Chapter 346 - Messenger

'Over yonder rises the gentle sun amidst the cold sky.' Stood amidst concrete houses with slated roofs of which rose many fire-places. A snowy-white ground, each breath made a puff of vapor. The messenger stood, frozen to the bones, dressed in heavy-leather coat, gloves, and cap. Next to a tree with white leaves, the villages, all people with angelic wings, and warm clothes walked without heeding his call. Speaking of the tragedy at the capital had the village leader in peril, though, it didn't cause trouble for the villagers. Back of where he stood led a path of gravel towards the harshness of the mountain. Tall pines tree erected all around the village and up the mountain. 

"Hear me o' villagers, the capital has forsaken thee, help isn't to come,' pleading with all his might, the few ears he caught were of kids missing milk-teeth. For the following few days until the day the Enbalar siblings arrived at Noctis's Hallow, the constant warning would continue. 

Each night spent was as if they're last. Monster fighting, further up, supplies were low. The harvest this month was pillaged by said devils. Set to freeze without warning, hunger was soon to arrive. Hunter, try as they may, couldn't but face defeat. All the animals, deer, and more alike fled. Reports of many younglings going missing at dusk forced the a.d.u.l.ts to not leave after 06:00. Living off what could be scoured around – life grew harder. The cold added more than snow, it meant certain death if one was starved. The body had to work twice as much to survive. The Winged-wolves; angels in human forms, were accustomed to the climate. Not the messenger, he stood frozen on the third day. Taken pity upon by the village leader; the chance to explain what had happened presented itself. It took convincing, abandoning the slight sliver of hope was tough. It made listening to reason that much harder to swallow.

"The capital isn't going to save us?" 

"No, I'm afraid not," sat before a fireplace, the warmth provided a little comfort. Opposed to outside, the inside had a rustic feeling, one that matched a log-cabin. A rug made of bearskin rested in front of the fireplace. A small circular table on the side of the chairs provided support for warm drinks. The village leader, a man well in his late sixties had white hair. Wings of which had their feathers falling. The face, paler than most with veins and bone exposed due to the skin losing its vigor. Wrinkled around the eyes, each smile felt as if a burden in the skin. The lips were hidden by a beard and mustache. All the men bore facial hairs, it helped in keeping warm.

"What are we going to do?" mumbled the leader, "-the adventurers have been fighting for months. The frost giants aren't letting up their attack. I fear that we may need to abandon the village. Moving everyone from here further down will be troublesome."

"What if the monsters were defeated?" asked the messenger, a butler in service of the Nox's clan.

"We'll be able to move to climb the mountain as the days of old. There's plenty to be harvest up there, tis as if heaven, a climb to purge out sufferance."

"They need to be defeated right?" he asked intently.

"Yes sir," replied the old man sipping the remainder of his mug, "-I doubt that the monsters will be killed so easily. Haven't you heard the rumors? Beasts as large as the trees, goblins twice as strong as humans, vultures waiting to strike the fallen. Lastly, a dragon who roar every midnight causing avalanches. It rests atop Mont Blanc which of itself is more than a few weeks," resting the mug, "-so you see, expecting them to be defeated is pointless."

"Forgive my asking," he interjected, "-did anyone spot a girl fly over the village in the past week?"

"A girl flying over the village?" paused to think with a gentle stroke of the beard, "-no. I hear that a boy saw a large-white figure fly. I doubt it's anything consequential. Probably a vulture or one of the mountain beasts. So, what brings you here?"

"I came to deliver the message," he smiled.

"So, you came to announce our end," breathing a chuckle, "-how very quaint," the head shook at the absurdity.

"No," said sharply, "-I come not from Arda."

"Not from Arda? Why so, did the council fall apart?"

"A very well-educated guess, Elder," he nodded, "-the council has in fact fallen into a disagreement. The reasons why elude me, I was never one for politics."

"On whose behalf are you here then?"

"The Blood-King, the exiled faction of the council."

"The Blood-king…" the words echoed around the room. A name as fearsome as told by the many stories throughout the village. "What of him, what will he do?"

"Thou shall see at dawn," kindly putting away the blanket, "-I'll sleep on the couch over there, good night, elder."

"Yes, good night indeed," the last exchange was confusing and mysterious. Preoccupied with the situation of the village, in no way could he focus on the what-ifs.

The next day came soon. The village awoke to a heavy mist that limited vision to about 2 meters. Turned to check on the messenger, "he's gone," mumbled the Elder.

Out in Noctis's Hallow, the roads before the three mansions were filled with carriages. Ones with supplies on their back. One by one, butlers ran around sorting the issues as they arrived. They were getting readied for an expedition.

"Serene," called Staxius, "-I want you to remain here."

"No," she refused, "-in no way am I going to let you leave alone."

"Don't be so stubborn, I need you to take care of matters here," he voiced kindly.

"No, I don't care," she turned in dismissal. 

"Majesty," interjected Balthazar, "-if she wishes to accompany thee, why not let so?"

"Surely you understand," he refuted back.

"Yes, I do understand, thou art worried about the matters of state," he smiled. "As for Serene," he pointed with a cane, "-she's worried about you more than the state. The Clan leaders will handle the troubles as they come. You needn't worry, be sure to bring back the princess."

