Survivor: Rise of the Almighty

Chapter 23: A Morning Departure

The morning sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows of the tavern, casting an array of colors across the wooden floor. I sat at my corner table, savoring a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, and freshly baked bread. The warm, savory flavors were a comforting start to what I suspected would be a long day.

Still, I couldn't entirely focus on my meal. My mind kept circling back to the conversation I'd had with Freya the night before. Her memory loss seemed sincere—or at least she believed it was—but there was an edge to her words that didn't sit right with me. It felt like she was holding something back, either out of fear or caution.

I took another bite of bacon, my gaze shifting to the small bag sitting on the table beside me. To the casual observer, it looked like the bare essentials for a long journey—some dried meats, potions, a worn blanket, and a flask of water. In truth, it was just a decoy. All the actual supplies I needed—cooking gear, a proper tent, additional rations, and more—were safely stored in my spatial ring, concealed beneath the black leather gloves I always wore. A spatial ring was an absurdly rare and expensive item, and I wasn't about to explain how someone like me had come to possess one.

The creak of the tavern door pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Neralia and Lashley stepping inside, their noble presence as glaringly obvious as always. Neralia's flowing emerald cloak shimmered faintly in the morning light, while Lashley's dark attire, embroidered with gold and silver accents, screamed wealth and superiority.

"There you are," Neralia said, her tone clipped and impatient. "We've been waiting for you. Are you ready to leave?"

I leaned back in my chair, gesturing to my half-finished meal. "Oh, absolutely. I just thought I'd enjoy the last decent breakfast I'll probably have for days. But by all means, please continue interrupting."

Lashley crossed his arms, his gaze dropping to the small bag beside my plate. "That's all you're bringing?" he asked, incredulity dripping from his voice. "A commoner's sack? Do you intend to sleep on the dirt?"

I smirked, picking up a piece of bread and gesturing with it. "What can I say? Some of us know how to survive without dragging an entire wardrobe along. It's called traveling light, Lashley. You should try it sometime."

His jaw clenched, and Neralia rolled her eyes. "Can we please go? The carriage is waiting, and we're already behind schedule."

With a sigh, I stood, adjusting the strap of the small bag over my shoulder. My armor, black leather with red trims, fit snugly against my frame, blending practicality with a hint of style. The black sword at my waist rested easily in its scabbard, its plain design masking the lethal edge within. Everything I carried openly was intentional, carefully curated to project an image of a capable yet unremarkable traveler.

We stepped outside into the bustling streets of Torak. Merchants shouted over one another, hawking their wares, while children darted between carts and pedestrians. The city was alive with the hum of commerce and chatter, but my focus shifted to the carriage waiting outside the tavern.

Smaller than the one we'd used yesterday, the black-and-gold design still screamed wealth and privilege. Its polished wood gleamed in the sunlight, and intricate carvings ran along its edges, a subtle flex of craftsmanship. This time, instead of the standard two horses, four powerful steeds were hitched to the front, their glossy coats shining in the morning light.

"Four horses?" I asked, feigning ignorance as I ran a hand along the smooth frame.

"The destination is much farther this time," Neralia explained, a faint note of superiority in her voice. "Even with four horses, it will take us two days of travel—and we'll need to camp in the wilderness for at least two nights. Hence the additional horses for speed."

"Ah, I see," I replied, nodding as though deeply impressed. "And here I thought it was just another way to show off. My mistake."

Lashley's glare could've melted steel, but I ignored him as I climbed into the carriage.

Inside, the seats were upholstered in fine leather, and the cabin was spacious enough for the three of us to sit comfortably without brushing shoulders. Lashley and Neralia settled across from me, their expressions a mix of disdain and irritation.

"You know," I said, leaning back and crossing my arms, "I think I'm starting to enjoy this dynamic. You two with your noble condescension, and me pointing out just how spoiled and clueless you really are. It's almost...charming."

Lashley's fists clenched, but Neralia placed a hand on his arm, shaking her head. "Let's just get moving," she said, her tone icy.

The carriage jolted forward, the cobblestone streets of Torak fading into the distance as we began our journey. I watched the city recede through the window, a faint smirk playing on my lips. Two nights in the wilderness with these two? Oh, this was going to be fun.

The wheels of the carriage rumbled over the cobblestones as we made our way out of Torak. The streets grew quieter the farther we went, and soon, the bustling sounds of the city were replaced by the rhythmic clip-clop of the horses' hooves. The morning mist hung low over the countryside, and the air was crisp with the bite of early spring.

