He scratched his chin. Most of these had just been guesses, with only a very few being strategically sound. The fact of the matter was the princess had disappeared into thin air, and no one had any clue what was going on.
Joseph, of course, blamed that young boy—Levi Ryder. Elya didn’t find the boy dangerous, though. He’d faced off against this Ryder boy before. He was weak, and was hardly a warrior. But there was something different about him, too.
Something … unnerving.
The Knight turned to his map. The red markers were all concentrated around the city, and yet the direction the Knights were taking missed every single one of those spots. Elya tugged on his steed’s reins and rode the horse up to the front of the ranks.
Auron glanced back at him, and a smile curled onto his face. “Ah, Elya,” he said. “How do the forces look?”
He nodded. “They are fine.”
The Sage’s eyes narrowed. “You seem troubled.”
“I do not understand the route we are taking, Sage Auron,” he said. He pointed to the red dots on his still-open map. “We are missing every single mark that I said Princess Valentine may have gone to, or worse, been taken to.”
“What do you mean ‘gone to’?” Joseph hissed from beside him. “Are you saying that Ryder didn’t kidnap her?”
“There is no proof.” Elya’s voice was stern.
Auron held up his hand. “Now, men. Let us be civil.” The old man looked at Elya. “As for your question. I have discussed these plans with the king, and he suggested this route in the first place.”
Elya scratched his chin. “Very well.” He fell back, and moved to the middle of the ranks. As he did, he noticed the Sage speak enthusiastically to Joseph about something. A frown painted his usually expressionless face. He had to pay more attention to the things around him now.
Something was going on.
***
“They can’t see my position,” Valentine said.
“Are you sure?” I stared right into her eyes.
She sighed. “Yes, Levi. I am sure. Trust me, the last thing I’d want is for a thousand men and women to know exactly where I am, all the time.”
She’s got a point there, I thought.
“W-What do we do now?” Stan pulled his blanket closer around him. “Valentine, are you going to go with them? The Knights are probably better equipped to help you than we are.”
Her expression went blank, and then she shook her head. “This….” Her fists clenched. “This won’t mean anything unless I do it myself, without the help of the city forces.”
Well, I looked at her. At least she has motivation.
Luna smiled widely. “You can do it Singer-Lady.”
Stan fidgeted. “What if these Knights come after us?” he asked. “I don’t think they saw me or Luna when we found them, but if they did….”
“If they’re here, and they don’t know where Valentine is, then they must be travelling for another reason,” I said. “I’m going to go scout their positions.”
“What?” Valentine asked. “That’s the worst idea you could have had. Each of those Knights are at least Level 30, and most probably in the Level 40s. You’re just a third of that right now. And you have no weaponry.”
I slid open my Ga’em menu and summoned my trusty kitchen knife. I swung it through the air. “Okay, the weapon problem is solved. Anything else?”
The princess frowned. “The level difference is way too much. And that weapon is useless, even in a kitchen.”
“Hey, it’s been cutting potatoes fine for fifteen years now.”
“What kind of potatoes have you been eating?”
I smirked. “I’ll just go scout. No engaging in battle.”
Valentine looked at the elf. “Luna, do you think you could go with him?”
Her eyes darted between me and Valentine. And that said more than enough.
“It’s fine. I’ll just go alone.” I grabbed the knife and walked into the forest, in the direction Stan and Luna had come from.
Why are these Knights here? I wondered. Had I accidentally left behind a trail of some sort? I wasn’t that careless. This has to be a random encounter. But boy, what are the chances it’s something like that?
A shrill call sounded through the trees, and a bird flew right before me. I ignored its flight and kept moving.
Maybe I could have used Stan as a scapegoat here, I thought. It would have been easy to send the vampire in and figure out where the enemies were and what they wanted. Valentine would kill me if I did that, though.
Branches snapped ahead of me.
Two hundred yards. I hunched down. Maybe a hundred and fifty.
I hid myself behind a tree and peered over. The sunset approached and radiant shades of yellow and orange scattered into the forest, lighting up the pathway ahead of me. Tiny silhouettes emerged far down the path, moving quickly.
Yup, around two hundred yards. I stepped out and ran forward. The silhouettes grew larger, and a hundred yards later, I ducked back behind a nearby tree. I peeked out and gauged the situation.
A route passed through this part of the Ymir Forest, and these Knights were traversing through it. To where, though? I wondered.
I slid my Ga’em menu open and moved over to my maps. A screen popped up and I glanced at the dot of blue on the screen—my location marker. Two other dots, both of a green shade, shone to behind my position—Valentine and Stan. I glanced at the pathway, and then back at the screen.
They’re heading deeper into the forest. I frowned. But why would they be doing that?
The sounds of footsteps and horse hooves softened. I peeked out; the Knights traversing the path had grown few. I slid to the side and walked forward. My steps were soft on the ground, and I hid parts of my body behind the low-hanging branches whenever I could.
