《Hours of Darkness - A Winter crime》


 Intro

    Present


    Unresting Heights, North of Gogborim


    The ground shook violently, a spherical shockwave was emitted blowing away almost everything in its range. Adrius was sprawled on the ground, his mind reeling from the sudden shock. ¡°This is not a defensive stance, gotta get up quickly, before that thing attacks again.¡± That''s what Adrius thought, while his body was still struggling helplessly.


    But the young prince did not have to worry about this anymore, for a large hand had grabbed his neck and lifted him up. ¡°Wow, look who¡¯s here. Isn''t that the future King of Althia. What wind brought you to this remote place?¡± - Magore, the commander of the fortress, who was also the one that caused the commotion, spoke up. In other circumstances, these would probably be polite words of respect for a member of the Royal Family, and occasionally the best response would be to laugh it off. But with this current "high" position, Adrius couldn''t even open his mouth, let alone laugh.


    Without waiting for an answer, Magore slams him to the ground once more. The commander began to change his voice:


    - Wouldn''t it be better to settle down as a respected Prince in your country than running around like a rat here in Streyburg. Tell me, why do you know about this place? What is your real purpose?


    - Strangely, I wanted to ask you the same questions. Perhaps, you answer them first, then I¡¯ll do mine? It has to be back and forth, you know? - Adrius answered as he scrambled to his feet, trying to stand up.Stolen story; please report.


    - Such a strong-mouthed young man. Fine, I¡¯ll crush your bones first, and then make you talk.


    Saying that, the fierce commander raises the iron mace with both hands and slams it down on Adrius'' head. This time, he is alert, generating Wind Force from his hand to push himself far before the attack landed, both to avoid it and create a safe distance from the opponent. With the remaining Wind Power, Adrius infuses it with Pyromancy to create a whirlwind of fire that shoots directly at Magore. With just one hand, the commander is able to parry his magic attack, getting pushed back just a little. His armor is extremely hard to penetrate.


    - Is this Althia''s elemental spell power? What a disappointment. Let me show you the power of Streyburg alchemy.


    Releasing his hand from the mace, Magore thrust his shoulders forward and lunged at Adrius with terrifying speed. The ground shook as he moved, accompanied by a tremendous amount of air pressure. Adrius narrowly dodged his move, but was suddenly hit by the mace right in his ribs. How is this possible, he didn''t even hold the mace back then¡­ No, the mace moved on its own? This is crazy. Magore continued to release a flurry of strikes, leaving the young man no chance of retaliation. Every time he dodged the mace, he was hit by Magore himself and vice versa. It''s like there are two people fighting him at the same time. Several bones have been broken, Adrius thinks. He staggers and collapses to the ground, unconsciously using hands to cover his mouth, but blood still gushes out. In front of him is a strong and brutal warrior, he is overwhelming him in every way. How to hold him back long enough for Evelyn and the others to destroy this place?


    - Last chance, Prince, before I smash that pretty face of yours. Tell me, why did you break into my outpost?


    No answer came out of Adrius. His mind is unclear after the series of pounding blows. Is this the right place to seek answers? Am I doing it correctly? I just want to save Althia, but the fact that I am exposed here can lead to a devastating war. Why did things turn out like this? Right, from that cursed winter¡­

 Chap 1: Winter Crisis

    2 weeks ago


    Royal Capital, Northeast Althia


    From the western balcony of the castle, Adrius could see almost nothing but a pure white, with a hint of sepia from the old tiled roofs of the suburbs. "It''s like living in a snowball," thought the young prince. After a quick breakfast, he mounted his horse and began patrolling the kingdom with the Kingsguard. He asked his father''s permission to do this, so that he could understand a bit more about people''s living conditions, listen to their needs and help them as much as possible. After all, that''s what a future King should do. And with a winter "crisis" unfolding here, Adrius felt the importance of being part of this duty.


    Winter must have ended three months ago on the entire continent, but in Althia, the snowfall showed no sign of stopping, and cold winds were still "wilding" in every corner of the kingdom. This is something unprecedented. According to historians, the longest winter in the history of the Kingdom so far lasted only about midway through the first Sylvie¡¯s month (the Spring Tree Gods), and that was almost a hundred years ago. Now, that record has officially been broken, the Althia Historical Institute is about to get busy with a bunch of new records.


    But at least they still have jobs. Many residents of Althia were suffering miserable conditions due to the effects of the long winter, mainly the working class: jobs loss, crops destroyed, cattle perished, ponds frozen,... Roads were covered with snow, and vehicles were almost immobile. The number of people who die from the cold is increasing day by day. The lack of heating equipment for people has also become a dilemma. Fire mages are being mobilized to the very last man to create thermal domes for each area, but if winter continues, within 1-2 months, the energy reserves from the Firestone Tower will run out.


    The King was using all the aid he could manage to support his people, from the great houses of Althia to the neighboring countries. Of course, the aid will come with terms of concession to numerous political benefits such as lands, economic contracts or the exploitation of resources in common territories, etc. This is really Althia''s most vulnerable period of time. If a war broke out, this Kingdom would hardly withstand for 6 months, even though it is considered to have the strongest mage force among the human nations. Not to mention the situation in the country is also troubled, especially with the seeds of unpredictable turmoil from religious organizations. Controlling the situation and preventing the plots is also one of the important tasks that Adrius is entrusted with when patrolling with the King''s Guard.


