Triumph

A new dawn arisen. And the warband of princess Eris marches back home. One by one, the groups that were spread to reinforce all the possible entry point reported. And by noon, the ranks have doubled to one thousand men at arms.

Jonathan rides to his princess after receiving report from the last squad

"Your Highness, all units have reported"

"Thank you Jonathan. We should have arrived in the town of Foreni before dark. Keep them moving at this pace" Eris replies

"Understood" he rides back to relay the message to the rest of the men

Eris has been quite during this march, with the occasional whistling and inspecting the men. She now grew bored again and notice Imelda was even more silent than usual. Eris moved toward Imelda's side

"Boo!" she didn't flinch, and slowly faces Eris

"Yes your highness?" she asks with barely any expression

"you no fun" Eris pouts. Then Imelda faces forward again with her same stoic look. Eyes facing forward like a predator stalking her prey. She got the feeling something was wrong. "You sense something?" Eris asked, seriously now

Imelda nods. She leans to whispers "They're nearby"

"You need help with this one?" Imelda paused, no answer is given "Jonathan can take command for a bit. And both of us can get it done, in and out before dinner"

With a confident smile she pries her friend for an answer.

Imelda sighs "after we arrived in town, then we can go"

"Alrighty then"

They continued marching until they arrived at the town of Foreni. A well-fortified town, one of the first major city on the Asturian-Valaisian border. High walls, bastion with cannons and surrounded by a moat. Farmers and travelers alike greeted and cheered, others bowed and the men replied, chatted and waved back. Adults and children alike flocked to look at the soldiers as the road is cleared for the army to march into the citadel inside the city.

The men rest, and celebrated their recent victory during the evening, drinking and feasting on the dining hall of the barracks and taverns in the city. amidst the celebration, Imelda and Eris slips away and headed to the more secluded part of the city. The street lights barely illuminate the ground below for the two of them, their footsteps rang on the lifeless paths and alleys. After sweeping the streets for a few minutes, they stopped on the side of the road.

"Anything?" ask Eris in a low voice

Imelda took out her rosary, it glows dimly. "He's here. But…"

"Do you think it notices us and ran away?"

"I sense that he's still in town"

Eris wonders a bit, then all of the sudden she opens the nearby manhole

"May be it went here" she pointed below with a big confident smile

Skeptical, Imelda checked below. She lowers her rosary and to her surprise, it glowed slightly brighter

"I'll be damned, looks like we're going down and dirty" still expressionless, she descends into the sewer

"I'm gonna need a bath after this but, oh well. Down we go…" Eris jumped down"

Imelda reach the bottom, Eris landed on both her feet. Sending and booming echo ringing through the sewer tunnel. Eris smiled with head held high, proud of her perfect landing. Then a slap on the head

"Dumbass. You got a death wish" despite scolding Eris, she kept a flat emotion. But a sight of annoyance is visible on her face "he'll notice us"

"Well…" still smiling "you want to hunt the thing down right" she draws her silver coated blade that she usually brought on the hunt like this

A rumbling sound was heard and that is enough to stop the two of them from bickering and prepared for an encounter. Eris sword is a short one handed silver coated blade on her right hand and on her left hand is a hand crossbow with silver arrowheads. Imelda brought a buckler and a warhammer, both had silver coating

The rumbling sound grew closer and footsteps creeps closer. Imelda took position in front to provide cover as she is wearing a heavier protective gear. Eris, right now is lightly armored for more mobility in contrast to her bulky partner. A pair of glowing light blinked in the shadows in front of them. The eyes grew even clearer and the grayish skin of the creature is distinguished. The hair of the once human being is all but gone. Claws and fangs grew as the corruption as spreads into its body.

Eris losses a bolt to the creature's chest as it was about to leap to attack. The creature started to burn and turn to ashes when it contacted the silver.

"That was fast" said Eris, and not too long, more growling is heard and this time they are closing in fast and a lot more of them

"You had to say it"