It was a deep, spacious cave, its walls studded with green, diamond-shaped crystals. Their light cast an eerie glow over the strange rock formations. A square dais stood in the center of the cave, and a Dreadguard lay prostrate at its foot, trembling.
On the throne atop the dais, the Dreadlord Bessarius tilted a skeletal head as Bessarius pondered something. The dark red wings folded behind Bessarius trembled slightly, showing that Bessarius was not as calm as the outward appearance suggested.
The Undead wizard sent out to pursue that human knight two days ago had not returned, giving Bessarius a warning that something was wrong. Sure enough, the eyes of Kilrogg stationed around the outskirts of Lordamere Lake had sent back images of the enemy during the day.
Withdrawing the bait from the fishing village and sending subordinates to probe the enemy had both been very cautious orders, but ever since three higher-ranking members of the Nathrezim had failed, Bessarius had no choice but to be a "demon" with a tail between the legs.
Bessarius did not care about the Dreadguard's failure; only cannon fodder had been lost. Nor did Bessarius take a small cavalry squad seriously. But according to the latest intelligence from the eyes of Kilrogg, more human troops seemed to be approaching, and it went without saying who their target was.
This was truly terrible news, but ever since Lord Archimonde had been defeated, Bessarius had known this day would come. These humans, clinging to their last breaths, had probably forgotten the terror of the Burning Legion. Even if I'm the only one left now, I'll make them taste fear.
Let them come. They'll learn exactly why my people, the Nathrezim, are called Dreadlords!
Early in the morning, a group traveled along Lordamere Lake, with Unas yawning among them. A Gryphon Rider had brought word first thing that Tyrosus and the main force under his personal command would soon arrive. Gordon wrote a reply and sent it back with the Gryphon Rider.
The letter briefly described the previous night's battle and arranged for them to meet Tyrosus at the small fishing village, so the members of the vanguard set out again.
The mist over Lordamere Lake seemed as though it would never disperse. Today, it was even thicker. Under such conditions, it was hard to say whether the Gryphon Riders could find any trace of the enemy. But that was not something Unas needed to worry about, and he took a little pleasure in Gordon's troubles as he watched him frown.
The small fishing village was still deserted, and the team quickly settled in.
Toward noon, the rumble of hooves came from the east. Tyrosus had finally arrived.
Groups of riders and troops came to a halt around the small fishing village, numbering an estimated two thousand in all.
The Argent Dawn Knights were easy to recognize, all dressed in black-and-white tabards. The Paladins wore black Twin-Headed Eagles on white, while the ordinary soldiers wore white suns on black, symbolizing the dawn in the darkness.
There were, of course, a few other colors mixed in. This was nominally a joint operation, so there was also a contingent of North Maple Legion soldiers wearing red maple tabards, Priests sent by the cathedral to accompany the army, and several mages from the mage academy.
Tyrosus looked much the same as ever, with his bristling short hair, black eyepatch, and silver greatsword on his back. But now he had a blonde, blue-eyed beauty beside him. She wore a long robe patterned in blue and purple and rode a fine horse as white as snow, with a staff set with a huge purple gemstone fastened to her saddle. Several people in robes who looked like mages surrounded her; she was clearly their leader.
Erigor was naturally among them too, but amid a dozen or so burly Paladins, he did not stand out quite so much, even in his flamboyant Judgement Armor.
After ordering the troops to rest where they were, Tyrosus found a larger house in the fishing village and convened an emergency military meeting. Unas had joined the vanguard as an adjutant Gordon had recruited on his own initiative, so he tagged along with Gordon and slipped in.
There was not a single chair in the makeshift meeting room, and everyone stood in a circle. A map of Tirisfal Glades lay spread across a conference table made from several tables pushed together in the middle of the room.
First came the routine reports. Gordon gave a detailed account of the previous night's battle, and Tyrosus praised him briefly before returning straight to the matter at hand. "Where exactly is Bessarius's lair?"
Gordon pointed his one-handed sword at the island in the center of Lordamere Lake. "There's a very strong chance it's on this island. According to the Gryphon Riders, no boats were found along the shores of Lordamere Lake. The enslaved fishermen who escaped by boat couldn't have stayed on the lake the whole time, and the Dreadguard that attacked us last night also fled toward the center of the lake."
Tyrosus nodded slightly. He had naturally read the Gryphon Riders' reports as well, but the mist around the island was so thick that they could not see what was there, nor could he send Gryphon Riders deep onto the island to investigate.
There were no gryphon trainers at the monastery, so every gryphon that died was one they could not replace. Although the Gryphon Riders were capable fighters, they therefore did not take part in battles, working only as scouts and messengers. They did not dare venture too far into dangerous places, either.
"We need to prepare rafts immediately." Tyrosus called out someone's name, and the man promptly left to carry out the order.
"But this mist..." He looked around. "Is anyone familiar with the geography and weather around here?"
A young officer spoke up. "I'm from Galen County, and I came here a few times as a child, but I've never heard of thick fog here."
"I sense an unusual concentration of Water Elementals here. I'm afraid this mist is not natural." It was the blonde mage beside Tyrosus who spoke.
Given the weather outside at present, a small lake like this could not possibly have such thick mist. There had to be something wrong. Most of those present knew as much, but since they had no way to deal with the mist, they found it hard to respond.
"Archmage Angela, I wonder if you have a way to disperse this thick mist?" Erigor spoke up first, asking the question everyone wanted to ask. But wasn't the look he gave the mage a little too eager?
Angela raised her chin. "I'm an Archmage specializing in water magic. Of course I can. I just need time."
"Archmage Angela, you're as amazing as they say. I've never seen an Archmage so young, beautiful, skilled, and gentle..." Erigor poured on the flattery. For the son of a duke, wasn't his tone a little too obsequious?
As he watched Angela's chin rise higher and higher, Unas shook his head and felt sorry for Erigor's future. Even if he succeeded in pursuing a girl like that, he would surely end up henpecked. Yet Unas did not realize that even being henpecked was a hundred times better than being a single dog like him.
There had originally been a few other matters to discuss, but Erigor had spoiled the mood. Tyrosus sighed inwardly and dismissed the meeting, keeping behind a few core members, Gordon among them.
Unas was not qualified to take part in the rest of the meeting. After he left the makeshift conference room, Erigor came hurrying over and exchanged a few pleasantries with him before eagerly running off to find his Archmage Angela.
For now, all they could do was wait. They could not do without rafts, and the mist covered such a wide area that the handful of mages had to form a magic array and cast their spells together to disperse it. All of that took time to prepare.
Gordon soon came out of the meeting room, and Unas, who had been waiting outside, hurriedly asked, "What's the situation?"
"Get ready. Once the mist clears, the vanguard will be the first to cross the lake and land on the island!"