The elite of the Herdial elite. The dragon slayers. Men mutated beyond their limits, towering over their lesser brethren.
Their thick fur coats with interlocking armour plates. skull helmets of steel.
A dozen hulks strided in a single column. Great swords, Pickaxes and Warhammers on their backs.
Harpoons, cannons, javelins, slings to bring devastation from afar. Grapples attached to tungsten cables, strong enough to subdue a dragon. Armoured flasks filled with concentrated acid for melting through even the most stubborn of hides.
Staggered between them, men in dark robes and pointy hats. The wizards, those who witnessed their parades call them. The slayers' attendants, in charge of everything from their weaponry and their diets.
"So those are the slayers. Impressive. Terrifying even. It's a rare chance for me to see them up close." Ria stood beside Rey as they observed the slayer parade.
"Indeed. A thousand man army is not their match."
"You think these guys can take down the wyvern queen?"
Ria folds his arms in contemplation.
"You can never be certain about the outcome of a battle."
Ria raised an eyebrow.
"You know something you're not telling me about?"
"It's just a hunch. After all, first time raids generally don't go well ."
Wham! Ria slapped Rey on the back which almost caused him to fall forward.
"You are mumbling."
Rey took a moment to recover from the hit. Ria's slender arms had an unexpected amount of strength inside them.
"I'm curious. How are these giants created? I know of one house. House Arestor, the mainstay fighting the orcs. They used giant warriors supported by enchanters to match or even overwhelm the orc's strength."
"Oh there are many methods. Spells, herbology or in some cases, the mana form itself allows growth to superhuman sizes. The slayer guild had jealously guarded their secret for generations."
"Just like the Arestor house actually. That begs the question. What is it about a giant making formula that makes it worth guarding?"
"Cost. That's the simple answer. Giants aren't invincible you know. There's as many ways to kill one as there is to kill a man. The precise method to produce them at scale is certainly as guarded a secret as the relics of the holy order of Silora."
"I see. What do you think Hikari used to grow to her size?"
Rey threw her a glance.
"My guess is that she probably has an innate mana form of sorts. My sister Sheela was able to grow to an impressive size using commonly available methods. Enough to bully me everyday. But it's risky for her to go any further. She might end up with a lopsided body."
"Good to know."
They continued watching the parade.
"Say, what is the baby fawn general's opinion. How does Hikari fare against the slayers."
Rey paused, checking some calculations in his head.
"It's not even close. Hikari would easily wipe the floor with that squad of slayers. Where in the five realms did you find her?"
Ria shrugged. "Plains of Igar. The killing fields as they are called."
"Where heroes are decorated and then cleaved in half by the orcs within the same season. Makes the situation here in Herdial look like just a bad harvest. But even so, surely Hikari would have been famous enough for the bards and the town criers to sing her name."
"They do, you just haven't been paying attention." Ria smiled.
"You're bluffing." Rey was a little embarrassed at Ria's teasing.
"Well. She wasn't as impressive as she is now. She spent the past few years training in obscurity at the RazenHeir estate, taking on only local bounties. It's not a surprise that she is not as well known as she should be."
"But very soon she will be. This is one of the highest profile raids going on at the moment. It even has the blessings of the royal house."
"Oh? Is the conquering baby fawn general Rey Hearthstone up for promotion this campaign?"
Rey nudged her shoulder in response.
As they were enjoying their conversation, a man in fine blanch robes approached them. He was swearing a straw hat. His face was clean shaven and his hair was neatly combed. A sword case with elaborate golden decorations in his left hand.
The air itself seemed to get heavier as he stood before Rey. The scar across his face became visible as he tilted his straw hat backwards.
"Greetings, general. Is the path to the wyvern's lair clear yet?" The man asked coldly, nothing but contempt in his voice.
Rey turned to face him, his body tensing up as he met the man's glare.
"It's right on schedule." The man did not respond but continued to stare Rey down with a stern, displeased look on his face. Rey held his nerve, meaning his composure, showing little signs of buckling under his intimidating
After a few tense moments that felt like an eternity to Ria. But then the man just let out a brief chuckle.
"Hmm, we'll discuss that in the war tent later. For now, I have some personal business."
