While Eden was mounting Thunder she was processing her emotions. She was thinking if she over reacted. She asked herself internally, "Who just stabs someone to teach them a lesson, put them in their place and also force them to understand?A fucken psycho. That was definitely worthy of some evil villain title." Eden frowned a little thinking she had a little bit of Jeffry Baratheon.
Arthur had moved his horse close to hers and asked, "Are you okay Commander? We can leave the boss hunt for another day." Eden snapped out of her thoughts and she turned to look at Arthur. She said, "I'm waiting for everyone to be ready." Arthur gave her an awkward look and replied, "we announced we were ready to go at your command a few minutes ago." Eden's face turned red and she quickly looked forward. Then Eden nudged Thunder to move as she said to Arthur, "then what are you doing sitting around wasting time, move out," leaving him behind all flabbergasted. He started moving when he heard the rest of the horses behind him move after Eden. Sir Tristan called out to Arthur, "You heard our commander, stop wasting time." The rest of the men chuckled beneath their breaths as they tried to hide their smiles. They didn't want Arthur to give them extra training time.
Sylvie was instructed to stay close to Eden and Arthur. The rest of who came with her would be assigned to one of the generals, Gideon, Lewins, Murphy and Kane. Oscar had returned to the forge to meet with Gunther. Lewis mind linked Sylvie, "Lieutenant, is it wise to follow her to a hunt? What if she encounters our kind? I am conflicted with attacking our kind since we have been reduced in numbers." Sylvie didn't answer right away, then said "We must bear the consequence for being under her command." Lewis retorted, "But King Cerberus will have our heads if we attack our kind, he said so himself that we are to report to him in order to conduct an extraction." Sylvie didn't answer, she was weighing their options. Then shockingly, Kane who was hearing the conversation because it was a channel open to the group, "Did you not sense the connection? The one that made us feel her emotions? It was a small prick, but it was there." Lewis asked "you think it's something similar to our pack link?" Then Gideon said, "I felt it too. It was small, but it's not like the pack link. It's something else. Something more personal." Lewis added, "I think I recall reading in our archives back home that the humans experience something called a soul tie. You don't have to be in a pack, just make a connection with them. There's no ritual to it." Murphy then asked, "why didn't you write about it and submit it for the academy to pass on that knowledge?" Lewis let out a hmph, then replied "it wasn't something that I am passionate about and it had to do with human beliefs. When Queen Celeste ordered for an academy to be built to trade information among us, it didn't cross my mind." Sylvie finally said, "she won't attack our kind that much I can assure you." Sylvie didn't want to admit to them, but to her that sensation was anything but a prick. It was like a faucet of water being opened within her. She was still wondering what it was that made her form this bond so fast.
Eden had let her alliance leadership know that she was going on a hunt alone with her army that morning before the new hires arrived to the study. To only contact her if it's necessary, she needed to improve her own power to support the alliance in battle. In addition she had a goal now, free as many trapped souls as she can while she can. The key seemed to lie in the throne. As long as she stays true to herself, anything that happens will only be temporary waves. Just like Arthur, he might have lost his memories, but he was still the same man deep inside. That was who he was at his core.
Expat had sent her a message too that morning, but she decided to ignore it at the moment. After the morning's events she felt drained from her energy to deal with anything else. She wanted to find out what he needed, but it could wait. Another pending issue was that with Blowzella and Muffin. Eden definitely felt as issues have begun to start stacking up. Just one thing after another. She inhaled and exhaled, then told herself to write it out once she gets back to the castle to get it out of her head. Then she would organize it in the order of most importance. She wished she had a clone jutsu to split herself up and leave one to do the paperwork. That made her laugh a little, but she stopped immediately once she realized she could be heard. Now they're really going to think I'm crazy. That's a total crazy person move, laughing out loud alone. She was too embarrassed to look to see who heard her, so she rode in silence until they got to their destination.
Finally they got close to the location of the Fafnir that Eden tracked with a location item on her map the day before. Location items would be sold in the shop, but they were rare. They were made from a rare crystal and for humans to be able to use it, it was infused with phoenix feather. The description on the item when Eden first found it in her inventory was that bosses had phoenix essence infused in them, allowing them to respawn in a different location after it's defeated. She's had this item for some time since the server war and doesn't remember where it came from. She would have to look through every report and every letter she received since that day which was a hassle. If she didn't recognize it as a direct message to her, she would just leave it to the side. There would be server announcements and gift announcements she would get, but she would ask Erza to reply a generic thank you to them.
The area was full of tall forest trees that covered the sunlight. As they approached the forest area it began to get dark. They slowed down to a stop. Eden dismounted Thunder and looked at her generals, Arthur, Sir Tristan, Sir Lancelot, Gwaine and Gabriel. With just eye contact and the movement of her eyes scanning, they understood and took two men each and went off. The Lycans observed their movements with their ears. They could hear the smallest twig breaking within 100 meters, 1000 meters if they focused on one specific sound. From the sound of the noise, the Generals were using the trees to travel while trying to avoid making loud noises. They went in 5 different directions and each group split up and moved opposite to the direction they were traveling after they got to 100 meters. The general, they assumed, once getting 100 meters away the center began to circle around Eden's army clockwise. Then the other two traveled at a 36 degree angle from the splitting point crossing paths with each other forming a 5 pointed star if you were drawing their paths. Once the ones who broke off got to the perimeter line, they began to move back to the center. The Generals then would stop circling their perimeter half way through the next point and join to travel back to the center. Upon their return, they reported everything they noticed. Dwellings if they saw them or any creature to be weary of. Everything was clear. Kane mind linked the rest of the lycan, "a result of training, mapping and trust." The rest nodded. Murphy said, "I'm slightly impressed they went through such a complex scouting plan. We usually use our sense of smell, speed and magic to do this." Gideon looked around and added to their conversation," they are human, so they have to make up for their shortcomings." Lewis said in their mind link, "I'm glad Oscar isn't here. That goofy would have outed our conversation regarding their scouting technique by giving an awed expression or comment." Back at the forge Oscar sneezed. Gunther looked at him and told him, "I hope you're not getting a cold."
Eden gave the approval to dismount and get settled. Everyone got off quickly and began to tie their horses. They started grabbing their weapons and got in formation to travel deeper into the forest. Sylvie approached Eden and asked, "Commander, what should the mages do?" Eden was grabbing the last of her supplies on Thunder. She then answered, "your mission is to ensure the safety of the horses we leave behind and the resources. We need the carts we brought to be intact for the items we will be bringing back. Please take extra care of Thunder who is my valiant steed." Thunder made a snorting sound in approval of those words. Sylvie retorted "but we are powerful and best suited for the fight against whatever beast you are going up against." Eden replied, "you have been entrusted to care for our way home. In the event we need your assistance, I leave you in charge of how to make that call, but without sacrificing the other. For now, take good care of Thunder, he is important to me." Thunder moved his head to look at Sylvie and it looked to her that he was giving her a smile.
Eden then headed out with the rest. Arthur was next to Eden and asked her, " Commander, the mages seem like able bodies, why didn't you allow them to join us. You know that our horses are trained to flee at the slightest sign of danger, that is why we leave the rope loose for them." Eden was cautiously making her way farther into the dark forest. She answered, "Whosoever can be trusted with small things can also be trusted with big things." Arthur understood and didn't ask further. They heard a loud breathing sound. Arthur looked at Eden and then asked, "what are we up against?" Eden smiled and said, "a fafnir."