Flavius spread a map across the table, his fingers tracing the worn parchment. It depicted an immense forest stretching endlessly until it reached a massive, ominous black mark—The Hollow Depths.
Scattered around the forest were a few small villages, but Moon Hill Village stood out as one of the closest settlements in the lunar kingdom, to this looming expanse.
Before Flavius could speak, Izikel's voice cut through the quiet tension.
"No… wait, I need Sophia to stay and protect me."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Sophia was the first to respond.
"Don't worry, Lord Izikel. No harm will come to you as long as Commander Flavius is here."
Her tone was gentle but firm, and as if to reassure him further, she reached out and patted his head before turning back to Flavius.
Izikel's mind churned with unease.
'But what if Commander Flavius is the one trying to harm me?'
Flavius finally spoke, his voice steady.
"The journey will take two days. Our target is a small assembly of heretics, and I expect minimal casualties from your battalion. So Return swiftly."
"Yes, sir," Sophia and Raynoel answered in unison.
Izikel clenched his fists as his unease deepened.
'Two days… that means they'll be gone for at least four. That's more than enough time for the Legion Commander to make my nightmare a reality.'
'I can't let him send Sophia away… I have to act. Now.'
An idea struck him.
"Can I come along?" he asked quickly.
"No."
"Yes."
Two voices answered simultaneously—Sophia and Raynoel.
Izikel had expected Sophia's refusal, but Raynoel's unexpected stance surprised him. Their gazes locked momentarily before they both turned to Flavius, awaiting his judgment.
Raynoel broke the silence.
"We all went on our first crusade around his age, and it's not as if he'll be doing any fighting." His reasoning was cool and logical.
Sophia, however, shot back instantly, her voice edged with frustration. "That doesn't matter! Lord Izikel is still recovering from an accident that happened under your watch, and now you want to drag him into danger again?"
Flavius exhaled a slow, measured breath. It was clear that clashes between the two captains were a common occurrence.
"Sophia, Raynoel is right. Lord Izikel has reached the age where he must make his own decisions. He may not yet be a Priest, but he is still a lord of a great house. We have no right to deny him his choice."
Sophia bit her lip, a flicker of defeat in her eyes. Her gaze softened as she turned to Izikel.
"But it's too dangerous…"
Izikel studied her expression. She wasn't just speaking as his protector. There was something more in her eyes—concern, care, maybe even guilt.
He thought back to the night he first awoke in this body. The first thing he saw was her—Sophia, resting by his bedside, her face peaceful in sleep. How long had she stayed awake, praying for him to open his eyes? How much did she blame herself for not being there when he needed protection?
She was overprotective because she carried the weight of that failure.
Izikel reached out and clasped her hand, offering her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry," he said gently. "This time, if anything happens, you'll be there to stop it."
She hesitated, but after a moment, she sighed and nodded.
Flavius gave a final nod of approval. "Then prepare your men for the journey."
With that, they were dismissed.
As they stepped outside, Izikel spotted Lyzah waiting for them. She waved enthusiastically, her grin as wide as ever.
'For a moment, I thought she finally went home…' he sighed internally, his disappointment evident.
---
Now outside the Saint Quarters, Izikel finally voiced the question that had been plaguing his mind.
"Sophia, what exactly is a Crusade?"
She turned to him, her expression shifting into one of solemn understanding.
"Crusades are military campaigns of conquest. We're assigned a target, and we're expected to fulfill our mission and return with the bounty—Divine minerals."
"Divine minerals?" he echoed, curiosity piqued.
"They are stones infused with divine energy. We use them as currency, as well as to strengthen our weapons—like the one in my spear." She gestured toward the pink gem embedded near the blade's lower end.
"But most of all, Divine minerals are used to sustain the Altars scattered across the Lunar Kingdom."
"Why do the Altars need them?" Izikel pressed.
"Although the Altars channel divine energy to us from the gods, they require energy to sustain themselves. We keep them burning, and growing by offering Divine minerals and, sometimes, Divine beasts."
She continued, her voice steady and reverent.
"Divinity exists in many forms. In believers, it manifests as soul energy. In gods, it is divine energy. In beasts, it gathers within their cores as beast energy. And in the physical world, it takes form as Divine minerals,"
"The Altar is the conduit that unites all these forms of energy. By sacrificing beasts and minerals, we maintain the Altars and, in return, receive divine power from the Lunar Moon."
Lyzah interjected suddenly, her voice full of conviction.
"Not all Altars require sacrifices. The Verdant Mother grants us her blessings freely."
Sophia inclined her head slightly in acknowledgment. "Yes, of course. The Living Altar of the Druids is an exception."
Izikel glanced back at the Saint Quarters, his mind flashing to the immense pressure he had felt from the Legion Commander.
It was nothing like the tranquil energy of Chief Markis, yet just as powerful.
A question formed in his mind.
"Who do you think is stronger—the Chief or the Legion Commander?"