An emergency council meeting was held in Rock at midnight. The council members were surprisingly calm. Considering how they initially panicked at the mere thought of facing monsters and dragons coming down from the Sky Mountains, their current response was remarkable.
This composure wasn’t limited to just the council members. The soldiers guarding the Tower of Blessing and Rock’s gates were also holding their positions as per earlier instructions. Rock’s citizens, despite their fear, quietly waited for the coming great battle with hope.
“I didn’t realize having dragons with us would be this much help.”
Ruenmus said after discussing this for a while. Some council members even excitedly spoke as if they had already won the battle, saying “Now that the dragons have come, Rock is saved.” It was a brief respite for the council members who had been frantically busy until the enemy arrived. Kassel, sitting there listening blankly at Ruenmus’s invitation, blurted out,
“No matter how motivated the soldiers are, it would be difficult to defend even one tower against the power of a single black dragon…”
The council members who had been speaking hopefully all stopped and turned to look at Kassel. Realizing his slip immediately, Kassel stood up.
“I just thought we needed to look at the battle from that perspective as well. I’ll take my leave first.”
Ruenmus asked in a worried tone:
“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”
“I’m just tired, don’t worry. May I rest for a bit?”
“By all means, please do.”
Kassel left the meeting room and wandered through the late night garden. It was still a beautiful garden, but he could no longer be purely moved by its beauty.
Without time to exchange greetings, Azwin and Lofin had gone to the Tower of Blessing, taking Jay with them. Dunmel and Meylumil were also busy helping with command. Loyal had left for the Tower of Wrath where Latilda was. Since the barrier couldn’t be down for even a moment, Tanya could no longer leave Arok’s Tower.
‘Should I go? No, I’d just be in the way.’
Loneliness crushed his chest. The silence of the garden, with everyone gone before the battle, intensified that loneliness. Seeing Rai with his white wings spread usually calmed him, but even that wasn’t comforting now.
“You look, tired. Sleep.”
Rai said as soon as he saw Kassel. Everyone was saying such things.
Rest.
Stay away.
Go to the safest place.
“Rai. You shouldn’t say such things too.”
Kassel sat on a cold stone bench and held his forehead.
“I’m not doing anything again. A Wolf who doesn’t go to the battlefield! Rai, why do you follow me? When you couldn’t cut me down at that moment when you could have, it was because Lofin and Tanya stopped you, not because of me. What you feared wasn’t me, but Lofin. Right? So why did you follow me?”
Rai tilted his head. It wasn’t because he didn’t understand — despite his clumsy speech, his comprehension was better than most humans when it came to listening.
Rai said,
“Such words, Kassel, unlike you.”
“You’re saying I shouldn’t show weakness too? I showed weakness to Tanya. Do you know what she did at that moment? She threw away her desire to rely on me and embraced me instead. I only just realized that.”
Kassel rubbed his face with both hands. But he couldn’t show the same weakness to Rai that he had shown to Tanya. Kassel forced a smile and said:
“No, no. Forget it, Rai. Forget everything I just said. It was nothing.”
Kassel stood up from the chair, steadying his shaking legs.
“Promise, was why.”
Rai said.
“What promise?”
Kassel looked up at Rai, suddenly wondering what he was talking about.
“Just remembered. Why I followed you. Promised. If I keep promise…, Kassel also, keeps promise, said.”
It was something Rai had said frantically while holding Aranthia’s sacred sword to Kassel. But Kassel remembered that moment clearly. Kassel had promised. If Rai didn’t betray him, Kassel wouldn’t betray Rai either.
“50 years ago, traveled with, Ugeh, he also, same promise, made. Said, won’t…, abandon me. Kassel, you not like that Ugeh. But, seeing you, reminds me of that Ugeh. So, followed. Wanted to feel, once more, that trust, that joy, from then. So followed. Friend. Don’t, betray.”
Rai continued speaking slowly and clearly.
“I also, won’t betray.”
Rai chose the simplest words he could to express his complex emotions. If the situation had been different, Kassel might have felt like he did when standing before the White Wolves who swore loyalty to him in Normant. But even hearing such words didn’t lighten his heavy heart.
Kassel grasped Rai’s thick forearm and said:
“Thank you, Rai.”
The strength left his hand.
The White Wolves have come. The dragons have come. The Lutia Master in Arok’s Tower protects Rock with a magic barrier. An angel from the Sky Mountains guards us… The people of Rock overcame their fear with such words.
“My job is done now. It’s become what I wanted. The council members will handle everything. Lofin and Meylumil will help with battle command. The soldiers and knights will do the fighting.”
Kassel unfastened Aranthia’s sacred sword from his waist and held it out to Rai.
“I don’t need this sword anymore. Do you want to use it?”
Naturally, the sacred sword was silent. Rai was silent too.
“This sword shone even in your hand. It shines when held by a true hero… You should be the hero of the battle.”
Rai reached out and grasped Kassel’s forearm instead of the sword.
“I, don’t like, that sword.”
“Right. That’s true.”
“And, Jay, gave. To me. His sword.”
Now that he mentioned it, Rai was wearing a sword he hadn’t had before.
“Lergo’s sword, right? Jay gave it to you? Do you like it?”
“It’s okay.”
Rai shook his head and said:
“And, that sword, owner is you.”
“Why? Because the sacred sword shone when I held it? You’re right. I was the owner then. But not anymore. I don’t need it. So…”
“If not needed, you throw away?”
