Just then, a series of sharp, piercing screeches echoed from high above, growing closer and quickly drowning out all other sounds in the courtyard.
Everyone looked up in unison.
Dozens of agile figures streaked across the sky, swooping down on Eagle’s Nest Castle at an astonishing speed.
They weren’t Griffins, but a slightly smaller species of raptor. Their bodies were a tawny brown, but their heads and tail feathers were a striking silver-white.
They possessed razor-sharp beaks and talons, and their wingspans stretched a full ten ters. The way they glided on the wind was both elegant and deadly.
It was the Sea Eagle Guard from Baisha Port.
The Knight at their head rode the most magnificent of the white-headed sea eagles, circling once over the courtyard.
He saw Raylo in the courtyard, standing ready. He saw the Golden Dragon, whose re shadow was suffocating, and the ugly monster pinned to the ground beneath its claws. He also saw the soldiers of Eagle’s Nest Castle, all kneeling on the ground.
A look of undisguised shock flashed across the Knight’s face.
"It’s Duncan, the Knight from Baisha Port!"
One of the surrendered soldiers from Eagle’s Nest Castle recognized the newcor and gasped.
At a command from Duncan, dozens of white-headed sea eagles landed in the courtyard’s open space in perfect formation, kicking up a powerful gust of wind.
They folded their wings and stood tall, their well-trained discipline a stark contrast to the disheveled rabble of soldiers from Eagle’s Nest Castle.
Duncan swung down from his eagle and strode over to Raylo, executing a sharp knightly salute.
"Lord Earl! We’re late. It seems the situation here has already..."
His voice trailed off as his gaze swept over the Hundred-ter Golden Dragon again. He swallowed hard.
’Half an hour? To take Eagle’s Nest Castle, a fortress renowned for being impregnable?’
Raylo’s gaze shifted to the bound Illusion Monster. In a level tone, he finished the sentence for him.
"It’s been resolved. As you can see, the Baron of Eagle’s Nest Castle was so hospitable, he insisted on showing his true form to welco ."
The humorless joke made the corner of Duncan’s mouth twitch.
He took a few steps closer to get a better look at the monster and drew in a sharp breath.
"An Illusion Monster! My gods, it’s actually an Illusion Monster! Aren’t these evil creatures supposed to exist only in legends?"
He was far more shocked now than he had been monts before.
’The speed at which the castle was taken could be explained by a massive disparity in strength, but for the Lord himself to be a monster... that changed the nature of the problem entirely.’
"We’re looking for Miss Avril."
Raylo didn’t dwell on the subject of the Illusion Monster and got straight to the point.
"I’ve questioned it, but it’s not talking."
Duncan’s expression imdiately turned serious. He turned to face the kneeling Knights of Eagle’s Nest Castle.
"You! Has anyone seen Miss Avril? The beloved daughter of the Lord of Baisha Port! Tell us where she is, and the Lord Earl may show you rcy!"
The Knights looked at one another, their faces filled with confusion and fear.
The Knight Captain who had been the first to surrender raised his head and spoke bitterly.
"My lord... we truly haven’t seen any Miss Avril. Ever since... ever since the ’Lord Baron’ returned from the Royal Capital six months ago, he’s been erratic and unpredictable. He beca a recluse. Aside from a few of us in his Personal Guard, he rarely t with anyone, let alone brought a girl back to the castle."
"Search!"
Raylo uttered a single word.
Duncan imdiately complied. With a wave of his hand, the Sea Eagle Guard behind him sprang into action.
Moving in pairs, they fanned out like quicksilver, pouring into every corner of the castle to begin a systematic search.
Soon, the castle’s corner towers, bedrooms, cellars, and studies...
Every possible hiding place was torn apart.
However, as the minutes ticked by, the results were disappointing.
One by one, the Sea Eagle Guards returned to report, each bringing the sa news.
"Nothing found."
"We’ve checked the top floor of the main tower. No sign of the young lady."
"All the castle’s bedrooms have been searched. Nothing."
"The cellar search is complete, my lord. We found dozens of rotting corpses inside."
Just as everyone was at their wit’s end, another urgent screech ca from the sky.
A white-headed sea eagle plunged from the sky like a white arrow. Just over ten ters from the ground, it abruptly flared its wings, unleashing a gale as it landed steadily in the center of the courtyard.
A travel-worn Sea Eagle Guard leaped from the eagle’s back. Without even taking a mont to smooth his wind-ruffled hair, he dropped to one knee and reported in a loud voice.
"Captain Duncan! A ssage from the West Coast Outpost!"
All eyes were instantly on him.
"Speak!"
Duncan urged.
"About two hours ago, the lookout at Baisha Lighthouse spotted a Dragon Eagle flying west, out to sea! It was being ridden by a young girl, who we believe is Miss Avril."
"A Dragon Eagle? To the west?"
Duncan’s brow furrowed, but then his eyes lit up as if he had just realized sothing.
He turned to Raylo, his tone urgent and certain.
"Red Coral Island! It must be Red Coral Island!"
Seeing Raylo’s questioning look, Duncan imdiately explained.
"Lord Earl, the largest island in the sea west of Eagle’s Nest Castle is Red Coral Island. That’s the territory of the Baron of Coral. Miss Avril’s paternal aunt is the Baron’s wife!"
The deduction was sound.
Raylo nodded, his gaze traveling past the castle walls toward the endless blue expanse to the west.
That would be his next destination.
He glanced down at the Illusion Monster still writhing on the ground.
"Leave two n behind,"
he ordered.
"Take it to Baisha Port and lock it up for now. I want to interrogate it thoroughly when I return to Black Stone Territory."
"Yes, my lord!"
One of the Personal Guards gave a wide grin and hoisted the monster up as if it were a bag of trash.
The clamor of Eagle’s Nest Castle was left far behind.
With a single beat of its wings, the Storm Griffin King beca a tawny streak of light, flying toward the boundless azure sea.
The wind howled past his ears, but Raylo was as steady as a mountain. He reached out and idly scratched the chin of the large white cat beside him.
Moonlight comfortably narrowed its pale-gold eyes, a contented purr rumbling in its throat. It even took the initiative to nuzzle its furry head against Raylo’s palm.
’This VIP had certainly put on a good show for him back at Eagle’s Nest Castle, so of course Raylo had to ’reward’ it properly.’
Soon, the iconic, towering Baisha Lighthouse swept past their view. It was followed by a rush of salty, fresh air.
An endless expanse of blue unfolded before them, the sea and sky rging into one magnificent, boundless vista.
This was the first ti Raylo had seen the ocean of this world with his own eyes.
The sunlight shattered into a million golden fragnts on the sparkling surface of the water, and in the distance, seagulls gave their clear, sharp cries.
"ROAR!"
An excited, high-pitched draconic roar echoed through the heavens.
The Golden Dragon Sun, flying alongside them, could no longer contain its excitent. Like a golden cannonball, it plunged headfirst into the azure sea, sending a colossal splash surging toward the sky.
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