Fate: Hero and Sword

Of the gathered men and women sent by the temporary alliance of Nobles amounting to around four-hundred, fifty were general Archer-classes, two-hundred were of differing warrior-classes, and the rest were hired mercenaries.

Their numbers were currently stretched thin to surround any exits of the forest, yet the majority of them were lax. Dillan didn't mind though because he knew that they were just waiting for his signal.

If anyone wanted to leave the forest, then he would sense it from hundreds of meters away. By then, it was impossible for him to not have had set up an adequate welcome response.

Coincidentally, his skills alerted him that someone was steadily approaching.

He raised a brow.

Something seemed off about the person approaching. In a general sense, his Forest Stalking job-class wasn't omnipotent. All he could gleam from the skill was the location of the target, and what the woods and nature informed him of. For instance, the grass on the ground could convey how heavy a person or animal was, and the branches and extending twigs from the trees could allow him to estimate a rough size. Furthermore, the unique aura some individuals diffuse off from their bodies could be sensed by the leaves and foliage of the forest. Dark job-classes such as Necromancers for instance gave off a withering aura that drained life from the surroundings.

In this case, the forest was singing.

He couldn't understand it, it was the first time it had ever happened. It was too strange.

Ignoring everything around him, Dillan closed his eyes and attuned himself to his highest level in the Forest Stalker job-class. Within his mind, a picture was steadily forming, supplied by the senses of the forest.

A flutter, a wing beat, and the gentle chiming of wind bells.

Dillan almost didn't know what to make of it before he saw them. Dancing and vocalizing, the spirits spoken only rarely of in the New World for they were the voices of nature itself undetectable by mortal eyes.

The watcher and children of Nature, the Fae.

Their glowing mot-like bodies swirled around an obscure figure and some kind of sheath.

Dillan was shocked, yet it wasn't until he decided to peer in towards the approaching figure that his face paled.

What was staring back at him as transmitted from the trees, the shrubs, and the air, was a pair of massive slitted pupils.

An overbearing pressure overwhelmed him, his mind going blank as a red lumbering scaled body then came within view. Robust and lean, tendrils of flame and steam hissed out with every step creating a smog that encompassed all; the unbearable heat of which he could feel despite not being there in body.

His breath hitched, instantly pulling away from his Forest Stalker skill and breathing heavily. just as a roar deafened his ears.

T-That was…No, it couldn't be!

He swallowed, unwilling to think about what he had just seen for fear of losing his will to fight.

"Dillan?" Marteo called out, puzzled at Dillan's stricken countenance. "What's happening?"

"Move!"

Dillan pushed Marteo aside frantically before running in the direction of the largest congregation of men and women.

"Gather everyone, its coming!" He yelled, the seriousness in his tone conveying the direness of the situation.

Elanor and Marteo had never seen Dillan appear so distressed and immediately grew weary. Dillan was famous amongst the Southern Aristocracy as one the foremost heirs of a top family. Nothing had ever unnerved him.

Elanor calmed her features, pulling out a staff she had had holstered to a strap on her back before chanting and pointing at the gathered crowd of four-hundred ahead.

"Quick March, Lesser Mind Protection, Anti-Evil Protection, Lesser Fear Resistance…"

Numerous defensive and attack buffs were placed over the four-hundred individuals ahead organizing themselves into neat ranks to prevent casualties. In this regard, the mercenaries were the most efficient as what good was coin if one wasn't around to spend it?

Panting after utilizing a large segment of her magical reserves on the others, she then turned towards herself for precaution.

"Rabbit Ears, Rabbit Foot, Bunny Tail."

Each of the spells she called forth enhanced her in a way: Rabbit Ears for advanced hearing, Rabbit Foot to increase luck, and Rabbit Tail to decrease aggression on herself. All were classed as Tier One skills of the Tier Magics, but for a person of Elanor's age, the sheer number of spells she mastered was impressive. In fact, she had already reached the second tier, and had high aspiration to reach the third or fourth before the end of her life. Any higher was just wishful thinking belonging only in ancient myth.

In any case, Elanor still didn't feel safe despite utilizing her magic. After all, despite their preparations the expression on Dillan's face hadn't changed. It was a mix of anxiety and trepidation that was subconsciously eating away at the morale of those who looked up to him.

Elanor pursed her lips, drawing forth from her reserves to cast two last self-enhancement magics.

"Camouflage, Odorless."

In a heart beat, she disappeared from the naked eye, becoming invisible and losing her scent. Should she remain still, it would be difficult for any general adversary to spot her, yet just to be safe, she discreetly made her way to stand behind Marteo and Dillan.

Both of the two had drawn their weapons, Marteo a large broadsword, and Dillan a short sword. As Elanor was a good head shorter than both men, she felt a bit better with the two in front of her.

"I'll support from here," she spoke out, causing both Marteo and Dillan to nod as this wasn't the first time that they had all worked together.

Dillan swallowed. In the silence, the vast congregation of men and women grew tense as the steady sound of footsteps over the earth resounded in Dillan's ears due to his job-class. The noise was akin to the beating of his heart in his chest, unknowing of just what sort of adversary he was about to face.

Five hundred meters.

Three hundred.

Then one.

In the distance, the approaching figure drew clearer after passing through the last segment of dense forestry and into a short clearing.

Marteo was stunned.