Chapter 38: Ritual
Scene – Holding the Line at the Village
The mist from the lake rolled in thicker than ever, blanketing the village in a chilling dampness.
Division 10's remaining knights stood on edge, hands tightening on their weapons. The villagers huddled inside their homes, murmuring prayers to whatever gods they believed in.
From the center of the village, Synoh stood calmly with his sword resting against his shoulder. His dark cloak fluttered slightly in the breeze, his expression composed yet sharp.
A senior knight named Gareth, a rugged veteran with scars along his cheek, approached him. Gareth had always been skeptical of Synoh—seeing him as just a cocky prodigy placed in Division 10 by favoritism.
"Boy," Gareth muttered, his tone challenging. "You've barely recovered from your last fight, and now you're giving orders? What do you plan to do if the serpent comes here instead of staying at the lake?"
Several other knights murmured their agreement. Synoh glanced at them, his gaze steady but not arrogant.
"If the serpent comes here," Synoh said firmly, "we hold our ground. The villagers are terrified, but that doesn't mean we will be."
He paused, scanning the tense faces around him, then raised his voice so everyone could hear.
"I won't let this village fall while the Captain and the others are away. Not while I'm here."
The words carried weight—calm and confident, not loud or boastful. Even Fel's voice in his mind went quiet for a moment, as if listening.
---
The Test of Leadership
Suddenly, a scream pierced the air.
"Monsters! From the forest!" a villager cried out as several ghostly, water-soaked specters emerged from the mist, their hollow eyes glowing faint blue.
The knights scrambled, panic threatening to take hold. Gareth cursed under his breath.
"They're not the serpent, but they're damn close!"
Synoh's voice cut through the fear like a blade.
"Form a perimeter around the villagers! Shields front, spears behind! Archers, cover the gaps!"
His tone carried such authority that even the hesitant senior knights moved without question.
"Move!" Synoh barked, taking the front line himself.
Gareth growled but stepped in beside him.
"You'd better know what you're doing, kid!"
---
The Battle
The ghostly monsters charged with wailing cries. Synoh surged forward, his dark aura flaring just slightly—not enough to lose control, but enough to intimidate the enemy and rally his allies.
"Hold the line!" Synoh shouted, slashing through the first specter with precision. His blade struck true, dispersing it into mist.
"Push them back in unison—on my mark! Three… two… one! Push!"
The knights followed his lead perfectly, striking as one unit. The tide of monsters began to falter.
Even Gareth stared in surprise at how smoothly Synoh commanded them.
"This brat… he's leading like a seasoned officer," Gareth muttered.
Within minutes, the monsters were driven back into the forest, their wails fading into silence.
---
Aftermath and Respect Earned
The knights stood panting, the adrenaline still high. A few looked at Synoh in awe, their earlier doubts fading away.
"Not a single villager harmed," one of the younger knights whispered.
Gareth approached Synoh, his gruff demeanor softened.
"You… fought well," he admitted reluctantly. "No—more than that. You held us together. Guess you're not just some spoiled noble brat after all."
Synoh smirked faintly.
"Never was."
The senior knights exchanged glances, then one by one, they gave him respectful nods. The atmosphere shifted—Synoh was no longer just the new recruit.
Fel's soft voice echoed in Synoh's mind.
> Fel: See? Even humans will follow you when you let them see your strength, not your darkness.
Synoh's expression hardened, though inwardly he felt a small swell of pride.
"We'll keep protecting this place," he said aloud, his voice steady. "Until the Captain returns."
The knights echoed him, this time without hesitation:
"Yes, sir!"
Scene – At the Lake (Elara, Kael, and Yuta)
The moon cast silver light across the lake's surface as Kael, known across the realm as the Dark Summoner, prepared the ritual circle. Yuta stood beside him, staff in hand, his expression calm but determined. Captain Elara and the others—Ursa, Dred, Aloy, and Meth—kept a wary eye on the restless waters.
Kael raised his voice, deep and commanding.
"Lake Serpent, ancient guardian of these waters, hear us. We bring your offering and seek your pact!"
The four goats bleated nervously as the wind picked up, rippling across the lake. The water began to churn violently. A low, guttural roar echoed beneath the surface, making even the veteran knights stiffen.
Then—it happened.
The waters exploded upward. The Lake Serpent rose, massive and terrifying, its crimson eyes glowing brighter than before. But it wasn't alone.
Dozens of water fiends and serpentspawn, creatures twisted by magic and hunger, surged from the depths alongside it.
Captain Elara's eyes widened. "This… wasn't part of the plan."
Kael scowled, summoning his dark chains to hold back the creatures.
"They're drawn by the ritual's energy. Not loyal to the serpent—just hungry for power!"
The serpent itself roared, shaking the trees around the lake. "IMPURE CREATURES! YOU DARE POLLUTE MY DOMAIN?!"
But the monsters ignored even the serpent's rage, spreading outward… toward the village.
---
Shift Back to Synoh – Defending the Village
Back in the village, the ground shook as a horde of creatures burst from the forest edge—scaled beasts with dripping jaws and fish-like monsters crawling on four limbs.
The villagers screamed, panic erupting instantly.
Synoh's sharp eyes widened as he sensed the surge of energy from the lake. He realized at once what had happened.
"Damn it… more are coming," Synoh muttered, drawing his blade.
He turned to the knights, voice ringing with authority.
"Form squads! Gareth, take the archers to the rooftops. Lure the fast ones toward the main square—less room for them to move. Shield unit, wall up at the southern gate! We keep them away from the villagers at all costs!"
The senior knights obeyed without hesitation this time. Synoh's calm, decisive orders cut through the chaos like a war drum.
Fel's voice whispered in his mind.
> Fel: This isn't the serpent's doing. Something else lurks beneath the lake… something darker.
"Then we kill everything that comes close," Synoh muttered coldly, dark aura swirling faintly around him.
---
The Battle
The monsters crashed into the defenses, but the knights, now rallied under Synoh's command, fought with precision. Arrows rained from above, spears thrust forward in unison, and Synoh moved like a shadow at the front, cutting down beasts with terrifying efficiency.
Even Gareth, once skeptical, yelled orders alongside him as if Synoh were his superior.
"Hold the line with the prodigy! Don't let them break through!"
When one massive creature leapt over the defenses toward fleeing villagers, Synoh dashed forward, his dark energy flaring just enough to pierce its skull mid-air before it landed. The villagers froze, staring at him with wide eyes—not just in fear, but awe.
---
Ending the Scene
As the last monster fell, the village square was soaked in blood and silence. The knights looked at Synoh, some panting, others wide-eyed at how effortlessly he commanded the entire defense.
"Captain Elara's got a monster for a recruit," Gareth muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
Synoh wiped his blade clean, eyes drifting toward the lake in the distance where Elara and the others still battled.
> Fel: …Something tells me this isn't over yet, Synoh.
Synoh didn't reply, his gaze hardening as the serpent's roar echoed across the night once more.