The Fate of Ancient Beast Summoner-Chapter 36: Wheels Toward War

The sun approached its resting place, preparing to hand over its duty to illuminate this small yet turbulent planet to the moon. Liora and Elowen stood ready beneath the Royal Tree, surrounded by those who had come to see them off—the king, royal advisors, the high priest of Verdantia Temple, and several elite royal guards.

A magnificent golden carriage, noticeably larger and more ornate than previous ones, stood prepared to transport them. Four strong horses had been harnessed to the carriage, their heads held high as if honored to carry their passengers to their destination—the front lines of humanity's defense, the kingdom that now served as the primary refuge for survivors from other fallen nations.

Known as The Kingdom of Rock, its landscape was dominated by rugged stone hills, making it appear like a smaller sibling to The Spines—the only difference being their height. This was the Gritstone Kingdom, humanity's last bastion.

Before their departure, as always, Liora received provisions for the journey—food, supplies, and other necessities. She then turned to bid farewell to those gathered. Everyone present, filled with pride and joy, sent off these remarkable individuals who would one day become legendary heroes—all except King Darius.

His head hung low, his expression heavy with sorrow as he stared blankly at the ground. The weight of his thoughts was unmistakable.

Advisor Zayn, taking the initiative, spoke on behalf of the king and the people of Verdantia:

"Safe travels, Miss Liora. We hope the preparations we've made will ensure your comfort during the journey."

"Thank you, Advisor Zayn," Liora replied with a soft smile and a slight bow.

Elder Amir then added:

"May your trials be eased and your path made smooth. We will keep you in our prayers for success."

"Thank you, Elder. I will do my best," Liora responded, bowing once more.

At the same moment, the soldiers raised their weapons in salute, a final gesture of respect and farewell. Liora then turned to the king and bowed deeply.

"Thank you for all your kindness and support, Your Majesty. I take my leave now."

The king, startled out of his melancholy, forced a small, awkward laugh.

"Ah... yes. Safe travels, young lady."

Liora began walking toward the carriage but paused when she realized Elowen wasn't following. Turning back, she witnessed a moment so touching it warmed her heart—Elowen approaching her father and embracing him tightly.

"I'm leaving now, Father. Take care of yourself while I'm gone," she whispered.

The king stood frozen in shock, unable to remember the last time his daughter had hugged him with such warmth and affection. After a few seconds, Elowen released him, turned away, and strode briskly toward the carriage. As she passed Liora, she said simply:

"Let's go, Liora."

Liora, still standing in place, beamed with happiness before nodding enthusiastically.

"Okay, ready!"

But instead of immediately boarding the carriage, she glanced back at the king and flashed him a bright smile and a thumbs-up, as if to say, "I'm so happy for you!"

The king, moved beyond words, pressed his palms together and offered a small, grateful bow. His lips silently formed the words:

"Thank you... so much."

Liora returned the gesture with another bow, but before she could say anything else, Elowen's impatient voice cut through the moment.

"Liora! Every second counts!"

Startled, Liora hurried toward the carriage and climbed aboard. With a sharp crack of the reins, the horses surged forward, pulling the golden carriage away.

Behind them, they left a lingering sense of joy—a happiness so profound it touched both those who departed and those who remained.

This journey was quite different from usual. The luxury and comfort of the Verdantia royal carriage were several levels above those of previous kingdoms.

Not only was the space more spacious with larger, softer seats, but the carriage also featured a massive panoramic roof that offered breathtaking views of the night sky.

Additionally, the carriage was equipped with magical formulas—five enchantment circles worked together to produce various effects. These included a heating system that synchronized light, wind, and fire elements, an air-cooling system that combined wind and water elements, and even a feature utilizing wood element magic.

According to Elowen, this last one activated when the intense heat of the sun hit the panoramic roof, causing roots and leaves to grow over it, protecting the passengers inside from the harsh sunlight during the day.

As expected, Liora, who was experiencing all of this for the first time, was completely awestruck like a child. She kept switching between the magical features, testing them out one by one, until Elowen had to stop her with a playful fib. "Enough, Liora. If you keep switching those magical features, the formula will overload and explode." Shocked by this, Liora immediately stopped her antics, which made Elowen giggle as she hid her smile behind her hand.

