The breakfast provided within the knights’ order was the finest meal they had eaten in nearly a month. Even Tanya, who had never commented on food before, mentioned how good it was to have a proper meal after so long. Despite Tanya finally speaking up after a long time, Kassel was not pleased. “Was yesterday’s…

On the early morning of the day they arrived in Rock, Kassel was washing his face with water pooled on a rock, with a towel draped over his shoulder. When he lifted his head after splashing water on his face, Heder was squatting on the rock, looking down at him. Kassel almost screamed. “Good morning,…

“Master!” Romnor, who had been sitting at his desk for a while, opened his eyes at the butler’s urgent voice. Now nearing seventy, he often dozed off without realizing it. Yet he had no sleep at dawn. At such times, he felt his age anew. He missed the days when he was confident he would…

After the Administrator of Seresmus left noisily, the four remained silent. Kassel sipped from a lukewarm beer and stared into space. He turned his head to follow the floating dust and then glanced at Tanya. She was also silently drinking. Throughout their week-long journey from Tachisel, crossing the Sky Mountains, Tanya had been quiet. Occasionally,…

The village of Leofio in Carnelock was a poor excuse for a fortress guarding the south. The walls were low enough to climb over with bare hands, and so rickety that a good kick could dislodge the bricks. Parts of it had been left in disrepair for months. But it could afford to be. This…

A snow-laden wind fiercely poured into the room through the broken window. It was the topmost room of the Ice Castle, where the floor, walls, and ceiling were all made of ice. Ice shards carried by the wind literally tore at the skin. Lofin stood with a sword in one hand. Blood flowed down his…

Azwin lay on a bed, covered with a rough blanket provided by the Lemifs. A Tachisel woman Lemif had carefully placed food beside her and left, but Azwin didn’t touch it. She intended to sleep and wake up early to see Kassel off tomorrow, but she couldn’t sleep. The magic powder Lofin had sprinkled had…

As Lofin rode on Rai’s back, flying into Tachisel, he first spotted Victor. It was impossible to mistake that Excelon’s black armor and his single arm for anyone else. Lofin shouted at Rai to block the sorcerer and then jumped off. He didn’t know if the woman Victor was about to strike with his sword…

“Wake up, Azwin.” He said after dumping a bucket of cold water on Azwin’s face. Azwin jerked up and screamed. “What are you doing!” “Talking back to your teacher again. How many times must you be hit before you fix that tongue of yours?” “Why don’t you fix your manner of speaking?” “What do you…

Gerald swung his axe high and stumbled back down the stairs. The Lemif soldiers, filling the staircase, glared with hatred as if he had killed their king. Gerald watched their timing and suddenly swung his axe, sending spear shafts tumbling down the stairs. “I didn’t kill your king! You saw it. If you try to…