Chapter 125 - Nightly Escapade

The two Slayers left in the Grand Castle scrambled around and packed their things in as little time as possible.

"Why did you not tell me sooner that that was someone important?!"

Yin asked Zachary.

"How the hell was I supposed to know that you had no knowledge about other S Rank Slayers?!"

Zachary replied back.

As they both raced down the massive stairs down towards the exit, they bumped into each other, trying to compete for who the first one to get out would be.

Just as they were about to get to the main door, the were halted by the presence of Emperor Nicholas himself.

"What has gotten you two in a hurry?"

The Emperor asked. He then realized that Yin's face was familiar. "You there, aren't you Yin Sohaya?  Judging from both of your black coats, you are Six Blades members, right? The ones who got summoned by the High Council here months ago, I would like to apologize for that altercation."

Both of them were too nervous to respond and simply nodded.

"Hah. No need to get all nervous around an old man like me, by the way, I was the one who told the Specter to take you both in for a mission. Remember, she could have done this easily on her own, it was I who insisted on her taking the two of you on a scouting mission."

Yin opened his mouth.

"W-We will note let you down, your majesty!"

He exclaimed while kneeling, Zachary did the same.

"I expect great things from products of the Six Blades. Goodluck, kids."

Right before making his way upstairs, the Emperor turned his head around and said something which empowered Yin Sohaya and Zachary Lancaster.

"By the way, I have heard about the Seraphim, Pugna. Great work, to all of you."

After that, he made himself scarce.

Zach wiped the sweat off of his face.

"That was my first time seeing Emperor Nicholas in person for ten years now. It would really have been a problem if he recognized me…"

"You met him when you were like eight years old?"

Zachary had an aura of proudness around him.

"Of course, the Lancaster family were invited to the Grand Castle around that time, and while I was strolling outside, I was-"

The Rookie Fire Slayer's words got interrupted by the Specter.

"Are you two really going to chit chat there and keep me waiting?"

She asked in an annoyed expression.

The three of them walked towards the entrance of the Outer Gates and finally got prepared.

"Err. Might I ask why we are going outside at the dead of night, ma'am?"

Zachary asked Vale.

"What did we talk about using the 'm' word?"

She retorted back with an angered expression.

"M-My bad, Vale, it just sounds weird to call you by your first name without your title…"

Vale Ashford scoffed while smiling.

"Come on kid, it is fine." She drank out of her water pouch and answered Zachary's question after drinking. "Well, it is because the night brings darkness, and darkness, my friend, is the ultimate ally of stealth."

"But would that not be a double edged sword in of itself? Monsters will also be harder to see in the night, we might get caught off guard if we are not careful."

Yin said as he tensed up.

"Then we are going to have to be the smarter species among Angels and monsters if we want to come back alive, right?"

Vale Ashford said with a grin.

She taught them how to crouch while eliminating unnecessary noises and movements, as well as how to keep their eyes peeled at all times and always try to see and sense everything in their perception.

They managed to evade some lowly ranked monsters by doing what she told them to.

"See? It is not so hard isn't it?"

She said in a soft slow voice.

"Yeah, but you still have not told us what we are going to scout for in this mission."

Zach said with a deadpan and bored expression.

"We are going to try and kill a Seraphim, boys."

Her words made Yin cough out, thus attracting a lowly kobold to their location.

"I will take care of this."

Vale Ashford assured them.

As the kobold was sniffing around their part of the woods, it was getting dangerously close, this was the time when The Specter dashed from behind it and slit its neck in one slash.

The sanguine blood on her blade was hastily cleaned off by a quick flick and slash on the air.

"M-My eyes could not even follow her…"

Yin thought to himself.

"The Specter indeed, a master of stealth, espionage, and reconnaissance. I have a lot more to learn in this aspect of being a Slayer, I will absorb as much as I can while watching her."

Zachary said.

"Why does the fact that we are going Seraphim hunting cause you to cough out and choke on your own saliva, Yin?"

Vale asked the white haired Slayer.

"It is just surprising, Vale, because three days ago, we just managed to kill a Seraphim who spewed out flames…"

The Specter was surprised.

"Oh, right, Kai was the one leading your squadron, if I am not mistaken? Well done, kids. Unfortunately, I know you are both down on your luck in getting deployed in missions or even being considered as potential members in conquests, so, this is the best deal you are ever going to get as of now, of course, you are free to turn back, I will not report you for treason."

There was no malice or anger in the Specter's voice, she really meant what she said.

Perhaps deep down she understood how it felt like to make it out of a situation which was seen as inescapable.

Just like what happened in their last mission with Dunham Miller.

"I am staying, Vale."

Zach proudly stood his ground.

"I am here to stay and finish the mission no matter what happens as well."

Yin said.

Vale Ashford did not say anything but as she turned around, a faint smile began to break out from her.

"You sure taught these boys well, Luken, Gavin."

She whispered under her breath.

After a few minutes of sneaking past the monsters while keeping to the shadows, Zachary was curious about some things in the past.

"How were the Commander and Gavin like back then?"

The Fire Slayer asked.

"Hmm." The Specter thought long and hard before answering this question. "Luken Regalia was not always the way that he was right now, he always hid behind Gavin Khalil and Kai Xin, but time and time again, he showed that he was a once in a generation type of Slayer as time went on. And as for Gavin Khalil, he was the 'big brother' of our class of rookies, despite being the same age as us, he has not changed at all that much these past few years, always reliable and understanding. Not to mention a prodigal Summoner in his own right."

Yin and Zachary were amazed at the stories of the past told to them by the Specter.

Zachary thought about what his legacy would be and how he would be remembered in the future if ever he lived long enough to climb up to the highest of ranks.

"I wonder if people would smite me for hiding the fact that I had Anima cells back when I was twelve years old and just followed my family's choice to not enlist and fight."

He thought to himself.

Yin tapped his shoulder to stop him from daydreaming.

"Keep your eyes peeled, Zach. Remember what Vale told us, the darkness can be an ally as well as an adversity for the three of us in these types of missions."

Even though Zachary did not like the fact that Yin told him what to do, it could not be denied that he was in fact right.

"You're right, my bad."

Zach said.

"Tell me, boys, have you lost anyone in these missions you partook in? It could be a friend, a family member, any Slayer."

She asked them.

Yin remembered his first conquests and how they started out as fifty Slayers none older than twenty, and in the end, only had five or six survivors in total.

This memory pains him every single time that he recalls it, yet he uses it as the driving force to be stronger and better every single day.

He also thought about June Alcindor and his sacrifice to remove his suppressors just to keep the Seraphim pinned down long enough for him to eviscerate it in his Nix Eyes state.

Zachary remembered the horrors on Kai, Cosette, and Yin's faces when they were carrying June's body back to Niflheim.

They both nodded as an answer to the Specter's question.

"I see. I, as well, have lost many, many dear friends in my tenure as a Slayer. Most nights I feel like I am still alive because I am stepping on a mountain of corpses my comrades left behind."

She said.