    It all started when the King announced that he would stop all the investigations into the cause of the unusual weather crisis due to its fruitless result, and focus all his efforts on finding solutions. Many theories that have been put forward, mainly related to magic. However, no one can say for sure, because although Althia contains the largest research archives of elemental magic, the power to manipulate weather is something impossible. And even if that kind of power exists, controlling it on a national scale for such a long period of time would require a huge amount of energy. And the fact that authorities could not state a satisfactory answer had indirectly created the opportunity for heretic cults to emerge and expand, enticing people to believe in their crazy theories.


    One of them was the Heralds of Dantorg. This cult believed that Althia was suffering from the wrath of God due to the construction of the Earthstone Tower in the sacred Royal woods - the place used to be the church of Dantorg, the God of Destruction. Just last month, Adrius and the Imperial army assaulted and prevented a ceremony where they were going to perform a ritual sacrifice of a little girl under the pretext of being "an offering to the gods to end winter". Although many people were arrested after that incident, with the current situation, they will act more publicly and recklessly. A large part of the population was in crisis and lost faith in Althia''s executive system, therefore they needed to find another source of spiritual support in this chaotic time. Although most of them, if not blindly, were created for personal gain.


    It was hard to blame people since Althia always kept a peaceful and open attitude towards all religions, and specific policies on ritualistic activities have not been really seriously discussed. Adrius himself is also a devout believer of the Order of Light - the religion worshiping the Ryka, God of Light, also the most popular one in this land. However, other churches are still fairly treated, without favoritism, because in a land where magic flows in every current of life like in Althia, people accept the coexistence of different gods. So choosing who to put one¡¯s faith in is the freedom of each individual. And at the end of the day, they all worship the Creator - the entity that is said to have created this entire Universe, and all other gods. He or she is called by many names, but the most common is Enox, which is also the origin of the phrase Enotias - The Universe in the Ancient Tonge.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    After finishing his patrol, Adrius returned to the Palace and attended meetings in the Sorcerer¡¯s Hall. This place was previously used only once a month for Althia''s Mage Council to discuss urgent matters, but now almost every day someone came to see or be summoned to demonstrate the solution to the Kingdom''s deadlock. Many ideas had been proposed but so far all were ineffective or only temporary. One wanted to create a weather seal around the kingdom - not feasible as it would not only block snow but also other types of weather. Another idea was to build an artificial sun to increase the temperature, dispel the cold - but the cost of resources and manpower is too expensive. A wizard from Blimus - the Cave Empire even boldly suggested that the people of Althia should move to settle underground, his kingdom would gladly share lands. What an offer too tempting to refuse¡­once you''re dead!


    Another day passed with no results, until a letter arrived. The address was from the Starglance Astronomical Institute, the sender is a scholar named Damian. In the letter, he eloquently declared that he had found a way to end the winter in Althia. Tomorrow he will go to the Capital to express it directly to the King, hoping to receive a well-deserved grant for his Institute. In fact, this is not the first time a letter with similar content has been sent. However, there was something about this letter that caught Adrius'' attention. Its seal was a special kind, made specifically for the exchange of important information with Lords and high ranking officials. And only those individuals have special tools to open this type of seal. If someone tries to open it by other means, all information inside the letter will be destroyed. The scholar, Damian, used this special seal, proving that the information inside must be extremely urgent, and he wanted it to reach the correct address without being detected. However, from what he had read, Adrius did not feel there was any special information. Yes, finding a solution to the country¡¯s dilemma is important, but thousands of letters with similar content are sent every day. Besides, he just expressed his wish to see the King tomorrow, not anything else¡­


    Lost in his thoughts, Adrius was suddenly awakened by Florence''s call. She is the lady of Hestic family - the second most powerful house in Althia and his childhood friend. The two started talking about the letter.


    - Maybe he''s just exaggerating his appearance. Want to be sure that his trip will bring back something, for example?


    - But I don''t feel that way. He wrote very succinctly, feeling like he didn''t want to reveal anything. If that''s the case, then why he used this kind of seal, it will only attract more attention?


    - Or is he hiding something behind the letters? Let me try some small experiments.


    These "small experiments" that Florence refers to here are some methods of quantitatively testing paper, ink and envelopes, to see if they contain any kind of secret spell. Despite her usual appearances with gorgeous gowns and a tremendous love for nail art, Florence is the type of person who isn''t afraid to do field work. She is also passionate about scientific research, alchemy, and different types of seals. And in the field of finding hidden messages, she is a true expert. That''s also why Adrius felt even more frustrated when, after a few hours in the lab, Florence declared, "All is perfectly fine!"


    - So nothing suspicious at all? I still have a hunch that something is not right¡­


    - Yeah, you and your hunch always make people uncomfortable!


    - No, I don''t mean to criticize your workmanship. I completely trust this result. It''s just,... I don''t know¡­ maybe we are not looking at the right place.


    - Perhaps so. But it''s late, we should go home now. You will have your answer tomorrow anyway.


    - I hope so. Let''s head back.


    Contrary to Florence''s optimism, the "answer" did not come the next day, or the day after. The scholar in the letter did not appear. Adrius'' hunch was right, something was definitely wrong with this. Early on the third day, he left the Capital for the Starglance Astronomical Institute, located in the Alburnic Mountains, to meet this man named Damian in person. Scholars here were surprised when the Royal Prince spent half a day riding here just to personally meet one of them. Looking at the somewhat dilapidated scene of the institute, Adrius thought, "He must have asked the King for funding to repair his workplace." In fact, this was the will of all the Institute staff, so when they saw a Prince visit, they welcomed him with barely-hidden welcoming excitement. Except for one - Damian, because he was not there. His room was locked, no response when called, and he was nowhere to be found on the campus of the Institute.


