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The general the soldier was referring to was a middle-aged man with dark skin and a face covered in beard and hair.

“Lion’s mane,” Erin muttered that silly joke in her head when she was first introduced to the general, whose name was Osmund.

The general’s tent was large but no larger than the one Erin was given. Still, it was larger than most other tents in this encampment. The abundance of furnishing in the tent gave off the impression of it being significantly smaller than Erin’s own.

General Osmund sat behind a large desk that was embellished with silver steel on the fringes and edges, but never giving off an ostentatious feel. But the most glaring aspect that captured Erin’s attention was the general’s two adjutants standing on each side. The one standing on the right was a short old man without any hair on his face.

The one on the left, who was Erin’s biggest surprise, was a Fae. To be precise, she was a Fox-kin with three tails and lustre pink hair that cascaded down to her waist in waves. Her name was Elinea and she was level fifty-three with quite an impressive set of Arcane Arts, consisting of all five elemental Magic Arts.

Erin and Amyra, taken the liberty to bring herself along when Erin was summoned, were guided to a grand sofa placed just in front of the general’s desk. They were also served fruit juices and cakes. Amyra, as expected, did not hesitate in indulging herself with the luxuries presented to her.

While the Augur was stuffing herself with cakes, Erin was exchanging gazes with the general and his adjutants. The short old man had a grumpy look that had all the suspicions in the world while the Fox-kin had an amicable smile that was laced with unknown intentions.

The way the two-tailed Fox-kin smiled reminded her a lot of Lilian. Similarity aside, the Fox-kin was uncannily seductive whichever way she looked at Erin despite not having an Arcane Art that invokes one’s lust.

“Is sensuality an innate trait of Fox-kin?” Erin wondered inwardly.

Regardless, she was the first Fae Erin had encountered after Lilian.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Erynthea,” greeted Elinea. “I have heard so much about you. It’s been quite some time since I have met another one of my kind. How about you?”

Erin stayed silent. She didn’t like how Elinea looked at her and the way she phrased her question. Her underlying intent was much too obvious yet too obscured at the same time.

“General Osmund, didn’t think we would meet again under such a circumstance,” said Amyra after swallowing her first slice of cake.

“Amyra.” Osmund nodded solemnly. “The feelings’ mutual. I certainly didn’t expect to see you here of all places.”

Erin cast a sidelong glance at the Augur. “You know him?”

“We met on a joint quest, adventurers working with soldiers. It was to take down a nest of Manticores plaguing a town if I recall. He was the one leading the expedition.”

“I certainly was the one leading but I can’t seem to recall you ever following my orders.”

“That’s because you’re terrible at leading the adventurers.”

The general looked like he was about to argue further but decided against it at the last moment. He sighed and turned his attention to Erin. “So, you’re the Fae that I have heard so much about.”

Erin raised an eyebrow at his direct remark that forwent any introductions. If it wasn’t for the soldier who escorted her to this tent, she wouldn’t have known any of the people here. “I’m guessing you’re not the one to thank for the luxurious treatment that my companions and I have received?”

“You guess right, Lady Fae.”

“The general isn’t the one making the decisions.”

“Does it surprise you, My Lady?”

Erin shrugged. “A bit.”

“Well, you have the second sons to thank for that.”

“Second sons?”

“Sons of nobles who are not able to inherit the house, so they went seeking merits and achievements outside of their house. Namely, the battlefield. Just as my luck would have it, the second sons in this encampment are distant relatives of the royal family and House Valdrun.”

“Will they be a problem?”

“They are not the ones we’re worried about,” said the old man. “You are.”

Those words instantly drew a glare from Amyra. “Old man, you better explain yourself in the next few seconds or else I would not overlook that slight.” At the same time, she unleashed some of her aura.

The old man was the only one affected as he gasped and retreated a step.

The Fox-kin was unperturbed, not even waning her smile. In fact, her smile only widened.

“Amyra, stop it.”

“We can just let it be. They must answer for it. Otherwise, they would think us malleable.”

“Please, withdraw your spleen, Miss Amyra,” Elinea said, stepping forward. “Lyon meant no offence. It was merely a factual statement based on our observation.”

“What observation?” Erin asked.

“Trouble follows you, Lady Erynthea. These rowdy zealots we’re facing, you seemed to be the cause. We have captured some of them and they were all vying for your… demise, Lady Erynthea. Are you aware or unaware of this?”

“I am aware.”

“Care to explain why they’re trying to kill you?”

“It's a misguided notion of their faith’s teaching.”

“That’s a vague explanation.”

“That’s the only explanation you will get from me.”

“Lady Erynthea, please. I have lives at stake here.”

“And prying any further will not help you in preserving these lives that are at stake. A zealot’s mind does not operate on logic or facts. They operate on their beliefs and the whims of their gods. You’ll drive yourself insane trying to understand your enemies.”

“Last I checked, Amyra is a person of faith too, no?” said the general.

“I am,” Amyra admitted. “An Aeryon, through and through. No shame in that. But I will be hurt if you think me the same as a zealot. If anything, I’m far from being a zealot.”

“Zealot or not, Aeryo is the Dragon God, is he not?”

“He was.”

