Captain Celesta sat near her table, her eyes glued to the letter she received from a messenger. Ciara walked in and sat on the chair. Celesta kept her eyes on the letter, finally moving towards Ciara who was eyeing her and the letter.

"Remember those bastards that bruised your face?" Celesta pointed the letter to Ciara.

"What about them?" Ciara asked.

"They're dead." Celesta grinned slightly. "Most of the thugs over the city have been killed by something. Not a monster, but a prolific killer."

Ciara beamed. "Any witness, Captain?"

"None at all," she shook her head. "But we can assume that the killer did all of this. He somehow tracked all the thugs related to the one that hit you. They were killed the same and most of their hideouts were burned to the ground."

"So that's what the fires were?" she arched her brows. "Are we sure that there was no witness?"

Celesta bobbed her head. "Like I said the one responsible for all this was not found. Whoever did this is one hell of a professional stalker. Not even a single trace of the bastard."

"I see," said Ciara.

"What?" Celesta tilted her head. "Disappointed that you cannot do the justice yourself? Forget it the doer did something incredible here. Most of the thugs were afraid that they would be targeted that they decided to go to jail. I don't know what he wants but he put a lot of fear in one single night."

Ciara folded her arms. "Why would this person do this?"

"Who knows?" Celesta shrugged. "Maybe they pissed off someone they shouldn't have angered." She snarled. "If anything, I think that you got lucky that a skilled stalker managed to smoke these thugs. Either they are shaking in fear or dead somewhere, you got lucky, Ciara."

"I don't know about that," said Ciara.

"Anyway, they are dead." She placed her hands on the table. "With this, we can focus our hold in defending against this invasion of Shadow Trekkers. The marketplace needs guarding and we are told to guard the residential districts. Not to mention that sellswords and mercenaries are roaming around the city after the king announced the incoming horde."

"An army of trekkers led by a Barren Land Warlord," Ciara's eyes narrowed. "I heard that the monsters in the barren lands are unable to get hurt by normal weapons. Can we really kill them?"

Celesta shook her head. "Who knows? The Bleak Walkers knows how to kill them, they'll find a way and not to mention that the Crusaders of the Salt Passing and an army of Wizards are going to help us defeat the army because of the pact that was made. This is a time of troubles and losing your head over the incoming chaos does nothing but trouble you." She folded her burly arms. "Ciara, you have potential and talent. Focus your thoughts on your skills and do not let the incoming evil trouble you." She smiled lightly. "I don't want you to die without seeing how far you can go."

Ciara smiled. "Thank you."

...

The abandoned village had travelers walking around. They had the look of Knights and Wizards. They sprawled around the village directing the builders to where they want the materials to go. They talked with an engineer who was instructing the carpenters to move.

The round training ground was hastily built alongside the village. Tents were made around the training ground, as Knights, Wizards, and Soldiers sharpen their weapons and maintain their armors. Men from the Knights of Talon checked their weapons while Castro praises them. A Talon Knight fired a repeating crossbow with ease at a hay target.

On the training ground, a man garbed in sleeved shirt and pants faced a green-haired woman who was taking a stance. Their faces were bland and aloof. But, the way they stand against each other showed that they were used to taking such stances.

Nolan and Vie took their stances. Nolan formed his hands as if he was trying to stop her. Vie took a boxer's stance and gripped her fist tightly. She wove swiftly and hit with a straight punch. Nolan flicked his left hand and hit Vie's right wrist. She swiveled her other arm but was blocked by Nolan's arms.

The hit stunned Vie. Nolan took the chance. He took a step inside Vie's guard, he grabs her right wrist with his left hand, pulled and use his other hand to claw her forearm. With a lever-like motion, he threw Vie to the ground. Vie was able to do a shoulder roll before she hit the ground. She rushed his guard but like water, Nolan made use of her force and momentum to cross her arms and lay her down.

He locked her arms. Vie grunted as she taps her hand. "You throw so much!"

"I am just using your own force to deal with you. You are tense, and I am like water that takes shape when you attack." He smiled, extending his hand towards Vie.

The Knights and Soldiers that watched stroke their chins in thought. Nolan was able to gather their attention after a few moves. At first, they thought he would go easy on her but when Vie strikes they were able to notice how she didn't hold back.

Vie patted her pants. She rotated her arms and cracked her neck as she cocks her arms and took another boxing stance. Her eyes this time was fierce, like a pouting child who could not accept she was losing. Nolan smiled.

Vie rolled her upper body as she rushes Nolan. She launched a fury of three-to-four strikes intending to wear out Nolan's defense. Nolan placed his hands on top of his head. He slightly lowered his posture and defended all Vie's attacks with finesse. He would use his forearms and elbows to block her strong attacks while keeping his head and stomach well defended.

Vie tried to connect a horizontal elbow at Nolan's liver. Nolan lowered his elbow, wrapped his arm around Vie's and did a hammer fist on her armpit that made her flinch enough for Nolan to take both of her hands and levered her roundly, putting her back to the ground.

"Still up for it?" said Nolan.

Vie inhaled and raised both arms. "I gave in. I think I am going to rest."

...

"Mind sparring with me?" A bulky man with broad shoulders stepped inside the ring. Nolan casts a glance at the man, his other hand helping Vie up. "You should go."

