Pol says "Alright, I will go get some work crews to go collect the corpses."

"Before the bodies are added to the burn pile, strip them of anything useful."

Pol says "Of course."

"Also we need to pull those wagons out of the eastern mine along with any ore. Fill the wagons with anything useful, anything left behind will be burned when we leave."

Pol says "By your command!"

That should cover everything, I don't think I have forgotten anything at least. So I decide to go take a look at the sealed mine, I just want to see what is in there. Before I can though, the portal ripples and Mercy comes through, the surprising thing is she is alone.

"Mercy, what are you doing here?"

Mercy says "Temporarily escaping paperwork!"

"Well, can't say I blame you there."

Justin says "Koko is back! Oh, hello."

"Mercy, this is Justin. He is the leader of the hero party I told you about."

Mercy says "Hello, Justin, nice to meet you."

Justin bows and says "Princess! It is a pleasure!"

Mercy says "Please, call me Mercy. We are going to be working together, no need for formalities."

Justin says "Very well, Mercy. We look forward to working with you."

"You said Koko was back, was she successful?"

Justin says "Yup, she even brought you his head back."

"No need for that. As long as he is dead that's all that matters."

Mercy says "Whose head are we talking about?"

Justin says "The commander of this mine."

Mercy says "He didn't die with his men? What a coward!"

"Regardless, as long as he is dead it's fine."

Mercy says "My mother brought me here once when I was young, although back then it was worked by well paid miners."

"How long has this been the kingdom's main mine?"

Mercy says "As far as I know, since the kingdom was founded."

"That long, and it still hasn't run dry. That's amazing."

Mercy says "My mother told me the mine would last as long as the kingdom does."

"Is it enchanted or something?"

Mercy says "I don't think so, my mother told me a beast feeds the mines."

"Again I am hearing about a beast!"

Mercy says "Oh, what have you heard?"

So I tell Mercy what Pol told me about the sealed mine. She then tells me the legend of the beast, basically as long as it is left alone the mine will flourish, but if it is disturbed the kingdom will fall. Hearing that only makes me more curious, I feel like my curiosity has gotten stronger than it was in my old life.

Mercy says "I would like to see this beast."

"No way. Alexa would kill me if I let you endanger yourself."

Mercy says "She will never know!"

Pol runs up and says "Lord Ash, we have trouble."

"What happened?"

Pol says "The scouts report troops headed our way."

"How many and from what direction?"

Pol says "About a thousand and from the north east."

"Reinforcements from the wall."

Mercy says "From the wall? That's not good!"

"I know, they are elites, don't worry we can handle them."

Mercy says "That's not what I mean, you can't kill them."

"Why not?"

Mercy says "They are needed on the wall, if the wall falls the kingdom falls."

"What would you have me do then?"

Mercy says "Can we somehow hide from them or scare them off?"

"Look around Mercy, there is no hiding all this, and what would scare elites? Pol how long until they arrive?"

Pol says "An hour at most."

"How is the move through the portal going?"

Pol says "The last of the humans as well as the female slaves and the injured beastmen went through this morning. Leyla went with the injured, but we still have nine thousand beastmen here and around fifty wagons worth of stuff."

"So even if we tried to send everyone through the portal right now we wouldn't be done before they arrived."

Pol says "Correct, Lord Ash. Should I gather some troops?"

"No, we won't need any troops. But get the princess a horse please."

Pol says "Right away!"

Mercy says "Why do I need a horse?"

"Because you and I are going to talk those troops into returning to the wall."

Mercy says "We are going to do what now? What were you just saying about Alexa killing you for endangering me?"

"So you prefer I kill them all?"

Mercy says "No, I don't want them dead. Alright, we will try it your way."

"Keep in mind princess, these men are loyal to the kingdom, and they think you are dead."

Mercy says "True, they did disobey the king's orders. Maybe this isn't such a crazy idea."

"Trust me, I have a plan."

Mercy says "Normally when someone says that it is reassuring, but when you say it I feel more nervous."

"Are you saying you don't trust me Mercy?"

Mercy says "It's not that I don't trust you, just the way you said that made me nervous."

"Well, don't be. If things don't work out I can kill all of them myself."

Justin says "We can come with you and back you up?"

"No, more people will make talking harder. I will protect the princess, don't worry."

Justin says "Oh, I'm not worried, I've seen what you can do."

Mercy says "As a hero you have that much faith in him?"

Justin says "I may not know him well, but I can tell you no human army can kill him."

"That's not true, a big enough army would eventually wear me down and kill me."

Mercy says "Well, that is somewhat reassuring. Either way if we are going to talk to them we should go now. The closer they get the more on edge they will be."