After Leon had finished spending over an hour reading inside the library and was about to leave, he spotted Helmud, Albert, Christine, and Alfred all descending the stairs together, and it appeared they had just concluded their meeting.
Leon moved toward them, and as he drew closer, Alfred broke away from the group, heading toward the main gate as he prepared to leave.
Before departing, he waved in Leon's direction and said: "Well then, I'll be taking my leave, Sir Leon. I hope to have the honor of fighting alongside you in the coming battle." These words, though they reflected the respect Alfred held for Leon, did not prompt a particularly diplomatic response from the latter, who said: "Well, trust me, you won't want that to happen."
The moment Alfred disappeared from Leon's sight, he turned his gaze toward Albert and the others, only to be caught off guard by Albert's request: "Leon, if you're not busy, I need you to accompany me outside the city."
Leon was somewhat puzzled by this. What could possibly drive Albert to go out in his current condition? "Are you sure? Your wounds haven't healed yet. It'll be quite a nuisance if I end up having to carry you on my shoulders on the way back."
Albert replied: "Ahhh, don't worry, it'll be fine. I've received excellent treatment from the best healing mage in this city. I don't think my condition could get any worse."
Leon shrugged, signaling he had no objection. He was bored anyway, and getting some fresh air would be better than staying within these walls. "Alright, but you might as well tell me why you're leaving the city."
Albert had no choice but to tell him, saying: "Well, I believe the reinforcements from the capital will be arriving soon. I'd prefer to be the one to receive them, which is why I want you by my side when that happens."
With that, Albert concluded his conversation with Leon after securing his agreement to accompany him. Leon then looked toward Helmud and said: "What about you? Aren't you coming with us?" To which Helmud replied in the negative: "No, no, I'll stay here. I have a great deal of work to do, so I won't be joining you."
From the other side, Christine said: "I too must take my leave, as I also have a great deal of work." This situation did not sit well with Leon, who remarked: "What's gotten into all of you?" Albert replied: "Leon, don't take it so seriously. Everyone is busy with their own affairs. I think, aside from you and me, there's no one who can accompany us."
After Albert clarified the matter, Leon decided to dismiss it entirely, saying to himself: "To hell with all of them. They claim they're busy, as if they really are."
With that, Albert put on his new clothes, then set off with Leon toward the outside of the palace, where the horse stables were located.
The servants brought one of the strong and obedient horses and led it close to Albert so he could mount it with ease. But when it came to Leon's turn, every horse refused to approach him, which greatly annoyed him.
"Haah, you're refusing me, you filthy mules..." Before Leon could finish his sentence, he was cut off by an extremely loud sound — the powerful whinny of a very strong horse.
Leon turned toward the sound to see a powerfully built, muscular, jet-black stallion forcefully snorting air through its nostrils, baring its teeth like a thoroughly foolish creature — yet Leon understood exactly what this horse intended.
Leon smiled faintly, then stepped forward two paces before the stallion drew even closer to him, and he said: "Welcome, my old friend." This was the very same horse Leon had ridden during his last journey.
[Notification: It appears that this stallion has undergone some form of mutation transformation.]
Leon stared at the horse for a moment, studying it carefully: "Hmm, a transformation? A mutation?"
[Notification: Indeed, this horse has undergone this type of evolution. In all likelihood, the cause was its extensive exposure to the player's magic.]
Leon was greatly pleased by this news, for because of it he felt a sense of something shared between himself and this horse, as though the two of them could read each other's thoughts.
After that, Leon mounted the horse and said: "Hyaaa, move out." And no sooner had he said that than they set off, with Albert riding alongside him.
As they rode, Leon declared: "Hey, Albert, tell me — how large are the reinforcements coming from the capital?"
Albert tilted his head toward Leon before answering: "Hmm, I don't know exactly, but I can guess they won't be overwhelmingly large." Leon was puzzled by Albert's words, which carried an air of blind confidence, and he found himself wondering about its source.
"You speak with great confidence. May I ask where it comes from?" Albert smiled slightly then said: "Ahh, this may not make much difference to you, but I hold considerable authority within the capital. However, that authority of mine is not without rivals. There are many nobles who wish for my disappearance, among them the Guardian of the South and the Guardian of the West. This principality operates under a rather unconventional system of governance. In times past, power was divided among three great families: one entrusted with overseeing the East, another with the South, and the last with the West, while the royal capital stands at the center of this principality, currently under the rule of King Rijard Novaris."
What Leon understood from this was that Albert was not particularly welcome in this land, and that those who wished for his death far outnumbered those who wished for his survival. "So the Guardian of the West and the Guardian of the South would be your fiercest enemies in this land. Since you hold authority in the capital, it stands to reason that the Guardian of the South and the Guardian of the West hold an equivalent share of that authority."
Albert was greatly impressed by Leon's sharpness of observation and his grasp of the situation. "Well, it seems you're not bad at such matters. But don't worry too much — as long as King Rijard is alive, none of them will dare move against us so easily. And I'm also certain the King will oppose them and ensure the reinforcements sent will be sufficient."
