The two heavily armored knights had been injured in the earlier battle and could barely move. Nolan simply hoisted them onto his broad shoulders, crossed the grassland, and headed straight for the shore.
By then, the small boat had already been dragged into the lake. Raziel helped Nolan settle the armored knights aboard, then nimbly jumped on himself.
Nolan glanced back and could faintly hear the distant neighing of warhorses and the furious shouts of knights.
With the Cuckoo forces closing in, Raziel gave the order to set sail without hesitation.
The oars churned through the water at once. The two great champions put aside any concern for status and joined in rowing, bracing with all their strength. The small boat shot away from the shore like an arrow loosed from its bowstring.
Before long, a squad of Cuckoo Knights reached the lakeside, numbering several dozen.
But the boat was already far from shore. The soldiers could only rein in their mounts in frustration, pacing back and forth along the beach.
Some of them even drew their bows, loosing arrows in volleys as if ammunition were endless.
"Those bastards have time to stand around like idiots. They'd be better off going back and practicing their archery!"
Nolan glanced down at himself, noticing his armor was smeared with blood, then turned to look behind him.
The two knights were badly hurt, though not by weapons. They had likely been beaten by the Trolls hauling the cart behind them. Thankfully, their injuries did not seem life-threatening.
The archers, however, were clearly tough customers. They looked completely unscathed, while plenty of Cuckoo soldiers' corpses still lay on the shore from earlier.
The small boat drifted farther and farther across the lake. The curses from the shore grew fainter until they disappeared altogether.
Only silence remained on the lake's surface, as if time itself had come to a standstill.
...
After some time—
"We're very close to the royal domain now," Raziel's voice suddenly sounded.
At those words, the knights finally let out a breath of relief.
The Carian Knight scanned the surroundings but saw no sign of enemy vessels.
"That was the Bloodhound's Step, wasn't it? I never thought you could use that Ash of War so well."
Raziel let out a long breath, feeling the tension finally ease.
They had wiped out an entire transport convoy without a single casualty. It was an achievement worth praising.
As he recalled the fierce battle from moments before, his gaze drifted toward Nolan.
"That's right, Bloodhound's Step. Sounds like you know it well," Nolan said with a faint smile.
"Of course. Bloodhound's Step is the signature technique of the Bloodhound Knights. They're trackers trained by Caria Manor, the most loyal knights in service to the Carian royal family."
Raziel spoke with a hint of pride, but after a moment, as if remembering something, he frowned.
"Too bad that dumb dog by Her Highness' side suddenly lost its wits. No idea where it's run off to now."
"But that's a secret technique of the Bloodhound Knights. Where did you learn it?" Raziel asked, curiosity clear in her voice.
"A big shot living in Leyndell taught me," Nolan replied without hesitation, curling his lips slightly.
He could feel the sharp gaze of the Carian Knight fixed on him, yet he showed not the slightest trace of guilt. He was telling the truth.
After a long pause, Raziel let out a helpless sigh.
It wasn't that he doubted the knight's words. Rather, he was reminded of the former Lord Consort who had once betrayed Caria.
During the Queen's pregnancy, that Lord Consort had governed both Caria and the Raya Lucaria Academy. Long ago, he had already returned to Leyndell.
For those in that place, learning the secret techniques of the Bloodhound Knights was hardly surprising.
Given Miquella's status, it was only natural that Nolan, as a Golden Needle Knight of the Empyrean Being, would have dealings with the powerful figures of the Royal Capital.
No matter how hard Raziel racked his brain, he could never have imagined that this Bloodhound's Step had actually been taught to Nolan by the Eternal Queen.
All he could do was say, somewhat dejectedly,
"You did very well just now. I'll report this achievement to Caria Manor. Her Highness will certainly reward you all."
After that, he stopped dwelling on whether it truly was a secret technique of Caria. This was not the time to push away the Haligtree, an ally of such importance.
If the Valkyrie could secure final victory in the Leyndell War, she might even be able to help Her Highness the Princess.
...
Dawn gradually broke, morning light spilling over the land and dyeing the world in gold. The raging flames had long since been extinguished, leaving only thin wisps of smoke drifting upward, like a final remembrance of last night's brutal battle.
By the lakeshore, several tall warhorses stood quietly. Their hooves occasionally scraped at the damp earth, splashing up clumps of mud.
A few knights stood nearby, gazing solemnly across the calm surface of the lake. They wore heavy armor and carried sharp longswords, their expressions grave.
The Cuckoo were not like those golden lords who could muster armies of tens of thousands. Even counting the captains, their knights numbered fewer than two hundred in total, yet more than ten had fallen just last night.
Kercius sat astride a powerful black warhorse, clad in thick armor beneath a red-and-blue surcoat. He wore no helmet. His black hair streamed in the wind, and his eyes, sharp as a falcon's, swept over a knight at his side.
"What are the losses?" Kercius asked, his voice low and forceful.
The knight replied respectfully,
"My lord, the tally is complete. The fire was put out in time, but a large amount of supplies was damaged. At present, we have only about one-fifth of our provisions remaining."
Kercius frowned, a trace of displeasure flashing in his eyes. After a brief pause, he spoke coldly,
"Send messengers to Testu's Island at once. Tell them new supplies must be delivered as quickly as possible. By the day after tomorrow at the latest, I want everything I need to be in the main camp."
"Understood, my lord. I'll arrange it immediately."
The knight answered, tugged on the reins, and spurred his horse toward the camp at a gallop.
"Captain, please take a look at this. It's intelligence from the front lines."
"Caria Manor is inscribing a magic array?"
"Yes. We consulted people from the Haima Conspectus. It's likely a magic amplification array."
Hearing this, Kercius frowned again. He was familiar with such arrays. Raya Lucaria Academy had one of its own.
That sorcery, known as Terra Magica, spread from the highest bell tower to envelop the entire academy. It not only enhanced spell power but also helped those scholars spark inspiration.
Everyone knew that the Carian Royal Family excelled in magic. Every Carian Knight was a magic knight.
By comparison, the Cuckoos could only hurl Cuckoo Glintstones. Their only real strength lay in enchanting weapons, and only a very few could master the Glintblade Phalanx, a low-tier sorcery once granted by the royal family.
If the enemy succeeded in establishing such a magic array, then even if the defenses were breached and the fortress taken, the Cuckoos would suffer catastrophic losses. At that point, the royal treasures would be worthless.
"We must stop them. We have to seize the royal domain as soon as possible," Kercius decided without hesitation.
War allowed no delay. He pressed his heels into the horse's flanks, and the warhorse immediately surged forward toward the main camp.
"And tell those sorcerers this isn't the time to drag their feet. If they want to abandon this war, then they can keep standing on the sidelines and watching."