Castle · Royal Authority School

In the village square, the cavalry captain, who had only just led his men inside, wheeled his horse around and engaged the giant wolf with his broadsword. His strike left thin streaks of blood across the wolf's mouth, but did not truly wound it. Instead, because he wielded his sword one-handed, he lacked the strength to withstand its pounce and was knocked from his horse. If he hadn't been experienced enough to roll away in time, the giant wolf's claws would have torn him apart on the spot.

Breathing hard, he leaped out of the wolf's range, gripped his broadsword with both hands, and steadied his breathing. His eyes stayed fixed on the giant wolf five meters away, his expression tense. A few drops of blood fell from his reddish-brown beard.

The crimson giant wolf didn't immediately give chase. Instead, it stepped on the warhorse the cavalry captain had ridden, tore open its neck, then bit its head into its mouth. The crunch of breaking bones rang from its bloody jaws, chilling everyone present and filling them with fear.

"Ha... ha... ha..." His chest almost trembling, the cavalry captain steadied his breathing and slowly shifted his feet, searching for a good position to strike from.

While he faced the wolf with tense concentration, fighting also broke out elsewhere in the square. The orange-red Ti Wolves that had charged in alongside the giant wolf bit at anyone they saw, battling the people guarding the square.

The Ti Wolves varied in strength. Some merely had orange-red fur and were little stronger than ordinary wolves, while others could knock a person over with a single blow, then tear open their enemy's throat with sharp teeth and claws. Out of fear and respect for their leader, they didn't rashly join the standoff in the center of the square. Instead, they circled the bonfire and fought the others there.

Chaos reigned. Talia led Sylutia by the hand, and the two stumbled as they ran toward a stone building in the distance. It was square and looked like a fortress.

"We're finally here."

Talia pulled open the half-shut, heavy wooden door and led Sylutia inside. Then she closed it again, secured it with a wooden crossbar, and leaned against the wall to catch her breath.

Sylutia looked around curiously. There was an old wooden table, two chairs, and some straw scattered across the floor. A pile of dusty odds and ends sat in the corner.

Seeing the girl's curiosity, Talia explained, "This place is for defense. There's a small opening over there that we can pull open to shoot arrows through, but I didn't bring a bow and arrows this time, so we won't need it."

"Is it always this dangerous here? That giant wolf looked hard to deal with," Sylutia asked.

"No. Usually, only the end of the Rising Wind Season and the Gale Season are dangerous. During that time, quite a few beasts gain Aspect Power and become fierce and powerful."

"Rising Wind Season? Gale Season?" Sylutia blinked and repeated the two terms.

"Don't tell me you don't even know about those?" Talia gave her a strange look, but still answered. "The Rising Wind Season, Gale Season, Season of Sinking Fog, and Trade Wind Season are the four great wind seasons. Each lasts for more than a decade, and things vary from place to place, but generally speaking, they form a fifty-four-year cycle."

As Talia answered, a familiar feeling surfaced in Sylutia's mind, and she continued, "During the Rising Wind Season, all things grow and animals breed in great numbers, giving rise to more and stronger beasts. That makes the wilderness dangerous. Then, during the Gale Season, the Blazing Sun Aspect Power weakens, plants grow more slowly, and herbivores become scarce. Many beasts grow even more savage because of hunger."

"Mm-hmm, so you do know about it." Talia nodded in satisfaction.

"But what you learned is book knowledge. You probably don't go out into the wilderness much. Actually, during the first few years of the Gale Season, the continent sinks into the clouds, bringing especially heavy rainfall. There's plenty of food then, so the beasts have a brief period of peace. Frogs breed in great numbers during that time."

"Hehe, I know quite a lot, don't I?" Seeing Sylutia listen so attentively, Talia was very pleased.

"Have you been to school?" Sylutia asked with interest.

"Not really. Reading and writing are such a hassle. But my older sister loves learning. She studied in the city before, and whenever she came back, she'd drag me over and tell me about what she'd learned. I got tired of listening, but I did remember some of it."

"I see."

"By the way, where are you from? I've never seen anyone as beautiful as you. Are nobles all this pretty? Is it true that you can get fairer if you don't go out in the sun? And can your hair turn snow-white too? Also, how old are you?" Talia finally couldn't hold back her curiosity and fired off a string of questions.

"As for where I'm from, I can't say for sure right now. Something happened, and I can't remember some things." The girl pressed a finger lightly to her chin and shook her head.