"Will do," exhaling, '-look at them.' Serene and Intherna argued over trivial matters as opposed to Achilles who spectated. 'Feels like Kniq.'

"Majesty," approached Lady Fawn, "-what of the carriages, are you sure the single one will do?" 

"Yeah," he replied, "-the supplies will last a week at most. That should be enough time to help the adventurers," eyes fixed on the trail ahead, '-here I come, Eira.'

"Sire," in came Lady Gabrielle dressed in comfortable clothes, "-what of the spies?" 

"The siblings?" glancing over the shoulder, "-leave them be. The capital is a death sentence at the moment."

"Alright, if you say so," she nodded.

Precisely at 07:00, an influx of mana overwhelmed his senses. 'That's the signal,' he thought with the All-seeing eyes active. Far from the village, a secluded path of snow with a singular man.

"Mount up," turned sharply with the suit-jacket catching air, "-we're going." The frivolous argument turned to silence. Sat in the back with Staxius on the reins, it was pulled by hounds. Ones that Serene summoned. Armed and ready, *Ancient Magic: Teleportation.* 

In the mist, a carriage with a single lantern approached.

"Who's there?" asked the messenger a little frightened. 

"Get in," said a monotonous voice," glowing pair of eyes walked with ease in the snow. 

"M-majesty," from a figure to now the King, the butler bowed and entered from the back. He was met by three menacing faces. Achilles on the left with the aura of a trained fighter, strong and merciful. The middle, Intherna sat with her back pressed against Staxius's, her face showed innocence with a hint of mischievousness. To the right, Serene with a face as beautiful as the moon, a face that had a melancholic beauty. Intimidated, he gulped and sat as far away as he could. The trip continued with the never-changing scenery.

"Butler," voiced Staxius a few minutes later.

"Y-yes, m-majesty," he startled out of the comfort of the landscape. 

"We're closing the village. I hope that you've explained everything in detail."

"Yes, and there was a boy who says a figure flew over a few days back."

"Good," the face relaxed, new people meant a new persona. Snowy to somewhat clear, the carriage advanced quicker on the stone path. Led upwards, it gave into a large open area with nothing but snow. The houses were built with precision, it suited the region very well. The highest was two-stories high. Few children who ran around alerted their parents. In-turn, they rushed over to get the Elder.

Stopped shy of the houses, in the center of a path dividing the village, the Elder approached. Hunched back with a walking stick, he came accompanied by a lady.

"Elder," approached the messenger.

"W-what's the meaning of this?" asked the old man.

"What do you mean, didn't we discuss this last night? You said you wanted the monsters to be killed."

"Y-yes," he coughed, "-we already have adventurers fighting them." Peering over the messenger's shoulder, "-who is he anyway?"

"Mind thy tongue," fired the butler instantly, "-don't be so rude in the presence of royalty."

"Royalty you say?" he laughed, "-stop with the jests, in no way will any noble blood walk here." 

"Let me speak," approached Staxius who overheard all that was said. Each step resounded with power; it forced the men to gather behind the Elder. 

"As you wish," bowed the butler out of his way.

"Staxius Haggard, King of the Vampires, Protector of Arda, it's a pleasure to meet you," he gave a slight nod with hands on his chest. A sign of respect for those who were older.

"K-k-king of v-vampires…" murmurs went around the village. All were shocked and distraught. 

"Majesty," spoke a boy behind the crowd.

"Alice!" he voiced loudly. It was the boy who came to the capital a few months ago, the boy who grew attached very quickly.

"Majesty," he ran without heed of his parents and leaped.

"Got you," Staxius caught the boy and spun, "-you've grown since the last time," he smiled to a stop with the boy hugging tightly.

"Alice, please," called the Elder, "-don't be so open," he facepalmed.

"Grandfather," turned while still being held, "-Mister Staxius is a nice person. He took care of me when I was scared of those people in the capital."

"There you have it," smiled Staxius at the Elder. One by one, each lowered their head in respect.

"Welcome to our humble village," spoke the Elder.

"Please, there's no need to lower thine heads," he said with a warm tone. Placing the boy on the ground, "-go meet up with your mother."

"Ok," he ran off with a skip.

"Majesty," spoke the Elder, "-may I ask why thou art here?"

"I've come to help," he voiced, "-rather, we've come to help," at that moment, the three ladies vaulted off the carriage. Stronger than most, they all walked to stand behind the King. "I heard the village was in trouble with monsters. The butler should explain the intricacies later. For now," he pointed to the carriage, "-there are food and provisions for a week's worth. Consider it a gift from the Blood-King's faction." The words fell on their ear as if dessert after dinner. An indescribable joy of relief. Without time wasted, the villagers were quick to unload the carriage. It held more than a week's worth of supplies. They could last for a few more if rationing came into play. The guests were taken to the Elder's house. Alice smiled along the way for the warm memories of the bath and playtime returned vividly.

"Someone's good with kids," elbowed Intherna in jest.

"Phrasing," he sniffled, "-it makes me seem as if a predator," they entered the house.