From the moment I was chosen by the holy relic

Eileen continued, "I'm afraid I can't go. I've exhausted all means to decipher the ancient book brought out of the ruins. It seems that only the codebreakers of the country of Diarant can decipher it; they are experts in ancient languages ​​and secrets."

"Dialante?" Eric asked. "That isolated kingdom shrouded in mist?"

"Exactly." Eileen nodded slightly.

The king nodded: "Then the three of you will have to part ways for the time being. But I don't want you to lose contact. Guards!"

As the command was given, the waiter brought out an exquisite iron cage, inside which lay three small crows with jet-black wings and emerald eyes like glass.

"This is a Mirrorwing Raven, from the snowy peaks of the North. It is exceptionally intelligent and can understand human intentions," the king said slowly. "You only need to gently tie the letter to its leg, and it will fly to the recipient on its own."

The crow was handed to the three people.

The first crow landed on Eric's arm, its black feathers fluttering slightly. It even leaned down and pecked at his knuckles a couple of times, like a mischievous companion in a youth army. Eric couldn't help but chuckle softly. He opened his palm slightly, and the crow perched securely against his hand.

The second bird landed on Leah's shoulder, seemingly quite fond of the healing aura flowing within her. It let out a soft coo and used its beak to comb a strand of her wind-blown hair, as if it too knew how to soothe and care for her.

The third one was the quietest. It flapped its wings and flew to Eileen, gazing at her for a long time. Its deep eyes seemed to reflect the hidden ripples in her heart. Eileen extended a finger with slightly cool knuckles, and the raven quietly landed, gently nuzzling her fingertip with the side of its neck.

As dusk settled over the banquet, the candlelight, like stars, illuminated the long table adorned with gold and red threads before the throne. After the third round of mead, Eric set down his cup, his expression solemn, and finally spoke: "Your Majesty," his tone steady, yet unable to conceal the urgency hidden in his brow, "I fear that Kadir may have changed his hiding place. If we delay any longer, we fear we will miss this heaven-sent opportunity. Please depart first thing tomorrow morning, without delay."

Upon hearing this, the king paused slightly in his wine cup. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded slowly, his voice low and deep: "Your concerns are indeed valid." His gaze was sharp as a blade, and he patted the shoulder of an officer attending him beside the throne: "Order the second squad of the Flying Feather Army to assemble before dawn, personally led by Lancelot, to assist Eric in clearing out the remaining enemies. There must be no mistakes."

That night, Eric tossed and turned, unable to sleep, determined to finish off Kadir himself this time.

The early morning sky was still dark and gloomy, and a cold wind blew in from the snow line of the northern mountain ridge, creating a series of low whistling sounds. The Feathered Army was already fully prepared outside the camp, clad in ice steel armor, holding runic spears, their armor engraved with the eagle emblem of Iser, silent as the shadows of the mountains and forests, and as menacing as thunder waiting to be unleashed.

Eric walked slowly outside, his cloak billowing over his shoulders. Halfway there, he reached into his robes to take out a map, but his fingers touched a string of glass bottles that didn't belong to him.

"Hmm?" He looked down and saw a whole row of neatly arranged small potion bottles, filled to the brim. He pulled one out; on the bottle was a small, handwritten note in delicate handwriting: "Sedative."

He chuckled and pulled out a second bottle: "Invisibility Potion."

Each bottle had a clear label and instructions on its effects, even thoughtfully included instructions for emergency use. He recognized the handwriting all too well; it was Eileen's.

Eric paused for a moment, then carefully placed the medicine bottles back into the hidden pocket inside his clothes. The north wind chilled his cheeks, but it couldn't dispel the warmth in his heart. She was always like that, rarely speaking, yet always silently arranging everything for him when he needed it most.

Lancelot walked over and glanced at him: "Are you ready?"

Eric nodded, turning his gaze away from the distant snow-capped mountains: "Let's go, it's time to set off."

The group set off immediately, their horses' hooves treading lightly on the morning dew, the wind scattering clouds. Within a few days, they trekked to the northern border, where the wind and snow grew increasingly fierce, the air seeming to hold sharp icy blades. Finally, on the morning of the fifth day, they arrived at the abandoned old mine.

As night fell, a dozen riders set up camp at the foot of the cliff. The fire illuminated the rock face in a crimson glow, dispelling the chill of the snowy night.

