The End of the Fairy Tale

As the three Ice Arrow scrolls were torn apart, Silver Fox witnessed Anna's final spell.

His astonishment didn't cease there. He sensed vibrations from the ground as a colossal entity began to break through the earth. The first thing to appear was a bird's head, its sharp beak nearly touching his face. Even more bizarre, he could discern a human-like expression on the face of this bird, formed from ice elementals.

It was a look of contemptuous condescension.

Humans, no, the entire street block seemed incredibly insignificant before this behemoth.

Silver Fox was bound by vines, his only recourse being to tilt his head back and witness everything unfolding before him.

Anna had cast three spells, yet he couldn't name a single one. They didn't even seem like spells cast by humans. Facing the beast as it spread its wings to fly, he felt a disparity akin to that between a human and nature.

Anna climbed onto the beast's back. The behemoth raised its head and let out a deafening roar.

The lights of more than half the city were illuminated by this cry. Silver Fox felt the fear permeating the city, affecting even the high and mighty Nobles, and he was no exception.

For the scene before them stirred the deepest fears within every resident of the Imperial Capital, forcing them to recall the city that was once frozen over, to remember a being whose name could not be spoken.

And also, the history the Holy See had named the War of Corruption.

Silver Fox watched as the behemoth spread its wings, carrying Anna, and lifted off the ground, flying towards the military camp on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.

The Knights of the Kingdom Army were also awakened by the behemoth's roar. Torches and gas lamps dispelled the darkness. Facing the rapidly approaching behemoth, the rifle corps had already taken their positions on the city walls. Despite their fear, they aimed their guns at the sky.

"Hold! Cease fire, there's someone on the bird!"

A slender figure ascended the city wall using a grappling hook. She wore light armor, with a rapier and a flintlock pistol slung across her waist. Her fiery orange hair was tied back neatly in a ponytail. The riflemen on the wall immediately found a leader.

The woman drew her pistol and sword, positioning herself at the front of the formation, ready for what was to come, her eyes filled with excitement.

The behemoth did not attack the city wall or the military camp. It landed steadily in an open space between the camps, then lowered itself, allowing Anna to slide down its wing to the ground like a waterslide.

"Miss!?"

The young man, already holding his longsword and standing at the forefront of the troop, stared at the scene before him in disbelief. Everything happening now felt like a dream. A bird descending from the sky, carrying his beloved to him—this was a sight only found in fairy tales. He stood there, stunned and at a loss for what to do.

"Lance!"

Anna called out the young man's name and ran towards him.

Lance instinctively wrapped his arms around the figure who had rushed into his embrace. The real, yet slightly cold, touch confirmed that everything before him was actually happening.

The expeditionary force stood in formation on the open ground in front of the military camp. Normally, they would be whistling and teasing the relationship between this new Knight and the Noble lady. But not now, for everyone knew the nature of this expedition.

In fact, many were surprised by the young man who had joined the expeditionary force midway.

Their embrace might have lasted ten seconds, or perhaps longer, until Lance, his face flushed red, stammered, "Miss, there are many people watching."

Anna refused to let go, looking up at him. "Can you not go?"

"Miss, please don't speak nonsense."

"If you do, you all will..."

Anna's mind was filled with Silver Fox's malicious Curse. Everyone she saw now would, before long, be cut into cold, lifeless pieces by the evil sorcerer's magic.

Lance's index finger pressed against Anna's lips, silencing the words she was about to speak.

Such words, which could shake the morale of the army, could lead to Anna and her entire family being implicated if anyone took them seriously.

"I have been indebted to your and Butler Horn's care all these years. Now that the Empire's borders are in turmoil, it is my turn to protect your Kingdom."

"But, but!"

"Miss Anna, Knights cannot break their oaths."

The fiery figure on the city wall appeared behind Lance at some point. She crossed her arms, watching the farewell unfolding before her with great interest.

She noticed the tears welling up in Anna's eyes and her expression softened considerably.

Therefore, the way of the Knight is truly the most troublesome faith in this world. Once they betray their true selves and abandon their virtues, the Deities will take away their Power. Thus, even knowing it is an expedition from which there is no return, Knights will still go forth without hesitation. This is the tradition of the Netheriel Holy Church.

Their armor carries the weight of this country and its people.

"So, make a promise with me. Entrust him to me, and I will ensure he returns alive. As for the condition..."

The red-haired woman rested her chin on her hand, looking up at the behemoth in the military camp, her eyes practically shining with envy. "Let me ride it for a lap around the Imperial Capital. No, even five minutes would be fine!"

The behemoth seemed to understand human language. It lowered its head, looking down at the small, vibrant figure, receiving her gaze filled with longing.

The next moment!

The massive body shattered into pieces, vanishing into the air in a blink of an eye as scattered ice flowers, leaving not even a splash of water. Before that, it had given the red-haired woman a look of disdain.

--You wish!

This was the message conveyed by its gaze.

This look was incredibly effective, causing the woman's hearty laughter to freeze on her face. Her life seemed to halt at that moment, her mouth agape, her eyes unfocused. All the dreams and joys in the world no longer belonged to her. Her entire being seemed to turn gray and white, stiffening before everyone's eyes until cracks began to form.

A Knight had lost her dream.

This bizarre scene continued for a long time. Anna, at a loss, could only bury her head in Lance's chest, unable to look directly at the woman's tragic state.

The strange atmosphere persisted until the woman completed her self-shattering and reassembly. She forced out a smile that was uglier than a cry and said, "Even so, our agreement still stands."

She heard approaching footsteps. Clearly, the commotion caused by the behemoth had disturbed everyone.

She also saw a majestic old man in red robes outside the military camp, heading straight for it, surrounded by a crowd.

Every fairy tale has its end, and after that, comes the cold reality.

As the culprit behind this series of disturbances, no one knew how Anna would be treated next.

"If there's anything left unsaid, you should hurry."

Her crimson pupils glanced at the two, she concealed all expression, brushed past them, and returned to the image of the Valkyrie people saw on a daily basis.

She walked towards the vast procession outside the military camp.

"In the name of my 'Other Shore,' I swear to you."