Ben slowed down to cruising speed.

  When they were around a hundred meters away from the battle, Le’Vieux raised his hand. “Here is fine… You don’t want to get stuck near a battle between two fairies. They're known to move like the wind and are impossible to see when fighting. From the looks of things, these two have been in the heat of battle for some time, hence their sluggish movements.”

  With the trail mostly loose gravel, the van drifted to a stop. Ben turned to face the knight. “Earlier, you said something about the whole nest mess having something to do with the fairies; then why is one of them fighting an infected one?”

  Le’Vieux shrugged. “How should I know? Something is amiss here, and the only way to find out is to go there. Are you coming or what?” He nodded before getting out. His helmet appeared along with his twin swords. He faced Ben and waited for a response.

  Ben knew he would be useless on foot, especially if they needed to fight. He shook his head as if to say no. “I’ll stay here and be ready if things turn sour.”

  Le’Vieux sighed and disapprovingly bobbed his head. “It looks like these machines have made you lazy.”

  “What else am I supposed to do, you git? I'll probably die out there within seconds. I'm all ears if you’ve got any bright ideas other than to march up there and face them head-on."

  He paused for a moment before shrugging. “Fair point.” He closed the door before stomping towards the altercation.

  At least I can see what they look like now.

  The one that wasn’t infected appeared a few feet taller than Le’Vieux and wore full plate armor crafted from black metal. Protruding from the back of its torso were bat-like wings, the ends pointy and sharp like spear tips. From both the wings and the gaps in the suit, a dark shadowy aura flowed out like smoke from a wood fire, adding to its intimidating demeanor.

  It moved with precise movements as if it were conducting a choreographed dance. It dodged every attack it was dealt with while sometimes taking flight and used gravity to glide across its enemy, slicing it across various extremities with the twin daggers it held.

  The infected one didn’t appear to be wearing any armor. Instead, it wore a veiling, long-hooded robe that obscured its features. It was covered with dirt, muck, and some tears from where the daggers had struck it.

  Ben knew it could have that regenerative ability if it were anything like the nest mother, which is why the other had difficulty defeating it. What was more strange was that it held something that resembled an infected tree branch, spilling out nasty slime particles. It tried to attack the other one with it a few times but kept on missing.

  The moment Le’Vieux approached, the normal fairy noticed him. It flew backward and landed a dozen meters away, each dagger ready while the infected one stopped in its tracks. All three kept shooting each other glances as if it were an old three-way cowboy showdown. Suddenly, the fairy dropped the dagger pointed at Le’Vieux and bobbed its head towards the infected one.

  Le’Vieux appeared to shout something at it before doing the same. He dug the end of his sword into the dirt and materialized a fire vial. He swung the sword and pointed at the infected one in a slicing motion before pretending to lob the vial.

  The fairy appeared to shrug when it started to expel more shadowy mist like a smoke grenade. It leaned forward with one foot out, holding one dagger back, which glistened with purple magic as if it were charging a special move.

  The infected one blasted out an ear-wrenching war cry in response before it shot forward like a viper at the other fairy.

  Le’Vieux sprang to action. He had replaced one of his swords with a large shield similar to the ones Ben had seen in the courtyard when he had first arrived at the Hollow Keep. By the time he had made it between the fairies, the crimson sphere had morphed around the shield and exploded with a loud ring.

  Whoa! That was insane!

  An earth-trembling shockwave knocked the infected fairy to the ground. It wriggled on the ground like a worm until it came to its senses and used the infected tree branch for support like a walking stick. When it was back on its feet, it was too late. Le’Vieux had already sidestepped a few feet out of the way.

  As Le’Vieux had warned, the armored fairy completely vanished from sight, mist included. Almost instantly, a purple line of magic erupted in a slashing motion across the infected ones' guts. Blackened blood spewed out like a fountain.

  Ben didn’t even see the vial being thrown as it was engulfed in flames. It took a moment for the creature's robe to burn away before Its insides began to get cremated.

  Le’Vieux profusely looked around until his gaze stopped at a nearby cave entrance. There, he noticed the fairy standing there, putting its weapons away. The two exchanged a nod before the fairy vanished into the darkness.

  Ben watched him stand around for what seemed some time.

  What’s he waiting around for? He’s probably waiting for his new friend to get away before blowing it to smithereens.

  Le’Vieux walked up to the cave's entrance. He removed some round balls from his spatial storage and rolled them in individually. Once done, he threw a fire vial and high-tailed it back to the van as if his life depended on it.

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  Smoke blew out of the entrance with such force that even small rocks were launched like cannonballs. Le’Vieux had erected his crimson sphere again and hid behind his shield; even though he was almost a hundred meters away, some projectiles still managed to contact him.

  What the heck! Take down the whole mountain while you’re at it.

  When they arrived near the outpost, Ben noticed the glistening armor near the destroyed gate. A knight stood there, pointing his finger back and forth, most likely shouting orders at his soldiers navigating horse-drawn carts to an open area beyond the walls' protection.

  The journey there wasn’t that eventful, and Le’Vieux mostly stayed quiet. Ben assumed he must have been still digesting his interaction with the fairy.

  “Looks like your platoon has arrived.” Ben broke the silence. He stopped the van a dozen meters from the entrance area when the knight twisted his head and noticed them.

