Chapter 126: The Paladin of Yalfheim

Elder Basong also heard the sound of hooves and turned around cautiously. At the edge of his vision, a squad of cavalry burst forth from the forest. Twelve knights, all clad in gleaming silver breastplates, rode horses saddled with long swords on one side and finely crafted steel kites emblazoned with the sun emblem on the other—undeniably the elite cavalry of the Alfheim Colonial Legion of the Holy Asan Empire.

Leading them was a tall, handsome knight whose neatly trimmed beard around his lips lent the young officer an air of maturity beyond his years. His mithril breastplate shimmered in harmony with the blazing magical sword he wielded.

With an air of authority, the knight reined in his steed—a celestial white charger that reared and neighed—drawing the attention of both sides engaged in the forest skirmish.

“I am Major George Vasa of the Alfheim Colonial Legion Cavalry. I implore you, honorable gentlemen, for the sake of the gods, to lay down your arms!” The knight’s resonant voice echoed through the woods. “Afterward, I shall patiently hear both sides explain the cause of this conflict! By the name of Lady Timos, Mistress of Cause and Effect, I swear to grant you a full opportunity to plead your case, to judge right and wrong with fairness, to uphold justice and punish evil! May I be granted the honor of mediating this dispute?”

Hearing this righteous paladin introduce himself and call for a ceasefire, the Dingdor brothers and Tom both exhaled in relief and obediently lowered their weapons, signaling their acceptance. Yet Elder Basong’s face darkened, and he hastily began weaving hand gestures, preparing to cast a spell.

“Lizardman, cease your casting immediately, or we will regard it as a hostile provocation!” A younger knight at Major Vasa’s side barked sharply, raising his hand to unleash a piercing beam of light that bathed the old shaman in a revealing glow.

Startled, Elder Basong paused his incantation and retreated into the thicket. But the holy light of the detection spell clung to him like a shadow, causing a blazing red aura to radiate from his form—his sinister intent laid bare.

Joan, hidden just ten yards away in the bushes, clearly saw the crimson glow emanating from Basong. He immediately realized the young knight was using the Paladin’s class skill “Detect Alignment” on the elder, whose scarlet aura now rivaled that of a demon.

Witnessing this, Major George Vasa and his young companion’s expressions hardened, their gazes turning icy and unforgiving toward the old lizardman.

Sensing the surge of hostility in their eyes, Basong preemptively summoned two irate black bears to serve as shields before preparing to strike first.

Major Vasa raised his sword “Flametongue” and without looking back ordered, “Captain Daniel, take care of those bears. The rest of you protect the boys in the forest—Nelson, charge!”

With a light flick of his left hand on the reins, his celestial steed Nelson pawed the ground and thundered forward like a silver bolt aimed straight at Elder Basong.

Fear caused the lizard shaman’s pupils to shrink sharply, but he maintained his focus and hastily cast “Entangling Vines,” summoning writhing tendrils that blanketed the path to block Major Vasa’s charge.

The paladin’s expression remained stern. Suddenly pulling the reins, his horse leapt effortlessly over the tangled vines. Vasa raised his sword high and swung it down toward Basong’s head.

Cursing, the old shaman ducked and hastily raised his only weapon—the summoning rod—to block the strike above his head.

The sword’s momentum easily snapped the slender rod, then sliced through Basong’s cloak and soft armor, tearing a deep, bone-penetrating wound in his chest. As the blade touched flesh, it erupted in roaring flames, searing the wound with a sizzling crackle and emitting a pungent burnt odor.

Like a scarecrow caught in a violent gale, Elder Basong was flung backward, slamming into a tree and rebounding. His face contorted in agony as he clutched the smoking, bleeding wound tightly. His dim eyes fixed on the silver-armored paladin atop the white horse, alternating between hatred and fear. He knew the paladin would grant no chance for a counterspell; staying meant certain death.

Summoning his final strength, he invoked “Natural Transformation.” His battered body twisted and reshaped, morphing into a night owl that fluttered swiftly toward a branch.

George Vasa frowned, sheathing his sword and reaching for the crossbow hanging from his saddle. Yet dense branches obscured his aim, casting doubt on whether he could strike the rapidly ascending night owl.

At that moment, a slender fiery serpent erupted beneath the tree where Basong had hidden, engulfing the defenseless night owl’s feathers in flames. The creature screeched as it plummeted to the ground.

A youth emerged from the bushes, knife in his right hand and left hand braced against the earth, dragging his dislocated legs as he lunged toward the burning owl. His dagger sparked with a five-foot-long streak of electric light that plunged deep into the owl’s chest, pinning it firmly to the grass.

The night owl soon ceased struggling, its body transforming into a charred black lizardman. Joan rolled over, lying on his back beside Basong’s roasting corpse, chest heaving violently. Sweat-soaked black hair clung to his forehead; his face was pale as paper.

George Vasa regarded Joan with surprise at his endurance and ferocity. Captain Daniel drew his sword from the last black bear’s back and whistled at the barely conscious young mage lying in the grass, smiling with admiration. “This kid’s got a real killer instinct. Major, these boys don’t look like ordinary travelers. I’m curious what brought them all the way out here.”

Unlike the jovial, talkative Daniel, Major Vasa was a man of few words. He did not pursue the topic but said gravely, “That young mage is badly hurt. Daniel, tend to his wounds. I’ll check on the others.”

“As you command, sir.” Captain Daniel clenched his right fist over his chest and saluted with a grin to his superior and friend. He leapt from his horse and knelt beside Joan, gently stroking his cheek. His sapphire eyes brimmed with genuine concern. “Mage, don’t worry. I’ll help ease your pain and heal you now.”