    - That''s strange. Two days ago, I saw him watering the plants in the front yard. No one has been out of the Institute for the past few days, because you know how important the work of meteorological observations these days is - said one scholar, who seemed to emphasize the phrase "meteorological observation work".


    Unable to wait any longer, Adrius went to the private room of the owner of the letter. After asking permission of the Abbot to break down the door, he did it and stormed in. Finally, you meet Damian - or to be exact, what¡¯s left of him - a lifeless corpse, sprawled on the floor with a knife stuck in his chest. ¡°This is bad,¡± thought Adrius.

 Chapter 2: The only evidence

    - Three days earlier a letter, and now you bring me a knife. You truly know how to treat women with gifts, Adrius Vardally.


    - Come on, Flor. I tried the inspection facility, but they could not find any traces. It''s urgent, and you are the best at this.


    - I like your last sentence. Is this the main weapon?


    - Yeah, he died from being stabbed through the chest by this thing. This seems to be the most vital clue remaining.


    - Okay, let me try the Separation spell.


    The spell that Florence refers to is the technique used to find workshop marks on objects. This is a type of stamp that is enchanted to mark the workshop of many specific items, including weapons. Arms factories in Bravovia must use this mark to be considered legal business, products made without the mark will be listed as illegally manufactured and will be confiscated. People delivering or using them are against the law and will be treated as criminals. This is a common regulation implemented by human kingdoms to control the production and weapon trading activities. And just as Adrius had predicted, Florence did not find a workshop mark on this knife. A murderer usually won''t leave such obvious evidence.


    - Although I couldn''t find the mark, I know this is a product of the Ys''tavian people. The inner core of the knife handle is made from wood of the Thorn Oak tree, which is only found in the Forbidden Forest where they inhabit. Also, this artifact can only be made by the skills of the Ys''tavians.


    - Great. Thank you, Flor. That is the most useful information today for me.


    Florence skillfully combined the fragments of the knife back to its original state. This work requires a lot of experience on the expert level, but with her "blessing hands", the young lady of the Hestic family has mastered these techniques from an early age. She slowly removed the protective gloves, being careful not to scratch the nail polish she had just made yesterday. 2 experiments in 3 days, that''s too much exposure to spells and Obsidian powder (a material used in alchemy), not to mention the cold weather which made hand skin rough easily. If it weren''t for the request from someone she had a special affection for like Adrius, Florence certainly wouldn''t have let her meticulously groomed fingers be "at risk" that much.


    - All right, detective. Have you come to any conclusions?


    - Sort of. A scholar named Damian was killed by someone not from the Astronomical Institute. By the time I got there, he had already been killed a day before. The culprit infiltrated at night, stabbed him to death, then left. The only clue he left behind was an unauthorized Ys''tavian knife.


    - How do you know he was killed by an outsider?


    - Shoe prints. There was rainwater and mud, but not the kind of soil found around the Alburnic region, which hadn''t rained for several months now. So this trace must have come from somewhere else.


    - Scholars at the Institute could also go elsewhere and then come back to commit crimes.


    - Yeah, that''s a possibility. So I spent the whole day checking it. No scholar has left the campus of the Institute for a month. The only one who was about to leave was Damian, if what he wrote in his letter was true. So Starglance scholars couldn''t leave such traces.


    Adrius reached for the Sunglade apple juice on the table and took a large sip. It has been his favorite drink since childhood, and the best type is only served at the Hestic Manor. With the current devastating winter situation, Sunglade apple juice is becoming more and more popular in Althia because of its ability to keep the body warm for a long time. Using a new yeast recipe, Lance & Luthers Inc. has beaten all competitors and become the exclusive manufacturer of this drink in the Kingdom.


    Behind the success of this brand is the Hestic family, who have invested lots of money in facilities and human resources for their business. Their ability to understand people''s needs and predict the next market trend is what has helped them rise to become the second largest family in Althia, even though they started out as merchants with modest wealth in the northern lands. It is their rapid growth in power that sometimes makes other houses, including the Darvally family - descendants of the founders of Althia and still rule the kingdom to this day, feeling wary. However, the King never showed his concern to his Adrius, because he did not want political calculations to interfere with the pure friendship between him and Florence. Besides, until now, the Hestic family still keeps a close relation with the Althia nobles and well-played their part as a great house in this Kingdom''s difficult time, so concerning their loyalty is unnecessary.


    Florence watched intently as Adrius sipped his favorite drink. Then, she continued to ask:


    - What do you think about the letter? Does anyone in the Institute know about his intentions?


    - Unfortunately everyone said no, even though I''m not sure they''re all telling the truth. They said for about a month now he has been conducting his own research, but he does it alone and does not share the information with anyone.


    - I guess they are studies on the unusual situation of the Kingdom, right?


    - Right. Even the reason he was killed was most likely due to these studies. His library was ransacked, many papers were stolen or torn. The remaining manuscripts are also Althia''s observations of weather conditions, and the handwriting matched perfectly.


    - So from what I understand, there is a person, or a force that intentionally caused a weather disaster for Althia, and anyone who wants to stop them will be eliminated. This ill-fated scholar is an example.


    She excitedly snapped her fingers as she came to conclusion, startling Adrius. This girl''s hand movements always surprise others¡­ in many different ways. He smiled:


    - Well, Flor, your wit truly is sharper than a knife. If there is a dark force behind all this, then finding them will be the key to unleash Althia from this damn winter. That''s why catching this murderer is even more crucial.


