White Ravens: Advent of War

The Liberation Army

Rune's group had only just arrived at Valdano's estate in Hadar, and it seemed that they didn't have the time to rest. They ran into Torevir at the entrance of the estate. There were two carriages. One was for Valdano and his companions, whom Rune and the others have yet to meet. The other was for Rune, Yelena, Zeke, and Torevir. Leif chose to ride with Valdano. She said that it was imperative for her to be at her liege's side during something this important.

A few minutes later, their entourage set out for Old Valeria. The road leading to Old Valeria was relatively safe, for there were many checkpoints along the way. However, there were no other towns, villages, or even checkpoints twenty kilometers from the vicinity of Old Valeria.

Along the way, while they were inside the carriage, Rune asked Torevir everything he knew about Old Valeria. The latter told Rune that he had only been in Valdano's service a few years ago, so he only knew what the locals had told him.

According to Torevir, the now-ruined city used to be the most prosperous city in the land. It was surrounded by a lake with a bountiful variety of fishes. It had an open-port trading, which contributed to the city's thriving economy. Outside the city was a fertile land, where many farmers and land owners worked hand in hand to cultivate. Old Valeria's supply of crops could provide half of the entire country's supply of food for a month.

Torevir had never seen the city himself, but according to him, Valdano spoke fondly of the city. It seemed that he once lived there, and loved every day of it. However, a grim tragedy occurred in the city.

There weren't any written records of Wisteria's rune knights wreaking havoc to Old Valeria, but they said that there were firsthand accounts and eyewitnesses from faraway cities that saw pillars of fire arising from the heart of Old Valeria. Torevir said that Valdano couldn't believe that the rune knights of Wisteria could do something so horrid at first either, but Valdano later found out and confirmed that a rune knight named Marx Lancaster used himself as a conduit to summon the pillars of fire.

At the cost of being devoured by the pillars of flame, Marx destroyed Old Valeria from within the city's walls. He snuck into the city and blew himself up, leaving the Old Valerian army barely any time to evacuate the citizens. More than a hundred thousand lives were taken that day, and that horrid method was the reason Regalians loathed Wisteria even more.

Zeke noted that they had not been informed that something that any of the rune knights had committed something truly horrible, but Yelena said that there was indeed a Marx Lancaster who died ten years ago. The Queen never mentioned anything regarding the cause of Marx's death, but she honored him as a hero who sacrificed his life for the queendom.

"We cannot allow the tragedy of Old Valeria to be repeated," Rune remarked. "Even if I have to defy the Queen, herself, I'll do it. This war must end."

Torevir saw the determination in the young man's eyes. He put his hand on Rune's shoulder and said, "My friend, you have our support. The boss is doing this conference because he agrees with you, and so do other aristocrats. We may be from different countries, but our desires are the same. No matter what it takes, we'll stop this madness."

Hours passed by, and soon, the sun had gone to slumber. The moon was now riding high, and their carriages were passing through a thick forest. They could barely see a meter ahead of them, and the light from their torches served little assistance to their sight. Fortunately, Valdano had hired a handful of mercenaries to lead the entourage and protect the other aristocrats, ensuring that they would safely arrive at Old Valeria.

At this time, Rune, Yelena, and Zeke decided to leave their carriage and continue the journey on foot, leaving only Torevir inside. The last time they were passing through a forest like this, they were attacked by an unknown group of armed men. They first assumed that they were just mere bandits, but Gust identified that the leader of those men was an ex-rune knight.

Additionally, they were attacked near Mirea, a formerly Regalian territory. It could mean that the ex-rune knight had defected to Regalia, so they wanted to be extra careful for anything that might happen. After all, their main purpose of escorting Valdano and his peers was to ensure that no harm would come their way

This time, Rune, Yelena, and Zeke were the ones leading the entourage through the forest. Since Zeke was always being assigned in missions like this one, he had come to know that it was a stupid decision to set camp in the middle of a forest. Bandits, assassins, and common thugs, usually roam the forests. Beasts were the least of their problems, for their true enemy were the ones they least expect.

And so, despite everyone's reluctance, they followed Zeke ahead. According to one of the mercenaries that Valdano hired, they would be out of the forest and into a grassland within half an hour.

Just before they could leave the forest, they saw a group of men, holding up torches. Some of them were on horseback, and clearly, they weren't here to talk. Valdano peered out of his carriage's window, asking why the caravan had stopped.

Rune told him to stay inside, and commanded Yelena and Zeke to protect the aristocrats. Then, he approached the group of men ahead and said, "Hey, friends. We're just passing through. Do you mind stepping aside? We're in a hurry."

An intimidating woman appeared from behind the group of armed men. Upon taking a closer look at her, Rune finally realized who this battle-hardened woman was. "Mathilda?" he asked.

"Heh! It seems that my reputation precedes, huh? Listen, handsome, I don't know how you recognize me, but maybe we can settle a deal. You and your friends over there can walk away, scar-free, but in exchange, you'll give us Valdano," Mathilda proposed.