“So you’re admitting it!” the old man cried all of a sudden but was shot down by Erin with a stern glare.

Erin shifted her glare to Osmund. “What is it that you want, general?” Erin decided to get straight to the point.

“Among the zealots that had been… raising a rabble, there’s a certain bunch that are treading close to the line that is our tolerance. They call themselves Aerysians. They claim to worship the Dragon God too. I didn’t know there were two of them.”

Amyra chuckled. “As my lady here said, misguided notion of their faith’s teaching. These Aerysians are not different and the Aeryons have nothing to do with them.”

“So you say—” the old man grumbled under his breath but everyone in the room caught his words.

“But these two faiths worship the Dragon God. Or are there two of them?”

“As me and my lady said, misguided. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Pardon me, General, but are we under arrest?” Erin challenged.

“You are not,” Osmund reassured.

“Then please explain to me why there are soldiers enclosing this tent.”

“Precautions, Lady Erynthea,” said Elinea.

“The only ones that think they need precaution against me are the ones who think they had wronged me.”

“Please be at ease, Lady Erynthea. We meant you no harm. It’s just… you are quite a peculiar Fae. I may have not returned to the forest for years now but I don’t believe our people have changed their teachings. Your demeanour is nothing like a Fae, Lady Erynthea.”

“Stop this farce. I’m sure you have already found out that I’m not raised in a forest.”

“Which makes you all the more peculiar, Lady Erynthea.”

Erin groaned inwardly and turned her gaze away from the Fox-kin. “General, if there’s nothing, I would like to return to my camp.”

“There’s something I would like to ask you, Lady Fae.”

“Then spit it out already. I do not like people stalling their true motives.”

“Then I shall be straightforward with you, Lady Fae. We have reasons to believe that the so-called Aerysians are preparing for a huge battle.”

“Huge battle? Against who?”

“We do not know yet but the Aerysians are hoarding weapons and potions. If they are gathering provisions too, I would say they are preparing for war.”

“And how does this concern me?”

“Your assistance in our efforts will be much appreciated.”

“No.”

“But you haven’t hear about—”

“I don’t care about the rewards, General. The risk is not worth it. This is no different than war. I’m an adventurer, General, not a soldier. But in Sephrodia Valley, you fought—”

“That was out of necessity, General. People’s lives were at stake. A whole city was overrun by demons and their adherents. What you are asking now is different. I have no reason to risk my life for you.”

“Lady Fae. These zealots pose a threat to the people too.”

“Tell me, have any of these zealots or your soldiers engaged in direct combat with either side?”

“We are currently a deterrent but it won’t last forever. The zealots would get bolder and bolder as time went on. I reckon they will take their chances once their patience runs out.”

“That’s a bold assumption, General. But what’s their aim? Why would they just launch an assault?”

“You said it yourself, Lady Fae. Zealots’ minds don’t work on logic. Who knows why they attack? As long as we take the first strike, we will be able to deal with them in one fell swoop. In order to have a clean sweep, I would need as many competent fighters as I can get. If the rumours aren’t exaggerated, you will be an invaluable unit, Lady Fae.”

Erin sighed and rose from her seat. “We’re done here, General. I am not a soldier. You can find someone else. Good afternoon.”

And she disappeared out of the tent before either of the three could say anything more.

****

“Why did you decline, Milady?” Amyra asked once they had walked a considerable distance away from the tent. “Wouldn’t it be good if we nip the problem in the bud? We even have volunteers.”

“I concur but I doubt the General’s intentions,” Erin confessed.

“I don’t like him but he’s not the kind to have hidden motives.”

“Maybe he doesn’t even know it himself,” Erin said in a low voice.

“His mind is not his own?”

“Enthralled, that’s his status affliction. It was hidden.”

“You appraised him, milady?” Amyra widened her eyes. “Thank the stars he didn’t notice.”

“Regardless. The general of an army is being mind-controlled, or at least influenced by a skill or magic.”

“We should leave as soon as possible?”

“Not that would only arouse suspicions on the perpetrator. And we might get caught up in this conspiracy.”

Amyra sighed exasperatedly. “It’s truly one problem after another. When will we ever get to the capital at this point?”

“It’s truly—”

Amyra looked over to her mistress who had suddenly fallen silent. She found Erin staring into the sky and she followed her gaze.

High above the clouds. There was a shadow, a huge one. It had a pair of wings that span as long as its body length or perhaps even longer.

“How in the fuck’s name—!?” Amyra gasped.

“Amyra, is that what I think it is?” Erin asked after swallowing a lump in her throat.

“I’m afraid so, milady. But… I don’t know how this is possible… Why would a Dragon be here?”

“It’s dead. I can smell it. Rotten flesh.”

“Dead? You can’t possibly mean—”

“An undead dragon.”

At that moment, a bell resounded throughout the entire encampment. In an instant, the whole place was in an uproar. Soldiers dropped whatever they were doing and rushed for their gear and made haste towards their stations.

Then, a deafening roar followed that shook the earth. The clouds parted as the shadow descended, revealing the appearance of the undead dragon in all of its harrowing splendour.

“You have got to be joking…” Erin muttered in stupefaction as she saw the level of the undead dragon.

Level seventy-eight.