Shakky's confused eyes stayed fixed on Ameria. For a moment, she couldn't understand why the others saw nothing. Then it hit her.
(What I was seeing… I was seeing it with my Divine Eyes. That means only I can see it. But what exactly was that thing?)
She pulled her arm free from Ameria's grip and immediately activated her Divine Eyes again, forcing more power into them as she looked toward the same direction.
Ameria tried to stop her from behind.
"Princess, don't use it again—"
Shakky wiped the blood from her lips and glanced back.
"It'll be fine. Just one more time. I need to see it clearly."
Derland looked at Ameria.
"It might be something only the princess can see with those eyes. That's why she's trying again."
Ameria's voice was tight with worry.
"Even so… using Saint Power over and over only hurts her."
Shakky ignored the protest. She narrowed her focus and poured more magical energy into her eyes. The golden light in her irises brightened.
Then her eyes suddenly widened in shock.
A dark silhouette appeared out of nowhere and struck the spider-legged creature with a sword. The moment the blade connected, the creature shattered into dust and vanished.
Shakky coughed hard, but she kept staring forward. Ameria quickly supported her by the shoulder. When Shakky looked again, the silhouette was already gone.
"What…? Where did it go?"
Derland stepped closer.
"Did you see something, Princess?"
Shakky took a second to collect herself. She already knew explaining it properly would be almost impossible.
(If I tell them what I saw, they won't understand. How am I even supposed to describe it?)
She looked west once more. The strange red energy mixed among the golden magical energy had grown stronger than before. Something about it felt wrong.
She pointed in that direction.
"Over there. Something's coming from that side. The energy is strange. We need to go west and check why that kind of power is leaking out."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and started heading downstairs. Ameria and Derland quickly followed.
"Princess, where are you going?" Ameria asked.
"West," Shakky answered while walking.
Derland frowned.
"West? But the attack is happening at the gate. Why aren't we going there? And you still haven't told us what you actually saw."
Shakky was quiet for a moment.
(I don't even know what I saw. But whatever it was, I have to say something.)
"I don't know what it was," she finally said. "But I saw a different wave of magical energy coming from the west. Energy that shouldn't be there."
Ameria's expression sharpened.
"That means someone has already gotten inside… and you're going there yourself?"
Shakky nodded once and kept walking. Ameria's voice rose.
"No. You're not going. It's too dangerous. We can inform Lord Manice and let his men investigate."
Shakky didn't stop.
"There isn't enough time. We'll check it ourselves. If something serious is there, we can still handle it. That's why I stopped Uncle from going to the gate. He's staying with us."
Derland gave a short laugh.
"If that's the case, then you don't need to worry, Princess."
Ameria still refused to give in.
"You can trust Ser Derland completely, but you shouldn't go. Ser Derland can go alone."
Shakky shook her head.
"No. We can't send him alone."
"Why not?"
Shakky gave a small smile.
"Because I need to see it with my own eyes."
Ameria looked ready to argue again, but Derland placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Let it go, Ameria. The princess isn't going to listen."
Ameria puffed her cheeks and glared at him, but she stopped arguing.
The three of them stepped out into the garden. A knight was standing nearby on watch. Shakky's eyes went straight to the sword hanging at his waist.
"You. Come here."
The knight looked around, then approached. Shakky spoke without hesitation.
"Can you lend me your sword for a while?"
The knight glanced at Derland for confirmation. Derland gave a small nod. The knight handed over the sword. Shakky took it, checked the weight, then asked,
"What's in the western corner of the city?"
The knight thought for a second.
"Ah… the west side has a hotel, a garden, and a graveyard."
Shakky started walking immediately.
"Thank you. That's where we're going."
The knight watched them leave, then suddenly realized he had just given his weapon to the princess and let her walk toward a possible danger zone. He quickly ran after them.
---
Meanwhile, on the walls near the main gate, the knights stared down at the snow-covered ground beyond the walls. Around fifty undead stood completely still, like statues.
Mardy and Lord Manice arrived on the wall. A moment later, Lord of Knights Voldis also appeared. He bowed.
"Lord Manice."
Manice looked at him.
"Voldis. Can you explain what's happening here?"
Voldis's face was tight with concern as he looked at the undead.
"My Lord… I don't know. These undead have been standing there for a while. We attacked them with arrows, but they gave no response. It's as if they've turned into statues. We can't open the gate either — if we do, we risk letting them inside. So for now, we're just waiting for them to move."
Manice frowned deeply.
"That's strange. Why aren't they attacking this time? What are they waiting for?"
He stared at the motionless undead for a long moment, then spoke in a heavier voice.
"If they won't attack, then we will. Voldis. Hit them with fire arrows."
Voldis nodded.
"As you command, My Lord."
He turned to the nearest knight.
"Get every archer ready. Now."
The knight ran off. A short while later, a large number of archers lined the walls, bows drawn, quivers full. Manice raised his hand. The archers pulled their strings taut and began chanting in unison.
"O Goddess of Fire, grant us a fragment of your flame to end our enemies…"
Flames burst to life at the tips of every arrow. Voldis gave the order.
"Fire!"
A rain of burning arrows streaked through the night sky toward the undead. The undead simply tilted their heads upward, watching the flames fall like a shower of light — but they still did not move.
Then something changed.
From among the frozen undead, a figure stepped forward. He gripped a large axe tightly, swung it in a wide arc, and released a powerful wind slash. The slash tore through the air, cutting every single flaming arrow apart before they could land. The broken shafts scattered harmlessly across the snow.
The entire wall fell into shocked silence.
"What was that…?" one knight whispered. "He destroyed all of them with a single swing… Who is that?"
Mardy took a step back, fear clear on his face.
"Father… are undead supposed to be this strong?"
No answer came. When Mardy looked at his father, he saw something he had never seen before — cold sweat on Manice's forehead and genuine fear in his eyes.
"Father? What's wrong?"
Manice's gaze was locked on the figure walking out from between the undead. His voice came out rough and shaking.
"How is this possible… How is he standing here… and with this much power…?"
Mardy followed his father's eyes.
The figure stepped fully into view.
He was tall. His face was covered in rough stitches, as if it had been sewn back together. He wore a loose open red shirt with no buttons and faded blue jeans. In each hand he held a heavy axe that looked almost ordinary. His eyes were a pure, icy blue — like frozen water.
The smile on his stitched face was calm and unsettling.
Mardy couldn't understand what he was looking at. Voldis raised his hand again to order another volley, but Manice stopped him sharply.
"Tell everyone to stand down. No more arrows. Everyone fall back."
The sudden order left both Voldis and Mardy confused. Manice had never looked this shaken.
Mardy turned to him.
"Father… why are you reacting like this? Do you know him?"
Manice's voice was barely steady. The words came out heavy, almost disbelieving.
"Yes. I know him.
But how is he standing here…?
What is he doing in this place?"