The Mechanical Era

Carson walks through the front door to the small stone building, known as the knight hall. Following behind him, was Herrold, his old friend. The two sergeants were wearing similar attire, both in charge of leading a small squad.

His friend, Herrold, had recently got promoted. You see, thanks to his own lists of accomplishments, and Carson's recommendation to the Colone, he managed to be assigned 6 soldiers to command, a sleek new uniform, a pay raise, and a PCR-18.

The musketeer forces have been gaining traction around these parts. Many locals are now starting to accept these soldiers as a part of their daily lives. Carson in particular was becoming a little local hero among the masses.

They walk up to the receptionist, a long-blonde-haired woman with sparkling aqua-blue eyes, wearing a bland white uniform. She was sitting on the chair, holding her head with her hand, bored out of her mind. When she sees the soldiers approaching her, she reluctantly stood up and greeted the two of them.

"Good morning, Sargent Carson, sir." she greets Carson. Her head then turns to Herrold, Carson's old friend.

"Good morning, Sargent Herrold. How may I help you two today?" she asks the two, still keeping an apathetic tone to her voice and face.

"We were instructed by the Colonel to come here and see if there are a few knights who would need our help. Do you have some for us?" Carson asks the receptionist. The woman tilts her head and thinks for a minute.

"Hmm... I don't think so. A majority of the tasks today are done. Though there is a lot that is taken in the process of being done, I don't think any of those knights would need help."

"Really? There is nothing?" Herrold asks. The receptionist lady thinks for a minute, again.

"Hmm... nope. Can't get one off the top of my... oh wait. I think there is. Just give me a minute," She replies. The receptionist opens up the drawer and takes out a stack of papers. She then starts to skim through them, until she arrives at the correct one.

"Ah, here it is. A 12-knight expedition was sent over to a nearby cave mine. There have been reports of demons extracting and mining a lot of materials out of there, which has the lord concerned.

Reports also hinted at the fact that there might be a powerful beast lurking inside the mines, there to protect the smaller beasts from mining." she said out loud, before handing it over to Carson.

"However, that was about 4 hours ago, in the morning. They should have been back here by now, but they haven't. In situations like this, we are going to need someone to check up on them. Is that good enough for you two gentlemen?" she asks.

"Yes. That is good enough. Where can I find the mine?" Carson asks. The receptionist hands Carson a rolled piece of paper. Carson unrolled the paper, and found a large and detailed map, leading to the mine.

"There. I think that should be good for you two. It is a 40-minute walk, so it will take a while to get there," she speaks. Carson examines the map, before rolling it back up.

"This works for us. Thank you."

"You are welcome, sirs," she replies. The two then walk out of there and get to their troops.

"Is there anyone for us to do, sir?" Carson looks at the soldier and shows them the papers.

"Apparently there is. A mine mission has gone wrong, presumably. We are going to go head over there, and see if they are all alright," Carson replies to their question.

"It will be a 40-minute walk from here. Although considering the situation, we might have to bring in some supplies with us. A lot of it," Herrold remarked.

"Does that mean we will have to walk, carrying them to the location, sir?"

"No. I don't think we will," Carson remarked.

...

Sitting at the front of the caravan, was Carson and Herrold, being pulled by two horses, one black and the other gray. While Carson held the ropes to the horses, Herrold held out his 6-shooter PCR-18 revolver. On the rear of the caravan were the soldiers, all equipped with their FLM-18 muskets.

The caravan was journeying on a dirt path, in the middle of the forest. While Carson was busy driving, the others were holding their muskets to the side, ready to fire at anything that dares moves an inch.

"How much longer, Carson?" Herrold questioned Carson. He was getting impatient. Carson looked at the map first, and then at the surrounding terrain before giving a response. He looks for landmarks, to see where they are.

"I am not... oh! There is that sign on the tree! Yes, we are about 5 minutes away from the entrance," Carson replied confidently. He then turns his head to the back of the caravan, looking on at the boxes sitting in the middle.

"Is everything still there?" he asks. They had brought some extra supplies along, just in case they need them. They have brought healing potions, strength potions, gunpowder, bullets, food, and water with them for themselves, and any injured knight that needs it.

"All there, sir! We haven't touched a thing!" they reply. Carson gives them a smile.

"That is good. Keep yourselves aware, everyone. We are arriving."

The caravan soon arrived at the entrance of the caravan, where Carson stopped. The men all drop off and got themselves prepared. Carson and Herrold walked over to the mouth of the entrance,  which appeared to just lead to pitch-black darkness.

"Looks like we are going to be needing some torches, are we?" Carson remarked.

"Yes, we do. Did we bring any?" Herrold asks. Carson gives him a weird look.

"What do you mean? Of course, I did! It would be stupid not to," Carson answered. He then walked back to the caravan and opened up a wooden chest. Carson picks up two torches, which were wooden sticks with a white cloth wrapped around the top end. He hands the two over to Herrold to hold.

From his pocket, he picks out a matchbox he bought in the marketplace. He lights up one match and lights the torches on fire. Herrold then hands one of them over, after Carson took his revolver from his holster.

"Alright everyone, make sure to get whatever you need. Three of you stay and take care of any demons that come this way, while the rest of us will head inside. Alright?"

pαndα,noνɐ1,сoМ "Alright, sir. Understood."

"Good. Everyone else? Let's go. Make sure to follow us. You won't wanna get lost here," Caron ordered.