Neralia, who had been staring out the window, finally broke the silence, her voice tinged with an air of importance. "We're heading north towards the ruins of Fort Defal. You've heard of it, haven't you?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Can't say I have. Seems like a place you'd find in a history book, though."

Lashley smirked, leaning forward in his seat. "Fort Defal is no ordinary ruin, Kaizen. It was once the pride of the Rostalio Kingdom—one of the most formidable military fortresses ever built. It stood for five centuries, surviving countless sieges and attacks. The fort's walls are still scarred from those battles, a testament to its resilience."

Neralia added, her tone still dripping with condescension, "It was legendary. Entire armies would try to breach its walls, but none succeeded. That is, until… well, until two Imperial Magic Knights came."

At the mention of the Magic Knights, I raised an eyebrow. "Imperial Magic Knights? Sounds like something out of a bedtime story."

Lashley's gaze sharpened. "Far from it. The Imperial Magic Knights are the elite of the elite. They are the most powerful warriors the Vermillion Empire has ever produced—tools of destruction trained in both elemental and martial magic. It's said each knight is worth at least five thousand regular soldiers."

Neralia leaned in, clearly excited to share her knowledge. "They're experts in both combat and magic, Kaizen. Each knight wields a terrifying amount of elemental power—fire, water, air, earth—along with their martial prowess. Each can wield at the least two elemental magic affinities. They're SS-rank adventurers at the very least, the kind of warriors who could topple entire cities with a single blow. And when they set their sights on something, there's no stopping them."

I grinned, leaning back in my seat. "So… they sound like natural disasters, then?"

Both twins looked at me as if I'd just insulted their precious knights. But I wasn't backing down. "I mean, think about it. These guys are essentially walking, talking calamities. I bet if you stuck them in a place like a battlefield, they'd level the entire thing in a few minutes."

Lashley's eyes narrowed, a flash of annoyance crossing his face. "That's the first time I've heard someone compare Imperial Magic Knights to natural disasters, Kaizen. But you're not entirely wrong, I suppose."

Neralia continued, unbothered by my comment. "Fort Defal held out for years against siege after siege. Armies from across the continent tried to breach its walls, but each time they were repelled. It wasn't until the emperor's first-born son ascended to the throne that things began to change."

Lashley's voice grew darker as he explained, "The new emperor was ruthless, even more so than his father. He was determined to put an end to the reputation that Fort Defal had built over the centuries. So, fifty years ago, he sent two of the most powerful Imperial Magic Knights to the fort. In a matter of days, the fort fell. And though its walls still stand, much of it lies in ruin."

I let the information sink in, my mind racing. "So, you're telling me this place, which withstood decades of sieges and entire armies, was taken down by two knights in a matter of days?"

Neralia nodded, her expression grim. "Yes. The Imperial Magic Knights are that powerful. They're more than just warriors—they're like walking disasters. Even today, their power is feared across the continent."

"Sounds like a hell of a thing to fight against," I muttered, my thoughts drifting to the ruins that lay ahead.

Lashley scoffed. "If you're lucky, you might get to see what's left of the fort. But don't expect to find anything useful. After the knights finished their work, the fort's military significance was wiped out. What remains is a symbol of the empire's dominance."

I leaned back in my seat, trying to process everything. Fort Defal sounded like a place steeped in both history and tragedy—a place that had survived countless battles, only to be brought down by two unstoppable forces.

But there was something else gnawing at me. If the fort's downfall was due to the power of these knights, what could possibly be waiting for us there?

Before I could ask more questions, I heard Lashley mutter under his breath, clearly irritated. "And of course, Kaizen's first thought is that these knights are disasters. I would have expected better from someone with your reputation."

I couldn't resist a smile. "Hey, I'm just calling it like I see it. Honestly, the whole 'elite magic knights' thing just sounds like a lot of hype. Natural disasters seem more my speed, though."

Neralia shot me an icy glare, but Lashley just grunted in annoyance. "You've got a strange way of looking at the world, Kaizen. But I suppose that's why we're all here."

I leaned back further into the seat, the distant landscape of rolling hills and winding roads stretching out before us. Ahead, the fort loomed—still standing in all its ruined glory, waiting for us to uncover its secrets.

But for now, all I could do was wait and listen to the twins drone on about their precious knights, my mind already running through the possibilities. What lay beyond the ruins? What had these knights left behind in their wake? I was about to find out—and I had a feeling it wasn't going to be as easy as the twins thought.

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