The Dark Mountain has been surrounded by a dark field. West crest field, main crest field and wolf crest field, all combined called Crest Field. The three kingdoms surrounding Dark Mountains, Crest Shield, West Shield and Wolf Shield were pride of all nine kingdoms; now eight. After Crest Field, her Father's kingdom had fallen and was completely sucked by Troven, the world became a lot unstable and their survival turned bleak.
But in all this mess, her desire to kill Brawer turned into an urgency. Her trip to dark mountain could be her pass to sneak into the west crest. This might be the main reason she never felt scared when she came to know about her assignment.
"Theres a local group of retired soldiers, good for nothing volunteered folks and...some in term prisoners, leaving for Dark Forest next week" Allen explained.
"I suggest, you wear your armor all the time, it would help you hide your identity" Erich suggested, they didn't even need the explanation or reson behind his worry
"Also, carry some Verian flowers and Thella root on the way." Allen went on.
"You mean? There can be dark spirits?" Daria asked as she fed Ruby the soup Pamela made with their limited healing supplies.
Next couple of days are going to be really critical for her recovery. Though her fever was still high enough, she didn't complain much when Pamela cleaned her and they changed her bandages. While boys were cooperative enough to give them some privacy and went to do their laundry.
"Not just dark spirits, Tylor had seen many weird things on the mountain area, crest fields had many dangerous terrain and also dangerous creatures" Allen and Tylor must have met on the training ground. Tylor is the only survivor of the dark mountain trip; two years ago. There were four dark nights, three of them died at the hands of those creatures.
"Also.." she sensed Allen hesitating over something.
"Spill it.." Erich pressed.
"It's just Tylor's opinion, those creatures seem to get agitated by females...arising primitive desires..." Allen said every word carefully.
"like they want to continue their race or..."
"Want to carry on their race beyond survival" Ruby finished his thought. Daria was surprised, but another thought came to her mind.
"But their numbers never went down.."
"They never went up either" Erich had a point, and if those creatures wanted a hybrid with the humans, there could be many possibilities of what they could achieve if they get successful. And none of those possibilities looked good for humans. Does that means they cant reproduce or they cant reproduce fast enough?
"Well! It's just Taylor's opinion, but you have to hide your identities well enough" Allen warned them.
"Cut your hair" Erich ordered, and she knew that's the best way.
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They packed their bags carefully over next few days. Allen and Erich brought extra medicines and some good armors, hooded cape and dried meat for their journey, from the money she got from Cherry. They all needed energy, especially Ruby. She also gave both boys some money for emergencies. For them every penny mattered, and she knew whatever they were going to earn in the future, will only go back to Grovers Pocket.
She also desperatly neede agood sleep. These days every night her dreams, those were filled with strategies to reach Brawer Mollen, and the ways to end him, are getting mixed with husky voice calling her name and large extended hand, waiting for her to hold. But she can never cover the distance, never reach that hand, and always wake up frustrated. She is already getting tired of pushing those feelings away, this persistent restlessness, this constant aching heart and her helplessness, are all crushing her down to her limits.
"Did something happen?" Pam's question almost made her jump. She looked at Daria with an intense gaze as they walked next to the carriage. Pam was the youngest and most innocent among them, as innocent as anyone can get here.
"Why? " Daria tried to wave it off.
The day before leaving, they had to go to Hatt Market one last time and even with everything going on around her, she was eager to go back in the hope to see him again, Even if just once, only a moment of peace would be enough.
"These days you are looking like you could cry any time" Her concerned voice almost made her give in.
"Dont Bother, just...give me a little time, please don't ask any questions " she almost bagged her, because this is how much helpless she felt. But this is not good, if Pam can see it then any one can. And not everyone would have the same concern as Pam.
And as requested Pam didn't ask anything afterwards. They followed the usual routine once they reached the market and immediately she started her search, from shop to shop, vendor to vendor, every corner that she could without wandering far from her designated spot. Daria requested the same spot as last time, in hope of him showing up looking for her, which was easier under Erich's leadership.
But she didn't see him, not only that, she didn't even see a single royal knight that day. Which should have brought peace, but all she felt was utter hopelessness.