Chapter 92

The news of the comet spread through the camp like wildfire with the commander spearheading the efforts of getting all the guards up and looking at it. Perception was a decently important stat for guards though one that most people wouldn’t want to invest in.

Kate and Ajax went back into their tent and tried to get some sleep, with all the commotion going on it wasn’t an easy thing to do. Not only that but they were all but dragged out of bed on three separate occasions only left alone after they made it perfectly clear that they already had the achievement.

The next morning saw Kate, Ajax and a tired Tom getting ready to march for the next battle.

“What time did you get back? I thought you only went to inform the commander.” Ajax said.

“Commander put me on the first horse he saw the moment after I pointed out the comet and sent me to the main camp to let them know about it too.” Tom got out between yawns.

“How did they have enough time to see it?” Ajax asked, at the speed he saw it cross the sky no way it would be more than a few minutes before it was gone.

“Apparently the comet arcs in a weird way, it remains visible for quite a bit longer, around four or five hours. At least according to the commander, he’s seen it before.” Tom answered.

“He’s seen it before?” Ajax wondered.

“Yes, according to him each season has a comet, not only that but they cross the sky once a year each. He has personally seen the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Death ones.”  Tom continued “Apparently the chal;enge is to not only be on the lookout for it but to also have it appear on a night with clear skies. Death is the easiest one to get since despite the frigid cold and wind there are hardly any clouds, he has spotted that one more than ten times already over his life.”

“What about the Winter one then?” Ajax asked.

“That one is the worst, with how often it snows the sky is almost never clear, he has been hunting for it for more than twenty years now. When I asked him why he would do all that just for ten extra Perception he said that it was because he thinks there is another achievement for witnessing all five comets.”

Ajax agreed with that logic, if there was a separate achievement for each one there should be one for collecting all five. Considering how his achievement for not spending points worked there might be variations of it, like spotting them all in a single year and then one for spotting them all within a year of seeing the first.

As they got ready to march off, the commander's aid approached them.

“Morning, how’d you sleep Tom?” he asked.

“Hardly any.” he responded, perfectly punctuated by a yawn.

“Yeah the commander thought that might be the case.” he said as he pulled the reins in his left hand.

Ajax finally noticed the magnificent horse that was being led behind them. His training as a hunter and the limited experience he gained during this little war let him know that not only was this horse both a good specimen and of a thorough bred but also rather young, no more than three years old. This horse could fetch quite a price.

“The commander sent me here to give you your reward.” he continued then assumed an official stance and his voice turned from a friendly jovial tone to a serious harsh one. “For meritorious service provided during war time, Tom, you are hereby awarded with a charger. You may keep the mount after the war is over.”

Kate, Tom and Ajax all were left looking wide-eyed at the horse. This made the aide break his serious character quickly after handing over the reins. “You do look dead on your feet so I suggest riding it, not only that but you might want to see about learning to ride better.”

Even after the aid was gone and Kate and Ajax recovered, Tom was still frozen in shock, it took Ajax’s congratulatory slap on the back to break him out of it.

“Ajax, you should have this.” he said as he looked at the horse and extended the reins to his brother. “You told us about the comet.”

“Oh, no. I mean yes I told you about the comet but the horse is a reward for sharing that with the camp. I told the two of you and went back to bed, you’re the one who spent the whole night going to tell people.” Ajax declined.

“I’m starting to feel like you are a bad influence.” Kate said sarcastically looking at Ajax. “You came with us for a few months and now we not only have a shadow cat to feed but also a horse. We spend more time with you, we won't be able to afford to feed our pets. “

Ajax took the joke in the spirit it was said but couldn’t help but agree with Kate. Fluffy alone would incur a huge upkeep cost with the constant need for mana cores as she grows something that a guard and a guard healer salary might struggle to pay but now also a horse was added on.

Before long the three split up. Kate and Ajax headed for the healers group, recent losses left them short on experienced guards for the position of defender so Ajax was permanently moved there after the results he showed the one time he filled in.

