By the time Milo woke next morning Ivy was already up. She was sitting at the dining table eating what looked like bread with cooked beef.

  “Something tells me you didn’t cook that.”

  Ivy waved her bread in the direction of the front door.

  “Crystal is an early riser, she had this ready by the time I got up to do a sweep of the surrounding area. I think she’s afraid you’re going to throw her away or something and is trying to prove her worth.”

  Milo’s mood dampened immediately.

  “You still insist that she’s necessary for your plan?”

  “I like Crystal, and if I had to choose one of our four new subjects to keep it would be her. Unfortunately, her value as a cook is far outweighed by her role as the rescued damsel in distress.”

  With a sigh Milo got up, dressed and sat down at the table to eat. Salt beef with bread was hardly a complicated dish and yet Crystal had somehow managed to make it taste good. He could only imagine what she might accomplish with proper supplies.

  “So, this sweep you did, find anything interesting?”

  “I went back to the site of the battle, everything is gone.”

  Milo stopped eating mid bite.

  “Define everything.”

  “The wagons, supplies, carriages and the burned bodies, it’s all gone.”

  “Who took it?”

  “I can’t be sure, whoever did it was careful about leaving tracks, but they couldn’t complete erase the marks left behind by the wagons. If I had to guess I’d say another band of satyr came looking for their friends.”

  This morning was starting off poorly.

  “That spot is only forty minutes away on foot, how the hell did we remain undetected?”

  “Let’s just say that we did the right thing by leaving the wagons behind last night. If I was satyr and I came across that battlefield I’d assume that my friends had been hunted down by the humans of Willowford. Think about it, they have no idea we even exist, but the humans of Willowford are a known factor whom they war with regularly.”

  “I don’t like this, are you sure Lizbeth can hold the altar by herself?”

  “Not entirely, but we can’t just stay put in this place while the other factions explore and conquer. We did well yesterday, let’s keep the momentum going.”

  He had to admit she had a point. They finished eating and then went outside to find Lizbeth. They found the old hybrid sitting by the altar of Lilith talking with Tim of all people. The boy was relentlessly quizzing the elementalist about magic and much to his surprise Lizbeth was actually answering. Milo cleared his throat to interrupt the weird lesson.

  “We’re heading to Willowford, we’re going to bring Crystal with us, you will stay here and protect the altar until we return.”

  He expected her to protest her exclusion from the group, instead she merely inclined her head in acceptance.

  With that settled Milo accessed the interface.

  “Interface, show me how much spirit essence I have.”

  Spirit essence currently available: 3800.

  Milo frowned at the number, he had 400 more spirit essence than he had expected. And while that was certainly a pleasant surprise it didn’t make sense.

  “Our spirit essence has gone up by 400 over the night, do any of you know why?”

  Lizbeth and Ivy both gave Tim a pointed look and the puzzle pieces finally fell into place.

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  “Interface, show me… show me how much passive spirit essence I’m getting and where its coming from.”

  Passive spirit essence income: 400

  Source: 4 converted subjects.

  The numbers were way better than he had expected and did much to reduce the guilt her felt about forcing Crystal to come with him. If they could capture Willowford and convert its people, they would gain an insane amount of passive spirit essence income every day.

  Now truly committed to the plan he pulled up the summoning list for troops and summoned a single hybrid leader. The vortex came and went leaving behind a broad shouldered man in a full set of heavy plate armour.

  The unknown hybrid spent a few seconds taking in the scenery before his eyes landed on Milo. He then slapped a fist to his breastplate in some sort of salute and inclined his head.

  “Greetings champion, my name is Haldor and I stand ready to serve.”

  The man sounded earnest, and Milo immediately took a liking to the big hybrid.

  “Welcome to Archeus Haldor, my name is Milo, I summoned you here because I need your advice for a plan.”

  Milo nodded at Ivy, and she gave a report of everything that had happened since their arrival as well as the plan she had come up with. By the time she finished Haldor looked impressed.

  “A good start indeed, and I agree with Ivy, taking Willowford by force might be possible in a few days’ time if we go hunting in the forest, but it would be far better to exploit the weaknesses that are already there.”

  They were decided then, now all that remained was to work out the last details.

  “We have 2800 spirit essence left, enough for 1 demon soldiers or two hybrids and three soldiers. As I understand it you are a trained military officer, what should I spend it on?”

  Haldor looked deep in thought as he considered the question. When he replied with was with certainty.

  “By bringing pure blooded demons to a town which has been raided by monsters for months we risk frightening the locals and turning them against us. I would summon two members of the order of warriors and three demon soldiers. The soldiers will help keep the workers already here in line and allow them to function as sentries.”

  Milo’s opinion of this Haldor was climbing every time he spoke.

  “I agree with your assessment general.”

  “There is only one general in Lilith’s realm and that is my master Beldan whom I believe you’ve met. My own rank is that of commander.”

  “Consider yourself promoted general, you are after all Lilith’s first pick and the only trained military officer here.”

