"Meili..."
Yuna felt dizzy, murmuring her sister’s name as she struggled to open her eyes.
In her memory, a peculiar Golden Armored Knight had slain the monster pursuing her, holding golden flames that were both scorching and dazzling.
So it wasn’t a dream...
Yuna laboriously sat up and found herself inside a simple tent. The burning charcoal in the brazier dispelled the cold, with a bright torch planted outside the entrance.
The wound on her ankle had been carefully bandaged, and Meili lay beside her, no longer pale and breathing much more steadily.
"You’re awake?" A melodious voice quickly reached Yuna’s ears.
A black-haired girl, carrying hot soup, parted the curtain and gasped, "Ah! Don’t move, you’re seriously injured and need rest!"
"Where is this..." Yuna instinctively curled up and asked softly.
"Lulin Farm on the Eastern Border."
The black-haired girl set the wooden bowl beside Yuna, smiling as she answered, "Don’t worry, it’s safe here. Lord Roland’s warriors will protect everyone."
She paused, eyeing Yuna’s fur outfit curiously, and asked, "Are you a hunter?"
Yuna’s movements instantly became stiff.
In the Lion Heart Kingdom, it was a serious crime for commoners to hunt beasts without permission; hunters were not worthy of wearing fur.
"Don’t be afraid, we mean no harm."
The black-haired girl quickly waved her hand, "I’m Lin, my father and I were hunters in the Eastern Border too, just like you..."
"My name is Yuna."
Yuna spoke softly, recalling those advancing figures in the blizzard, her tone tinged with fear, "Are you the traitors who betrayed Lion Heart?"
"Traitors?"
Lin was startled, immediately shaking her head like a rattle, earnestly saying, "We are not traitors; we have merely reclaimed our right to survive."
"Uncle Sean has always taught us what is right. It’s those Lion Heart nobles who are the cruel and insane villains!"
Lin raised her fist in righteous indignation, "Think about how those noble guards treated us."
Countless memories suddenly flashed through Yuna’s mind.
She painfully shut her eyes, "They... they’re all inhuman demons..."
"Right? Right? But the good days for the bad people are over!"
Lin started chattering, "Lord Roland has decided to help us reclaim our homelands seized by the nobles! My father insisted on joining the warriors in battle, so I came along to help as well."
"Lin!"
Just then, a woman’s voice called out from afar, "The next pot of thick soup is almost ready!"
"Ah! I lost track of time; I still have work to do."
The black-haired girl stuck out her tongue, "We’ll chat next time, Yuna. Don’t forget to drink the thick soup I made; it will help you recover quickly!"
The cold wind lifted Lin’s tidy, beautiful outfit. Her steps were light, like a bird flapping its wings in the snowstorm.
Yuna watched her silhouette, entranced.
"Sister... I smell something delicious..."
Suddenly, she heard her sister’s weak voice, and Yuna’s eyes widened slightly. Turning her head, she saw her sister, who had been comatose for days, had opened her eyes.
She carefully held the steaming wooden bowl, blowing on it, then placed it by Meili’s lips.
Yuna had never felt so at ease.
·
Not far from Lulin Farm, at the Lord’s Manor.
"Lord William! We have bad news!"
A guard stumbled in, pushing open the doors to the banquet hall. Kneeling on the ground, he spoke frantically, "The traitor Roland has sent troops to occupy your farm!"
Lord William, sitting at the head, was an exceedingly obese Lion Heart noble, his face full of fat and several rolls around his belly.
The lord was holding a wine glass at the moment, with his other fat hand groping his female companion.
"You... you useless bunch! Hic..."
Clearly intoxicated, William was annoyed that the guard’s report had interrupted his enjoyment, prompting him to angrily crush his companion’s neck, then shakily stand up.
"Tell me! How many of them are there?"
His eyes were bloodshot, appearing somewhat disoriented.
"We saw twenty to thirty knights in strange armor, my lord..."
The guard trembled, "They’re engaged in battle with wolf packs at the Western Border. I saw those knights even use frightening flames!"
"Damn flames! Just less than thirty traitorous scum, and they had you running back like dogs with their tails between their legs?!"
The Lord immediately erupted in fury: "Are you making excuses for your cowardice?! Are you playing games with me?!"
"No, no, Lord William, those knights really—"
The Guard trembled even more, but just as he was about to explain in detail, he felt the Lord’s hand clutching his throat!
"Ugh... ugh..." The Guard kicked his legs in despair, and moments later, he was still.
"Well done! My Lord!"
Seeing this scene, all the young nobles at the banquet were even more excited: "Lion Heart nobles never allow cowards to disgrace the glory of the Lion Heart!"
"Hmph! Why did I recruit such trash back then... hic..."
William downed the glass of blood-red liquor in one gulp, his body swaying as he shouted to another guard: "Prepare my warhorse and armor; I’m riding out tonight to hunt down those traitorous bastards!"
At this, the nobles were all thrilled!
Everyone knew that Lord William loved personally executing those insolent commoners; he was the most famous Hunter in the Eastern Border!
In no time, the terrified guards had prepared a strong warhorse and heavy armor for the Lord.
Drunkenly, William tried to climb onto the horse. Due to his enormous size, he failed twice to mount.
The nearby guard hurried forward, pushing with all his might against the Lord’s rear, finally seating William steadily on the horse’s back.
The wind and snow flared the Lord’s luxurious velvet clothing, paired with his hefty frame, made William appear truly majestic!
"Owen, and Sandy."
Panting heavily, William gripped his beloved silver-plated long spear and called two young nobles by name: "You two come with me to crush the traitors!"
The two young nobles were stunned for a moment, then overjoyed!
It was the highest honor to accompany the Lord in an expedition against traitors!
Both were tipsy, and with the envious eyes of others upon them, they giggled and mounted two other warhorses. Just the thought of slaughtering everything later made them tremble with excitement.
No one doubted Lord William’s strength.
For they had seen firsthand the Lord’s ferocious and terrifying demeanor. Once he drank enough of the special red liquor, Lord William could even tear apart a stag with his bare hands!
"Move out!"
William swung his long spear, and the trio, with dozens of guards, disappeared from the crowd’s sight.
Lulin Farm was originally William’s territory, and soon, the Lord’s party saw the glow of torches.
Several traitors in peculiar golden armor were patrolling the edge of the farm.
"Hahaha! You guys are doomed!"
William, waving his long spear, led the two young nobles charging first!
He could feel it!
The power within his bloodline was awakening!
Every time he drank enough wine, William felt an amazing power arising out of nowhere, a feeling that was truly intoxicating!
Do you see, you peasants? This is the fury of Lion Heart! This is the glory of Lion Heart!
Thud.
The Lord’s wild laughter suddenly froze on his face.
A flying golden spear pierced through his neck.
Without a sound, William clutched his throat, toppling backward. With a thud, he fell into the snow, rolling and twitching, those hefty legs twisting twice in the snow, then...
Became rigid...
The two young nobles froze in place, and the next moment, one of them let out a shrill cry:
"Waaaahhhh the Lord is dead!!!"
Thud, thud.
Two more bodies collapsed lifelessly; the distant guards were rooted in place, and moments later, they started frantically running back...
Several warriors clad in Sun Armor approached the bodies.
"Were these three guys crazy?"
Decurion Glen pulled the Ash Soil spear from a body, his expression strange: "What were they doing?"
"These few might have been spies sent by the Lord."
Another Decurion spoke up: "We must take William’s estate tomorrow as planned. It’s said that guy is hard to deal with, so stay alert no matter what."
"Makes sense."