Free Web NovelChapter 405: Chapter 86: The Ancients, Each Living Past 100 Years
"Your status is unique. You are not only a Legend but also the head of the Holy Protector Clan. Should you come now, you will inevitably be swept into the heart of the storm. They might try to win you over, or they might view you with suspicion. It is even more likely they will use your appearance to legitimize their ambitions, adding weight to their so-called ’miracles.’ Whatever the case, it would be a misfortune for both you and the Monte Territory."
"I know you have your own considerations and are not one to fear risk. But this time is different. The players on this chessboard are all seasoned veterans, the stakes are immense, and the implications are far-reaching. This is no longer a situation that personal courage or strategy alone can easily navigate."
"In my view, you should not come."
"No matter what the rumors say, no matter what the Holy City promises, none of it is worth the potential risks. The Monte Territory needs you. Aurora and the children need you. It is best to err on the side of caution."
"I have said all I can. Please, consider it carefully."
Murphy gently placed the letter on the fleece blanket covering his lap and looked toward Aurora, who had been sitting quietly on a low stool by the fireplace.
She held an unfinished piece of baby clothing in her hands. The fine stitches were almost impossible to make out in the dimming light. But from her posture and expression, it was clear she wasn’t focused on her work; she had been watching him.
"Is that a letter from Elizabeth?" Aurora asked softly, setting aside her needlework.
"Mm," Murphy replied, handing the letter over.
Aurora rose to take it. She walked to the window, using the last of the daylight to quickly scan the page.
Her brow furrowed slightly as she read. When she finished, she reread it carefully, paying special attention to the final lines of warning.
"She’s... advising you not to go to the Holy City." Aurora looked up. "She understands the situation there far better than we do. Judging by her tone, she’s very worried."
Murphy did not respond immediately.
He turned his wheelchair to face the window.
In the castle garden, the leaves had turned shades of gold and ochre. They rustled in the evening wind, and every so often, a few would break free from their branches and drift slowly to the ground.
In the distance, the harvested fields lay like bare, brown skin, their tired and tranquil outlines stretching out in the twilight.
"She has a point." Murphy’s voice was steady, betraying little emotion. "Saint Cyril’s faction has been maneuvering for three hundred years; they are determined to succeed this time. Inviting powerful individuals from all sides is a show of force, but I suspect it’s also a way to force people to choose a side, or even to leverage their presence. If I go, I’ll inevitably become a pawn on their board, no matter my intentions."
Aurora walked back to his side and gently placed the letter on the desk. Her hand remained, fingertips resting on the edge of the paper. "Brother, have you changed your mind?"
"’Change my mind?’" Murphy repeated, his gaze still fixed on the window. "No, Aurora. I haven’t changed my mind."
Aurora was taken aback for a moment, her azure eyes fixed on Murphy’s profile.
Murphy slowly turned his head to meet her gaze. "In her letter, Elizabeth only mentioned the risks, Saint Cyril’s ambition, and the possibility of me being used."
He paused, a sharp edge entering his tone. "But she didn’t say what I might miss if I choose not to go. And she didn’t mention whether there were other possibilities, aside from being used."
He saw the worry rising in Aurora’s eyes and softened his voice. "Of course, the risk is still there. But I’ve weighed it carefully. With my current strength, combined with the name of the Thunder Sword, I should be able to protect myself as long as I don’t step into the very heart of their games. Saint Cyril’s intention in inviting all these powerful people is to intimidate and display his power, not to make enemies. At an event like this, he’ll need to maintain an outward appearance of order and dignity."
"Besides," Murphy’s gaze grew distant, "I want to see it with my own eyes. See that bell, see the situation in the Holy City for myself, and see what Elizabeth is truly up against in her position. There are some things you can’t truly understand from letters and rumors alone."
Aurora listened quietly. After a long moment, she let out a soft sigh. She reached out and placed her hand over his, which rested on the arm of his wheelchair.
"I understand, Brother." Her voice was gentle but firm. "Since you’ve made your decision, you should go. I’ll be here, as will Kaiden. Everything in the Monte Territory will carry on as usual. Alina is pregnant now, which will make Kaiden even more level-headed. You don’t need to worry about the territory’s affairs."
She paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Actually, I’m starting to think a trip to the Holy City might not be such a bad thing. At the very least, it will let certain people know that the Lord of the Monte Territory isn’t content to simply hide away in his own corner. When it’s time to show our face, we show our face."
He squeezed her soft hand in return, a smile touching his lips. "So you’re comfortable with me going alone?"
"I’m not," Aurora admitted, shaking her head. Then she smiled. "But I know I can’t stop you, and I don’t want to. You have your reasons, your own judgment. You’re a bird that needs to fly free. I’m the one who waits for you, not the one who tethers you to my side. I’ll support you in going wherever you want and doing whatever you wish."
Her gaze fell to Murphy’s legs, and her voice grew quiet. "Just... be careful on the road. I’ll have Lucian pick our most capable guards, and the carriage will be inspected and reinforced again."
"I will," Murphy promised.
The two of them then discussed the details of the journey—the choice of guards, the route, and where he would stay upon arriving in the Holy City.
Aurora, ever meticulous, went over everything she could think of.
Finally, everything was settled.
Murphy wheeled himself to the desk, spread out a fresh sheet of parchment, and picked up his quill.
He needed to write Elizabeth a reply—it was a common courtesy.
The nib touched the parchment, making a faint, scratching sound.
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating his profile and the hand that held the quill. He was serene and focused.
Aurora stood by his side, watching quietly, her gaze gentle.
When the final word was written, Murphy gently blew the ink dry, placed the letter in an envelope, and sealed it with the wax and crest of the Monte Territory.
"That should do it," he said, putting the envelope aside. "Have a messenger send it out as soon as possible."
...
The day of departure was set for three days later.
The autumn morning air was cool, the sky clear and vast.
In the forecourt of Monte Castle, a specially reinforced, plain-looking four-wheeled carriage was ready.
The four Northern Lands steeds pulling it were magnificent beasts, waiting quietly.
Eight fully-armed cavalry guards, their presence sharp and disciplined, stood at attention on either side, led by the Official Knight Davis himself.
Murphy was already seated inside the carriage.
Aurora stood outside the carriage window, checking for the last time that the fleece blanket on his lap was secure. She then handed him a small bundle containing a warm water flask and emergency medicine.
"Don’t travel too quickly. Make sure you rest," she urged, though she had said it many times before.
"Mm," Murphy replied, his gaze falling on Aurora’s face.
The morning light cast a soft halo around her golden hair.
Kaiden and Alina also came to see him off.
Alina’s baby bump was not yet obvious, but her complexion had improved greatly.
Kaiden stepped forward and bowed to his father in the carriage. "Safe travels, Father. I will manage the affairs of the territory well."
"I’m leaving everything to you," Murphy nodded.
The driver gave a light flick of his whip, and the carriage began to move.
The escorting Knights swung themselves into their saddles. Their horses’ hooves clattered crisply as they took up positions in front of and behind the carriage.
Through the carriage window, Murphy took one last look at his family standing before the castle gate.
Aurora stood at the very front, her long golden hair stirring slightly in the morning breeze, her azure eyes following the carriage.
Kaiden supported Alina, the two of them standing side-by-side.
The castle looked peaceful in the morning light.
The carriage passed through the castle gates and onto the familiar main road. It traveled south, toward the Holy City, its pace steady and resolute.
The wheels rolled on, carrying the Governor of the Monte Territory, the Thunder Sword, toward the eye of the storm. The gazes of the entire Continent were fixed there, upon the place that would soon witness the tolling of a bell and a shift in power.
