Gelter sighed heavily, taking in his surroundings before saying his part.
"Lady Antieeld only has one bodyguard, myself, this Osworth man, I have no idea what his background is, he is just an odd wanderer that my lady found interesting, she just sensed potential from him and handed over one of her insignias, telling him to come to Toordefer Academy, she didn't even ask for his name, and he comes this total stranger, dressed in a bizarre fashion, from head to toe covered in countless ways to mask his identity, with a different voice, inventing himself a mission he had been on for a long time, acting like he is just a normal bodyguard of Lady Antieeld, not even giving her the honorifics, like he knows her that well that it isn't necessary!" he tensed down, shaking his head dejectedly.
"I did not want to attract suspicion upon someone my lady had chosen herself, and I also didn't want to tell you about this, seeing how well you seemed to be getting along with him, it's just that, I can not reasonably put an ounce of trust into this guy, Lady Antieeld seemed to believe he was charmed by her commanding talent as others had been in the past, and his behaviour has been perfect, I don't like him, but he is right that this is a great occasion for her"
"His odd lies to appear like an older follower made me think that was only vying for a good position and to be in greater view of others"
"Well, that is certainly strange, but he hasn't done anything too suspicious-" she stopped, putting her attention on the knight next to her.
"There is something else you want to say" tone completely flat, she did not phrase this like a question in the least.
"Yes, you must have thought of it already, but Osworth remained at the academy as per his own will, he is the one who spun up a reason to remain behind, my lady did not order him to do anything, but do not worry!
The headmaster and the other teachers are there, even if he wished to do something condemnable, he wouldn't be able to" Gelter reassured her, as well as himself, mostly attempting to shield his lady from criticism by defending Osworth.
"That is true, the old fossil can hold his own, especially within the academy, I am rather displeased that an unknown variable was introduced inside of the learning grounds, there are children of nobles of other nations here, even of kings, I'll have to talk to Antieeld about this"
Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Rosemary seemed a bit dejected.
Why was that whenever she met a nice man, there had to be something shady about them?
"Apologies, once more, but I am certain that Osworth is naught but a bit of an eccentric" the knight said, just as the group of four including his lady came out of yet another expedition.
Deep beneath the earth, seated atop nothing more than protruding rocks, three figures formed a triangle, on one end, the immobile figure of the beautiful puppet lord, two of its devoted followers standing close behind, one of them speaking out words in its stead.
Right across from the puppet, a smouldering person dressed in molten armour, stuck to the skin, fused with flesh and muscles, a majority of the defiler leader's skull could be seen, deformed by the intensity of the flames nesting within.
Also accompanied by two subordinates, much less dignified and composed than the puppeteers, twitching and vibrating in place, needing all of their willpower to remain still.
In the last corner of their disposition, there was a skeleton, who did not waste much time before standing and speaking up, tapping the rocky ground with a grey staff, nearly as tall as the undead was, its surface was rough and jagged, anyone with the poor idea of having skin on their hands would have the displeasure of cutting themselves trying to hold this thing.
"I have come to the understanding that you all had something to tell me" dressed in an ancient brown robe, suffused with dust amassed over countless years, his voice was dry, rough the ears like sand on the skin, definitely masculine.
His bones were relatively frail, adorned with signs of wear and cracks, especially on the left side of the skull, appearing like something or someone had unsuccessfully attempted to smash the skeleton's head in.
Eyes flaring with dark brown flames, he stared at the defiler's own burning gaze, unshaken by directly staring at heresy personified, this little spark much too removed from the real deal to shake up any sort of animated corpses.
"You filthy grave fucker, do you think we wouldn't notice what you are doing? Thought you could get away with it, taking us out one by one, are you actually working against us?!" flaming up, the defiler spat his words like vitriol at the emotionless carcass, hitting the air with his fist.
"Our great lord agrees with the molten one, you are taking us for fools, eliminating us one by one" one of the puppeteers relayed the words of the puppet.
"You are nothing more than a skeleton, a stripped body, nothing but bones, I certainly hope you have a good excuse, otherwise I'll get onto some nec-" the undead stuck his staff down again, silencing the complaints and threats.
"Yes, I am indeed trimming you all down, like weed, like you livings deserve, is there a problem? You agreed to follow me into those mines, caverns and depths, knowing well that this wouldn't become a grand friendship, you all vye to dispose of one another, I act upon it, are you going to do something about it?
I assure you, if the plan works out, you will gain much infamy and the kingdom will be weakened, that is what you desire, no?"
"I can kill you all, right here, right now, the spells are already casted, they just need my approval" reminding them of where they stood, the skeleton walked right through the wall behind, phasing right through the stone.
"Bastard, but he really just forces his will on us, we really are his little things down there" his mood switching brutally.
The puppeteers and their lord simply remained silent.