Chapter 83: Last night adventure

His conversation with the sealed sage didn't last long, as Zyro was in a hurry to return to their camp. As planned, he went back just in time to prepare their meal before the princess and the young Aster woke up.

That meal of theirs would have been called breakfast if it wasn't early at night. However, there's nothing they could do about their upsidedown schedule. They sleep at daytime and travel at night for the sake of safety and convenience. Furthermore, their main fighting force, Scarlet, is a vampire. Although, vampire's are respected species due to their potent racial quality. They have their own short comings. One of which, is that, Scarlet skin are sensitive to sunlight. According to her, an hour under the sun can cause her sunburn. Added, she can't live without external blood to feed on.

That's probably why most vampire's are pale.

And due to him mostly venturing into the wilderness at nighttime and constant work within the dark caverns of the Mine back then. Zyro rarely exposed himself to sunlight, making his skin pale too.

At that time, the sun had fully disappeared. Replaced by a moon surrounded by starry night sky.

They quickly finished their food and set off earlier than usual. Because tonight, if everything goes smoothly. They're expected to reach their destination - the vampire village.

Zyro was a little conflicted, he had just finished all necessary preparations in order to manufacture a gun through Depter. However, whether they'll return here or not, he wasn't sure. But Zyro will surely retrieve that gun for sure someday. Besides, not like scaping Foggy is that easy. They'll probably come back here.

It's another typical night of their travel, Scarlet donning a hooded cloak lead the team front. Behind her, Pert walked steadily with his bow at hand, ready to fire long range support anytime. If ever an enemy appeared up ahead, Scarlet could charge forward while the young archer freely send arrow to aid her. It's a basic yet effective tactical formation for small expedition team. Comically, their real strongest combatant, Zyro, was at the safest position in the very back. Behind the archer.

Fortunately, beasts rarely hunt at night. Granting them peace most of the time in their travels.

They were walking silently in the dead of night as usual, as if enjoying a peaceful midnight stroll in the forest in a straight line. Still, every member was on high alert, they carefully assess their surrounding as they walk.

Suddenly, when Scarlet was calmly observing the sky. She abruptly sidesteps, placing herself under the dark shadows of a tree, away from the moonlight illumination. Pert and Zyro followed suit without delay.

Not long after, they heard a distant flapping of wings.

Everyone living in Foggy Ring was familiar of that sound.

It's the feathers of Gricks.

Despite this, the three stayed composed as if the have long anticipated this. After all, the news of the Gricks searching something in this area wasn't a secret. And this area they're currently in, is close to where the fallen knight starship crashed.

The one that flew back, was probably a scout.

In the concealing shadows under the branches of the tree, Scarlet broke the silence.

"Even now, they are still searching here... I guess they still haven't catch the fallen knight. I wonder how long it will take until they accept that the knight that killed their prince had long fled."

How long has it been since the ghastly knight appeared? A few months at most. He killed the prince in their own territory, slapping their pride where it hurts. Even though the Gricks put their best efforts, the fallen knight was yet to be found.

Actually, the Gricks would have caught Zyro when he killed one of their scouts back then which alerted a legion of Gricks. However, due to him being able to enter Depter's seal, not even an army could find him.

Pert then asked with a hint of excitement as if he realized something crucial.

"Princess. The Gricks, can't they help you? I mean, they're friends of your family..."

Zyro first meets Scarlet in the home of Gricks, and being the princess of vampire's. It's safe to say, her name holds some royal value in the Gricks. Which they could probably use to announce her presence in the wilderness to receive aid from these winged scouts.

But Scarlet cut him short.

"Unfortunately and luckily, no. My engagement with their prince was broken due to his death, along with it, was the royals hope's of uniting with the Gricks. Furthermore, their king was no longer sane, I wouldn't be surprised if that senile man indiscriminately kill me without proper reason."

She fell silent for a moment, then added with her crossed under her chest.

"Although I'm glad I wasn't married with that haughty bastard, its still a shame thinking about the consequences. But all blame belongs to the Fallen Knight."

Scarlet quickly stopped talking, it seemed she let her attitude ruin her grace for a moment there. Smiling politely at the two, she changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, did you also get news of how much the fallen knight bounty had risen?"

