The carriage rattled along the long-neglected old road, the butler cracking his whip through the air, the sharp sound cutting through the evening silence.
The violent jolts were far from comfortable, yet the two guards kept their eyes closed, seizing every possible moment to conserve energy in the nearly unbearable ride.
Charles turned away from constant nagging and stared out the window at the receding forest, his face clouded with worry. After the last rays of sunset vanished below the horizon, this was the expression he wore deep in thought.
Reina May leaned against the carriage seat, eyes closed.
To outsiders, it appeared she was resting, but in truth, her mind was far from idle.
Complex formulas and calculations were linking together in her mind, forming a nascent pattern the spiral of life was beginning to take shape.
If one ignored the bumpy ride, the scene would seem serene, a quiet moment in time. Even the viewers in the live broadcast seemed to sink into this tranquility, admiring Reina May's beauty in silent awe.
Time in the National Destiny Battle moved in sync with Blue Star's, and as night fell in the battle, people in East Huang prepared for their evening rest.
Then, at a certain moment, Reina May sensed the information in the air become chaotic. Her perception triggered a warning, and she opened her eyes just as the carriage jolted violently.
Crack
A dull, heavy sound came from beneath the floor. Reina May raised her right hand.
The next instant, the entire carriage flew into the air, like an untethered wild horse, or a vehicle struck by a massive force. It spun in the air and crashed into a boulder at the bend of the road.
Boom
With a series of explosions and thundering crashes, the carriage collided with the roadside rocks. The vehicle splintered instantly, and the smell of blood filled the air.
"Oh no! Reina May, are you alright?"
"What happened? I just went to grab a dish, and now there's been a car accident?"
"Seems the wheel ran over a rock!"
"What was the coachman thinking? Can he even drive?"
The viewers began to panic over Reina May's safety. Even knowing she had abilities beyond their comprehension, this was a vehicle crash the carriage had collapsed. The two horses were caught in the wreckage.
The frail old horses lay sprawled on the ground. One had been crushed between the carriage and the boulder, its body flattened and smeared like a pulp over the stone.
The other fared no better. It had toppled to its side; its abdomen was sunken, all four hooves bent at grotesque angles. Its head was the worst, half missing in the crash, leaving streaks of white matter smeared on the ground.
Coughing—coughing—
Amid the audience's fear, a series of coughs sounded from inside the mangled carriage.
Thud—thud—
The carriage door shook violently within its frame, and on the third strike, it flew off entirely. A leg clad in armor retracted inside.
"Well done, Reynard!" Charles cheered, dust covering his body, addressing the knight who was holding up the carriage roof with both hands.
"I'll check the situation outside first," Dismas said, leaping from the carriage before Charles could respond. As the wind caught his coat, he drew a rifle and dagger from his belt.
"Lucky us. The carriage didn't collapse. After you, Reina May, ladies first," Charles gestured politely before following her down.
Reynard was the last to exit. He studied Reina May's back for a few seconds before stepping out, and as he moved, the unsupported carriage collapsed completely, turning into a heap of broken planks on the ground.
"This is terrible. My lord, I'm afraid we'll have to walk to the town," Dismas reported, frowning.
"Hah, bad news indeed. But what about the butler?" Charles had anticipated this the carriage was destroyed but he cared more for his butler's life than the broken vehicle.
Dismas shook his head. "I couldn't find him. He was likely thrown in the crash."
Charles frowned.
He had two options: search the nearby forest for his butler, which was dangerous as the crash noise might attract bandits, or proceed on foot to Hamlet Town, abandoning the possibly surviving butler. His conscience resisted the latter.
"Charles, I don't sense his presence," a cold, clear voice said suddenly.
"Reina May? You mean the butler… wait, do you have special abilities?" Charles asked in surprise.
"Consider it so. This clue should help you make your choice," Reina May said.
"Then there's no choice. Reynard, Dismas, let's go. Reina May, I hope you don't mind walking a bit," Charles said to his guards, glancing apologetically at Reina May.
"No need to worry, Charles. Nobody could have foreseen this," Reina May replied, shaking her head, unconcerned.
"You are very gracious, Miss Reina May," Charles said with a wry smile, letting the topic drop.
The four of them set off, fortunately Hamlet Town was not far.
As they walked, Charles began to recount the story of the forest.
The protagonist was a man named Wolf, a bandit leader. He had been a notorious mercenary ruthless, unreliable, even betraying his employers. Soon no one hired him anymore.
Stripped of income, Wolf and his mercenaries turned to banditry, eventually hiding in the forests near Hamlet Town.
"I heard Wolf always wore a wolf pelt, drinking blood and eating flesh. His men wore wolf-head hats," Charles whispered, careful not to disturb the forest's hidden master.
At that moment, Dismas, leading the way, suddenly stopped. "Prepare yourselves, my lord. Trouble ahead."
Before he finished, rustling came from the trees. A group of over thirty figures wearing wolf-head hats emerged from the dark forest, encircling Reina May and her companions.