Chapter 85: The Gate of Shadows

Drake, Captain of the Knights of Bertion, was racing through the snow.

"Hyah!"

Dispatched as the Emperor’s special envoy, he was heading to Silvaren.

The shortest route to Silvaren was through the North.

So, he had decided to pass through the North.

"We’re almost there."

As the sun began to set.

His eyes caught sight of the towering cliffs, the very symbol of the North.

Bursting through a narrow alley just wide enough for a single horse, a massive castle gate appeared before him.

Drake dismounted.

Goooo...

In this desolate place, only the biting wind howled.

"I am Drake, Captain of the Knights of Bertion! By the Emperor’s command, I request passage through the North!"

But...

No answer came in return.

"Is no one there?!"

His booming voice echoed like a resounding bell.

"What’s going on?"

It was strange.

The gatekeepers of the North should have questioned his identity even before he approached.

Yet up to the castle gate, and even as he called out, not a single voice responded.

He quietly pressed his ear to the massive gate and closed his eyes.

Whoo, wheee...

Even as he focused his hearing, only the sound of the wind could be heard.

"Hmph!"

Drake braced himself and pushed the gate.

Creak-creak-creak...

A gate that should have been firmly shut was, for some reason, opening.

Drake carefully led his horse through the gap into the fortress.

Inside, the castle was nothing but utter desolation.

"...Where has everyone gone?"

He shrugged one shoulder and turned his head.

The outer town of Malta, always bustling with people.

The marketplace was usually filled with northern weapons and fur merchants raising their voices, and children playing around bonfires.

But now...

"It’s like a dead city."

Such a sight in the North was utterly foreign to him.

His eyes narrowed.

"Has something happened?"

Instinctively, Drake’s hand moved to the hilt of his sword.

Passing through the eerily quiet outer castle, he carefully urged his horse toward the inner keep.

When he drew near the inner keep.

Swish, thwip!

Neigh!

"...!"

An arrow flew and lodged itself before his horse.

Startled, the horse reared up, and Drake soothed it.

"Whoa, easy now. It’s alright."

The sharp arrowhead had pierced the ground, glinting in the dying light.

"Identify yourself!"

A voice suddenly called from atop the ramparts.

There, men wrapped in winter coats and hats were aiming their bows at him.

Drake raised the imperial seal high and answered.

"I am Drake, Captain of the Knights of Bertion, special envoy of His Majesty the Emperor of the Shubert Empire! By the Emperor’s order, I was just passing through the North to reach Silvaren!"

For a moment, the figure on the ramparts didn’t move, then soon another appeared, whispering hurriedly.

After a brief huddle, they shouted down again.

"We’ll open the gate! The sun is setting, hurry inside!"

Drake let go of his sword and took hold of his horse’s reins once more.

But at that moment.

The sun began to set.

As the last light disappeared behind the mountains, darkness swiftly seized the land.

And then...

Uuuuu...

From beneath the ground, a low, resonant sound began to spread.

Like creeping frost, shadows slowly spilled across the earth.

Riding forward, Drake turned his head sharply.

Something was writhing within the shadows.

"What is that...?"

Before he could finish, someone atop the ramparts screamed.

"The shadows are moving! Hurry inside!"

In the next instant.

Krak!

"Argh!"

A soldier on the ramparts was snatched up by something, dragged down the wall.

A black tendril, rising from the shadows, had seized him.

Shhhk!

The bricks shattered as shadows began to writhe and boil from every part of the ramparts.

"What in the...!"

Startled, Drake instinctively turned his horse and raced toward the falling soldier.

Swish!

Drawing his sword, he slashed through the shadowy vine coiling around the soldier’s body in one swift motion.

Slash!

Then he caught the falling man in his arms.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes, I’m alright. We have to get inside the keep, quickly!"

The soldier frantically untied a rope knotted around his own feet.

‘A rope?’

Did they expect this to happen?

Then, a chill ran up Drake’s spine as he turned.

"That!"

Something was approaching from afar along with the shadows.

‘People?’

His gaze sharpened.

About a hundred people were slowly walking toward the inner gate.

Even in the freezing wind, they wore blank, lifeless expressions.

"Who are they supposed to be?"

"I’ll explain later. For now, we must get inside the keep!"

The soldier’s voice was urgent.

The two ran for the castle gate, but...

Whoosh!

The shadows would not simply let them pass.

Once again, tendrils of shadow surged from the darkness.

"How dare you!"

Drake swung his sword, easily slicing through the writhing shadows.

But no matter how many he cut, they grew again, their numbers multiplying.

"What in the world are these cursed things!"

Muscles bulging, Drake gripped his sword tighter.

Meanwhile, the hundred emotionless people drew closer to the gate.

"Close the gate!"

With a shout from above, the inner castle gate began to shut tight.

"The-the gate is closed!"

"Let me ask—do we have any reason not to kill those strange people?"

