Chapter 144: Chapter 1 Mustering her courage, Maxi managed to open her eyes. Clouds of dust made it difficult to see what was happening on the other side of the barrier. Clashing steel, whinnying horses, and shrieks that sounded like boars being slaughtered rang out all around them. Trembling, Maxi huddled with the others. A group of warhorses galloped through the thick dust like a storm. The knights atop them wore armor that glinted in the sun. So many things happened at once that Maxi’s eyes darted in every direction. It was difficult to tell which side was winning. It was like being in a living nightmare. All around, knights threw hooked chains that bound the gigantic trolls. The monsters resisted against the steel chains, bellowing thunderous roars. They thrashed their massive limbs as if to smash the earth beneath them, and the ground shook violently. Forgetting to breathe, Maxi watched the fierce battle unfold before her. It was truly an overwhelming sight. The knights ruthlessly plunged long spears and hooks into the bound trolls until they were only weakly resisting. Then they cut off their heads. Maxi did not know how long the battle continued, but eventually, the dust around them began to clear. Less than half of the troll horde remained standing. Like herdsmen driving cattle, the knights skillfully drove the monsters into a corner. “I think we have the situation in hand now.” Before long, the heavy haze of sand dust abated, and Duke Aren motioned to the hierarch. Immediately, the barrier surrounding them began melting into the air. Maxi shuddered. Even when the soldiers came to tell the women that the battle had ended, their limbs refused to budge. “It is over. Go tend to the wounded.” It was only after the knights impatiently pressed them that the women slowly made their way to the battlefield. Terrified, Maxi’s eyes flickered to the troll carcasses strewn on the ground. The soldiers went about removing the monsters’ armor, revealing the full extent of their ghastly appearance. Dark-green, swamp toad skin covered their burly bodies, and their faces were like the devil described in the Holy Scripture. They had big, hooked noses; yellow teeth protruding from thick lips; sparse, long black hair, and sagging cheeks. As she stared at a troll in terror, Maxi belatedly realized that its head was not attached to its body. She quickly looked away, feeling dizzy and nauseous. “Hurry up and help transport the wounded!” ordered a knight. “Bring those in critical condition to the high priest. Gather those who can walk in a separate area for emergency treatment.” The women began to move in unison. Maxi tried to collect herself and rushed to the injured soldiers. Some had died on the spot. Maxi averted her gaze from their trampled bodies and focused on finding the survivors. Two in three men were still alive. After meticulously assessing their wounds, Maxi used her magic to heal them. A female cleric using magic would be a strange sight; she glanced around before she started, but no one paid her any mind. The soldiers were busy removing the armor from the dead trolls, while the female clerics had their hands full treating the injured with the hierarchs. Once she had confirmed that no one was watching, Maxi used her healing magic more actively. Seven patients later, she found her mana quickly depleting. She gauged her mana supplies and surmised that any more healing would lead to mana depletion. The other female clerics were transporting the wounded, and Maxi began to help with that instead. Those in critical condition were brought to the hierarchs, who healed them with divine magic. Those with less serious injuries like fractures and flesh wounds were taken to the tent that had been hastily set up for them. The knight overseeing the scene in the tent said in a stern voice, “We cannot heal all of you with magic, but we are only a day away from Serbin Castle. We will rest briefly after everyone has been tended to, then set out immediately. I pray that you will persevere until then.” The wounded nodded in silence. The female clerics swiftly removed the soldiers’ armor and began cleaning their open wounds. Following the clerics’ lead, Maxi helped the soldiers who could not move on their own take off their gear. She then collected water in a pail to clean their wounds. Watching the men groaning in pain made her feel guilty. If she had more mana, she could have easily healed such minor wounds in the blink of an eye. However, she knew it would only cause more trouble if she were to overwork herself and collapse as she had done so in the past. She applied the special salve on their wounds and dressed the area with bandages of torn linen. Some of the lacerations were serious enough that Maxi had to stitch them closed as Ruth had taught her. Though there were some soldiers who were horror-stricken at the prospect of having their flesh sown with needle and thread, most allowed it without complaint. After applying a decoction to numb the area, she carefully stitched the long gashes. She had just finished a suture and was dressing the wound when she heard a soldier cry out a short distance away. “There are more injured here! I need help moving them!” Maxi hastily went to the source of the voice. There she found a troll crushed beneath a rock. The soldier impatiently called to her as she stood petrified. “Why are you just standing there? Quick, help carry that one!” Left with no other choice, Maxi reluctantly approached the soldier. Two other soldiers lay unconscious next to the troll. Maxi swung the arm of one of the injured over her shoulders and shakily lifted him. The soldier who had called for her carried the second man on his back. They started to make their way back to the tent when, suddenly, a thud boomed behind them. A chill ran down her spine. A dark shadow loomed over them, and she turned to see blazing red eyes. Her legs shook. Although it flashed through her mind that she needed to run, her body seemed to have turned to stone. The nearly severed head still dangling from the troll’s neck began to seethe and reattach itself. The monster bobbed its head to check that it was fully healed. Then, without warning, it began to charge. A large hook flew through the air and landed in the troll’s throat. Maxi sank to the ground. The