Near the border of Noctvain and the Chasm.
A village had been massacred. Bodies lay scattered everywhere.
Several investigators wearing the Noctvain family seal on their chests were examining the scene.
Just then, a group of warriors arrived.
They were from the Noctvain family.
At the front of the group rode Aether on horseback, with the Left Guardian beside him.
The Noctvain family had many knight squads that carried out dangerous missions.
This Soulborne mission was given to the Iron Fang Squad.
Aether and the Left Guardian were with them, as Aether's father had challenged him to kill the Soulborne.
Clop...clop....skrrrrt !
When the squad reached the massacre site,
the Noctvain investigators stopped their work and bowed respectfully to Aether.
"We greet the young lord."
Aether returned a slight nod and asked,
"What's the situation?"
"An unknown group has revived a Soulborne, named Asylum. That monster massacred the whole village alone. After that, they disappeared."
"Hmm. We'll head toward the next village. They'll be there tonight." Aether said calmly.
"What?" The investigators froze, stunned by his confidence.
"Why do you think that? Can you explain?" one of them asked.
"They could have just killed a few people," Aether said, his tone calm but sharp. "But for them to wipe out an entire village means they're challenging the Noctvain family. They'll most likely attack the next village tonight."
It was still afternoon, so they had some time before nightfall.
The Left Guardian's thoughts matched Aether's. He turned to the captain of the Iron Fang Squad, a tall man with a massive build.
"What are your thoughts on this, Squad Captain?" the Left Guardian asked.
The squad captain had full authority over the mission, so it was his decision where to go. But since the young lord had given his reasoning, it was only natural to support him.
"I agree with the young lord. We should head to the next village." the squad captain replied with a grin.
They left a few troops at the massacre site to continue investigating, while the rest of them headed toward the next village, Hemnagar.
* * *
Hemnagar.
The squad was working with the city guards, preparing for the coming battle.
Aether and the Left Guardian were heading toward an inn to have a meal.
As they stepped inside the inn, everyone in the inn shot sharp glances at them.
To avoid drawing attention, they covered their family crest with black cloaks. But since they carried swords and weapons at their waists, it was natural for everyone to glare at them.
Ignoring the stares, they quietly sat at a table.
A young boy hurried over and asked, "What would you like to eat?"
"Bring whatever is special." Aether replied.
"Then I'll recommend our inn's special chicken noodles. Please wait while I get your food." the boy said with a smile.
Aether simply nodded.
As they waited for their food, Aether noticed a group of swordsmen and mage sitting at a table in the corner.
Judging by their almost uniform attire, they looked like escort warriors.
The person they were escorting was obviously the woman in the center with her face covered by a veil. She looked about seventeen years old.
She wore pink silk clothes with butterfly patterns. From her dress and the way she carried herself, it was clear she was a noble with great elegance.
'So the swordsmen and mages were her escorts.'
There was also an old man sitting next to the woman.
He was smiling and serving the woman with utmost devotion.
From their aura, they were probably from a count's family. But since they were hiding their family crest, it couldn't be told which family they belonged to.
"Young lord, how do you plan to fight the Soulborne?" the Left Guardian asked.
Hearing this, Aether looked away from the group of escort warriors and began talking with the Left Guardian.
Meanwhile, the veiled woman looked at Aether von Noctvain and said in a low voice,
"I think i have seen him somewhere! But i can't recall where"
At her words, the old man, who had been talking about this and that to please her, slightly furrowed his brow.
Then he cautiously said,
"Young lady, are you interested in him? He's a mercenary, and your father won't accept him."
"Shut your nonsense. I wasn't talking about his face. I think I saw him when I was younger."
"Ah....Sorry for my dull judgment, young lady." The old man bowed his head, as if he were truly ashamed.
Just then, a drunk man with a sturdy body approached the veiled woman and her escorts,
"Hey, you bastards! This is my seat. Get out of here." The drunk man said in a furious voice.
He was the leader of a local gang, and after drinking with his subordinates, he had come here to have a meal.
Seeing him like that, the innkeeper trembled in fear. But the woman and her escorts said nothing, as if ignoring him.
"Can't you hear what I'm saying? How dare you ignore me, Cobsu, the ruler of this entire village."
The old man beside the veiled woman was about to stand up to cut out his tongue, but the veiled woman stopped him.
Then she turned to the drunk man and said in a cutesy tone, "We want to get out of here, but that man over there is our leader."
The veiled woman wanted to see if the one she was recalling was truly him or not, so she directed the drunk man toward Aether.
The drunk man became furious at her words and turned to Aether.
He rushed at him and shouted, "You bastard, get out of here!"
The left guardian was about to unsheathe his sword. Just then, Aether drew his own blade and slashed at the drunk man's neck.
Solurtchh!
In an instant, the man was decapitated.
Everyone in the inn froze, dumbfounded by the sudden murder.
The veiled woman and the old man were shocked to see such cruelty.
Then Aether looked at them with an expressionless face, before turning back to the left guardian and speaking as if nothing had happened.