Rai tightened his grip on Kassel’s forearm.
“I-I’m not throwing it away. This is for a more efficient choice…”
“If efficient, would you throw me away too?”
“No!”
“What belongs, to you, don’t give, to others.”
Rai was angry with an expressionless face.
“Alright.”
Rai let go. There was a red handprint where he had gripped Kassel’s forearm. Kassel weakly fastened the sword again and said:
“I’m sorry. I was just being childish. You’re really too much.”
Kassel trudged through the garden.
Rai followed beside him. Of course, he said nothing.
☆ ☆ ☆
“I heard…”
Jay stopped there, closing his mouth. Azwin, who was staring towards the direction of the Mozes’ main force with her arms crossed, waited a long time for him to continue. When he still didn’t speak, she thought maybe he wasn’t talking to her and looked forward again.
Though they had briefly seen each other in Tachisel, they weren’t familiar enough to chat about various things, and with Jay being so taciturn, it was difficult to start a conversation. Moreover, Azwin didn’t have the peace of mind for it.
According to Lofin, Jay was involved in Gerald’s death. However, he wasn’t directly related, and there was no reason for him to be a target of anger. Rationally, she thought so. But Azwin couldn’t view him favorably.
They had beer together in the evening but parted without any long conversations. Now at midnight, with the Mozes’ army swarming in, the Tower of Blessing was quickly in a standoff situation. Lofin was riding around on horseback to deploy troops, saying it would be good to prepare even though they probably wouldn’t attack right away. If they did attack, they could fight in this state, and if not, it would be excellent practice.
“Don’t worry! If they attack, we just fight back!”
Lofin shouted as he rode around. It had a dual meaning — reassuring that they wouldn’t attack, while also maintaining some tension for training.
“…that you…”
Jay stopped speaking again after saying that.
‘Is this guy trying to mess with me?’
Azwin glared at him and said,
“If you have something to say, say it! ‘I heard that you.’ What?”
Jay looked directly at Azwin and said:
“…are giving instructions on the White Wolves’ combat formation?”
“Yes.”
“Then teach me a few of those too.”
Azwin laughed in disbelief.
“Were you appointed to the Wolf Knights while I was gone?”
“Not exactly.”
Jay glanced behind him. Azwin followed his gaze. Lofin, who had been moving between the troops, had stopped his horse and was talking with a few commanders. Judging by the occasional laughter, it didn’t seem to be a serious conversation. As expected of Lofin, making people laugh even in this situation.
“I heard Gerald died because of me?”
When he said it himself, Azwin flinched as if her inner thoughts had been exposed.
“Did Kassel say that?”
“Someone named Lofin said it, another guy heard it, and I heard it from him. Something about Aranthia’s blessing trying to bring in a White Wolf who would die, and I replaced that, and that was Gerald…”
Jay stopped speaking.
Azwin, frustrated, finished his sentence.
“Gerald die and what about it?”
“What I mean is, I’ll take that position.”
Azwin narrowed her eyes and glared at Jay.
Jay continued uncomfortably under her gaze.
“I learned one in Lutia. With Dunmel and Loyal. In the position where that Gerald guy should have stood…”
“Don’t casually call Gerald ‘that guy’!”
“…Anyway, I stood in that position once. It was quite difficult. I could tell how great Gerald was as a swordsman, no, a knight. So if possible, I want to…”
Azwin held out the axe beside her to Jay.
“Hold it.”
“What?”
“This axe.”
“Why?”
“This is Gerry’s weapon.”
“Who’s Gerry?”
“Gerald.”
“Why is Gerry Gerald?”
“Shut up and hold it.”
Jay took the axe. Azwin explained quickly:
“It’s the best weapon Lergo made to match Gerry’s strength and skill. If you can handle this, then I’ll let you take that position.”
“Is this another test? Why do you guys always…”
“Don’t be cheeky. Take responsibility for the words you said yourself.”
Jay spun the axe in his hand. The motion was quite smooth.
“It’s heavy.”
“Follow me.”
Azwin led Jay to a slightly wider space.
“Try to block.”
Azwin held out her sword in her right hand and hid the shield in her left hand behind her waist.
“Alright. Try attacking.”
Jay said. As soon as he finished speaking, Azwin rushed forward and swung her sword. Jay blocked with the axe but staggered backward, and Azwin pressed her sword against his chest.
Jay stopped moving in surprise, and Azwin kicked him in the chest.
Jay rolled backward once.
“One.”
Azwin said.
“If you get beaten like this three times, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear your proposal.”
Jay grimaced as he got up, dusting himself off.
“Wait a moment.”
Jay swung the axe hard a few times with both hands, nodded, and said:
“Let’s try again.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Azwin’s attack came in and Jay staggered again, unable to block the following attack. With the sword right below his neck, Jay swallowed dryly. He didn’t even have a chance to defend with the axe.
Azwin said:
“Two.”
“One left!”
Jay shouted as he swung the axe. Azwin, still keeping her left hand with the shield behind her back, parried Jay’s axe a few times with just her sword. Then suddenly she hit Jay’s head with the shield in her left hand. Jay grabbed his head and staggered, barely managing to keep his balance.
“Three.”
At Azwin’s words, Jay denied:
“That one doesn’t count. It was with the shield, so it doesn’t count as a kill!”
