The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 155: The inhuman prey

Chapter 155: The inhuman prey

’Should I track them?’

Hex stood in the stream of people exiting the palace. The events and announcements of the night filled their conversations. They lost interest in the dark-haired boy from the north.

The lack of attention suited Hex just fine. Unlike the others, his interest in the child was bigger than the competition.

He watched Ericka enter the thirteenth prince’s coach, holding the child close to her. The prince followed her. The average-looking guy didn’t enter. He sat beside the coachman.

’Another competition and people connected to the Dawnbringers appear. I will be dammed to believe this is a coincidence,’ Hex sneered inwardly. But he wondered who the mastermind was now and if the person was as capable as his grandfather had been.

He wished to follow them but he refrained from doing so. He let the coach disappear in the masses.

’I can’t prove anything and following behind the prince in such circumstances might attract unwanted trouble. I will have to find a way to investigate without risking exposure.’

Unlike the last time, Hex was somewhat prepared and experienced. He would do everything he could to be less surprised by unexpected developments.

"Why are you standing in the middle of the gate?"

At some point, the Commander stood behind Hex and asked calmly. Hex held his tongue. He was about to confide in the man but stopped.

’The last time, people betrayed others at every turn. Even if the baron trusted this man, I can’t. After all, what the baron considers acceptable differs from how I think.’

No one but Hex knew that the Dawnbringers only achieved their goal because of the silent consent from the baron. Hex was told it had to do with freeing his wife but Hex didn’t see them talk or meet. He wasn’t convinced. And even if that was true, Hex wasn’t the baron. He would do things his way.

"Nothing. Just enjoying the moment. I am not entirely hopeless in retaining the deed of Grindeston and the title of baron."

The Commander looked at his grin without showing much reaction. "Come with me," he said, gesturing Hex to follow as he stepped into his coach.

Hex joined him on the return trip, while his coach - the Commander had arranged it for him - followed.

The inside of the coach was comfortable but lacked any sort of decoration. Hex and the Commander sat opposite each other.

"So, what do you think?"

"I think it went better than anticipated," Hex replied. "I mean, before going to the feast, we thought the chances of retaining everything were slim."

"They still are," the Commander said. "Or are you certain you can trample everyone under your feet?"

"No, just the one who gets in my way," Hex replied calmly. He wasn’t arrogant. He was confident.

The Commander’s sharp eyes fixed on him for a while. "Good," he said finally.

"There is something I don’t understand," Hex said after organizing his thoughts. The Commander raised his brows, indicating he could ask.

"Notresol was destroyed about twenty years ago. That is a long time but I don’t think enough to have the city crawling with creatures, is it?"

Hex had heard some of the conversations among the younger people. They described the city to be crawling with creatures of various ranks. They even discussed the reports stating the existence of Disasters and Calamities.

Similar to humans, beasts needed time and resources to increase their strength. Twenty years were not enough even if the resources were abundant.

He waited for the Commander’s answer but he saw the man remain silent. He seemed lost in thought. Hex didn’t press. He knew some things weren’t easily spoken about.

After a period of silence where only the sound of the wheels was heard, the Commander sighed. Hex raised his brow, seeing the Commander appear older with just a sigh. His shoulders were slumped and his sharp eyes became dull.

"Twenty years aren’t enough. Yet, there are creatures of different ranks there. Some reports even suggest the existence of Devils." The Commander looked outside the window, staring into the night. "How do you think that’s possible?"

’Didn’t I ask that? Why are you asking me?’ Hex grumbled but he still gave it a thought. "If you agree that the time is short but at the same time these creatures exist...then does it mean they were already present?"

"Correct." The Commander turned to face him. His reply raised even more questions in Hex’s mind.

"Were they raised by humans?"

"No."

"Were they brought by the Witch? The Dawnbringers did bring a few undead creatures into the town." Hex thought out loud as he thought back to how the group worked. His mother, the Witch, was the reason behind the destruction. Did she operate in a similar way back then?

"Yes...and no. We don’t know how but the biggest reason the Witch succeeded in her plans was the appearance of these creatures. But they are no undead. Nor were they brought over. They were created."

"They are fakes?" Hex asked confused while cursing the Commander in his mind for being similar to the baron. ’Can’t he just give a full answer? Am I supposed to ask and pull words out of his mouth?’

The Commander perhaps realized Hex was close to erupting. He replied without keeping it short.

"They are real. The Witch appeared in the city as an innocent and cute-looking scholar. She studied the ancient texts and myths. One such myth described the creation of the Heartless. You have heard of them, right?"

"The Hearthless? Yes. I even fought them." Hex remembered his first adventure with a team of Knights and Squires into the mountain very well. Those dark creatures and the appearance of the Disaster-rank creature that nearly wiped them out were impossible to forget.

"That should be a weak remnant of the old tribes deeper in the Endless Mountains," continued the Commander. "Everyone considered those tales to be fables. She didn’t. She somehow unraveled the secret of that ritual and recreated it."

"Wait," Hex exclaimed, remembering a bit of the myth Duter told him during their escape. They were once humans who sacrificed their hearts to Heavens in exchange for strength to survive. Their pleas were heard but the price they paid was turning into humanoid creatures with demonic bodies.

"Are you saying, the creatures we are supposed to be hunting were humans?"

The Commander sighed and nodded.

"Yes. You guys are going to clear the ruin by killing those who were once Notresol’s citizens."