Night had fallen over Eldoris
The settlement was unusually quiet. Outside the walls, the Imperial army had set up camp, with hundreds of campfires dotting the clearing, and soldiers walking from tent to tent. Tanaka stood, observing the unfamiliar sight. Lucien had chosen to stay. Tanaka did understand the commander’s decision. It would look bad if he immediately left Eldoris. Besides, Lucien had been ordered to investigate, so he could not do that unless he went back.
Still.
Tanaka did not particularly appreciate having an army at his doorstep. Tanaka turned to look at the settlement. Most of his people had already returned to their nightly activities. The goblins had finished their work, the Moonhares had returned to their homes, the Kobolds had closed their workshops, the Greater Ogres had ended their shift at the construction sites, the Stoneshell Turtles had gathered in the southern district, the Star Wolf Warriors kept watch, the Mana Birds had perched atop the rooftops and turrets, and the
Tanaka smiled
The slimes were most likely still up and about, since they were notoriously bad at sleeping. A small blue figure suddenly bounced unto the wall next to him.
Boing
Tanaka turned to look at the intruder
"Sora."
"Yes."
"Why are you here?"
Boing.
Tanaka stared at the little slime.
"Never mind." Tanaka said as he turned his gaze back at the human camp. Sora bounced happily next to him. Tanaka turned to look at the human camp again, suspicion filling his chest. Something just wasn’t right. "Raizen." Tanaka said
After a moment, Raizen responded via the telepathic link.
Yes, Great One?
"Is there anything strange?"
Nothing yet.
Tanaka nodded
"Keep watch.
Raizen understood. Tanaka kept looking at the camp as he waited for the Star Wolf King to return. Neither one noticed the five figures sneaking away from the Imperial camp.
The five men moved through the forest, their armor removed, their weapons tied to their backs, their boots wrapped with rags to muffle the sound of their footsteps. The leader walked at the front, with his men following closely behind. One of the soldiers whispered. "Are we really doing this?" The leader turned his head at the sound of his subordinate’s voice. "You heard the order."
"We’re just supposed to investigate." One of the men said. "We are." The leader said. The soldier hesitated before adding. "That’s not what I was told." The leader’s eyes narrowed. "Then forget what you were told."
He turned his head to face Eldoris. "Find out how the monsters there react to pressure."
The man said nothing else, and the five figures continued their sneaking until they finally reached the outskirts of the settlement. The five men stopped as they got a good look at the walls of Eldoris.
It certainly wasn’t what they expected to see. Strong walls, watchtowers, organized roads, and tidy homes, all in perfect order.
There weren’t any signs of monsters. Even the usual smell of rotting flesh and bones was absent. One of the soldiers muttered in surprise. "Are they really living like that?" They slipped inside the settlement, keeping to the shadows and avoiding the main road as much as they could.
___________
Two goblin guards walked past the group. The leader slowly raised his hand, motioning for his men to be silent. They were about to move again when one of the goblins suddenly stopped. "Did you hear something?" He asked his partner. The other goblin looked around before shaking his head. "I didn’t hear anything." The first goblin narrowed his eyes. "I thought I did."
The two continued walking and the five men breathed a sigh of relief. They soon found themselves in a fairly secluded part of the settlement. The leader looked at the buildings ahead before turning to his men.
"That should be far enough."
He pointed at the group of goblin guards walking at the edge of the road. "Those." he added. They looked at the goblins before silently agreeing that it was a good idea. They were here to provoke the monsters. Now it was time to actually do it. One of the soldiers moved forward, but they were spotted the moment they stepped out on the road. "Humans!" One of the goblins exclaimed. Almost immediately, the goblins ran towards the main road, screaming in alarm. One of the soldiers quickly ran after them, and a brief but quick fight broke out before the humans managed to subdue the goblins and throw them onto the ground.
They continued their way deeper into the settlement. As they passed by the storage house, a group of Greater Slimes was seen walking away with some of the supplies. The men stopped and watched the slow-moving creatures before one of them muttered. "Slimes." "They’re harmless." The leader said. "How do you know?" One of the soldiers asked. "They’re slimes." The man frowned. The leader motioned for them to move again. They soon reached a quiet part of the settlement. The leader looked at the buildings ahead before sighing in relief.
They moved forward, deeper into Eldoris. It was when they turned the corner that they saw the little blob of blue right in the middle of the road. Sora bounced up and down.
Boing
The men stopped and the leader narrowed his eyes at the little slime. "Another slime?" One of the soldiers said dryly. "That’s what we’re supposed to be afraid of?" He added. Sora tilted his body. The leader raised an eyebrow before stepping forward. "Move."
