The Northern Noble is a Grinder (Volume 2).

The Northern Noble is a Grinder (Volume 2).

…

Commissioned by Ichypa

…

Time to kill.

It was a turn of phrase that I had simply accepted while under Lord Trelawney’s tutelage.

When faced with this ‘threat,’ how long will it take you to kill it?

That was the simplest iteration of the question, but behind it lay an absurd number of other questions.

What are you armed with while facing the threat? How many people are with you when you are fighting it? Are they allies or people to protect? Over the last week, have you rested and trained properly? Is the armor you’re wearing adequate? Is the weather favorable or unfavorable? Does the threat have the terrain advantage, or do you? Is there support nearby?

A myriad, almost endless, number of questions could be raised and answered before answering the initial query.

Lord Trelawney expected me, Alice, and Chloe to be able to answer that question on the spot, while considering as many variables as possible. Then he told us that if we don’t know how long it’ll take to kill something, then we should do our best to kill it as swiftly as possible before retreating.

In other words, if we know how long it will take to kill something, then we can be confident in our ability to kill it and survive.

If we do not, we must overwhelm it with absolute force while remaining as cautious as possible.

Thus, with that phrase in mind, I smashed apart an invading force of over ten thousand lives with a single blow in an instant. Half of my reserves were gone, but in exchange the beachhead was turned into a smoking crater surrounded by an inferno.

I should have felt horrible for killing so many at once.

Yet, all I saw were survivors struggling to their feet at the epicenter of my attack.

They had to be dealt with.

“Chloe, Alice, with me. Now.”

I leapt to battle from the tower, and the world whipped past me. I held my family’s ancestral staff in one hand, while my other one drew a sword carved from wyvern’s bones.

Chloe and Alice whipped past me and cleared the path. Bipedal reptiles wearing armor and wielding weapons were cut apart or pierced through in the corner of my vision. They lacked the ‘core’ that monsters had, making it clear that they were a mortal race.

The only thought in the back of my mind was that I was still within the boundaries of mortal strength.

Whatever god they worshipped could not interfere.

The first man to rise after my attack had blackened skin that was already cracking off to reveal new, scaled hide beneath. In speech that was a mixture between clicks and roars, he called to his few, struggling subordinates. Magic gathered visibly in his hands. The strength of the spell betrayed its purpose. Merely from invoking it, grass began to grow around him, and a faint breeze began to disperse the lingering heat from my attack. It was a healing spell.

He must have been a priest or healer, despite all his strength.

That explained his failure in terms of strategy.

After being attacked, retreat or counterattack was the only strategy, but he chose to stand his ground and try to save his fellows.

Thus, I landed right next to him, the blades of grass that sprouted barely moved by me stopping from full speed.

A lance of heat and movement was condensed into a small ball at the tip of my staff.

A mere eyelash’s length from his neck.

It was a testament to long years of training and skill that he reacted and tried to dodge, but the distance was too short. Not only that, but I felt some strange pull on my staff. I recognized it as a blessing upon him that tried to sway his fate by interfering with my aim by the distance of mere blinks. Not only was he skilled, but he was blessed with an unknown miracle from the god he worshipped.

If I had been a meter away, he would’ve escaped my blow, but as Lord Trelawney’s advice rang true: they cannot dodge if your attack is right at their temple.

I unleashed my spell, and it engulfed the whole upper half of my foe. From his waist to his wrists, everything was undone by a burst of heat and movement that slammed into the side of the crater that I created. My attack brought my reserves down to a third, a dangerously low amount, especially since the creatures I faced did not offer any means to regain my strength.

At least, not without trespassing between the realm of mortal and monster.

With that in mind, I closed my eyes and took in the battlefield.

Lord Trelawney had his wires, while I sensed movement and heat with great ease. Water couldn’t flow into the glass basin that I created, so heat still radiated from the ground in waves. Movement, however, was far simpler to ascertain.

Summoning some sort of bestial rage, those who witnessed my attack charged at me after their priest was defeated.

Though I was ready to defend myself, Chloe and Alice both arrived and intercepted them.

Chloe was like a blur of silver and green. Wind and metal were hers to wield at once. Anything she neared was torn apart in an instant.

Alice flickered between visible and invisible. Every time she came forth, the twang of her bow resounded, or streaks of silver surged past her. Her knives found gaps in armor with ease as she guided them with carefully-created gusts, while her arrows created large enough holes in soldiers that they could not recover from.

With just a few minutes, we shattered the spine of the invading army before retreating to the fortress.

It was time to rest before we once again struck.

…

Interlude: Anisette, Demigod of Love

…

Lady Argelia returned with her two retainers, and I had to resist the urge to vomit as the stench of death that rolled off them entered the room. It was akin to a physical wave that collided with all present in the command room. The prince and his friends all took a step back, but I noticed that the commander of the fortress looked at the three with nothing but relief.

“A fine skirmish, my lady? No injuries?”

“Only power has been expended. I need food, water, and rest. Alice and Chloe can stand guard, but I think another attack before sunset would be prudent.”

“My men will defend the walls with their lives. Unless it is breached, you will not be called upon, my lady.” Commander Rodrick bowed his head, and so did his officers. Prince Raphael and Sir Drake had placed themselves under his command with difficulty, but now the same wizened commander bowed to Lady Argelia. Raphael would ordinarily respond to any slight against his status, but he kept silent and straight-faced. “Is there word of Lord Trelawney arriving here?”

For the first time, what looked like panic appeared on Lady Argelia’s face.

