Chapter 116: Descending to the Dark

Chandea, Year of Severus, 15, I.R., the 48th day of Fall, Arenfall

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It was a different kind of morning today. The sun peeked from the gray canvas of the eastern sky with dark clouds swelling on the horizon. There were no birds singing their beautiful hymns to greet the people of the camp to start their day.

There was no fog that covered around the camp and the trees never danced to the flows of the wind. The stillness of the morning made the silver-head Commander uneasy. It felt like the world was speaking to them. It felt like an omen.

"It's too quiet." Commander Crovar commented. "I hate this fucken silence!"

Lord Prestonheim nodded and sighed, "May the gods look upon us with mercy and protect us—"

Commander Crovar scoffed and interrupted him, "Gods? Pfft…I never thought of you to be THAT religious."

"I am when it is needed, Syleon." He answered.

"Tell me now, August." His friend tapped his shoulder, "Are you ready to die?" Commander Crovar grinned.

Lord Prestonheim gave his friend a tired smile. "After all this time, you're still using that phrase?" He asked as he recalled his wilder days.

During his younger days, the duo used to get into fights and sometimes be overwhelmed by their opponents' sheer number and size. It was a catchphrase that both of them would ask each other when they are in a life-or-death situation. This moment was similar to that but wasn't close to the gravity that their men would be going through.

It saddened him as he realized that some of them might never come back again. He looked at his enthusiastic friend and answered. "I am always ready, but I guess we should ask them too." He pointed at the squads neatly lined with each other.

Commander Crovar looked at him with furrowed brows, "You want me to ask them?" He frowned. "I mean…you are commanding them. Do you want me to umm…steal your thunder?"

Lord Prestonheim crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, "Nope." He stepped forward and cleared his throat. He looked at the men who stood still in their presence, waiting for his order.

The silver-haired Commander knew the time has come for them to march towards the mines. Although hesitant and fearful of the omens he had seen that morning, it didn't stop the veteran from doing his duty.

He took a deep breath and shouted, "Forward, march!" With that order, the squads began their journey to the mines.

It was estimated that it would take them at least until Noon to reach the god-forsaken mines. Lord Prestonheim made sure they arrive there on time, the last thing he wanted was not to be able to set the protective wards properly if they came in too late. Thus, they marched exactly during the highest level of Obura.

As the squads advanced out of the camp, The Commanders along with the Prince's knight escorts rode on their horses and rode beside Prince Arterius' carriage. They will follow the squads from the tail while also being defedended by the escorts.

The prince was insistent that he be coming along with him.He wanted to research on the ores as soon as they came out of the ground. He was afraid that the ores might lose their potency if it had to travel far for him to study.

No matter how many times they tried to deter the prince's curiosity, they all came up short. He wasn't falling for it. The prince wouldn't budge and was adamant about his mission as well.

"I hate saying this," Arterius said earlier that morning. "But as a member of the Royal house and possible heir to the throne. This is a mission I should take to get my father and the Senate's recognition.

The energy and the atmosphere outside the camp was rather barren and similar to what it was earlier. Everything was quiet. There were no winds blowing, no birds chirping nor animals running along their path.

The only consolation they had was the sun's shyness towards them. The gloomy morning made it easy for the squads to march across the vast valley towards the mines. There was no heat to prickle their skin and the humidity was just right, not to overheat them while in their armors.

It was rather a long yet steady line but fast enough for everyone to advance and arrive on time. In front of the royal escort were three carriages filled with wooden planks, nails, food and potion provisions and some spare blades and bow and arrow.

Lord Prestonheim paced with the speed of the carriage while being lost in his thoughts. The silver-haired Commander was still thinking of the scenarios of what's about to come for them once his men reached the chthonic confines of the hole.

"Godfather," Prince Arterius interrupted his brooding. The young prince popped his head out of the carriage window.

"What are you doing?!" Lord Prestonheim exclaimed in horror. "Get your head back there and do not, DO NOT open your windows! We might just be a target of Lady Bieroff's men or better yet highway man lurking around." He warned his godson.

"Nonesense." The Prince scoffed. "I am in the presence of the Lord Commanders Prestonheim and Crovar, the silver-haired lion and the wild shark! I doubt one would dare cross your path." Arterius smiled.

"This is no laughing matter, Arterius!" He said scoldingly. "You are the—"

"I am Arterius, son of Imperatur Severus, prince of the Principalia." Arterius interrupted. "It's all but a title and yet here I am, risking my life to keep it." He sighed.

"I know you have a hard life." Lord Prestonheim replied. "It's not easy being called the weakest which you know, you aren't, and I believe that."

They went past a picturesque view of the over towering trees surrounding the hills, but they weren't able to appreciate its full beauty. Instead, they were engrossed in their conversation with the prince and his legitimate claim to the throne.

"You know better than anyone else that my brother has the highest chance to be the heir to the throne." Prince Arterius said. "He had won many battles and look at me, I am here going into the mines—"

"To change the world." Lord Prestonheim interjected. "If it is only about merit, yours weigh the heaviest. A magic barrier piercing cannon. And now this? Those fools are blind!" He exclaimed.

Suddenly, Lord Prestonheim's doubts slowly faded as his conviction to help his godson became stronger with their conversation.

"We shall make it through, Prince Arterius." He confidently proclaimed. "You shall change this world for the better with your knowledge and discoveries. The empire needs a new paradigm. True strength does not only come from one's physique, but it comes from here…" he pointed his chest. "The heart."

The Prince smiled at him. "I believe in you that we can achieve this impossible feat. I mean…I have to…because I wanted this!" He stated with pride and conviction.

"Well, then we are almost there, Prince Arterius! Please show your people that intensity and hunger so that they would grant your vision for the future." He smiled.

After a few more talks, they finally reached the mines. The desolate landscape of dilapidated tents was still eerie to Lord Prestonheim. This was once a camp full of life until that faithful night happened.

Everyone stopped at a distance of around 40 footlings from the burrow and began to build a new camp. The squad lined up immediately after taking a quick rest and lunch. Lord Prestonheim could see the anxiety in their faces but he knew that he had to push them through.

After setting up the levers and posts for an individual descent, everyone anxiously waited for his orders. The silver-haired Commander could feel the intensity and heaviness in the air. He looked at his godson who stoically looked at him and nodded.

That was his go signal. He looked cleared his throat and tried to speak encouraging words as best as he could, but nothing was coming out from him.

To be honest, Lord Prestonheim had no words to say to them. He wanted to think of this entire ordeal as like fighting a war. But this was a different kind of war. There were no survivors on either side if one gets captured. In fact, there's no such thing as prisoners, only corpses that would lay waste on the ground.

But his

"Men, today is the day we make history." He began his speak as he glanced over his attentive listeners. In front of the rows were his green and eager knights, yet to be tempered into battle. He could only imagine the horrors they would have to go through as they descend further into that hole. "May no fear fog your hearts, and no emotion block your senses. Be logical and be brave! And if your time comes, be at peace knowing that you had become the foundation of this great empire! For Arteria! For the Principalia!"