21 The Dark Gods Have Returned

After entering the same state of frenzy, the moment she regained her conscience was strangely similar. A blank memory past the time where her instincts took control and no idea how much time had passed after it. Seeing the ravaged body of Daryl, she took a step back. If she didn't feel anything for the destroyed body of a deer, the sight in front of her was still a former human. But apparently, her other personality didn't make any difference between the two. The begging and terrified face of the rapist was still engraved on his head, head that was a good twenty meters away from his body.

Knowing that someone will investigate her trail, she couldn't let this spectacle be noticed. Even if she was a very weak magician and was not capable of using magic like her younger sister, she was still capable of creating something useful.

"[Fireball]!"

Muirnë shouted that spell of the 2nd Circle and soon, insider her right palm, a small ball of fire appeared. It was more or less the same size as her head and a few of those will be enough to burn everything. Funnily enough, she noticed that she couldn't feel anything about the fire burning near her. Previously, each time she used a spell, she would feel some minor inconveniences. But now, after all the tortures she suffered, she wasn't even able to notice something that small. Grabbing the lone head, she threw it into the pyre. As for praying for the soul of that bastard, she wouldn't do it. His quick death was merciful enough.

By the time she reached the place where she slaughtered the rest of the soldiers, the thin boy was still petrified. The princess was gladly surprised by that because even if she took a long time to eat the human body, that witness won't be able to tell that. However, the moment he saw her coming near him, his reaction was quite unfriendly.

"MO-MO-MONSTER! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!"

Without even bothering about the state of his princess and, logically, commander, he buggered off. But he was still in the hand a normal human and not someone like Muirnë that was trained since her childhood. Not knowing how he normally would be compared to Daryl, the young girl still took more time to catch him than the fleeing rapist. Fear truly gives wings. Also, she didn't want to have an innocent death on her before reaching the encampment of the 13th Legion. The death of the others was justified, but if he died, that would be bad.

"STOP!"

Using once again her acute voice, she managed to incapacitate a little the solider. In his state of panic, he wouldn't notice something like that, maybe he will even think that it was his own mind that control him. However, that strange perk was not really working on human, because except slowing by half his movements, it didn't immobilize him as she did with the deer. That shout still caught his attention and he looked behind him. That, combined with the fact that his body was not responding correctly, sent him on the ground and his head hit the ground violently.

When Muirnë reached him, he was still a little bit stunned and haggard, but he was fine overall. Only when he totally woke up did he realized who was standing in front of him. He thought that the mad instructor was the most terrifying creature on this planet, he was deeply wrong. That innocent white girl was a wolf in sheep clothing.

"Good, don't worry, I won't kill you. You know the rules of the legion and you know that this group broke them. I administered the justice of the king on my behalf. And since you recognized me, this will be faster to do. Now, where is exactly the training ground?"

But as she was saying this, she unconsciously waved her sword a little. It was the one she stole from Daryl and it was dripped with blood. However, on her entire body, not a single drop could be seen. She still in the same apparel, with mud and dirt all over, but void of any blood. And of course, instead of focusing on the words that were pronounced, the young soldier was fixed on those details. He looked down on his boots and saw some stains of a red liquid. Even if he was far, the way she killed those men still threw blood in all the directions. But she was untainted by it.

Noticing something weird, Muirnë looked directly in the eyes of the thin boy but he was not looking back. Gazing at where he looked, she saw her sword painted red. Then, her broken armor variating between white and brown, metal and leather or mud. And finally, his trousers and boots where red could be seen. "This is going to be troublesome". She thought quickly and in less than a second, found an idea.

"[Water]! [Water]! [Water]! …"

She kept using the most elementary spell of the 1st Circle until she was totally washed up. Clearing the miscellaneous things stuck on herself and cleaning the bloodied sword. She also used it on the lone soldier, breaking his hypnotic state. He screamed like a pig that was being slaughtered and jump several times around her. But at least, they got rid of most of the evidence. All she could do now was trying to convince him that she cleaned herself before meeting him.

"ATTENTION!"

Even if he was a newly recruited soldier, they were still taught the basic. He quickly took position, without even noticing it how clumsy he looked. Only after pondering for a bit did he noticed the smile on the girl. She was making fun of him on purpose but that smile was a beacon of hope for him. It represented the fact that maybe he will live, making him smile too. After the stressful situation, the two of them appreciated that small moment of relief.