“Are you joking with a serious face? If I had really hit you, your skull would have been cracked. That’s three hits.”
Jay breathed heavily and stepped back a few paces.
“No. Even with a cracked skull, I would have kept fighting.”
“Fine. I’ll give you one more chance. Pretend your head is cracked and come at me one more time.”
Jay rushed forward and swung the axe horizontally with force. Azwin dodged easily and was about to strike him somewhere again when she flinched and stepped back. Jay had somehow turned the swing of the axe into a downward strike aimed at Azwin’s head. It was too fast to catch the timing to dodge. Azwin blocked the axe with her shield and deflected it slightly to the side. With a teeth-clenching metallic sound, the axe struck the ground. Azwin struck Jay’s face with the elbow of her sword hand.
Jay lost his grip on the axe and rolled on the ground.
Azwin rubbed her goosebump-covered nape.
‘What’s with this guy? He can target the next point right after swinging so hard?’
Even Gerald couldn’t do that. No, nobody could. The reason Gerald could fight with this heavy weapon against someone as fast as Dunmel was because of his overwhelming strength and aggressiveness above all others. But Jay, despite not having that level of strength, had accuracy even greater than Gerald’s.
“Isn’t that… three?”
Jay asked.
“This one doesn’t count. I hit you with full force just now and you didn’t die.”
“Then there’s still one left, right?”
“Right.”
Azwin exhaled briefly, loosening her tense muscles. Jay had also stepped back and was swinging the axe with one hand.
Azwin put her hands on her hips and watched him for a moment. She remembered what Loyal had said:
‘This guy named Jay came as Aranthia’s reinforcement in Lutia. He’s the worst talker I’ve ever seen, but… his swordsmanship is top-notch. I don’t know who taught him, but his system is completely different. With proper teaching, he could become the sixth White Wolf.’
‘Then Franz would feel wronged.’
Azwin had taken that as a joke.
Lofin had also said something similar:
‘Do you know how enormous a being Victor is, Azwin? Gerald killed such a being’s right-hand man. It was definitely not a futile death.’
‘Is that supposed to be comforting, Lofin?’
Seeing Azwin speak with real killing intent, Lofin had instead burst out in anger:
‘So how long are you going to grieve alone over Gerald’s death? That guy died without even leaving you someone to take revenge on. So who exactly are you trying to vent your anger on by nurturing this rage alone?’
Lofin was right. Azwin might have been venting her anger that had nowhere to go on just anyone. Jay wasn’t responsible. It was just Azwin’s own thoughts.
“Hey, Aziwin.”
Jay stopped swinging the axe and called her.
“Azwin!”
She corrected him immediately.
“Anything… more than that, I just need to use this axe, right?”
“So what if you do?”
Jay drew the sword at his waist.
“I tried before, and I think I’m better off using two blades.”
The sword in his left hand, the axe still in his right.
“Clumsily changing your style is stupid.”
“Just try receiving it. And this time, use your shield. I don’t want to kill an ally. If I step in too close, I might not be able to control it.”
“One step?”
Jay rushed forward and swung his sword. Unlike his axe swings, his sword skills were quite good.
“Huh?”
Jay was measuring something. Azwin immediately brought her shield forward. An axe curved in from an almost invisible point behind the shoulder, and when she blocked it, her forearm vibrated sharply. Swords clashed against each other while the axe ground against the shield. Azwin instantly pulled her body back, disrupting Jay’s balance, and immediately swung her sword upward. As expected, Jay blocked it and simultaneously swung his axe. The axe blade barely grazed her cheek.
Jay tried to attack more but his knee suddenly buckled and he lost balance. He clutched his knee in confusion.
“Huh…?”
Jay couldn’t move or get up. Azwin caught her breath in the meantime.
“Why, why can’t I move?”
“I used your movement to break your balance. Your leg muscles momentarily seized up, making you unable to move. You’ve never experienced this kind of fight?”
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about!”
“Forget it. I’m not trying to teach you theory that you only understand intellectually. Let me see your leg.”
Azwin put away her sword, approached and pushed Jay’s chest backward. He fell on his backside. Azwin pulled his leg and massaged his knee and calf.
“I’ll teach you three or four formations. But they won’t be of much use.”
Azwin said.
“Is my skill lacking?”
Jay asked.
“No, you’re not Gerry. You don’t need to imitate Gerry’s merciless charge.”
Azwin crouched down and looked closely into Jay’s dissatisfied eyes.
“You can measure all your opponent’s attack timings, right?”
“More or less.”
“Then you don’t need to charge. Fight with enemies all around you. I’ll teach you that method.”
Azwin spoke indifferently while thinking something else inside.
‘If this guy can move as I think, he’s surely a genius on par with Loyal.’
Loyal was unbeatable in one-on-one combat. But Jay might be even better than Gerald in one-versus-many situations.
Azwin removed her hands from Jay’s legs and stood up.
“Can you stand?”
“Of course.”
Jay groaned but stubbornly got up.
“You’re ambidextrous, right? Still, hold the axe in your left hand. No need to hold it in your right hand for power.”
Azwin spoke in a commanding tone. Jay looked dissatisfied but followed diligently.
“So… um, does this mean I should use this axe?”
“It doesn’t mean to replace Gerry. You are you. I have no intention of teaching you formations for the White Wolves. I’ll create formations just for you.”
“Understood.”
Jay answered.