It was just past midnight when they decided to rest by the roadside. This time, instead of camping outside, they opted to sleep inside the carriage, enjoying its superior comfort and safety.

In the distance, faint lights could be seen through the sea of giant trees. Before drifting off to sleep, Liora smiled peacefully at the sight, her heart growing stronger in her resolve to fulfill the destiny entrusted to her—to protect the peace, tranquility, and happiness of humanity.

The morning sun greeted them once again, and time seemed to pass quickly. Birds chirped noisily, complaining about the sun disturbing their slumber. But not Liora; the young girl slept soundly, perhaps enjoying the best sleep she'd had since being chosen by the Starlight Staff.

After freshening up briefly, the coachman resumed driving, speeding up slightly to make up for the time lost during their rest. The giant trees of Verdantia grew smaller in the distance, and the road became bumpier and dustier.

The green grass and soil gradually gave way to gravel and sand—a barren, hot combination that made Liora increasingly grateful in her heart. She silently thanked King Darius for lending them this luxurious carriage.

Out of curiosity, Liora asked Elowen, "Hmm... Elowen, what is the atmosphere like in the Kingdom of Gritstone? What are the people like?" Elowen sighed and replied, "Honestly, you won't find any beauty or lush scenery there, unlike in the previous kingdoms."

She glanced out the window before continuing, "There are only rows of buildings with boring shapes and colors, and now there are also tents lining the streets where refugees live."

Liora's face fell slightly, her brow furrowing and her lips curling into a frown. Noticing this, Elowen added some comforting words: "But don't worry—the royal palace will still feel comfortable. It has gardens and some trees planted there, you know. Some of them were brought from Verdantia, though only smaller ones."

Liora managed a small smile, then reminded Elowen of another question. "Well, that's good. I'm not a fan of the heat. What about the people? Are they friendly?"

Elowen tapped her chin thoughtfully before answering, "For now, the social environment has changed significantly due to the influx of refugees. It's become more diverse and humble. Originally, the native people of Gritstone were stubborn, loud, and highly competitive, probably influenced by their arid, hot land full of rocky hills."

Liora listened attentively, her emotions mixed. Despite having gone through so much in such a short time, anxiety and nervousness still crept in after hearing Elowen's explanation. She asked hesitantly, "S-so, do I have to lead a battle right after arriving there?"

Elowen smiled and moved to sit beside Liora, hugging her side as she responded, "I'm not sure yet, Liora. The War Council will inform us directly when we arrive."

"War Council?" Liora asked, confused.

"Yes," Elowen explained, "the council consists of representatives from the Kingdom of Gritstone, the Six Great Mages, and nine generals from the allied forces. They will decide our next course of action."

Liora nodded, her mind still swirling with thoughts. Elowen added mischievously, "But I doubt they'll send you straight into battle, even though you're powerful. War experience and strategy are entirely different matters. I imagine there will be some heated debates among them, huhuhu."

Liora gave a small, awkward smile upon hearing this, unsure whether to feel relieved or even more anxious.

Their journey continued smoothly without major obstacles, filled with casual conversations, brief meditation sessions led by Liora, and resting at night.

On the fifth morning of their journey, the gates of the Kingdom of Gritstone came into view—towering and thick, made of stone and operated by magical mechanisms.

Seeing the unmistakable luxury of the Verdantia royal carriage, the guards at the massive gates opened them immediately without inspection. The carriage moved forward, officially entering the Kingdom of Gritstone. ƒreewebɳovel.com

From the window, Liora observed cube-shaped buildings made of stone and clay. True to Elowen's description, the forms and colors of these residential structures were monotonous and dull, offering nothing admirable compared to previous kingdoms. The roads were covered in dusty gravel and sand, perfectly complementing the glaring sunlight.

Elowen spoke to Liora, who was busy looking outside: "We'll arrive at the northern district first; the royal palace is in the central district." Liora simply nodded in agreement, unusually quiet without her usual enthusiastic remarks about visiting a new kingdom.

The carriage began passing rows of refugee tents. The differences in skin tone and clothing between the refugees and the original inhabitants of Gritstone were striking.

Elowen took the initiative to explain, "In the northern district, refugees from the Kingdoms of Tempestia and Mindhaven reside, along with allied troops from Windoria."

"Oh, I see," Liora replied, her spirits lifting slightly.

Elowen added, "I used to be stationed here, at the northern district fortress."

