Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 500 The Duke at the end of the volume

Chapter 500 The Duke at the end of the volume
The chestnut-haired knight's self-introduction silenced everyone for a moment.

He remained calmly seated on his horse, allowing everyone to scrutinize him, completely ignoring the fact that dozens of crossbows were still aimed at him.

Royal Guard?

Watchman?
Thales began to observe the knight who called himself a watchman of the royal guard again, unconsciously comparing him to Sacelle:
He wasn't as imposing as Sacelle, nor did he have the resolute and bitter expression of the Knight of Punishment. On the contrary, even in armor, Marius still looked refined and elegant, more like a playboy than an elite guard.

"Tormond Marius?"

A few seconds later, as he pondered the name, Deler's eyes sharpened.

Paul frowned to the side:
"Dele, that name..."

Deler nodded and said something to his captain of the personal guard, and only then did the raven sentries present put away their menacing crossbows.

The atmosphere improved somewhat.

Kodler seemed unfazed; he turned back and asked Thales:
Do you know these people?

Thales suppressed the urge to sigh.

Please, I just got back to China.

But the prince nodded anyway:

"Let's take a look."

Just as he was about to pull the reins forward, Deler grabbed his arm.

"No, Thales."

Count Cloma's expression was grave:
“If they are fake, then you shouldn’t have any contact with them; if they are real, then you’re in a very awkward position, and it’s not appropriate to say anything, whether it’s asking us to leave or asking us to stay.”

Thales narrowed his eyes, looking into the other person's serious gaze:
"so?"

“I’ll handle this,” Deler said softly, releasing the prince’s arm.

The Earl of Wingburg turned to Marius:
"You said you were the watchman of the royal guard."

"But as far as I know, the position of Watchman has been vacant for many years, and the last one was before the Bloody Years."

"And the Watchers hold an extraordinary position, always composed of highly respected individuals..."

Before Deleuze could finish speaking, he was interrupted by someone behind Marius.
"Your information is outdated, Earl of the Western Wilderness."

The knight who spoke had short brown hair and a serious expression; he seemed quite displeased with the count's questioning.

"Lord Marius was promoted to Watchman a year ago."

"His Majesty, Lord Adrian, and even the entire Imperial Council all highly recognize his qualifications and abilities."

a year ago.

Thales noticed a flicker in Deler's expression.

"Then...why wasn't it Lord Adrian or Lord Talen who led the team?" Earl of Wingburg asked suspiciously.

Marius smiled, but Thales felt his smile was somewhat perfunctory.

"Both the captain and vice-captain bear heavy responsibilities and cannot leave the Palace of Restoration lightly," the knight who identified himself as a member of the Royal Guard gestured calmly to the twenty-four riders behind him.

"And this is a task specifically assigned to us by His Majesty."

Marius maintained his polite smile:

"On behalf of His Majesty, I thank the Western Wilderness for their assistance, but your mission is complete."

Marius swept his gaze over every soldier in the western wilderness, his voice growing increasingly somber and leaving no room for argument:

"From this moment on, we will be fully responsible for all matters related to His Highness's return to the country."

"You can go home now."

The surrounding crow whistles stirred with discontent.

Listening to the other party's seemingly polite but actually sharp words, Deler and Paul both frowned.

Even Thales sighed inwardly.

This is going to cause trouble.

"This is a team composed of Deler Klomar from Wing Fortress, Paul Bozdorf from Heroic Soul Fortress, and twenty-eight families from the Western Wilderness."

Deller spoke slowly, repeating his identity, and Thales could hear the dissatisfaction in his words:

"We are escorting Prince Thales."

“If what you say is true, Lord Marius,” Deler said expressionlessly.
"Then I welcome you to join our ranks without reservation, until we reach Yongxing City and meet the officials from the Palace of Restoration."

A blond knight behind Marius chuckled.

Everyone looked at him.

“As far as I know, six years ago, Chaman Lumba of Black Sand Territory also insisted on sending troops to escort Prince Thales to Dragon Sky City,” the blond knight said with amusement, looking at them. He was handsome, but he shook his head and swayed his head.

Guess what happened next?

Deleuze and Paul paused for a moment, then instinctively looked at Thales.

Thielston, who had experienced it firsthand, immediately turned pale.

Marius, who was in charge, coughed loudly.

"Doyle, let's not talk about state affairs."

The knight named Doyle raised his eyebrows and spoke in a relaxed tone:
"of course."

"You decide."