seven-kevette (approximately 210 centimeters) giant began being dragged like a fish on a hook. The monster thrashed its arms, but the knight standing atop the nearby rock did not budge. He yanked on the chain, and the monster shot into the air along with a massive cloud of dust. Maxi could not believe her own eyes. The knight flung the monster, which was three times his size, onto the ground before swinging his sword over its head. The troll’s enormous skull almost split clean in half like a pumpkin. It was such an unrealistic scene that Maxi could not react. “Don’t you know how to check for a dead troll?” The petrified soldier came to his senses as the knight’s cold voice lashed out like a whip. “M-My apologies, sir,” said the soldier, hanging his head. The knight clicked his tongue and pointed to the tent with his chin. “Take him to the tent.” The soldier, still carrying the unconscious man on his back, promptly obeyed. Although Maxi wanted to follow him, she had no strength left in her legs. She could only stare up at the knight, her face ashen. The man appeared so impassive that it was difficult to believe that he had inflicted such brutal blows to the monster just moments ago. Like a cat, the knight gracefully leaped down from the troll and wiped the blood on his sword. His dark blond hair glistened like gold in the sunlight. Maxi stifled a groan. The knight who had saved her was none other than the commander of the Temple Knights, Kuahel Leon. “Is something wrong? Are you hurt?” When the knight turned to look at her, Maxi quickly looked down. “N-N-No, I am... all right,” she replied, keeping her voice as low as possible. She shakily rose to her feet. With the weight of the unconscious soldier pulling her down, her already weak legs shook like a newborn foal trying to stand for the first time. After silently watching her for a moment, the knight strode over and lifted the injured soldier off her. “Let me take him.” Not knowing what to do, Maxi kept her gaze fixed on Sir Kuahel’s boots. Even with the hood draped over her head, she had the feeling he would recognize her immediately. What excuse could she give him if he did? When she remained rooted to the spot, his cold voice pressed her. “What are you waiting for? Lead the way.” Hastily, Maxi started walking toward the camp. The knight walked beside her, carrying the injured soldier with ease. She felt his eyes boring into her head but did not dare look up to meet them. Maxi gulped, wondering if he had already realized her true identity. They reached the tent for the injured, and the knight placed the soldier on an unoccupied blanket. He turned to leave without a word. The tension in Maxi’s shoulders only relaxed when his figure became distant. It was foolish to think he would remember her after only seeing her once. Grateful for her indistinctive features, Maxi ran to the baggage wagons. ... “I heard a troll regained consciousness and went on a rampage. Are you all right?” an overwrought Idsilla asked when she saw Maxi. Maxi bobbed her head. “I-I am all right. A knight... came to our rescue.” “How fortunate. They say that it was the commander of the Temple Knights who led the reinforcements.” “They... arrived at such an opportune moment.” “They have been keeping an eye on the area just in case the trolls tried to ambush the food supply,” explained Selina as she stepped out of the wagon carrying a cauldron. Maxi’s face hardened. The fact that this was a premeditated attack made her blood run cold. Contrary to their dim-witted appearance, the trolls were among the smartest monsters of the Ayin race. If such terrifying monsters were to attack in a well-organized army, it would be a great calamity for humans. Shaking off the barrage of thoughts flooding her mind, Maxi grabbed the herb pouch from the wagon. Her task right now was to tend to the injured before her. It was certainly not the time for needless worries. Maxi distributed an herbal mixture of mandrago leaves and dawning grass to the female clerics, explaining to them that it was a restorative concoction. After brewing the herbs into a tea and feeding it to the wounded, the female clerics helped sort out the dead bodies. Maxi felt numb from seeing so much blood. When the women wrapped the mangled bodies in a dry cloth and brought them to the clerics, the high priests collected their belongings and sprinkled holy water over their bodies to purify them. When the simple ceremony was over, the soldiers buried the fallen and erected a tombstone above their graves. Maxi was shocked. “Aren’t the dead... sent t-to the capital?” ... “It would be difficult to send all the bodies to the capital. When there are clerics present, they perform the funeral rites, and the dead are buried there and then. Only their belongings are collected so they can be returned to their families,” Selina explained in a low whisper. Maxi felt her stomach twisting into a tight knot. Could it be that some Remdragon Knights were buried away so unceremoniously? Maxi drove the thought from her mind. Perhaps due to the many horrors she had witnessed in the span of a single day, a thick haze seemed to shroud her brain. She felt as though her consciousness was disconnected from her body as she helped prepare the bodies for the funeral rites. When they had buried all the casualties, they began the purification of the monster carcasses. The campaign party set out once more. Sitting in her corner, Maxi rubbed her eyes. The smell of blood wafted from her clothes. Though she felt an unsteady wave of emotions, her eyes strangely remained dry. She hugged her knees within the rattling wagon as she watched the sunset. The Temple Knights, bathed in twilight, appeared even more somber and formidable. I wonder if he conveyed my letter... She wanted to ask the commanding knight if Riftan was safe and unharmed, but she knew she could not in her present circumstance. I should be able to find out once we reach Serbin Castle. Maxi consoled herself with the thought. Though she felt hopeless and afraid, knowing that she was getting closer to Riftan gave her strength. She was willing to endure anything just to see him safe and well. Even a glimpse of him from afar would be enough. Driving the nightmarish images of the battle from her mind, Maxi buried her head on her knees.