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The day after Charles left for his estate, Iana headed to Ervin.
She lied to Marcel, saying she was returning to the Count of Dietrian's house, and got permission to take Ren as her dedicated coachman for the time being.
Iana opened the carriage window and looked up at the sky. The sun shimmered in the clear blue sky, without a single cloud. At that moment, Vera, who was sitting across from her, spoke with a frightened face.
“You should just be honest with the Count and the Marquis of Rachel. You should tell them that there is a healer in the Grand Duke's estate who can cure your illness.”
“They would only be disappointed if it doesn’t work. That has happened many times before.”
Iana couldn't bring herself to tell Vera that she was going to find out if she had magical powers.
A gentle breeze blew through the carriage window, tickling her cheek. The good mood brought on by the fine weather was fleeting, as the image of the suspicious Marcel made her uneasy.
“What is he hiding…?”
Iana muttered as she gazed out the window.
“Pardon?”
Vera asked, not having heard her properly.
“It's nothing. The wind feels nice.”
Iana clasped her hands on the window frame and enjoyed the breeze.
Thus began the longest journey of her past and present life combined.
On the fourth day after leaving the Marquis' castle, the carriage arrived at Ervin’s outer fortress.
Ervin was surrounded by sharp black mountains. The majestic mountains, unlike anything seen in the south, felt mysterious.
Iana handed a travel pass to a senior knight in a red cloak conducting inspections through the carriage window.
The senior knight, checking the pass, politely said, “We were informed of your arrival and have been waiting.”
“Has His Highness the Grand Duke arrived?”
“Yes. He arrived two days ago.”
The senior knight handed small pouches to Iana and Vera after speaking.
“Take these. If you encounter danger, throw them at the monsters.”
Iana looked into the pouch handed to her.
Inside were dozens of thumb-sized blue stones.
“What are these?”
“These are magical grenades. They won’t kill monsters but will keep them at bay.”
“So, these are magical grenades. Thank you.”
After Iana responded, the senior knight saluted and ran toward the castle gate. The knights moved busily under his command.
Soon, about thirty mounted guards surrounded the carriage.
Behind the carriage, a line of wagons carrying villagers’ goods followed.
Fluttering–
At the senior knight’s gesture, a white carrier pigeon was released from the top of the castle wall.
“Madam, it looks like a jewel.”
Vera looked at the magical grenade in amazement.
Iana also stared at the magical grenade she had only seen in books.
“Let’s go!”
At the knight's shout, the procession quickly began moving.
Ervin's mountains were rugged.
The endless stony mountains made one worry if there was any land to farm.
About an hour after leaving the outer fortress, the procession reached a dense forest with a bluish tint.
At the entrance, there was a sign that read <The Sorcerer's Forest>.
As they entered the forest, an indescribable sensation swept over Iana.
“Ah!”
Her vision blurred as if the air was rippling, causing a dizzy spell. But it was clearly different from the symptoms of her previous illness.
Seeing Iana frown, Vera asked with a worried face.
“Madam, does your head hurt? Shall I get you some medicine?”
“No, it’s just a little dizziness. I’m fine now.”
“Oh? Madam, look over there!”
Iana shifted her gaze out the window in the direction Vera was pointing.
“Wow…”
Outside the window, a forest bathed in a blue glow spread out.
Everything, from the flowing stream to the trees and flowers, shimmered with a blue light.
The two of them stared in awe at the mystical, dreamlike forest scenery.
Flutter–
At that moment, a blue-tinged white butterfly gracefully landed on the window.
“Oh my! The butterfly looks so strange.”
At Vera’s words, Iana reached out and gently touched the window where the butterfly had landed.
Snap–
A sharp pain pierced Iana’s hand. Then the butterfly fell to the ground as if struck down.
“Why did the butterfly…?”
Iana and Vera looked at each other in astonishment at the bizarre sight.
At that moment.
Thud, thud, thud.
The ground shook, and birds flew up into the sky all at once.
“Goblins! Prepare to attack!”
At the senior knight's shout, the knights guarding the carriage drew their swords and bows.
“Madam, look at those hideous creatures.”
Vera pointed with a horrified face, and Iana turned her head.
One-eyed giant goblins.
These green monsters, three or four times the size of a human, with red eyes, were rapidly chasing the procession.
Iana recalled the monster compendium she had seen as a child with her father.
