CHAPTER 213: DARKNESS AND DESPAIR IN THE EAST

Cedar would’ve been beaming, thinking this was a scouting force of the Fourteenth Regiment, if not for their downcast and defeated gazes.

They were in a far more somber mood than the Thirteenth.

Cedar and Rowan’s hearts sank at the sight, quickly rushing over and dismissing their invisibility, almost causing the officer in front to jump up in horror.

"Calm down, we’re from the Zephyr Battalion!"

The Fourteenth Regiment sprang into battle mode for a moment before Cedar and Rowan’s faces were illuminated by the torches, and their words sank in.

The wizards of the Fourteenth Regiment eased, only to tense up again in the next second.

These two bastards could be from the fell race and might be pretending to be one of them again!

Seeing the unfriendly and combat-ready expressions of their comrades, Cedar and Rowan sighed, fully knowing what the wizards of the other regiment were thinking.

"W-We’re not of the fell, this I vow in the name of my lord, Zephyron Haldavar," the latter announced.

Unfortunately, his words did little to improve the situation.

Why the hell would the Fellkin admit they were Fellkins?!

Cedar felt his head throbbing.

The paranoia inflicted upon them by the fell race was already to this extent, and he, too, did not know what to do.

After what happened to them a few hours ago, Cedar himself would find it difficult to believe two humans who randomly appeared in the middle of a dark cave.

"What do we have to do to prove we’re not enemies?" he asked.

The doubtful wizards of the Fourteenth Regiment couldn’t reply, not knowing either what it would take them to believe these two.

Reasons for why and how they got here? Stories could be fabricated, while items were aplenty and could be picked up from the battlefield.

They needed a reliable illusion dispel spell for them to be able to truly believe the two humans.

Fortunately, a young female soldier stepped forth, dark circles beneath her eyes.

She would’ve certainly looked gorgeous had she had proper rest...

This was the reality of the battlefield, however, and prioritizing appearance would only get one killed.

"I’m Mara from the Puppeteer Platoon, and I’ve recently learned the spell, Light of Truth," the young soldier introduced herself, easing the furrowed brows of the leading officer, though only slightly.

"Perhaps we can use the spell to detect a few irregularities in their appearance?" she added.

Indeed.

While the young soldier’s mastery of the spell wouldn’t be high, the spell would at least give them a chance to detect the smallest of irregularities.

"We agree to an identity check!" Rowan quickly declared.

He was quite pleased that there was someone in the Fourteenth Regiment who could cast the said spell.

It was a difficult learn, after all.

Cedar eagerly nodded in agreement, and both wizards put their hands in the air to show that they weren’t about to try something funny.

The officer most certainly appreciated the cooperation.

Raising her elemental staff high in the air, an orb of light floated above Cedar and Rowan, shining over their figures.

Their shadows, the mana swirling around them...

Everything was revealed, and there seemed to be no anomalies, not even in the slightest.

The results of the Truth of Light spell spoke for itself.

But somehow, it was still difficult for the Fourteenth Regiment officers to trust Cedar and Rowan, evident in their expressions.

The leading officer, Emmanuel, sighed.

In the end, they would have to make a choice, and Emmanuel chose to face his fears and dismiss the paranoia.

"Let’s talk, officers of the Zephyr Battalion."

Cedar and Rowan’s expression brightened, walking closer and giving the brave officer a tap on the shoulder.

"A wise choice, brother," commended Rowan.

The paranoid way the officers of the Fourteenth Regiment checked their identities made it easy to determine that they were the real deal, and so Cedar hesitated no longer and stated his business:

"We sensed your footsteps from afar, thinking they were the Fellkin’s," began Zephyron’s right-hand man,

"Rowan and I went ahead to scout the opposition while our regiment rested. We certainly didn’t expect to encounter anyone from the Fourteenth Regiment this early. The battle in Parralen was inevitably lost, as we were flanked by five thousand Fell Beasts.

Lord Zephyron managed to slay the fell race’s commander, but he was trapped outside the entrance to Az Tunnel. We... don’t know his current condition."

Emmanuel’s heart sank at the news, and sank further at the subsequent words.

"His orders were to rendezvous with the Fourteenth Regiment and rely on Lord Targon’s help for a safe retreat back to the empire’s borders. We’re glad to find you, brothers."

The atmosphere, however, only turned grimmer.

The strange silence unsettled both Cedar and Rowan.

Finally, Emmanuel spoke with a dark tone:

"The Fourteenth Regiment...has been routed," the leading officer reported, causing even the seasoned Cedar to despair inwardly.

"What?! Then where’s Lord Targon? What about the Magna Prospects? Surely they’re..."

"They’re dead." Emmanuel declared, cutting off Rowan. "Pierro Macario has fallen in battle, assassinated by a young Fellkin named Kurava, who pretended to be Felix Dargon. As for Lord Targon...he ordered us to leave him while he covered the retreat, engaging the Atrox Seres in a duel."

Cedar and Rowan’s eyes widened.

A Seres!

The fell bastards actually had a Seres in the East of Maegrath!

Zephyron had to learn of this immediately, but the problem was: was he even alive?

"Only the few of us here are what’s left of the Fourteenth Regiment and Lord Targon’s Boulder Guards. While others were able to flee in different directions, their chances of survival are slim." Emmanuel added.

The mouths of the two officers from the Zephyr Battalion opened, but no words came out.

The Fourteenth Regiment, which was supposed to bring them relief, was in a far more sorry state than they were.

Their two leaders were gone, their fates unknown.

Emmanuel, Cedar, and Rowan were weary of the retreat.

Was there even a point in struggling like this?

The chances of them not making it back to the empire were way too high, and the positive was extremely slim.

Nonetheless, they were soldiers of the Imperium, and a majority of them had families waiting back home.

They can’t give up.

They could never!

And so, after a brief silence, Cedar sighed:

"Come, let’s go back to where my men are, rest for a while, and discuss what to do next."