"Nobles probably look a little better because they do less work and have money to take care of themselves, but that's not always the case. Avoiding the sun can make your skin a little fairer, but it can't change your skin tone. And staying out of the sun can't change your hair color. As for my age, I should be about the same age as you." Her memory was unusually sharp now. Even though Talia had asked question after question, she answered each one clearly and in order.

"Wow, really?" After hearing Sylutia's answers, Talia felt inexplicably happy. The other girl had actually listened to every word she said and patiently answered her questions. The last time she'd felt that way was with her older sister. The other adults were always impatient with her strange questions.

"So, are you trying to find your way home now?" Talia sized up the silver-haired girl, trying to guess where she came from by the style of her clothes.

"Yes." But home probably meant crossing worlds, the girl thought to herself.

"Hmm... Let me think. I'm sure Grandpa Heide could help you." She propped her chin on her hand and thought about the people she knew.

"Who is he?"

"He's my sister's teacher, a scholar in Scorched Stone City. I heard he used to be an adviser to a noble, but he's very old now and lives by himself in a small house in the city."

"Let me tell you, Grandpa Heide isn't an ordinary teacher. He's been certified by the Candlekeep School and is a scholar with a Brass Book Emblem."

Candlekeep School... The girl silently repeated the name. It sounded somewhat familiar, and a faint, hazy sense of recognition surfaced.

"If I get the chance, I'll visit him." She badly needed to learn about all aspects of this world. Finding a knowledgeable teacher would be ideal.

As they chatted, the two grew more familiar with each other. Then cries and the sound of something collapsing came from outside, drawing their attention.

Talia went to the small closed window and pulled open its shutter, carefully watching what was happening outside. Sylutia stood behind her and looked out too.

Flames spread across the square. Many of the people who had fought earlier lay on the ground, but there were even more wolf carcasses. Apart from the crimson giant wolf, only a few Ti Wolves still roamed around, fighting. The cavalry captain's clothes were bloodstained, and the protective layer over his chest had been torn apart. Beneath it, his chainmail was split by a long gash, and dark red blood kept dripping from it. One arm hung limply, apparently broken, while his other hand could barely hold his sword.

The remaining cavalrymen and villagers still faced off against the giant wolf. Its body was also stained with blood, and one closed eye dripped thick black blood that sent wisps of white vapor curling up from the ground.

Under normal circumstances, the wounded Fang Beast should have fled long ago. But under the influence of the Blazing Sun Aspect Power, the giant wolf's nature had grown defiant, and its wounds had made it even more vicious. Judging by its intelligence, the few remaining soldiers in front of it were all extremely weak. A few more attacks would be enough to kill them all.

Driven by both hunger and bloodlust, the crimson giant wolf growled and slowly moved through the firelight. It wasn't even afraid when it occasionally stepped on glowing coals. Its strength had indeed diminished, but it had also become more cunning and dangerous.

The situation was dire. If the cavalry captain fell, everything would turn around in an instant. The girl's brow furrowed slightly, and worry welled up inside her.

Unfortunately, she had no abilities beyond her advantage in identification. Even if she rushed outside, she wouldn't be able to help. The situation made her yearn to gain strength.

I have to find a chance to learn something that can help me protect myself, Sylutia decided.

"Soon..." Talia's eyes were fixed on the stone platform at the edge of the square as she whispered.

"What's soon?" Sylutia asked, confused.

"I can't explain it. Look over there. You'll understand in a moment." Talia pointed outside the square, where several people were climbing onto the stone platform and smearing something on it with their hands, which were covered in limestone.

"Is it ready yet?" The wounded cavalry captain shouted urgently from the square.

A few seconds later, a delighted voice rang out in the night. "Yes! It's ready!"

Though no one else could see any difference, Sylutia could see transparent, grayish-white ripples radiating from the stone platform. And it wasn't just that platform: there seemed to be others around the village. The ripples from all six platforms collided, then converged in the center of the square. A strange field of force formed and spread across the entire village.

[Royal Authority School · Six-Stone Tower's Protection] (Castle)

"A classic Ritual Array of the Royal Authority School. It can suppress Aspect Power other than the 'Castle' Aspect within the barrier, and slightly strengthen the abilities of the 'Castle' School."

The grayish-white ripples spread out, and the crimson giant wolf's fur grew a little duller. In the girl's eyes, its boiling blood had also cooled considerably. The aura and pressure it gave off immediately diminished by a third.