Marius coughed:
"And be friendly. According to the family tree, Earl Cloma is yours, your..."

Marius paused before speaking.

But Doyle quickly and skillfully picked up where he left off:

"A cousin of my grandmother's brother-in-law's nephew?"

what?
This statement surprised Deler.

The room fell silent for a few seconds, then Doyle smiled and gave Earl of Wingburg a shrug in return.

"Oh, really."

Marius frowned and sighed, seemingly troubled by this relationship as well.

Deleuze ignored their banter and took a deep breath:

“You did not send a messenger to communicate first as is customary, and your identities are still in doubt, yet you immediately want to take the prince away… For safety reasons, I cannot take the risk.”

After hearing his words, Marius did not answer immediately, but pondered for a while.

A moment later, he made up his mind.

“Let’s be frank, Earl.”

Marius cleared his throat, his expression shifting from indifference to seriousness:

“I know what you care about is letting the whole capital see you and Prince Thales walk into Yongxing City together, and letting the whole starry sky know the relationship between the nobles of the Western Wilderness, the prince, and the future king.”

"It's not about the prince's safety at all."

Deler and Thales' expressions both changed.

Marius gave a forced, insincere smile and squeezed his cheeks:

"And my job is to stop you."

As Marius finished speaking, Deleuze's expression turned cold.

The scene fell into a somber silence once again.

The light cavalrymen stared at the uninvited guests with hostile eyes.

Paul said something, and dozens of Black Lion infantrymen who came from the rear skillfully coordinated with Raven Whistle's position and formed a battle formation.

Marius and his knights, though outnumbered, were fiercely determined and unwilling to be outdone.

This gave Thales a real headache.

Finally, Deleuze, who had been pondering for a moment, spoke softly:
"Okay, at least you're direct and honest."

Marius and his gaze met in the air, radiating an invisible pressure.

Deleuze squinted:

"What if we say no?"

He looked at the men who called themselves the royal guard, scrutinizing everything from their mounts to their equipment, his tone threatening:

"What can you, and your companions, do?"

These words immediately created a tense atmosphere!
Marius's companions behind him even lifted their cloaks and placed their hands on their weapons.

But just as Thales was wondering if he should say something, Marius simply turned around and gave his companions a look that calmed them down.

“I must admit that I am inexperienced and have limited abilities,” the chestnut-haired knight turned around, his tone calm and composed.
"Facing your Crow Whistle Light Cavalry, which has both numbers and combat strength, Earl, I really... have little confidence."

Paul snorted beside Thales.

Deleuze remained silent.

Marius smiled slightly, but his smile held a hint of helplessness:

“But you know, if anything happens to us, to His Majesty’s loyal guards who represent his dignity…”

The next second, Marius's tone remained the same, his smile unchanged, but what he said was different:

"An hour later, while we are still en route, nine hundred rotating soldiers of the Central Royal Army under the Wrath of the Kingdom, and one thousand rotating soldiers of the Northern Royal Army under the Flower of the Fortress, including nearly three hundred cavalry, will speed up after receiving the news and flank us from behind. With their superior numbers and experience, they will force you, who have been traveling a long way, back to the nearest supply point: Grace Town."

Thales was taken aback.

Paul turned pale.

Deler also frowned deeply.

Marius gently patted his mount, calming its agitation caused by the hostility from the opposite side, but his words continued:
"Two hours later, the Blade Fang camp will receive a message that the active-duty Western Wilderness Royal Army—note, 'active-duty'—three to four thousand men, all elite main force soldiers, including one to two thousand cavalry, will launch an attack from the camp under the leadership of the Wings of Legend, advancing on Grace Town from the west, aiming to encircle it with friendly forces before dusk;"

Deleuze and Paul exchanged a glance, sharing their concerns.

Marius's tone was neither too loud nor too soft, his intonation was unpredictable, and his attitude was casual and relaxed, as if he were chatting casually.

But Crow Whistle and the Black Lion infantry were clearly affected and began to whisper among themselves.

"And before nightfall tonight, the rotating and active-duty soldiers of the three standing armies, including many elites from the Fury, Starshine, and Stardust Guards, will take advantage of their pincer movement and encircle you, along with Grace Town, turning you into historical figures for the Western Wilderness and even the kingdom."

Thales took a deep breath.

