Chapter 14
A gentle hum echoed from the golden-framed carriage as it glided over the cobbled roads of Velebrandt—so smooth, so serene, that one might have mistaken the journey for a dream. The carriage, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and magical refinement, bore the family sigil of House Velebrandt—a majestic winged lion wrought in gold upon deep sapphire banners fluttering gently along its sides. A faint magical glow encased the wheels, muffling every jolt and stone, making the entire interior feel like a drifting palace.
Inside, Lucien Caelum Velebrandt sat in one of the plush crimson velvet seats, legs curled under him as he peeked through the ornate, circular window beside him. With every passing minute, familiar scenes of his childhood played out like a slow-moving diorama. Children ran down stone alleyways, laughing and hurling spinning tops at each other. Women haggled joyfully at vibrant fruit stalls, their arms full of bright produce. Blacksmiths pounded away with rhythmic intensity, and elderly men sat beneath shaded awnings playing board games and sipping tea. It was the same town he had once roamed in wide-eyed wonder with Knight Rex, now passed by in a blur of nostalgia.
Lucien narrowed his eyes, focusing on the crowd's motions. Despite the countless people, everything seemed calm, controlled—peaceful. For a brief moment, he almost forgot he was on a journey to leave it all behind. A sigh slipped from his lips.
"These cobbled streets... they've been part of me for years now," he murmured, resting his chin in his hand. "And now, they'll be part of my memories instead."
The silence in the carriage was tranquil. No clatter of hooves, no cries from outside—only the soft creak of wood and the heartbeat of magic pulsing through the enchanted frame. It was then Lucien realized: this carriage was not ordinary. The air was cool despite the afternoon sun, and not even the breeze outside could ruffle a single lock of his silver hair. Runes etched into the inner wall confirmed it—this carriage had been enchanted by high-class mages to mute external noise, stabilize movement, and regulate internal comfort.
"So this is what nobility gets to enjoy," he said with a faint smile, brushing his fingertips over the carved runes. "Even our transportation is as luxurious as a royal bedchamber."
Outside the thick-glass window, the town finally began to thin. Trees appeared, winding roads bent through open fields, and the landscape changed from the bustling heart of civilization to stretches of farmland and noble estates. At the far edge of the horizon, towering high like a titan's barricade, stood the city walls of Velebrandt's territory—gargantuan stone structures that marked the separation between the estate and the world beyond.
Lucien pressed his face closer to the window.
"So that's the gate to the rest of the world..."
The closer they drew, the more imposing it became. Massive guard towers dotted the wall's edges, each manned by knights in black-and-gold armor bearing the winged lion crest. Magic arrays floated above the parapets, ready to unleash destruction at a moment's notice.
He stared for a long moment.