Chapter 1242
"The word is that this wasn't a coordinated strike by the Heavenly Demon or the organization of Eden."
Burren stood with his fingers interlaced behind his back, rhythmically rubbing his jaw.
"The official stance from the Lord's Manor suggests this was the work of a few rogue spirits who broke free from the Heavenly Demon's grip."
He laid out the details of the crisis with a steady, professional composure.
"Because the witnesses were just common folk, they weren't able to give a precise description of the headgear or visors those villains were sporting. Our objective is to link up with the operatives from the Shadow Agents and scout Birdnew Village to uncover exactly who we're dealing with."
Burren’s speech held a commanding weight that gripped his listeners. He had truly stepped into the skin of a man capable of commanding a major faction.
"Still, we can’t rule out the chance that Eden is pulling the strings from the shadows, so keep your guard up for any outcome."
Bringing a tight fist to his chest, Burren declared that they had to be prepared to confront and crush Eden at a moment's notice.
"Understood!"
The martial artists of the Light Wind Palace felt a surge of tension at Burren’s gravity and shouted their assent.
"Departure is scheduled for tomorrow’s first light."
Lowering his arm, Burren turned his gaze toward the horizon where the sun was beginning its descent.
"As stated, our primary role is providing security for the Shadow Agents’ team. Finish your preparations to the letter and assemble at the main complex by dawn."
He walked to the platform's edge, dismissing the group with a sharp wave of his hand.
"Yes, sir!"
The warriors bowed deeply to Burren, who was currently filling the void left by Raon as the head of the Light Wind Palace.
"Those Eden scum! Imagine the nerve to hit a town under our banner!"
"We’re going to hunt them down and crack those helmets open."
"Damn right! I’m going to carve the mark of Zieghart into their skulls!"
"It’s time they learned to fear the name Zieghart!"
"That Heavenly Demon isn't all he’s cracked up to be, is he? Can’t even keep his own dogs on a leash!"
"Exactly. He’s basically broadcasting to the world that he’s lost his grip."
The Light Wind Palace swordsmen made their way back to their dorms to gear up, hurling insults at the Heavenly Demon and his cult. They walked with white-knuckled fury, eager to dish out some retribution.
"I did tell you to bring back something worth our time, but..."
Martha bit her lip, her eyes fixed on Burren as he remained on the dais.
"I wasn't looking for news about a village being turned to rubble."
A heavy sigh escaped her, as if she were haunted by ghosts of her own past.
"I don't pick these missions for your amusement, Martha," Burren countered, clicking his tongue before stepping down to the ground.
"Regardless of whether they were baiting us, the reports say not a single victim was left in one piece."
He grimaced, clearly pained by the tragedy that had befallen Birdnew Village.
"Absolute cowards!"
Martha slammed her foot down in a fit of rage. The impact, bolstered by her aura, sent a tremor through the entirety of the fifth training ground.
"To deny them even a proper burial..."
Dorian’s shoulders originally shook with nerves, but as the horror of what happened to the villagers sank in, his fear turned to a grinding anger that set his teeth on edge.
"That's the spirit! Use that!"
Krein slapped Dorian on the back, encouraging him to save that vitriol for the bastards from Eden.
"The visors... you have no data...?"
Runaan glided toward Burren, her breath coming out in a visible chill.
"R-right."
Burren felt a prickle of unease as he met Runaan’s frozen stare.
"Like I mentioned, the survivors were civilians. They only saw silhouettes from a distance, so the specific designs of the masks or helmets are unknown. But given that the trained guards were wiped out before they could even sound an alarm, these enemies are clearly formidable."
He recounted every scrap of intel provided by the Lord's Manor and the briefing from Karoon.
"I see..."
Runaan gave a stiff nod, her expression resembling a mask of death as she retreated. Her skin, usually pale, now looked as though it had never been touched by the sun.
"R-Runaan."
Burren swallowed hard and called out to her.
"Are you truly fit for this? If you're struggling, maybe it's best if you sit this one out..."
He started to reach out, genuinely worried by her ghoulish appearance.
"I'm fine..."
She shook her head with eerie calm.
"I'm... perfectly fine... In fact, I've never felt more settled..."
Despite her words, her voice and complexion suggested she was anything but. As she tilted her head up, the shadows around her eyes were as dark and deep as a corpse’s.
"Uh..."
Burren’s jaw tightened. He’d seen dark circles from lack of sleep, but the sheer darkness of her eyelids was unlike anything he’d witnessed.
"I am going."
Runaan gripped the hilt of her blade. Her posture made it clear that if anyone tried to bench her, she was ready to draw steel. Paradoxically, while she looked physically drained, the pressure of her martial presence seemed even more overwhelming than it had been during her last bout with Martha.
"But still—"
"Let her be."
As Burren moved to intervene again, Martha cut him off.
"She’s as stubborn as they come, regardless of the look on her face. And besides..."
Martha’s lip twitched as she studied Runaan’s glazed eyes.
"If we leave her to rot here, she might actually fade away."
She muttered that some fresh air and a change of scenery might be the only thing keeping her from the brink.
"I suppose you're right..."
Burren gave a somber nod. Martha had a point—leaving Runaan to her own devices right now felt like a recipe for disaster.
"Hey."
Martha gestured dismissively toward Runaan.
"Go on and get your gear ready. And another thing..."
She planted her hands on her hips, leaning in close.
