Moonlight Blue

The Law Enforcement Division, led by two Slayers with their own units and a couple of people from the division itself, arrive at Waham. The carriage that both Garrin and Barion are riding comes to an abrupt stop.

“Damn it. What the hell is going on?” shouts Garrin at the coachman.

“Sorry sir Garrin but you might want to see this.”

Barion finally opens his eyes and exits the carriage before Garrin. Garrin clicks his tongue and follows behind him. What greets them are the abandoned gates of Waham with only two soldiers guarding it.

Usually, soldiers are stationed not only at the front gate but also on top of the wall. But now, the wall is empty, and the two guards look like they haven’t slept at all.

A member of the Law Enforcement division walks up to the pair and asks.

“You two over there. Where are the other soldiers?”

The two hold a dissatisfied expression until they realise the crest on the left breast pocket of the man. It is the crest of the Law Enforcement division. One of the man’s eyes widen as he salutes.

“Harold of the Barco army greets the lieutenant.”

The other one is shocked as he also salutes. The man who is standing in front of them is a lieutenant as indicated by the number of strokes below the crest of the Law Enforcement division.

“At ease. Tell me, where are the other soldiers?”

Harold looks confused. After all, if the Law Enforcement division is here, then the soldiers who went out to report the incident managed to deliver the message successfully. So, they should know everything.

“Um, sir. There was an incident here last night. A huge number of soldiers were killed because they were stationed at the Baron’s house.” The face of Harold sinks in sorrow as his eyes turn red.

“And the Baron… was murdered. Along with everyone who lived in the mansion. Including the young master.”

The lieutenant’s eyes open wide in shock. Harold is confused even more.

“Sorry, lieutenant but… you seem to only be hearing of this for the first time.”

“That’s because I am.”

“What but… I see.”

The soldiers that were sent to inform the Law Enforcement were sent after the discovery of the massacre. It would have been impossible for them to make it all the way to the Capital or to the nearest metropolis to inform the Law Enforcement division there. Meaning, these people came without hearing the news. If that is the case, then where did the soldiers who were sent out go? There are three possibilities. It’s either they stayed true to their mission and are still on the way to the nearest metropolis. Another is either they somehow met misfortune and died. And the last one is that they probably deserted their mission and responsibility.

The latter is the most likely. Harold still remembers the looks in their eyes. They were scared. Not because of the massacre that happened but because of the sentence they might receive. After all, they failed to protect a noble. Even if he was the lowest of the low in rank, a death sentence was still a possibility.

Harold goes down on his knees and begs.

“Please. Please have mercy on us.” He says with tears streaming down from his eyes. The other guard also goes to his knees.

“Mercy? Why? You failed to protect your Lord. What kind of soldier asks for mercy after doing something like that?”

The person who says that isn’t the lieutenant but Garrin. His calm gait grows closer to the pair.

“Instead, you should accept your punishment.”

“Please, we-“

He couldn’t even finish his words before both him and the other soldier’s head go flying through the air. Garrin had already sliced their heads off their shoulders.

“Why kill them?” asks Barion in his rough old man voice.

This is the first time since this trip began that he has opened his mouth to talk with Garrin.

“A death sentence is the fate of any soldier, knight or subordinate who failed on protecting their Lord at their own domain. Not only the Lord but the heir too. And what, we should forgive people like that?”

“Did you forget already. The law has slightly changed due to the invasion of the demons. Even though the war is far from us, we can’t afford to reduce the number of soldiers in our possession.”

“Tsk. Fine, I won’t kill the rest.”

“So, do you think it’s their doing?” asks Barion.

Garrin grasps his scythe tightly as he grits his teeth.

“Probably.”

“Hehehe. Since you’ve been to this city before, I’ll let you take the lead. Maybe the culprit is still here so you might get to take your revenge.”

Veins bulge all over Garrin’s face as he bit his lower lip hard. There is only one person in his mind.

Dread.

***

They enter the city.

The city is lifeless than it usually was. Since a lot of soldiers died, families lost their husbands, fathers, brothers and more. Some lost their mothers, sisters and wives who worked in the Baron’s mansion. It has turned into a ghost town in just a single day.

“Where too commander Garrin?” asks the lieutenant.

“Of course, we need information. And there’s only one place for that here in Waham.”

