The Peletta Knight, who had served as their guide throughout the journey, handed Kishiar the special magic stone, signifying that he would manage the horses from here on.
Ordinarily, when their lord chose to put himself at the forefront of danger, the Knights would have objected. Yet, they remained remarkably calm. Yuder could sense the unwavering trust and belief they held in Kishiar.
"We're setting off!"
Leaving General Gino behind, they departed the Southern Army base. The mood was heavy and solemn, weighed down by the unfavorable circumstances that had forced their abrupt departure.
Eleven Misty Wind Horses galloped effortlessly through the darkness of the night. These extraordinary creatures, unhindered by the lack of light, deftly avoided obstacles as they sped across the fields.
The faint, pearl-like glow emanating from the horses' bodies was the only light cutting through the blackness. Yuder tightened his grip on the reins, bracing and enduring against the eerie, hair-raising sensation.
Despite the convenience and speed, these magical creatures, born not of nature but of something else, still felt alien.
Kishiar rode at an unrelenting pace, completely unlike the relaxed manner he had shown when they had first arrived. The intensity was palpable. By the time dawn began to break, they had already traveled far beyond the mountain range.
"Yuder. We need to talk."
As they dismounted to rest, Gakane approached Yuder, his voice low.
"What exactly happened yesterday? You took down those intruders with the Commander, so you must know more than you're letting on."
"I'm not really sure."
In truth, Yuder had taken them down alone, but he saw no point in correcting Gakane. Flaunting his abilities brought no advantage.
"I was just about to leave the box when they showed up. I had to defend myself, so I took them down."
"But how did so many of them manage to be there ahead of us? And how did they figure out we'd recovered the Red Stone so quickly?"
"Kanna Wand. Come over here."
Just then, Kishiar called out to Kanna, drawing everyone's attention. Startled, Kanna, who had been uncapping a water bottle, turned her head quickly.
"Yes?"
"Can you read these items while we rest?"
Kishiar pulled a few objects from his pocket: a torn glove, a broken dagger handle, and a shattered piece of dice. Yuder instantly recognized them as belongings of the dead intruders who had attacked.
It seemed Kishiar had taken them during his brief entry into the mansion before their departure.
"Of course. I'll give it a try," Kanna replied, her expression growing serious.
She had been consumed by doubt, feeling that she hadn't contributed much to the mission. But now, with this chance, she took a deep breath, determined to prove her worth.
Kanna first took the glove in her hands. Closing her eyes, she focused, and a faint ripple of energy stirred within her palm.
"...I can only read personal details about the owner. This was the toughest material he possessed, so he wore this glove often, especially in battles... He also used it when shaking hands with someone—it's a strong memory. He placed a large bag of money on top of the glove. After counting the money, he removed the glove and marked the count with his finger...."
After saying this, Kanna opened her eyes, reflecting on the progress she'd made over the months. Since joining the Cavalry, she'd trained tirelessly, honing her ability through constant practice. Before, she could barely read fragments, and much of what she gleaned was incomplete. Now, however, she could almost always extract something meaningful—mostly, the most vivid memories tied to an object.
"The person who handed over that money is likely connected to the one I'm searching for," Kishiar remarked, giving her a nod of approval before handing over the next object.
It was the broken handle of a dagger. Kanna gripped it tightly, focusing again.
"Fear. Immense fear and regret filled the last person who held this. And resentment—resentment toward someone. The person who commissioned them... a stranger they'd never met before... a noble from the Empire."
"A noble from the Empire?" Gakane, who had been quietly listening, blurted out, his surprise evident. Kanna opened her eyes, her blue irises reflecting a deep seriousness.
"It's a thought the person holding the dagger kept dwelling on. They speculated among themselves that the one behind the commission could be a noble from the Empire."
Kanna's words chilled the atmosphere instantly. Kishiar, still wearing a look of curiosity, was the first to break the silence.
"Well... considering their actions, it wouldn't be surprising."
"But why would a noble from our nation dare to oppose our commander, a member of the imperial family?" Gakane muttered in confusion. "Isn't retrieving the Red Stone supposed to bring peace to the nation? Why would anyone try to interfere?"
Instead of answering directly, Kishiar's smile deepened.
"Nobles have their own reasons, Gakane Volunwald. If everyone possessed the same loyalty you do, we'd live much more comfortably."
