The Diabolical

Garrison

Gisele’s PoV

THE BORDER

“Is everyone alright?” I asked the garrison leader, who seemed to be running here and being attacked by the enemy soldier.

“Commander!” The captain saluted when he saw me walking towards the camp.

“Reporting! Fortunately, we have no casualty, but several of our knights were injured from the attack.“ That’s good news. This garrison has been in the way for the enemy to March forward into the empire. Luckily we finally managed to recruit a genius strategist like Catherine.

“Was there any movement from the enemy after the recent attack?” The captain shook his head no.

“There has been no movement, sir. Where are you going?” The captain asked when I walked towards the gate.

“I’m going to see if I could spot the enemy’s camp.” I smiled before walking up to the scouting tower. One of the knights on duty gave me a binocular, and I began to find any sign from the enemy.

Rose told me that I should make sure the garrison is strong enough to withstand any attack while the negotiation is still ongoing. The garrison is important to keep the enemy at bay.

“Oh- it seems the enemies are close by.” How many are they? Why would they camp out near the garrison while giving their location away? Is this a trap the enemy had place for me? They may have predicted my arrival as soon as I heard that the garrison was attacked, but- this is plain stupid. I guess it’s only polite of me to accept their bait, right?

“Keep on a lookout. The enemy is planning something, and we should get ready.” The knights nodded their heads before I walked down the stairs and met up with the captain again.

“I’ll be going to the enemy camp alone.” The captains and the others who came with me were shocked when I said that.

“No! Commander- that’s unacceptable! It would be best if you didn’t go alone. Bring some of our best men with you. I volunteer!” I shake my head no.

“The others will be a hindrance for me. This is not my first mission alone. I’ve been through many situations where I have to put my life at stake. I’ll be back soon.” I said while removing my heavy armor.

“You won’t be wearing your armor?!” The captain asked.

“No. The famous is heavy, and I need to be as stealthy as possible.” I smiled before strapping my dagger and sword around my waist.

“On second thought- give one of your swords to me. It would be easier to kill everyone with two swords at hands.” The captain gave his sword before trying to convince me once again.

“Calm down.” I smiled before asking the knights to open the gate for me.

LATER THAT DAY,

I am currently standing in the middle of the enemy's camp, smiling at my ‘artwork.’ I thought they were trained soldiers, but they’re far from being a talented ones.

“You’re a monster! My soldiers- they’re nothing but commoners who volunteer for the hood of this country, and yet here you are, killing their dreams. How am I supposed to explain their death to their family? How are their wife and children continue to survive without them?! Where were your decency as a human being?!” I turned to the one in charge of this camp with a smile.

“Oh- did you think I would let you live? Why should I care? It was your king who asked for this. I’m only doing what I thought best for my country. Their background doesn’t concern me.” The leader spits, and it almost landed on my shoe.

“How many more life’s you’re going to take?! You’ve killed all twenty of my soldiers! You’re not a human- you’re a monster who seeks blood to survive! I guess the rumors have their truth! You want to kill me?! Do it! I dare you!” I stabbed my dagger on his shoulder. The man got on his knees while he screamed in pain.

“You asked for it. Now, be a doll and tell me where your commander is. It’s time for us to meet, is it not?” The man keeps his gaze low while trying to stop the bleeding. I sighed.

“This conversation goes nowhere. It won’t be a problem for me to burn down a whole village if you want me to. Oh- your expression changes. Does your family reside in that village? Should I go to the village and kill every person who lives there?” I smirked at the man.

“What do you want from me?“ I shrugged.

“Well- I want this war to end, but not everyone has the leisure to wish for something impossible. I want to know more about your king’s plan. What does he want from the empire?” The man scoffed.

“The king is dead!” Oh- he is?

“The crown prince has taken over the throne and became the king of Zora. Since I’m about to die in your hands, it doesn’t matter if I betrayed my country. The crown prince is more aggressive and his method to obtain what he wants is more about military power than planning a foolproof strategy. Even the elders who normally would guide the new ruler couldn’t do anything to stop him.” I see. Rose would like to hear about this.

“Let me guess- did the crown prince kill the king so he could take the throne?” The man nodded.

“The king wanted to negotiate with the empress of Goterra, but the crown prince thinks it’s a bad idea, and he decided to end the king’s reign and started his revolution, which only caused more misery for the people. Zora is not how it used to be. The new king is destroying the once-great kingdom.” The man suddenly looks up at me.

“That is all I can say. Please kill me now.” I raised my sword before ending the man’s life.

“Wow!” I heard someone’s voice coming through as they walked through the dried leaves.

“Look at you- covering the ground with human blood. You’re one nasty human, Gisele.” It’s the devil.

“Are you following me?” The devil continues to smile creepily while walking barefoot on the blood.

“If only you weren’t half-human, I would give you the ability to use the demonic power. But your human part won’t be able to handle such power.” I hummed.

“I don’t need such powers to make myself known. You should know that by now.” The devil laughed.

