A sword reflected the moonlight as it halved another white wolf coming his way.
He is wearing a dark blue coat with a hood covering half of his face, the coat was already drenched with the blood of the beasts.
He's breathing heavily as he keeps his guard up while checking the movements of the beasts surrounding him.
Not only white wolves but even high orcs and wisps are there. The wisps are quite troublesome but it seems that he can manage them. What made this difficult for him was the fact that the numbers of the beasts weren't declining at all and he had been fighting for hours already.
He had come to check on the place after hearing about the irregular movements but he miscalculated and ended up in the situation he was in.
He should have brought some other people with him instead of coming alone.
Not that he had thoughts of fighting to begin with but the beasts were already in chaos when he chanced upon them and he had no choice but to engage in a fight.
"Grrr."
He turned when a wolf jumped from behind him. He was able to stop its teeth with his sword from biting down on him.
Things aren't really looking good for him.
'I won't have a choice but to use it,' he thought.
Light slowly appeared in his hands but before it was completed, three arrows came flying down, hitting three white wolves in the forehead, killing them instantly.
He blinked and turned only to see three silhouettes running past him, killing the other wolves and orcs.
They are also using their abilities.
They have fire, wind and water.
*CLANG*
He was stunned when another approached him, he subconsciously swung his sword.
The other party parried his attack, "I just wish to help you with your wound. I wouldn't even approach you if I was not tasked to."
"..."
He put his sword down.
Though he doesn't know them, he can't feel any hostility that he won't decline the offer as the wounds he sustained were still a lot.
More arrows came flying by to support the other three who were fighting in front.
"Let's retreat!!" the one using fire shouted towards them.
They threw one final attack before rushing back, he didn't dilly dally and followed them in retreating.
A few meters away from that place, someone jumped down from a tree and ran back alongside them.
He glanced at her and saw the bow on her back, she was the one who gave the support a while ago.
Her silver blue eyes were looking intently behind them from time to time. A frown was also visible in her face. He glanced back as well in response to her reaction but only saw the trees hovering around.
After getting out of the Dark Forest, they were all breathing heavily.
"Thank you for helping me out there," he was the first to speak up.
"Luna?"
The one using fire called out to the lady that joined them last in running back.
Luna looked back at Spencer, she was frowning while looking at the person they saved.
"Greetings, I am Luna and they are Spencer, Aaron, Richard and Preshea respectively."
The man blinked before removing his hood.
He has white hair and his sharp eyes were silver gray in color.
"Call me Julian," he greeted back.
"Once again thank you for saving me back there," he repeated.
Luna shook her head, "It is nothing but I am wondering why you have gone there when news of the irregular movements of the beasts were already being passed around. You were even alone in the inner area."
Julian thought for a bit, it is not like they are asking anything unusual. And they are indeed his savior so answering them is fine.
"I did hear about the irregular movements from rumors and it was confirmed by a group of trainee knights. I came to check not expecting that they were in such a movement already."
Luna thought for a bit, "That place is from a few days ago, right?"
Spencer thought back when she asked this before nodding his head.
"It seems that way."
"I guess we are partly involved with the beasts being there and in such a large group. But there is something I don't understand with your words. You heard from rumors and from some trainee knights?"
Julian nodded his head, "Why? What is wrong with that?"
Luna looked back at Spencer, "You said that you reported everything..."
She trailed off when understanding fell on the other four.
"They really are despicable," Aaron grumbled.
"What is it?" Julian asked, seeing their reaction.
"Well..."
Luna wanted to speak of it but this is not the place and time for it.
First and foremost, they don't know who Julian is, other than his name.
Second, they are outside, they wouldn't know if people from Circinus Kingdom might be around.
For the time being, they can't put their names in the spotlight.
"There is something I want to ask," Julian started when he noticed her being hesitant.
"What is it?"
"Could you be the group, Astral?"
They were stunned but thinking about the fact that their adventurer group name was indeed already out there.
"Is it because of our abilities?" Luna asked him but she also doubted it because she did not use any ability a while ago, she was just there as a support.
"I have received news of you. And looking at how the group was described, I guessed that you could be the people that I heard about."
Their faces showed enlightenment from his explanation.
"Though I did not hear about someone using bows. So I was not sure either."
"Yeah, trying new things," Luna replied.
Julian nodded his head, "I also heard that you are under Circinus Kingdom. Is that the case right now?"
"I am guessing that you are asking all these to inquire if you can employ us. Am I correct?"
Julian nodded his head, "I am thinking of employing you for the information on Dark Forest. And some help for everything that you know of. I will have to ask for you to join us in surveying the area, as well."
Luna thought for a bit, "We are indeed no longer working for Circinus Kingdom. Could it be that you are from Antlia Kingdom? Or are you from a further one?"
Julian shook his head, "I am from Antlia Kingdom."
He lifted his coat to show the knight's uniform that is silver gray and white in color.
The top being gray with silver embellishments and the pants being white.
There is an emblem at the collar.
A six-pointed star with an iris flower in the center. Though it was small it was still very detailed that one could make out the complete look of the iris flower.
Iris is the national flower of Antlia Kingdom.
It was the favorite flower of the very first queen of Antlia Kingdom. Because it symbolizes faith, trust, wisdom, hope and valor. The embodiment of her desire for her people.
The six-pointed star does not really imply the star, instead it is to portray that the moon is brighter than the star which is represented with a five pointed one.
The first queen of Antlia Kingdom is a moon ability user.
Though she had lived about a hundred years before Luna and the rest were born.
It was only known that she was the greatest knight of Antlia Kingdom and had led her people in defending against the bigger kingdoms trying to invade their own. Circinus Kingdom being the number one in doing so, it being the closest to them.
Antlia Kingdom wasn't really a kingdom back then but instead a combination of different smaller villages living on this side of the land. After they were able to defend their land, they decided to appoint the very first queen, Almira Blakewell.
And after more than a thousand years, Blakewell remained as the royal family of Antlia Kingdom and was still loved by the people.
Luna looked back at her team.
They nodded their heads in response, knowing what she was trying to ask them.
Since they still need to work, they can stay at Antlia Kingdom. Being employed now is easier than looking for a job later on once they settle.
This person is already a knight of Antlia Kingdom, his words would weigh if he is to recommend them.
"Very well. Since we are planning on staying in your kingdom for the time being. I guess it is fine to be employed by the knights. That has more assurance than missions," Luna looked back at Julian and agreed.
Julian gave a smile, "We can finalize a contract after getting there. But I still need you to go through some tests before you are officially hired."
Luna shrugged, "It is fine. We can do that."
Julian put back his hood, "Are you on your way now or do you still have other things to do?"
If they are on their way then they can go back together. If they still have things to do, he will just wait for them. He has nothing more to do here, he will have to go back as he had already investigated what needed to be investigated.
"Nothing more. Let's go," Luna understood his meaning.
From here, they will have another three days of trouble by horse before they are to arrive in the imperial city of Antlia Kingdom.