    - So what are you going to do next?


    - I need to identify the owner of this knife. I''m going to Grydour tomorrow. That''s the best place to ask about illegal weapons like this.


    - Careful, Adri. These guys won''t hesitate to get rid of anyone who knows about their plans. You''re a prince, but not untouchable. After your appearance in Starglance, they will surely keep an eye on you.


    - Surely it is. A force that can cause such weather conditions for an entire country cannot be underestimated. Thank you so much, Flor. Without you, I have no idea what to do next.


    - No need to be polite. Let''s say you owe me and these Rubytide nails for once. I will reclaim this debt in full. Now go home and get some rest lad, you''re starting to look like a Hogwood goblin again.


    Adrius is always in a slightly disheveled state when he is so focused on doing something: his clothes are ragged and dusty, his hair is more disheveled than usual. Every time seeing that, Florence always teases that he looks like a Hogwood goblin - petty thieves lurking in the damp woods or underground sewers beneath the city. It was a bit excessive, but he took it as a friendly reminder.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    They said goodbye to each other. It was pitch black outside when Adrius started returning to the palace. A heavy silence dominated every street where Adrius crossed, casting everything on either side of the road a pale and dreary tone. It felt like the flames along the road and the unrepeated falling snow were the two things that moved in this scene. Darkness was on his sides, above his head, behind him and in front of him. Adrius found himself galloping through a narrow tunnel, and the flickering lights were the only thing protecting him from being swallowed up by the darkness. But at least, it was a natural, necessary, and harm-free darkness. There is another darkness, more evil, enveloping this Kingdom in a harsh snow globe, night and day. It is vague, lurking, but dangerous and full of intrigue. It is willing to destroy anyone who gets in the way.


    What is it, what does it want, what is its next move? Is it watching you right now? Too many unanswered questions, but at least for now, a glimmer of hope has emerged. Adrius knew he had caught the Viper by its tail, he could pull it out into the light. But at the same time, it possibly knew he had touched it. The Viper would struggle and attack him with its fangs and venom, with its deadly jaws and squeezes. If he wasn''t careful, then not only him but also the people he cares about would be in danger. In order to protect the Kingdom, those will be the obstacles that Adrius must confront. And the young prince was ready, as the way he gripped the reins and threw himself into the darkness without hesitation.


    ***


    Before dawn of the next morning, Adrius and some soldiers of the Royal Guard disguised themselves as a group of merchants traveling in a carriage and headed to Grydour. This is a large autonomous city straddling the boundary of the 3 Human Kingdoms: Althia, Eiselburg, and Streyburg. It is not controlled by any country, but has the right to trade with all three, as well as a number of countries in other continents. The city is run by the Mayor Hillshard, a Streyburg lord who once disagreed with the authority''s methods of running the country. Fearing that he would one day be annihilated because of his opposite influence, he moved his entire estate to the Great Valley and continuously lobbied the two neighboring Kingdoms to establish a "neutral territory" between 3 nations". This groundbreaking move was finally approved by all three sides, and thus the autonomous city of Grydour was born.


    This place has its own law and military forces, with the policy of "non-interference in any political situation of other countries". The most prominent architectural work here is the Tri-Kingdom Palace - a complex of buildings designed by the most talented architects from the 3 Kingdoms, which is also a place for mutual events such as meetings at leadership level, the Moon god Festival or the annual Athletic championship. But people often visit Grydour not only to admire this masterpiece, but also to trade. This place can be considered as the largest Market complex in the entire Bravovia Continent. With an open policy and absolute protection, Grydour attracted merchants from all lands and races to come here, and sell everything they had. There''s a famous saying about this place that you should know: "If what you''re looking for isn''t in Grydour, it''s probably never made in this world."


    That''s why this place concentrated a huge amount of illegal transactions. On the surface, of course, it''s city policy that doesn''t allow the purchase of contraband (there''s also a regularly updated list of what''s considered "banned"). However, with the abundant revenue that these transactions bring, the government is willing to ignore the underground activities of the black market, and even taking actions to protect the secrets of high-level deals.


    Because of this, Adrius believes that he will find clues about the owner of the knife here. The team''s target now is a Ys''tavian arms smuggler named Valdikjack. This guy has a small shop in the west of the city, whose main business is herbs and medicines. However, that is only a cover for his illegal business, mostly smuggling Ys''tavian-made weapons to anyone who needed it (and enough money to pay). The plan was outlined as follows: the Royal Guard ambushed outside the shop while Adrius and commander Thamarin went inside to directly ask questions. If this guy doesn''t cooperate and intends to escape, the external combat team will coordinate and bring him back to Althia as quickly and discreetly as possible. An unexpected encounter will alarm the city guard, and more dangerously, this guy''s influential partners.


    After the team was in position, Adrius and commander Thamarin went inside, hooded his shirt and pretended to be a shopper.


    - Welcome to Jackpot! - Valdikjack''s languid voice sounded. Looks like he had a sleepless night.


    - Hello. Do you sell sight-clearance medicine here (a kind of eye drops)? - Thamarin spoke, while Adrius glanced around the shop.


    - Yes. Please go straight ahead, turning right to the last shelf.


    - Ok. I''ll pick up a few more things along the way.


    - Enjoy yourself. And you, what do you want to buy? My shop is having a promotion¡­ - He turned to Adrius.


    - No, thanks. I go with him.