“If you want my help, don’t even be afraid to summon me. I heard that a human is carrying Rona’s descendent. That woman might need my power to survive the process.” Huh? Why would the devil say that?

A FEW DAYS LATER,

“Hold on! What do you mean you need to forge a document for your use to enter Zora? Why are you going to a dying kingdom like that?! What if people notice who you are? No! I will never let you go somewhere that dangerous.” I grabbed both of Calypso’s shoulders before cupping her face.

“Calm down. I know what I’m doing, and please don’t get too worried about me. Think of yourself and the child in you.” I smiled. Calypso sighed before waving her hands to one of her secretaries.

“Promise me you’ll come back.” I smiled before nodding my head.

“You’re lucky that I can do whatever you asked.” Oh, I know. I am lucky to have Calypso by my side.

“Calypso, I heard you’ve been feeling out of the weather lately. How are you feeling today?” Calypso smiled.

“I’ve been feeling better. Rona brought the witch to see me today, and she had been a great help. The witch said it’s normal for me to feel this way. She gave me something to relieve the pain and uncomfortable feeling.” Oh- Calypso grabbed something, which made me question if it was a joke or not.

“What are you doing?” Calypso smiled.

“The witch said I shouldn’t just stay in the room. I should go outside and make the person who made me like this suffer the same consequences.” Wait! That must be a joke! I-

“Ow!” I rubbed the back of my head when Calypso suddenly hit me.

“What was that for?!” Calypso smiled.

“You’re about to go into enemy’s territory. Of course, I am worried and mad at the same time. That made me feel better.” So hitting me made her feel good?! Is that witch even know what she’s doing?!

“Why would hitting me be the best medicine for you?” I asked the courtesan. Calypso smiled from ear to ear.

“Because of you, I am like this. But it's okay; I like being pampered by you and the others. It's not every day a demon would do whatever you asked them to, right?” Well, Calypso has a point. But why do I have to be hit every time she’s in pain or uncomfortable?

The woman could say it, and I will do whether she wants!

“Master!” A maid suddenly barged into the lounging area before kneeling on the floor. I was as shocked as Calypso was.

“Please forgive my rudeness for barging into your private area, but there is an urgent matter I need to relay to you.” Calypso waved her hand for the servant to continue.

“We found one of the girls laying face down on her bed. When Norman checked for her pulse, she’s been dead for quite some time.” Calypso turned to me with a calm expression.

“Alright. Thank you for telling me. Tell Norman to keep this to himself. That includes you.” The servant nodded.

“Could you do me a favor?” I nodded. It doesn’t seem like Calypso reacted to the news, but I know she does care for the girls well being.

“I want you to look at the body and find anything that might lead this to murder. My girls will never take their own life. I know they wouldn’t because I took them in. I gave them everything they ever needed, and there is no reason to die young. Not anymore.” Calypso is pissed.

“I can do that. Do you want me to find the killer after investigating the body?” Calypso smiled.

“Will you? Thank you so much for your help. I will reward you for your contribution.” Calypso smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. I decided to excuse myself and went to the dormitory where the girls lived.

Norman, who noticed me, bowed his head before letting me inside the room.

“Did the master send you here?” I nodded.

“Did anyone go inside the room?” Norman shakes his head no.

“Just me and the servant who went to inform the incident to the master.” I see. Norman did a good job of not contaminating the room. That way, it’s easy to find clues that the killer had left. I doubt the girl killed herself. Why would you lay face down if you killed yourself? That doesn’t make sense.

“I will turn her body around,” I said before turning the corpse around. What greeted me was shocking.

“It seems she was killed. Do you agree with me?” Norman nodded his head while reaching his hand out. I grabbed his hand before he could touch the wound on the corpse’s neck.

From the looks of things, the girl was raped before she was killed. There seem to be bruised all over her body. But what I don’t get is that- how did the killer manage to enter the dormitory? This place is heavily guarded, except if one of the guards was the culprit.

“Did any of the guards have feelings for her?” Norman shakes his head.

“The master warned the guards never to have feelings for the courtesan who works here. If any of us are caught, the master will fire us and forbid us from ever working here again. I doubt any of the guards dare to do so.” I hummed.

I doubt it.

“Turn around.” Norman turned around before I took off the corpse’s clothes and saw if there was any other wound that I needed to look at. There were some handprints on the thighs which belonged to the killer. I sighed when I saw dried blood on the mattress and at the side of the girl’s thigh too. I am speechless.

“You may turn around,” I said after covering the girl’s body again.

“Someone must have tried hard to cover up their mistake. Did the killer think that killing the victim will make them safe?“ Norman keeps his thoughts to himself.

I continue to look around the room until I found something that isn’t supposed to be there.

“Say- what do you think this is?” I asked Norman as I kneel on the floor.

“Part of a family crest? I think you just found out, killer!” I smiled before I asked Norman to find out which family this crest belongs to.

There’s no harm in finding the culprit before my trip to Zora.