Castle · Royal Authority School

In the village square, the cavalry captain who had just charged in with his men wheeled his horse around, engaging the giant wolf with his broadsword. Despite landing a strike that drew a thin line of blood from the beast's maw, he failed to inflict any real damage. Instead, because he was wielding his blade one-handed, his lack of leverage caused him to be knocked from his mount. Had he not been experienced enough to roll away in time, he likely would have been torn apart by the giant wolf's claws on the spot.

Panting as he leaped out of the giant wolf's reach, he gripped his broadsword with both hands, steadying his breathing. He kept his eyes locked on the beast five meters away, his expression tense, a few beads of blood dripping from his brownish-red beard.

At this moment, the crimson giant wolf did not rush to pursue him. Instead, it stepped onto the warhorse the captain had just been riding, tore open its neck with a single bite, and clamped its jaws around the horse's head. The crunching sound of bone shattering within that bloody maw sent a chill through the onlookers, filling them with dread.

"Hoo... hoo... hoo..." With a chest heaving in near-tremors, the cavalry captain adjusted his breathing, shifting his feet slowly to find a stable stance for his next strike.

As he braced himself for the confrontation, battles were breaking out elsewhere in the square. The orange-red Ti Wolves that had charged in alongside the giant wolf were biting everyone in sight, clashing with the guards stationed in the square.

These Ti Wolves varied in strength; some were merely orange-furred and little stronger than common wild wolves, while others could flip a man over in a single motion, tearing throats open with sharp fangs and claws. Out of fear and respect for their leader, they did not rashly intervene in the standoff at the center of the square, instead circling the bonfire to fight the other personnel.

The scene was in total chaos. Talia dragged Sylutia along, stumbling as they ran toward a stone building in the distance; it was square and looked like a fortress.

"Finally here."

Talia pulled open the half-closed heavy wooden door, led Sylutia inside, then shut it again and slid the crossbar into place before leaning against the wall to catch her breath.

Sylutia looked around with mild curiosity. The room contained an old wooden table, two chairs, some straw scattered on the floor, and a pile of dusty debris in the corner.

Seeing the girl's curiosity, Talia explained, "This is for defense. There's a small slit over there you can open to shoot arrows, but I don't have a bow on me right now, so we won't be needing it."

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

"No, generally it's only dangerous toward the end of the Rising Wind Season and during the Gale Season. During these times, many beasts gain 'aspects' and become ferocious and powerful."

"Rising Wind Season, Gale Season?" Sylutia blinked, repeating the terms.

"Don't tell me you don't even know that?" Talia looked at the girl with a strange expression, but couldn't help but answer.

"Rising Wind Season, Gale Season, Season of Sinking Fog, and Trade Wind Season—these are the four wind seasons. Each lasts over a decade, and conditions vary by region, but overall, it's a fifty-four-year cycle."

As Talia answered, a sense of familiarity surfaced in Sylutia's mind, and she continued, "Because the Rising Wind Season brings growth to all things and animals breed in large numbers, more and stronger beasts are born, making the wilderness dangerous. By the time the Gale Season arrives, the 'Blazing Sun' aspect weakens, plant growth slows, herbivorous animals decrease, and many beasts become even more ferocious due to hunger."

"Mhm, looks like you do know after all." Talia nodded, satisfied.

"But that's knowledge from books; I bet you rarely go into the wild. Actually, in the first few years of the Gale Season, because the continent sinks into the mist, rainfall is exceptionally heavy. There's plenty of food then, so the beasts actually have a brief period of peace. That's when frogs breed in large numbers."

"Hehe, I know quite a bit, don't I?" Seeing Sylutia listening so intently, Talia felt very pleased.

"Did you go to school?" Sylutia asked with interest.

"Not really. Reading and writing are just too much trouble. But my sister is very studious; she used to study in the city. Sometimes when she came back, she'd drag me along to tell me what she'd learned. I got sick of listening to it, but I remembered some of it."

"So that's how it is."

"By the way, where are you from? I've never seen someone as pretty as you before. Are all nobles this beautiful? Is it true that if you don't get any sun, you turn pale and your hair turns snow-white? And how old are you?" Talia finally couldn't suppress her curiosity and rattled off a string of questions.

