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Meanwhile, on the other side, the scene was grim as Baron Geisler and his squad of knights approached the site where Maxillian's mangled body lay sprawled.

The air was thick with the acrid scent of death, mingled with the damp musk of disturbed earth.

The knights, clad in gleaming silver armor adorned with the sigil of the Geisler house—a snarling wolf beneath a crescent moon—spread out in a disciplined formation.

Each step they took was deliberate, their boots crunching against the dirt with a sound that reverberated in the eerie stillness.

Baron Geisler dismounted his jet-black steed with practiced ease, his sharp eyes scanning the area.

Despite the sight of his son's twisted and lifeless form, his expression remained stony and detached.

His face, angular and lined with the marks of a man accustomed to command, betrayed no flicker of emotion.

"Secure the perimeter," he ordered in a cold, measured tone.

"Yes, my lord," the knights replied in unison, spreading out to ensure there were no lurking dangers.

Geisler approached the body, his gloved hands clasped behind his back.

He stood over his son's corpse, his shadow falling across the bloodied and broken form.

Maxillian's once-proud noble attire was now shredded, the fabric soaked in crimson.

The young man's face, though pale and lifeless, still bore a trace of his last expression—shock and terror.

One of the knights, a seasoned veteran named Sir Aldred, knelt beside the body, examining it with a clinical precision that matched his lord's demeanor.

He lifted the shattered remnants of Maxillian's pendant, its magical energy long since dissipated.

"My lord," Aldred began, his voice steady, "the pendant's destruction indicates he was likely killed by an overwhelming force. The magical feedback alone suggests the assailant's power was far beyond what Maxillian could withstand."

Geisler gave a faint nod, his gaze shifting to the ground around the body.

The earth was deeply gouged, as though something massive had been dragged across it.

Faint footprints—large, irregular, and inhuman—were visible in the disturbed dirt.

"Continue," Geisler said simply.

Aldred gestured to the footprints, his brow furrowing.

"These tracks… they belong to a monstrous humanoid, possibly an ogre or a variant thereof. The sheer size and depth suggest incredible physical strength. The spacing indicates it carried a significant weight, perhaps a weapon or a person."

Another knight, a younger man named Sir Deyric, stepped forward, pointing toward smaller, lighter footprints nearby.

"These belong to two women," he said. "Their strides are uneven—shorter and hesitant. They were likely moving under duress, perhaps as captives or unwilling companions."

"Notice the pattern here," Aldred added, gesturing to the footprints. "The humanoid moved ahead with purpose, while the women's paths show hesitation, suggesting fear or reluctance."

Geisler remained silent, his gaze sweeping the area. The knights continued their investigation, meticulously piecing together the story written in the earth.

Deyric crouched near a patch of trampled grass and plucked a small scrap of fabric from a thorny bush.

The cloth was rough and dyed with natural pigments.

He held it up to Aldred, who inspected it closely.

"This fabric is crude," Aldred noted. "It's woven from wild fibers, not the refined textiles of a city. These women are likely from one of the tribal territories, not an urban center."

Deyric nodded. "Their bare footprints also suggest they come from a tribal background. The lack of shoes and the callused patterns on their soles are indicative of those who live in untamed environments."

Geisler finally spoke, his voice cutting through the murmurs of his knights like a blade.

"A tribal connection complicates matters. The tribes have no allegiance to the crown, making it difficult to ascertain their motivations. Were they abducted? Or are they accomplices to this creature?"

Aldred stood, his armor clinking softly.

"It's unclear, my lord. But their presence here, with such a creature, suggests an unusual dynamic. We'll need more evidence to determine their role."

Geisler turned his attention to the horizon, his piercing gaze scanning the distant woods. "What of the path forward?"

Deyric pointed to faint drag marks leading away from the scene.

"The creature carried something—or someone—away from here. These tracks are erratic, as though it moved at great speed. It's heading toward the eastern forest."

Geisler's lips tightened into a thin line. "And the creature itself?"

Aldred gestured to the claw marks and blood smears around the area.

"Judging by the brutality of this scene and the signs of a struggle, the creature possesses not only immense strength but also a sadistic streak. It toys with its prey, taking pleasure in their suffering."

The baron's gaze darkened.

"This beast killed my son, left him in the dirt like refuse, and now flees deeper into the wilderness. Yet it was accompanied by two women, likely tribes folk, who may hold the key to understanding its motives."

Suddenly, a panicked voice broke the silence. "My lord!"

The knights turned to see another attendant rushing toward them, holding something in his trembling hands.

Geisler stepped forward, his expression hardening.

The attendant fell to his knees, presenting a shattered piece of metal—it was part of Maxillian's enchanted pendant.

"My lord," he stammered, "this was found near the body. It—it's as though the pendant was… torn apart from within."

Geisler took the broken fragment, his gloved fingers tightening around it.

His expression remained unreadable, but a flicker of something—anger, perhaps—passed through his eyes.

"Prepare the men," he commanded. "We move east at first light. This creature will not escape my justice."

"Yes, my lord!" the knights replied in unison, their voices resolute.

Geisler turned back to his son's lifeless form, his gaze lingering for a moment before he mounted his horse.

Without another word, he spurred the animal forward, his knights falling into formation behind him.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Not long, the group halted abruptly, the air heavy with the weight of their investigation. Sir Aldred knelt again, scrutinizing the diverging sets of footprints.

His gloved hand hovered over the lighter impressions, tracing their delicate but deliberate path.

"My lord," Aldred began, his voice measured yet edged with curiosity, "the tracks of the two women veer off here."

He gestured toward a trail that led toward denser woods, where the foliage seemed to clutch at the ground with greedy fingers.

"They appear to have split from the larger tracks. Perhaps they've fled the creature… or were released."

Baron Geisler remained on horseback, his posture rigid yet commanding. His cold eyes followed Aldred's gesture, lingering on the faint impressions of bare feet.

"And the creature?" Geisler asked, his voice like the scrape of steel against stone.

"The larger tracks head east, deeper into the wilderness," Deyric responded, pointing to the gouges in the dirt.

"The depth of these impressions and the way the ground is churned suggest it's moving quickly—purposefully.

"It's carrying something or someone, though the drag marks are inconsistent. It may be encumbered but not significantly slowed."

The knights exchanged glances, their unspoken question lingering in the air: Which path to follow?

Aldred rose, brushing the dirt from his knee and turning to Geisler. "My lord," he began cautiously, "we have two trails before us. If we pursue the women, they may offer answers, perhaps even a connection to this creature. However—"

Geisler interrupted him with a raised hand, his expression unchanging. "No!"