"Here," Eric said, pointing to the map Erin had drawn and spreading it out in the firelight, "there's a natural crack at the bottom of the cliff, hard for outsiders to spot. That monster dwells near the entrance; once this place is sealed off, anyone trying to sneak in will have nowhere to go."

Lancelot crouched down, carefully examined the map and the surrounding mountains, and said in a deep voice, "The terrain is narrow; we can't launch a direct attack. If we alert the enemy's main force, they might take advantage of the chaos to retreat."

He looked up at Eric and continued, "My suggestion is to send two people to lure the monster out of its cave, while the main force ambushes it from both flanks. Once the monster appears, use javelins to restrain its limbs, then concentrate your crossbow fire on its head. You and I will lead the attack and kill it when it's weakened."

Eric nodded: "Understood. I'm willing to be the one to lure the enemy."

"No." Lancelot immediately shook his head. "You are here on the king's orders and are crucial to this operation. You cannot take unnecessary risks. I have already selected two light cavalrymen who are skilled at avoiding enemies. It would be safer for them to lure the monsters. The right strategy is for you and me to provide support from the center."

Eric remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded. His eyes reflected the flames, a fighting spirit quietly burning within them.

"Then," he said, "if all goes well, we should be able to lure the monster out before dawn tomorrow."

"Before dawn, when the wind is weakest, is also when its perception is at its dullest," Lancelot added.

Eric said in a deep voice, "Let's choose tomorrow morning, cut down that monster, and open a passage for us."

A thin mist clung to the mountaintop, leaving only the whispers of frost and snow between heaven and earth.

The second squad of the Flying Feather Army had quietly deployed at the foot of the mountain pass. The ten men were divided into three groups, forming an encirclement along the mountainside in an arc. The crossbows were already nocked, each arrow engraved with anti-magic runes, capable of piercing thick demonic hides. The men held their breath and lay in silent stillness, like rocks, disappearing into the snowy night.

Two light cavalrymen approached the mountain pass silently. They were draped in silver-gray cloaks that blended almost seamlessly into the snow. Each carried a scent-lure stone and a vibration talisman, specifically designed to lure monsters out of their caves.

Not long after, a low, rumbling sound came from deep within the cave, like bones rubbing against each other, or like distant thunder rolling across the mountainside. Immediately afterwards, a stench wafted on the wind, making one want to vomit.

The ground trembled slightly, and the monster finally appeared.

It crawled slowly out of the darkness, on all fours. Its skin clung to its skeleton like charcoal, as if it had been burned by hellfire, leaving only a searing pain churning within it. It had no eyes or ears, but its mouth split open to its cheeks, revealing layers upon layers of sharp teeth, and a faint, eerie green flame flickered deep within its throat.

Eric held his breath. He felt as if an invisible hand reached out from the darkness and seized his soul.

"Don't look at its mouth, look at its gait," Lancelot whispered in his ear.

The monster suddenly leaped into the air. The two light cavalrymen, who were already prepared, immediately created distance and threw their resounding talismans into the air!

"Now!" Lancelot shouted.

The ambush squad moved in response, several crossbows shooting out like lightning, accurately hitting the monster's shoulder blades and forelegs. The monster let out a shriek, the sharp sound waves tearing through the air like blades, causing the front-line soldiers to experience ringing in their ears.

"Kill!" Eric roared, drawing his longsword as fast as lightning and slashing towards the valley. He leaped into the air, a flash of white light, and slashed at the monster's back!

Lancelot followed closely behind, slashing from the flank to block their retreat.

"Hold it down! Don't let it go back into the hole!" Eric shouted again.

The monster struggled violently, but the runes on its wounds began to glow, transforming into chains of magic that pinned it firmly to the snow.

Finally, Eric's longsword pierced the monster's throat, sealing its fate in one strike. After struggling for a moment, a low, mournful howl escaped from deep within its throat, like the final curse of some ancient creature before its death. Its limbs convulsed violently, then it collapsed to the ground with a thud, the snow caved in under its weight.

The blood flowed out slowly like lava, but it wasn't red; instead, it was a dark green liquid that rose in wisps of white mist on the snow, emitting a nauseating, putrid stench.

Eric, panting heavily, planted his longsword in the ground for support, snowflakes brushing against his blood-stained armor. Lancelot patted him on the shoulder, his eyes filled with a hint of relief, but even more so with urgency:

"Well done, but we can't let it drag on for too long."

Eric nodded, wiped the sword clean, and sheathed it. His gaze passed over the monster's corpse and landed on the dark cave entrance.