"I will." Murphy’s answer was concise and clear, without the slightest hesitation.
A flicker of light seed to dance in Elizabeth’s eyes at his answer, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
She said nothing more, only nodding again, her gesture more solemn this ti.
Then she turned, reached out, and pushed open the heavy oak door of her stone house.
Through the crack in the opening door, the warm glow of a hearth fire and the faint sound of a Maid’s greeting drifted out.
Elizabeth’s silhouette quickly vanished into the light, and the door closed softly behind her, shutting out the light and sounds of the courtyard.
...
The next day, contrary to many people’s expectations, the monsters of the Deep Red Wilderness did not imdiately launch another large-scale assault.
The Plane Passage near Eagle’s Beak Peak continued to shrink. After last night’s rout, the remaining monsters seed to have fallen into a state of chaos or dormancy.
Outside Blackstone Fortress, aside from a few scattered, wandering shadows, the defenders had gained a rare mont of respite. They began working at full capacity to repair the damaged fortifications, treat the wounded, and reorganize their remaining troops.
In the afternoon, the warm sun struggled to pierce the perennial gloom hanging over the Iron Ridge Mountain Range, gilding the fortress’s cold stone walls with a thin layer of pale gold.
In the courtyard, the fountain still flowed. The plants in the flowerbeds, having rested overnight, seed to have regained so of their vitality.
Murphy spent the night and the following morning recuperating in his stone house.
The strain on his ridians and the soreness in his muscles—side effects from forcibly accepting the magical enhancent—had largely faded. While not yet at his peak, he was well enough to handle any ordinary situation.
KNOCK KNOCK!
The knock was steady and rhythmic.
Murphy opened the door to find Knight Armand standing outside.
The old Knight had changed into clean, common clothes and wore a dark blue hooded robe. His left arm was still in a sling, and his face was pale, but he seed to be in decent spirits. His eyes were filled with gratitude and respect.
"Lord lfield," Knight Armand said, placing his right hand over his heart and bowing deeply. "Allow to thank you once again, and most sincerely. Not only for yesterday, but for... that bottle of Starlight Healing."
He looked up, eting Murphy’s gaze directly. "When we traded potions, you chose to exchange the Starlight Healing for the Heart of the Fierce Sun. At the ti, while I felt fortunate, I was also privately perplexed. With your foundation and foresight, why would you choose a Frenzy Potion that all but exhausts one’s potential?"
Knight Armand paused, a flash of understanding and emotion crossing his face. "It wasn’t until yesterday, when I personally witnessed your imnse power as you stepped into the Legendary Tier... that I had a revelation. The Heart of the Fierce Sun may be poison to an ordinary Great Knight, but for soone who has already honed their foundation to an unbelievable degree, needing only a massive amount of Energy to ignite the final fire of transformation... it is nothing less than a custom-made treasure! You never needed Starlight Healing to stabilize your cultivation and seek a breakthrough. What you needed was the very thing the Heart of the Fierce Sun contained: the frenzied Energy powerful enough to ignite the fla of a Legend!"
He took a step forward, his voice filled with sincere admiration. "Your Lordship is a man of great foresight and Extraordinary vision. What seed like a losing trade at the ti was, in fact, the path you had to take to reach a higher tier. As for ..."
He shook his head with a wry smile. "Without that bottle of Starlight Healing to stabilize my foundation—which had been shaken by my age and old injuries—I doubt I would have survived the relentless, brutal battles in the Deep Red Wilderness. In a way, your choice indirectly saved my life. For this kindness, I, Armand de Laval, will be eternally grateful."
Murphy accepted his gratitude with a calm expression, stepping aside to let him into the house. "A potion is rely a tool. Its value lies in being used at the right ti and place. You returned safely because of your own resilience and valor, Knight."
Just as Knight Armand stepped inside, the door to the neighboring stone house creaked open.
Elizabeth erged.
She was clearly dressed with great care today.
Her soft black hair was exquisitely styled in a bun, secured at the nape of her neck with a silver circlet inlaid with tiny pearls. A few wisps of hair fell naturally, accentuating the elegant line of her fair neck.
She wore a perfectly tailored, pale-gold court gown. The hem was adorned with an elegant, subtle pattern, while the cuffs and collar were trimd with delicate lace. The attire was at once dignified yet retained a youthful vivacity.
On her feet, she wore a pair of soft, deerskin ankle boots with matching embroidery on the vamp. Her stockings were of a nearly transparent white silk, offering a subtle glimpse of her slender ankles.
She wore a light dusting of powder on her face, concealing the fatigue of the past few days, and her lips were touched with a faint cherry-red. In the sparse afternoon sunlight, she looked like a budding rose—fresh and lovely. Her every glance carried the elegant grace of the Royal Family, blended with the vibrant charm unique to her age.
She didn’t seem surprised to see Murphy and Knight Armand. A perfectly asured smile touched her lips as she gathered her skirts and approached with a light step.
"Governor of lfield, Knight Armand." Her voice was crisp and her bearing graceful. "I hope I’m not interrupting."
Murphy gave her a noncommittal glance.
Knight Armand, however, showed a flash of surprise that quickly turned to understanding. He bowed again. "Her Highness Elizabeth. You’re not interrupting at all, of course."
Elizabeth ca closer, her gaze drifting between the two n as she explained with natural grace, "I heard that the Great Knights who have completed their missions and returned safely would be visiting Lord lfield today. As the Princess of the Vilt Kingdom, I feel it is my duty to et these distinguished Knights from across the Continent who have fought so bravely against evil, and to express the Kingdom’s respect and gratitude."
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