Ethan didn't pay much attention to Little Yellow's resentful gaze. With his recent severe injuries just healed, he had many tasks to attend to and no time to explain to the bird. Busy with more important matters, Ethan hadn't had a chance to closely examine himself until now.
Standing before a mirror, he noticed his hair and eyebrows were completely burnt off. From his scalp down to his waist, over half of his skin was newly regenerated. The stark contrast between the new and old skin was marked by a distinct line. His right arm, severely injured, was covered in wavelike scars from wrist to elbow, giving him a rather ghastly appearance.
This stark reminder of the severity of his injuries brought back the memory of the battle. He still couldn't believe that such a small spark had exploded like a bomb right in front of him. Just as Aphrael had said, surviving was indeed a miracle. Yet, one question nagged at him: why would a mage wear such a cumbersome armor instead of using magic directly? Was it to avoid suspicion? That didn't make sense either—why hide if you plan to kill everyone?
As he pondered this, a cold draft from the open window made him shiver. Hastily closing the window, Ethan hurried back to his room to change into some clothes, trying not to disturb the resting Angelina. Once dressed, he went to inspect Brison's body.
On his way, he encountered Andeleiv and Tibers, along with two unfamiliar faces. Before he could inquire, Tibers spoke up:
"Lord Ethan, you're healed! We were so worried about you."
"Yes, Lord Ethan!"
"Thank you for your concern. I'm fine now," Ethan smiled. "Who are these two?"
Tibers responded, "Lord, you asked me to find some helpers. These are the ones I found."
"Hey, you two, don't just stand there! Greet the Lord!" The newcomers quickly stepped forward to greet Ethan.
Ethan remembered he had instructed Tibers to spread the word and attract the knight by pretending to hire help. He hadn't expected Tibers to actually bring back people, especially during a time when there was nothing to do due to the heavy snow.
Seeing Ethan's hesitation, Tibers hurried to explain, "Lord Ethan, I followed your instructions and found young men. Don't be fooled by their beards and wrinkles; they're under 18. If the army had started recruiting, we wouldn't have found such young ones."
Ethan was shocked, thinking, "Is life in the north that harsh?" He decided to give these two some coins and send them back once Angelina woke up.
"You did well, but I'm still recovering and can't oversee anything right now. I'll give them some money as compensation and have them return tomorrow. Now, show me the mage's body," Ethan said.
"He's by the ship. The cold weather has turned him into an ice block," Tibers replied, leading the way.
Following him, Ethan saw a headless body lying in the snow beside a large warhorse. The horse, upon seeing Ethan, neighed and tried to charge at him, despite its injuries.
"Damn beast!" Tibers cursed, drawing his dagger to protect Ethan.
"Don't hurt it!" Ethan ordered. Tibers hesitated, unsure of what to do, and the warhorse, sensing an opening, charged at Ethan. Ethan didn't want to harm the loyal beast, but seeing no alternative, he placed a hand on its head.
The horse collapsed as if hitting a wall, foaming at the mouth.
Everyone present was awestruck by Ethan's feat and quickly surrounded him with compliments. Ignoring them, Ethan approached the body and inspected it closely. He then turned to the newcomers.
"Do you recognize this man?"
Both nodded. One replied, "That's Darican, the resident mage of Baren Fortress. He's been there for decades, always wearing a silver mask. Everyone knows him."
"Yes, he's famous in the fortress. People say he's brave and that orcs flee at the sight of him. I grew up hearing his stories. He was well-liked and kind. I never imagined he'd be a traitor."
Ethan felt a surreal disconnect listening to their words. The duality of Darican's persona created an eerie sense of disbelief. This duality piqued Ethan's interest. He planned to question Sophia later about any grudges between this man and the Lawson family.
"Let's head back," Ethan stood up. "And hang his head at the road's entrance. Let it serve as a warning to those who might attack us."
"Yes, Lord."
"Where is his armor?"
"Miss Angelina had us store it in the warehouse. Do you want to see it now?" Tibers asked.
"No need," Ethan waved it off. "Keep it secure. It might be useful or need to be sent back to Marrow City. Also, where's Robert? I didn't see him."
"Miss Angelina worried you might want to question him, so she had him confined. He seems to have lost his mind after seeing this body. Do you want to see him?"
"Take me to him."
In a small room, Robert was bound and huddled in a corner. Upon seeing Ethan, his eyes, once dull, flared with venomous hatred.
"Damn you, Ethan! You ended the Pierre bloodline. I curse you to hell. The souls of the Pierre family will haunt you for eternity."
Ethan, seeing Robert's relentless curses, decided he had no further use for him, especially with Brison dead.
"Hang him at the ship's bow. This time, don't let him down," Ethan ordered, turning to leave. Passing the two newcomers, he added, "You two will return tomorrow. Don't speak of what you've seen here. If someone asks, say I killed a man, but you don't know who. Don't mention the mage's body. The one asking might be behind the betrayal. If you must talk, remember you're risking your lives. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Ethan walked away, hoping they'd heed his advice and avoid getting entangled in the dangerous situation.