Sora didn’t move. The soldier next to him groaned in annoyance. "I’ll take care of this one." he said before he drew his weapon.. The leader looked at his comrade. "Don’t kill it." "I’m not!" the soldier said as he swung his weapon. It went right through Sora’s body and the little slime bounced backward, much to the surprise of the soldiers
Boing!
They suddenly stopped when they noticed that Sora’s body had returned to its usual shape. Nothing was hurt. No blood was spilled. No wounds to be seen. One of the men stared at the little slime in shock. "What?" Sora tilted his body again telling them to leave. The soldiers didn’t answer him, but the little slime still tried to communicate with them. "Leave now." Sora tilted his body again, pointing to the gate. "No." A soldier said. Sora looked at the weapon in the soldier’s hand before looking at the man’s body. These humans were dangerous. The little slime bounced backward. Then toward the closest building.
Boing
The leader pointed. "Get that slime!" The soldiers moved forward, chasing after Sora.
The little slime bounced faster
Boing
Boing
Boing
He soon disappeared around the corner and the leader cursed
"After it!"
They followed.
They didn’t realize they were moving exactly where Sora wanted them to go. The little slime led them toward the central district. Then disappeared behind a building. The soldiers entered the road. Nothing. The leader looked around. "Where did it go?" A growl answered him. The soldiers slowly turned. Raizen stood at the end of the road.
Dozens of Star Wolf Warriors surrounded the area from the shadows. The leader’s face went pale. "How..." Raizen stepped forward. "You entered our home." The soldiers reached for their weapons. The wolves immediately growled. The leader raised a hand. "Don’t." His men stopped.
Raizen’s golden eyes remained fixed on them. "Put down your weapons." The leader hesitated. Then slowly dropped his sword.
The others followed. More monsters appeared. Greater Goblins. Greater Kobolds. Several Greater Ogres. The five Kijin arrived shortly afterward. Rogan cracked his knuckles. Raveana smiled.
Raishin silently watched the humans. Relia held her staff. Ryuken stood calmly at the front. The soldiers were completely surrounded. Then footsteps approached.
Everyone moved aside. Tanaka walked into the road.
"Who are you?" He asked. Nobody answered. "Why are you here?" The men said nothing. Tanaka turned to look at Raizen. "Did they attack anyone?" Raizen nodded. "They attacked a patrol." Tanaka’s expression darkened. "Are they alive?" "Yes."
"Good." Tanaka turned to look at the five men. "You entered Eldoris secretly. You attacked my people." Tanaka stared at the men
The leader was silent. Tanaka narrowed his eyes. "Answer me." Nobody spoke. Tanaka looked at the other men. "Speak." It was one of the men this time who answered. "We were told to investigate." Tanaka turned to look at the leader. "By who?" The leader looked at his subordinate before glaring at him. Tanaka narrowed his eyes at the young soldier. "Who told you to investigate Eldoris?" Tanaka asked. The soldier said nothing. Tanaka turned to look at the leader again
"By Lucien?" The leader said nothing. Tanaka was already starting to suspect him. He turned to look at the camp "Lucien doesn’t know about this." The leader’s expression changed. Tanaka was certain of it now. These had acted on someone behalf and not Lucien.
Outside the Dominion, the camp had already stirred to life when one of the soldiers ran toward Lucien’s tent. "Commander!" Lucien turned around as the soldier entered the tent. "What happened?"
"Some soldiers are missing." The soldier said. Lucien frowned. "Missing?" "They were part of the eastern patrol." The soldier added. "Why were they outside the camp?" Lucien asked. The soldier hesitated. "We don’t know." Lucien stood. "Find them."
"Yes, Commander." The soldier said before exiting the tent. He exited his tent, his attention on the dark horizon where Eldoris was located. Something was wrong
He could feel it. He watched the gates open when a group of Star Wolf Warriors exited the city with five men tied. Tanaka was right behind them, and the first thing Lucien said was a curse. Tanaka stopped several feet away from the camp, his eyes locked on Lucien. Lucien turned to look at Tanaka. "Your soldiers entered Eldoris." Tanaka said. Lucien’s expression darkened. "These five." Tanaka added. "I didn’t order that." Lucien said. "I know." Tanaka replied. That surprised Lucien. Tanaka turned to look at the camp. "That’s why I haven’t attacked your army." Lucien said nothing. Tanaka continued. "Someone inside your army is trying to start something." Lucien’s eyes narrowed. Tanaka turned to look at Lucien. "Lucien." The man looked at Tanaka. "You told me yesterday that you would control your army." "I will." Lucien said. "Then do it." Tanaka turned to look at the camp again.
He stopped after a few paces, turning to look at Lucien one last time.
"Because the next time someone enters Eldoris..." He said, "I won’t assume they came to investigate."
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