In the ancient city known as Shadow Keep, the hazy sky remained dim, and the whole city seemed veiled in mystery.
A cold wind howled through the empty streets, making eerie sounds that sent a chill through anyone who heard them.
At that moment, a black cavalry unit appeared like ghosts in the twilight. The horses were tall and powerful, their bodies black as ink, galloping swiftly along Scadu Altus Avenue.
Several pitch-black warhorses rode in close formation on either side of the twin-sword knight, spreading out with the grandeur of unfurled wings.
Every warhorse was swift and fierce, and every knight exuded a powerful presence that made others fear to approach.
The guards patrolling the road saw the imposing cavalry from afar and hurriedly scattered in panic to make way.
The cavalry cut straight into the middle of the road like an incomparably sharp blade. Anyone or anything that stood in their path would be cleaved apart without mercy.
The mounted knights were clad in heavy black armor, wearing black helmets that revealed only cold, sharp eyes.
Their gazes gleamed with a killing chill like cold stars as they kept watch on both sides of the road at all times, not daring to relax or grow careless in the slightest.
On this land filled with death, even the smallest anomaly could mean fatal danger. Years of war had taught them never to lower their guard.
At last, the cavalry entered the city gates.
This was undoubtedly the place where the hearts of all Black Knights belonged. Their lord was here, and their postings outside were only a matter of duty.
And the Demigod who had once been invincible, yet now remained silent and withdrawn, was hiding at the end of a dark corner of this city like a shut-in child.
He had long, fiery red hair like burning flames, and wore a set of heavy black armor that reflected a cold gleam in the faint firelight.
The red cloak embroidered with a flame emblem added even more mystery and majesty to him, making him seem like a hero who had stepped out of distant ancient Roman myth.
Messmer the Impaler, child of the goddess Marika, the Demigod who hunted the Graceless Ones.
With hurried steps, the twin-sword knight finally arrived before the grand castle.
She looked up at the towering walls and tightly shut gates, and could not help letting out a breath of relief. The city had not changed.
After passing through layer upon layer of reports and inspections, the twin-sword knight stepped into the mysterious castle.
She crossed the long corridor and finally saw her lord. At once, she avoided looking directly at him and bowed as a knight should.
Candlelight flickered in the hall, light and shadow interweaving as they fell in orderly patterns across every corner.
The faint candlelight illuminated the ornate decorations and exquisite murals around them, adding a solemn air to the entire hall.
At the very front of the hall stood a tall, pure-white statue of the Golden Goddess, radiating striking color in the dim room.
The knights could only wait within the city. The twin-sword knight entered the room without saying a word, head lowered in silence as she walked to the Demigod's side. Then she found her place and stood quietly.
There were no unnecessary greetings, nor any long, tedious exchange. It was like an ordinary meeting between lord and vassal, with the loyal knight simply waiting for her lord to summon her.
Messmer frowned slightly and glanced thoughtfully at the statue of the goddess beside him.
The statue was vivid and lifelike, almost like a real person, reminding him of his mother far away.
His heart filled with deep longing for her, but he still forced down his emotions and turned his attention back to the twin-sword knight before him.
"Knight Rellana, what has happened to make you hurry back here so urgently?"
Messmer asked softly, concern in his voice as he turned to look at the twin-sword knight.
Life truly was strange. She was clearly the younger sister of the Queen of the Full Moon, a princess from another country, and in a sense even his elder, yet she had set her heart on following him.
Even Messmer could not understand what about him was worth her risking her life in a combat ritual to prove her loyalty.
In this room built specially to commemorate Marika, one could look around and not find even a single seat that belonged to anyone else.
Such a scene was only natural. Marika's place in this son's heart was so high that no one else could ever reach it.
The question had already left his mouth, yet the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.
The Demigod and his loyal knight looked at each other, and for a moment, neither spoke.
For Messmer, every time he spent time with Rellana, this strange feeling would arise.
He did not know what to say, and so there was nothing to say. Only their gazes and silence kept them company.
Time seemed to stop. Several long seconds passed, yet the room remained utterly silent.
Finally, Rellana was the first to break that suffocating quiet. Her lips parted, and she slowly said,
"It concerns the Hornsent. The scouts at the front saw the Impenetrable Thorns set aflame. I was worried for Your Highness's safety, so I came back to check."
"You suspect I went to set fire to the Sealing Tree?" Messmer froze in surprise.
He had once indeed considered setting that Sealing Tree ablaze, but later he had abandoned the idea.
He did not know whether it was the Shadow's reward for the generations of worship offered by the Hornsent, but in the end, that tree had chosen to shelter them.
He did have the power to ignite the tree, but simply setting it on fire would not guarantee that everything would be settled.
He could sacrifice himself, but once he was gone, where would the army that followed him go?
Many years ago, someone in the army had discovered his serpent nature.
At the time, the soldiers had already grown disgusted with slaughter. That shocking discovery was like a fuse, and it triggered a rebellion.
The rebellion was eventually suppressed by force, but the damage suffered by the army was impossible to repair. Its strength was no longer what it had once been.
If they lost another Demigod to lead them, he truly did not know whether the remaining army could still complete the mission his mother had given them.
His heart was filled with resentment toward his mother for abandoning him so ruthlessly.
But the order to slaughter the Hornsent had been given before his mother cast him aside, so no matter what, he would never give up.
Moreover, after personally witnessing the heartbreaking suffering of his own people, it was even more impossible for him to let it go easily. He simply could not think of a way to satisfy both sides.
If the price of completely wiping out those wretched Hornsent were only his life, then he would choose death without hesitation, without even blinking.
But now, someone had solved that problem for him.
After only two brief exchanges, the room abruptly fell silent.
The Demigod and the knight stood face to face, each sinking into deep thought, or else into doubt.
This matter was truly beyond belief.
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