Marius's tone became more playful, his demeanor more nonchalant, but his words became even more direct:
"But given that neither the Wrath of the Kingdom nor the Flower of the Fortress are present, and the supreme commander here is the Wing of Legends, then I suppose only Gracetown will become a history textbook, and you won't. Congratulations, because all of you, or only those who are good enough, will join Williams's Head Collection Museum, adding luster to his art collection;"

Thales seemed to remember something, and a strange look appeared on his face.

Paul could no longer bear it:

"you--"

Kodler grabbed him and pinned him down.

Marius calmed his mount with a whistle, then continued on methodically without even looking ahead:

"And two days later, this big news will spread throughout the kingdom: After the chaos at the Bladefang Camp, the terrifying orcs and skeletons breached the defenses and encountered the escorting party back to the prince head-on. The loyal elites from Wing Keep and Heroic Spirit Keep fought to the death to protect the prince, holding out in Grace Town for a day and a night. Two young talents from the Chlomar and Bozdorf families were loyal and unfortunately died in battle, but at least you died protecting the prince;"

He finally looked up and stared directly at Deler, whose face was grim, and even shrugged his shoulders:

"Therefore, His Majesty, with tears streaming down his face, wrote a memorial for you and erected a monument. From then on, he worked diligently and strived to spread the kingdom's blessings to unfortunate nobles like you as soon as possible, so that they too could feel the glory of the stars. The prince, filled with gratitude, remembered your loyalty and enthusiasm for him in every moment of the rest of his life."

Marius squinted:
"And from that day on, the inhabitants of the western wilderness of the kingdom were freed from the threat of the desert, the Blade Fang Camp was revitalized, and the lords who succeeded them were more benevolent, wise, loyal, and kind than their predecessors. The king's grace extended to all people, and they lived in peace and prosperity forever, happily ever after..."

"How about it?"

After he finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Many of the scouts and infantrymen began to look back at their lords.
Paul was so angry he was trembling.

Deleuze's expression grew increasingly grim.

"A good story."

Count Wingburg spoke in a cold voice, his tone slightly distorted, and his gaze towards Marius changed:
"But the problem is..."

"How confident are you that you can survive the pursuit of our five hundred light cavalry and return to report?"

The next moment, without being told, the yaks raised their crossbows and aimed at the target with perfect understanding!

Thales felt a chill run down his spine!
At the most tense moment, Marius smiled.

Facing Deler's ill-intentioned gaze, he lifted his cloak, gripped the hilt of his sword with his right hand, and placed his left hand on a shield on the side of the saddle.

"Indeed, the chances are slim, perhaps..."

Marius narrowed his eyes, his tone sounding uncertain:

"Fifty-fifty"?

The next moment, the twenty-four men behind Marius changed their demeanor and raised their shields in unison!
Hey everyone!

Thales could no longer contain himself. He shouted and stood up in his saddle, peering over the crows that had completely obscured him:

"Before you draw your swords, remember: I'm still here!"

The prince waved his hand frantically, trying to attract everyone's attention.

Hopefully, this will reduce some of their animosity towards each other.

Fortunately, this had some effect, and the room quieted down completely.

Most people looked at the boy.

Deler understood the prince's meaning and, with a stern face, ordered his soldiers to suppress their hostility—on the surface.

Marius stared intently at Thales, remaining silent for a long time.

Thales returned an awkward smile, feeling his bowed legs go numb from standing on horseback: "Thank you, gentlemen, now we can have a proper talk..."

"Well, so..."

Marius looked at Thales and pondered for a moment.

He gave a puzzled look:

"Who are you?"

Thales' smile froze instantly.

what.

His eyelids began to twitch.

A second later, seeing Thales' expression, Marius's lips curled into a smile.

"Hahahaha," the chestnut-haired knight burst into laughter:

"Just kidding, don't mind me."

Before Thales could react, Marius's smile vanished, his expression hardened, and he pressed his hand to his chest, bowing respectfully on his horse.
"Your Highness Thales, Watchman of the Royal Guard, Tormund Marius."

"By order of His Majesty, my colleagues and I will have the honor of becoming your personal guards."

Following the leader's movement, the twenty-four riders behind him bowed in unison on their horses.

"From this moment until the very last moment."

Wow.

Seeing their textbook-perfect manners and attitude, Thales, who had initially planned to have them recite the royal guard oath, began to believe in their identities.

"Oh, thank you, Tom... Marius."

Thales, constantly shifting between embarrassment and relief, was finding the situation difficult to handle. He chuckled dryly and waved, signaling them to stand up.
"But let's calm down now, it's not a big problem, we're sure we can find a consensus."

