The First Legendary Beast Master novel Chapter 329

329 Empty Halls

There were far fewer Clerics in the dining hall than there had been the last time that Karl was here, and the room looked almost empty, while the lower ranked dining hall had only been half filled when he had passed by.

That was a testament to how much of their membership had gone to war, as the Capital Cathedral was one of the bastions of the faith, where most of the residents were researchers, theorists and essential staff to record keeping.

The dining hall was silent as the food was brought around, but in a remarkable break from their usual rules and decorum, once it was served, the Clerics began to talk and shift between tables.

A number of them brought their food over to the table where Karl and Morgana were seated with Monk Chen. The rest of the group had split up at the table behind them, as they wouldn't all fit at one, but even then, Karl noticed that there was shuffling, and both Bob and Doug shifted to a third table full of clerics.

"Well, this is new." Karl noted quietly.

The Clerics who had just sat down nodded in unison.

"It's our chance to get news, and we will all be rotated to the front soon, when they release more of the wounded from the hospital. We heard that you were on the Frost Giant front before you were sent to the recovery wing." A dark-haired Blue Dragon Priest replied.

"Yeah, the Frost Giant border has calmed down significantly. They suffered a disaster as their actions broke a number of imprisoned dragons free of their confinement. There was a large volcanic eruption as well, thanks to an angry Magma Dragon. It's just a general mess all along that front, but not nearly as dangerous as it had been, just cold." Karl replied.

The Blue Dragon Priest wrote notes and nodded in satisfaction. "That's what we have been hearing from everyone. Do you know where you're going next?"

"The Hill Giant border. From what I'm told, they need all the Commanders that they can get to keep the incursion under control, and I have been accused on at least one occasion of being enthusiastically competent at that." Karl replied.

Morgana chuckled. "Well, that's one way to put it. The Academy is sending all its Ascended and higher students to the front lines for a training mission. There will be teachers there to keep up with their course work, and to help provide a measure of safety for our next generation of Elites.

Wow, it feels strange saying that when I just graduated and some of them are only a year behind me."

The Clerics sighed at the news that they weren't the only ones running short on staff. If the Academy was mobilizing en masse, then the rest of society wouldn't be far behind. The elites had been living a pretty good life, and many of them were the sort of rich and famous that most could only dream about.

However, when it came down to it, they still had a duty, and that was to keep themselves and everyone around them alive.

The cleric across from Karl nodded. "I will be going there as well. Most of the ones here now will be going to the Frost Giant front, as they've already shipped out the High Priests, but I got the draw to go to visit the Hill Giants."

Karl smiled at him. "You'll like it better. The other border has terrible weather, and a little bird tells me that we can celebrate my birthday with a bonfire."

Morgana gave Karl a suspicious look. "Is that code for Hawk wants to see if the Hill Giants burn as well as the Frost Giants?"

Karl shook his head. "They don't. We already tried, and it's better to bury them. But everyone likes a good birthday party, right?"

"Well, if your birthday is next week, we might not even be settled into the lines yet." Morgana replied.

"How is that? It's only a few hours helicopter flight from here, I know, we were almost to the Hill Giant's portion of the border when we flew back." Karl asked. "They have been shooting down our helicopters. Once they learned that trick, it became too dangerous to land near the border, so it's either land in a safe spot and walk most of a day to the mission location, or go in by bus.