‘He doesn’t seem to really understand, but that’s fine.’
Azwin said:
“Then practice using the axe more. Since it wasn’t made for you by Lergo, it’ll take some time to tame it.”
“I can use anything well.”
“Just do as you’re told.”
“Alright.”
Jay grumbled.
Azwin let out a long sigh and looked to the side. Lofin was sitting in a relaxed posture, unclear if he was lying down or sitting.
Azwin approached and asked:
“Are you already done going around everywhere?”
“It didn’t take long with well-trained soldiers. By the way, is that guy usable?”
Azwin glared at Lofin before plopping down on his stomach. Lofin screamed and jumped up once like a fish out of water. But Azwin wrapped her thighs around Lofin’s stomach and pressed down on his chest with both hands to keep him from moving.
“Y-you brat, have you completely thrown manners towards your teacher into the gutter?”
“Enough. What you taught me was the sword, not manners. More importantly, who sent that guy here? This placement, you intended it, right?”
“Intention? Placement?”
“I know this will be the fiercest battlefield. And that’s what I wanted, and Lofin isn’t one to avoid such a place either. I know. It was probably Kassel who sent Loyal to the Tower of Wrath, and it was natural for Dunmel to be out since his injury hasn’t healed. But why did you pair that guy with me? To teach him? Was it you, Lofin?”
“No. It wasn’t me.”
“Then who was it?”
Lofin slapped Azwin’s legs wrapped around his sides and said:
“Irine.”
“Master Irine?”
“She probably didn’t intend it specifically. You like Irine, and Irine cares for Jay very much. Even I would want to pair you two up.”
“Just for such a reason?”
“Hmm, do you want to teach him now? You’re still too young to take on a disciple.”
“It’s not that I particularly want to teach. Rather, it was the opposite? For a moment when our swords met, it felt like he was stealing all my techniques, and it annoyed me.”
“Don’t worry, Azwin.”
Lofin stretched out his hand on Azwin’s leg and touched her cheek.
“You’re the best disciple I’ve raised. No matter how much that guy steals your techniques, he can’t steal your true essence. It seems Irine brought a pretty decent guy for a bet, but it’s futile.”
“What bet is that?”
“Pretend you don’t know.”
The sound of soldiers murmuring could be heard. Azwin and Lofin quickly stood up and looked towards the southern sky of Rock. Something like black bats were flapping their wings around the blue-glowing barrier of Rock.
“What’s that?”
“It’s unbelievable, but judging by its appearance, it’s a Moze.”
“Did Mozes have wings?”
“They didn’t. But couldn’t the ‘one’ who created Mozes attach wings to them?”
The bat-like monster circled above the dome-shaped barrier and then slipped inside the blue light. Azwin exclaimed in surprise:
“What happened? Weren’t they supposed to be unable to enter that Rock Zone or whatever area?”
“Well…”
Lofin stroked his chin in thought before mentioning one name.
“Ruskin.”
“Why him?”
“The black-furred Venons that the Excelon First Knights rode in the Sky Mountains were said to have bodies protected by a substance impervious to magic. The cloaks they wear are the same.”
“Good heavens, does that mean the Rock Zone is useless?”
“No. Ruskin’s not some alchemist who can mass-produce such precious material. He probably only managed to dye two or three Venons, three or four Mozes at most. Judging by the size, it seems they abnormally enlarged the wings while the actual body is quite small. One such creature entering the Rock Zone shouldn’t be too dangerous.”
“If it’s not dangerous, why did they bother sending something like that into Rock? To scare the people of Rock whose morale was boosted by the dragons’ appearance?”
“Well, could a flying Moze, regardless of its size, kill at least one person? If it’s someone as important as killing hundreds of soldiers, like Governor Ruenmus…”
“Who’s left by Kassel’s side?”
Azwin asked urgently. Her body was already facing towards Rock.
“Don’t act rashly. Someone as reliable as you are is left by his side. How do you intend to fight the upcoming battles if you get distracted by each little thing?”
Azwin frowned.
“Don’t get uncharacteristically serious.”
“There are times when I need to be.”
Lofin smiled gently and poked Azwin’s forehead with his finger.
“Keep this in mind until this battle is over. The enemy is the Lord of the Undying. Don’t let your heart waver no matter what strange things happen. Don’t run away no matter what terrifying things occur. Don’t show tears no matter what sad things happen.”
Azwin slapped away Lofin’s hand.
“At least I’ll keep that last part. I’ve already shed all the tears I had to shed in the Sky Mountains.”
☆ ☆ ☆
Even as midnight passed and dawn approached, the enemy showed no signs of attacking. Lofin, who naturally took the role of overall commander upon arrival, gave a relaxed instruction to the council: ‘There will be no enemy attack until tomorrow. Even if there is, forget about it now and get some good sleep.’
A grueling schedule lay ahead, so resting when possible was also part of the battle. But knowing this didn’t make it happen. Kassel felt guilty just for lying on a soft bed and only paced around the room. While his friends would be resting on hard, cold stone floors or not resting at all due to high alert, here he was preparing to sleep because he couldn’t overcome drowsiness.
‘Because I’m the Captain?’
Thinking this, Kassel shook his head.
‘That’s an excuse. If I’m the Captain, I should be fighting on the front lines. A Captain who retreats from the front lines to watch doesn’t appear in any stories. Maybe as a villain?’