At this time, Valdano stepped out of the carriage. He dusted off his tunic, and placed his hand on the rapier at his side, while walking towards Mathilda. "It seems that I see you everywhere I go, Mathilda. I can't say it's a pleasure to see you, but I would appreciate it if you just leave me alone. Are you interested in me or something?"

Mathilda laughed maniacally before she covered her face with her hand. "Ah, Valdano, old friend, you never cease to make me laugh." She then pointed her sword at him and said, "On your knees, you treasonous bastard! A mutual friend of ours has told me of your plans to forge an armistice with Wisteria. The emperor has already given me full authority to take you by force if need be. You and your foolish band of lordlings in that carriage over there are under arrest!"

Valdano shrugged while tilting his head. "Alright, you caught me. But I do think that you should reconsider."

"Reconsider? We already have you surrounded!" Mathilda boasted. "Look around you, Valdano. There are dozens of bowmen and assassins ready to take your heads if you resist arrest. Your only choice is to get on your knees and come with us in peace!"

Valdano sighed. He glanced at Yelena and nodded, and then he raised his hands in the air.

Yelena seemed to have understood what he meant. She lay down her weapons, but she put her other hand on the ground. Soon, her shadow expanded throughout the place, preventing anyone from moving, ally or foe.

Mathilda and her men tried to move, but none of them could move a muscle. It was then that Zeke and Rune approached Mathilda, disarmed her, and made her get on her knees.

To Yelena's surprise, even Valdano was able to move, despite not removing her hold on him. It appeared that this man possessed a stronger mana than her. Only those with a larger mana pool and a stronger control over their mana could freely move around Yelena's shadow binding.

Valdano crouched in front of Mathilda and said, "I'm asking you nicely, Mathilda. Walk away, and we'll let you and your men live."

Mathilda gnashed her teeth, trying her best to stand. After so much difficulty, she managed to get her legs under her. Yelena didn't seem surprised that the woman was able to move in her shadow binding. She could tell that Mathilda was just caught off-guard by the magic she cast.

Through gritted teeth, Mathilda growled, "Dirty f*****g traitor!" She grabbed Valdano's colar and continued, "I see that you really have allied with Wisterians! Have you forgotten what they did to Old Valeria, you scum?!"

She spat on the ground, and backed away from Valdano. "At first, I didn't believe that you're in league with those monstrous rune knights, but now that I've seen it for myself, I'm going to do whatever it takes to destroy you!"

Leif appeared behind Mathilda, and instantly placed a sword at Mathilda's neck. "Sir Vanderbilt is asking you nicely, Mathilda. I suggest you take your life and your men's lives, and walk away. Otherwise, that large man over there standing next to Rune will go out of control."

Mathilda clicked her tongue and raised her hands in surrender. "Fine! Now let my men go."

Rune shook his finger and replied, "Not until our carriage has safely passed through the path. Meanwhile, you, me, and Yelena will remain here. So, let's be friends, alright?"

Left with no other choice, Mathilda acquiesced to Rune's demand. Valdano and the rest of the entourage carried on, leaving only Rune, Yelena, and Zeke to ensure that Mathilda will not pursue the entourage.

About half an hour later, Yelena said to Rune, "I think they're far enough by now. We should let these people go."

Rune glanced at Zeke, and the latter withdrew his sword away from Mathilda's neck.

"I apologize for using such an impolite method, but we do not want to shed any blood. Believe it or not, we're not here to cause any harm to the empire. Our only wish is to put an end to this miserable war once and for all," said Rune.

Zeke and Yelena began to walk away, but she didn't dispel her shadow binding yet to ensure that nobody would try to attack Rune.

"I know that this seems like a pipe dream right now, but one day, we'll all live in a much more peaceful world. You and Valdano seem to have a shared past, and I can tell that he once considered you a friend. Anyone he considers a friend is worthy of that honor, and I shall assume the same. Mathilda, I hope we never cross swords in the future," Rune remarked.

Afterwards, he followed Yelena and Zeke. Mathilda remained there, clenching her fists. Truthfully, she wanted to order her men to riddle Rune and his friends with arrows, but what Rune said before he left really struck her.

"Valdano, you bastard... you better be doing this for a good cause," she muttered under her breath. "Men, fall back! We don't stand a chance against them."

"But, milady, there are only three of them and dozens of us!" one of her men complained.

Mathilda started walking in the opposite direction as Rune's group. "Those knights are out of our league. Even if there are hundreds of us, they will probably kill half of us before we could take down one of them. I'd rather not gamble my men's lives for odds like that. Just let them go," she replied.

With no other choice, Mathilda's soldiers bowed to her respectfully, and told everyone else to march back.

Rune noticed that Mathilda's forces weren't pursuing them. "It seems that we've won her over somehow. Well, at the very least, she's not going to be our problem for the time being."

"Let's make haste, Rune. Lord Vanderbilt is waiting," Yelena remarked.