Our Family Has Fallen

"Everyone, disperse!"

"Line up properly, don’t block the ones behind you if you don’t want to enter."

The other staff members also stepped forward, shouting to distract the crowd, while the person in charge turned to report something.

A farce was quelled, leaving some who wanted to watch with slight dissatisfaction, muttering under their breath, but they didn’t dare to cause any real trouble.

"You may pass."

The soldier lowered his musket and returned, looking at the man bound in chains without further words, simply allowing passage.

In the past, they would have had to investigate such suspicious individuals more thoroughly, or perhaps directly deny entry.

But now the higher-ups had instructed them not to provoke unusual individuals as long as they didn’t break the rules, so they didn’t make things difficult for him.

The other person also seemed to understand something, not saying much but still emphasizing one point.

"Remember, Hamlet is different from other places, don’t cause trouble, or no one can save you."

The strange man was somewhat surprised by the easy passage, as he was prepared to be expelled, especially since he couldn’t even enter a city as open as Totnes.

It was mainly due to his unique identity, as visiting certain places risked exposure and pursuit by the Church.

"Thank you." Without much hesitation, the man draped himself once more in tattered cloth, dragging his chain-bound form step by step towards the bustling Hamlet.

The emergence of the legion was an unreserved display of strength, drawing the attention of Hamlet’s upper echelon, even sparking concerns over the management of Transcendents, leading to discussions in the office.

"What’s the situation with those guys? They don’t seem human."

"Their attire resembles the style of the Ancient Empire."

"The Ancient Empire has been gone for hundreds of years, now just a small country in name."

"Exactly, if Romulus’s people were coming, they’d take a ship rather than march in armor."

"The most important thing is that those guys are incredibly powerful..."

Baldwin is indeed a Legendary figure, but having been a king in another land since childhood and drifting after calamity, he has little exposure to the Supernormal Realm and knows little of the continent’s Transcendents.

William is even more worried about whether allowing them in posed any problems, ensuring an understanding of their background and intent before planning contingencies.

The discussion yielded no results when Grendel entered with someone in tow.

"Perhaps Catherine knows something, no need for alarm yet."

Grendel initially didn’t understand why Lance valued intelligence on the Supernormal Realm so highly, hiring several advisors, and after Tamara left, approached Amanda.

She thought it was his preference, but once Transcendents began flooding Hamlet, she realized the foresight in the Lord’s information-gathering efforts.

If Amanda were present, she might have insight, but unfortunately, she’s on the frontline.

Thus, Grendel brought in Catherine, who was preparing to head to the new town as an antiques expert.

As a former apprentice to the Bald Sorcerer, even with limited knowledge, she had heard some things.

Upon learning of the situation, she shared what she knew.

"The Ancient Empire Legion is a centuries-old rumor, only linked to the Ancient Empire by their equipment.

Indubitably, their existence might even predate the Ancient Empire itself, remaining active across the continent long after the empire’s fall.

We can’t ascertain whether the same individuals remain beneath the armor or if different people wear them to fight.

However, their objective is clear: all situations related to Necromancers trigger their appearance, as if in constant search for something.

Some speculate this team might still be executing the Ancient Empire’s final task, safeguarding some secret.

Others believe they refuse to accept the empire’s end, seeking Necromancers to revive the Ancient Empire’s army and unleash an undead plague, or something alike."

Catherine’s understanding of this was superficial, without much detailed information, appearing more like compiled hearsay.

Concluding, she added a disclaimer to prevent misinterpretation from her narrative.

"These are all legends, and I never thought the legion truly existed; there could be inaccuracies."

Yet, this information provided a reference, suggesting a high likelihood that the legion targeted Undead within the ruins.

"Guide them to the ruins and we’ll see."

"Find someone to inform Alhazred of the situation; he might know something different."

"For now, let’s stabilize the situation and discuss other matters upon the Lord’s return."

After deliberating, they decided to avoid provoking the legion, opting instead to direct them to the ruins.

Everyone present was no fool; common sense dictated that the Church couldn’t possibly tolerate the legion’s existence, yet it persisted for so long.

The reckoning wasn’t because the Church lauded their undead slaying as meritorious; on the contrary, it was a slap to the Church’s face.

The legion’s sheer power rendered them untouchable by the Church, allowing them to roam the continent unchallenged.

However, the Church’s influence is predominantly intra-empirical, as other continental regions and nations might not take it to heart.

In any case, no one would dare provoke a legion that had fought since the Ancient Empire’s era.

Hamlet swiftly executed the plan; as the legion entered the city, a quick-witted person was appointed to guide them.

Baldwin and his associates could not show themselves, needing to remain behind the scenes and only intervene if issues arose—otherwise, matters could spiral.

Fortunately, the legion was silent but showed no hostility, following guidance away from the bustling central square towards the ruins.

"Cultists have unique physiques but still tire, whereas they seem unfatigued," William observed, noting they held square shields instead of strapping or grounding them.

"Their coordinated stride seems singular; I can’t guarantee a victory over them," Baldwin, confident in his prowess, still marveled at the sight.

"Hamlet doesn’t fight alone," Grendel calmly reminded.

Truthfully, she disliked Baldwin’s comment; the Lord entrusted Hamlet to them not for complacency.

Can’t one call for backup in an unwinnable fight? If muskets won’t suffice, use cannons; cause enough trouble and Grendel would compost them as flower fertilizer.

Unlike the legion covertly observed, more Transcendents discreetly mingled among commonfolk, scrutinizing this extraordinary locale.

Their initial impression was that the Church’s remnants were excised, absent luxury cathedrals or haughty clergy—only concerned with the rules set by the Lord.

Although the regulations were intricate, unlike independent practitioners elsewhere, they needn’t fear Church Judges targeting them for barbecue.

Adapting might cause initial discomfort, but soon they adjusted; refraining from disruption equated to normal living, even easing.

Outside the tavern, an oddly-clad clown played, fingers dancing over strings, seemingly animating his entire body.

The lively rhythm appeared enchanting, compelling onlookers to remain, faces subtly grinning.

Only at the tune’s conclusion did the clown bow with his lute, prompting applause and cheers from the crowd, followed by a scattering of copper coins into his instrument case.

As the crowd dispersed, the clown sorted the tips in his bag, appearing to be a mere dozen copper coins—yet surpassing earnings in larger cities.

Suddenly, sensing something, the clown looked up. A rag-draped figure passed, their gazes briefly intersected without acknowledgment, the figure merely adjusting their thin cloth against the autumn breeze.

Yet both felt something—undoubtedly, more Transcendents were gathering here...