While they were talking, they found that they had already arrived at the city gate, where Albert ordered it to be opened: "Open the gate," and with that the two of them rode out.
Before them stretched a vast expanse of flat green land, like plains extending as far as the eye could see.
Neither of the two stopped their advance at any point, but continued onward until the city's massive walls were barely visible from where they now stood.
Albert stopped and said: "This is good. We'll wait for them here. They won't be long in arriving."
In response to Albert's words, Leon pulled on his horse's reins to halt it, then dismounted and sat among the green grass, whose beauty had charmed him.
"You seem to have settled into this quite quickly?" To which Leon replied to Albert's question: "Hmm, I think I wouldn't mind staying here a while longer."
After that, a faint trembling of the earth could be heard, along with the sound of armor clanging together. At that moment, both Albert and Leon realized the reinforcements had indeed arrived. Leon rose from his place and mounted his stallion, and Albert did the same.
It did not take long before the vanguard of that army became visible to Leon and Albert, who declared at this sight: "Hmm, it appears they've sent some cavalry as well. As I expected — King Rijard has been fair, as we always knew him to be."
A single knight rode forward on his horse toward Albert and Leon and said: "Albert Belmont, Guardian of the Eastern Principality — in accordance with the orders of King Rijard Novaris, I have led this army, consisting of one thousand soldiers and fifty knights, in response to the reinforcement request you made."
[Notification: The player should exercise caution and vigilance regarding this knight. The density of magic particles surrounding him is extremely high, and it can be said that he is a great warrior.]
Even the auxiliary assistant had warned Leon about him, yet Leon had already sensed this person's level of power beforehand — he simply did not know his identity, as it was concealed beneath his thick armor.
At that moment, the armored knight removed his helmet and held it beside his left hand, then said: "I hope I haven't arrived too late, old friend."
Albert shook his head and said: "No need to worry, you've arrived right on time. Though I didn't think you would ever leave His Majesty's side and come all the way here."
The knight answered: "Ahhh haha, I didn't come here of my own accord. It was an order from His Majesty, and all I did was carry it out." Albert said at that point: "Good. Considering that you've come accompanied by a thousand soldiers and fifty knights, I think I can imagine what transpired in the royal palace when I requested reinforcements."
The knight sighed deeply, as though he had been carrying a heavy burden on his back that had now been lifted, then laughed loudly before answering: "Ahahahaha, yes, yes! If only you had been there to witness it with your own eyes. For the first time, I saw the King threaten to have those scoundrels' heads cut off, and I saw them tremble in fear at that. It was a sight not to be missed."
Albert shared in the laughter with this knight and said: "Hahaha, I can picture it perfectly from where I stand. I truly envy you for having been there at that moment."
No sooner had this ended than the armored knight turned to Leon once more, saying to him with a smile on his face: "Who are you?"
Albert answered plainly, saying: "Ahh, I forgot to introduce him to you. This is Leon — a person who pledged to help us through this ordeal. Don't be fooled by his young appearance; he is an exceptionally powerful mage."
The knight showed no reaction upon hearing Albert's words. All he did was scrutinize Leon more closely, as though he was performing some kind of action.
[Notification: It appears that some strange magic is currently being cast upon the player.]
The warning from the auxiliary assistant came slightly late, for Leon had already been aware of this, and knew full well what this knight's intentions were.
All Leon did in that moment was amplify the density of the magic particles in his eye to their maximum degree, and with that he was able to completely nullify the knight's spell.
Roaring laughter filled the air, and its source was none other than the armored knight: "Hahaha hahaha! Albert, it seems you've been aided by someone truly powerful. My congratulations to you."
The moment the knight finished speaking with Albert, he turned back to Leon once more and said to him with a smile spread across his face: "I am called the Hammer Knight, Thorin, and commander of King Rijard's personal royal guard. It is an honor to meet someone as powerful as yourself. In truth, no one in this kingdom has ever been able to break my illusion magic — no one but you."
Leon responded to the knight's words, saying: "Well, you also appear to be extremely powerful, and I was able to discern that from the very first moment. My name is Leon. You may call me Lord of Abyss Magic, or the Last Player as well."
Thorin showed his admiration for Leon's words, particularly the part concerning "Lord of Abyss Magic": "Lord of Abyss Magic? What a magnificent title, befitting a powerful mage such as yourself."
Then he added to his words: "But the Last Player? Isn't that a rather strange title?"
Amid Thorin's bewilderment and puzzlement, Leon answered him, saying: "Don't concern yourself too much with such matters."
The moment Thorin and Leon's conversation came to an end, Albert spoke, saying to Thorin: "Well, why haven't you ordered the army to advance yet? Time is not on our side, as you know."
Thorin appeared to have completely forgotten about the army he had left behind him, laughing as he said: "Hahaha, I forgot all about them. Don't take that tone with me, old friend — you're right, time is not with us this time."
No sooner had he said that than Thorin turned back toward his army and ordered them to continue their march toward the fortified city, while Leon and Albert accompanied him during that time.