The echo of the horn resounded through the air, as though it had traveled down a tunnel of time itself, lingering over this ancient land.
Once, this place had been a sacred sanctuary in the hearts of countless scholars of magic—the Raya Lucaria Academy. Now, its massive gates were tightly sealed, locking away its former brilliance and glory behind heavy doors.
The Cuckoo soldiers seemed to have had their spines torn from them. One after another, they discarded their weapons, faces drained of color, and began kneeling in neat rows along both sides of the main road, starting from the northern gate of Gatefront Town.
Their formation stretched far into the distance, nearly reaching the shimmering lakeshore beyond.
The knights and soldiers who were usually so imposing did not dare lift their heads. They merely bowed in silence, as though awaiting the judgment of fate.
At the head of the army receiving this submission, Nolan rode steadily forward atop Torrent, whose body was clad in heavy armor, leading the Carian forces.
The synchronized sound of boots striking the ground rang out as a surging tide of iron flooded into the town. Behind the Dark Moon Knight marched the Carian soldiers who had fought desperately through the night.
He sat tall and straight, his gaze sharp as an eagle's as he took in everything before him.
With each step forward, the orderly cadence of marching boots followed behind, rolling like distant thunder. The iron tide poured endlessly into the battered town, stirring cheers from the townsfolk.
Liurnia had suffered under the Cuckoos for far too long.
Yet within this vast host, the Cleanrot Knights were nowhere to be seen.
Finlay and Arl were, in the end, only passing travelers. Their meeting with Nolan in Gatefront Town had been nothing more than a chance encounter.
After the battle ended, following a brief exchange of greetings and reminiscence, the two departed with several Cleanrot Knights, continuing their pursuit of the fleeing Demigod.
They came like meteors streaking across the sky, and departed just as swiftly. Though their stay was brief, their appearance undeniably brought subtle changes.
Before long, the Carian army completed its encampment and deployment throughout Gatefront Town.
Nolan decisively dispatched a contingent of elite troops to stand guard before the academy's tightly sealed gates.
At last, after relentless travel and fierce fighting, everyone was granted a rare moment of rest.
Within the hastily erected camp, the atmosphere was heavy.
"Apprentice, is something troubling you?" Sellen finally asked, unable to suppress her curiosity.
She and her apprentice were alone inside a tent. In her hands was a sorcery notebook taken from Seluvis, and no one outside could glimpse what was happening within.
Nolan lay on a simple cot with both hands folded beneath his head, his eyes fixed on the Glintstone lamp hanging above, its bright light casting a steady glow.
He spoke slowly.
"Godrick's escape is no small matter. It means two more dangerous figures have stepped onto the stage of history. And the Saintess back home… her situation might be a little dangerous."
Taking Gatefront Town was undeniably a glorious achievement, one that could even be said to have altered the course of Caria's history.
Yet Godrick's sudden appearance left Nolan with an unshakable sense of unease.
Did that Saintess even realize she was about to be abducted?
If Trina was fully aware of it, Nolan could remain here without worry. But if she knew nothing at all, then he could not simply stand by and do nothing.
"Uh… I'm afraid I don't quite understand. And I don't know how you came to that conclusion."
Sellen paused, momentarily stunned, a look of confusion spreading across her face.
She began carefully retracing every detail of the previous night, searching for any clue that might support what Nolan had said.
Yet no matter how thoroughly she searched her memories, she was certain of one thing. At the time of their parting, the Cleanrot Knights had not revealed anything remotely related to this matter.
Sellen was full of misgivings. She suddenly beckoned Nolan over and whispered softly,
"Disciple, I may not understand what you're talking about, but your master knows what to do now."
"Huh?"
Nolan was still thinking about what to do next and didn't notice the change in her at all. He instinctively leaned closer.
Then a crisp, resounding sound rang out—
Thud!!
A fair, jade-like hand came down squarely on the top of his head.
The blow wasn't light. Nolan reflexively raised a hand to rub the spot that had been struck.
"Master, what was that for!?"
He looked up at her in shock, complaining as he stared at her.
Sellen's deep, lake-blue eyes were fixed on him, clear and gentle.
"I told you not to think too much. Too many tangled thoughts only interfere with your judgment," she said softly, her brow slightly furrowed.
"If there's something you want to do, then do it. From my experience, pointless worries only make things less efficient."
To be honest, Nolan didn't really feel any pain from that not-too-light, not-too-heavy knock on the head.
He was just surprised.
His teacher was still his teacher. She would always support whatever he wanted to do.
Even if she didn't know why he wanted to do it, or what consequences it might bring.
That attitude, more than anything, resonated with Nolan.
After all, even in the game, many events were described only vaguely. In this world, getting too hung up on so-called plot developments would only cloud one's judgment and bind one's hands.
The two talked animatedly for a long time, the topic drifting from ways of living to thoughts about the future. Only when their throats were dry did they finally stop.
"Master, I've made up my mind. I'm going back to the Haligtree!" Nolan suddenly sat upright.
With the academy's gates sealed, the Cuckoos were no longer a concern, and Caria's victory was all but assured. There was little point in staying here any longer.
Sellen nodded slightly. She didn't quite understand why her student had chosen this moment to decide, but she supported him all the same.
Latenna was called in halfway through. Having worked for Her Highness the Princess for so long, she couldn't just leave without a word.
When she heard Nolan's plan, she was utterly shocked. Still, once she received her orders, she mounted the great wolf and sped off to the riverbank to take a boat.
Nolan calmly watched the curtain, his eyes showing not the slightest hint of regret. There was no reason for regret, after all.
He couldn't exactly go up to Ranni and say he knew the future, that Miquella would be abducted by the Child of the Omen crawling out of the sewers.
After a while, Sellen quietly leaned over to Nolan and whispered,
"When do we leave?"
Nolan was silent for a long time. Once, his teacher had said they would always be together. But now, the apprentice could only shake his head gently.
"This time, I want to go back alone. Please don't worry about your student. One day, I will definitely return for you."
Who was Mohg, after all? A demigod favored by the Formless Mother. Godrick alone had been hard enough to deal with. How could he possibly take his teacher along into that kind of danger?
Her Primal Glintstone hadn't even finished crystallizing yet. Staying in Caria was the safest choice.
There were solid walls here, and brave soldiers. And as far as Nolan knew, Caria Manor had never been breached, not even when the Tarnished returned.
After saying all this, Nolan raised his head without the slightest hesitation and met his teacher's gaze.
Sellen's brows drooped slightly, as if trying to hide the unease in her heart.
But soon she lifted her head again, her blue eyes meeting her foolish disciple's without flinching.
"Very well. I'll wait for you."
It felt like an eternity before those words finally came.
For a moment, master and disciple stood facing each other in silence.
There was no need for more words, no reproach. The teacher simply straightened her student's clothes.
When it was done, Nolan took a deep breath, turned around, and stepped out of the tent.
Whether it was reluctance to part or anticipation of reunion, the step still had to be taken.
Mohg, newly returned to the light of day, was seeking an Empyrean. By coincidence, Nolan himself was also very interested in that Omen Child.