99 Shadows in the Nigh (1/2)

Right now, Seron could see a group of warriors that wouldn't have to lower their head facing the strongest adventurer team of Archet fighting side by side with the guards.On the other hand, those proudly respected fighters that always wore their emblems on their chest were nowhere to be found.No he spoke too soon, a little farther there was a group of them, but just from one glance, the ratio between the two professions was still overwhelmingly in favor of mercenaries. At this time, Seron couldn't even imagine the incentives those wealthy leeches had to promise for them to fight so hard, disregarding their own lives.

However, even if they had far more superior equipment, skills or even sheer strength compared to the local guards, they couldn't break through the chains of humanity. Not even the Heroes of the legends were capable of fighting without any rest for days, and the few hours of hacking skeletons and dodging their ghostly grasps were putting too much pressure on everyone's body. But from the continuous reports that were coming in, the situation had been stabilized after the initial loss of the ramparts.

The surges of undead in the South and North had both been handled well by the officers in charge, and they were no longer spreading on the walls of Archet. The sudden arrival of the giants and the numerous ways of attack of the enemy army that was provoked by it caused that disorganization. Because of this, they had to retreat and reform the defenders, unless they were ready to lose even more lives than they already did. Fortunately, the giants were principally concentrated on the eastern walls, meaning that without them nearby, the panic wasn't as dire on those places.

”The first section had lost 124 men and has 39 injured …”

”The second section had lost …”

”The third section …”

Every time someone came near Seron, it was to report the number of dead and injured that couldn't fight anymore. Strangely, unlike many other conflicts, the number of dead was far higher than the number of disabled soldiers. But the reason was that there was no real moment where one could receive deep injuries, except right before dying. The skeletons had to remove the armors of the guards before being able to do anything, so it meant that those injured were saved at the very last moment. At the same time, those that were mentally or physically exhausted were not counted as injured, since they could still pick up their weapons. Or at least, that was what all hoped.

” … 3 men and 1 injured ...”

Seron was still mechanically nodding at each scout when he finally understood what the later said. His brain still took at least a few seconds before truly understanding, and even then, he wasn't capable of guessing how it was possible.

”Stop! What were the numbers you said? From where did you come?” The scout was slightly surprised by the reaction but told once again what the commanding officer wanted to be transmitted.

”I come from the third section of the North Wall. There have been three deaths, lieutenant Gerald Woodfield, private Ernest Ambermoon and private Dirk Crowhaven and an injured that have lost his arm. I do not know his name.”

Facing the man that was telling this with such a straight face, like it was normal, both the captain of the guard and the Guild Master that was nearby were a bit puzzled. Even if they were in the North, both the second and fourth section had a death toll higher than 50. So how was it possible for this very place, stuck between the two, to not have a similar number? Trying to remember something about it, Seron could only wreck his brain in vain.

”How did they survived with so many? Did they not have a single giant on their side of the wall?”

The scout was a bit surprised, and his face was a bit paler. He hadn't time to talk with anyone else, so he hadn't known that the situation everywhere else was far worse.

”No, there were two giants, but all the skeletons were destroyed by the two adventurers that were present. Their names are Davion and Meridiana, but I do not know about their ranks or anything else. But they are truly strong, I mean, they kil…”

Seron raised his hand, stopping the man in his track. Even right now, he could see that the moment he spoke about those two, the eyes of the scout were shining more brilliantly. It was a gaze of adoration, something he hadn't expect to see in this night. But from what he could deduce, just those two had at least done the same job as 100 guards reunited. He could only smile about that news since it was the first good one he heard since the night had fallen.