Fractured Barriers

"This way!" Gerard urged as the three dashed through the quiet streets of a district untouched by the battle. Few people were outside, and the air was heavy with tension.

Approaching the city gate, Gerard glanced at Rethrus and gave a nod. Instantly, they vanished from sight, cloaked by invisibility once more.

As they prepared to strike the guards, they froze in shock—every guard lay unconscious, sprawled on the ground. Rethrus and Gerard ended their invisibility and cautiously approached.

"Are they dead?" Rethrus asked, eyes scanning the fallen sentries.

"No," Gerard replied, kneeling to check a pulse. He stood up, frowning. "So, what now?"

Rethrus handed Xiaolan to Gerard and set his bag down, stretching briefly. Then he stepped closer to the barrier, raising his staff and pointing it toward the shimmering wall of magic.

"Be ready. Cover Xiaolan's eyes," he instructed as dark, swirling energy began to gather at the tip of his staff.

Gerard eyed him skeptically. "You really think you can break the city barrier? It's the City Barrier, you know."

Rethrus smiled confidently. "My dark magic primarily negates magic . And with this attack—"

He concentrated, pouring mana into a growing dark nova. When it reached its full power, Rethrus released it.

The attack slammed into the barrier, attempting to shatter it by pulling its energy inward. Rethrus quickly cast a protective shield around them.

The barrier cracked and splintered—but only where the attack struck. They watched in awe as the damaged section began to repair itself.

Suddenly, the Guardian's Eye—the magical device powering the barrier through mana crystals—activated, sending an urgent alert to the city watch. The recent chaos had already frayed their patience, but they had no choice but to dispatch troops.

"Quick, before it closes!" Rethrus urged, gathering his bags with the help of his shadowy arms. The three leapt through the gap in the barrier and sprinted away from the city.

Just before the barrier sealed completely, a figure leapt through—barely making it in time.

Since the sun hadn't risen yet, some monsters were still active. As they ran, Rethrus conjured a protective barrier around Xiaolan, who was strapped to his back once again.

'Wow, he really has masterful control over his magic,' Gerard thought as he fought off monsters blocking their path. Both men battled fiercely while running, cutting down the creatures in their way.

Then, the first rays of sunlight broke through the horizon. The monsters, vulnerable to the light, retreated into the forests and dungeons. With the immediate danger gone, the trio pressed on until they reached a fork in the road. They stopped and exchanged glances.

"Welp, I guess this is it," Gerard said with a smile.

"Oh, I hope we cross paths again," Rethrus replied warmly. "Especially you—you're my friend."

Gerard looked surprised but smiled back. "Well, me too. And when you become the hero of this country, don't forget to write me into your book as one of your handsome and strong friends! Hahaha."

"Hahaha, sure! Anyway, see you next time."

"Bye, mister, and thank you!" Xiaolan chimed in.

"Hahaha, you too, Xiaolan. Hope you return to your homeland soon."

With that, the two parted ways.

As Gerard ran toward his destination, he glanced back at Rethrus one last time.

'Maybe for Rethrus this is just one of many adventures, but for someone like me, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.'

'Ah, I'm glad I saw firsthand the one who will protect this country. And I'm glad he's as good-natured as the story of him suggests. I hope I get to have another adventure with him someday. Hahaha.'

He laughed softly to himself as he ran.

'Hmm, I have much money now… what do I do next? Nah, I'll figure it out along the way.'

In Aurelia, as the sun rose over the city, the message from Lord Frings and the High Magistrate spread quickly. The nobles were terrified by the news: a general was arriving in their city. If the two families decided to continue fighting, the general had the authority to seize control of Aurelia in the king's name. And even without official decree, no one in Aurelia could stand against a general's power.

In the Hall of Order, High Magistrate Cassius Magentano snapped awake, alarm flashing in his eyes.

"What do youg mean—a general? General Slade is coming here? Damn it! Does the king know about this?" he demanded.

Just then, Captain Heda entered briskly. "Also, someone broke the barrier earlier. Now what do you mean Slade is coming here?"

"Yes," he replied. "The Lord of Sylvaris sent word that Slade is in his city, dispatched by the king to investigate." Magentano raised his brows sharply. "What do you mean someone broke the barrier?"

"Some of my men reported that the barrier was attacked from within and partially broken. We sent troops to investigate, only to find all our guards unconscious. By the time reinforcements arrived, the barrier had already sealed itself shut."

"Did you get any information from the guards?" Magentano pressed.

"Yes," Heda answered gravely. "They say the man responsible is—"

At Merlion's estate, the two lords met in a private chamber, the tension between them palpable but restrained.