I ducked down behind a bush ten yards away and kept myself put. The Knights quickly moved through, and the route was empty again.
“Hey!” a voice huffed. “Wait for meee!”
I shifted a bit and glanced further up the route. A young man, probably in his mid-20s, rode through the forest. Some parts of his armor were worn backwards, and he didn’t have a helmet on, either. His horse huffed as much as he did as they walked through the forest.
That guy doesn’t look healthy, I thought. I looked down the other end of the route, but didn’t see anyone in the vicinity. His forces had left him far behind.
“Those idiots,” the man muttered. “I’ll get them for this later.”
His horse’s legs shook, and the animal collapsed to the ground. It was still breathing, but it was huffing like there was no tomorrow.
The man stepped off his saddle and strode around the animal. “What do I do now?” He looked down the end of the route, toward the people who had already gone beyond. “There’s no way I’m catching up to them.”
The weak get trampled on. I gripped my kitchen knife. I focused on the man’s features and activated my Analyze skill.
DING!
Race
Human
Level
24
Wow, that’s exceptionally weak for a guy in the Knight Force. I looked at him. Why did they even take him in?
But I wasn’t complaining. This was exactly what I needed.
The man looked down at his horse and mumbled something to himself. A large branch lay five yards behind him, and I eyed it carefully.
I switched my knife to my left hand. Alright. I stood up from behind the bushes and took a few steps forward, before I dropped behind another growth of greenery again.
Ten yards left now.
I hastened my steps, and moved fast but silently, right up to his heels. I grasped the end of the branch and tugged up. The leaves rustled, and the man instantly turned.
Damn it!
I swung the wood at him, and clocked him on the chest instead of the back of the neck like I’d intended. I dropped the branch and jumped forward. The man wobbled from my attac
k, and looked around, confused.
I bent my arm and struck his lower chin with my elbow. His head tilted back and he collapsed onto his fallen horse. I rushed up to him and sat atop his chest. My knife hovered over his throat, the blade grazing his skin.
A tiny trickle of blood oozed down his neck. I glared at him, with the coldest expression I had. “The slightest movement and this blade goes in.”
The Knight stared at me.
“And don’t think you can overpower me with your strength,” I said. “I’m nimble enough to drive this thing through your throat before you could punch me.”
The man’s body shivered underneath me. “W-What do you want?”
Seriously? This guy is in the Knight force and I’m the one Joseph keeps calling weak?
“What are these many Knights going into the Ymir Forest for?”
“I have no idea,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow. “You have no clue, but you’re following?”
“We were told to mobilize and be ready,” he said. “They said this was the princess’s rescue mission, and that was the quest we all obtained … however, it doesn’t make sense that the first place we search is deeper within the Ymir Forest.”
Exactly, I thought. “Do you know where within Ymir you’re going to?”
“No,” he said. “I think Captain Lambcost is the only one who knows.”
Damn, Elya is here, too.
The man’s arms darted to the side of his horse, towards a short sword on the ground. I jerked my blade down, and it went halfway into his neck. He gasped as a pint of blood spurted out, and his arm fell limp. I pulled the blade out and thrust again, going deeper this time. The man’s eyes rolled up in his head, and he coughed out red liquid, splattering it on my hands.
I sighed and stood up. “Such a mess.” I wiped my fingers on my pants and looked at the dead Knight. “Looks like you weren’t a coward after all.”
DING!
Congratulations! You have defeated:
Zevalon Knight (Lv. 24)!
So, the Knight died. Sure, it was self-defense, because he definitely did try to attack you. But would you really have spared him even if he hadn’t? Reward: 5000 XP. Reward: Reputation decreased by -100 points.
DING!
Congratulations! Your level has increased!
Level 15!
You leveled up by slitting a throat again. *Sigh* It’s not even surprising anymore. You gain 4 stat points to spend on your skills. You also gain a 25% advancement to the skill of your choice.
Oh, yeah, I still have skill advancement points from the last Level Up, I realized. But I wasn’t in a hurry to use them. I had big plans for those points.
Very big plans.
DING!
Congratulations! You have learned a new skill.
Small Blades!
They say smaller blades can find a way through any piece of armor. And it’s also easier to clean blood off them, which, in your case, should be your number one priority for a blade. Reward: 500 XP
Effect 1
Dexterity increased by +3% while using a small blade
DING!
You have obtained new equipment.
Short Sword!
The weapon is said to stab hard, and stab deep. The Knight you just defeated wasn’t quick enough to use it. Maybe you’ll be better at it. You have had extensive experience sticking blade where they normally don’t go (also known as murder). Would you like to transfer the new equipment into your Equipment Inventory?
Yes
No
I tapped on No, and twirled the short sword in my hand. The blade was about the length of my forearm, and was a little dull. Seems like it was used a lot. I transferred my kitchen knife back into my Equipment Inventory and then put on the scabbard that I’d found beside the short sword. The string had been cut off in one section, but a simple double-knot kept it secured around me.
