"If it's hard to tell us apart because we look alike, just call us Eldore."
"I can tell you apart, it's okay."
"Really? How?"
"Even our parents occasionally struggle to tell us apart."
How did he manage to tell them apart? It came down to the subtle difference in the inherent energy between them.
Realizing that such an explanation might be hard for others to understand, Yuder hesitated briefly. Fortunately, before he could respond, the door adorned with a golden lion head opened, revealing the figure of Kishiar's adjutant, Nathan Zuckerman.
"Has everyone arrived?"
"..."
"I am Nathan Zuckerman, the adjutant to the commander. I will brief you on the mission before the commander arrives. Please save your questions until after I have finished."
Faced with Nathan Zuckerman's exotic appearance and icy demeanor, everyone fell silent, even the typically blunt Eldore siblings.
Nathan, seemingly accustomed to such reactions, continued without missing a beat.
"This mission is a direct command from His Majesty the Emperor and is thus of utmost importance. While it may seem like a simple task of retrieving the Red Stone and returning to the capital, the true power concealed within the stone is still unknown. We must prepare meticulously for any unforeseen circumstances. Although the likelihood is low, there is a possibility of interference from third parties seeking the Red Stone. To ensure the mission's success, five knights from the House of Pelleta, renowned for their expertise in such missions, will accompany you and the commander. If you encounter any challenges beyond your capabilities, you are expected to cooperate with these knights."
"Are you coming with us, adjutant?"
As Hinn raised his hand to ask, Nathan shook his head.
"No. I will remain here to manage the commander's tasks."
"How long will this mission take?"
"The commander anticipates it will take about a week."
A week? Yuder's expression tightened at the unexpectedly short timeline.
'Is he excluding the travel time?' Yuder pondered, recalling how it had taken nearly a fortnight just to travel to the capital for the Cavalry entrance exam, which was near where the Red Stone had fallen.
Of course, he had been younger back then and unfamiliar with the route, which might have slowed him down. But even so, he couldn't help but wonder if it was truly possible to complete the mission and return within a week.
'How long did it take Kishiar to finish everything last time? It seemed to take longer than a week. Am I underestimating the difficulty of the Red Stone retrieval mission? Or is this the only time the Emperor has allotted?'
Yuder was unfamiliar with the current Emperor's approach, as this ruler preceded the one he had served under. However, the Emperor he had known always expected tasks to be completed within the time given.
If the current Emperor shared this trait, it might explain the urgency with which they were moving.
"Oh dear, it seems I am the last one here."
Finally, Kishiar made his entrance. He was dressed in a white commander's uniform, draped with a black cape that was more subdued. The cloak had a large hood, big enough to conceal his face if needed.
While the others seemed captivated by his extraordinary aura and elegant beauty up close, Yuder's attention was immediately drawn to the magnificent sword Kishiar was carrying.
'He brought it, as expected.'
The divine sword, Orr.
Yet, except for Nathan and Yuder, no one else could have imagined that it was the legendary divine sword. It was only natural.
"We won't be using a carriage for quick movement. Is there anyone here who can't ride a horse?"
Horses were the most common means of land transportation. There was even a joke on this continent that there were more horses than cats or dogs.
In particular, the Orr Empire, predominantly composed of plains, was famous for its well-maintained carriage roads since ancient times.
As a result, every citizen of the Orr Empire learned to ride a horse from a young age. Even Yuder, who had grown up with his grandfather in a mountain valley, had learned to ride a horse and guide a cart around the time he could walk.
It was necessary for him to be able to transport the wood he diligently chopped down to the village to sell.
"We can ride."
After everyone nodded, Kishiar signaled to Nathan. Nathan, who had formally greeted everyone, descended the stairs first.
"The horses we'll be riding are not ordinary. You've probably heard of them at least once. We'll be riding the Misty Wind Horses brought by the mages of the Pearl Tower."
"Misty Wind Horses...?"
Kanna muttered with a puzzled expression. Of course, Yuder knew what they were.
'A hybrid created by magic.'