“One-eyed giant goblins are more aggressive than ordinary goblins and eat people.”
“They look more hideous than in the compendium!”
Iana screamed, clutching Vera's hand tightly with a terrified face.
Unlike the two, who were seeing monsters for the first time, the villagers did not seem surprised.
They acted as if a ferocious wild beast had appeared.
Squawk!
The knights at the back of the procession skillfully beheaded the goblins.
“Get away! You monsters!”
The villagers also threw magical grenades at the approaching goblins.
Pop, pop–
The magical grenades exploded, scattering small flames.
Squawk!
A goblin hit by a grenade couldn’t withstand the force and fell forward.
“Turn to the right!”
At the urgent shout of the senior knight in the lead, the procession swiftly changed direction.
Thud!
The carriage Iana was riding in shook violently as if it had hit something.
Clunk–
The right wheel of the carriage bounced off. The carriage tilted sharply to one side and came to a stop.
“Ah!”
Iana and Vera’s bodies were simultaneously thrown against the carriage door.
Moments later, the opposite carriage door burst open, and the senior knight shouted.
“Madam, are you all right?”
“I, I’m fine.”
“Please come out! We will abandon the carriage and ride with us on horseback.”
Iana and Vera grabbed the pouches with the magical grenades and hurriedly got out of the carriage.
Ren separated the horses from the damaged carriage.
The villagers’ wagons and some knights that followed hurriedly moved ahead.
“Hurry up!”
The senior knight helped Iana onto a horse.
“Get out of the way!”
At someone's shout, Iana turned to see a goblin running towards the procession, holding a large tree stump as if to throw it.
“Vera! Run!”
Just as Iana grabbed the stunned Vera’s hand and tried to run.
Whiz– Thud!
A large arrow, like a spear, flew from the forest and struck the goblin's one eye.
Thud!
The goblin, hit by the arrow, fell backward with the tree stump.
Iana looked toward the direction the arrow had come from and saw Charles, Rosso, and the familiar-looking knights riding out of the forest.
“Your Highness!”
Iana and Vera shouted in unison.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Khan and the magical hounds fiercely charged at the goblin horde.
“Countess, come this way.”
Charles dismounted and lifted the running Iana onto the horse.
Behind them, Vera and Ren were also helped onto horses by the knights.
Rosso quickly cast a blue-tinged shield spell and said.
“We’ll handle it from here.”
“Then we’ll leave it to you.”
Charles, with Iana on the horse, led the charge. Following them were Vera, Ren, and about a dozen knights.
Whoosh, whoosh–
The horse carrying Iana cut through the wind as they raced down the forest path.
It was Iana’s first time riding a horse.
The incredible speed and jarring movement made her feel as if she might fall off at any moment, and she trembled all over.
Trying to stay balanced, she clung desperately to Charles' arm.
The group left the forest and turned onto a narrow mountain path.
Then it happened.
Caw–
A grotesque sound that could tear ears apart echoed from the sky.
“A Krican!”
At someone's shout, the faces of the previously composed knights hardened.
“Turn back!”
At Charles’ urgent shout, the knights turned their horses and sprinted back towards the forest.
As they rounded a bend, they saw a giant black bird with its wings spread wide flying towards them.
A black body resembling an eagle, a sharp red beak, and fierce blood-red eyes.
The Krican opened its mouth and flicked its snake-like tongue.
The grotesque sight stunned Iana.
‘A monster bird with a snake’s venomous tongue.’
Then she remembered what she had seen in the monster compendium.
The Krican dived towards the group with terrifying speed.
But the archers, riding on the galloping horses, only aimed their arrows without firing, like hunters waiting for the right moment.
Caw–
The Krican, with its mouth wide open to devour them, was drawing closer.
“Now!”
At Charles’ shout, the archers simultaneously fired arrows into the Krican's mouth.
Whoosh– Thud! Thud!
The archers’ arrows hit the Krican's tongue precisely.
Maybe the tongue was a weak point. The Krican, seemingly in pain, thrashed about with its sharp claws while making a ghastly sound above the group.
Charles held Iana tightly and threw a magical grenade from the pouch she was holding into the air.
Boom–
The magical grenade exploded near the Krican’s head, scattering flames.
The Krican, caught in the explosion, let out a terrible scream and plummeted to the ground.
Thud!
Seeing the Krican crash into the forest, the group sighed in relief and sped away from the forest without looking back.
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