His statement, laden with subtle meaning, seemed to catch Gakane off guard, leaving him unsure of how to respond. Yuder, however, found himself recalling memories from his past life.
Back then, Yuder had learned a great deal about the Empire's power structure through the numerous social gatherings and parties he'd attended at the Emperor's command. The common folk believed the Emperor held absolute authority, that those who served him did so with pure loyalty. But the reality was different. The four long-standing Duke families wielded as much power as kings, their arrogance woven into the very fabric of the Empire's history.
Thinking back to the audacious faces of those whom even the imperial family had to treat with caution, Yuder fully understood Kishiar's words. Nobles, indeed, had their own ways.
"Now, the final object."
Kanna took the last item—a broken dice—into her hands. The focus on her face deepened, more intense than before.
"The owner of this object... was addicted to gambling. They constantly needed money. They had awakened their power but felt dissatisfied with how little their life had changed. Along with that... fear and regret, just like the other items."
Opening her eyes, Kanna glanced toward Kishiar. His expression was one of satisfaction.
"Good. Thanks to you, we've uncovered some valuable information. But what about the stone inside the box—can you read that?"
Kanna, who had been basking in the acknowledgment of her abilities, turned serious once more.
"I can only read the history of the box, not the stone itself. I'm sorry."
"What a pity for such a valuable ability," Kishiar remarked sincerely. Yuder silently agreed.
It would be truly remarkable if Kanna's ability had advanced to the point where she could read stones without direct contact. At the rate her power was developing, that day didn't seem far off.
However, if events unfolded as they had in the past, Kishiar would return to the capital with the Red Stone and immediately take it to the palace. By then, even if Kanna's power evolved, the stone would have already become the World Sphere.
'If only I could prevent or delay that.'
In his previous life, Yuder had believed the mages of the Pearl Tower had foolishly mishandled the Red Stone, chipping away at its power and damaging its original state. But now, having personally experienced the sheer magnitude of its power, his thoughts had shifted.
Countless ways to protect the Red Stone swirled chaotically in his mind before dissipating just as quickly.
The simplest solution would be to make Kishiar understand the stone's true value. If Kishiar could be convinced, he might be able to persuade the emperor to reconsider sending it to the Pearl Tower.
Yuder's gaze drifted subtly toward Kishiar, weighing the possibilities.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile, in the northern part of the Orr Empire's capital, within the imperial palace…
An older man with grizzled hair sat across from a young boy, arranging intricately carved game pieces on a board for a strategic match. At first glance, they seemed like a grandfather playing a game with his grandson, but on closer inspection, it was clear their relationship was far more formal.
The old man's eyes gleamed with cruelty and cunning, while the boy before him possessed an unearthly beauty that belied his youth, marked by a sharp and fierce demeanor.
"The Duke of Peletta appears to have succeeded in his mission. He said he would return soon," the old man murmured as he moved a piece on the board, his tone casual.
"Is that so?"
"Did you already know?"
"I naturally learned of it when word spread from the Sun Palace to the Bright Palace," the boy replied.
The Bright Palace, a grand structure within the imperial compound, was reserved for the crown prince. And the boy, with golden hair and striking red eyes, Characteristic of the Orr Empire's imperial family, was none other than Prince Katchian La Orr, heir to the throne.
"Did you also hear about the incident involving those who coveted the stone appearing along the way?" the old man asked as he advanced another piece with a strategic flourish. Despite the bold move, the crown prince remained unfazed, countering with a deft maneuver of his own.
"Yes, I heard. It seems the Duke's subordinates handled the situation adeptly. The rumor is that some monsters appeared."
"Unfortunately, it remains unclear where they came from,"
"Indeed, quite a shame. They could have been allies," Prince Katchian mused, his words tinged with cold ruthlessness, though his expression stayed calm and measured.
"The Duke of Peletta is no fool, despite what others might believe. He established that organization with impressive cunning. We must not underestimate him."
"I thought he was a man too preoccupied with his own affairs to wield such sharp claws, It seems those who succeeded in this mission weren't the Peletta Knights, but members of some unusual group the Duke assembled."
The crown prince paused his game for the first time, lifting his head to meet the old man's gaze.
"The Cavalry, was it?"