22 An eventful morning

"Erebus?" Adriana wondered loudly. John had already left by now and she had stayed alone.

'I have heard this name before but I can't remember where..... If that boy was correct, then there is something unknown to me that is lurking in the shadows. How is it possible for someone with my power to be unaware of it's existence' the frowningprinecess thought. She seached in her desk for a white blank page and with a quill she started to transfer her thoughts into the piece of paper..

'I can't have confidence in everything that he told me, but I can't take the risk to ignore his story either... If what he told me is the truth then there is someone or something hiding in the darkness that can exterminate a noble house in the Empire without leaving the slightest clue. Not even the Demon Lord can do that.... This is impossible to happen without the cooperation by someone from the Imperial Family...' she stopped a little to take a deep breath to calm her heart which was pounding down before starting to write again

' First of all, I have to verify this information, but I am not sure how to proceed. I can't trust anyone with this... Shall I search first for clues in past incidents? If there is an organisation like that they had definitely done something similar before. Luckily, the officials record everything that happens in the empire, but it's not like that I can read every single document that exists in the Imperial Library. I'll need some help here.... I should ask in a way that nobody will suspect my reasons' after reading what she had written she took the paper and burned it with fire magic...

'I can use that boy too..... If he lies, then he is definitely hiding something and it would be only a matter of time before I discover it, but if he is not, he can be the only one with whom I can talk about Erebus without worry, as well as ask him to investigate without beating around the bush. After all, he was the one who informed me about it's existence in the first place. It is a plus that he will be studying in the Imperial Academy too. The only problem is that he declaired publicly that he was a servant in Derman's house.... Surprisingly though, maybe I can use this...'

After clearing her thoughts the princess shouted loudly

"Ask Captain Sophie... No! Ask magician Maria to come here!"

A voice was heard from outside

"Yes Ma'am!"

**********

John was returning in the tent that he was temporarily staying, when a man suddenly approached him. He had blond hair and blue eyes, characteristics that were common in the noble circles. He was in his mid twenties. His height could be considered average, but his well trained body and his pretty face made him to stand out from the masse. The youth recognised that man, since he was the first lieutenant of Company A, as well as his superior, Bryan de Bruce. Like Sophie, his father was one of the four Dukes in the Empire, making him someone not to mess with...

"Do you have any idea what time is it? Why are you not in your unit?" a stern voice came from Bryan's mouth.

John didn't answer immediately. He first straightened his body and saluted and then dared to reply

"Princess Adriana de Grenmar asked for my presence Sir!"

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"You?" the blond knight looked curiously at the youth

"What is your name soldier?"

"My name isJohn Smith Sir"

Bryan was standing still with a thoughtful expression on his face. He then opened his mouth again

"You are the brother of that guy, aren't you? I hope you are cabable like him. I want you to have all the horses of our Company fed and washed by the time we leave" he said as he turned around ready to walk away, but a sweet voice suddenly stopped him

"I am sorry, but this won't do first lieutenant Bruce"

Bryan turned around to see who had the audicity to dispute his orders only to find his Captain staring at him with a cold gaze. His heart shook a little, but he didn't back down

"Captain, I am sorry, but may I know why?"

Sophie's gaze became colder as she spoke with an authoritive tone

"Are you questioning my orders Bryan?"

The man bit his lip, but he didn't answer. He left quietly with an unreadable expression on his face

"Are you alright Tom?" Sophie asked with the same ice cold expression as always, but John could feel that she was really worried about him

'How did she manage to become kind and rude at the same time in one sentence?' he thought doubtfully

"It's John Captain" he replied with a wry smile

"Cough, cough... Didn't I say the same thing? Anyway.... Tell your brother that he can stop taking care of the horses now. Tell him to wash himself too, I don't want anyone to say that the people from Company A stink" as she said that she started to move away unhurried, but the youth could see that her ears had gained a faint red color

' I had this thought for a while, but is she actually clumsy?'

********

Vladimir had a difficult night. He was a mess from the fight and when he thought that he could sleep a little, a knight came in his tent telling him that he had to shovel the feces that the horses had left behind. Every time that a patrol was coming, they were treating him with mockery and disdain, but the worst of all was that even the squires were laughing at him.

'Wasn't this supposed to be your job? What do find so funny?' he wanted to retort, but his intuition was telling him that if he voiced any complaint, then a true Hell was waiting for him. It took him hours to finish and the sun had already started rising. The moment he thought that he could finally rest a little, a melodious voice finished him of.

"Heyyyyyyyy Vladimir!!! Good morning!!! Are you working hard? My sister told me that you have to feed the horses too.Don't worry. For a strong man like you, I am sure that this is a child play" Maria saidwith a bright smile. She then frowned as she used her fingers to close her nose

"Aren't you stinking a little too much? You better wash yourself before reporting to my unit. You don't want to fight every single magician from our Company, do you?" after saying that she gave him an entusiastic wink and left quickly with the same speed that she came