Chapter 27: The Aftermath and a Journey to Bruen Castle

The scent of charred remains still lingered in the air. A gust of hot wind swept through, stirring up unburnt ash that settled onto Chloe’s hand.

“How pitiful,” Xina murmured.

As far as the eye could see, charred houses stood everywhere. Several smoke-blackened corpses lay silently on the ground, their hands still clutching broken swords.

This place was far from the village entrance. It seemed they had retreated all the way to this point.

Chloe dismounted, attempting to approach the fallen warriors. Their fingers were still tightly interlocked around their swords, even though the very things they had fought to protect had turned to ash, just like them.

“How could a group of malnourished farmers possibly stand against trained knights?”

Alice rode up to join them. Lucia, unable to endure direct sunlight, had remained at home.

“May the gods have mercy on these valiant souls,” Xina said softly. “Xiao Nuoqi, send men to bury the deceased.”

“Yes, Lady Xina.”

Xiao Nuoqi assented, leading a few soldiers away.

Chloe looked up. This appeared to be the village granary; it was charred, but unlike the other collapsed houses, it still stood.

The entire village was devastated. Yet only yesterday, these people might have been living peacefully. Why would Baron Olga Bryan do such a thing?

Chloe bit her lower lip. Alice, noticing her distress, leaned closer and said, “The lords are consumed by their infighting, and the common folk are merely their playthings and expendable resources. This is the Dark Ages.”

“Did such things not happen during the Empire’s era?” Chloe asked.

“They did… but rarely. The Empire had specialized guard corps who would bring such individuals to justice.” Alice’s eyes were filled with melancholy. “A century ago, everyone wished for the corrupt Empire to crumble swiftly, but only after its destruction did people truly yearn for the days under its protection.”

Xiao Nuoqi and his men erected several gravestones in the village’s wheat fields. Xina and Chloe shared a single horse, riding slowly towards the burial site.

Chloe gazed solemnly at the departed souls. Having lived in modern society, she found it difficult to fathom one’s home suddenly burning down and family members being wantonly slaughtered.

What more could she do for these poor souls now? Leaning against Xina’s back, she pondered with difficulty.

****

The steed galloped across the grassland, its hooves leaving faint imprints in the soil.

Xina’s equestrian skills were unexpectedly superb. She expertly gripped the reins, controlling her horse with effortless grace, charging at full speed when going straight, and turning smoothly without a trace. She and the horse seemed to move as one.

Alice rode alongside Xina. She looked at Xina with admiration and asked, “Who taught you to ride? You’re quite skilled.”

Xina shyly looked ahead and replied, “My mother taught me. She’s from the Ugukhanate, where everyone is an excellent rider.”

“Where is the Ugukhanate?”

Chloe asked curiously. At the moment, she seemed only aware of the kingdoms of Saint Fros and Eledis.

“North of Saint Fros, past the Taeland Grasslands,” Alice answered for Xina. “When Saint Fros was still an imperial province, the Uguks often raided the borders.”

Xina nodded sheepishly.

“That’s because they’re too poor. Selling only sheep’s milk and mutton doesn’t earn them much, and sometimes, when blizzards strike the north and their livestock freeze to death, they have no choice but to head south and ‘borrow’ things.”

“‘Borrow’? You mean rob, right?” Alice corrected with exasperation. “Still, their horsemanship is truly impressive.”

The wild spirit of the plains people was evident in Xina. She urged her horse on, accelerating once more. Seeing this, Alice also began to pursue her.

Under Xina and Alice’s frantic race, they quickly reached Uncle Lan’s territory — the Barony of Arlin. A low-lying castle stood on the plains; it was clearly Bruen Castle.

“How was that? I’m amazing, right?” Xina grinned triumphantly. She had suddenly accelerated at the last moment, surpassing Alice.

Alice clapped softly.

“Indeed, impressive. But your little passenger might not agree.”

Several times, Chloe had thought she would be thrown from the horse. She clung tightly to Xina’s waist, her stomach churning.

“Ah! Chloe, are you alright?”

“I’m… I’m fine.”

Xina hugged Chloe tightly. Chloe felt herself nestled against something very soft, experiencing a peculiar mix of pain and pleasure.

