When Timothy heard Aurora's words, he immediately interjected before Rafael could speak, "What do you mean by that? The Mystic Army troops will fight the enemy under General Sinclair's command. And you're right, they are indeed the vanguard force, meant to breach the city and lead the charge."Aurora sneered. "The marshal really holds onto old sentiments, huh? If the Mystic Army breaches the city, it'll be due to Carissa's efforts. What's the difference between that and directly awarding her military merit?"Timothy's anger flared. "How can you speak like that? If she leads the Mystic Army to breach the city, the merit is hers by her own effort, not something given to her. Do you believe that in warfare, only one person should charge into battle while the soldiers stay behind, General Yates?""General Farell, are you suggesting that General Sinclair will also be on the battlefield, and not just hiding in the rear with her command authority?" Aurora countered.Timothy was incensed.
Timothy opposed vehemently. "This is a decision that has already been made! There is no need for further challenges. This is not a martial arts arena, it's a battlefield. Such actions are detrimental to the unity of the army."Upon hearing this, Aurora sensed that he was trying to prevent Carissa from losing. This assumption only served to bolster her confidence. "Those who are capable should step up. What's wrong with a challenge? Are you afraid she'll lose? If you think her reputation will take a blow, then we don't need to fight. Just give the command of the Mystic Army to me," she said smugly. Timothy snorted. "What wishful thinking! Just because you led the reinforcements to the battlefield, you think they're all yours? I'm trying to save your dignity by preventing this challenge. Since you don't appreciate my goodwill, do as you please!""No need for more empty words. The Mystic Army won't be under General Sinclair's command unless she defeats me," Aurora said. With tha
Aurora's words moved Barrett deeply. Hearing such a statement from anyone else wouldn't have touched him as much as it did coming from Aurora. She wasn't just an ordinary woman confined to the household; she was a formidable general on the battlefield, a hero who had forced their enemy to sign a peace treaty.For such an extraordinary woman to say she didn't mind washing her hands and cooking for him, it warmed Barrett's heart. Any previous disappointment he had felt towards her vanished instantly.The challenge was set for sunset. Rafael sent Dylan to notify Carissa. He found her still drilling her troops in the open field, and informed her of Rafael's order.She simply nodded. "Got it."Since the entire army knew about this, Violet and the others came looking for Carissa after their training. Each gave her a pat on the shoulder and said tersely, "Beat her."Carissa smiled at them. Beating Aurora would indeed be challenging, not because it was a fight to the death, but becaus
Aurora's voice was loud enough for all the generals and the Mystic Army to hear. Aurora prided herself on being straightforward, and spoke without reservation. However, her words only deepened the disdain of those who already looked down on Carissa. The murmurs of discontent turned into a torrent of insults, overwhelming Carissa.Violet and the others were livid, their faces turning ashen with anger. If not for the military rules, they would have rushed forward to teach Aurora a lesson right then and there. Their anger grew even more when they saw Carissa's calm demeanor. Despite Aurora's blatant provocation, Carissa showed no signs of anger. She simply watched Aurora in silence, like a mute. She didn't respond, and her expression remained unchanged. Only her eyes grew darker."Carissa!" Rafael took a wooden staff from Dylan, and tossed it to her. "Don't use the Rose Spear. Use this."Carissa caught the staff with one hand and tossed the Rose Spear back to Rafael, giving him a m
Aurora's heart raced; she glanced at Carissa’s dark eyes, then at the unmarked wooden staff in her hands. She was astonished. Could this be no ordinary wooden staff? Of course! Rafael would go out of his way to protect Carissa. How could he give her an ordinary wooden stick?With that thought in mind, Aurora sneered. "This staff must be more than just a wooden stick, right? It seems the marshal picked the sturdiest weapon for you."The wooden staff was as long as the Rose Spear. It was actually just a wooden post meant for building camp structures. If Aurora had paid close attention, she would have realized it was an ordinary stick. Convinced of Rafael’s favoritism towards Carissa, however, she refused to believe he would give her anything ordinary in this challenge.Many soldiers were unable to see clearly from a distance. They, too, believed Aurora’s accusation, thinking Carissa’s staff was a superior weapon. Immediately, cries of unfairness erupted. “How can an ordinary w
Aurora spat out a mouthful of blood. Carissa's kick seemed to have nearly dislocated her internal organs. It left her in such agony, she couldn’t make a sound for a long time. Her face was ashen as she instinctively touched her neck, feeling the blood on her fingers. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably—not from fear, but from the sheer inability to accept this outcome.She looked at Carissa in disbelief. Such martial skills were beyond anything she had ever seen. How did Carissa, of all people, possess such formidable abilities? Aurora recalled how Barrett had once mentioned that Carissa had hurt him by simply flicking leaves, a statement that had seemed laughable then. Now, after experiencing it firsthand, a surge of jealousy and hatred gnawed at her.This swift defeat was a brutal slap in her face. Earlier, she had accused Carissa of relying on connections to rise in rank, causing several officers to be punished. Even before the fight, she had loudly berated Carissa, inci