Pert hesitated, troubled by the princess question. She's literally asking him about his trusted companion bounty right now. With the real, infamous Fallen Knight just beside him.

"Really high." Was the only word he could come up with.

Scarlet shrugged, not interested at the bounty at all.

Feeling awkward, as if he just sold his mysterious friend in front of him shamelessly. Now, it's Pert who changed the subject.

"Can I ask, princess. Is it true that you survive an encounter with the fallen knight?"

Rumors spread far and wide. Everyone knew the vampire princess's encounter with the fallen knight through words of mouth. To not appear too suspicious, Pert deliberately ask a related topic. Not because his curious about Zyro's deeds on the night of his scape from Highland. Yes, it's not because of that.

Scarlet seemed a little flustered, at the same time, proud of herself.

"I did. Two times actually, the first is when he ruined my wedding. He just came crushing in at the most critical moment of my life, turning everything to ruins..." Despite saying such tragic event, she didn't appear unhappy. Rather, she seemed glad.

'I guess she really don't want to marry that guy.' Was Zyro's passing thought.

Scarlet pause for a moment, a little hesitant. Then added.

"I haven't told this to anyone, but the second time we meet is when he ambushed me by the door of my room when I'm evacuating. I thought I'm gonna die back then, thankfully, he only questioned me for location before knocking me unconscious. His really rude, not only did he destroy my wedding, he even killed my groom and still had the audacity to do that to me!"

Zyro, who's been listening in amusement put great effort to stop himself from coughing.

'I had no choice back then, I have to.' he justified himself.

But the damage was already done.

Pert glance at him strangely. The kid probably thought the fallen knight escape from the floating land was full of daring thrills, with dangers everywhere. Which the ghastly warrior clad in black steel fought decisively against thousands of Gricks to gain his freedom. He never expected disrespecting a danzel like Scarlet is included. Shouldn't the knight save the princess? Or at least, leave an impressive impression as he depart for her to praise.

But Zyro was no galant knight, his more of a steel devil.

The blonde boy secretly shook his head, then looked at Scarlet, finding her expression strange.

Pert grinned from ear to ear. With an innocent bright smile, he pressed the matter further.

"Although, you say that. Princess Scarlet... Then. why do you seem happy?"

Zyro want to smack the kid back to make him stop. But he would be lying if he said his not curious about her impression of him.

Scarlet was taken aback for a moment, before smiling with a tinge of embarrassment. Her chicks a bit pink as she said.

"Because it's romantic, somehow."

Zyro want to cough blood. It took him great of effort to remain composed, as if the topic had nothing to do with him.

'Is she insane? How is that romantic, I literally almost killed you back then if I wasn't in a hurry.'

What he did to Scarlet was nothing but terrible. His ship crash landing ruined her fancy weeding, as if that wasn't enough, he even get as far as to kill her groom. Little did he know that Scarlet engagement to prince Ron wasn't out of love.

To forcefully marry a prideful prince she dislike, was almost unbearable for her. However, circumstances give her no choice but to reside in her unacceptable fate. She had given up, but the fallen knight came crashing to her rescue. And even killed the man she despised.

In a sense, the dark knight went against all of the Gricks to save her... Her heart, her freedom.

But Zyro had no way to understand that. He sighed internally.

'Womans of this world are indeed otherworldly. Or she's just nuts.'

Later that night, Pert bombarded Zyro with silent teasing by constantly glancing at him and Scarlet back. Pert seemed to be enjoying himself in the juicy gossip.

The kid even found the chance to mockingly whisper. "It's romantic." To him, Making Zyro want to bash his head to forget everything.

Luckily for Zyro, due to Scarlet presence, Pert can't use words to say those embarrassing thoughts out loud. The concept of romance really annoyed Zyro.

The night went on peacefully, as they avoid unnecessary troubles whenever it presents themselves to continue striding forward in the darkness of night. There was one small battle with a beast, but it didn't hold them back.

Eventually, the group passed the mine, reaching the vampire village before dawn.

At long last, they finally arrived at their destination.