    Thamarin hummed a tune as he walked. Moments later, he whistled twice. It''s a pre-agreed signal, which means "No one''s here. Procede!". Adrius then approached the counter, holding out the murder weapon wrapped in beast skin cloth.


    - Hi, Valdikjack. Actually, we came here not to buy things, but to ask you about this. We need to know its origin.


    The shop owner''s face remained almost unchanged. It seems his life circumstances have made him familiar with these "customers". He opened the cloth and looked at the knife for a moment. Then, he looked at Adrius again:


    - Sorry, I don''t know what you''re talking about. Please leave so I can continue with my business.


    - A well-known weapon smuggler in the underworld like you does not know about this? Sounds a bit absurd, doesn''t it? Or is your reputation not as good as rumored?


    - You don''t know who you''re talking to. I''ll make it clear for the last time, please step out of my shop


    - Come on, we''ve come a long way to get here. Please, give me a name, then we''ll be gone before you know it¡­


    Adrius expressed a begging attitude as he pulled out 5 gold coins and pushed them towards Valdikjack. But just as he pushed them to the other half of the table, the shop owner slammed the counter board, sending his hand and the coins flying into the air. Adrius was surprised by this action, and before he could move his hand, the floor right under his feet collapsed. A gravity trap below the floor was activated and sucked in Adrius'' legs, rendering him unable to move. Valdikjack took this opportunity to jump over the counter, grab the knife and prepare to run away. He also activated the smoke system in the store to hinder the visibility. "Damn, he has prepared" thought Adrius, struggling to escape the trap that was paralyzing his legs.


    But when the smoke cleared, the young prince saw Valdikjack also collapsed. Thamarin had already slipped behind the smuggler and pinned him to the floor before he could escape in the smoke. With a sufficient dose of anesthetic, the man slept soundly. He expertly defused the trap and pulled Adrius up, while the Guards swooped in and quickly brought the target onto the carriage.


    - Always look out where you set foot on, Your Highness. Besides, this kind of trap is not easily pulled off just by struggling. You could lose your feet.


    - Thank you, Thamarin. Next time I will pay more attention. - Adrius shyly replied. Every time on a mission with Thamarin, he learns something new.


    People around the neighborhood flocked to see what had just happened. Taking advantage of the smoke, the team managed to get the smuggler out of there in time without being noticed by anyone. The carriage sped through the crowded markets, heading towards the suburbs. At this moment, Valdikjack regained consciousness and began to mutter:


    - You don''t know what you''ve done...


    - Oh, we do. We''ll make you talk," Thamarin warned.


    - One mile to the Althian borderline, Commander - The charioteer turned his head back to announce the team.


    - Crack!


    The echo of brittle wood breaking sounded, followed by the overturn of the whole carriage that lost control. The whole team bumped into each other painfully, some were even thrown out of the carriage. While everyone was still stuck on top of each other and stunned from the impact, the canvas covering the carriage was cut by something sharp. Adrius dimly saw a tall figure pulling Valdikjack out of the mess. The young prince tried to squeeze out and grab the smuggler with one hand, but he was not strong enough.


    - Thamarin, get us out of here - Adrius commanded


    - Yes sir. Everyone, get ready to fly - He shouted


    He drew strength from one hand and punched hard to the ground. A tremendous repulsion from the ground bounced back, sending everyone into the sky and smashing the carriage. Adrius landed on the ground, immediately pulled out his spellbook and casted Wind Power. The magic coiled in his arms forming a swirling sphere, shooting straight at the stranger. Another strange man used a great shield to block his attack.


    - He is not alone. We''ve been ambushed - Thamarin came to Adrius'' side, weapon ready in his hand.


    - Excuse me, sir. You stole something from us, and I demand you to return it now - shouted Adrius while a group of hooded strangers approached next to the one carrying the Valdikjack.


    - Sorry, this package belongs to us - The big guy raised his voice. Then he commanded his troops - Stop them.


    So Adrius''s "hit fast score fast" plan has failed. No choice but to fight here. They could not leave Grydour empty-handed. And just like that, the two armies rushed into each other in the middle of the empty suburban area, except for the one that carried the "package". He turned around and headed towards the city center.

 Chaos in the city

    Smoke and dirt drifted everywhere. The normally deserted suburbs were turned into turbulence with the constant commotion arising from the battlefield. The ground was littered with debris from the surrounding abandoned shops. Adrius created a strong gust of wind, pushed the smoke away and cleared the vision. The enemy¡¯s commander was out of his sight while the prince was still stuck here with his army.


    - Damn, their great shields are so annoying.


    - I know. My shockwave didn''t move them either.


    In front of him, a solid formation was raised to prevent anyone from passing. Ten hooded men stood in a horizontal row, with each of them armed with an oversized great shield. All formed a strong shield wall blocking the way for Adrius and the Royal Guards.


    The most annoying thing is that they are resistant to magic. Any elemental spells Adrius casts have no effect on this defense. His Wind power even bounced back, causing his teammates to be knocked away. Thamarin, the commander of the Guards with the ability to create high-level commotion from his hands, was also helpless when his attacks could not penetrate the layers of thick shields ahead. Furthermore, these shields also have offensive capabilities. By holding onto their shields and simultaneously charging forward, the opponent can even push Adrius'' team backwards. The air pressure they create is relatively large, along with the impulse resonance coming from the ability to coordinate smoothly, making this shield thrust more powerful. At least 3 people on Adrius'' side were already knocked down, the young prince was more or less bruised.