But Marius seems to be deliberately making things difficult for him.

"Yes, it's time to get rid of this life of dependence, to stay away from those unscrupulous schemers, and to return to the protection of your family."

As he said this, Marius, who had straightened up, glanced at Deleuze inadvertently.

These words infuriated Deleuze:
"I believe His Highness is wise enough not to need the instigation or guidance of others."

Marius smiled:

"Then hurry up, Earl. To fight or to surrender? What are you waiting for? His Majesty's letter of commendation?"

Their gazes sharpened again, just like the weapons in their hands.

Thales, having failed in his mission, slumped onto the saddle, feeling pain in both his head and buttocks.

But at that moment, Thales heard something.

“Dele,” Paul, standing beside Thales, suddenly changed his expression:
"That is……"

Suddenly, a commotion broke out on the Earl of Wingburg's side.

"Rumble..."

Soon, Thales also saw it: behind the royal guard, several large banners appeared on Grace Avenue, accompanied by shadowy figures and the rising and falling of hooves.

Someone's coming. "The Banner of Fury," Deler said, staring intently into the distance, looking somewhat disappointed.

"It is the central standing army stationed around Yongxing City."

"Directly under the Kingdom's Wrath".

Thales' expression changed.

Crow Whistle and the infantrymen began to whisper among themselves.

"And the Starshine Battle Banner."

Thales stared intently at the flag he had seen before:
"The Northern Standing Army under the command of the Fortress Flower, serving in the Duanlong Fortress."

Deleuze's expression grew even uglier.

"Looks like he wasn't lying," Deler said sarcastically, waving his hand to dismantle the ravenous whistles' attack stance.

"That's truly inspiring."

As Paul did as instructed, he hesitated:
"Perhaps they've come to reinforce the western front and relieve the Baki camp?"

Deleuze gave a soft snort:
"They came really fast: it's only been a few days since the incident at the camp?"

Thales wisely refrained from interjecting.

Soon, the procession came into view:

It was a cavalry force of nearly a hundred men, carrying different flags, surrounding a two-horse carriage in the center.

They approached the royal guards, their movements less agile and their mounts and equipment less refined, but they were more orderly and disciplined.

“That’s great,” Doyle, the blond-haired man, sighed.
"The person in charge is here."

Soon, under everyone's gaze, the simple carriage of this new team stopped beside the royal guard.

A gentle and steady voice came steadily from inside the carriage:
Good morning, everyone.

Hearing that voice, Thales' breathing gradually quickened.

“You’re moving a bit too fast, Lord Marius,” the person in the carriage said, seemingly exasperated.
“Count Los has been complaining about this journey that takes day and night—it will exhaust the soldiers.”

When asked the question, Marius smirked and turned his horse around.

“Fortunately, you didn’t walk too slowly, Your Excellency,” he said in his usual calm tone, but he nodded to the carriage as was his habit.
"I'm worried about being mistaken for a kidnapper."

The next second, as laughter rang out, the owner of the carriage pushed open the door and stepped onto the ground.

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Thales slowly let out a sigh of relief, completely at ease.

It was as if a journey he had embarked on long ago had finally come to an end.

“It’s alright, Deler,” Thales reassured the Earl of Wingburg instinctively, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"We're alright now."

The man who alighted from the carriage still walked steadily and had a friendly demeanor. He leaned on his habitual cane, ignoring the tense situation between the two sides, and naturally came to Marius's side, looking at Thales from afar.

His gaze lingered for several seconds, a mixture of eagerness, surprise, and regret.

The room fell silent; no one spoke.

The prince calmly accepted the other person's gaze.

But when Thales instinctively tried to laugh, he found that his cheeks were stiff.

Finally, the visitor let out a long sigh and revealed a relieved smile:

"You look very energetic."

The middle-aged man's voice trembled slightly:
"My little gentleman."

Upon hearing this address, Thales felt an echo in his ears, as if he had returned to the past.

But this time...

Thales silently observed the middle-aged nobleman before him.

He noticed that although the other person's smile remained the same and he was polite and well-mannered, his temples were now streaked with freckles, the wrinkles around his eyes were becoming more pronounced, and the skin on his face was sagging and loose.

Even his figure, with the gifts of time... has become quite hunched.

Thales felt a heaviness in his heart.

But in the end, he took a deep breath, suppressed his uncontrollable expression, held back the countless emotions rising from the bottom of his heart, and tried his best to speak softly in the calmest, most positive, and most relaxed manner:
"You too."