Tom on the other hand rode with the leadership. Despite a few people giving him a disapproving glare for riding along none of them could say a thing about it as three of the four nobles had gained the achievement yesterday thanks to him.

To Ajax’s shock the following week saw them engage with the enemy three times with the final one being all but final and securing the win for their side a lot earlier than he expected it to happen.

On the morning of the eight day all conscripts were called out and it was announced that their service had ended, not only that but they could now leave by themselves or choose to wait a few days and head back with the army.

What this meant for Ajax was that he was out of time. He would only get one chance to face the fish and that was counting on his brother giving him a day head start before reporting his findings.

The same morning as the announcement for the end of the war Ajax was already packed and ready to leave. He took a hold of the report and evidence needed and went to find his brother. Finding him was easy enough as he was heading towards the command tent.

“Tom.” he called out, hoping he was not in a hurry and could just pass the report now and leave. “You got a moment,”

“Be quick about it, despite it all being over the command still has a few things they need to go over so my job isn’t exactly over yet.” Tom said.

“I just got released from service.” he cut straight to the point and brought out both a written report, a decently well drawn map he made as well as the evidence captured of the other side’s abuse of the hidden resource. “I got something I want to do before the army moves in and secures the place so I hoped you could turn this in for me tonight and give me a few hours head start.”

“You’re not looking to steal resources from the baron are you Ajax?” he said warily.

“No, well maybe a few waterskin’s and a fruit but there are dozens of them on the tree.” he begrudgingly admitted, he specifically made no mention of the fish as monsters were something no landowner could lay claim to and didn’t want to worry his brother.

After passing over everything Ajax said his goodbye, already having given one to Kate he was ready to head out and meet them back in the city a few days later. As he distanced himself he all but ran into Spencer who was hiding around the corner watching Tom with a malicious smirk on his face.

Ajax was too paranoid a person not to investigate something like this so he took a look around trying to find what Spencer was looking at. He found two things, one was his brother as he approached the command tent and the other was a robbed person who suddenly started to exude mana.

Without a second thought Ajax charged towards his brother, making it almost all the way to him before a massive fireball was launched. Seeing no other alternative he fully infused [Mana Syphon] not only to get himself and his shield in between Tom and the spell but to also absorb as much of the spell as he could.

Ajax successfully got them both through the ambush unharmed but that was at the cost of activating his mana, he was now on a clock to get out of here before anyone started asking questions about it. First thing first, the attacker was quickly subdued by other people nearby and was already showing his mark as a spy.

Ajax quickly put it together that Spencer found an enemy mage and convinced him to try and kill Tom then use the fact that he wasn’t told the war ended as an excuse.

Tom P.O.V.

Ajax jumped in front of me and took the full brunt of the spell without even a scratch to show for it. After a few explanations from him I knew that he was stronger than I was but this put in perspective just how big the difference was.

After a quick look around he turned to me and quickly blurted out. “I think Spencer is responsible for this. I had to reveal my mana so are you alright if I leave now before people can start asking questions.”

I could barely nod and start to process everything before he was already on his way out of the camp. Pulling myself together I brushed off the dust and dirt from my clothes and headed back towards the command tent only to see the flaps pulled open and a number of eyes looking at me.

No they aren’t looking at me I realize, they are all following Ajax.

“What happened here?” the commander asks.

“Enemy spy didn’t get word about the war concluding, one of Spencer’s lackys conveniently stepped up to answer from where he was a moment before detaining said spy.

“Hmph” the archduke’s daughter huffed, showing she believed that about as much as Ajax did.

“What did your brother do?” the usually shy and reserved Lexi asked as she grabbed me by the arm. Her unusual fierceness threw me through a loop. “Not only was there no mana residue on his shield from blocking the spell it felt like he was actively absorbing it.”

I had no idea what she was talking about but from the surprised looks that flashed on the faces of the others present it told me I was about to be put through an interrogation on the subject. Might as well I suppose after all Ajax wanted me to give him a head start, he would have however long it took for them to figure out I have no idea how Ajax works with his mana before I tell them about the source of mana infused water.