The Hunting Festival (2)

"Is everything prepared?"

"Of course. There will be no problems with the plan."

"Good. His holiness demands there be no mistakes. Even if you die, make sure the plan succeeds."

"Of course. Everything is for our salvation."

Thud; The deer's body fell limp. Veridin lowered his crossbow. He sighed. Hunting animals wasn't nearly as fun as being on the battlefield. As he walked up to the body, fresh blood trickled down from the deer's eye. He ran his hands over the course hide, feeling the warmth of the corpse seeping out of it. As he went to pull the bolt out of its eye he paused. There were people: Two of them in cloaks. They certainly weren't here to participate in the hunting festival. He hauled the deer onto his shoulders and brought it back to Rowan.

"That makes four. Watching you hunt never ceases to amaze me, Veridin."

"You flatter me." He slung the deer over the back of Rowan's horse. "Take these back will you?"

"Will you be alright?"

"What are you worried about? I can take care of myself if anything happens."

"Right… Stay here then."

Rowan turned around and rode off, his expression solemn. Veridin was hiding something. No, he was hiding more than that. For what reasons did he trust no one? He was already the king.

Veridin watched Rowan disappear between the trees. He knew Rowan was suspicious of him. There were a lot of things for him to be suspicious of. Now wasn't the time to tell him, nor was it the time to think about this. Veridin led his horse to a nearby tree before making his way towards the two figures. A moment later, he regretted his leisurely movements. The marble on his bracelet turned a bright red.

Magic beasts appeared beside the two figures. It wasn't just beside them. Magic beasts began to appear throughout the forest. They were approaching the venue quickly and destroying anything that got in their way. Veridin grit his teeth. Anaroth would be able to take care of the nobles at the venue. He rushed through the forest, pulling his sword out of its sheath. The clash of metal against metal rang out through the forest as Veridin blocked the oncoming attack.

"You're pretty fast."

"So are you, Hero King!"

The man backed off. Veridin scanned him. His hands were claws of pure metal and so were his teeth. A black sigil was brandished on his hand. Veridin held out his sword.

"Who are you, and why are you doing this?"

"Me? This is all for salvation! For his holiness!"

"What do you mean by salvation? Who is his holiness?"

"By salvation… I mean die!"

The man charged towards him. Veridin clicked his tongue. He stepped to the side and hit the man with the pommel of his sword. "Your movements are too simple."

The man flew into a tree and spat out blood. Standing up, he wiped his mouth with a grimace. "Then I just have to be stronger and faster!"

He ripped a chunk out of the tree beside him and began to shove it down his throat. The sound of splintering wood coupled with the sight of him eating that wood almost made Veridin gag. What kind of psychopath would do that to themselves? Veridin's eyes noticed the glimmer of metal crawling up the man's arms as he ate. As much as his curiosity wanted to keep watching, he had to end this quickly. The magic beasts were almost at the venue.

Veridin rushed towards the man, kneeing him in the stomach. The man spit up fragments of wood. "Grit your teeth." Veridin struck him in the side of the head. The strike sent him flying through a few more trees than before. Veridin lept after him and pinned him to the ground beneath his foot.

"Tell me who your boss is."

"Urgh… Just kill me. You can't stop us! As long as his holiness remains! I would gladly sacrifice myself for the descent!"

"Is his holiness High Priest Malas?"

"The High Priest? Haha! He is a–a… He…"

He began to foam at the mouth. Veridin watched as his eyes rolled back and blood frothed out of every orifice. His body squished beneath Veridin as if his bones and organs had been liquefied. It was the same as the traitor.

"High Priest Malas… Are you involved in this too? Were you the one who killed the commander? Damn it. Damn it all!" Veridin slammed his foot down, a slurry of flesh and bone splattered onto him. As he lifted his foot from the scarlet mess, he thought of Anaroth's eyes.

A wave of calm washed over him. It was fine. He just needed to keep a closer eye on the high priest. For now he should head back to the venue. He brushed his boot off in the grass before he heard a faint cough. He furrowed his brows. He couldn't sense anyone else around. He began to walk in the direction of the sound. It wasn't long before he found traces of blood.

Following the blood, he found a man covered in it, clutching his severed arm. His breathing was pained, but his eyes shone with determination when he looked up at Veridin.

"Who… Are you?" His golden eyes studied Veridin with precision. "A soldier…?"

"I used to be." Veridin crouched down. This man was incredible. Not just the fact that he had traveled so far with these wounds, but the fact that his body blended in with surrounding mana. Even Veridin wouldn't have found him if he wasn't injured. "Were you working with those guys that summoned the magic beasts?"

"I was… But they betrayed me."

"I like the look in your eyes, but those wounds are fatal. You know you're going to die soon right?" Though he said that, Veridin had no intention of letting this man die.

"Ha… That's right. I'm going to die." He leaned his head back with a half hearted smile.

"Tell me, did the high priest hire you?"

"No… But it was a priest." He coughed up blood.

Of course: Veridin cursed to himself. "Tell me your name."

"What use is a dead man's name?"

"I have no intention of letting my subordinate die."

"Ha!" He coughed more blood after his laugh. "Since when am I your subordinate? Weren't you the one who said I would die?"

"Despite me saying that, you never lost your confidence. So what do you say? Will you survive and work under me, or will you die here?"

He glanced to the side, then grinned, bloody teeth shone under golden eyes. "If you can save me, my name is Raven, at your command."

Veridin smiled back. He placed his hand on Raven's shoulder. Raven's arm reformed in an instant. The puncture wound on his abdomen vanished. Raven looked at his arm in astonishment. "Just… Who are you?"

"Veridin. You can call me, your majesty."

"Your… Majesty? The hero king?" Raven's eyes widened, then he looked down and chuckled softly. "No, it doesn't matter anymore. It's my honor to serve you, your majesty."

Raven rose to his feet with Veridin's help. He glanced over his body once more in amazement. He glanced at Veridin then fell to his knees. "I swear my loyalty to you. I will follow you through blood and war, through rain and snow, and through life and death. Thank you for saving my life."

Veridin looked down at him. Black hair and piercing golden eyes. A strong body and stable, quiet breathing. Even when he kneeled, he made no sound. Veridin grinned; He had accidentally saved a master assassin.

"Don't be so formal. From now on, you are my closest aid. Tell me Raven, do you want revenge?"

Raven looked up at him. A chill ran down his spine as his eyes met Veridin's. Those were the same eyes he saw in the magic beasts he had encountered. The eyes of a predator. He smiled. He would like nothing more than to serve this man. His life was about to get much more amusing.

"Yes, your majesty."