"Where I come from... that's a question I can't quite answer right now. I had an accident and can't remember some things." The girl shook her head, tapping her chin with a finger.

"Nobles probably look a bit better because they do less manual labor and have money for upkeep, but it's not absolute. As for not getting sun, it can make you fairer, but it can't change your skin tone, and hair color certainly doesn't change from staying out of the sun. As for my age, I should be about the same as you." Her memory was exceptionally sharp now; even with Talia's rapid-fire questions, she could answer them one by one in an orderly fashion.

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

"So, are you looking for the way home now?" Talia looked the silver-haired girl up and down, trying to guess her origins from the style of her clothes.

"Yes." Though her "home" would likely require crossing worlds, the girl thought to herself.

"Hmm... I think Grandpa Heide might be able to help you." She rested her chin on her hand, recalling the people she knew.

"Who is he?"

"He's my sister's teacher, a scholar in Scorched Stone City. They say he used to be an advisor to nobles, but he's very old now and lives alone in a small building in the city."

"Let me tell you, Grandpa Heide isn't just any teacher. He's certified by the 'Candlekeep School' and is a scholar who holds the 'Brass Book Emblem'."

Candlekeep School... The girl repeated the term silently. It felt somewhat familiar, a vague sense of recognition stirring within her.

"If I have the chance, I will pay him a visit." She desperately needed to understand every aspect of this world, and finding a learned teacher would be ideal.

The two talked, their relationship gradually growing closer, until a series of shouts and the sound of something collapsing outside diverted their attention.

Moving to the small, closed window, Talia pulled back the shutter to carefully observe the situation outside, and Sylutia followed behind her to look out.

A blaze of fire was spreading across the square. Many of the men who had been fighting had fallen, but there were even more wolf carcasses on the ground. Now, aside from the crimson giant wolf, only a few scattered Ti Wolves were still prowling and fighting. The cavalry captain was covered in blood; his surcoat was shredded, and his chainmail underneath had been torn open, revealing a long gash from which dark red blood dripped incessantly. One of his arms hung limp, seemingly broken, while the other barely gripped his sword hilt.

The remaining cavalry and villagers were still in a standoff with the giant wolf. The crimson beast was also stained with blood, one eye closed and dripping thick black ichor that hissed as it hit the ground, emitting a faint white vapor.

Under normal circumstances, this wounded beast should have fled, but influenced by the "Blazing Sun" aspect, the giant wolf was temperamental and fierce. Now, wounded and even more vicious, its intelligence told it that the remaining soldiers before it were exhausted. It only needed a few more strikes to kill them all.

Driven by both hunger and the urge to slaughter, the crimson giant wolf growled and moved slowly through the flames, unafraid even when it occasionally stepped on glowing embers. Its strength had indeed waned, but it had become even more cunning and dangerous.

The situation is dire. If that cavalry captain falls, everything will collapse, the girl thought, her brow furrowing with worry.

It was a pity that, other than her advantage in perception, she had no other abilities. Even if she rushed out, she wouldn't be of any help. This situation sparked a longing for power within her.

I must find an opportunity to learn a way to protect myself, Sylutia secretly decided.

"Almost there..." Talia's eyes were fixed on a stone platform at the side of the square, whispering to herself.

"What's almost there?" Sylutia asked, confused.

"I can't explain it well. Look there, you'll see in a moment." Talia pointed outside the square, where a few people were climbing onto the stone platform, using their hands to smear lime onto it.

"Are you done yet!" the wounded cavalry captain shouted urgently from the square.

A few seconds later, a joyful voice rang out in the night: "It's, it's done!"

Although it looked no different to others, in Sylutia's eyes, the stone platform was now emitting a transparent, grayish ripple. It wasn't just here; there seemed to be other stone platforms throughout the village. The ripples from all six platforms collided, eventually converging in the center of the square to generate a strange force field that spread to cover the entire village.

[Royal Authority School · Shelter of the Six-Stone Tower] (Castle)

"A classic ritual array of the Royal Authority School. It can suppress the power of other aspects within the barrier's area, excluding the 'Castle' aspect, and provides a slight enhancement to the abilities of the 'Castle' school."

As the grayish ripples expanded, the crimson giant wolf's fur dimmed slightly. In the young girl's eyes, its scorching blood also cooled down, and the aura and pressure it exuded diminished by thirty percent.

