The procession had finally reached the outer castle of Ervin.
However, even with the arrival of the Grand Duke's procession, the outer castle gates remained closed.
Iana, stroking the sleeping Rue on her lap, asked,
“What could be the matter?”
“It seems that way.”
Charles's gaze had sharpened.
A senior knight, who had been speaking with the guards at the castle gate, rushed over to the carriage.
Charles opened the carriage window and asked,
“Is there a problem?”
“There are many vassals who cannot enter the village inside the outer castle, so they are asking us to wait here for a while.”
According to imperial law, vassals had no freedom of residence transfer.
However, as Charles became the lord, he had granted free passage for the vassals to enter and exit for trade.
The land of Erwin was barren, and monsters frequently appeared, making it difficult to obtain food.
Thus, the outer castle was always bustling with vassals coming and going.
“Has another monster appeared near the outer castle?”
“No, it’s not that. A swarm of Krikans has appeared in the northern village. Because of that, the wizards and knights are providing support, and there aren’t enough escort personnel to transport the vassals…”
“A Krikan isn’t a monster that travels in swarms, is it?”
Charles's face hardened.
“The wizards are also confused by the unusual behavior of the Krikans.”
Buuuuum.
At that moment, with the sound of a horn, the outer castle gate opened.
“It seems to be opening now.”
The senior knight briefly bowed and dashed ahead.
A moment later, the procession slowly moved into the castle.
Iana looked out the carriage window at the bustling scene inside the castle.
“There are so many people.”
Inside, the vassals and trade carts were tangled together, leaving no room to step.
Charles draped a cloak over her hand, which was glowing with a blue light, and said,
“Be careful not to let anyone know that you have magical power.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
As the carriage stopped and Charles got out, Rosso and brown-robed magic apprentices, along with knights, surrounded him.
“How many escort personnel are there in the outer castle?”
When Charles asked, Rosso replied,
“One wizard and three magic apprentices. One of the magic apprentices must stay behind to guard the outer castle.”
Just after Rosso finished speaking, the senior knight reported,
“If we include the escort knights who returned from the capital, there are about 60.”
After a moment of thought, Charles commanded,
“We don’t know when the wizards and knights who went to the northern village will return. So…”
“…”
“It will be difficult, but we will transport the vassals in three batches.”
At the Grand Duke's command, the knights and wizards moved in perfect unison.
Rosso approached the carriage and greeted Iana warmly.
“Countess, no, Iana, you’ve returned earlier than expected. Anyway, let’s have the welcome greeting at the Grand Duke’s castle.”
“Wizard!”
Iana called out to Rosso, who was about to leave. She discreetly raised her right hand so only Rosso could see it, looking around first.
“The phenomenon of fire flickering appears only after magical power manifests and at least a year has passed. How could this happen…”
Rosso looked at Iana’s hand with a surprised expression.
“So, I’d like to help too. There’s a shortage of personnel, and even the magic apprentices are helping.”
“But even if the fire flickering phenomenon has occurred, it doesn’t mean you can use magic right away. It’s uncontrollable.”
“Couldn’t throwing a magic projectile help? Just like when I first came to Erwin.”
After a moment of contemplation, Rosso spoke up.
“Then please stay with the magic apprentices on the outer castle walls. There are no wizards to guard the outer castle.”
“Yes, I will.”
Iana nodded with a smile.
Buuuuum. Buuuuum.
The sound of the horn signaling readiness to depart echoed.
Rosso ran towards the procession.
Iana placed Rue into a small rabbit cage and said,
“Rue, it’s dangerous on the walls, so stay here.”
She intended to leave Rue in the cage with the trade personnel.
However, Rue resisted fiercely.
“Ah!”
Rue bit her hand mercilessly as she tried to put him into the cage, even exhibiting strange behavior by banging his body against the bars.
As if he thought she was abandoning him, he struggled desperately.
“Alright. Rue, let’s go together.”
Seeing Rue’s pitiful state, Iana strapped on a small bag. Carefully placing Rue inside, she wrapped her cloak around him.
“Rue, you have to be quiet.”
Did he understand her words? Rue remained quietly with only his drooping ears sticking out.
Iana followed the magic apprentices up onto the castle walls.
With a heavy metallic sound, the iron gate leading into Erwin opened.
Armored Charles stood at the front, followed by Rosso and the procession of vassals rushing out.
Iana murmured as she watched the receding procession.
“Please let nothing happen…”
Before long, evening deepened over the outer castle.
Iana was on the castle walls, ready with a magic projectile to defend against the monster attacks.
Occasionally, a blue light flickered on and off in her right hand.
With no significant events occurring, she let Rue down onto the ground. However, Rue only circled around her and did not wander far.
“Open the gates!”