I checked for the Knight’s other equipment, but he wasn’t wearing anything great. And it wasn’t like I could access his Equipment Inventory either. I’d have stolen the horse if it wasn’t such a sickly animal. It’d probably collapse if I put someone like Stan on it.
I stepped back through the trees, and ten minutes later, walked into our “camp”.
“How did it go?” Valentine looked at me.
I nodded. “I got some good information.”
“You talked to someone?” She frowned. “What happened to scouting, not engaging?”
“Plans change. Sometimes.”
She sighed. “Are the Knights here for me?”
I shook my head, and sat down on a tree stump. “The guy I talked to said the forces are here for you, but the fact that they’re in the forest makes it seem like they’re actually not.”
“That’s true,” she said. “Why would they search for a princess inside the Ymir Forest?”
“Uhh….” Stan looked at me, then at Valentine. “Maybe they sensed your presence?”
My chest clenched. Could they have? I wondered. That’d mean this woman is a huge liability, compared to the asset I thought she was before.
“I don’t think so,” Valentine said. “It’s probably a coincidence.”
“Oh, and another thing,” I said. “Elya is here, too.”
“The blond man,” Luna mumbled. “Luna don’t like him. His eyes are scary.”
“He does have a stern look.” Valentine smiled. Her eyes fell to my side, and then she stopped at my waist.
Uh oh. I turned a little, away from her. I didn’t want to have a moral argument thing going now.
“Levi.” Valentine raised her voice.
Damn it.
“What did you do with the Knight you talked to?”
I looked at her, and then sighed. “He attacked me, so I attacked him back.”
“And that’s his short sword?”
I nodded. “Swiped it off him when he was knocked out.”
Her eyes narrowed, and then she sighed. “Moving on,” she said. “Does this Knight thing change any of our plans?”
I shifted. “I think we’re going to have to reconsider if there’s an ‘our’ anywhere in this,” I said.
“Huh?” She blinked. “But you said you’d help me.”
“Yes, but that was when the Knight Force wasn’t coming after you.”
“We don’t know that,” she mumbled. “You just said that Knight wasn’t sure if they were actually coming for me.”
“You’re a liability to me,” I said. “As is the vampire. I’m taking the elf and I’m going my own way.”
Luna stood up. “Luna’s not going anywhere!”
The sensation of fire and ice built inside me again. “Luna, you’re coming with me.”
“Luna won't!” The elf ran and hid behind Valentine.
The princess smiled. “I know where the Aegil relic is. I wonder what would happen if I went back and told my father about it.” She tapped her foot. “Maybe he’d send out the Knight Force to go explore the place as well.”
I stared at her. “You wouldn’t. You need to get this on your own, without your father’s help. You said so yourself.”
“If you’re going to cast me away, then I’d willingly give up on what I wanted, as long as you don’t get it either. Oh, also….” She smiled. “That was a threat.”
Damn it, I thought. My position was compromised. I was backed all the way into a corner now. I could either take her long and have a chance at getting Aegil, or leave her and have no chance at all.
And thinking about having no chance at all only stirred the flames and chills inside me.
“Fine.” My voice was soft.
Valentine’s eyes sparkled. “Really?”
“You, me, and Luna. It’s fine.”
She put her arm around the vampire’s shoulder. “Stan, too.”
I stared at her. “Really now? That’s just pushing it a bit. That’s—”
“Bring Stan along or the Knights will go find Aegil.”
&
nbsp; My teeth grinded. “Fine.”
“Wonderful.”
“You’re a witch, you know that?”
"What were you expecting?" She smirked. "Princesses aren't just marshmallows and sugar."
***
“How do we head over to the Kelras Mountains?” Valentine asked.
Luna frowned. “Luna doesn’t know these mountains.”
“We know,” I groaned. “That’s the third time you’ve told us.”
“So, do you know the place?” Valentine looked at me.
I nodded. “I know the bearings. It’s south-west from the city. I’ve read about it before.”
“How far off though?”
“Uhh … maybe four hundred to five hundred miles?”
“W-What?” Stan shook.
“I don’t know what you were expecting. But this place is far, far away. Even you said that before, Valentine.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “I didn’t know it was that far, though.”
“And we don’t have horses, either,” Stan said. “Maybe we could get some.”
“From where?” I asked. “We’re in a forest right now. And I certainly am not willing to go back into Zevalon just to find horses. Plus, I don’t have the money for them.”
“We don’t really have a choice,” Valentine said. “We’ll just have to walk on foot.”
“Luna is tired already.” The elf leaned back and collapsed onto the floor. Valentine and Stan laughed at the elf’s antics, and I just stood there watching them.
Why am I putting up with this, I asked myself. I could have probably gotten to Aegil by now if Joseph hadn’t captured me. And yet here I was, stuck here—and with these people, at that.
Ascend: A World of Ga'em LitRPG (The Chaos Emperor Book 1) Page 13