They had left the guards far behind. It was five minutes before Xiao Nuoqi and the others caught up; he was frothing at the mouth, feeling utterly exhausted.

“Perhaps we should ride slower next time,” Chloe suggested.

They arrived before Bruen Castle. This castle was vastly different from Sirena Castle. Bruen Castle resembled a fortress more than a traditional castle; wooden fences encircled it, with only a few large wooden cabins inside, and it didn’t even have a roof.

“This is Bruen Castle?”

It looked quite shabby. Chloe had imagined Uncle Lan to be quite wealthy.

“After all, not every lord boasts a history as long as the Sirena family.”

A somewhat frivolous voice drifted from nearby. Baron Mosin Bruen, clad in a blue ceremonial robe, bowed elegantly to the assembled group.

“Welcome, my esteemed Lords, to my humble abode. As a vassal, I am immensely grateful for your presence. Your formidable figures bring a touch of light to my dim and dilapidated castle.”

‘What a flatterer,’ Chloe thought, wiping away imaginary sweat from her brow.

“There’s no need for such flowery words,” Alice stated. “We wish to see the unfortunate siblings.”

Baron Mosin Bruen looked at Alice. He asked with suspicion, “Bishop Alexei, your attire is quite unique today.”

For riding, Alice had specifically changed into a simple casual outfit. However, this particular outfit was designed for men, featuring a strangely hollowed-out section in the middle that revealed her fair skin.

To others, Alice appeared to be a strapping man. Yet, from Chloe’s perspective, Alice’s attire was undeniably somewhat alluring.

“I couldn’t ride in my usual robes,” Alice said plainly.

“Very well, please come in.”

Bruen Castle had few soldiers; most of its inhabitants were servants and farmers. They busied themselves with chores, but upon seeing the two women, they would put down their work to bow and greet them.

In the very center of the castle stood a two-story building. This was clearly the lord’s residence, and at the entrance, a young man and woman were discussing something.

“Miko, Jack!”

Xina quickly dismounted and ran towards them.

Miko, a brown-haired girl with freckles, quickly stepped back several paces upon seeing Xina and asked with righteous formality, “Excuse me, who might you be?”

“It’s me! Xina!” Xina exclaimed. “You haven’t forgotten me, have you?”

“Xina? Wait, you’re a girl?” Miko gasped in shock.

Jack emerged from behind Miko. He and Miko were almost identical in appearance, save for the length of their hair. He patted his sister’s shoulder and said, “You’re only just realizing that, sis?”

“You thought I was a boy?” Xina asked, annoyed.

“Well, you have short hair, you’re always covered in dirt, and you’re incredibly strong!” Miko explained.

Xina’s face flushed red as she clamped her hand over Miko’s mouth, silencing her before she could reveal any more embarrassing stories. Miko quickly shook her head, and Xina released her.

“You’ve really grown into a beautiful young woman,” Miko said. “You look just like a princess.”

“I apologize for interrupting your touching reunion, but I have a few questions for you both.”

Alice dismounted and addressed the two.

“Wow, who’s this handsome man? Is he your husband?”

Miko’s eyes sparkled as she saw Alice, and she excitedly gripped Xina’s hand.

“No, he’s not,” Xina said helplessly. “He’s our territory’s Bishop.”

“To have such a handsome man as a territory bishop, the gods must be tempting you to commit sin!”

“Sis, that’s enough,” Jack said calmly. “You’re here about Pearbrook Village, aren’t you? I’ll tell you everything I saw, exactly as it happened.”

“What exactly happened?” Xina asked eagerly.

“Last night, a group of people stormed into our village from the entrance and began a massacre. I even saw that the leader was a knight commander. Miko and I quickly fled into the charred granary. Fortunately, they didn’t find us.”

“That’s all?”

Alice raised an eyebrow, seemingly unsatisfied with the answer.

“That’s all we saw. Please, you must avenge us,” Jack pleaded sincerely.

Chloe, who had been silent for a while, brushed her hair back and stepped in front of Jack. Jack watched Chloe, a blush spreading across his face. Her crimson eyes fixed intently on him.

“Of course we will. But first, please tell us what exactly Baron Olga gave you that made you so willingly betray your own village.”