Even if he put on armor and mounted a horse to lead the army, he’d just be in his friends’ way. There was no need to stand before the Black Knights like he did at Normant’s royal castle.
Kassel leaned his forehead against the window and clenched his fist.
‘Do you really think so? Huh?’
He spoke aloud.
“Really?”
Seeing a faint face beyond the window, Kassel thought he was seeing an illusion. He believed his weak heart was reflecting such an ugly image.
“Huh?”
But the black shape that shattered the window and pounced on Kassel was a Moze. Its wings, made of membrane rather than feathers, were large enough to cover the entire window, but its face was smaller than a palm, and its entire body was only about the size of a large dog. However, the surprise attack made Kassel fall backward, unable to withstand even its small weight.
‘How?’
Before Kassel could wonder how such monsters could enter Rock Zone where even Guanil couldn’t enter, he hit the back of his head on the floor. Kassel barely subdued the Moze’s small arms. It was so small that even Kassel’s strength could overpower it. Then an absurdly long tongue came out of the Moze’s mouth and wrapped around his neck.
He couldn’t breathe. And at that moment, he saw something. It passed by so quickly that Kassel couldn’t recognize what he had seen.
Rai’s voice was heard. As the Moze’s tongue was cut off, hot blood covered his face and the Moze’s heavy body pulled back. Kassel’s hand felt heavy as he peeled off the damp tongue wrapped around his neck.
Looking up, he saw the winged Moze hanging on the wall like a statue in a cursed cathedral. A blade thrown by Rai was stuck in its chest. The monster struggled but couldn’t escape. Rai approached and grabbed the Moze’s neck. The Moze resisted, grabbing Rai’s wrist, but he punched the Moze’s face anyway. With that one blow, the Moze’s neck bent deformedly and drooped down. It was already dead, but Rai hit it once more.
“Are you alright?”
Rai asked, supporting him. Kassel couldn’t answer. What he had seen when the Moze wrapped its tongue around him started to surface in his mind belatedly. And the moment he saw it all, Kassel fainted. Even Rai’s voice calling him became faint.
“Kassel? Are you alright? Kassel?”
☆ ☆ ☆
It was a familiar place. White steam was rising over vaguely visible bumpy contours. Behind the steam, the collapsed Tower of Blessing could be seen. A black dragon was roaring above the tower.
It was Ka-Guanil.
Beside it, a golden dragon lay fallen, unable to move.
It was Le-Ganel.
The bumpy rock-like things scattered all around were all human corpses.
‘Look.’
Beside the collapsed Tower of Blessing was a gray-robed sorcerer with an invisible face. The sorcerer pointed at the Tower of Wrath and spoke again.
‘Look.’
That place was also collapsed. Beside the ruins lay the red dragon Knadil. Red blood flowing from the dragon’s mouth formed a stream.
A woman in a red dress stood atop the fallen Knadil. It was Latilda with her flowing red hair. With lifeless eyes, she held out her hand covered in blood. In her hand was a dragon’s eyeball dug out from Knadil’s face.
The gray-robed sorcerer placed a black-gloved hand on Latilda’s shoulder. Her powerless eyes turned red like a Moze and glared at Kassel.
The gray-robed sorcerer next pointed at Arok’s Tower.
‘Look.’
At the top of Arok’s Tower, Tanya lay fallen.
Her body was cut in half. The gray sorcerer grabbed her head and slowly lifted it. The bisected upper body came up with it. Something Kassel absolutely didn’t want to see fell to the floor with a splash from beneath Tanya’s severed body.
Kassel screamed.
Turning his head, he now saw Rock. Rock’s city gate was smashed like kindling. Mozes were pushing in through it. Rock’s citizens were all dying without putting up much resistance.
“No!”
Kassel shouted.
The Tower of Blessing appeared again. Azwin and Lofin were visible. They were talking about something, and Jay approached them carrying an axe. Though no voices could be heard, the golden dragon standing tall beside the tower was clearly a living Ganel. It wasn’t a corpse. The tower hadn’t collapsed either.
Knadil also stood alive and well next to the Tower of Wrath. Latilda and Loyal at the top of the tower were saying something to Knadil.
Tanya sat in Arok’s Tower. She still looked calm and beautiful.
Rock, protected by the blue barrier, was peaceful without a single Moze. Meylumil and Dunmel could be seen near the city gate. Dunmel’s occasionally recognizable sign language continued briefly. Meylumil beside him was flustered, unable to understand the sign language.
What was visible now was the present.
What was seen earlier was the future.
‘Look.’
The gray-robed sorcerer stood everywhere visible. He raised his finger once more and pointed somewhere in the night sky. Kassel subconsciously thought that direction was west.
It was the Sky Mountains.
The figure of a black-faced Lemif woman appeared. It was Sermei, princess of Larunton, the Fvoe Lemif country. She spoke in the Lemif language. But Kassel understood.
“Don’t avoid it!”
Then the face of a black dragon appeared. It was Kagua, a monster resembling Guanil. Four Kaguas breathed fire towards Kassel. Though it was just a vision, Kassel covered his face as if it was really engulfing him.
A white ice sculpture stood on a snow-covered mountain. Suddenly the sculpture came to life and thrust its head at Kassel. Kassel stepped back, feeling as if it was actually touching his face. But nothing happened.
That white ice sculpture merely hid its form like a ghost and moved, leaving footprints on the white snow. It spoke to Kassel in a language other than Lemif. Surprisingly, he could understand those words too.
