241. Throwing the Spark (7)
The sandstorm had stopped. At first, Borua thought he was hallucinating due to the excitement of battle. But he wasn’t. The sky was gradually clearing. And the path had opened.
“Uh…….”
“Captain, should we attack?”
“Wait, just hold on for a moment.”
The knights stared in bewilderment at the skeletons and golems that had suddenly stopped functioning. The creatures were just standing there, staring back at them. For the knights, who had been preparing for a fierce battle, this was both astonishing and incredibly fortunate.
Jumping into the fray and fighting heroically would have been great, but the outcome was uncertain. All they had left was their pride.
But then, suddenly, the creatures stopped, their eyes glowing fiercely. And the path opened. From the distant end of the road, where the royal castle was visible, all the way to where they stood.
The wraiths that had filled the distance all stopped moving and stepped aside, creating a path. It was as if…… they were soldiers guarding the passage of a king.
-Kugugugung…….
A brief earthquake swept across the land. Then, the road buried beneath the sand and dust was revealed. A road adorned with an incredibly beautiful inlay, one that even the finest stonemasons of the empire would hesitate to attempt, rose into view.
“Whoa……!”
At the same time, all the skeletons knelt down in unison. The knights, holding their swords clumsily, stood frozen in confusion.
-Chak, chak, chak.
A group of golems, each exuding an extraordinary aura, marched in perfect formation, a signature of the Legion of Wraiths. The sound of their heavy footsteps created small tremors that shook the knights’ hearts.
“This…… this doesn’t look good.”
One of the knights groaned. If even one of those creatures decided to attack, could the wounded here really hold them off? But with the golems clearly heading this way, the knights were all that stood in their path.
They couldn’t retreat. Not only was Duke Erbe’s safety unconfirmed, but beneath the rubble, there were still civilians struggling to survive.
The knights, feeling cold sweat drip down their backs, raised their swords. Their goal now wasn’t survival or protection. It was buying time. Even a single second longer to hold this position.
[Are you the kin of heroes?]
From afar, a beautiful voice, as if singing from the heavens, echoed. A voice filled with overwhelming pressure. Borua was the only one who wasn’t shaken by it.
The less experienced knights unconsciously loosened their grip on their swords. Borua gritted his teeth and took a step forward. If they could communicate, there was still hope. The wraiths had never sought conversation before, but if dialogue was possible, it would buy enough time.
“Who are you!”
[I asked the question first…… but, I suppose proof is necessary due to cultural differences. Very well, strangers.]
-Chak!
At the same time, the golems stopped. From the center of the golems, a massive, ornate palanquin gently descended to the ground. It resembled a grand altar carved from marble.
On top of it stood a figure who, to anyone who saw her, appeared to be the most noble being in the entire city. Her slender silhouette was adorned with glittering ornaments. Handmaidens fanned her as she spoke.
[My people. My most cherished treasures. Who am I?]
As the woman waved her hand, the countless soldiers kneeling before her shouted in unison, yet with different voices.
[The Empress of the Scales!]
[The Pharaoh of Ibaras!]
[The King of Kings!]
[The Sovereign who shapes the plains!]
[The Guardian of the Empire!]
[The Repeller!]
[The Loyal One of Iman Mamrus!]
Titles never heard before, and ones that no single person could rightfully claim. Even the most vain emperor in history wouldn’t have dared to have his people call him such things.
The knights, overwhelmed by the spectacle, and somewhat dumbfounded, stared at the wraiths. They continued to chant new titles with the reverence of priests serving a god.
[Enough.]
At the woman’s word, all the soldiers fell silent at once. In the sudden stillness, the empress spoke calmly.
[To put it simply, I am their master, and the sovereign of this city you have invaded. Now. Where is the one worthy of addressing me? I have come in person to discuss peace.]
“……!!”
Borua was stunned. Peace? The commander of a victorious army personally coming to request peace? According to the common sense of war, such actions were something only the king of a defeated nation would do.
It was the first time he had seen a wraith that could communicate, but the fact that its first words were about peace was even more astonishing. Borua stammered.
“Peace……? Did you say peace……?”
[I won’t criticize your tone. I am understanding. But for you to question me…… even if it’s due to cultural differences, it is an insult to me. I wish to speak with someone of equal standing. Bring him forth.]
“My, my apologies……. I…… uh…….”
Borua hesitated over whether to raise his tone. No matter how noble one’s bloodline, it was customary never to show deference to an enemy noble in war. But…… if that wraith were to get angry, wouldn’t the cost be the lives of everyone here?
“Our lord is currently beneath the sand. We too wished to find him, but…… we haven’t had the time…….”
Speaking as humbly as possible was his best option. Borua was flustered, unaccustomed to conversing with high royalty.
[Ah, so the commander personally took to the frontlines? How remarkable. How admirable. I shall pay my respects.]
The woman waved her hand as she spoke. At the same time, the sand began to recede on its own.
Layer by layer, the sand returned to its original form. It was as if time itself was being reversed……. Before Borua could even take two breaths, the massive dunes that had covered the area had transformed into yellow earthen walls.
Beneath them, the soldiers who had been buried were sprawled out. Some were bleeding, while others were still twitching and moving. Borua, seeing this, jumped up as if electrocuted and ran forward.
“Your Highness! Your Highness!!”
Among them was their lord. The knights, almost simultaneously, rushed forward without a thought for decorum. They moved the dead bodies aside, helped the wounded to their feet, and reached their lord who lay beneath……
“Move aside!!”
Borua shoved the knight who was helping their lord. With trembling hands, he hastily removed his gauntlet and threw it aside. He pressed his blood-stained fingers under their lord’s nose.
“He’s…… he’s breathing…… Your Highness is alive……!!”
“Your Highness!! Are you unharmed!!”
“Everyone, lower your voices! His Highness was buried beneath that! How could he be unharmed!”
Borua shouted, then carefully helped Duke Erbe to his feet. The Duke gasped for breath and muttered something.
Borua urgently brought his ear to the Duke’s mouth and said.
“Your Highness, give us your orders!”
“Move your hand.”
“……Huh?”
“It stinks. Move your hand, you fool.”
-Thud!
Erbe pushed Borua’s hand away and stood up on his own. After staggering for a moment, he shook his head, scattering sand, and chuckled.
“Damn it. I’m alive.”
“Your Highness…… are you hurt anywhere?”
“Nah. I almost met our ancestors, though. Don’t make a fuss. This wasn’t my worst situation.”
“Now might not be the time to say this, but…… if this wasn’t the worst, then when was……?”