    This formation has been well-trained for many different situations, with the aim of nothing but stopping the advance of the enemy. If the enemies jump high, they will move backwards very quickly. If someone circles to the side, they will stretch out the wall to close in immediately. Having to carry a great shield doesn''t seem to be a problem, as they still move with great flexibility. The only weak point is behind. However, if the enemy is only in front, then they completely dominate. On the battlefield, it would be well suited to repel a charging troop, then flank with an infantry squad to disrupt their formation. And right now, with fewer numbers, they concentrated on stopping Adrius''s team until the commander left and then they would retreat.


    - Thamarin, we need to find a way to attack from behind.


    - But Your Highness, we can''t even touch them.


    - I¡¯ve got an idea.


    Adrius''s spellbook flips quickly while floating in the air, showing him chanting a spell. Touching the ground with both hands, Adrius transferred his energy to the Earth-type, then leaped forward. A giant fist made of sand and rock hit the shield wall. A strong tremor occurred, Adrius was bounced backwards, his fist shattered into small pieces of detritus that were splashed in all directions. The echo of collisions, the shattering of glass, the sound of broken signs¡­ After the smoke and dust dissipated, the shield wall still stood tall. They had cornered the Althia Royal Guards.


    - Foolish. Not only were your fists not able to penetrate this wall, but even your comrades were injured by that attack. - one shieldbearer raised his voice.


    - I know. But that''s the price we had to pay to lure you in here," replied Adrius.


    As he spoke, Adrius continued to exert force in his hands. The book flipped back and forth again and again as if a strong wind was blowing on it. This time, his hands shone like a bright halo.


    - Thamarin, it¡¯s time.


    The Royal Guard commander clasped his hands together, then slammed the ground hard. The impact sent debris scattered on the ground into the air, and at that moment, Adrius released a beam of light energy from his hand.


    - Behold my ¡°Dance of Light¡±!


    The target he aimed at was the shards of glass broken from the impact from the earth punch earlier, which were now floating around the shieldbearers thanks to Thamarin''s concussion. The beams of energy shot chaotically, reflecting off the glass shards in unpredictable trajectories. Thanks to the surrounding "glass formation", his attacks were able to circle behind the enemy without them knowing it. It was only when light force hit the back and nape of the neck, where they were defenseless, that the shieldbearers realized they had fallen into Adrius'' trap. Although the attack was not lethal, it was enough for their formation to be disrupted for a moment, and enough for an experienced warrior like Thamarin to seize the opportunity. He leapt into the middle of the wobbly shield wall and smashed it with a single strike. All of them were thrown far away from each other, and the ¡°unbreakable wall¡± was officially pierced.


    - My prince, you go after the commander. I''ll hold off on these guys and follow you.


    - On it.


    The prince ran at full speed towards the city center. Watching him, Thamarin thought: "He''s really grown up". The battle just now showed the future king of Althia''s keen observation, clever judgment and great magic capability. Not everyone at this young age can ultilize the power of the four elements simultaneously like Adrius. In addition, although he isn¡¯t highly experienced in battle, he always learns very quickly and always finds the solution to difficult circumstances. With these qualities, he was honored to be a Mage when he was only 20 years old. Many people could say that he received this title because of his noble background, but Thamarin himself knew well that Adrius had earned that position worthily.


    The shieldbearers were still trying to fight back the Royal Guard separately. They were much easier to deal with then. His mission was to neutralize all of them, then catch up with Adrius to capture the fugitive. But it seemed the enemy was not ready to give up. Two of them put together two great shields, then strap them on another''s back horizontally. Suspecting something was wrong, Thamarin approached but was stopped by the rest of the squad. The horizontal shield-bearer pulled a rope from behind, then suddenly the heavy thing on his back popped out into a paraglider, lifting him into the air, just before the Commander of the Guards could catch him.


    - What the hell was that??? - A royal guard shouted


    Still looking at what he had just missed, Thamarin was almost hit by a carriage coming from a small alley, if it weren''t for one of his soldiers pushing him aside. The paraglider guy fired a grapple at the vehicle, with the other end fixed to his belt. Just like that, the cart pulled him along as if it were flying a kite at the same time.


    - Sir, they are chasing our Prince - Another soldier reported.


    Damn, I was careless. The guy up there must have had a vantage point to determine Adrius''s location. The prince is in danger!


    ***


    A beam of energy shot straight ahead, grazing the cape of two people galloping along the main street in the center of the city.


    - One of them is after us.


    - Bloody hell, is our shield formation broken?


    - What else could it be? If it weren''t for you being so confident in them, they wouldn''t have caught up with us.


    - Oh, I definitely am proud of them. They don''t know what our shieldbearers are capable of.


    - Anyway, this guy is an elemental mage. He needs to be cut off immediately.


    It was a conversation between the big guy who stole Valdikjack from the Adrius¡¯ team, and a mysterious girl sitting behind him. The smuggler was still tied to the horse''s side, unconscious. On the other side was a bag containing heavy iron spears. The girl turned to sit on the opposite side, back to back with the commander. She pulled out a spear, held it in one hand, and threw it at her pursuer.


    On the other side, Adrius was also taken aback by the attack, and if it weren''t for his quick reflexes, he would have been tightly pinned to the ground with a huge hole in his chest. How could a medium-sized woman launch a heavy iron spear with such ease? Who are these people?? It reminded him of someone¡­ Even though he dodged the blow, the spear also created a commotion that caused the chamois Adrius was riding to stumble and panic. He had to soothe the beast gently to get it back on its feet and keep moving forward. I should keep my distance from them to avoid attacks like that.