  They both got out before Le’Vieux shuffled over to the knight. Ben’s stomach started to grumble again, so he went straight to the side door and slid it open. “Damn. Not again.” He sighed, glancing around at the mess.

  Luckily, the cloth-covered basket had prevented the food from scattering and spoiling. Ben grabbed it before filling his mouth with fruit and observed Le’Vieux and his subordinate conversing.

  “Grand Marshall, Sir.” The knight stood at attention and saluted.

  “At ease, Lieutenant.” Le’Vieux nodded. “I know this place looks like a gory mess, but what is your progress?”

  “Aye, Sir. There’s too much rubble within the outpost's walls to set up a camp. And the buildings within are beyond their use anymore. We will have to start work on repairs right away, so I have ordered my men to set up camp outside the perimeter of the walls for now.”

  Le’Vieux glanced at the gate and shook his head. “You’ll be here for a couple of years clearing that lot. Your mission is to ensure this area is free from any enemy incursions. You are to conduct regular patrols both day and night. If you see anything out of the ordinary, no matter how small, you are to report this directly to me in the first instance. Is that understood?”

  The lieutenant nodded. “Aye, Sir.”

  Le’Vieux patted him on the shoulder. “Your men should be safe out here for now. As far as I know, we have removed all the major threats in the area. When I return to the keep, I will send more platoons here and a contingent of builders to rebuild this outpost from the ground up. I’m leaving this outpost under your command, so I expect it to run like a well-oiled machine.”

  “I won't let you down, Sir.”

  “Alright. I need to be getting back to the keep.” Le’Vieux finished before they both saluted each other.

  Ben put the basket forward and motioned Le’Vieux to take a piece when he returned to the van. The old knight hovered his hand above it before taking the best-looking apple. He was about to bite into it when he suddenly stopped as if he remembered something.

  Le’Vieux’s eyes started darting around when the lines on his forehead morphed into a frown. His gaze narrowed as he bit his bottom lip. “What? That can’t be right.”

  Ben stopped chewing and raised his eyebrow. “Is everything alright over there?” He mumbled.

  Le’Vieux held his head with his palm before shaking it. “No, it’s not. I should’ve received word by now from Alfred. As you know, I sent him on an important mission before we came here, but there was nothing there when I saw his progress. All their system information has vanished.” His face started to go red as tears ran down his cheeks. The apple squished to a pulp, causing the juice to drip to the ground, and Le’Vieux clenched his hand into a fist. “Damn it! I am to blame for this stupidity. I was the one who sent them to their deaths.”

  “Well, you don’t know that for sure. It could be that they’ve found themselves in a bad situation and need help. Can't you send more knights there to determine what’s happening?”

  Le’Vieux let out a growly huff. “Do you think I haven’t already thought about that? Alfred’s abilities as a knight surpass most in the order; if he and his knights have perished, then the others will no doubt suffer the same fate.”

  As much as Ben didn’t like what Le’Vieux had said, he knew it was the truth—sending the knights there would just put more lives in danger, especially if something crazy, like the infected thing, was rampaging around.

  Ben wouldn't stand around while someone like Alfred could be in danger. “I’ll do it.”

  “What?” Le’Vieux frowned.

  “I’ll go there and figure out what’s happened to Alfred and his knights.”

  “Are you out of your mind? What will you do if something happens to your van out there? You haven’t even been trained in combat. I can’t put your life in danger, too.” Le’Vieux looked like he was about to pull his hair out. He started pacing back and forth, rubbing his head as if thinking about the offer. He finally stopped and faced Ben with a heavy sigh, “If there’s a chance they’re still alive, we need to take it.”

  Ben stopped at a crossroads.

  In the distance, he noticed the outline of another castle nestled between two large mountains. Le’Vieux had instructed him to diverge off the normal track towards another fortified keep, Deepwich.

  “Stop here.” Le’Vieux motioned with his hand. He removed a pendant from around his neck, dangled it before Ben, and pointed to a cobbled road ahead. “You will follow that. It will lead you to a bridge checkpoint that leads into the Mesolands. Show this pendant to that drunkard knight in charge there and tell him I have personally sent you on a quest. Follow the signs to a village called Robynhill. You will find an inn. Speak with the innkeeper, he should be able to help you with your quest.”

  Ben went to snatch the pendant when its information popped up.

  Ben shrugged. “Thanks. If you have any spare, I could do with a weapon and some potions. After that mess in the proving ground, I don’t want to get caught with my pants down.”

  “The blacksmith at Robynhill can craft you one. As for the potions…” Six vials materialized in Le’Vieux’s hand before he passed them over. “This should do. Oh, I should issue you with a quest as well.” He messed around with his system, followed by a nod when another notification popped up.

  Le’Vieux opened the door before stepping out. “I will make my way to Deepwich, where I can get a transport back to the Hollow Keep. I know it’s a lot to ask for, but I’m counting on you to bring my knights back home. Good luck out there. If I were you, I would get there before nightfall. There’s all manner of wild beasts and creatures that lurk around after dark.” Le’Vieux finished saluting before shutting the door and starting his trek towards the keep.

  *End of Hollow Moon II: The Proving Grounds Arc*

  Ben

  Val