The rainstorm in the town raged on, keeping everyone locked inside their homes, the only light emitted in the town excluding the flashes of lightning, was from an Inn just before the harbor. In the bar room Elroy was seated, having a drink with Lukas, Mira, Karin, Jake and Hector, a pale chubby fellow.

"Alright Elroy, you have met every member of Equipe cinq" said Lukas

"Equi... Equipe what?" Elroy asked confusedly

"Equipe cinq, French for team five" said Mira

"Oh! A nice team indeed" agreed Elroy

"Altogether we are the Seekers squad also known as Escouade de chercheurs" said Lukas

"I think I'll go with Seekers squad." Replied Elroy

"The seekers squad comprises of ten teams, each having five members" Lukas continued

"Wow!" Elroy exclaimed "that's a lot"

"We actually lost three teams to a rank two demon" Mira added

"Demons have ranks now?" Elroy asked jokingly

"You have a lot to learn greenhorn" Karin cuts in

"Mira will fill you in on other things once we board the ship, but I'll give you certain information now; take note that Mira's father is the leader and founder of the Seekers squad."

"No shitting" Elroy exclaimed then looks at Mira "How come Uncle Allas became such a bad ass."

"Long story" Mira replied

"Back to the information" Lukas interrupted "There are five ranks amongst the Demons that roam this world as taught to us by commandant Allas; Rank five are called Druids, they are possessed humans who offer their blood to souls of ancient sorceresses or warlocks, thinking power is everything."

"That's a rank five?" asked Elroy

"Don't let them scare you; they are not as tough as their earthly walks"

"Fair enough"

"Rank four are seducing spirits, no record of how they emerged, take note, they are all females."

"Intense beauties to be exact" Jake added

"They don't seem all that bad." Said Elroy

"Yes, sure, say that when they start sucking your life force through kisses or bites to the neck." Lukas replied

"Noted" Elroy agreed

"Virgins especially" Karin added with a smirk, drawing Elroy's attention to her for a split second.

"Rank three demons are called dark souls, they are humans taken over by dark spells casted on them by drinking the blood of Ethan Roy"

"Who is he?" asked Elroy

"A rank one demon, the only known one; Remember this El, dark souls are a torn in the flesh, when on the verge of death they set ablaze their surrounding with black vapors capable of eating your flesh up; the safest way to kill them is by beheading, they are skilled and strong."

"How can one escape the blast in the worst case possible?"

"You can't, beheading is the only option."

"That's really messed up."

"Rank two demons are called Behamolts, they come as children at first then transform into a mighty beast, body of a bull standing on two legs, head of a ram, teeth of a wolf and claws of a bear."

"That's the description of what attacked me." Elroy's confession stunned every one; they stared at Elroy for a while, knowing very well what a Behamolt did to their fellow team.

"You remember it?" Mira asked

"Yes, is that a problem?"

"Behamolts feed on animals only but kill humans for fun, it reaps them apart." Lukas assured

"According to the books" Hector began "a Behamolt soul possesses an available human vessel once it has been killed."

"Seems like an explanation to your situation El" said Mira

"That's the only explanation to why you are alive." Lukas included

"It's presence was terrifying and evil, but I don't recall killing it, I couldn't have, before I reached for my sword it tossed me into the air."

"Wow!" Lukas exclaimed as others stare at Elroy with excitement, "You even tried fighting back; the only option was to flee Elroy, only Commandant Allas, team one and two can handle such a situation; hopefully team three would join in soon."

"That's amazing" Elroy acknowledged

"Not as amazing as you trying to fight back" Karin assured

"I agree with Karin on this" Jake supported

"Commander Allas is trained and experienced I'll give him that." Said Elroy

"He is indeed" Lukas agreed "a possessed victim suffers memory loss, increased strength and improved healing as well as the zeal to execute all evil intentions within that individual."

"That's never good" said Elroy

"You think?" Karin interrupted "in order to get back to a child form it performs a blood feast, an entire town may be massacred."

