Eagle's Bridge City was remarkably large compared to its relatively small population of just 150,000 residents. The city's expansive geographical size was primarily due to the abundance of single-family homes scattered throughout its landscape.
The residents of Eagle's Perch City were significantly wealthier than most in Countess Lyria's territory. The city was a beacon of prosperity, attracting anyone in the region with the means to relocate. It was often said that if someone had the resources, they would inevitably choose to settle in the Countess’s prized city.
Within her lands, people enjoyed a measure of freedom when it came to choosing where to live—so long as they remained within her domain. Moving to any of her cities was entirely permissible. However, leaving her territory altogether was a different matter. Those born under her rule could not simply pack up and leave as they pleased; doing so required her express permission.
This restriction was far from unique. Most nobles across the land imposed similar limitations on their people. Few rulers were willing to grant their subjects unrestricted freedom to come and go as they wished. The handful of nobles who did so were seen as exceptions, often spoken of with admiration or skepticism, depending on one's perspective.
...
On the city's east side, a man wearing a hat was leaping from rooftop to rooftop; he was Edric.
Edric continued darting across rooftops, leaping from one to the next with practiced ease. In no time, he reached the city wall. Though the city sprawled over a vast area, Edric's speed as a Silver Knight made the distance seem negligible. His movements were light and precise, his steps barely disturbing the rooftops beneath him. Despite lacking a formal movement skill, his innate power as a Silver Knight gave him extraordinary agility that could easily be mistaken for one.
When he reached the wall, Edric effortlessly vaulted up to an unguarded section. The sheer size of the wall made it impossible to cover every inch with soldiers. Constructed entirely of stone, it stood 24 feet tall and 8 feet wide, a formidable barrier to most intruders. Guards patrolled the top at intervals of about 50 meters—enough to provide coverage without overstretching their numbers.
Recently, security has been heightened. In addition to the standard guards, knights patrolled the wall’s perimeter, and Great Knights were stationed at the gates. This marked a significant improvement, making the city’s defenses stronger than they had been in years.
The recent security upgrades were a response to the growing threat of assassins. The city’s leaders knew that ordinary soldiers would offer little resistance against such skilled assassins. Even so, they deemed it worthwhile to bolster wall defenses. After all, even a slight increase in the chances of detecting an intruder could make a crucial difference when the time comes.
Once Edric reached the top of the wall, he immediately crouched down, keeping himself out of sight. Though the nearest guards were some distance away on either side, it was still possible they might spot him if he stood upright.
The wall was typically guarded without gaps, but humans are far from perfect. For some reason, this particular section of the wall was temporarily unmanned. Perhaps a guard had left their post due to injury or some other emergency. Regardless, Edric knew his time was limited. Someone could return at any moment.
Of course, if a guard did appear, Edric was more than capable of subduing them quietly. However, he preferred to avoid any unnecessary confrontation.
Looking down from the top of the wall, Edric was met with a familiar sight: an expanse of trees stretching as far as the eye could see. The city was encircled by the dense greenery of the Great Wind Forest, a vast jungle that extended from the Windwalker Territory to the Darkwind Territory.
Legends spoke of the forest's depths, where powerful monsters were said to dwell—creatures as strong as Silver Knights, perhaps even stronger. But those dangers lurked far from civilization. The areas near major cities, including this one, had long been cleared of any such threats. Only ordinary monsters remained, none of which posed a challenge to the Knights who patrolled the region.
Edric's eyes scanned the treetops, noting the quiet stillness below. "Nothing unusual," he thought to himself. From his vantage point on the wall, everything appeared calm and ordinary.
After surveying the area from his high vantage point and finding nothing unusual, Edric decided against jumping down from the wall. Leaving the safety of the city entirely was too risky, even for a Silver Knight. He knew assassins were targeting him, and while he may be able to handle one in a direct fight, multiple enemies—especially skilled ones—could pose a deadly threat. Assassins thrived on stealth, ambush tactics, and the element of surprise, making them even more dangerous.
He had initially ventured out to explore the city and reconnect with the world around him. However, with the city in lockdown, his plans were effectively stalled. If he wanted clarity, he’d have to wait for his mother to return and ask her directly.
As he climbed down from the wall, Edric thought about his other goal: obtaining a suitable sword. High-level weapons crafted for Silver Knights were rare and not easily acquired. He had intended to visit the city’s leading auction house to see if any such weapons were available, but the lockdown had dashed those plans. He had no choice but to postpone his quest for a new blade. With nothing more to accomplish, he decided to head back to his room and wait.
