Pillar of Yita

What name is inscribed on the sword...

Phoenix Immortal Flame, Mortal Hero’s Blood.

What is the name of the knight?

”Justice and Mercy, Brave and Loyal—”

Enan Modkaiser stood beside the stairs in the hall for a long time, looking up at a portrait at the top. The person in the painting was clad in armor, holding a longsword, with a slight curl of mustache on his lip, and a solemn face.

The sword in the painting was slender and delicate, crafted with agility, unlike a mortal’s sword which is plain, nor like a dwarf’s sword which is thick and sharp, nor does it possess a fairy’s sword’s soul and spirit. It is said that the sword was born in the sea of fire, and is one of the Elf Holy Swords of the Numelin Elves.

The sword is named Phoenix Blood, and the person holding it was the first generation Family Head of the Modkaesar Family, the founder of Dulun, whose name has been forgotten by the world but is simply called Duke Phoenix.

Enan heard a creaking behind him, the door leading to the study room was pushed open, he turned around and saw the tall knight walking out from inside. The knight closed the door, turned around, missing a finger on his right hand, only four fingers left, he lowered his hand before speaking:

”Lord Earl does not wish to see you.”

Enan was silent for a moment, only nodding his head. ”Then please send my regards to my father.”

After speaking, he turned around, taking steps one shallow and one deep forward, but the knight called out to him from behind: ”Wait a moment, Enan.”

He turned his head. ”What’s the matter, Mr. Firiel?”

The knight shook his head silently, looking at the detestable youth, and said in a deep voice: ”Your brother is just missing, Enan, he is not dead, we all know that.”

”I know.”

”As long as the Earl and I are here, the Phoenix Holy Sword cannot be handed over to you.”

”You know my swordsmanship is lacking, Mr. Firiel,” Enan replied: ”So even if you hand it to me, it would be of no use to me.”

The tall knight squinted his eyes, took a breath, and said: ”You better not say these words in front of the Earl.”

Enan nodded.

That was his father, no matter how poor their relationship, he would not purposely anger him—though he felt he was simply speaking the truth. A sword, no matter how miraculous, cannot change the current situation.

He pushed open the door of the corridor, the little maid looked at him worriedly, frowned and said: ”Did you talk back to Mr. Firiel again? Enan, although Mr. Firiel is your father’s family retainer, his status in the family is crucial, always making him unhappy will be very disadvantageous for you...”

Enan just smiled upon hearing.

The little maid glared at him: ”And there will always be some gossip reaching the Earl.”

”Mr. Firiel is a righteous knight.”

”But others are not.” She sighed, speaking while slipping a note into her master’s hand.

Enan took the note, glanced at it, and asked: ”They escaped...?”

The little maid nodded, her brows furrowed: ”But Lady Miranda...”

Enan put away the note, remaining silent without speaking.

...

Sophie looked back at Tulip Fortress getting smaller and soon becoming a dot amid the white mountain ranges. She took off her hood, shook off the snowflakes, and then turned around to ask:

”Can you tell us now?”

Her words attracted the attention of the others, who also looked towards Fang Hong. Below, Mr. Greyrock walked slowly, the deck slightly swaying in the wind.

Fang Hong raised his hand, ’click’, withdrawing the last Clockwork Fairy, then lifted his Wind Goggles and asked: ”Remember the message I sent you before, Sophie? I said once you arrived, there would be something I need your help with.”

Sophie nodded, that was just a week ago, she naturally remembered. ”I wanted to ask before, what exactly is it?” she asked then.

”It’s related to the Dragonfire Guild,” Fang Hong replied, ”we encountered those people at the Masongke Creek base...”

”Dragonfire Guild?” Sophie slightly raised her eyebrows.

Since the Dolifen incident, the Dragonfire Guild has become public enemy number one, on the military’s wanted list, and the matter has stirred a great deal, she certainly knew the ins and outs.

She suddenly realized: ”You saw the Dragonfire Guild people in Tulip Fortress before?”

Fang Hong shook his head: ”Not them, some other people.”

”Wait, other people?” Tianlan adorably round her mouth: ”Brother Ade, you didn’t see those guys, did you?”

Fang Hong then nodded his head.

Sophie watched them play word games, couldn’t help but feel a bit at a loss, interrupting them: ”Wait a moment, if they weren’t Dragonfire Guild people, then who are you talking about?”

Fang Hong realized she did not know the backstory, therefore explained to the Silver Weslan Princess the events that had occurred at the Maxon Creek base—of course, he omitted the part involving Aimumu Fortress.

Sophie in this ’story’ heard about the alchemist, who apparently had inappropriate intentions towards Miss Ship’s Officer, couldn’t help but glance at Fang Hong, amused.

Fang Hong naturally knew what she was thinking, but pretended not to see her response.

After listening, Sophie finally understood what had happened, suddenly enlightened: ”So the one you saw before was that alchemist, and they had contact with the Dragonfire Guild people at the Masongke Creek base?”

”If that ’Big Sister’ is still a member of the Dragonfire Guild—”

”Her current status doesn’t matter,” Sophie shook her head: ”At least she used to be, that’s enough.”