|Ch.28

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Winter, a city,more precisely an abandoned city forest with mountains. Snow covered the top of each mountains like a white veil. A lot of people had given up living in Winter because of the amount of bad luck it carries. Though there were no snow on the grounds,it was still cold. And the darkness it carries is another way of describing the unluck. Though sun graced its rays to this ground,it doesn't affect the ground that much because of the heavy clouds. Every morning is like a maze dream because of the dense mist.

Small abandoned houses were everywhere but no one lives there anymore. People even have claimed that this village has been haunted by ghosts since a long time before.

But Pendragon family changed the meaning of this village. It started before Kalisto's generation,Pendragons sent their teen knight children to this village to train themselves. Without food,without a support, they had to live in that abandoned village all alone,training themselves.

Every knight who came out from that village became the greatest of the kingdom. That's how Winter knight camp concept came to the light.

Eva looked at the old empty haunted like houses. She gave a soft pat on the head of her horse and urged it to go further. Behind her,Leo came on top of his horse.

"The Winter camp,finally, it's here", Leo mumbled.

Eva,"This camp training will not be easy....and everyone is getting a little bit excited and anxious"

Leo hummed softly as he looked at the rising sun between the mountains. "It's hard to keep calm after that strange attack months ago"

Eva,"I'm not talking about it,your highness"

Leo,"Huh?"

"Lady Hazel,I heard she is participating this camp",Eva stopped her horse at the entrance of the little empty village and got down.

Leo followed her movements getting down from his horse. He felt a little uneasy with the mention of the girl he wants to marry. A striking guilt slashed through his heart remembering that particular day when she was attacked by those strange creatures. He was there yet he couldn't help her.

"Are you still displeased with what happened that day?", Eva asked as she looked back at him. She could guess what he was thinking.

Leo looked away,"I could have gone there and help her but.....if only sir Jimin didn't stop me...."

Flashback

"Who is getting attacked there?!", Leo screamed as he was about to make a run towards that area.

Kazuki Nakamura and Eva were beside him. Kazuki immediately pulled Leo back,"Don't be reckless. Do not go head on without knowing a thing. We need intel if we are going there,without even knowing what is that thing on the sky,you can't dash away like this"

Eva,"But what if someone is getting hurt?! We need to help them!"

Nakamura, "Do you see what's happening? These creatures are not letting anyone pass through them. They attack if we try to run to that area. Are you sure you will not die?"

Leo was ghost pale as if he remembered something. Cold sweat dropped down from his neck,"Wait,Hazel went to that side earlier,she must have escaped, right?"

Leo's feet started dragging him towards the area where monsters were flying. He didn't exactly know why either but his legs reacted than his brain.

"Your highness! Watch out!", Eva screamed as those flying monsters suddenly started attacking them.

Nakamura reacted fast and tried to fight the monsters. It was because of his fast move that Leo was still alive. But they didn't have to fight for long when Jimin came rushing towards them to save them. Blood splattered everywhere with the strong swings of his sword. It was like wind,swoosh. He slashed the monsters like he is cutting vegetables. His crimson eyes shone as an aura erupted from his body,the aura of a Pendragon when they are in their fighting spirit.

Nakamura's eyes were shining as he watched Jimin fight.

Once Jimin was done,he looked at Leo,"Your highness, the exit is that way", he pointed at the opposite of where Leo wanted to run.

Leo,"B –But someone is there!"

Jimin,"My brothers are already there. If you go there,you will only be hindering their work,please head back to the palace"

Leo didn't want to leave having this uneasy feeling. He somehow felt that he is right about who is getting attacked. "Where is lady Hazel?", He asked to confirm his suspension.

Jimin was quiet for few minutes, "...go back,your highness. As a knight, it's my responsibility to bring you back alive. Now,please head back. Even if you wanted to help,what can you do?"

________

Leo snapped out of his thoughts,"As much as I hate to admit, he was right that time. What could I even do?"

Eva,"That's not right, your highness. You are strong but Pendragons are stronger naturally. But strength is not everything"

Leo sighed and looked ahead to see few knights already there inside the village. They were choosing their own house to rest. They had slightly disgusted faces seeing the dirty houses.

"Look it's sir Nakamura, I haven't seen him since that day",Eva exclaimed as she pointed as the half white half black haired teenage boy who was feeding his black horse.

It's as Nakamura felt their gazes,he looked at Leo and Eva. He slightly bowed and continued to feed his horse. Leo wanted to talk to him about the deal he was about to talk to him that day but unfortunately they were interrupted by the attack that day.

A lot of teen knights started to fill in one after another and only one thing they had in their minds.

