Kuroinu Souls

Chapter 9

"Sire? What's the meaning of this? Why are those wretched dark elves with my citizens!?"

"Lady Alicia, these...."wretched"...dark elves, are the ones that secured your citizens, I have been traveling with them for a while, and unlike you and your people, they couldn't stop Vult from taking their domain."

"Vult? He and his mercenaries were under our orders to capture Olga Discordia! What does he have to do with this!?"

"Well, ALL of this has to do with him. From what i saw and heard from the dark elves, he isn't going to stop with just Olga."

"And you are going to take their word for it!? They are our ENEMIES! They have..."

"(Our? Enemies? Ok. This is not the time.) Alicia Arcturus."

The tone of voice the Ashen One used while he was not shouting, it was firm and commanding, like a general that was addressing his soldiers, on reflex it made Alicia's knights to standat attention, even Alicia herself.

"(H-huh? why am i doing this too, only Lady Celestine or Commander Claudia should be capable of displaying this level of authority!?)"

"Right now your priority should be to search for any survivors from the attack, I'm sure there are places where there are still citizens hidden, also, we also have to treat the injured, is there a place where you can tend the wounded?"

"T-there's the city's church, it also serves as the city's hospital, w-we can tend the wounded there Sir."

"Good, now...the dark elves could help you in the search within the city if...Lady Olga?"

Seeing the queen of the dark elves right in front of them made Alicia and her knights tense in anticipation of what would the enemy they were set out to defeat do.

"My my! Sir Ash, already offering my warriors to help? Only their king, or in other words, my husband would be capable of ordering the dark elves..."

Olga gave the Ashen One a smile with her eyes closed as she approached him and Alicia, putting a hand on one of his shoulders.

"(...I don't think she is implying something.) I apologize, it was a merely a suggestion, at the end of the day it's your decision to cooperate or not...for now Lady Alicia, you should tend the wound-oof!"

The Ashen One felt someone tackle him, or well, tried to, seeing as it was a small child that attached to his leg, though after that...

"It's mister knight!""Yay the cool knight!""Mister show us the sparkly magic again!""Teach me how to use a sword like you Mister!""Thank you for rescuing us mister knight!""Mister knight how can I be as incredible as you!?"

Seeing one of the children being so forward pushed the rest to swarm the Ashen One either to praise him or thank him for saving them, Olga and Alicia could only move away to give the children space to surround the Ashen One and giggle at the scene unfolding before them, meanwhile Chloe was watching the scene with a smirk on her face.

"(YES! Suffer their boundless energy! They just wouldn't leave me alone and would not shut up!)"

"Now now children, you should help your families and friends...do you think you could help guide the people to the church? We have to heal those that are hurt."

With a collective nod from the children, they quickly dispersed to start guiding the adults to the city's church, those that passed nearby the Ashen One gave him their thanks. Chloe could only say one word after that...

"WHAT!?"

"Lady Chloe? Is something the matter?"

Seeing the Ashen One approach her, Chloe could only turn away her face from being seen to hide her embarrassment.

"Do not concern yourself with me knight!"

"Are you su-"

"I SAID I'M...*ahem*...apologies, I had to deal with the children as we moved here in the city and they just wouldn't leave me alone."

"Well...that's how children usually are, even with this going on they are still full of energy and that's something to give them praise for, don't you think?"

"Yes...I suppose so, I'll take my leave Sir Ash, to gather some of the more willing elves to accompany me in searching the city."

"And Lady Olga?"

The Ashen One pointed to where Olga was and it seems she was engaging in a discussion with Alicia. Maybe talking about plans for the future? Refuge for the dark elves? Out of the corner of his eyes the Ashen One noticed that the group of nuns he saved were approaching Chloe and him.

"I will trust in her judgement and I trust you will keep an eye on her, correct?"

The Ashen One gave a firm nod in response.

"Good. Well see each other later Sir Ash."

Seeing Chloe left to talk with the other dark elves, the Ashen One turned to regard the nuns that he saved, only to see that they were kneeling as if they were praying in front of him with eyes glazed and a joyful expression.

"Aaah..the Goddess has sent an Archangel to save us...Milord, please!...guide us and restore peace to our land, just as the Goddess must have intended to!"

After a seconds of internally pondering what the nuns said, the Ashen One could only give an appropriate response.

"Say what?"