The Mechanical Era

"Elaborate, Jonus," Esther asks in a commanding tone.

"Sure. Do you know why we requested help from the capital itself?" Jonus replied with another question. His answer irritates Esther, but he tries to answer it back in a calm manner.

"Well, for protection. Is it not obvious?" Esther replies, with a slight tone of anger present. Enough for Carson and Jonus to notice.

"Yes, but we can get protection by just asking around some local knights and musketeers. It is what we usually do. However, in this case, it is very different," Jonus answers.

"How so?" Carson questions Jonas, curious as to why or how it is different this time.

"Well, when we first investigated the area, we listened around to see if we can hear any creatures inside.

Thanks to the general structure of the place, you can hear a lot of echoes of the creatures that are down there.

It is how many of us demonologists determine how many people we should bring to protect us," Jonus explained.

"And...?" Carson asked.

"Well, when we investigated this specific place, we heard a lot of strange noises coming from within the place.

There were these... howling noises. A noise not usually made by any demonic beast, or demon, that we know of.

We assumed that we will be facing completely new beasts or demons when we eventually explore that place. In this case, we thought it would be for the best if we get some top knights and musketeers to help us out.

We sent off a letter to the capital, explaining the situation. We asked them to provide us with the best security forces they can give us, and that is what they gave us... you all," Jonus explained. There was a moment of silence, before Esther, the knight leader, started to voice his opinion.

"You called upon the capital for the best knights of the Aceaton Empire have to offer just because you suspected that the place MIGHT hold some fanatical beings that may pose a threat?

What if it was just the wind? What if they are extremely weak? Have you not considered that? Do to really think that someplace that those demons have abandoned long ago, will contain anything useful?" Esther ranted.

"You don't seem to understand Knight Esther. This place has been abandoned long ago. As early as 18 years ago. Usually, abandoned places like it contain and hosts only some weak beasts and demons because they don't have anywhere else they can shelter themselves.

That is the reason why I think that there might be something there, something that those demons don't want us to find out, because of their presence. I am certain that it was not the wind, or anything else.

They also contain a lot of information about them, their history, their plans, and how they view the world. If we ever want to beat them, we will need to know everything we can about them." Jonus replied.

"Is that so? Well then, I will take your word for it then. I just hope that this entire mission won't be a waste of my precious time," Esther commented.

"When will be arriving, Mr. Jonus?" Carson asks.

"We should be arriving in about 30 minutes," Jonus replied.

The entire trip from that point was silent, as nobody bothered to start up a conversation, at least in the cart that Jonus, Carson, and Esther were in. The ones following behind it were filled with talk and laughter, as they joked with each other.

As they rode along on the caravan, which traveled on the dirt road, Carson took some time to look around the beautiful forest he had found himself in, hosting all sorts of animal life within. Many of the leaves had already turned orange, and fallen down to the path below. It was rather a unique experience.

On their journey to the abandoned fortress, Carson noticed that they had not spotted a single demonic beast going around. Upon making the observation, he brings it to his attention.

"Hey, have you all noticed that he hasn't encountered any demons while we travel?"

"Hm... Oh yes. Now that you mention it, Major Carson, we haven't. I wonder why."

"Well, those demons probably are just scared of our presence! They may be hungry monsters, but they are cowards. Cowardly enough not to face us and our powerful spears," Esther commented.

"I don't think..." Jonus started to speak up but was immediately interrupted by Esther.

"Just keep driving, Jonus." With that, Jonus did not bother speaking up again, a little irritated by Esther. The group soon arrives at the abandoned place that Jonus had been talking about.

It appeared to be a fortress, built purely out of gray stone bricks. On the outside, its walls were covered in vines and leaves, with parts of the stone bricks falling apart as the plants around the area consume it. Above the doorway, which was made out of wood, was the face of a humanoid demon, with a mana stone in the middle.

"This is the place, everyone."

"How do we get in?" Carson asks.

"Just open the door. They appeared to not have bothered installing locks on it," Jonus replies.

Esther walks up to the door and kicks it open with his legs. Inside, what they see is a long hall, leading to a dark, empty void. Carson turns around to his musketeers and orders them to grab the torches. Once they light them up, they all walk inside the abandoned fortress.

As the group walks further inside, lighting up any torches they can find, all they can hear are their footsteps, echoing throughout the compound.

"What did you say, Jonus?" Esther questions him. He turns his face to look at him.

"You told us that there were... 'beasts that we have never faced before'. Well, where are they? I don't see any one of them here, do I?"

"Calm down, Knight Esther. They are most likely further within. It is normal for them to settle deeper inside."

"Oh really? Well then, where are they? Shouldn't we be..." Before he can finish his sentence, they hear uncanny howling noises, echoing through the halls of the fortress. It was as if the place was haunted by the damned souls of the dead. Carson cocks his gun and aims it toward the darkness.

"Is that it, Mr. Jonus? What that what you heard when you investigated this place?" Carson asks.

"Yes, Major Carson. That was it."