Just as Edric was about to return to his room, a loud war horn echoed from the direction of the west gate, abruptly capturing his attention. The sound was unmistakable, urgent and commanding. Edric turned toward the gate, straining his eyes to see what was happening. However, despite his enhanced vision, the view was obstructed by numerous buildings.
"Something is happening at the west gate," he thought, his mind racing. "Should I go?"
Edric hesitated. If he went, there was a chance he’d encounter Silver-level enemies. For him, fighting Silver-level assassins was risky. His combat experience was limited, especially when stealth and ambush tactics would come into play. While he was also a magician, his magic was far from fully developed and offered little in the way of an advantage.
Additionally, Edric lacked proper equipment. Without a Silver-level sword, he was at a significant disadvantage. Using his current Knight-level sword in such a battle would be disastrous; the weapon would likely shatter in a single clash against an opponent.
After some deliberation, Edric decided to approach the west gate cautiously. He didn’t plan to engage the enemy—his goal was to observe and assess the situation. His mother and other Silver Knights would likely be heading there, so he had little reason to stay behind or hide. He resolved to move carefully, keeping his presence as subtle as possible.
...
Lyria, her eyes fixed on the west gate, gave the command with urgency: “Gather everyone—every Silver Knight and Great Knight.”
Without delay, her knights assembled, and together they moved swiftly toward the west gate, running at their maximum speed. For Silver Knights, it wouldn’t take long to cover the distance. Their speed and coordination ensured they’d reach the scene quickly.
Despite the escalating threat, Lyria wasn’t concerned about Edric. He had been hidden in a secure, secret location in the city—a place known only to a handful of her most trusted servants. She visited him periodically but was always cautious.
Edric wasn’t kept in the headquarters or near the other Silver Knights. Lyria had made that decision for one critical reason: if the assassins attacked in force—six of them, for example—even she and the five other Silver Knights would struggle to protect him. The safest option was to keep Edric hidden. In a city of over 100,000 people, the assassins would find it nearly impossible to locate him quickly.
Lyria did not know any magic capable of finding someone well-concealed in such a vast area. She could only lament the world’s unfairness if such a spell existed.
This strategy allowed her and her knights to focus entirely on the situation at the west gate. If they had to protect Edric, they would have been forced to stay put, waiting for the assassins to attack. Moving Edric to the battlefield wasn’t an option either; fighting assassins while ensuring his safety would be nearly impossible.
The assassins' objective was simple: kill Edric and escape. However, the mission was more complicated for Lyria and her Silver Knights. They had to capture or eliminate the assassins—an outcome far more complex than a quick strike against a single target.
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...
The group of fifteen—Lyria, five Silver Knights, and nine Great Knights—did not arrive together. The Silver Knights, faster and more agile, reached the west gate first.
The initial sight was deceivingly normal. At first glance, nothing seemed out of place. But as Lyria carefully scanned the area, her sharp instincts quickly identified something was wrong—none of the guards were present. The entire perimeter was abandoned.
"Something has happened to them. They are probably dead", she thought grimly. Her expression hardened as she shouted, “Be careful! The assassins are here!”
Immediately, the six knights formed a tight defensive formation. They knew better than to spread out against assassins. Such a mistake could be fatal. Once grouped, Lyria addressed her team. “Do you feel it?” she asked, her tone sharp and urgent.
A tall, thin man among the Silver Knights nodded. “Yes, I feel it. Someone's here—but we can’t see him. It’s the work of magic.”
Another Silver Knight said worriedly, “They must have a magician on their side.”
The tension thickened as they discussed the situation. Suddenly, a humanoid figure materialized in the distance. Dressed entirely in black, their silhouette was concealed from head to toe. Their flat and unnerving voice sounded somewhere between male and female, making it impossible to determine their identity.
“Hello, my fellow Silver Knights,” the figure said, their tone mocking. “You know what we want, and you know we’ll get it. So, to save us all some effort, bring Edric here—no conflict, no fuss. Otherwise, you’re going to regret it.”
The assassin’s presence was carefully constructed. Their clothing, voice, and demeanor revealed nothing. It was clear they didn’t want their identity exposed. Lyria knew why. Many assassins tied to Silver Slash led double lives. Being identified as an assassin would ruin their reputations, cutting off their ability to operate freely.