Long ago, the mages of the Pearl Tower conducted far more audacious experiments than they do now. The creation of the Misty Wind Horse—a crossbreed between an ancient monster that lived only in mist and storms and a horse—was one of the most useful outcomes of those experiments.
'I can't believe we'll be riding those. Given the time period, they must have been more widely used than I remember.'
Misty Wind Horses were living creatures, but unlike real horses, they never tired no matter how far they ran and left no footprints. These creatures, which had cold wind mixed with mist instead of a mane, were designed to obey only the commands of the mages who controlled them through the magic stones embedded in their bodies.
Since they never grew tired, they could move much faster than real horses, but their numbers were limited, so they were mostly used by the mages of the Pearl Tower.
Of course, only the mages of the Pearl Tower knew how to create a Misty Wind Horse.
'I'm glad we extracted the secret of their creation before the Tower fell. Thanks to that, even after those dreadful hybrids disappeared, the technology could be applied elsewhere...'
The old mages, who had been secluded in their tower for so long, rigidly adhered to their own rules. Until the emergence of the Cavalry, they were the only ones capable of performing miracles.
These mages were also the most vehement in their resistance to the Cavalry, sensing that their fate was to be replaced. They went to extreme lengths, even beyond the limits of reason, to interfere and launch cunning attacks. Ultimately, their greed led to their downfall.
The Misty Wind Horses, which naturally vanished after the fall of the tower, were a reminder to Yuder of the tower that might collapse again in a few years and its symbolic monsters. With this thought, he followed Kishiar down to the lower floor.
"Your Grace, these are the Misty Wind Horses you requested."
At the entrance, which had been deliberately cleared, stood four mages wearing robes adorned with pearl buttons—a mark of their affiliation with the Pearl Tower. They held the reins of several Misty Wind Horses. The sight was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
"Wow..."
Most people would never encounter a Misty Wind Horse in their lifetime.
These creatures looked as though they were formed by sprinkling a handful of silver powder into a swirling whirlwind. They were enormous, seemingly twice the size of an average horse.
To control these ethereal beings, a bridle and a magical stone made of special materials were essential.
As the Misty Wind Horses, tethered by the red bridles held by the mages, let out a cool neigh and moved across the shadowless ground, only the soft sound of wind could be heard.
Yuder looked into the creatures' eyes, which resembled hollow sieves, and thought to himself how unsettling their appearance was, even the second time he saw them.
"It's strangely fascinating. It shines silver. I wonder if it will sparkle like this at night?"
"Yes. But not enough to attract the attention of beasts or monsters."
In fact, such creatures would likely avoid the Misty Wind Horses. It was only natural for beings that were not born naturally to be shunned by all.
Only humans sought to bend and exploit these creatures.
At Kanna's murmured observation, Yuder instinctively responded, blinking when he noticed the others turning to look at him.
"How did you know that? Have you seen one before?"
"I've... heard about them. From a passing mage."
"I see."
Fortunately, his companions didn't question his explanation. After all, they had all left their homes only a few months ago, traveled long distances, and eventually arrived in the capital.
"Your Grace. It's been a long time."
After a bit more waiting, knights clad in light armor appeared not far away and knelt before Kishiar.
Compared to the dazzling armor of the Imperial Knights, their attire was modest, almost resembling that of mercenaries. But the emblem embossed on their shoulder guards was the same flame pattern used by the Duke of Peletta.
These were the knights under the Duchy of Peletta, whom Kishiar had gathered.
"We had a hard time bringing eleven Misty Wind Horses. They tend to fight when grouped together, so when tied up, they must always be separated. Saddles aren't necessary, but to control their speed, a specific sound signal is used."
After confirming that everyone needed for the Red Stone retrieval mission had assembled, the highest-ranking mage from the Pearl Tower briefly explained how to handle the horses.
"When you need to slow down and stop, blow a long whistle once. When you need to speed up, keep blowing short whistles, and they will gradually accelerate. The whistle doesn't need to be loud. These creatures are designed to understand the sound of their rider. Also, be cautious not to place them near fire. They are weak to heat and might melt or disappear."
Those riding the Misty Wind Horses for the first time listened attentively to the instructions. As Yuder already knew this, he focused more on observing the faces of those gathered.