"That's good, I was just messing with you. But I really need to meet your commander, it is vital. And before you open your mouth asking about it, no. I won't tell you anything. It is for your own protection, as weirdly as it sounds. Also, be prepared to leave soon, this training ground won't be used anymore."

The young man was baffled by the last sentence. They were currently in the Forest of Verde, the most peaceful location that far in the West. Here, only normal animals were present and no monsters or terrifying creatures lived. That's why it was the training ground of the 2nd and 13th Legion, a large place with few threats and nearly no inhabitants. Also, it was the most efficient, between the plain, the small hills and the forest. There was even a lake ten kilometers south, allowing the instructors to teach nearly everything. After centuries and centuries, the way the soldiers were trained here was maximized and even some adventurers were joining the exercises. That was how good this place was. Still wondering how huge the threat should be to make that encampment disappears, the thin boy pointed a direction behind him.

The princess nodded at him and soon, the two were marching, both immersed in their thoughts. One had an imagination too big for his own safety while the other was still wondering how she could convince others that the legends had returned. Not a sound was pronounced and they only reached the fortified door at dusk. She could see other groups coming back, some carrying medicinal herbs while others were grabbing wastes or worse, poisonous weeds. She pitied a group in particular that used their naked hand to carry the latter, they will suffer for a week at least.

The two of them, on the other hand, grabbed the attention of everyone. First of all, she was not wearing the uniform of the recruits or the one of the 13th Legion. Also, her fierce face was still visible from the half broken helmet, provoking the envy inside some of the men. But they were too close to the instructors, meaning that their fear was immensely bigger than their lust. But they were at the same time perplexed by the drenched boy in front of her. How did he manage to be wet like that in the middle of the forest?

While the recruits were having a hard time to comprehend the situation, the sentries were quick to respond and already ringing the bell. To them, only those arrogant pricks of the 1st Legion and some important people would wear a white armor. And no matter what was happening, those warriors never moved for anything and tried to avoid the former criminals as much as possible. The slack and easy going attitude inside the fortified camp was quickly dispersed and everyone got in position.

The gate was already opened to let the groups come back but soon, a path was formed between two rows of soldiers. Seeing this, the recruits didn't dare to walk it and only the white girl marched inside. Turning her back, she saw the fearful boy and signaled him to come. After hesitating a few seconds, he came behind her and followed her three steps behind. He didn't know why, but he felt that the young girl turned into a strong authority the moment she stepped between the two rows of soldiers. And at that time, he didn't dare to get too close.

She finally arrived at the commander tent, that was in the middle of the camp. Inside was already reassembled all the high ranking officers. The two sentries blocked the path of the thin boy and after a wave of the hand from the commandant, an old man left the tent and approached the young recruit. That thing being deal with, Muirnë looked at everyone in the room.

She was not very familiar with the 13th Legion and tried to avoid those scums as much as she hoped. Even those in front of her were former rapists, arsonists, murderers, assassins, slavers. Four people were in front of her, three men and one woman. She didn't know the men, even if one of them was the actual commandant and the only one putting his feet on the table. But the presence of the blue-haired woman was a surprise.

"Anabelle Brea, what a pleasant surprise? Why are you so far in the South and not fighting near the Dragon's gate?"

Disdain and contempt filled the voice of the princess, but no one was shocked. Everyone here knew who she was and what Muirnë asked was actually a reasonable question.

"Princess, I was sent here to investigate the trail of the Church of T…"

"Don't bother, they are all dead."

Now even the phlegmatic commandant nearly fell from his chair. To say that this cult was strong was not true, the cultists wouldn't be able to deal with a single squadron of the 1st Legion. To say that it was weak was false, they had numerous unholy spells that were terrifying. But nonetheless, they was very good at hiding and the fact that the cultists always managed to escape the legions of Massalia during a very long time was the proof of their relative strength. And now they were all dead?

"The funny thing is, that's not even important."

Now everyone looked at Muirnë with weird eyes. Anabelle and the commandant knew about the "secret" mission that the princess took. And whether it was a success or a failure, it would not be grave news. But unlike their grave looks, the young girl was smiling and even laughing. Even if they had some contacts, none of them really knew her, so they didn't know if it was a normal behavior.

"Sorry, I was just thinking that you are so affected just by a simple cult. And what I was going to say was so big that it looked a little funny. Well, please believe me when I say this."

Muirnë bowed one time and planted her two hands on the table. She didn't even feel the pain that time. She looked at them through her broken helmet, a serious expression on her face, not joking anymore.

"The dark gods have returned!"