Turning her gaze to the cavalry captain, she saw that his condition had improved; his eyes were firm once more, and even his breathing had steadied.

Name: Unknown (Cavalry Captain) Race: Human (Mortal Body) Status: Injured (Two fractures, three wounds) Talent: Tenacity [Good Grade]: Your body is inherently two parts tougher than the average person, but do not rely too heavily on this talent; it is not powerful, and may instead lead to your death through carelessness. Fate Card: [Iron-Clad Guard (Bestowed)] (Tier 1 - Castle); The gray stone border is like a standard rectangular block. Inside the card, a soldier in chainmail stands holding a sword. He is upright, his posture standard, and his face bears a look of pride. "You have been enfeoffed by Baron Holin and have become a loyal guard under his command, thus obtaining the 'Castle' aspect profession - Iron-Clad Guard." Effects: [Iron Armor Protection Lv.2]: Makes the iron armor you wear more durable and tougher, making it difficult for ordinary weapons to pierce, while also slightly reducing impact and distributing damage. Ability Cards: [Steel Edge Blade Lv.2 (Bestowed)] (Castle): Temporarily grants your blade the hardness of steel and increases its sharpness, allowing it to penetrate weak defensive barriers. [Breathing Technique Lv.2] (Blood Law): Relies on breathing to regulate the flow rate of blood, driving and enhancing the strength and reaction speed of the entire body. This ability places a load on the heart and body and cannot be used for long periods (recommended not to exceed 3 minutes/day).

After gaining a momentary advantage, the cavalry captain immediately shouted orders, having the remaining villagers and his cavalrymen constantly distract the giant wolf. While they fired arrows and struck their blades against shields to draw its attention, he gripped his broadsword, sought an opening, and maneuvered around. After a few exchanges, he lunged forward, his sharp blade piercing the giant wolf's lower jaw, tearing through flesh and bone to lodge in its mouth.

The intense pain caused the crimson giant wolf to thrash and struggle wildly, and its violent strength ruined the captain's plan for a follow-up strike. Perhaps truly sensing the threat of death, the wolf stopped fighting and fled into the night, dragging the broadsword still embedded in its jaw.

Blood dripped along the path, but the wolf moved like the wind, vanishing into the darkness in the blink of an eye. No one could match its speed, and the few remaining warhorses were either injured or had fled to the outskirts of the village, rendering them useless.

"Damn it!" Spitting out a mouthful of blood, the cavalry captain could only watch with hatred as the wolf disappeared into the night.

With the fierce crimson giant wolf gone, the remaining Tilang wolves sensed the shift in momentum and prepared to flee, but they were not nearly as fast. The frustrated captain used his "Breathing Technique" once more; his face flushed a sudden, deep red, and he accelerated, catching up to the wolves. Before long, several bloodied wolf heads were flying through the air, rolling into the weeds and mud.

"Hoo----" A long plume of hot air escaped his lips. The captain could no longer hold on; the side effects of the Breathing Technique began to backlash, and a tide of soreness flooded his body, leaving him barely able to stand.

"Captain!" A cavalry member rushed to support him, shouting for a medic.

"Hurry, call someone! There are still many people injured here. If we don't stop the bleeding in time, many will die." The bite force of ordinary Tilang wolves wasn't strong; unless they locked onto the throat, they wouldn't kill quickly.

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

The night was noisy as many pine torches and makeshift braziers were set up in the square. Seeing the battle end, the villagers who arrived began to treat the wounded, while others finished off the Tilang wolves that were still clinging to life.

"How many died?" The village chief walked out of his house, looking exhausted, and asked in a somber tone.

"Not sure, 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 replied beside him, his expression grim.

"This Tilang Festival is exceptionally dangerous." Vandhi, the merchant who had been hiding, walked over slowly, closely followed by two mercenary guards. These two were wearing full chainmail, helmets, and shields—the best fighters in the caravan.

"Hmph."

Seeing Vandhi only now emerging, the village chief looked displeased. He knew full well that this man had been hiding in a safe place the whole time. If he had committed his guards to the defense, the village's losses would have been much lower.

"Heh heh, Old Man Ponder~" Vandhi knew his actions had caused dissatisfaction, but he certainly wouldn't put his own safety second. He could only offer a smiling face to smooth things over.