She turned her gaze to the cavalry captain. His condition had improved somewhat, and his eyes had grown resolute again. Even his breathing had steadied.

Name: Unknown (Cavalry Captain)

Race: Human (Mortal Body)

Status: Injured (two fractures, three wounds)

Talent:

Tenacity [Good]: Your body is naturally a little tougher than an ordinary person's, but don't rely too heavily on this talent. It isn't very powerful, and may instead get you killed through carelessness.

Fate Card: [Iron-Clad Guard (Granted)] (First Order—Castle); the card's gray-stone border formed a regular rectangle. Inside, a soldier wearing chainmail stood with a sword in hand. He stood tall with perfect posture, pride on his face.

"You were knighted by Baron Holin and became a loyal guard under his command, thus gaining the Castle Aspect Class—Iron-Clad Guard."

Effects:

[Iron Armor Protection Lv. 2]: Makes the iron armor you wear more protective and durable, making it difficult for ordinary weapons to pierce. It can also slightly reduce the force of Impact and distribute damage.

Ability Cards:

[Steel Edge Blade Lv. 2 (Granted)] (Castle): Temporarily gives your weapon the strength of steel and increases its Sharpness, allowing it to penetrate weak defensive barriers.

[Breathing Technique Lv. 2] (Blood Law): Regulates the speed of blood flow through breathing, while driving and enhancing the strength and reflexes of the whole body. This ability places demands on the heart and body and cannot be used for long periods. (Recommended limit: no more than 3 minutes per day.)

After gaining a brief advantage, the cavalry captain immediately began shouting orders. He had the remaining villagers and cavalrymen keep distracting the giant wolf. While they shot arrows and banged weapons against their shields to draw its attention, he gripped his broadsword and looked for an opening, constantly circling the wolf. After several such exchanges, he darted forward and thrust his sharp blade straight into the giant wolf's lower jaw, piercing flesh and driving into its mouth.

The intense pain sent the crimson giant wolf leaping and thrashing wildly. Its frenzied strength ruined the cavalry captain's chance to follow up with another strike. Perhaps it had finally realized that its life was truly in danger. The giant wolf stopped fighting and fled into the night, dragging the broadsword embedded in its lower jaw.

Blood dripped along the path, but the giant wolf moved like the wind and vanished into the darkness in an instant. No one there could catch up to it. The few remaining warhorses were either wounded or had fled to the edge of the village, so they were no use now.

"Damn it!" The cavalry captain spat out a mouthful of blood and could only watch in anger as the giant wolf fled into the night and disappeared.

With the vicious crimson giant wolf gone, the remaining Ti Wolves saw that things had turned against them and prepared to flee. But they weren't nearly as fast. The cavalry captain still had pent-up anger inside him, so he used the Breathing Technique again. His face flushed red, and then he quickened his pace, catching up with the Ti Wolves. Before long, several bloody wolf heads flew into the air and rolled into the weeds and mud.

"Phew—" A long stream of hot breath left his mouth. The cavalry captain could no longer hold on. The side effects of the Breathing Technique began to hit him, and a wave of soreness surged through his body, making him nearly unable to stand.

"Captain!" One of the cavalrymen hurriedly caught him. He then shouted for someone to find a doctor and treat him.

"Get someone here quickly! There are a lot of people injured, and if we can't stop the bleeding in time, many of them may die." Ordinary Ti Wolves didn't have a powerful bite. Unless they caught someone by the throat, they couldn't kill them quickly.

Hearing this, the remaining villagers ran into the village to call for help.

The night was noisy. Villagers set up plenty of pine-resin torches and makeshift braziers in the square. Once they saw the fighting was over, those who had hurried over began tending to the wounded, while others finished off the Ti Wolves that were still alive.

"How many people died?" The village chief came out of his house, looking exhausted, and asked in a subdued voice.

"I don't know. At least five or six. Some are still being treated. If they don't make it through the night, I'm afraid..." A sturdy villager standing beside him replied, his expression grim.

"This year's Tilang Festival has been especially dangerous." Vandhi, the merchant who had hidden earlier, slowly came over. Two mercenary guards stayed close by his side. They wore full suits of chainmail, helmets, and shields, and were the strongest members of the caravan.

"Hmph."

