The silence was first broken by the sound of orderly hoofbeats coming from the other side of the valley pass.
In the twilight, a much larger cavalry unit emerged from the mountain road on the opposite side of the pass.
There were over a hundred riders, all in uniform silver-gray plate armor bearing the Rose Emblem.
The knight at the lead held himself with exceptional bearing, and beneath his helmet was Halce, the captain of the Knight Order of the Rose responsible for this border operation.
Halce’s gaze swept over the merchant caravan before settling on the squad leader who had sent the signal.
The squad leader immediately spurred his horse forward and reported in a low, rapid voice.
After listening, Halce’s eyes immediately turned toward the caravan.
His voice was not loud, but it was full of threat.
“I am Halce, captain of the Knight Order of the Rose. We have received reliable intelligence that a wanted fugitive may have infiltrated passing caravans. Now, I order everyone in this caravan to disembark immediately for identity verification. This is the final formal request. The consequences will be on your own heads if you refuse.”
His tone was even more oppressive, clearly indicating he had no intention of wasting any more time on arguments.
As he spoke, the newly arrived knights quietly fanned out, subtly forming a semi-encirclement that blocked all possible escape routes for the caravan.
Grom’s face was ashen.
The enemy had received reinforcements, yet their own patrol unit was still nowhere in sight.
Just then, the door of Celia’s carriage creaked open.
Celia and Onyxia stepped down.
Halce’s gaze immediately locked onto the two of them.
A Dark Elf and a Fox-folk? Dark Elves were indeed rare, but they were not the primary target.
At that moment, the mage accompanying Halce, cloaked in a deep blue robe and who had been keeping a low profile and silent, raised his head.
He held a floating crystal in his hand, which he had produced at some point, and was softly chanting obscure incantations.
The surface of the crystal shimmered faintly, its light subtly pointing toward a carriage in the middle of the caravan.
The mage stopped chanting and leaned close to Halce’s ear, speaking quickly in a voice only the two of them could hear.
“Sir, the detection has a reaction. It’s very faint, but it’s definitely there. A fluctuation of holy magical power, matching the characteristics described for the target. Over there, in that carriage with the blue curtains.”
A gleam appeared in Halce’s eyes.
He no longer paid attention to Celia standing in front and abruptly raised his hand, pointing directly at that carriage.
“That carriage! Everyone inside, get out! Now!”
“Search that carriage?”
Celia’s voice turned cold.
“That won’t do.”
As her words fell, she flicked her wrist, and her longsword was already drawn, pointing steadily at the approaching knights.
Almost simultaneously, a magnificent staff appeared in Onyxia’s hands.
Halce watched this sudden escalation of the standoff.
The last trace of probing in his eyes vanished, replaced by killing intent.
He slowly drew his own broadsword, its blade thick and heavy.
“It seems we have indeed found the right place,” he said in a low voice.
“Stubborn resistance, shielding a fugitive… Then there is nothing more to say.”
“Please wait.”
A voice sounded from the carriage, breaking the suffocating tension.
The carriage curtain was lifted by a slightly trembling hand, and Ilyas stepped down.
Her face was pale, but her gaze was firm.
She moved to stand beside Celia.
Despite her petite frame, she straightened her back and met Halce’s gaze directly.
“Oh? Finally stopped hiding? Ready to surrender, fugitive?”
“Fugitive?”
Celia’s voice cut in.
“Captain Halce, I’d like to ask, since when does your Knight Order of the Rose have the authority to label a registered Saintess of the Holy State as a fugitive? Aren’t you overreaching a bit?”
“Saintees?!”
That word caused a huge stir among the caravan crowd.
Grom’s eyes widened.
The beastman and elf guards behind him all showed expressions of disbelief, and whispers instantly erupted.
“A Saintess? That young girl?”
“How could the Saintess of the Holy State be here? And being pursued by the Knight Order of the Rose?”
“What… what is going on?”
Questioning and confused gazes converged on Halce and his knights.
The Saintess of the Holy State, in most races and nations, symbolized purity, sanctity, and neutrality.
She was absolutely not someone who could be casually labeled a fugitive.
Facing the crowd’s doubts, Ilyas did not speak again.
She just slowly took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Then, she gently clasped her hands together in front of her chest.
A milky white light, symbolizing boundless vitality, flowed from the space between her clasped palms.
In the twilight, it made Ilyas appear filled with holiness.
The halo of light spread out from her, enveloping her entire body and illuminating a small area around her.
Any member of the caravan touched by this light felt the fatigue from days of travel and the tension in their nerves seem to ease somewhat.
The light slowly receded.
Ilyas opened her eyes.
She stood there quietly, not needing to say another word.
Her identity was now self-evident.
The commotion in the caravan turned into shock, then dawning comprehension, and finally solidified into deep suspicion and anger toward the Knight Order of the Rose’s actions.
“That really is Light Magic…”
“They’re actually chasing the Saintess?!”
“What exactly is the Knight Order of the Rose trying to do?!”
Grom’s face darkened completely.
His gaze toward Halce was full of fury.
“Halce! How do you explain this?! Pursuing the Saintess of the Holy State—does the Kingdom of Tyliano wish to provoke the faith of the entire continent?!”
Halce’s expression had already darkened to the point of dripping water when Ilyas displayed the holy light.
Their cover was blown, the situation completely out of control.
Listening to the surrounding questions and angry shouts, the last bit of hesitation in his eyes was replaced by ruthless resolve.
He slowly scanned the hostile caravan guards, then looked at Celia and Onyxia standing protectively in front of Ilyas.
He knew today’s matter could not be resolved peacefully.
Since the pretense was torn off, there was no longer any need for restraint.
“Explain?”
Halce’s voice held not a trace of warmth.
The greatsword in his hand slowly rose, its tip pointing in turn at Celia, Onyxia, Ilyas, and finally sweeping over Grom and the caravan behind him.
“There’s nothing to explain. Since you’ve seen what you shouldn’t have, and know what you shouldn’t know…”
“Then I must ask all of you to die here.”
The moment Halce’s words fell.
“Whoosh—!”
An arrow shot out without warning from the rock wall above and to the side!
It tore through the air with a sharp, piercing shriek, heading straight for Halce’s face with deadly accuracy!
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.