“Come to me. It’s not over yet.”
Leaving that strange ghost-like monster behind, Kassel’s gaze had already passed Larden. Sinabia sat with her eyes closed.
Kassel could understand Sinabia’s words as well.
“You must not look away.”
She opened her eyes. Transparent tears filled her eyes, showing only the whites.
“Look.”
Passing through the forests of the Sky Mountains, he reached a familiar fortress he had seen before. It was the Blue Gate.
There were familiar faces there too. The heroes of Aranthia, whose names and faces he had memorized one by one, never to forget no matter how hurriedly he learned them, were all there.
It was the Wolf Knights.
One of their voices was heard.
“Won’t we be late?”
A young voice still, but a spirited girl who didn’t lose herself even among adults. It was Sildire.
In the month he hadn’t seen her, something had happened to leave a scar on one side of her face. And the man looking up at the night sky beside Sildire was Sheyden.
“Being late is being late, and us going is us going. Even if you’re worried, let it be. We have a long way to go.”
Sheyden’s voice was clear as if it came from right beside him.
Sildire asked:
“How many days will it take to Rock?”
“Five days.”
“That’s too long!”
“We need to rest along the way so the horses don’t get tired at the last moment.”
“But, Sheyden…”
Surprisingly, Billy and Suvel were also among the Wolf Knights.
“The little knight seems too excited.”
At Suvel’s joke, Sildire growled.
“Shut up! If we let you join, keeping quiet is polite.”
“Oh my, how scary!”
Suvel quickly hid his hands behind his back and retreated as if facing a cat with raised claws.
Billy laughed at the two and said:
“We shouldn’t rush. Isn’t the scar on your face the result of that?”
“This is different from that! You too…”
Sildire’s last words weren’t heard. At that moment, Kassel’s view pulled back and turned towards the Sky Mountains again. Beyond those forests, Mozes were coming down. Seeing their numbers covering the plains, Kassel wanted to scream once more.
The Mozes walking through the darkness reached Leofio, which had fallen a few days ago. The Mozes walking and filling the plain to the opposite horizon numbered at least a hundred thousand.
“No!”
Kassel screamed. It was another hundred thousand troops. The Mozes occupying the area in front of Rock were already enough to overwhelm Rock, and now an equal number were coming again.
The gray-robed sorcerer was also present at one side of this scene. He existed everywhere and was watching everything together with Kassel. He pointed at the Mozes with his finger.
“Look.”
He spoke in a voice indistinguishable between ancient language or human language.
“I have won. This is the final battle I’ve prepared for a thousand years. Sanadiel’s response is already too late. What can you do here without your subordinates, heir of Sanadiel?”
Kassel covered his ears. But his voice continued to be heard.
“How can you stop this power I’ve prepared? The moment Rock falls, my great plan begins. You cannot stop it. You cannot stop…”
☆ ☆ ☆
Kassel woke up screaming. Rai was sitting beside the bed, and the Moze was still hanging on the wall, impaled by the sword. Cold wind blew through the broken window, and dawn was beginning to break outside.
“Is it morning already?”
Kassel asked in surprise.
“Dawn, it is. Morning sun, not risen. I, worried. You, long time, unconscious. Now, doctor, called.”
Rai answered.
Kassel almost rolled off the bed and took out a map placed on the table. Rai approached curiously. Kassel dipped the quill in ink too hastily and dropped the inkwell on the floor. The ink quickly soaked the carpet, but Kassel didn’t even think of picking it up and drew a long line on the map.
“What, doing?”
Kassel didn’t answer Rai’s question and said:
“About three days for Mozes to come from Leofio, five days riding on horseback from Blue Gate…”
“Who, coming?”
Rai asked.
“The Wolf Knights!”
“Here?”
“Yes. But Her Majesty sent them too late. Two days late.”
Kassel clutched his head and then dropped his hands.
“No, no. Actually, Carnelock can’t hold out for even three days. I understand now. Today, Carnelock’s soldiers couldn’t sleep at all. No matter how much Lofin comforted them to sleep, it would have been useless. Look. With monsters swarming like that, who could sleep? It’s tomorrow. No, they might attack the day after tomorrow, waiting for us to be more exhausted. It’s impossible to stop them then.”
Kassel gritted his teeth.
“The other hundred thousand Mozes following are coming to attack other countries after destroying Rock.”
The quill in his hand broke.
“Even if the Wolf Knights come, it’ll be too late then. Do you know what’s scariest? That I can’t do anything even knowing this.”
“There is.”
Rai said.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. But there is. There will be.”
“I didn’t ask you for comfort!”
Kassel was about to pour out his boiling anger on Rai but stopped.
“I’m sorry, Rai. I didn’t mean to say that.”
Rai didn’t say anything for a while as if angry, then opened his mouth.
“You keep…, your friend, Gerald’s, death, blaming, yourself. But I, think differently.”
Rai’s short ash-gray hair swayed in the dawn breeze, and his white wings backlit by the faint sunlight were shining like an angel’s. I don’t know how humans appear to Lemifs, but at least to humans, Lemifs were the embodiment of mystery. Especially Rai, with wings several times larger than other Lemifs, was even more beautiful.
“You, saved Azwin. Not late…, early.”
“It wasn’t me who saved Azwin, it was Lofin. You, Rai. It was Knadil who saved Tachisel.”