"It's nice to see you again."

The prince smiled brightly:

“Gilbert”.

It was very quiet around us; no one made a sound from either side.

Until the middle-aged nobleman, the cunning fox of the stars, Earl Gilbert Cassel, slowly nodded.

“Me too, young sir,” Gilbert’s voice was noticeably more inflected:

"I mean, Your Highness..."

His words were interrupted halfway through.

Gilbert first tilted his head back, then blinked a few times, and after taking a few deep breaths, finally regained his normal tone:
"Me too."

The two parted briefly, exchanging only a few simple pleasantries before looking away from each other.

Good morning.

On the other side, Deller, with a serious expression, nodded slightly to Gilbert, his tone carrying a respect and solemnity completely different from when he was facing the prince:
"Count Cassel".

Gilbert responded with a smile, his tone warm and reassuring:
"Count Cloma".

"It is a pleasure to see that you and His Highness have a very close relationship."

Although Xingchen's cunning fox was standing on the ground, he did not appear weak at all.

"And you must be Count Bozdorf's representative?"

Paul stood to one side with a gloomy face:
"His successor."

Gilbert smiled politely as always.
"of course."

With Gilbert's arrival, Marius reverted to the nonchalant and indifferent attitude he had shown at their first meeting, seemingly intending to leave all the negotiations to the Earl.

As it turned out, his choice was correct.

Deler sighed and was about to speak, but the next second, the cunning fox of the stars beat him to it.

“Your Highness, esteemed lords,” Gilbert nodded to each commander, his smile warm and friendly.
"Since we're all here, and there are so many witnesses, I'll get right to it."

Paul frowned as he watched the royal standing army warily.

Even Thales was taken aback.

"start?"

Paul turned his head in confusion:
"Dele?"

But Deleuze simply shook his head.

The next moment, Gilbert's expression turned serious. He gripped his cane with his arm, pulled out a beautifully decorated, large scroll from his pocket, and unfurled it skillfully and elegantly.

Deleuze's brow twitched:
On the back of the scroll, the nine-pointed star emblem is clearly visible.

Gilbert cleared his throat:
"May the goddess of the setting sun bless you, and may all the former kings bear witness..."

He stood tall and straight, with a relaxed demeanor and a loud, clear voice, carrying an understated yet undeniable air of authority.
"The rightful heir of the final empire, the successor of King Tormund of the Restoration, the sovereign of the Western Continent's Ludor and the Northern Peoples, the conqueror of the Dragon Throne and the Desert God's Altar, the protector of the Sacred Tree and the Duchy of Sera, the guardian of the Steel City and the Free Alliance, the thirty-ninth Supreme King of the Star Kingdom, the Southern Islands, and the Western Desert, Kaiser Star V, proclaims to all citizens of the Star Kingdom and all those before this decree..."

The entire room stirred slightly, emitting low, restrained whispers.

Gilbert ignored everything else, staring intently at the scroll in his hands, his expression serious and respectful.
"On August 19th, 679th year of the end of the Star Kingdom calendar, in the eighteenth year of the reign of His Majesty King Kessel V, after careful and detailed consideration, he will be pleased to bestow praise and reward upon a gentleman whose merits are sufficient and whose status is commensurate."

Gilbert paused, as if waiting for something, and looked around.

Thales' breathing began to quicken.

Everyone fell silent.

After all was quiet, the cunning fox spoke again, uttering the name:

"Tales T.K. Star".

At this moment, Deleuze, Paul, Marius, and others displayed different expressions.

As if anticipating this, Thales took a deep breath; he no longer knew what expression he should have.

"For six years, this nobleman and knight noblely sacrificed his rights as a prince, bravely defended the security of the northern border, selflessly protected the well-being of his countless subjects, and admirably upheld the dignity of the Star Kingdom..."

When he read this part, Gilbert's reading was full of ups and downs, with emotional fluctuations.

He paused again, took a deep breath, and under the gazes of the audience—some filled with complex emotions, others with surprise, some with excitement, and others with nervousness—he announced loudly:
"Therefore, His Majesty will grant him the right to rule Star Lake Fort and its attached lands, and he will bear the glorious obligations of paying taxes and performing corvée labor, thus becoming..."

"The Duke of Star Lake".

At that moment, you could hear a pin drop.

Countless gazes simultaneously left Gilbert and finally fell upon the boy on horseback.