"Really? That means many people here must recognize you?" Liora asked curiously.

"Of course," Elowen teased with a laugh. "Not just here, but everywhere now!"

"Huhuhu, true," Liora giggled. "You're even famous in Sanctora."

Amidst their lighthearted conversation, the carriage suddenly came to an abrupt stop. Liora and Elowen were startled. Outside the window, chaos unfolded as soldiers and civilians ran around frantically, raising clouds of dust that obscured the view. Elowen quickly stepped out of the carriage, followed closely by Liora.

"What's going on, Coachman? Why did we stop suddenly?" Elowen asked.

"I-I'm sorry, Princess, but there are too many soldiers and civilians crossing the road. Some are carrying stretchers with wounded soldiers on them."

"Alright then, park the carriage on the side of the road for now. I'll check the situation at the North HQ." Elowen instructed the coachman, then turned to Liora. "Come on, Liora, let's head to the North HQ first."

"Okay," Liora replied, jogging slightly to keep up with Elowen.

It didn't take long to reach the North HQ—a building neither too small nor too large. An inscription on the front wall read:

"With spirit unyielding, we rise; through discipline forged, we endure. In defense of hope, we stand; to survive is to carry the fire within."

Elowen walked in and addressed a soldier who was studying a map and writing a letter.

"Soldier, what's happening? Report the current situation to me!"

Without turning, the soldier snapped back rudely, "I don't have time for this! We're dealing with a dire situation here, can't you see?!"

Annoyed, Elowen grabbed the soldier's shoulder and forced him to face her, speaking in a threatening tone. "Explain yourself, or you'll have plenty of time in the grave later!"

Upon recognizing Elowen, the soldier paled and stammered, "F-forgive me, Verdant Blade! I-I didn't realize it was you—I thought you were a mage from the nursing station."

"Enough. Speak now!" Elowen demanded, still irritated.

"Y-yes! We're under attack by the demon race! Their numbers are overwhelming. Nearly half our forces are either dead or injured!"

"What?!" Elowen exclaimed, stunned. After a moment of analysis, she muttered aloud, "It's unusual for the North Wall to face such a massive attack. They always focus their strength on the Central Wall, sometimes hitting the South Wall. Why here?"

She turned to the soldier sharply. "Who's leading our forces? Is Great Mage Saran Tuya present in the battle? What about General Arnav?"

"Only General Arnav is leading, Madam Mage. Great Mage Saran has gone to the royal palace."

"Urrghh... At a time like this? Seriously?" Elowen groaned. Then, regaining composure, she issued orders. "Fine, prepare two horses. I'll head to the front lines, and afterward, request reinforcements from the Central Wall."

"Yes, ma'am!" the soldier responded firmly, rushing out to prepare the horses.

Liora asked Elowen nervously, "Are we going to fight now, Elowen? I'm still confused."

"Yes, Liora. Don't tell me you're scared?" Elowen replied, checking on her junior's readiness.

"N-no, I'm ready. It's just... seeing you panic makes me nervous too," Liora admitted innocently.

"How can I not panic, Liora? The North Wall is supposed to be the safest part of our defenses. The demon race usually launches relentless attacks on the Central Wall, occasionally hitting the South Wall. And now, with the Great Mage stationed here absent, it's clear our forces are critically weakened. I suspect he went to the royal palace to greet us—or rather, you, Liora."

Hearing this, Liora hesitantly asked, "Does this mean... this critical situation is because of me too?"

Elowen approached Liora, placing her hands on her shoulders. "Focus, Liora. Don't think about anything else. No one could have predicted this massive attack—it's not your fault."

"O-okay, forgive me," Liora replied guiltily.

"It's alright, Liora. Besides, we can still turn things around," Elowen reassured her further, preparing a few vials of health potions and a small mana potion.

Suddenly, the earlier soldier interrupted, "Madam Green Mage, the two horses are ready outside."

"Let's go now, Liora," Elowen said, heading toward the exit.

"Okay," Liora replied spiritedly, her determination to aid the allied human forces outweighing her negative thoughts.

Their horses galloped swiftly toward the North Wall gate. A sudden, critical situation—and real combat against the demon race awaited them. Could Liora help the fighting troops and turn the tide? Could she rise to meet the challenge of her destiny in her debut battle? Find out in the next Chapter.