Maria Senki draft - 2023/2/3

	Long, long ago, the Hero Hector slew the Demon Lord Visagrion in a great big Holy War that lasted forty days and forty nights. With the aid of his comrades true and the divine will of the One True God Above All Most High (as dictated by His Foremost Apostle, Bahamut), the Hero Hector claimed victory for the fair lands of the Great Expanse, no different from the Hero before him, and falling back into obscurity all the same. Peace reigned once more over the Great Expanse, and everyone lived happily ever after, like every other period of time following a Holy War.

	The second moon of spring, sixth day of the moon. Day two of the expedition into the Eldwood. The Holy War of one hundred and fifty years past, let alone any before that, weighs little on the mind of Squire Maria of Aubade, self-appointed chronicler of this expedition (Ser Beignet of Caledy had been designated for this task, but after some cajoling of her liege, Ser Kaelius of the Unnamed Order, she brought along her own book and quill for the journey, as she wished to do it herself). Ser Kaelius, or Sir Kay as she likes to call him, had been tasked by the Baronness of Aubade to escort a hunting party and assist in tracking down a daemon spotted along the border of Frontier, along with a few other knights from the Unnamed Order (actually the Fourth Holy Order of the Knights of Lucenti, but due to taboo associated with the number four in ancient times, it remains unnamed).
	Yesterday's spring rain heralds now the morning's fog. The scouting party would need to slow down, ware for ambushes- if not from the daemon they seek, then from belligerent covens that might seek to strike back against the Holy Order of Lucenti.
	Of course, such a thing would be proof that they wished to die. Opposing the Holy Order so brazenly only results in death- a fact taught to all children of Lucenti through the stories of the noble, valiant knights of the Order that fought to overcome those who threatened everything good and right and true.

	Night falls again. The fog had proved little issue for the hunters, but the knight escorts had been slowed by the poor visibility, and this, combined with sudden rainfall later that day, slowed progress greatly, despite how far they marched. Now, they seek shelter within an alcove along the mountainside, setting up camp there, as to wait out this miserable weather.
	A sharp cry from the back of the camp cuts through the winding calm. Maria tosses aside her book and quill, picking up her sword as she stands up, walking towards the noise. She pauses at the lack of further commotion, then redoubles her pace, strapping on her buckler on the way there.
	One of the knights on watch duty had uncovered a tunnel behind the overgrowth along the alcove's walls. This, of course, sparks alight fear among the few less-experienced hunters in the group who had come to investigate the commotion, for they had overheard the huntmaster leading the expedition mention to Ser Beignet about the feeling of someone- or, perhaps indeed, someTHING- following them.