"It's your cousin, right?" Lord Merlion asked cautiously.

"Yes," Lord Frings replied grimly. "My cousin is the one who knocked out those guards. That means he's also the one who broke the barrier."

The urgency of the news forced them to put their conflict on hold—for now.

"So, what's your proposition?" Lord Merlion inquired.

Frings leaned forward slightly. "I want you to drop all the hatred toward my family and forget the accident."

Merlion shook his head. "I don't have hatred. It's just... I might appear weak if the other families see me not fighting after what your cousin did to my men. But what about my daughter?"

"She's safe," Frings assured him. "Being cared for carefully. But listen—if we keep fighting and one of us falls, other families might seize the chance to take our place as the leading lords in this city."

"Given General Slade's impending arrival, I will not allow that ambitious house to assert dominance over Aurelia. The welfare of our city must not be compromised by their personal ambitions."

Merlion considered this. "I agree. So the Merlion family will shoulder all the damage, and your family will keep the citizens quiet. How about that?"

"That's fair." The two men stood and shook hands, sealing a fragile peace.

 "Oh, I heard Dante died?"

Frings shrugged. "Yeah. Not sure if he killed himself or was killed—his own sword was the weapon. Honestly, I don't care."

Merlion raised an eyebrow. "Hmmm? You know he's one of the reasons you're on top, right?

Frings smiled coldly. "Yes, but I can create another anytime I want."

Merlion chuckled darkly. "How confident of you. I heard he was betrayed by his wife, so he killed her and his family."

Hearing this, Frings smirked again. "By the way, do you have an Avalorian girl in one of your orphanages? My favorite was lost during your daughter's attack—she must've run through the forest or died in the encounter. Honestly, I don't care what happened to her anymore."

"That's sad to hear," Merlion replied smoothly. "Don't worry—you have plenty of choices, Lord Frings."

Their conversation continued, the air thick with unspoken threats and uneasy alliances. When it ended, Lord Frings was heavily escorted by Merlion's trusted soldiers and his own guards. Some of Merlion's men still burned with anger and thirst for vengeance over recent event. 

Frings glanced at Garrick, noticing how the man always seemed exceptionally cheerful.

"Say, Garrick, do you have some sort of lover?" Frings asked, a sly smile on his lips.

Garrick beamed. "Yes, Milord."

Frings smirked. "Really? Tell me about her sometime. I might want to meet her."

Garrick's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, Milord! I'd be honored!"

In the early morning sky, a lone flying torch streaked toward the city. It was Slade, still yawning as he soared through the air.

'Damn it, I should have taken Alistair's offer,' he muttered. 'But I have to be quick—especially with so much on the king's plate right now.'

Starhaven

At the Palace, dawn had barely broken when the king's booming voice echoed through the halls.

"What?" the king shouted, frustration clear in his tone.

"Yes, sire," Jeshur reported respectfully. "It seems there's a cult—or some group—opposed to the alliance. They've been killing some of our men, sending a message to us. But it seems they're just a minor group, sire."

"Minor? MINOR?" the king snapped. "Jeshur, we don't have time for that—especially now that the alliance has been established. We have to secure the Avalorians' safety. Tsk. Call the council."

"Yes, Milord."

The king then moved to his balcony, where Takashi was waiting for his next move. It turned out they were playing chess.

"Ah, where were we?" the king asked as he sat down.

"It's your turn to move," Takashi replied.

The two continued playing, their concentration deepening with each passing moment. Every move was crucial.

"It's hard, right?" Takashi asked, watching the king think.

"Yeah," the king admitted as he made his move. "I thought we could handle this easily. But it seems people have this scary idea that war between us is necessary."

"I'm pretty sure my king is having the same problem," Takashi said thoughtfully as he considered his next move. "But at the end of the day, those of us at the top can see the bigger picture of our actions. You can't put your feet in everyone's shoes—they won't fit."

With that, Takashi made his move, checkmating the king.

The king laughed softly, surprised. "Ah, I lost this time. Maybe you're right. As a king, I don't have to waver—or even think about wavering. Anyway, you won't be going out here in the palace due to the threat from this new group. I don't know their name yet, but it's better to stay here until the boy is back."

"I understand, Starling. Where's that kid anyway?" Takashi asked.

In a quiet village, Rethrus and Xiaolan stopped at an inn. Exhausted, Rethrus lay sleeping on the floor while Xiaolan rested on the bed. It was still early, but the fatigue was too much for Rethrus to resist.

Xiaolan couldn't sleep, her mind racing with what had happened. She glanced down at the floor where Rethrus slept deeply. Smiling softly, she climbed down and curled up beside him.

She murmured before drifting off, "Thank yo—"