Kassel said stubbornly.
“Fought, was me. Was Lofin. Was Knadil. But, time, advanced, was you. Was Kassel.”
Rai also said stubbornly.
“Advanced the time?”
“You… don’t, lower yourself. Larden, Tachisel… think about, what you did…”
Kassel tried to interrupt Rai several times, but Rai held out his hand and continued speaking. Steadily, slowly.
“Think about it. You, did nothing. But, without you, those things, wouldn’t have happened. What you did, was that.”
Kassel looked up at Rai’s face for a long time.
“What I did?”
There were many things. But Kassel ultimately recalled only one thing. The one thing he always kept in mind in Knadil’s cave, in Larden, in Aranthia — it was time.
Kassel picked up Aranthia’s sacred sword that he had left beside the bed and said to Rai:
“You’ve carried Jay before, right? How far can you fly carrying me?”
Rai answered without even thinking:
“Anywhere.”
“Let’s go to Arok’s Tower.”
Kassel put on a piece of clothing and grabbed some leftover bread in his mouth.
Flying over Rock’s airspace was dizzying, but the sight enveloped in blue light was beautiful. He could understand why Rai enjoyed flying in the sky whenever he had nothing to do. But Kassel had no leisure to enjoy that beauty as he was busy calculating the map in his head and the time ahead.
Two days.
Kassel didn’t know exactly when in the future the horrific scene shown by the Lord of the Undying would occur.
‘Did that Moze poison me? Or was I infected by the dream Latilda had? Maybe it’s just a fake created by my fear, like the burning Lima Castle.’
Kassel desperately hoped it was all fake.
‘If it’s all fake, I’m falling for the enemy’s strategy.’
Kassel continued to hesitate even as they flew. Until the last moment, he wanted to tell Rai to turn around and take him back to his bedroom in the Dragon Knights’ quarters.
‘Let’s just sleep. I’m having stupid thoughts because I lack sleep. Take off these unnecessarily heavy clothes, change into pajamas, wash my face with hot water, and just lie down in bed. And sleep. When I wake up, let’s clean up the filthy Moze corpse hanging in the bedroom. It gave me poison. Using it as a medium, they intend to give me fear and make me panic like this! I shouldn’t fall for it. I just need to rest and then get up proudly, go around each army and show the authority of Captain Wolf. Encouraging everyone is exactly what I should do!’
Kassel clenched his fist tightly as if they were really in front of him.
‘Am I shouting at them to sacrifice their lives for humanity’s last battle? Come on, fight. I’ll be watching you die from the rear alone, so fight with your lives. As long as only I and Rock’s council members survive and the towers remain intact, humans will survive. So it’s okay if you all die, you who are hard to even put on the casualty list. Isn’t it great? Your descendants will live well in the face of your great sacrifice!’
Kassel gritted his teeth and shook his head. Beyond the blue barrier, the Moze army was visible. They were also faintly showing their positions using torches. It must be fire needed not for the Mozes, but for the humans commanding them.
“Rai, can you see where Guanil is?”
Kassel said.
“Not visible.”
“What about the Excelon knights or Kagua?”
“Before sunrise, hard to see.”
Kassel cleared his mind while feeling the faint cold dawn air brushing past. Even after thinking the same thoughts many times, he couldn’t easily reach a conclusion.
“Rai, am I thinking wrong?”
“Don’t know. I…, whatever you do, follow.”
“Thank you.”
Kassel regretted that he couldn’t say more than that to Rai.
Seeing Kassel enter through the tower window, Tanya blinked her round eyes, unable to even greet him.
“Tanya, I have somewhere to go.”
Kassel barely managed to cling to the windowsill and come inside. Rai, who had been flapping his wings outside, waited with one foot on the windowsill. Tanya looked at the two alternately and said:
“With Rai? Where?”
“There are friends I need to bring. Right now in Aranthia…”
Tanya wasn’t the only one in the room. Irine, sitting at a small table, looked at Kassel and said:
“The Wolf Knights are coming. How did you know, Captain?”
“I just… found out.”
“You can’t say ‘just’ about such a big matter.”
“How did you know, Master Irine?”
“When I left for the Sky Mountains, the Wolf Knights were already preparing to depart. If I think back roughly, they should be… at Gray Gate by now?”
“They’re at Blue Gate.”
“That’s fast. But how do you know that?”
Irine continued, amused:
“The enemy showed you that?”
“…Yes.”
Kassel had no choice but to answer truthfully.
“Is the Captain trying to leave his post carelessly, distracted by the enemy’s illusions?”
Irine said in a reproaching voice.
Kassel instead asked back in a strong tone:
“Will it make a difference if I stay?”
“It might not be visible to you. I can see it. The citizens of Rock are already following the existence called Captain Wolf. You ask if it makes a difference if you stay? It does. You know how important morale is in war, don’t you? The greatest weapon that allowed Aranthia to fight against that enormous Lontamon army was the belief that they would never lose. That was the magic Her Majesty Sanadiel gave to the Wolves.”
“Magic? Yes. People want me to display exactly that kind of magic. But I don’t have such power.”
“If you have no power at all, why would the White Wolves follow you? Hmm, how funny. I thought you had already resolved such issues when you shouted in front of Quain and me, but you’re still worrying about it? You’re more timid than I thought.”
Irine was expressing anger in a calm voice.
