Fate Online: Shadow

Chapter 523: The Hidden Ones

"Hey, is she what I think she is?"

"Lesbian? Yeah, I think so. Her Blue Order Knights are composed mostly of women in its ranks"

The two women were just coming out of Eastern Courtyard when they started gossiping in hushed tones.

"I'm actually surprised that she didn't take you to become her Knight like me. I was even expecting it when she requested your presence" Ripley said as their feet led them towards the direction of the training field where their "friends" during their stay here were waiting for them.

"It's good that she didn't since I would have just refused it" Storm Moonlight replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Why not? Didn't you always want to receive a noble title?" Ripley asked as she remembered about how much Storm Moonlight complained and how envious she was when she heard that Shadow became a Count and even swore that she would also get one soon.

"Hmmp! I want to be a Baron at least, being a Knight is too low for me. I'm actually more surprised that you accepted it though since you're someone who doesn't like it when people boss you around" Storm Moonlight let out a snort and let out a chuckle mid sentence when she suddenly remembered the days of the past.

"Yeah, I was really a lone wolf back in the day" she agreed and didn't refute her since she herself knows what kind of person she was before she met them.

"Yeah, then you met that perverted rockstar and started dating him. Hmmm, and I still wonder what sweet nothings did he say to you that you actually fell for him, hahaha!"

Slap!

"Stop it!"

Storm Moonlight tried to tease her, but what she received was a resounding slap on her back that sent her stumbling forwards.

"Hey, that hurt!" she complained, grimacing as one of her hands massaged her back.

"Then stop reminding me of that bastard! I still feel annoyed looking at his face everyday. But thank goodness because ever since he left, every day has been a great day for me. I hope Monk keeps him occupied for a while longer" Ripley replied while walking past her.

Storm Moonlight glared at her friend's back and mumbled, "Tsk, as if she wasn't so love stricken back in the day"

"I heard that!"

"Tsk!"

A little while later, the two women finally arrived at their destination.

"Formation! Open shields! Stab while taking a step forward! Then return!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

""HAA!!!""

"That's it! You're getting there! Again! Don't stop until I tell you to stop!"

A stern man in full body plate armor with a blue cape fluttering down behind him is seen screaming orders to the soldiers training their formation at the training field.

"At ease!"

The man then noticed something from the corner of his eye and when he turned to look, he saw someone familiar that quickly made his eyes lit up with a smile.

"Wolfsbane! Hurry up over here!"

Ripley already saw the man and was already walking over before the man even started shouting at her, so she raised her hands in acknowledgement, but with a tinge of surprise in her face.

"Sir Bedivere! I didn't expect to see you here!" Ripley smiled as she gave her greetings, then she noticed a new addition on his armor and continued, "And I see that you have been promoted as the Vice Commander of the Blue Order?"

"Hahaha! It has been a while since we have seen each other, Wolfsbane!"

After greeting each other as Knights way, the man called Bedivere wanted to give her a hug but Ripley immediately did a side step to dodge his hands.

"I already told you to stop doing that" Ripley said as she glared at him.

Embarrassed, Bedivere scratched the back of his head and immediately diverted their attention to another subject, "I'm guessing you are the helpers that Lady Amelia sent?"

"Yes, we are, though I would prefer that we immediately finish it as soon as possible. But I'm assuming that we are still not prepared from the looks of things?" Ripley replied in acknowledgement, though the latter part of her words clearly conveyed her disappointment from the state of things they've arrived to.

"Hahaha! Ease your worries my friend! Everything was already long prepared, we were just waiting for additional personnel to join us, and who might this companion of yours be?"

Bedivere let out a hearty laugh when he heard her and quickly gave them a brief explanation before turning his attention to Storm Moonlight who had been silently listening to them from the side.

"She's Storm Moonlight, she's a friend and a skilled adventurer"

"Greetings Sir Bedivere, I am Storm Moonlight. It's an honor to meet you"

Ripley gave a short introduction, followed by a greeting from the person in question.

"Oho~ you…are you a member of the Hidden Ones?" Knight Bedivere replied with a nod towards her greetings, but he was especially intrigued when he finally got a good look at the armor that Storm Moonlight was wearing.

"The Hidden who?" Both women were clearly confused by those words from just looking at the expression on their faces, but it made Bedivere's face turn grim when he saw that.

"Oh no, I'd advise you to wear a clock over it or better yet never wear it all unless it's absolutely necessary"

Sir Bedivere immediately led the two women to an isolated corner of the training field, in between one of the barracks and the castle wall, away from prying eyes.

"What did you bring us here and what do you mean by your words, Vice Commander?" Seeing his actions, Ripley felt like they have been stepping onto sh*t ever since they arrived here.

"Dame Moonlight, did you kill a member of the Hidden Ones and stole his armor?" Bedivere ignored her and instead placed his utmost attention to Storm Moonlight, his eyes narrowed like he was about to pull his sword and swing it at her.

"What?! No!"

On the other hand, Storm Moonlight was even more confused and couldn't help angrily raise her voice as she felt annoyed at the man's sudden accusation.

"I didn't kill any Hidden Ones or whatever they are, but I received this armor from Shadow's Master when I luckily met her in the past" she continued, revealing the origins of her armor that she's being accused of right now. She wasn't dumb, she knew that this so-called Hidden Ones must be a notorious organization just from looking at his actions and the tinge of hostility in the air.

Her words made Sir Bedivere sighed in relief, but Ripley on the other hand was stunned before she suddenly rushed at Storm Moonlight, grabbed her by her collar and pulled her towards her.

"You…you're saying you've met Sage Laura?"

Ripley aggressively questioned her while Bedivere was at first confused, but then he became enlightened when he finally realized who they were talking about and made his eyes shine with excitement as he stared aggressively at Storm Moonlight.

"Uhh…yeahhh?"

Storm Moonlight truly felt uncomfortable from their gazes that she immediately pushed Ripley away from her.