    Having to rob a chamois on the roadside from a Yetian merchant (a snowy mountain tribe settling at the north of Gogborim Ridge) didn''t make Adrius proud, especially after he had begun his insults in the native tongue. If Florence were here, she would certainly be sarcastic about his not-a-prince behavior. But pride cannot help him get through this situation. I''ll at least try to get it back to him healthy and¡­ a little compensation, I guess? The important thing now is how to approach them without getting hit by those iron spears. Not to mention that chamois are often mounted when traveling on rough terrain such as mountains.; On city roads they can hardly keep up with the speed of horses.


    While thinking about what to do, Adrius heard a rumbling noise behind him. Looking back, he saw an oversized carriage approaching, knocking over a series of stalls on the side of the road where it passed. Accompanied by it was a series of arrows that flew straight at him from above, making it very difficult for the young prince to dodge. He finally identified the person who shot the arrow: a guy wearing a paraglider, using a grapple to tie it to the carriage. It helps him float in the air and attack from above with crossbows. Two crossbows, each firing 3 arrows at once, from a location that couldn''t be more open. Looking at his clothes, Adrius could tell that it was one of the shieldbearers that had stood in his way previously. Then this carriage is also theirs. I wonder whether Thamarin is okay?The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    But now is not the time to worry about him, because Adrius'' current situation was no different from a cheese sandwich. In front of him was a lady who could throw deadly iron spears. Behind him was a carriage that was approaching him very quickly, along with a "flying sniper". Move slowly and the carriage will run over, or worse, arrows will find him; on the other hand, if he accelerated, he would be in the sights of the girl with unnaturally strong arms. The only thing he could take advantage of right now was Grydour''s bustling market with crammed stalls, somewhat blocking the sniper''s view. If Adrius wanted to find a way to approach the guys in front, he had to get rid of the sniper early. But Adrius was exhausted after continuously using magic. Alternating between the 4 magical elements caused him to lose stamina quickly. With the remaining energy, to shoot down a guy high above or even a carriage at this distance might not be possible. How can I bring him down when I can''t even reach him? Think, Adrius, think!!


    The arrows were still rushing, plugged into the brick walls, drilled holes in the sunshade and broke all kinds of goods, ... The chase caused the whole food section of the market to fall into chaos, people frantically looking for shelter. The area ahead would be the jewelry section, where the sidewalks are wider and less bustling, meaning that Adrius will have nothing to cover for him anymore. The sniper must be dealt with now, or his body will suffer the same fate as those canvases: badly pierced. Wait, I''m riding a chamois! Seeming to have thought of something, the prince spurred his reluctant mount forward, closing the gap with the couple ahead. The girl saw that the enemy was in her sights, gently reached into her bag and took out two iron spears. One in each hand, she gathered her strength and hurled them at Adrius at full speed. He is looking forward to this. Gripping the reins firmly, he controlled the chamois to jump high to avoid the spear, and use the impact of the throw to propel them both higher, before landing on the roof of a stall on the right side of the road. From here, he continued to jump to the left roof, then to the right roof, and so on, creating an unpredictable zigzag, making it impossible for the sniper to have an easy target.


    This is the superior ability of chamois compared to horses. They can jump high and balance well on extremely narrow lanes. That is why people in mountainous areas with difficult terrain often use them to move. And in Grydour, for the first time, a young man was seen controlling a chamois to climb the closely spaced stalls and cling to the ledges to avoid the pursuit of the enemy. In fact, Adrius didn''t only dodge. If he did, it would be better to stay close to the ground than to climb up high and unshielded like this.


    The risky move he was making was to aim for the top plank of the construction scaffolding at the end of the market, as that was the highest point to land. The sniper also seemed to have realized something, but to him the higher Adrius went, the easier it was for his arrows to hit, so he didn''t doubt it. The annoying movement of the chamois along with the blinding sunlight affected the accuracy of the two crossbows more or less. Yet he also sprained Adrius after hitting his left biceps and grazing his shoulder several times. He was good, but that was not enough to make that guy down there succumb.


    Finally, the jump reached the right spot. The distance between the scaffolding and the building across the street was so large that the chamois almost tripped, but eventually it managed to get its rider up to his desired position, just as the arrows hit the columns and wall array right ahead of them. The prince gasped heavily for a while, but he managed to calm down. From here, Adrius performed a final diagonal leap into the air, taking himself to the highest point that he could reach the sniper. It still wasn''t high enough to hit him, but Adrius knew where to aim.


    He used a Wind Blade, firing a moon-shaped air blade at the sniper. He also prepared for this moment with a barrage of arrows fired at Adrius. But the prince was faster. His wind blade severed the connection between the paraglider and the carriage, causing the sniper to be dragged backwards into the sky. Because of that, his arrows did not hit the target when fired. In the distance, Adrius could still hear his stinging screams, growing fainter as his shadow grew farther and farther away. He crouched low, reaching down to peel off the road¡¯s patches with his Earth Force and lift them up high, making a landing space for his chamois. But with insufficient energy and miscalculation of the weight when landing, the pieces of land lost their balance and dragged the two into a free fall. Fortunately, right before the rock crashed to the ground, the chamois jumped out, so the impact he suffered was not too severe. Adrius and his mount were exhausted, but the two continued to charge forward to chase after the one who had taken away his "package", with a carriage still close behind. At least now the kite-flyer is off of the danger list.