Tanya held out her hand to stop Irine and said instead:
“Kassel, let’s not ask where you’re going. But more people are relying on you than you thought. More than anyone…”
Tanya placed one hand on her chest and continued:
“I’m relying on Kassel. Isn’t that enough? Soon, Irine will have to fight her past lover, and I’ll have to fight my past teacher. Yet you say you’re leaving?”
“Tanya… and Irine. I saw the future. Yes. It was a future shown by the enemy to break my confidence. It might be a fake created to make me leave Rock. But tell me honestly, Irine. Can we fight that enormous army with Rock’s forces? Even if we perform a miracle and defend for three days, how do we deal with the even larger forces that will come after? I saw that the enemy has more Mozes than they’ve shown so far.”
“More than the current army?”
Even Irine was shaken. Tanya was also surprised. The number of monsters holding out outside the castle was already enormous enough to require a miracle. They hadn’t even thought about more than that.
Kassel picked up Aranthia’s sacred sword with its scabbard.
“No matter how much I calculate, my conclusion remains the same. We’re two days late. I can’t advance time. But I can shorten the distance.”
Irine already knew what he was trying to do. But she couldn’t agree.
“Foolish boy! Even sorcerers are likely to get lost in the Sky Mountains if they try to lead more than ten people at once. Even with Vena Esarck’s power, I absolutely won’t bring other people into the Sky Mountains.”
“But isn’t going through the Sky Mountains faster than moving on land? Ztokh Worg can be the most powerful guide in the Sky Mountains. Nadiel once spoke about Ztokh Worg’s miracle. Now is when we need that miracle.”
“No matter how much you hurry, you can’t dramatically shorten the time it takes for the Wolf Knights to arrive here!”
Irine said, frustrated. Kassel let the sacred sword he was holding limply droop.
“Then why did Her Majesty move so late?”
Irine calmed her excitement and said:
“There was no choice. He knew the enemy was preparing an army to attack Carnelock, but we couldn’t empty Aranthia in advance. You said it, didn’t you? A huge army has come down to Leofio now. Think about it. If the Wolf Knights had come to Rock in advance, that army would be heading to Blue Gate now, not Leofio. I understand now. The enemy and Her Majesty Sanadiel were in a time battle with each other.”
Irine continued, nervously messing up her hair:
“From the beginning, the Wolf Knights were a force that shouldn’t leave Aranthia. You know? The Wolves are complete beings within Her Majesty Sanadiel’s power. The moment they leave Blue Gate, the Wolves are no longer Wolves. Could Sheyden have won if he had fought Captain Welch here instead of in front of White Gate?”
“He could have!”
Kassel said without hesitation.
“Tanya, do you remember what I told you? I couldn’t bring reinforcements from Camort to Normant either. And I was a day late returning. In Tachisel too, I was a day late and Gerald died.”
Tanya strongly denied:
“No one says that’s Kassel’s fault!”
“I’m saying it’s my fault. So this time…”
Kassel slowly backed away and continued:
“…I’ll bring back those two days we were late.”
“Kassel!”
Tanya reached out her hand.
Kassel shook his head and approached Rai waiting on the windowsill.
“Wait for me, Tanya. I’ll definitely return.”
Rai embraced Kassel from behind and fell from the tower.
When Tanya ran to the window, Kassel was already flying south.
“Kassel, why are you still saying such things? Why do you always say you’re not needed? Why do you say you’re not needed when I need you so much? Why do you think so little of yourself?”
Tanya reproached Kassel in a small voice. Irine stroked Tanya’s back and said:
“It seems that boy is thinking of trying magic that has never existed before. And he’s saying he’ll bring reinforcements that can’t arrive in time.”
“It won’t make a difference. Right now, this place needs Kassel alone more than many reinforcements. You can think I’m selfish. I don’t care about reinforcements. I’m scared. I wish Kassel would stay by my side.”
“I know. That’s why I tried to stop him.”
Irine saw Tailed’s image in Kassel’s figure just leaving the window. It was like seeing him disappear after giving her a final greeting from the window of the Ice Castle.
“It’s going to be awkward explaining to the others how Kassel disappeared. It might be better to say he got scared and hid alone in a safe place…”
Irine muttered inaudibly while looking at Tanya’s tearful eyes.
‘Kassel, if Tanya loses her will and fails in the magical battle, this is absolutely your responsibility!’
☆ ☆ ☆
Victor held a cup of hot water. It was a place where Rock, faintly enveloped in blue light, could be seen. He wasn’t wearing armor or carrying a sword.
He had regrown an arm, but it wasn’t familiar yet. Having lived with one arm for so long, it seemed better to forget about having an extra arm if a battle broke out.
‘Let them rest.’
As per the strategy, the Mozes were suppressing their excitement and keeping low. Victor was sipping the hot water when he noticed a Lemif with white wings flying beyond Rock’s barrier. He looked at it indifferently and then smirked.
“What a fool. He’s making me look like an idiot, thinking such a simple strategy would work.”
Perhaps because he came out dressed too thinly, it was a bit chilly. Victor shuddered once and moved back to the tent. Unless something special happens, the battle will start tomorrow evening. The commander on their side would probably think the same, and Victor intended to do as they thought. There was no need for surprise tactics in such a vast battlefield.
‘What will you do, Lofin? At this rate, I’ll win too easily. Shouldn’t you prepare an amazing strategy?’
–TL Notes–
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