"Cut it out with the constant sleeping. You'd be better off staying awake."
Martha scowled, her advice sounding more like a demand.
"......"
Runaan locked eyes with Martha, seeing the genuine concern buried beneath the harsh exterior.
"Fine..."
She gave a noncommittal nod, turned around, and walked out of the training area.
"Runaan is in deeper than I realized..."
Burren bit his lip, watching her silhouette fade.
"Y-yeah. It's been a while since I saw Lady Runaan up close, but I didn't think she'd be this broken..."
Krein rubbed his cheek nervously.
"It’s not just her appearance. It’s her head..."
Dorian shivered, noting that Runaan’s spirit seemed more fractured than her physical form.
"T-this feels like the kind of mess only Lord Raon can fix when he returns."
He let out a jagged breath, feeling helpless.
"No!"
Martha cut him off sharply.
"We can't just sit around twiddling our thumbs waiting for Raon! It’s time we learned to handle our own problems without leaning on him!"
She rested her hand on her own weapon, her eyes burning.
"I’ll be the one to fix this! That girl is..."
Martha trailed off, staring at the doorway where a layer of frost had settled after Runaan’s departure.
"She’s my friend."
"Phew..."
Runaan entered her personal quarters and let out a soft, tired breath. She moved toward her bed by habit but paused.
"She told me not to sleep...?"
Martha’s angry face flashed in her mind, demanding she stay awake. Runaan couldn't quite grasp the logic behind it.
"Why...?"
She drifted over to the vanity. The room was dim, but the lingering twilight provided enough light to see her reflection.
"Why would she say that...?"
The woman in the mirror looked like a haunting; her skin was the color of ash, her eyes were ringed with deep black shadows, and her lips had lost all color.
She looked more like a century-old ghost than a young woman, yet she merely tilted her head, seeing nothing wrong.
"I actually look better than usual...?"
Runaan convinced herself her skin was fine as she ran her fingers over her parched cheeks.
"Yeah. I definitely need to sleep..."
Dismissing Martha's warning as a mistake, she climbed into bed.
"Haah..."
She didn't even bother clutching her favorite sword as she usually did, simply collapsing onto the mattress.
True to form, the moment her head touched the pillow, she drifted into a dreamscape far removed from her grim reality.
"Mmm..."
Opening her eyes, Runaan found herself standing before a grand fountain adorned with intricate carvings. She peered into the clear water to check her reflection again.
There, she saw soft, porcelain skin, bright eyes without a hint of shadow, and lips the color of fresh cherries. Even she was stunned by the beauty staring back.
"Yes."
A faint, soft smile touched Runaan's lips. In this realm, she could smile with a radiance that was impossible in the waking world.
"I'm perfectly fine..."
She nodded to herself, enamored by her own happy reflection.
"Runaan!"
A voice called out from beyond the water—it was the Raon of her dreams, jogging toward her.
"Raon..."
With a wide, genuine smile, Runaan waved him over.
"We're almost there."
Raon circled the fountain and took his place beside her.
"Almost where...?"
She tilted her head, confused.
"To the day we meet for real!"
Raon declared that their reunion wouldn't just be limited to dreams much longer, and he took her hands in his.
"You're finishing your training...?"
Runaan’s heart swelled with joy as she nodded.
"......"
Raon offered no verbal answer regarding his seclusion. Instead, he reached out and pulled her into a firm embrace.
"I'm never letting you go again."
"Oh, alright..."
Runaan blushed, nodding shyly against him.
"Never again."
Raon whispered the word "again" with a chilling, cold emphasis.
Whoosh!
Hidden from Runaan's view, his face twisted into a grotesque, predatory sneer.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Crimson droplets leaked from Glenn’s sleeve, spotting the floor. He lifted his hand to inspect a tiny graze on his skin.
"Hmm."
It was a negligible scratch, the kind that would close up in seconds, yet Glenn let out a soft sound of genuine wonder.
"Even with my powers restricted in this hall, I wasn't being careless."
A broad, satisfied grin spread across Glenn's face.
"Remarkable."
He voiced his praise and clapped his hands together, despite the blood.
"Huff... huff!"
The recipient of the compliment was facedown on the floor, gasping through lungs filled with the metallic taste of blood.
"T-thank you..."
Raon managed to lift his chin to look at Glenn. He was covered in wounds, his stamina and mental reserves completely drained. He looked like a man on the verge of collapse.
"But I can... still go... gah!"
Raon tried to push himself up, only to pitch forward again, his strength failing him. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the training sand dark.
"Such persistence."
Glenn gave a short, dry laugh. He watched Raon's hand, noting that even in this state, his fingers remained locked around the hilt of his sword. The boy was the literal definition of tenacity.
"I... I haven't shown you everything..."
Raon's eyes fluttered as he tried to focus. Despite his claim, it was obvious he had nothing left to give.
"When you first stepped in here, you said you wanted to be useful to me."
Glenn nodded slowly, looking back at the small wound on his hand.
"Your spirit... no, this entire duel has been of immense value. Because of you, I feel as though I’ve regained my peak. No, I believe I’ve surpassed it."
He admitted he had gained far more than he expected and wiped away the blood from his hand.
"I should have no trouble taking down the Heavenly Demon now."
Glenn spoke with absolute, calm certainty.
"In that case..."
"Go on."
Glenn pointed toward the exit as Raon struggled to move.
"It is time for you to take your place as a leader of this house."
