The two Enthoria guards stopped in front of them, eyes cold.

“You two,” one of them barked, “step forward.”

Elara stiffened, her breath hitching.

Ashren instinctively moved in front of her.

“We’re just travelers,” he said, forcing his voice steady. “Is there a problem?”

The guard sneered.
“Did I ask you to speak, boy?”

He shoved Ashren back—hard.

Elara reached toward him, but the guard grabbed her wrist.

“Travelers must pay an inspection fee,” he said, smirking.
“Especially pretty ones.”

Ashren’s blood boiled.

“Let go of her.”

The guard snorted.
“Or what? You’ll cry?”

Ashren stepped forward anyway, jaw tight—

But before the guard could react—

CLANG!

A sword struck the ground between them.

Everyone froze.

A tall knight in silver-and-white armor stood behind the guards, a blue crest shining on his chest.

His voice thundered:

“That is ENOUGH.”

The two Enthoria guards stiffened instantly.

“S-Sir Veylan! We were only—”

“You were harassing civilians,” Sir Veylan said coldly.
“Something forbidden under any king’s rule… even Enthoria’s.”

He turned to Elara and Ashren, bowing slightly.

“My apologies for their behavior. This outpost is… troubled. Discipline is not what it used to be.”

Elara nodded politely, hiding her trembling.

Ashren frowned.
“You’re… different from them.”

Veylan smiled faintly.

“I serve under the Old Order. The original Ardanel code of knighthood. Some of us still follow it, even under Enthoria’s control.”

The guards lowered their heads in shame as Veylan dismissed them with a glare.

Ashren bowed in return.
“Thank you, sir.”

Sir Veylan left after a moment, and Ashren and Elara continued walking toward the inn.

When they were alone, Ashren suddenly frowned.

“Elara… something’s been bothering me.”
He lowered his voice.

Elara answered calmly,

“Because swords are imbued with magic,” she said quietly.
“Created with enchanted stones. Night Hunters use machines—guns, technology.
Royal guards depend on mana-forged steel.”

A single magic-imbued blade costs a fortune—but it can slice through monsters that bullets can’t harm.”

Ashren replied,
“So… power, but limited.”

“Exactly.”

After a while, they reached the inn.

A warm lantern hung over the doorway.

Ashren turned to her.

“Let me talk to the innkeeper. You stay here and rest. Just for a moment, okay?”

Elara smiled tiredly.
“Alright. I’ll wait here.”

Ashren stepped inside.

The innkeeper was in deep conversation, so Ashren waited only a second before turning back to call Elara in—

“Elara?”

The spot where she stood was empty.

No footsteps.

No sound.

No sign of struggle.

Just… gone.

A breeze passed. A single feather rolled by. Nothing unusual… except Elara was gone.

Ashren stepped outside fully, scanning the street, panic rising.

“Elara…? ELARA!”

But Ardent Cross continued bustling around him—

as if she had never been there at all.

To be continued…

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