    Speaking of the sniper, at last he landed on the road after being dragged a long distance in the air. This massive weight-shifting parachute helped him land faster, but he was still far behind in the chase. He needed to find another carriage and get back to the race quickly. In the distance, a delivery car was moving towards the center. Waiting for the right distance, the sniper pulled the rope from behind his body so that the device turned into a paraglider again. However, during the operation, a large figure suddenly charged toward him from far away, quickly closed the gap and delivered a powerful hook straight to his jaw before he could draw the crossbow. The parachute bounced off the back of the sniper, who was now unconscious, pulling both him and the man who had knocked him down into the sky.


    ***


    The chase continued in the downtown area, with luxury shops and restaurants. After a few attempts, Adrius also trapped the carriage behind by knocking over a large wooden sign blocking the road. This is truly a massive destruction of public property. It would be really troublesome if I get caught!  Mayor Hillshard certainly wouldn''t have overlooked this if he had known Althia''s army had infiltrated his city. However, Adrius still has not been able to find a way to stop the couple ahead and end this race. He was already beginning to feel exhausted from having to use multiple spells continuously in a short period of time. If he approached now, he probably wouldn''t be able to dodge a direct iron spear.


    Both sides were moving towards ??the city''s center square, where people were crowded and vendors were all around. The highlight of this space is a large triangular Obsidian fountain with a statue of the Mayor carved above it. The amount of water was enough to create a wave that sent them flying. Of all the elemental spells, however, Adrius was the worst at controlling water. Since birth, he has been very sensitive to magical energies, but with regard to Water Magic, no matter how hard he tries, he cannot master it. Those who had trained Adrius knew this problem, but no one could explain why.


    Although he cannot use magic to create water on his own like other elements, Adrius can still use magic to manipulate the water around him. Realizing that the two people in front were getting farther and farther away from him, he had no choice but to stretch his right hand forward and use all his remaining strength to pull water from the fountain. The water bubbled and rose a little, then collapsed. The distance is still quite far. Adrius continued to put strength into his right hand to use aquatic force. The water had risen higher but still not enough to be pulled out. In front, the two riders he was chasing suddenly turned left, heading out of the square. No, they''re about to escape! Released from the reins, Adrius stretched both arms forward, using both Wind and Water force in each hand to lift the mass of water out of the fountain. His hands became heavy, as if he could no longer hold the amount of magic he was casting. The wound on his biceps bled more and he became stunned. Every last bit of strength is being worn away. Just a little more¡­


    The water swirled and rose up into a massive column of water. It spilled out of the fountain and fell into the square. Although they tried to run away as fast as they could, the couple could not avoid the wave and were washed to the side near a residential area. Adrius, after his attempt to raise the water, was also unable to control its direction, causing both him and the chiamos to be knocked down. People were panicking and drenched. Struggling to his feet, Adrius smiled to see the chamois was fine, shaking himself to drain the water on his fur with an expression of indescribable indifference. "Perhaps I should get one after this¡±. Suddenly, a noise behind him interrupted his thoughts. The carriage that had been blocked off had returned, cutting through the chaos and rushing towards him. Adrius tried to get up quickly, but his whole body was numb, like every muscle no longer listening to him. A feeling of helplessness welled up inside the young Prince.


    And then the savior appeared. A figure descended from the sky like a meteor into the exact position of the vehicle, and with his fist, he shattered it with a single strike. Fragments of debris were scattered everywhere and a thick cloud of smoke caused Adrius to cover his eyes. The horses neighed in panic and ran to different sides of the square. From the rubble, Thamarin stepped out. In his hand was one of the two charioteers, dressed like the shieldbearers earlier. He dropped him to the ground, now unconscious, then approached Adrius and stretched out his strong hand to help him up:


    - Forgive me for showing up late, your Highness.


    - No, Thamarin, you ¡®re absolutely on time. And how did you appear from up there?


    - One of them gave me a ride on his paraglider.


    - Ah, how convenient. Thank you very much. It must be unsightly to be run over by a carriage in the middle of the square like this.


    - Come to think of it, just this morning I destroyed two carriages. An unprecedented record!


    - Maybe you''ll be named in books for that. Now, we need to go get the package back, before the Grydour army arrives!


    In the distance, the collision caused Valdikjack to fall off the horse''s side and wake up. The smuggler''s fabric bag was torn, but the only thing that got out of it was his head. Seeing Adrius and Thamarin approaching, he struggled and slithered away like a pupa, muttering repeatedly: "Get away from me, you bastards!" When Thamarin arrived and was about to lift him up, an axe came flying and he had to step back to avoid it. Immediately afterwards, the enemy commander charged with a powerful punch, but Thamarin quickly blocked. He immediately changed his stance, plunging his knee to attack, causing the opponent to retract his arms to defend and take 3 steps back. He lifted the axe stuck in the ground, while Thamarin drew his greatsword from his back. Two guys exchanged moves with their weapons. Every time they touched each other, they created a tremor, causing the surrounding ground to crack. A close confrontation with the commander of the Althian Royal Guards proved that this man was no ordinary opponent.


    Adrius was about to move closer to help, but he was stopped by the mysterious woman, with a surprise kick to the side. Contrary to the other guy''s strong fighting style, she had a very flexible moveset, performing attacks at a fast pace that made Adrius unable to react. Very quickly, he was overpowered and pinned to the ground, his neck pressed by the shaft of the iron spear. Only then did he clearly see the person in front of him. A surprisingly familiar face¡­


    E.. Evelyn?


    Adrius? - The girl raised her voice.