He turned to Ria and got on one knee, matching his eye level with hers.
"Ria RazenHeir, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Ria was taken aback by the sudden shift in his mood.
"Do I know you good sir?"
"Janryc Krelimerous Farador. A humble alchemist at the dragon slayer guild. The good general here had asked if I could pitch in and help ship that exquisite set of armour that you ordered."
His voice was slow and warm. Ria felt seduced by it even.
"I doubt a piece of armour would be of interest to an alchemist. Speak plainly." Ria folded her arms.
"Ha! Straight to business then. You see, I brew potions for slayers. When I heard of the Lady wyvern bane, I had hoped that my skills might be of interest to her. If you would allow me to examine her, perhaps I could come up with something that would satisfy her. What do you say, young RazenHeir?"
He edged himself closer to Ria, who leaned backwards in response.
"There is no need. I can tell you up front that there is no secret. She eats whatever you and I eat, just more of it. And she trains everyday."
The man stood back up and folded his arms, visibly annoyed at the rejection. "Playing close to the chest are we? I see the young knight has yet to come to appreciate my work. Perhaps the Lord RazenHeir himself would see reason."
He turned around and just walked off. It wasn't until he was out of sight before Ria heaved a sign of relief.
"That was so scary, how did you manage to withstand him, Rey?"
Rey chuckled in response, eliciting an annoyed look from Ria.
"That was nothing but a show. The man knows as much swordsmanship as I do which is not at all. Yet he walks around with a master crafted sword with a full set of runes that he needs to wear insulative gloves to protect himself from. Oh, and that scar on his face. All fake. Once you know all that, you would be trying your hardest not to laugh in his presence."
"Nothing to worry about then."
"Oh no, quite the opposite." Rey's face turned stern.
"He is one of the worst characters you could hope to bump into. Double the sentries. Double the warding. Don't wander out of your camp anymore."
Ria nods.
"Oh, I think we should go check on your champion now." Rey begins walking. Ria followed.
"She's still training with your elder sister since I brought them breakfast. Call me an amatuer, but I think they made incredible progress."
"That's good to hear."
They stopped at a road junction. A convoy of carts filled with supplies lumbered past them. After patiently waiting for the last one to pass them, they continued on their way.
"Say Rey, I'm curious. How did you manage to convince your house to teach Hikari your mana form?" Rey stopped in his tracks. He turned to Ria and placed his index finger on her lips.
"Shh.. I didn't."
"There's no hiding it though." Ria flicked his hand away.
"I know. But it's Sheela. She's known to be impulsive. Plus as the only viable mana form carrier that could birth the heirs to continue the blood line, she could get away with a lot."
"What about you? Are you not a carrier as well? I mean being physically weak doesn't mean you are not viable."
Rey looks at the ground silently.
"I apologize if I had pried open something I should not have."
"No, no. It's fine. Public knowledge in fact. "
"I am not in the know though."
Rey glances at Ria's inquisitive eyes. His troubled look turned into bemusement.
"Fine, i'll say it just for the princess who on this rare occasion has descended from her ivory tower. I'm a Dud. "
"A what?"
"If they shove me into a cannon, the cannon would misfire."
Ria bursts out in laughter.
"You certainly would fit at least."
"So would you."
"But seriously, what does that mean?"
"Alright, you really are dense. It means I have failed to manifest the mana form of the hearthstone. It's really different from your situation. Your stats are really low so you are probably no good in a battle, but at least you have properly manifested the RazenHeir's mana form."
"That's the first compliment I have ever heard in that respect. Even my own house wasn't so generous."
"Well, it means you can have offspring that could inherit it. I on the other hand can't. Which means I am basically expandable."
"I see, that's quite the predicament. But I see that at least your elder sister is watching out for you. She's willing to do you quite the favour by coming down here."
Rey's face started turning red at the mention of Sheela. And then, it gradually turns to empathy.
"She's doing it because she's bored."
"Bored?"
"She's a born warrior. But as the only viable heir. She's basically grounded. She can't slay any monsters because the house won't risk it.."
"I see.."
Rey smiled.
A warm smile, markly different from that of a merchant.
"Well, let's go check on them."