The village chief was displeased to see Vandhi only show up now. He knew the man must have found somewhere safe to hide during the fight. If he had sent all his guards to help defend the village, the losses would have been much lower.

"Heh, Old Ponder..." Vandhi knew his actions had upset the others, but he certainly wasn't going to put his own safety second. All he could do now was approach with a broad smile and try to smooth things over.

"The village really did suffer an unexpected loss this time. As an old friend of Linden Village, I should do something to help. How about this? I'll give you twenty percent off this shipment. No, thirty percent!" He made a gesture, wincing at the cost.

The village chief didn't answer. He merely shook his head and turned away to check on the wounded.

"How is Frien, my lord?" He went to the injured cavalry captain. So that was the man's name: Frien.

"I'm not going to die just yet." As he spoke, he bared his teeth in pain. One of his men was cleaning the long gash across his chest, where charred and bright-red flesh showed through. It looked rather frightening.

The village chief didn't object. He glanced at the wound and nodded slightly. He'd been an adventurer when he was young, so he knew that although the injury looked bad, it wasn't too serious.

"That's a relief." If this capable captain under Baron Holin died here, he would be in a lot of trouble. It would be hard to explain to the baron.

"How are the other men?" Only then did he have the time to look at the rest of the cavalrymen. Many were wounded. Though they wore leather or chainmail, they had endured far fiercer fighting than the villagers, and their casualties were even worse.

"We lost four on the way here, and another three just now. Several others are unconscious. Their condition is uncertain." Frien shook his head, his mood low.

Quite a few of these men had been trained by him personally, and he thought of them like nephews. Naturally, he was grieving.

As the two discussed what to do next, two figures crossed the firelit square and walked toward them.

"Grandpa, Miss Tia says she can help." Talia led Sylutia over, glancing from time to time at the wolf carcasses on the ground. She looked both a little frightened and a little excited.

So Sylutia stood before the village chief again. The silver-haired girl's appearance surprised Frien; he had no idea that someone like her had been living in the village.

After a brief introduction, he learned about the girl's situation. There was no time to discuss it in detail, and he could only hope she had a way to help treat his men.

"I know how to clean wounds, and I can stitch up simple ones." She had learned a little sewing from her grandmother when she was young, and at university she'd also received training in first aid.

These things might be common knowledge on Earth, but the villagers here were using far too crude a method to treat the wounded. She could hardly bear to watch, so she'd offered to help.

Perhaps this would help her get closer to the villagers, too. She still had a lot of things she would need to ask the locals for help with, so after deciding what to do, she and Talia had come over.

The village chief and Frien were both skeptical, but they still let her try. As it turned out, her methods really did work, and the two men felt reassured.

Standing beside a pot of boiling water, Sylutia deftly cleaned dirt and clotted blood from the wounds with her fingers. She straightened the broken bones that had shifted out of place, then carefully bandaged them and secured them with splints. Talia stood nearby to assist, holding the injured in place or securing the splints.

The two started out awkwardly, but their teamwork steadily improved. They kept busy in an orderly fashion, and their work wasn't finished until late at night.

She dipped her fingers into warm water and washed them, then dried them. Only then did Sylutia have a moment to carefully wipe the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

"Don't. Don't wipe your sweat with clothes like that. Use this instead." Talia handed her a clean piece of cotton cloth.

"Thank you." Sylutia finished wiping her face and set the cloth aside, then suddenly thought of something.

"Cotton cloth must be pretty valuable, right?" She had noticed that most of the villagers wore linen, while only a few wore wool.

"It's pretty expensive. My sister brought this back for me from the city," Talia replied.

"But it's worth it if it gets to wipe your face." In the light of the lamp inside, she took another careful look at the girl's appearance.

"You're beautiful no matter how I look at you. I don't think even the prettiest girl in Scorched Stone City compares to you." She took back the cloth from Sylutia and carefully put it in the pocket inside her clothes.

Miss Tia was lovely while she worked, too. The focused, serious look on her face had even quieted someone as mischievous as Talia.

The two sat by the lamp to rest. Later, a village woman brought them something to eat.

"Go on, eat up. I just baked these pies. You've both worked so hard tonight." She gently stroked Talia's reddish-brown hair, then looked toward the girl sitting by the lamp.

"What a beautiful girl..." She couldn't help voicing the same admiration as Talia.

"Get some rest early tonight. You've both been working for so long. I'll go bring some food to the others."

After she left, the people of Linden Village were destined to spend a sleepless night.