"Okay." Vie nodded. She strode out of the ring and folded her arms.

The man carried a wooden sword and threw it at Nolan. "Do you mind exchanging blows?"

Nolan shook his head. "Not all." He caught the sword and jerked it. He curled his grip around the sword's hilt and pointed at the man.

"Gerome of House Forester, may I know your name?" said the man.

"Nolan, Bleak Walker." Nolan nodded lightly. His eyes still focused on Gerome.

"I see, a Bleak Walker." He nodded curtly. "I heard that you Walkers fight like men possessed."

"We have to," Nolan explained. "The paths we walk are riddled with monsters in two forms. We have to be decisive and quick in our strikes."

Gerome smiled, he encircled Nolan. "You're young, friend. But your movements are practiced and hammered. The difference between you and the lady was a distance."

"I've been walking around for too long since my early days here in the world." Nolan kept his gaze at Gerome who was casually chatting.

"From young then?" replied Gerome. "So it would be foolish of me to hold back here?"

"Yes," said Nolan with the smile on his face vanished.

Gerome smirked. He took four quick steps and went for an overhead strike aiming for Nolan's head. Nolan twisted his body and pivoted the pommel of his wooden sword to Gerome's liver. Gerome winced and jolted back. Nolan, whose right knee was touching the ground took hold of Gerome's wrist and made use of his shoulder to throw Gerome down the ground. Dust billowed around as Nolan raised his wooden sword and strike towards Gerome's throat. Gerome sweated badly as he saw the pommel stopping before it landed to his throat. His eyes slowly moved towards Nolan. His face was cold as ice. But, it vanished as Gerome blinked.

"Your swing was wide, friend." Noland offered his right hand. "Your strike would have rattled my arms if I took it. You use your back and weight to your swing. I would have been put in a spot."

Gerome smiled helplessly. "You are quick and lethal, Nolan." He grabbed hold of Nolan's hand and pulled himself up. "You put me down easily."

Nolan shook his head. "You weren't wearing your armor."

"Doesn't matter," said Gerome. "I haven't been decked ever since a year ago. I guess it was my fault for being reckless. If I was wearing armor, how would you fare?"

"I would have to put cut the straps of your armor and kick down your legs. Once you're on the ground then I can think of ways to kill or maim you." Nolan said that with no expression on his face. Gerome shivered at the thought of fighting Nolan.

"I guess this is how a Walker fights?" Gerome placed his hands on his waist and sighs. "This should be expected while you folks are fighting monsters in dangerous areas."

"Most monsters are far stronger than any trained soldier. Once strike from them could cause concussion and bleeding. Not to mention that to fight them you have to be wary all the time. Use everything that you have to kill one. We are not monster slayers but we are used to dealing with them," said Nolan.

"You fights monsters and yet you fight like them as well." Gerome tapped the back of his hand. "I am glad that we've allies such as you fighting along with us. The Talon Knights are many and we have the best equipment in the Inner Lands. But, we are far ready for fighting monsters. Adventurers mostly fight the lesser monsters in the Inner Lands, and rarely the Talon Knights fight such monsters."

"Most of the Talon Knights carry silver grafted to their swords right?" said Nolan.

"That is right, we carry silver-grafted swords to deal with monsters. They work against the lesser monsters, and I hope they work against the monsters of the barren lands." Gerome pointed his head at the direction of the desert.

"They do," Nolan rubbed his wrist. "Silver is poisonous to them and as long as their magical defenses are down, they will bleed and die. Fortunately, we have the Wizards to neutralize their magical defenses. Without them, the battle would be hard to win."

Gerome folded his arms. "You are confident that we can win this war?"

"I do," said Nolan. "The Shadow Trekkers are strong and fast. They can be harmed by neutralizing their magical defense or through the use of elements. They cannot fight well under the sun so we have to make sure that we defend until morning. The Trekkers have a great advantage during the night. That makes them dangerous.

"I see." Gerome nodded twice. "I heard that the Shadow Trekkers are hiding somewhere around the sewers of the city?"

"Yes," Nolan stabbed the wooden sword on the ground. "It will be hard to hunt them inside tight spaces but if we don't kill them they might breed spawns that will be detrimental to the city's defenses. Eliminate them while it is early."

"So you are seeking them?" said Gerome.

"Along with the others," said Nolan. "I am confident that we can hunt them down." Nolan's eyes narrowed with coldness. "Putting monsters like them have been a daily activity for me."

Gerome smiled lightly. "I shall rest easy with your words, Nolan. Oasis Cit guards the Inner Lands. Without the city, we would be at the mercy of the barren lands monsters. As long as she stands the Inner Lands will be safe. Letting this City fall will bring disaster all over the lands. I don't know how many of them are coming but we will not let them pass."

Gerome tightened his jaws. He walked out of the ring and went to the tents. The dusty wind blew from the desert. Nolan stood in the center of the ring, his eyes pointed at the sky. The sounds of people moving and armors clanking and weapons being sharpened resounded throughout the area. Nolan stretched his legs out of the ring and sat down cross-legged. He eyed the sand hills and placed his sights on the horizon. The scrying of the Wizards made them learn when the Shadow Trekkers would arrive.