Chapter 1296: Calling for Help

The report reached Commander Arthur before sunrise.

By the time the messenger entered the command hall of the Order of the Sky Sword, Arthur had already been awake for several hours. He had been waiting for news from Valenridge ever since Roland had informed him that the Dawnblades had somehow infiltrated the prison.

What he heard was far worse than he had expected.

"The prisoners were rescued," the knight reported, kneeling before him. "The attackers were all masked. We couldn’t identify any of them."

Arthur’s expression darkened.

"And the vampires?"

The knight hesitated.

"Roland confirmed that they appeared shortly after the attackers escaped."

Arthur’s eyes narrowed.

"How many?"

"We don’t know the exact number. There were hundreds of bats surrounding the prison, and several of them transformed into Vampires. Some of our junior knights and squires were bitten."

Arthur slowly leaned back in his chair.

"How many survived?"

"Most of them were knocked unconscious or restrained before the situation was contained. But..." The knight swallowed. "Some were transformed."

Silence filled the command hall.

Arthur stared at the table before him.

For weeks, the Order had suspected that the Dawnblades were connected to the mysterious invaders mentioned in Mennena’s prophecy. They had seen strange abilities, impossible training methods, and an organization that had somehow produced multiple users of Will in only a matter of months.

Now there were Vampires.

Real Vampires.

And they had appeared immediately after the Dawnblades’ masked rescuers escaped.

Arthur’s fingers slowly tightened around the armrest.

"Bring Knight Roland here."

The knight bowed.

"Yes, Commander."

"Also summon Mordred."

The messenger looked surprised.

"Sir?"

Arthur raised his eyes.

"Sir Mordred is currently in the eastern barracks."

"I know. That’s why I want him here."

The knight immediately understood.

Mordred was one of the Order’s strongest knights. Unlike Roland, who specialized in commanding large groups of soldiers, Mordred was an elite combatant who had spent most of his life hunting monsters and dealing with threats that ordinary knights could not handle.

If Arthur was calling him back, then this was no longer a simple investigation.

"Understood."

The knight hurried away.

Arthur remained alone for several moments.

Then he walked toward the large window overlooking the capital. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The sun had begun to rise over the distant rooftops of the Davai Kingdom.

Merchants were preparing their shops. Adventurers were gathering around the Adventurers Guild. Guards were changing shifts.

To an ordinary citizen, it was simply another morning.

But Arthur knew better. Something had entered their kingdom... something that even the Order did not understand.

And if the Dawnblades truly had a connection to it, then waiting any longer could become dangerous.

Several hours later, Roland arrived.

His expression was still grim from the incident in Valenridge.

Mordred entered behind him.

Unlike Roland, Mordred wore no armor decorated with the insignia of the Order. His black armor was simple, reinforced for combat rather than ceremony, and a massive sword hung from his waist.

"Commander."

Arthur nodded.

"Tell me everything again."

Roland did not hesitate.

He described the masked attackers, their use of strange darkness, the rescue of the four prisoners, and the appearance of the bats.

When he reached the final part, he paused.

"There was one more thing."

Arthur looked at him.

"What?"

"One of the bats transformed into a human."

Mordred’s expression changed slightly.

"Transformed?"

"Yes."

"Did you recognize him?"

"No."

Roland shook his head.

"But I believe he was one of the Vampires."

Mordred frowned.

"Then why didn’t he attack you?"

Roland was silent.

That was precisely what bothered him.

The creature had appeared after the battle was over. It had not attacked him. It had simply transformed before disappearing.

Arthur immediately understood the implication.

"They weren’t simply feeding."

Roland nodded.

"They were gathering people."

Arthur stood.

"Then we have a problem."

Mordred looked toward him.

"You believe the Dawnblades are controlling them?"

"I don’t know."

Arthur walked toward the map covering the wall.

"That’s the problem."

He placed his finger on Valenridge.

"The Dawnblades’ people were here. They were captured. Then they were rescued by masked individuals using an unfamiliar form of magic. Immediately afterward, Vampires appeared."

His finger moved toward Atrium City.

"And the Dawnblades’ main headquarters is here."

Mordred crossed his arms.

"Coincidence?"

"I don’t believe in coincidences when this many strange things happen at the same time."

He turned toward the two knights.

"We will gather a force."

Roland looked surprised.

"How large?"

"Large enough to confront the Dawnblades if necessary."

The room became quiet.

Arthur continued.

"But nobody moves until I give the order."

He had no intention of allowing the Order to blindly attack a powerful organization inside the kingdom’s own capital.

There was still something missing.

Something he needed to know before making that decision.

Arthur looked toward the window.

"I need to speak with His Majesty."

Mordred’s eyes widened slightly.

"The King?"

Arthur nodded.

"If these creatures are truly Vampires, then the Order isn’t the only organization that needs to know about them."

***

The royal palace of the Davai Kingdom stood at the center of the kingdom...

By noon, Arthur was standing inside the King’s private audience chamber.

King Aldric Davai listened silently as Arthur explained everything that had happened in Valenridge.

The king’s expression became increasingly serious.

When Arthur finally mentioned the Vampires, Aldric closed his eyes.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he sighed.

"So they have finally appeared."

Arthur froze.

"Your Majesty?"

There was something unusual about his reaction.

He had expected disbelief.

Instead, the king looked as though he had just received confirmation of something he had feared for years.

"Your Majesty," Arthur said carefully, "what do you know about these creatures?"

Aldric stood and walked toward the tall windows.

"...There are things recorded in our royal archives that the public has long forgotten."

He looked toward the distant forest beyond the palace.

"If what you told me is true, then the Order of the Sky Sword cannot deal with this alone."

Arthur frowned.

"Then what should we do?"

The king hesitated before finally making his decision.

"Call the Guardians."