"The village has indeed suffered unexpected losses this time. As an old friend of Linden Village, I should help. How about this: I'll give you a twenty percent discount on this shipment—no, thirty percent!" He made a gesture, looking as if it pained him.

The village chief didn't answer, simply shaking his head and turning away to check on the wounded being treated.

"How is Lord Frien?" He arrived before the injured cavalry captain. So, this man's name was Frien.

"I won't die just yet." He winced as his subordinate wiped the long, jagged gash on his chest, where charred and raw flesh was exposed—a gruesome sight.

The village chief didn't object, nodding slightly after inspecting the wound. He had been an adventurer in his youth and knew that while the injury looked frightening, it wasn't fatal.

"That's a relief." If this capable captain under Baron Holin died here, it would be a massive headache to explain to the Baron.

"How are the others?" Only then did he have the heart to observe the rest of the cavalry. Many were injured; although they wore leather or chainmail, they had faced much fiercer combat than the villagers, and their casualties were more severe.

"Four died on the road, three more just now, and several are unconscious. It's hard to say," Frien shook his head, his mood heavy.

Many of these men were trained by his own hand, like nephews to him, so he was naturally heartbroken.

Just as the two were discussing how to handle the aftermath, two figures crossed the firelight of the square and approached.

"Grandpa, Miss Sylutia says she can help," Talia said, bringing Sylutia along. Her eyes darted toward the wolf carcasses on the ground, showing a mix of fear and excitement.

Thus, Sylutia came before the village chief once more. The appearance of the silver-haired girl surprised Frien, who had no idea such a person was hiding in the village.

After a brief introduction, he understood the girl's situation. There was no time for a long conversation; he only hoped she could find a way to save his men.

"I know some techniques for cleaning wounds, and I can stitch up simpler ones." She had learned a bit of needlework from her grandmother as a child and had undergone training in first aid during her university years.

Perhaps these things were common knowledge on Earth, but the villagers' methods here were so crude that she couldn't just stand by, which was why she had offered to help.

This should help bridge the gap a little; after all, she would have many things to ask the locals for help with later. Having made up her mind, she walked over with Talia.

The village chief and Frien were half-skeptical of the young girl's words, but they allowed her to try nonetheless. The subsequent process proved that the girl's methods were indeed effective, putting both of their minds at ease.

Standing beside the pot of boiling water, Sylutia used her nimble fingers to clear the foul blood and dirt from the wounds, setting the fractured and misaligned bones back into place before carefully bandaging them and securing them with wooden splints. Talia stood by to assist, helping to hold down the wounded or steady the splints.

Their collaboration went from clumsy at the start to increasingly proficient. They worked in this methodical, busy fashion until late into the night, when the rescue efforts finally concluded.

Sylutia rinsed her fingers in the warm water and dried them; only then did she have a moment to carefully wipe the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

"Don't, don't use those clothes to wipe your sweat. Use this." Talia handed over a clean piece of cotton cloth.

"Thank you." Sylutia finished wiping, set the cloth down, and suddenly thought of something.

"Cotton cloth should be quite valuable, right?" She had noticed that most people in the village wore linen, with a few wearing wool sweaters.

"It is rather expensive. My sister brought this to me from the city a long time ago," Talia replied.

"But it's not a waste at all to use it to wipe your sweat." She used the lamplight in the room to look over the young girl's features once more.

"No matter how I look at you, you're beautiful. I don't think even the prettiest girl in Scorched Stone City compares to you." She took back the cloth Sylutia returned and carefully tucked it into the inner pocket of her garment.

Miss Sylutia looked so moving while she worked; that focused, earnest expression made even someone as habitually mischievous as her quiet down.

The two were now resting by the lamp when an auntie from the village brought them something to eat.

"Eat up, these are pies I just baked. You two have been worn out tonight." She stroked Talia's reddish-brown hair with affection before turning her gaze toward the young girl sitting in the lamplight not far away.

"What a beautiful person..." She, too, sighed with the same sentiment as Talia.

"Get some rest early tonight; you've both been busy for so long. I'm going to go deliver food to the others."

After she walked out, it was clear that for many in Linden Village, tonight would be a sleepless one.