Pillar of Yita

They focused intently on poking the charcoal within the campfire, letting the dark red sparks fall to the ground, like the scene from the legend of Tarot’s creation of Dwarves. But the guards were so focused, as if there was nothing else in the world, only this single task remained.

As for the strangers emerging from the Forest, they seemed unrelated to them.

A gust of cold wind scattered the distant mist, causing the campfire to roar, but between Heaven and Earth, this seemed to be the only sound, with the few guards standing motionless like puppets.

Fang Hong felt slightly surprised, sensing the atmosphere was somewhat strange. He suddenly recalled Princess Briana’s words from not long ago, causing him to glance sideways. Yet the Elf Princess did not turn her head, merely looked silently in that direction.

After the mist dispersed, the outline of Traveler’s Rest appeared behind it, an ominous, chunky, tall building. Each layer of its brown-red birch structure stacked upon one another, from within emanated faint flickers of dim firelight.

He exchanged a quick glance with Hilveld, then, like Briana, pulled up the hood of the cloak behind him, letting it fall to cover his face.

Crossing the floating bridge, the square was more bustling than anticipated compared to their last visit. More people gathered here now, but the relaxed atmosphere from before was absent.

People grouped together in twos and threes, all wearing the same battle garment colors. Adventurers were seldom seen; among them, they even spotted knights and soldiers from Elpaxin. A row of chevaux de frise lined the square’s periphery, sharp stakes pointing skyward, with flags planted on them, hanging low and motionless.

”What’s going on?” Tianlan curiously observed the stakes. ”Why does it feel like this place suddenly turned into the front line? It wasn’t like this the last time we came.”

”It must be because of the Charter City incident. I heard that Elpaxin’s military forces have been mobilized around here. Didn’t Sir Diket write us a letter, Tianlan, didn’t you read it?” Elisa looked around while responding.

”Isn’t it enough for Brother Ade to read that kind of thing? Sir Diket is so uptight, what’s fun about it.”

Princess Briana couldn’t help but tease upon hearing this: ”Tianlan, what you said might not be wrong.”

”Right.”

Tianlan promptly became smug.

However, a vague tension filled the square at that moment, with soldiers and members of various Grand Guilds surrounding them. This made their group appear incongruous among the crowd. Fang Hong frowned, worried about trouble, but sometimes even if you’re not seeking trouble, trouble finds you.

People gazed at them with bewildered eyes, soon a slightly hostile voice came over: ”You must have come to the wrong place, right? This isn’t a place for kids right now. Haven’t you read Elpaxin’s announcement?”

The speaker was a warrior carrying a Great Sword. Tianlan felt indignant the moment she saw his sharp-eyed, monkey-like appearance—not for any particular reason, but because he was wearing the War Robe of the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team.

However, the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team had already been ’grounded’ by the Alliance, which meant this person was clearly just an outer member, the most marginal type.

Tianlan glared at the other, angrily stating: ”We’re not from Elpaxin.”

”No wonder,” the Great Sword warrior quipped: ”I advise you to leave early, to avoid wasting your lives. Kids shouldn’t cry at the Resurrection Point in the Holy Sanctuary, hahahaha.”

Tianlan especially disliked being called a child—clearly, she was a charming, mature, and gracious lady, how could this rotten fellow be so blind.

She put her hands on her hips, ready to explode, but someone acted before her.

A streak of silver light shot out from behind Tianlan, narrowly brushing past the cheek of the Great Sword warrior who had spoken, and before he could react, the silver light merged into the swamp behind.

Tianlan surprisedly turned her head, discovering the one who acted was none other than Princess Briana—this hero lady of the Battle of Bain, truly fiery in temper? Yet Briana still paid her no heed, slightly raised her head, seemingly watching something.

”You dare attack!?” The Great Sword warrior exclaimed in shock.

But before he finished, a low roar emerged from the swamp where the silver light vanished. Then the water surface splashed with a ’whoosh,’ and three massive shadows flew out from underwater, one lunging straight at the Great Sword warrior’s back.

”Dragon Beast Lurker!” A low murmur spread among the crowd, followed by a clamor.

Only then did the Great Sword warrior react, turning around to see a shadow engulfing him, sharp claws reaching for his chest.

His complexion turned ashen, pale in an instant, as if he already saw himself being torn open, intestines spilling to the ground. But how did the Dragon Beast lurk so close without anyone noticing?

Suddenly, a hint of astonishment gleamed in his eyes, remembering the silver light from before.

—So it wasn’t aiming for him?

The woman?

But at the moment he closed his eyes, awaiting his fate, everyone let out a simultaneous gasp, and at that moment Briana moved.

This hero lady from the Battle of Bain seemed to vanish from her original spot, then a blurry afterimage appeared before the Great Sword warrior, the crowd hadn’t yet seen her actions clearly, but only saw a dazzlingly bright sword light flashing out from beneath her lifted cloak.