The Mystic Army was now utterly impressed with Carissa, particularly Michael. He could see the formidable nature of Carissa's move. She had shattered the wooden staff into many pieces, and they had all been perfectly aligned. There was a subtle but powerful technique hidden within her inner force. Among all the flying wooden shards, only the one that landed on his neck was light.As the sun set and darkness enveloped the land, the campfire cast its glow over the gradually dispersing soldiers. They chattered excitedly about Carissa's technique.“That staff shattered into pieces right on the spot! It was incredible—almost like magic!”“She's truly worthy of being the late General Sinclair's daughter. She's amazing!”“I told you, if she hadn’t made real achievements on the battlefield, how could she have risen to the rank of a fifth-ranked general?”“You shameless idiot! You were the loudest back then! You even made a fuss and tried to protest to the marshal. If I hadn’t dragged yo
Carissa pointed with her Rose Spear toward where she had fought Michael. “If your eyes are still working, see why Michael surrendered for yourself.”The location wasn’t far, just about seven or eight paces away. Aurora followed the direction Carissa indicated, and took a deep breath. She saw five cracks on the ground, each twisting and winding, as if a centipede had crawled through. They converged at one spot.That spot was roughly where Michael had been standing. The cracks seemed to have passed through beneath his feet. One crack was about the size of a footprint, indicating a lighter impact. It appeared that Carissa's inner force had struck Michael's feet, causing this lighter crack.If Carissa hadn’t carefully controlled her inner force, it could have crippled Michael’s legs. That was why he had surrendered.Aurora took a deep breath, realizing that in Carissa’s presence, she had been thoroughly defeated. However, she straightened herself quickly, clinging to Barrett’s ar
"Elise, must your mouth run on without end?" Carissa frowned at her daughter, who had been chattering away beside Ryan from the moment he stepped through the door.The little girl's face was flushed from the sun, her hair tangled into a messy nest that made it clear she had only just returned from playing outdoors. She hadn't stopped talking since Ryan came back from his travels, pestering him with questions about what he had seen and done.Elise turned to Carissa with wide eyes, looking up with a face so innocent it could soften stone. She truly had inherited the best features from both her parents."Mom, I haven't seen Ryan in such a long time. Every moment without him felt like an eternity. We've been apart for so long, so of course I have a lot to say to him."Carissa's frown deepened. "And who taught you to speak in such a ridiculous manner? An eternity—where did that come from?""Sage Isaac said it to Aunt Violet. He went back to Meadow Ridge for a few days and said it to her
Though Ryan had told Cecil he was going on a journey, he didn't stay long at Eldermere Keep. After just seven days, he left and made his way to the Pathfinders Guild.He had initially planned to return to the capital to seek out Claire, but soon reconsidered. Instead of troubling her, he thought it best to directly ask Winona to teach him the art of disguise.It was not difficult to learn, but to do it well—to the point where no one could tell—was another matter. Such skill could not be acquired in just a few months.The simpler form of disguise involved merely altering one's features with makeup and slight adjustments to the face. This was fine for ordinary situations, but could easily be seen through in more challenging circumstances, like on a rainy day for instance.Therefore, Ryan knew he couldn't settle for such a basic method.The more advanced form of disguise involved creating a mask as a false face. However, these masks had their own set of problems. They were thick, unco
That evening, Ryan and Clarence sat by candlelight and spoke quietly. They avoided discussing court politics as Clarence had no interest in such matters. As long as the kingdom was peaceful, that was enough for him.He was no longer the eldest prince of Starhaven, and only had himself to look after now. Everything else had faded into the past.It was better not to speak of politics; it was too sensitive a topic. In his younger years, Clarence hadn't understood why his "death" was so tied to such matters. But over the years, Sebastian had explained everything to him, bit by bit, including the risks and consequences.The bond between Clarence and Cecil was not without affection. However, to gamble with one's life and future for the sake of family might not be the wisest choice for any of them.Clarence had come to terms with it. Life had to go on; it was better to live it well today than to wonder about tomorrow."Aunt Carissa said you're no longer able to stand, but you were walking