Thales just stared blankly at Gilbert.

what?
He was speechless and had no emotion to express.

"This covenant and this agreement shall be witnessed by all the people of the kingdom and shall be implemented immediately and forever."

Gilbert watched the audience's reaction with satisfaction, then slowly packed up the scroll and left, his smile returning.
"That's it."

Several seconds later, with the first suppressed sound, this section of Grace Avenue came back to life.

Deleuze closed his eyes and exhaled heavily.

Paul looked at Thales with a very strange expression.

Marius exchanged a glance with his guards, remaining as relaxed as ever.

“The official announcement will be sent throughout the entire Star Realm along with a public edict,” Gilbert said kindly, looking at the Earl of Wingburg with his complex expression.
"Of course, this also includes the entire Western Wilderness, including the territories of all of you lords."

Deler gripped the reins tightly, without opening his eyes.

“Now, Count Cloma, and you, Paul,” Gilbert said, his signature impeccable smile gracing his face as he looked for the first time at the formidable array of hundreds of light cavalrymen, his expression one of genuine concern.
"I think His Excellency Duke Starlake would welcome you to join his team and enjoy your company?"

Thales glanced at Deler instinctively.

Earl of Wingburg remained silent with his eyes closed for a long time.

A few seconds later, Deler slowly opened his eyes.

"No, that's not necessary."

“I think our mission is complete, Paul.”

This time, Deleuze's face was extremely cold, and his words were pale.

"time to go."

Gilbert didn't say anything, but simply smiled again and nodded gracefully to show his understanding.

Thales stared at him blankly, somewhat at a loss.

"Dele..."

Deleuze sighed and made a gesture.

The cavalry, like a flock of startled crows, reacted swiftly, reining in their horses and turning away from their original positions.

"Rumble..."

For a time, horses' hooves pounded back and forth on the road, raising clouds of dust.

Paul, filled with reluctance, had no choice but to turn back and leave.

Deller paused for a moment, and amidst the clatter of hooves, extended his palm toward Thales.

Before the prince could react, he instinctively reached out to grab it, only to be pulled forward by the man.

"Take care, Your Highness."

Deleuze gripped the prince's hand firmly, his expression serious as he leaned close to the prince's ear:

“Then, Thales,” he whispered:
Please remember our promise.

Thales was taken aback.

"promise?"

He asked in bewilderment.

"Yes."

This time, Deleuze's voice was deep and resonant, just like his expression.

"Six years ago, when your carriage left the capital and headed north to Exter."

The Earl of Winged Castle, the master of the one-winged raven, whispered in the boy's ear:
"The promises we made to you."

six years ago……

Leaving the capital...

When heading north to Exter...

Their...

committed to.

At that moment, Thales froze, remembering something.

Thales looked up abruptly, staring at him in surprise.

"You...you guys?"

The count released his hand, his expression resolute and his head bowed firmly:
"It still works."

The next moment, before Thales could react, Deler spurred his horse and, with a roar, turned it around to join his "lead raven."

It galloped away.

"Rumble..."

Thales rode alone on his horse, staring blankly at Deler's departing figure.

On the other side, Marius raised his eyebrows and waved his hand in return, and the royal guards and regular troops rushed forward to surround the prince.

"Rumble..."

The endless sound of hooves merged into two streams, one departing and the other entering.

But Thales remained rooted to the spot.

The boy was stunned by the successive news and could only lower his head, his mind in turmoil, relying on his ears to perceive everything around him.

Behind him, the dark mass of Raven Whistles cavalry and the Black Lion Legion left his side, turned left in unison, circled around in a semicircle, and returned to their way home, accompanied by the thunderous footsteps of war drums, stirring up endless, dark, deep waves.

"Kick ah ah ah..."

A gleaming royal guard and regular army approached him from his right front, filling the gap on his side. Their hooves flew, their bright saddles and gleaming armor creating a dazzling, cold light.

Looking down from the sky, it's like two surging torrents of black and white, colliding head-on in a spectacular vortex, and separating at the center.

The waves surged, yet the two sides remained clearly distinct.

Only Thales.

He stood there, like a tiny, almost invisible dot on the ground, stunned, at the very center of the two giant waves.

We faced the tearing apart by two giant waves.

Alone and isolated.

Feeling lost and bewildered.

negligible.

I do not know how long it has been.

A familiar and gentle voice rang in my ears:

"Now, please follow me."

Thales looked up in a daze.

"Your Excellency..."