The standoff had begun, and Lyria’s mind raced, calculating their next move.
Lyria didn’t even entertain the assassin’s suggestion. However, she refrained from ordering an attack. She knew the assassin likely didn’t expect them to hand Edric over so quickly. His confidence hinted at something else—perhaps a trap, already set and waiting for them to step into.
Keeping her composure, she spoke in a calm but firm tone. “Of course, I’ll bring Edric here. We won’t resist you. But I won’t do it unless you and your colleagues reveal yourselves. I don’t negotiate with cowards who hide in the shadows.”
The assassin let out a mocking laugh. “You’re amusing,” they said, their voice dripping with contempt. “Do you really think you have the upper hand here? We are six skilled assassins. We won’t leave until we take the boy’s head. Even if you somehow win today, we’ll return—with more people if necessary. Edric is going to die, one way or another. His death has already been promised.”
The figure shifted slightly, their tone growing colder. “Now, stop wasting time. Bring Edric here immediately, or something terrible will happen to your city.”
The air grew heavier as the assassin’s threat hung between them. Lyria’s mind worked quickly, weighing her options. Clearly, the enemy wasn’t bluffing, but she wasn’t about to give in.
She knew that time was working against her. The longer this standoff lasted, the worse the situation would become. One assassin was here, confronting her, but the other five were unaccounted for. They may be searching for Edric within the city.
Even though she had hidden Edric in a highly secret location—known only to a few trusted servants—she couldn’t discount the possibility that the assassins had means beyond her understanding. They might possess secret magic tools or weapons to track or locate him. Lyria’s knowledge of magic was limited; while she had studied several books on the subject, none delved deeply into silver-rank types of equipment.
Her mind churned with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last. If the assassins had tools capable of bypassing conventional concealment methods, Edric’s location might already be compromised. The idea sent a cold shiver down her spine, but she quickly dismissed it.
Lyria’s gaze hardened as she looked at the assassin before her. "This is a distraction," she realized. "He is buying time for the others. I need to end this quickly."
Lyria didn’t hesitate. She gripped her sword tightly, her expression fierce. Silver internal energy surged through her body, gathering in her blade. The weapon hummed with power as her aura intensified, radiating a palpable force that crackled around her.
In a single fluid motion, she stepped forward and slashed at the assassin with deadly precision. Her swift and overwhelming strike aimed to leave no room for retaliation. The silver energy imbued in her sword cut through the space between them like a flash of lightning, an attack that carried the full force of her resolve.
The assassin’s eyes widened in surprise as the silver energy slash tore through the space where they had stood just a moment before. Despite the shocking speed and precision of Lyria’s attack, the assassin managed to evade it, leaping to the side with inhuman agility.
The attack hadn’t been a simple sword swing—it was a ranged strike, a wave of condensed internal energy sharpened into a deadly arc of power. The ground where the energy landed cracked and splintered, a testament to its destructive force.
The assassin wasted no time. They jumped more than 20 meters away in one powerful motion, effortlessly landing on the city wall. Without hesitation, they vaulted over it and disappeared into the forest beyond the city.
But Lyria and her Silver Knights weren’t idle spectators. The moment the assassin moved, they sprang into action, their bodies blurring as they pursued him.
Lyria led the charge, her sharp eyes fixed on the fleeing figure. Her voice rang out, clear and commanding. “Don’t let him escape! Stay close and be ready—there may be more waiting outside the walls.”
Assassins of the Silver Rank were indeed faster than their Knight counterparts, but their advantage lay in explosive speed and agility rather than sustained endurance. Lyria and the five Silver Knights pursued the fleeing assassin relentlessly. Though the gap between them gradually widened, it never became insurmountable.
The assassin’s movements were fluid and calculated, each step carrying them farther away. Yet, the assassin's stamina faltered as the chase stretched into minutes. Their speed dropped noticeably. This was the weakness of Silver-ranked assassins—their incredible bursts of speed came at the cost of endurance. In prolonged engagements, they were disadvantaged against Silver-ranked knights, whose stamina and sustained power were superior.
Sensing the shift in momentum, Lyria pressed forward, signaling to her team. “Stay on him! He’s slowing down!” she called, her voice sharp and decisive.
