of control which resulted in their sudden death. The remaining mages who were able to keep their magic are suffering from their magic backlash." She looked at everyone inside the meeting room. "Which means, right at this very moment, the monsters are gaining—"

All of a sudden, Lady Jozine stopped talking, her eyes glowed for a split second, and then she became dazed. Her eyes are looking at them but she isn't exactly looking at them at all. It's as if she's staring at something further. Then, Lady Jozine regained her composure.

"Eek!" Elise gasped when the sudden wave of magic energy came surging out of Lady Jozine.

Alarkson, Vana, Kiera, and Siren are staring at Lady Jozine in awe. Blake on the other hand clenched his jaw, fisted his hands, and remained stoic despite feeling the raw power that made his knees shook. If he wasn't seating, he knew he'll now be kneeling in. That's how intense the pressure is from his Master. Eufema gasped and shielded Elise in hopes of lessening the burden she is feeling from the immense pressure from Lady Jozine but the magic energy shield that she built crumbled and faded in seconds. Soka is struggling too just like them. His face turned pale from the pressure although he is sitting farther from Lady Jozine

"L-Lady— " Before she can finish her sentence, she along with Soka, Blake, and Elise were wrapped in a faint blue shied. When she searched for the source of the barrier, it was the silver-haired lady, Siren.

Lady Siren nodded her head with a small smile.

Moments later, the immense pressure disappeared instantly like it wasn't there. The only proof of it is the c***k from the table and the wall.

"M-My lady..." Elise whimpered.

"I'm sorry. I lost my composure for a moment."

Is that how she lost her composure? Soka is thankful she is always composed then.

"Everyone, get ready."

Three words that carried a heavy meaning and responsibility.

The shine on Lady Jozine's eyes intensified before she spoke.

"Another wave of monsters are approaching the city."

To be continued...