“Very well. While you do that, I’ll take the Law Enforcement division to the Baron’s mansion to investigate the incident.”

Garrin nods to allow him as he, Barion and their soldiers head to Naomi’s inn. They arrive and enter the inn. It is bustling more than usual. All the members under Naomi are drinking to their hearts content and all of them wear big smiles.

This is because, all of them were given a raise by Naomi out of nowhere. Only Naomi, Jasper and a few other trusted ones like Irene who isn’t in the city knew about the potions. Only Garrin and Barion enter while the rest of the soldiers wait outside.

“It seems you all are in a good mood. Want to share?”

Quiet descends in the entire pub as everyone glare at the two. An old man who seems to have narrowed his eyes to the point that they appear closed and a man in his late 20’s whose jet-black hair is laid back and has a ginormous grin on his face.

Some of the members of Naomi didn’t know who these two are, but Naomi knew. She gestures towards her crew, and everyone removes their glares on the two and continue drinking.

“If it isn’t The King Cobra Slayer and The High Orc Slayer. I wonder, what have I done to deserve such an honour?” says Naomi as she bows her head slightly.

The two walk to the counter and sit down. Garrin glares at Naomi and clicks his tongue.

“Stop pretending like you don’t know, Naomi. The Baron’s mansion has been destroyed and you all are having a party. One would think that you somehow had a hand in all of this.” Garrin grins as he releases some bloodlust.

The people who have their hands on the hilts of their swords tense up as chills run down their spines. With that simple act, Garrin showed dominance. Removing any and all thoughts of fighting back. Of course, not all are scared by this. Naomi, Jasper and two others who are the top fighters in Naomi’s crew remained calm.

“So, stop wasting time and tell me what happened. Because I know that the Bandit Society was involved.”

Naomi lights up her smoking pipe and puffs out a few breaths before responding.

“You’ve grown quite a lot, Garrin. When was it, ten years ago? You were just a brat back then who survived that incident out of the whim of Dread but look at you now, you are a Slayer. How time quickly flies.”

Garrin’s bloodlust explodes filling the entire room. Jasper readies himself and so did the other two from Naomi. Barion slowly opens his left eye as he looks around the room.

“That’s enough, Garrin.”

Even with Barion’s interference, Garrin didn’t hold back his killing intent. And that is because this isn’t the first time he came to Waham. Ten years ago, he was a soldier in a unit that was tasked to investigate the horror that happened in Waham. All of his comrades were killed, along with his captain and he was the only one left alive.

50 people. Including him, their number amounted to 50 but they were brutally killed by one man. One man who would traumatize Garrin for the rest of his life. Because of that one man, he sought out strength to places he never thought he would. That man, no. That monster was Dread.

“How dare you speak to me like that Naomi?” Garrin holds his scythe in his hand. Ominous energy slowly rises from within the scythe. But before he could even do anything, Barion grabs his wrist.

“Enough!” Barion says with a voice filled with energy. The bloodlust seems to be blown away by the old man’s shout and Garrin regains his calm.

Naomi opens her mouth once again.

“If your purpose is not lodgings then please exit my inn.”

Naomi has one rule. And that is she would never sell her information to people she didn’t like. And Garrin is one of those people.

“hehe, I apologise lass for this one. His temper is a bit much. We would like two rooms please.” Says Barion as he places 4 silver coins.

A single night in the inn is 1 silver coin. Paying 4 silver coin means that the two would stay for two days in Waham. Naomi takes the money and nods.

“Thank you for you patronage. Here are your keys.”

The two take the keys but Garrin didn’t take his glare off Naomi. Then, out of nowhere, a soldier bursts through the inn huffing and puffing his lungs out.

“Commander. The lieutenant seems to have found something. He went to pursue the lead but told me to tell you that.”

“I see. Let’s go to the Baron’s mansion then.”

The two Slayers leave following the soldier. After a few seconds of them leaving, Naomi staggers dizzily as Jasper runs over to support her.

“Are you okay, big sis.”

“Yeah, I’ll be okay.” Answers Naomi while holding her head.

Even though it didn’t look like it, the bloodlust of Garrin did affect her by a lot since she isn’t strong but she was able to resist it by her own sheer force of will. She didn’t want to show the enemy her weakened state even if that means enduring the pain.