“What? Why would he? Did this fleet strike at his land?” The questions came in quick succession. The fervency behind them almost made me think that she feared for him. But my senses told me another story. The thought of him arriving here had her acting like an apprentice who discovered her master was coming to evaluate her work. Then, suddenly, she hesitated before speaking again. “Did his majesty ask Lord Trelawney to leave his realm to come here?”

Commander Rodrick paled slightly at those words before Rapheal spoke.

“No. Father would not leave the northernmost portion of the realm undefended. Lord Trelawney may be informed, but his banner will not be called to war.” Raphael spoke to his former fiancé for the first time since they parted. There was fear and apprehension in his voice, as well as deference to his former fiancé. He gave her a curt bow, which she tersely returned, before speaking again. “I presume that Duke Argelia did not ask him to come?”

The thought of the emperor asking for a duke to come frightened them, but Lady Argelia’s father asking did not alarm them?

It seemed that the thought made them hopeful, almost.

I was sure that I was missing important information, but I kept my mouth shut and listened.

“No, Father was rallying his banners the last I saw of him. The thought hadn’t crossed his mind, and I would suggest against asking for it. There’s no telling what Lord Trelawney will do.” Lady Argelia let a sigh of relief leave her while an officer provided her with a chair. Only once she was seated did everyone else return to sitting at the command table with so many maps and little statues of soldiers. She glanced at the maps and nodded. “This fortress is the closest and the only one being assailed, I assume?”

“Aye, and with that recent showing, it’ll be the only one under threat. I’ll be sending riders out to have convoys for refugees to be sent off to safety. They can return with food, supplies, and soldiers.” Commander Rodrick had taken the time to shave and lightly bathe after Lady Argelia’s arrival. The last day or so had been frantic, and everyone had been rushed and full of fear. Now, it was like everyone had recovered and found themselves again. They were ready to fight. “They would not be foolish enough to try anything with this fortress overlooking the coast.”

“I shall leave such things to your command and experience. I will work to even the odds.”

At those words, my voice slipped out from my lips despite my attempts to restrain it.

“A-after that, there is still more fighting to be had?” How? How could there be more fighting after all that destruction was unleashed? The scent of death, burnt flesh, and blood clung to the three young women barely a year older than me. They expected another fight, and so did everyone else at the table. How could they know? “Is there more left?”

Lady Argelia’s response to my question was a raised eyebrow.

“She was not informed? You have at least one mage present here keeping watch and emergency communications open, correct?”

“We do.” Commander Rodrick confirmed before looking at the prince. “Your Highness, may I reveal this information to your fellow student?”

The words struck me like a lance.

Despite my bloodline, I was not nobility.

“You may. I withheld it in fear of panicking her.” Raphael didn’t look my way, even though it was the first time I wanted him to. “Go ahead, commander.”

“What we currently see is only the vanguard of the invasion fleet. Scryers and scouts report that there remain over eight hundred ships in this fleet, and several are immense in size and protected by arcane barriers and living stone.” He looked over at Lady Argelia, while I felt as though the world was swept away under me. Eight hundred more ships? There had only been thirty across the shore, and they had disgorged so many people. “Rest assured, we need only hold for three more days at most. A sufficient host to contest the landing will be more than enough, and knights will arrive in force soon after. I presume that the being you bested could be defeated by an echelon?”

“If there were entirely paladins and sword holders, yes. It had very robust protection and regeneration, and I felt my aim altered by some sort of miracle. If I hadn’t chosen to fire from such a close distance, then it would have survived.” Lady Argelia answered him bluntly. The distance between me and all the others in the room only grew and grew. This was the nobility in their element. They lived to become instruments of the nation to wage war, whether to protect it or conquer for it. I barely understood half the terminology that they uttered with one another. It was almost another language. “Chloe is the best suited for defeating them, so I feel she may be best kept to counter them. I’m best suited for shattering their landings and ships, while Alice can run them down from the shadows.”

“A strategy that I agree with and support. Let it be done. I’ll see you three stationed in proper quarters and provided for.” For the first time, Commander Rodrick hesitated. “My ladies, I’m afraid that we have only the flesh of monsters at our disposal for consumption.”

I recoiled at the thought, but each of them just nodded.

Alice cleared her throat.

“Please, provide me with a pantry and a kitchen. I will prepare everything. Assistance will be appreciated. There will also be a caravan arriving shortly with supplies to this fort for our use. The cost of which will be covered under military expenditure.” Commander Rodrick seemed relieved at that. From what I could discern, it sounded like they would need more food and supplies than we could provide. “We’ll only burden your supplies for a day. It will be a large burden, but regular supplies shall arrive within three days.”

“I’ll keep the rations on, then. However, for the three of you, consume all that is needed for you to strike as often as possible.” Commander Rodrick looked to Raphael, as if searching for contention to his order. The prince just gave a nod. “The rest of the fortress will focus on the defense. We will be the shield, while Lady Argelia and her retainers are the spears. Hold fast, stay strong, and rest assured that more help is on the way.”

Palpable relief rolled over the command room, and everyone stirred to deal with other duties, while Commander Rodrick moved to escort Lady Argelia himself.

For a moment, though, I almost stood up and followed after them.

Despite all the new fears swimming in my stomach, and despite my apprehension at approaching a woman who wore death around her like a common cloak, I had almost gone to her and asked how she gained all her strength.

And, if I could do the same.

However, I stopped myself.

Such power came with a price.

Was I ready to pay it in exchange for the freedom that I yearned for?

Lady Argelia had left the room with her retainers by the time I decided.

Still, I followed.