Chapter 35 - Frenetic in Glafelden Town IV

The morning dew blanketed the western gate of Glafelden, soaking the straw and stone rooftops. The first light of dawn slowly peeked over the horizon, gradually driving away the darkness of the night. A thin line of sunlight cut through the thickness of the night sky. The crow of a rooster shattered the silence, followed by the creaking of a wooden door as it was opened.

Lights in the buildings one by one began to fade. Some of the city's residents had just woken up, preparing for their daily routines. Though some still chose to remain nestled in the warmth of their beds until the sun fully rose. People wandered the streets and began their activities, as if waking the city from its slumber. But none of them suspected that the day's activities would not proceed as they usually did.

The residents of the outskirts of the city often traveled into the city center, for it was here where the heart of Glafelden lay. In the center, there were offices and bureaus—both governmental and private—that employed over two thousand workers. Restaurants and taverns were busier here than in the outskirts, given the strategic location. There were also schools and academies, where five thousand students came to learn. Additionally, there were other central activities such as markets and theaters. The atmosphere in the city center was livelier and more comfortable than anywhere else in Glafelden.

However, today the residents found themselves confused by the blockade set by the Elitist Knights on the main road leading to the city center. The soldiers refused to let anyone pass, warning that anyone who tried to would be killed. This punishment was harsher than the usual imprisonment that had been applied in the city before. Because of this, the residents dared not protest and stopped in their tracks.

The Elitist Knights were carrying out the orders of Captain Guffy, who had instructed them to surround the outskirts of the city near the western gate. He suspected that the target was hiding somewhere in this area. Not only did they blockade the main road, but the Elitist Knights also blocked off other streets to ensure that no one escaped.

Captain Guffy divided a platoon of thirty Elitist Knights into three main groups. One group was tasked with blocking the roads, another with searching homes, and the rest were on patrol in case someone tried to flee or hide.

"What is going on here? What are you trying to do?" protested a rough-looking man in a loud tone. He was a primary school teacher from the city center. Because his home was far from his school, he had to set out early each day on foot. Being late was something that a teacher simply couldn't tolerate. For this reason, he appeared quite upset.

One of the Elitist Knights pushed him aside and told him to step back. "This won't take long if you cooperate. We are simply inspecting you. If you are not the target we are looking for, you will be released."

"A target? That excuse again! You've already disrupted the city in just four days! Can't you just leave—"

At that instant, the soldier drew his sword from its scabbard and aimed it at the teacher. The sound of metal scraping against its sheath echoed sharply, drawing the attention of everyone around.

Everyone held their breath and stared in shock, especially the angry teacher who was now at the mercy of the sword. The man could no longer voice his frustrations. He simply remained silent, staring at the soldier with a sharp gaze. A few people nearby tried to calm the angry teacher and moved him away from the soldier.

The soldier raised his voice loudly as he raised the sword high in his grip. "Listen, everyone! We are simply asking for cooperation! No one will be harmed as long as you cooperate. Anyone who resists will be deemed a criminal and executed on the spot!"

After that, no one else dared to protest directly. Those with a semblance of common sense did not wish to challenge the Elitist Knights under such a clear threat. Anyone who still dared to resist would be considered insane.

The townspeople then complied with the Elitist Knights, like cattle with a ring in their nose. They were told to form long lines to be inspected and searched, both men and women. Even though the target of the soldiers was a girl, they still searched the men, fearing that the target might have disguised herself as a man. Not only were the pedestrians checked, but they also thoroughly searched the horse-drawn carriages and their contents. Those who passed the inspection were allowed to go, but they were instructed to wait in place until the searches were completed.

In addition to the inspections on the main road, the Elitist Knights also forcibly searched homes. The soldiers knocked on every house's door and ordered the inhabitants to come out. While the residents were being inspected, the soldiers searched the houses, checking for anyone hiding inside.

Cupboards were opened and searched, clothes scattered across the floor, and mattresses were shifted from their usual spots. For houses with wooden floors, the soldiers knocked around various spots. If a hollow sound echoed back, it indicated a hidden room beneath the floor. They broke it open, even if the floor was damaged, only to leave the house if they didn't find the target. The soldiers then moved on to the next house, without any sign of remorse.

Naturally, many people were upset, but they were powerless to resist.

The searches continued until the sun had fully risen in the eastern sky, slowly climbing over the mountains. Despite the limited number of people involved, the Elitist Knights moved efficiently, completing the inspections in record time. By midday, they had already searched nearly half of the buildings in the outskirts of the city.

Without realizing it, the soldiers had reached a house at the end of the alley, where Almira's old home stood.

She peeked through the door, anxiously looking at the crowd outside. Even though she had used her illusion magic, which should have deceived human eyes, she was still afraid that a soldier might detect the flow of Esze and unmask her disguise. If that happened, she wouldn't be able to stay in the city any longer. The reason was simple: the deep-rooted hatred between humans and Elvians.

Although Almira hadn't done anything wrong, the humans in the city wouldn't tolerate an Elvian like her living here. She would surely be driven out. What worried Almira most was her only son, Cedric. The boy would become the target of hatred that should be directed at her. The thought of her son being oppressed and bullied by the townsfolk terrified Almira to the core.

If she were forced to leave the city, Almira would have no choice but to find another city to settle in with her son. The capital, where her husband worked, was not a viable option. There were many skilled soldiers there who could detect magic. No sane Elvian would want to live in the heart of a human territory that despised them to the core. That was why she had chosen Glafelden as her home. Not only was it on the edge of the Lurivia Kingdom, but the city was also filled with city guards who were as ordinary as humans themselves.

"Mom, I'm hungry!"

Almira was startled by her son's voice as he woke up. The child rubbed his eyes, still half-asleep. His pajama was worn from his habit of tossing and turning in his sleep.

"Alright, I'll prepare something to eat," Almira responded with a soft smile, as if welcoming her son to a new day.

She hurried to the kitchen beside the bedroom. Her hands grabbed some chicken from the cooling box. This box worked the same as a refrigerator, except it didn't use electricity. Instead, it was powered by a special stone called the Frozen Snowstone, found in the Sigrotia Iuna Mountains.

The Frozen Snowstone, which resembled snow in color, was as hard and dense as regular stone. The most remarkable feature of this stone was its ability to continuously emit cold air until its energy was depleted. This stone was used as the lining in cooling boxes, which kept food from spoiling. Once the energy ran out, the stone would need to be replaced by a blacksmith who could recharge it.

"Mom, is it ready yet? I'm so hungry," Cedric whined.

"Wait a moment, sweetie! I promise I'll make something delicious for you," Almira replied.

After throwing a smile at her son, Almira focused back on preparing the food. Her hands skillfully cut the fish into neat, even pieces. After coating the fish with a mixture of spices and parsley, she began grilling it on the stove.

Cedric, waiting at the dining table, watched his mother as she cooked, humming a cheerful tune. His legs swung beneath the chair, his energy boundless. When looking at such a cute, innocent child, anyone would agree that protecting him was worth everything. Especially Almira, his biological mother. She was determined that, no matter what happened, she would not let her son suffer.

*Knock, knock, knock!