The azaleas of Eldermere Keep bloomed in a riot of color, spreading across the hills in a blaze of purple and red. The sight was enough to dazzle anyone who set eyes upon it, especially those who had never visited this secluded place. It was the kind of beauty that made one long to stay forever.Yet, there was one exception.A young man rode his horse to the base of the mountain, dismounted, and secured his steed. Without a glance at the dazzling scene around him, he began to walk the path up the mountain, his gaze fixed firmly on the road ahead.The vivid azaleas stretched out along either side of the path, reaching out as if to claim him, but he merely brushed them aside with a casual swipe of his hand.His pace was swift, and he occasionally used his Lightfoot Skill. Eldermere Keep was not high up, but its location was well-hidden, with many winding paths leading in. However, he had studied the map countless times before embarking on this journey, so the route to the keep was et
Rafael glanced at the robe. "Isn't that mine? Are you saying I've gotten fat? I'm not fat.""Oh, is it yours? It's too long, then. I'll have someone alter it for me," Carissa replied casually.Rafael shook his head. "If you want something loose, just have someone make it for you. Why bother altering my old clothes? It's not even comfortable.""I'm going to Meadow Ridge for a year. Wearing your clothes will make it feel like you're still with me," Carissa said with a bright smile, as if the idea of being apart for a year was no more serious than being apart for a day."A year?" Rafael looked shocked. "You're going back for a whole year? Why?""Well, of course, my mentor misses me, and I miss him too," Carissa replied, placing her hands on her hips as she handed the robe to Lulu, who was standing by with a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh."But I won't leave right away. Since Ryan is about to inherit the duke's title, I'll wait until that's settled before I go back to Meado
On the 13th day of winter, Salvador suddenly woke up feeling clearer than before. Saying he was hungry, he specifically asked for beef stew and milk pastries.Derek hurried to make the necessary arrangements. When the food arrived, Octavia sat by the bed as she had done many times before, ready to feed him. But Salvador insisted he wanted to sit up to eat himself.Derek gently helped the king sit up, placing a soft cushion behind him to support his back. Salvador had grown so thin that he seemed to be nothing but skin and bones. His body slouched as he sat, so Derek had to kneel beside the bed, holding his waist to keep him steady.Salvador finished an entire bowl of stew, eating it all without leaving a single bit behind. Then, he picked up a small milk pastry. But after a bite, he felt a little nauseous, so he didn't eat any more.Sebastian sent word to Victoria. After a brief conversation, her face turned pale and tears started to fall almost immediately. Though she had tried to
Once back at the palace, Salvador was unable to rise from his bed. Sebastian spoke briefly with him, hinting that he didn't have much time left. If there was anyone he wished to see, it should be done as soon as possible.The first person Salvador wanted to see was, of course, Victoria."That child… When he saw me, he couldn't stop asking about you. You didn't love him in vain, Mom," Salvador murmured, his voice weak.Victoria sighed deeply. "How cruel... his life must be lived hidden away in the mountains, never able to leave. Is there truly no hope for his legs?""I believe there is no hope," Salvador replied softly, his lips pale and drained of color. "But as I was leaving, he said, 'Dad, once I've learned enough medicine, I'll cure you. I'll make you better.'"Victoria's heart ached. "What a good child."Salvador's gaze drifted to the ceiling, his voice barely a whisper as he repeated, "Yes, he is a good child."After speaking with Victoria, Salvador asked Rafael to bring in
Salvador had temporarily settled at Eldermere Keep. The place was filled with every kind of medicine, yet his illness had reached a point where no remedy could ease his suffering.Still, staying there brought him peace. It was as if he had finally set down a heavy burden and could now live as an ordinary father. He spent each day with his son, sharing simple moments together.Carissa was allowed to visit and spend some time with Connor. He asked her about Ryan, specifically inquiring whether he had made any new friends."Ryan has no other friends but you. He always thinks about you," she reassured with a smile, thinking the eldest prince might be jealous.Connor was quiet for a long while, his expression tinged with guilt. Finally, with a deep sadness in his eyes, he softly said, "I have friends now, like Otto. Ryan should have his own friends too. I always think about him, but... I don't think I'll ever see him again."Carissa gently patted his head and smiled. "The future is lon
After the sun set behind the mountains, the temperature began to drop. Salvador had been carried up the mountain, but now, he was carrying Connor on his back as they made their way back into the estate.Connor had his arms tightly wrapped around Salvador's thin shoulders, and he couldn't stop the tears from falling. This was a scene he had never even dared to dream of. Not only had he never imagined being carried by his father, but even something as simple as having his father gently pat his head had always seemed like an impossible wish.But his father was so thin; there was no flesh on his back at all. How had he become so frail?Carissa and the others waited outside the gates. Not even Galen had been allowed in. Only Salvador's most loyal attendants, those who had carried the litter, were permitted to enter. The others, of course, were kept away from Connor. They all believed that Salvador had come to Eldermere Keep solely to recover from his illness.The estate itself was full