"What? No" Elroy disagreed, "I couldn't have."

"There is no other explanation Elroy" said Lukas

Elroy relaxed his back firmly on his chair lost in thoughts.

"It's not your fault El" Mira assured, trying to console Elroy

"How many lives were lost? How many families died? And for what?" Elroy spoke with a heavy voice.

"You may as well leave if you are just going to dwell on the past." Lukas advised, "Every individual in the seekers squad have scars, it was the scar that brought that determination to fight beside Commandant Allas; scars are a good thing Elroy, they give you strength to overcome situations." offers his hand to Elroy, "are you going to join us or sober on the past."

"I may as well be jumping into a death sentence on this path" accepts Lukas hand "let's get on with it then." Picking up a mug from the table Karin stood up, "cheers to the newest member of team five" Everyone picked up their mug then arose to join mugs together, "cheers"

The Kingdom of Lance

Ninth hour of the day

The atmosphere around the bridge leading out of the fifth district to the sixth district was misty and chilling in a numb way. Tony taking the lead followed by Prince Phil then Darren trots their horses along the bridge; through the check point of four Lancian warriors before entering into the west plain of the sixth district. A group of Lancian warriors moved around searching the houses and decaying farms, in the middle of the street was a hay of ash arranged to display an omega sign.

Tony alongside Prince Phil and Darren halts their horses in front of the bridge then dismounts from it. Approaching from a house was Sri Ivan, a slender fellow in his early forties. "Your highness" Sri Ivan greeted Prince Phil with a bow.

"It's Prince Sri Ivan; my brother is now crown Prince."

"My apologies for the misunderstanding."

"No offence taken Sri Ivan" Prince Phil assured with a smile

"It's been long Ivan Sri" Darren spoke as he offers his hand to Sri Ivan, who gladly accepted his hand.

"I think the formalities have ended" Tony interrupted

Narrowing his eyes towards Tony, Sri Ivan smiled, "No offence taken Mr. Rooks"

"What am I looking at Sri Ivan?" Prince Phil asked glaring at the ash

"Please, walk with me" Sri Ivan insisted, with gently light steps Prince Phil along with Darren and Tony accompanied Sri Ivan. "This ash is the only remains of every citizen in this western section."

"This is outrageous" Tony complained

"I'm sad to say only the body of Jerrod Rooks and his team were found, General Royce, his squad along with every citizen of the western section, not excluding the children from the western section of the fifth district are ashes now."

"This seems more of an occult ritual." Prince Phil suggested

"Yes my Prince, the priest has purified every inch of this section." Sri Ivan assured

"Nicely done Sri Ivan" Prince Phil praised, "leave the care of this section unto my brother's hand, him alone can make the decision."

"Yes my Prince"

"Any clue to this cult group or how they entered the kingdom?" Prince Phil asked curiously

"We assume they may have demonic gifts, that's the only explanation to how the children were moved from the fifth to the sixth district without causing an uproar"

"Most likely, I presume the defense has been fully secured at the gates"

"Yes my Prince, two of my spies have tracked down the survival that escaped"

"Elroy" Tony spoke lightly

"Who?" Sri Ivan asked curiously

"Tony came in contact with this survival, Elroy, before the massacre" Prince Phil assured

"Elroy, what troubles me is his escaping" Sri Ivan spoke

"What does your source say?" asked Prince Phil

"Elroy and his partner were last seen on the route heading to the south."

"The south? So it is good to tag the south as an enemy zone then."

"So it seems my Prince."

"Very well, Tony and Sri Ivan, you will be going to the south with me, Darren, take charge of the sixth district exercise till my brother takes on."

"Yes my Prince" Darren agreed with a bow

"Tony will head back to the Castle with me, Darren get all necessary Intel from Sri Ivan; Sri Ivan prepare for departure by dusk in two days' time, our meeting point will by the southern gates."

With Prince Phil's words Sri Ivan and Darren bowed as he walks away with Tony.

Chapter 9 SOLVING MYSTERIES

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