"That’s..."

The soldier’s face twisted with emotion as he answered.

"They are... our families."

Slash!

Drake, startled, cut through an oncoming shadow vine.

"Families? You mean Northerners?"

"Yes."

"Then why not let them in?"

"Because... they are no longer truly ‘people’."

"...."

It was hard to comprehend.

"You’re the Captain of the Knights, correct? The gate is closed, but there is still a way inside."

At the soldier’s words, Drake’s eyebrows shot up.

"Speak."

"There’s a small side gate behind the keep. There should be people standing by there as we speak."

Clearly, this was not the first time such a situation had occurred.

"Lead the way."

"This way."

Drake and the soldier moved cautiously.

Facing the surging shadows was proving more difficult than expected.

Still, there was one consolation.

‘Impressive, for a mere soldier. As expected of the North.’

The soldier accompanying him was highly skilled.

‘Just what are these bizarre things?’

Drake pressed his lips tight.

Once inside the keep, he would have many questions for the Duke of Malta.



---



Meanwhile.

Rohan’s party kept riding even after sunset.

They had good reason: just a bit further and they would reach the outer walls of Malta Castle.

"We’re almost there!"

But something was off.

When they had passed here before, guards had stood at the outer border, but now there was no one.

"There’s no one here? What’s going on?"

Retina also tilted her head in confusion.

"...This is strange."

Rohan felt a growing sense of unease.

"Don’t stop, let’s ride all the way to the inner keep!"

"Got it!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Rohan’s group and the Elphyrian warriors dispatched by Nas spurred their horses on.

As the inner castle came into view.

"Rohan, watch out!"

At Retina’s warning, Rohan ducked instinctively.

Above his head, a chilling sound whooshed past.

"Your Highness, it’s those shadows from before!"

Martin shouted.

Looking up again, something began writhing and rising in the darkness.

"Everyone!"

At Retina’s call, the Elphyrian warriors drew their swords, and Shakan, still on horseback, readied his bow.

"Rohan, keep riding! We’ll handle the rear! Martin, you follow Rohan!"

With his two-handed sword, Martin couldn’t draw his weapon while mounted.

Knowing this, Retina sent the two ahead and started fighting.

Rohan glanced back as he rode.

‘As expected of the Elphyrians!’

There was no need to comment on the skills of the two Blood Elphyrians.

But even the Elphyrian warriors sent this time were remarkably skilled.

"They really are elite warriors."

It was impressive, even if only for a moment.

Even on horseback, they handled their blades with complete freedom.

With their characteristic rapid strikes, the Elphyrians sliced the shadows into pieces before they could get close.

Meanwhile, Rohan drew closer to the inner keep.

And there, he spotted a very familiar face.

"Sir Drake?"

Why was the Captain of the Knights of Bertion here?

Their eyes met at the same time.

Drake was equally surprised to see Rohan.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince?"

Neigh!

Their horses stopped, and Rohan and Martin dismounted.

Martin immediately drew Sunfire and swung his greatsword.

"Haa!"

His aura-charged blade glowed brightly, emitting a fiery breath that made the nearby shadows recoil.

"Your Highness. You were in the North?"

"I left, but I’m on my way back now."

"This place is dangerous. There’s a side gate behind the keep—we should take shelter there together."

He guided Rohan behind him and fought off the shadows alongside Martin.

Soon, the Elphyrian warriors quickly regrouped with them.

"This way!"

Thus, they managed to head to the side gate at the back of the keep without much difficulty.

"Fire!"

As the guiding soldier had said, other soldiers were waiting there.

Fwshhh!

Flaming arrows, soaked in oil, were fired at the pursuing shadows.

"Hurry inside!"

A soldier standing by the side gate opened it and ushered them in.

Outside, the shouts of "Fire!" and the sound of arrows raining down could still be heard.

"Whew, we managed to get in safely, somehow."

Drake finally sheathed his sword and let out a small sigh.

"What brings you here so suddenly?"

Honestly, it was a shock.

He’d never imagined he’d meet Sir Drake in the North.

"I became the Emperor’s envoy and was on my way to Silvaren. I took the fastest route through the North and ran into this mess."

"Silvaren? Why Silvaren all of a sudden?"

No sooner had Rohan finished speaking than several people walked down the corridor.

At the center was none other than the Duke of Malta.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince. And Sir Drake."

In just a few days, he had grown gaunt.

Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his once lustrous hair was dry and brittle.

"I can only apologize for having to receive guests under these circumstances."

"Don’t apologize. But... what in the world is going on? Who are those people outside, and what are those strange shadows...?"

As Drake’s question trailed off, the Duke of Malta let out a deep sigh and turned away.

"For now, let’s move somewhere more comfortable and talk."

What could have happened in just four days to cause such turmoil in the North?

As Rohan watched the Duke’s hunched back, a deep heaviness settled in his eyes.