Amid a brilliant radiance, Valhalla's main trunk gradually vanished, dissolving into scattered fragments of light from the bottom upward. The branches and leaves disappeared next, and finally the points of light faded away, leaving only a vast forest beneath the clear winter sky in the empty valley. Antitina stood there in a daze for a moment. Only when the mountain wind lifted the hair from her forehead did she lower her head, put on her veil, turn to the two White Lion Knights, and say, "Return to Fir Territory."
A knight opened the carriage door for her. Before getting in, Antitina took one last look at the valley where Valhalla had stood, then ducked into the carriage and shut the door. Escorted by the knights, the carriage moved slowly forward along the familiar forest path. Antitina had traveled this road back to Fir Territory countless times. The quiet woods usually helped her calm down and think, but today the forest was so silent that it only made her restless.
Just like the unusually desolate Fir Territory at that moment, the unknowable future, unease, and uncertainty lingered relentlessly in her heart. Only when she was alone did she feel helpless. When Antitina imagined the terrifying possibility that she might never see Brando again, even her heart clenched. Adviser Miss's face turned frighteningly pale, and she nearly wept, but she clung tightly to the seat and silently recited a prayer, praying that everything would eventually pass and that Lady Martha would keep that man safe.
But the violent shaking of the carriage jolted her out of her thoughts. Antitina suddenly raised her head and heard a shrill whistle tearing through the air outside. Arrows thudded into the carriage, frightening her into ducking down. The knights shouted from outside, "They're scum from the