  Beldan inclined his head accepting the promotion without protest. Milo accessed the interface and summoned two warriors and three demon soldiers. A few moments later all five had arrived and were looking around taking the landscape in.

  The demon soldiers looked a lot like the squat workers only much larger. Their bodies were protected by scales and leather armour. The creatures also had a lot of natural weapons with their large horns, clawed hands and feet as well as dagger-like teeth.

  His eyes went to the two hybrid warriors he had summoned. Two pairs of pale red eyes stared back at him with something akin to eagerness. Like him they wore light weight plate armour, and their facial features looked almost identical.

  “Twins?”

  Haldor nodded.

  “Indeed, Turiel and Turial, they share the position of Nero’s next in command.”

  “Are they any good?”

  The words had barely left his mouth when the twins charged him with a roar. The twins were unarmed, and Milo could’ve easily drawn his sword and cut them down, instead he let them come at him.

  They came at him from two sides, punching and kicking and Milo was immediately impressed by their teamwork. Their moves were unrefined, and it was obvious that they were self-taught where as Milo had been tutored in kickboxing and MMA by the very best. For every blow they landed he landed three and yet they kept coming. Their pristine faces quickly transformed into a bloody mess of blackened eyes and split lips. The fight ended when one of them finally managed to land a true blow and tagged his face and leaving him with a split lip. At that point he lost his patience and started fighting for real.

  Turiel and Turial lay groaning on the ground as Lizbeth passed a hand over his face, healing his lip. Once she finished she walked over and started working on Turiel’s broken leg. Next she went over pulled Turial’s dislocated shoulder back into place before working on his cracked ribs. Five minutes later the twins were back on their feet. Milo was surprised when they knelt down in front of him and spoke in a respectful tone.

  “Apologies champion, we had to know, many among our order were unconvinced by your fight against Nero.”

  “I beat him unconscious and chopped off his arm, how was that not enough?”

  “It was suggested by some that you relied on trickery and Nero only lost because he underestimated you.”

  Milo sighed.

  “And now?”

  “Your skill is superb, you use techniques we have never even seen before, we recognise your mastery and would be grateful if you would share your wisdom with us.”

  In the earlier days of his career Milo had made quite a bit of money by making fighting guides. He’d stopped when his career took off, but it wasn’t like he was averse to teaching, especially not when his students were as talented and dedicated as these two.

  “We have a long road ahead of us today, I’ll teach you the basics, but I really am better with a sword.”

  With that said there was now only one thing left to do before they could leave. Milo and his little band found Crystal humming to herself and kneading dough in a bowl by the river. He cleared his throat to alert her, and she got up with a shy smile on her face.

  “My lord?”

  “Good morning, Crystal, thanks for the breakfast you made.”

  “It’s the least I could do my lord.”

  He hated the trusting way in which she smiled at him, it made him feel like a true villain.

  “Crystal I’m afraid that what I have to say will not be pleasant and for that I’m sorry. But this is a matter of life and death for a great many people.”

  He could see alarm in her eyes now and she suddenly looked like a woman who was barely hanging on, just as she had prior to her conversion.

  “My people and I have access to great magic, but that magic requires that my little domain to grows. Right now, the closest town to this place is Willowford. I’ll be perfectly frank with you Crystal, Willowford is too close, I can’t ignore it. I’d prefer for the town to join me willingly, but if they won’t accept…”

  Alarm turned to fear and Crystal’s face went pale. He held up his hands in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.

  “I’m hoping they will join me if I offer to protect them from the satyrs and maybe cut their taxes or something of the like. Once trust has been built, I will give them the same offer I gave you last night, they will be allowed to join us and live long lives free from decease.”

  “What does this have to do with me my lord?”

  Her shaky voice made him feel lousy but he forged ahead anyway.

  “You will be our witness, the people of Willowford know you, I’m hoping that once they hear from you how we slew the satyrs and rescued you that they will be more enthusiastic about their new rulers.”

  Crystal stumbled back and landed on her rear. To say that she looked frightened would be an understatement. His theory of her being a runaway was rapidly gaining traction in his mind as he analysed her reaction. He was about to go and help her up, but Haldor beat him to it.

  Once she was back on her feet Milo sighed.

  “I can see that you are terrified of something in Willowford, Crystal but I promise that if you do this for me, I will protect you. Nobody is going to harm you or make you stay in Willowford unless you want to. Once our mission is complete you can return to this valley, and I will never ask you to leave again.”

  Crystal clung to Haldor’s arm as if it were a life raft and the big hybrid gave her a reassuring smile.

  “Our champion is powerful, and you will be surrounded by powerful warriors. I will add my own promise to the champion’s, you will not be harmed, you have my word on it.”

  Crystal finally let go of Haldor arm and then gave a shaky nod.

  “Thank you, Crystal, I won’t forget this.”

  With that their party was complete, they gathered up some supplies and then set out in the direction of Willowford.