The Silver Knights surged ahead, closing the distance. In a matter of moments, they caught up and surrounded the assassin, forming a six-direction encirclement. Their formation was tight, leaving no openings for escape.
The assassin stopped abruptly, their hooded head swiveling to assess the situation.
Lyria stepped forward, her sword gleaming with silver energy. Her voice was steady but laced with authority. “You’ve run far enough. You won’t escape now. Surrender, or you’ll face the consequences.”
The assassin chuckled, a cold, mocking sound that echoed in the tense silence. Despite being surrounded, their confidence didn’t waver. Turning their hooded head to glance at each knight in turn, they finally spoke.
“You do realize I’m a member of the Windslash Assassin group, don’t you?” Their voice was calm, tinged with amusement. “If you kill me, you won’t just have me to deal with. My brothers and sisters will come for you—and for your families. You know our reputation. We are famous for our vengeful nature.”
The assassin’s words hung heavy in the air. Their tone wasn’t boastful but delivered with the weight of certainty, like a statement of fact.
Lyria narrowed her eyes, her grip on her sword tightening. She wasn’t easily intimidated but understood the weight of the assassin’s threat. The Windslash Assassins were notorious across the land for their brutal reprisals. Killing one of their members was akin to declaring war on the entire group—a dangerous proposition even for someone of her strength and status.
One of the silver knights shifted uneasily but quickly steadied himself, awaiting Lyria’s command.
The assassin continued, their smile audible in their voice. “So, what will it be, Lady Lyria? Are you willing to risk your life and the lives of those you care about to end mine? Or are you wise enough to let me go?”
Lyria's expression remained icy, her voice sharp and unwavering as she replied, “Of course, I know your reputation. But the moment you dared to attack my family and threaten my son, all reason left me. I’ll give you five seconds. Drop your weapons and surrender, or we will kill you.”
Her voice carried an edge that made it clear she wasn’t bluffing. Still, beneath her unshakable exterior, Lyria was carefully weighing her options. Capturing the assassin alive would undoubtedly be the wiser choice. Killing him would almost certainly provoke retaliation from the Wind-Slash Assassin group, rumored to be led by a fearsome Golden-ranked assassin. Facing such an opponent would put her family in grave danger.
On the other hand, capturing the assassin opened a path that could safeguard her family and provide financial benefit. The Wind-Slash Assassin group had a peculiar reputation—it prioritized retrieving its captured members and was willing to pay significant ransoms to secure their release.
The assassin hesitated, glancing around at the six Silver Knights encircling him, each radiating an aura of power and readiness to strike. With a sigh, he lowered his sword. There was a good chance Lyria was bluffing, but he couldn’t afford to gamble with his life. Raising his hands slowly, he said, “Alright, you got me. You win.”
A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he added, “But don’t think this is over. Edric is going to die anyway. You won’t be able to save him now.”
Her knights exchanged uneasy glances. The capture of a member of the Wind-Slash Assassin group was no small feat, but his cryptic warning about Edric left a lingering unease in the air.
Lyria, however, wasn’t one to let threats rattle her. She stepped closer to the assassin, her expression cold and commanding. “We’ll see about that,” she said, her voice steady. “But for now, you’re coming with us.”
The assassin’s smirk faltered slightly, but he didn’t resist as the knights moved in to secure him. Two of them bound his hands with enchanted chains, ensuring he couldn’t use any hidden weapons or attempt an escape.
These enchanted chains were no ordinary restraints. Forged from an extraordinarily durable steel alloy and imbued with rare enchantments, they were specifically designed to completely suppress a Silver Knight's internal energy. The cost of such an item was astronomical—more than the price of a grand palace. Lyria had acquired them from Marquis Windwalker, but there had been a condition: the chains were to be returned intact. If anything were to happen to them, Lyria would face a debt that could take her years to repay.
Items of silver rank, especially those capable of subduing someone of equal power, were exceedingly rare and came with a hefty price tag. Yet, in moments like these, the value of such an artifact became apparent. With the assassin effectively neutralized, Lyria felt a sliver of relief, but the unease gnawed at her.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” she muttered, her voice low but urgent. Without waiting for further discussion, she turned and began moving swiftly toward the city.
The knights followed closely, two of them maintaining a firm hold on the subdued assassin as they ran toward the city. For a Silver Knight, carrying a person was hardly a challenge. Although the Silver Knights weren’t her subordinates, they followed her lead while operating within her territory.