"Is it true that lady Hazel is participating this camp?"

"I guess so. I heard my parents say something like that"

"Do you think we will be looked down because of her?"

"Hah! No way,I heard she is the weakest in the Pendragon family"

"For real?"

"Shut up,why does she even have to be strong when she got that pretty face? She could have been a simple lady but no she decided to be a knight"

"Well,I guess it's a Pendragon thing. I don't know whether to be scared or not"

Leo felt irritated hearing all the nonsense. Eva however had a worried face. "Maybe it's not a good idea for her to come here. It doesn't look like she is welcomed here",she mumbled.

"Look! It's her!"

Leo and Eva immediately looked back to see Hazel riding horse towards the village. And she was not alone. Luca was beside her,riding his own horse. On the other side,there was another girl riding another horse.

When they entered through the entrance, everyone's attention went to them. Hazel felt the thick tension around them as soon as they entered.

"The hell are you all looking at?! Piss off you fucking flies!", Luca yelled in frustration. He felt pissed with all the attention.

"Isn't that Luca? What is he doing with the lady Hazel?",Someone from a group asked.

"Heard he is her escorting knight"

Luca and Hazel heard them. Hazel puffed out a teasing laugh at the extremely pissed Luca.

When Hazel's eyes met Leo and Eva,her smile dropped slightly but still didn't lose it. She looked at Ruby and started a conversation avoiding Leo and Eva.

Eva,"Guess,she only hates us"

"I could have been happy if she hated us,but she doesn't even hate us", Leo said as he remembered her words few months ago. "She doesn't want to get involved with us"

Eva's face saddened as she looked at Hazel talking to Ruby with a smile on her face. Even her angry glares at Luca didn't seem so displeased, she is playful with Luca.

When Hazel got down from her horse,she looked around stretching her body.

Leo approached her slowly with the intention of asking how she is doing since he couldn't come to her house to see her.

"Lady Hazel"

Hazel looked at him,"Your highness"

"OI SHIT BABE! I FOUND A HOUSE! COME HERE DAMN IT!"

Hazel widened her eyes hearing Luca's voice. She was surprised that he found a house that fast. "My apologies, I need to go now", she immediately ran away to scold Luca for choosing a house without even looking inside. Ruby followed her with her bored expression.

Eva,"Maybe another time,we'll be able to talk. For now,we need to find our own houses"

Leo,"It looks like Hazel will be staying with Luca in the same house"

"Well,he is her knight after all. They gotta stick together"

Leo huffed in annoyance as he stared at Hazel smacking Luca on the head. Luca cursed at her loudly which wasn't a surprise.

Hazel's pov|

After searching for a while,we still didn't find a pleasant house to stay. Everything is filthy and dirty. So we decided to just chose whatever the house we have.

"Ruby,help me to clean this house a bit"

Luca,"House?! Is this a house?! It's a fucking hut! Look at those fucking rats! Are they for us to cook for dinner?"

Eww,this bastard,I hate him so much.

"Didn't know you are a fan of rat meat", I blurted out as I rolled my sleeves.

"Bitch,I will chop you to pieces!"

Ruby started cleaning without a word. The house was dark and filled with dust. There were signs that someone had used them recently, probably the senior knights from last year.

"Ruby,are you sure you can stay here? You can go back any time you want,you know that?", I asked ignoring Luca bastard.

Luca,"Don't ignore me!"

Ruby,"I'm fine,my lady"

From the corner of my eyes,I saw Luca glaring at me. Poor bitch. He seriously needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut.

Luca stomped his foot on the ground and left with a sulking face. Seriously, is he a kid?

"He must be hungry", I mumbled. "Ruby,I'm heading out a bit,you can do anything here"

I looked here and there but Luca was not anywhere to be seen. But I saw a crowd forming at the entrance. What's happening? It looks like someone has arrived?

"The senior knights have arrived"

I jumped in surprise when I heard a voice near my ear. A boy stood beside me with a poker face. His hair is half white and half black. I think I've seen him at the spring festival.

"Senior knights?"

"Yes,they are here to help us with our training"

I didn't know they'd come here personally to help us. I don't know people like that existed in the nove. I walked towards the crowd with the boy.

I saw Luca standing at a corner with a frown on his face,this kid doesn't know how to smile.

I looked at the knights who were on top of their horses,in count,there were atleast 10. And the aura they radiated are different, strong and dominant. I could feel it in the air,these guys are not here to play. Four female knights and six male knights.

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Hey guys

Hope you enjoyed

Sorry for the late updates,a lot busy and dealing with some stress.

See ya soon

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