At the senior knight's shout, the castle gates slowly opened.
Thud thud thud.
After safely transporting the first procession, Charles, the wizards, and knights rode back to the outer castle.
Iana looked down into the castle with a worried expression. Those who had to go back and forth along the same path looked exhausted.
She recalled Charles's horse above their weary figures.
“Erwin’s daily life is protected like this. The wizards and knights do their best every day.”
‘It wasn’t just their best; it was a life they risked their lives to protect.’
The two magic apprentices who had gone with Rosso dismounted and shared some water.
They sat side by side on the dirt ground as if taking a short break.
The life of a wizard.
Iana had thought that wizards, like her father, a great wizard, were simply magnificent people with strong powers.
But the life of wizards fighting against monsters, rather than for power, was fierce and sometimes sorrowful.
‘What kind of wizard should I become?’
Just as Iana was lost in thought, her eyes met Charles, who was drinking water from a canteen.
Perhaps because she hadn’t received permission to stay in the outer castle, Charles’s expression as he looked at her seemed cold.
At that moment, as Iana looked down with a tense face, Charles brushed his sweat-soaked silver hair back and made a playful face, sticking out his tongue.
“Pfft…!”
Iana couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
It seemed he was trying to lighten her serious expression with a joke.
As the knights approached, Charles quickly changed his expression and began to speak seriously.
Seeing that made Iana laugh again.
Clatter-.
It seemed the second procession was ready to depart as the knights and wizards mounted their horses.
Iana bowed her head to Charles and gently shook Rue’s front paw.
Charles, with a smiling face, donned his helmet and soon galloped away.
The transport of the vassals continued smoothly.
About an hour after the second procession had left,
Kuaak-. Kuaak-.
From a distance, the eerie cries of Krikans could be heard. Judging by the overlapping cries, it seemed there was more than one.
“Rue, come here!”
Iana quickly scooped Rue up from the ground and placed him back in the bag.
Buuuuum. Buuuuum.
The urgent sound of the horn echoed through the outer castle.
“Prepare for attack!”
At the senior knight's command, the soldiers guarding the castle walls immediately took up their attack positions.
About 50 soldiers were preparing their cannons and fire arrows.
Whoosh-.
A chilling wind blew fiercely.
But the black Krikans were hardly visible against the dark night sky.
A magic apprentice held up a light magic stone and began to chant a spell.
Boom!
A bright light burst forth from the magic stone.
At that moment, dozens of black Krikans were seen flying up ahead.
“A swarm of Krikans! A swarm of Krikans has appeared!”
The lookout on the watchtower shouted.
But unfortunately, the blue light that had been visible in Iana’s hand had vanished.
‘Please…’
She was anxious.
No matter how much she rubbed or shook her hands, the blue light wouldn’t appear.
“Fire!”
At the senior knight's command, the artillerymen fired their cannons.
Whoosh- Boom! Boom! Boom!
They fired quite a few cannons, but the Krikans only hesitated for a moment before quickly flying toward the castle walls.
‘I need to throw the most powerful magic projectile possible.’
There were no wizards in the outer castle, and there weren’t many knights to defend it.
They couldn’t handle a swarm of dozens of Krikans.
‘I’m scared. What if I have magical power but can’t do anything?’
Iana struggled to draw out as much fear and anger as she could. But her hands showed no response at all.
As the Krikans drew closer, a fierce wind blew.
Then it happened.
Bang!
A Krikan at the front flew at terrifying speed and attacked the castle wall with its beak.
With the sound of one side of the wall breaking, screams from soldiers echoed everywhere.
Watching that scene, Iana felt fear turn into terror.
At that moment, a blue light appeared in her right hand.
‘Finally, the blue light has appeared.’
The fear and anxiety that had gripped her heart finally eased.
As the Krikan flew up to attack the watchtower, Iana threw her magic projectile with all her might.
Whoosh- Boom!
With a tremendous roar, the Krikans in front of the castle were engulfed in white flames.
Just as she was about to throw another magic projectile,
Rue, startled by the Krikan's cries, struggled to get out of the bag.
At that moment, a blue light swirled around Rue’s body.
“Rue, no!”
Iana quickly grabbed Rue, who was about to fall, and threw the magic projectile at the Krikans.
Whoosh- Boom!
It was an enormous explosion.
With a tremendous roar that shook the ground, a pillar of blue fire shot up.
It was incomparable to the power of the magic projectile she had thrown alone.
Iana looked down at Rue with a surprised expression and asked,
“Rue, was this because of you?”
A thought flashed through her mind.
‘Is this what combination magic is?’
“It’s the great wizard!”
At someone’s shout, Iana looked up.
A massive protective barrier was raised over the outer castle, shimmering like a vibrant blue rainbow.