The Erdtree's radiant light continued to bathe the world as it always had, as though whispering of peace and eternity untouched by time.
And yet, war had long since spread like a merciless demon, silently casting its shadow over the Lands Between.
Countless cities that were once prosperous, countless villages that once knew only quiet days, had been reduced to scorched earth beneath the flames of conflict. The sight alone was enough to weigh heavily on the heart.
Here, in one corner of Liurnia, this war seemed insignificant when set against the great struggles between rival lords. It was no more than a speck of dust in the long river of history, incapable of stirring even the faintest ripple.
Atop the towering mage's tower west of Caria Manor, a petite girl stood quietly on the balcony.
Her slender hands rested on the battlements, and her deep blue eyes, like still lakes, gazed down at the battlefield below, which had finally claimed a brief moment of calm after the chaos. A complex light shimmered in her eyes, emotions too tangled to name.
"Raziel, congratulations on successfully holding the royal domain. This is a great achievement, one I will remember always."
Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of relief.
The banner of Caria still flew high above the fortress, rippling in the wind as if proclaiming its resilience and unbroken will to the world.
After a night of brutal fighting, the once-solid stronghold was riddled with breaches, holes torn open here and there. And yet, it still stood. It had not fallen.
"It seems the Cuckoos committed all their forces," a cool voice said. "By all logic, the royal domain should not have been able to hold. Something unexpected must have happened."
Blaidd walked along the rampart with heavy steps. His armor was damaged, but his eyes carried the steady resolve of someone who had fought through bitter combat.
Ranni slowly turned around, her gaze settling on the warrior in Carian Knight armor behind her. A faint glimmer of expectation crossed her eyes, signaling for him to speak freely.
Raziel raised his head. A strange smile appeared on his youthful face.
"The Cuckoos' assault last night exceeded my expectations. We were already on the brink, moments away from losing everything."
"But at the most critical moment, dozens of cavalry suddenly charged in. They struck the Cuckoos completely off guard, throwing them into chaos and sending them fleeing in panic."
Hearing this, the werewolf shook his head at once, disbelief plain on his face.
"That's impossible. The Cuckoos attacking the royal domain numbered at least several thousand, commanded by dozens of veteran knight leaders. What could only a few dozen riders possibly do?"
Raziel lifted his chin slightly, his eyes shining with conviction as he answered solemnly,
"Precisely because it seems impossible, it can only be called a miracle."
"Those brave cavalry not only drove the enemy back, they gathered the scattered soldiers and launched a counterattack that even I found astonishing."
"They were like stars in the darkness, lighting up the entire battlefield and showing us the first glimmer of hope."
"The Cuckoos suffered heavy losses in this battle. It will take them a long time to recover. For now, we can finally breathe a little easier."
Raziel slowly spread his hands, pride evident on his face as he continued,
"Such a magnificent epic deserves to be sung by bards for generations to come. And the heroes who created this miracle are people both Princess and Knight Blaidd already know."
Blaidd leaned forward unconsciously, his eyes fixed on Raziel.
He could imagine the despair and danger that must have gripped the battlefield, and his curiosity about those miracle-makers burned all the stronger.
"Who were they?"
Raziel slowly turned his gaze past the princess's slender figure, toward the distant fortress still belching black smoke.
That smoke was the ugly scar left by war, writhing wildly in the wind.
Raziel pressed his lips together, then spoke softly. Each word carried the weight of history.
"Nolan Bethel, and every member of the lakeshore patrol who fought that night. They not only repelled the Cuckoos, but also claimed the heads of the Cuckoo vice commander and the associated Sorcery Preceptors."
…
At that moment, Nolan had no idea that his deeds were being lavishly praised by Raziel in front of Her Highness the Princess.
He slept deeply and peacefully. The hair that had been slightly messy before now lay neatly against his cheeks, and a faint smile still lingered at the corners of his mouth. It wasn't until a gentle beam of sunlight fell across his face that he slowly woke. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Sellen leaning over the small wooden table, fully absorbed in whatever she was studying.
"Teacher, what are you doing?"
He propped himself up and sat upright, asking with mild curiosity. Outside, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the air. Aside from those badly wounded and forced to rest, most of the soldiers were racing against time to repair the fortifications damaged in the fighting.
Nolan, however, was spared that kind of labor. As a key combat asset, he had been ordered to rest properly. If the enemy came to harass them again, his strength would be needed.
If the demigods could face ten thousand alone, then he could at least take on several hundred now. Of course, that was assuming they were ordinary soldiers. If a few hundred knights with shields and spears surrounded him, that would be another story entirely. He'd be skewered before long.
"I'm studying that mediumless spellcasting you mentioned before," Sellen said without looking up, her pen moving nonstop across the pages of a small notebook. "Even I never considered something like this before. I have to admit, apprentice, you truly are exceptional."
Since incantations could now be cast without a Sacred Seal, it only made sense to explore whether sorceries could be cast without a Glintstone Staff as well. That task naturally fell to Sellen.
Research related to magic was her passion to begin with, and once she heard about it, she accepted the work without hesitation. Nolan trusted her completely. He had even agreed when she suggested studying his body directly.
Not wanting to interrupt his teacher while she was immersed in unraveling mysteries, Nolan stepped out of the tent and took a leisurely walk around the camp. Soon, he noticed people gathering and laying out the fallen.
His gaze swept across the area and quickly settled on the young life lost the night before. His steps slowed slightly. Lying beside him was Cohen.
The rugged-looking man had always been the first to charge into battle. Of the squad that had fought together last night, only Hank had survived.
"The battlefield is the noblest resting place for knights. Those epics passed down through the ages will forever sing of their glory."
A slightly low voice sounded beside him. Nolan instinctively turned his head and saw a blond knight bowing solemnly, head lowered, paying his respects to the fallen warriors.
"Don't grieve too deeply. You brought unparalleled glory to these brave fighters. When they gather again within the Tree, they will surely be grateful for everything you have done."
There was a gentle warmth and quiet comfort in the knight's words.