The streets of Mailie were quiet, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating the cobblestone paths. Solis and Vaidya supported a still-unconscious Ada between them, her long sword clutched loosely in her hand. Tedric carried Pearl in his arms, his face lined with worry and exhaustion. They arrived at the infirmary, its warm light spilling onto the street, a stark contrast to the horrors they had just survived.
Elizabeth, the head nurse and Tedric's wife, met them at the door, her sharp eyes immediately assessing the group's injuries.
"Inside, quickly," she said, ushering them in. She led Tedric to an empty cot where he carefully placed Pearl. "She's stable but dehydrated. I'll tend to her first."
Ada, now lying on another cot, groaned softly as Elizabeth examined her wounds. "She's strong," Elizabeth muttered. "She'll be fine after some rest."
Vaidya slumped into a chair, his face pale and hands trembling. "I… I need to catch my breath," he said weakly. Solis placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder before collapsing onto the bench beside him.
Tedric, after ensuring everyone was in good hands, stepped away. His eyes lingered on his students before he turned to Elizabeth. "I have to go to HQ. They need to know what happened out there."
Elizabeth paused, her expression softening. "Be careful, Tedric. And come back in one piece this time."
With a nod, Tedric left the infirmary, his steps heavy but determined as he made his way to the Postknight Headquarters.
---
The Headquarters – Cassandra's Office
Commander Cassandra stood by the window, the moonlight casting a silvery glow over her scarred armor. She had yet to change after the battle with the dragon, her mind still processing the day's events. Across the room, Captain Seraphine sat in a chair, her twin swords leaning against the wall beside her.
"You're thinking too hard again," Seraphine said, breaking the silence. "We won. Take the win."
Cassandra gave a soft chuckle. "I suppose I should. But you know me. This battle raises more questions than it answers. First this unpredictable aggressive behavior from many creatures of the forests. Then this lethal dragon invasion. Something is off."
Before Seraphine could respond, the door creaked open, and Tedric stepped in, his face weary but resolute.
"Well, well," Seraphine teased, her lips curling into a grin. "The teacher returns. Didn't think you'd still have the energy to walk after all that."
Tedric smirked faintly. "Not everyone gets to ride griffons, Seraphine."
Cassandra turned, her expression softening as she saw her old friend. "Tedric. You look like you've been through the ringer."
"I have," Tedric admitted, closing the door behind him. "I went on an unauthorized mission to rescue my students. And I need to report what I found."
Cassandra folded her arms. "You know this could lead to consequences, right? Unauthorized or not, you're still under our rules."
Tedric nodded. "I know. But I'd do it again if I had to. Pearl was captured."
Seraphine leaned forward. "Tell us what happened."
Tedric recounted the events in the forest, detailing the Roblins' unusually aggressive behavior and how something seemed to block his Will Power Projection Art.
"Blocked?" Cassandra's brow furrowed. "That's not possible. Roblins aren't that resilient to magical influence."
"That's what I thought," Tedric said. "But they didn't even flinch. Whatever was affecting them… it's not natural."
The room fell silent for a moment. Seraphine finally broke it, her voice quieter. "Do you remember the time we faced that pack of shadow wolves near the old mines? It was the same feeling, wasn't it? Like they weren't just animals anymore."
Tedric nodded. "Exactly. But this was worse. They were organized, almost like they had a purpose."
Before they could delve deeper, a knock at the door interrupted them. Cassandra called for the visitor to enter, and Colins stepped in, clutching a folder thick with papers.
"Commander, Captain, Instructor," Colins greeted them, his tone grim. "I've completed my investigation into the forest's creatures."
"Go on," Cassandra said, motioning for him to continue.
Colins opened the folder, spreading several pages across the table. They were detailed reports, sketches of mutated creatures, and notes on strange magical signatures.
"These creatures didn't become aggressive on their own," Colins began. "A cult is behind this. They're using a form of magical mutation to turn creatures like dire wolves and Roblins into frenzied killers."
Cassandra's eyes narrowed. "A cult?"
"Yes," Colins confirmed. "Their methods involve infusing the creatures with dark magic, enhancing their aggression and strength. But that's not all." He tapped one of the pages. "Sorry, Tedric I just eavesdropped on you right now when you were talking about your technique didn't work on those Roblins. It is because this cult also use magical shields to coat these creatures. It's why psychological and magical attacks, like Tedric's Will Power Projection Art, didn't work. The shields block those kinds of influences entirely."
Tedric leaned over the table, studying the notes. "That explains a lot. But who are they? What do they want?"
Colins shook his head. "We don't know yet. But their presence is spreading. If we don't act soon, we could see these attacks escalate. Plus there is a chance that this could also be related to that dragon attack. You know dragons doesn't live the enchanted forest so easily. There should be reason. Maybe this cult is behind it. But that's just a hypothesis of mine so far."
Cassandra's jaw tightened. "This is worse than I thought. We'll need to inform the other knight orders and his majesty. If this cult is targeting our lands, we need to root them out before they gain more ground."
Seraphine rested her hand on her sword hilt. "Looks like we're not done fighting yet."
Tedric glanced at Cassandra. "What's our next move?"
Cassandra met his gaze, her expression resolute. "First, we focus on protecting Mailie and its people. Then, we hunt down this cult and end their operations. This is our home, and we'll defend it—together."
For a moment, the room was filled with a sense of camaraderie, a reminder of the days when the four of them fought side by side. Despite the gravity of the situation, a small smile crossed Tedric's face.
"It's just like old times," he said quietly.
Cassandra chuckled. "Let's hope we're not too old for it."
The four shared a brief, knowing look before turning their attention back to the reports. The night was long, and the battles ahead would be even longer. But they were ready to face them, no matter the cost.