Chapter 286: Scouts?

Darion made his way back toward Percvale, his steps light and easy, the satisfaction of the hunt still fresh in his mind.

The forest around him was quiet, with the occasional sounds of birds, insects, and distant animals. The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting long shadows across the forest floor. It was peaceful, serene, the kind of evening that made you forget about the weight of leadership.

There wasn't much waiting for him in Percvale, just the history book he had been reading and the quiet of the castle. Hopefully Garren and Seren were back by then.

They had gone to buy beds, a simple errand that had taken them away for most of the day. He hoped they had found something good. The old beds were uncomfortable, their mattresses lumpy, their frames creaky. New ones would make the castle feel more like a home.

Before getting too close to the territory, however, he decided to use one of his undead birds to scout the road ahead. It was a precaution he had developed after months of living in a world where danger could come from anywhere.

He summoned the undead bird and watched it rise into the sky, its green eyes glowing against the fading light.

Through the bird's vision, Darion surveyed the surrounding forest and the road leading toward Percvale.

He had gotten accustomed to using his undead animals this way. It let him see places he otherwise couldn't and was especially useful when traveling alone. The bird's perspective was sharp, its vision clear, and he could see the familiar landscape spread out beneath him like a map.

The bird flew higher, giving Darion a broad view of the surrounding area. He casually scanned the familiar landscape: the trees, the fields, the distant outline of Percvale's walls. Everything looked normal, peaceful, ordinary.

Then something caught his attention.

Near the outskirts of Percvale, he noticed two figures sitting high inside a large tree. At first, he assumed they might simply be hunters. Hunters often perched in trees, waiting for game to pass beneath them. It was a common practice, especially for those who hunted birds or small game.

But something about their behavior immediately felt wrong.

They weren't hunting. They were positioned in a way that gave them an unobstructed view of Percvale and, more importantly, the castle. Their bodies were angled toward the settlement, their attention fixed on the walls and the buildings beyond. They weren't watching the ground or the trees. They were watching the castle.

Darion narrowed his eyes. Through the bird's vision, he noticed that both figures were holding some kind of perspective glasses: binocular-like devices, and were repeatedly looking toward the castle grounds. They would observe for a few moments, then lower the glasses, then raise them again, as if they were tracking something.

They weren't watching the road. They weren't watching animals. They were watching his territory.

What the hell are they doing?

Darion immediately became more alert. The peaceful atmosphere from moments earlier disappeared from his mind, replaced by a cold, focused awareness. He stopped walking and quickly looked around himself before moving toward a nearby tree. He pressed his back against it, using the trunk to conceal himself.

He didn't know whether they had spotted him. More importantly, he didn't know how long they'd been there. They could have been watching for hours, observing the comings and goings of the castle, noting the patterns of the guards, the movements of the people. They could have seen him leave, could have tracked his movements through the forest.

His mind raced through the possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last.

Darion considered simply sending the undead bird closer. Instead of exposing himself, he could use Borrowed Sight through the bird to observe them from a distance. He closed his eyes, focusing on the bird's vision, and the world suddenly became clearer through the bird's eyes.

He carefully focused on the two figures. Now that he was looking properly, their appearance made their purpose even more suspicious. Their clothing was practical and subdued, clearly chosen to avoid attracting attention. They wore dark, earth-toned fabrics that blended into the shadows of the tree.

There was nothing flashy, nothing that would immediately identify them as soldiers.

Their weapons were also concealed or kept close to their bodies. He could see the outline of a blade beneath one of their cloaks, the shape of a bow strapped to the other's back. They were armed, but they weren't showing it. They were deliberately trying to remain unnoticed.

Scouts!

He didn't know whose scouts they were yet. That distinction mattered. They could belong to some wandering group, bandits or mercenaries looking for easy targets. They could be criminals, planning a raid on the castle. They could even be scouts from another territory, gathering intelligence for a larger force.

But their location made one thing obvious: they were gathering information about Percvale. They were watching the castle, the walls, the guards. They were counting, assessing, preparing.

Darion decided not to confront them. If they hadn't noticed him yet, there was no reason to reveal himself.

He slowly left the tree he was hiding behind and moved deeper into the forest. He kept low and moved carefully, making sure his footsteps didn't disturb branches or leaves. At the same time, he kept the undead bird watching them from above, its green eyes tracking their every movement.

Darion circled around the scouts rather than approaching them directly. His goal was simple: find out who they were and why they were here. He moved through the forest with caution, his steps light, his body low. The trees provided cover, their trunks and branches hiding him from view.

He eventually reached another position where the tree they were occupying was within hearing distance. He hid behind a thick group of bushes, their leaves dense enough to conceal him completely. From there, he could see the two scouts himself, although the bird still gave him a better perspective so his vision was with the bird.

He noticed that they were taking turns looking through their perspective glasses. One would observe for a few minutes, then lower the glasses and hand them to the other. The second would raise them and continue the observation. Occasionally, one of them would write something down in a small notebook, his hand moving quickly across the page.

They were meticulous, professional. They were gathering detailed information.

Darion remained completely still. He didn't summon his undead. He didn't attack. He didn't even breathe too loudly. He watched and waited, his mind focused on every detail.

'Let's see what you're looking for.'