Road Ahead
For 3 Days, for days they traveled towards the capital of Valar, appropriately named Valar, yet it seemed like they weren't getting closer to their destination, which made Cedric grow in frustration.
Not only were they slow, but the escorting unit had disappeared somewhere, in a moment of carelessness he did not track them with [God's Eye] and they promptly disappeared.
He did not like visiting so many towns either, he was a warrior, not a noble.
However, he understood the duties of a princess, and despite his wish to return to visit the capital of Infidels himself, he would require Aurelia's help to get here promptly.
After all, even with his immense speed, he could easily miss a relatively small city in the endless expanse of grass, stone, and wood that was the world. Most importantly, he would wish to avoid needlessly talking to infidels.
Cedric and Aurelia's carriage stopped at each town so that Aurelia could proclaim her victory over the demons.
He slumped in his seat, Aurelia had been asleep for a long time now, more precisely ever since they left last town, it seemed the young princess was quite vulnerable to travel fatigue.
Cedric gazed from the carriage window, the world around him was so similar to the old lands of Europe, that it truly seemed like he was merely in a different part of Earth despite that not being possible.
God himself had sent him here which meant it was a different world and it was not his right to question God.
'Rather uneventful...' He did appreciate these moments of quiet, travel relaxed him before and it seemed to do wonders for him even now after being blessed by God.
However, the moments he thought about the day being uneventful he noticed shadows, decently fast but not enough to escape his sight.
"We are being followed huh... Another enemy of Aurelia." Cedric couldn't help but chuckle, these assassins were human and were pitifully weak and yet they followed them, did the word of his deeds truly spread that slowly?
If he had been a lesser man he would have punished them for their hubris, however, if they were slaughtered by their own target, now that would truly be a spectacle.
The First Star needed feats of strength, and where better to start than a group of weak assassins.
'They are as stealthy as Galloping Horse...' Cedric couldn't help but be slightly disappointed, he lifted up his helmet above his head and slowly put it on.
Infidels would not be allowed to see his face.
Cedric's hand reached for Equilibrium, despite them being weak he would not tolerate an attack on himself.
He leaned back, Aurelia still slept peacefully, she looked too peaceful. Peaceful in a way that was unbecoming of The First Star.
Assassins were clearly getting into positions, if his guess was accurate they would be attacked just as they exited the town.
'Ill let her sleep... for now.' Cedric closely followed the assassins with his gaze.
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A single skill, a lower class, and they seemed to be children.
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His cold gaze passed through the group, at least group of 7 Level 10 to Level 13 Child Assasins each owning one skill and only a single buff, they were all visibly malnourished, however, that did not phase him at all.
Within the group, only one man stood out.
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He felt no compassion for these child assassins, after all, they were only ever used to sew doubt in their target's heart before killing them.
He had curbed his mercy for such tactics long ago, however Aurelia needed to learn that lesson.
They made their way outside of the town, everything seemed quiet.
Or at least it was quiet before a loud explosion shook the carriage.
The explosion shattered the luxurious doors and killed the horses that were pulling the carriage.
'Poor beasts...' Cedric only pitied poor beasts of burden as he jumped outside the carriage. They were more noble than Infidels in every conceivable way.
The explosion had blasted Aurelia out of her dreaming state, her shock evident as she was suddenly surrounded by assassins.
'The old man is missing...' Cedric scanned the area, the man was hiding in a nearby canopy observing.
'So he sent children as fodder huh...' Cedric had seen this before. These strategies were heretical in the eyes of God.
'Aurelia, let's see what you can do with Zenith.' He folded his arms, these people clearly had no intention of even approaching him.
"Aurelia you got this, show them why you are 'The First Star'," Cedric shouted, attracting the attention of the assassins for the moment.
He saw the hesitation in Aurelia's eyes, she did not grip Zenith with conviction befitting a Warrior of God, and she hesitated to strike down the infidel child that threatened her life.
When dealing with infidels the child was the same as an adult, it was similar to demons but less severe.
They would need to be stricken down before they could strike at you, however, Aurelia was only blocking the attack.
"Aurelia, you need to let go of your teachings, these are not children they are weapons used by Infidels!" Cedric shouted to Aurelia, to which she responded with a nod, however, it did not make it easier for her to strike down a child.
Slash after slash children tried to hack at her despite her being more powerful than these children she did not counter, they would eventually get a lucky strike and end her life.
"Like I would allow that." Cedric plunged Equilibrium into the ground before taking a sitting position, these assassins were perfect target dummies for Aurelia.