Chapter 47: The End of the Fairy Tale

As the three Ice Arrow scrolls were torn apart, Silver Fox witnessed Anna’s final spell.

His astonishment did not end there. He sensed tremors from the ground—a colossal creature was breaking through the earth. The first thing to emerge was the head of a bird, its sharp beak nearly brushing against his face. Even more surreal was the human-like expression he discerned on this bird’s face, formed from coalesced ice elements.

It was a look of disdainful superiority.

Humans—no, the entire block—seemed utterly insignificant before this gigantic beast.

Bound by vines, Silver Fox could do nothing but tilt his head back and witness everything unfolding before him.

Anna had cast three spells, yet he couldn’t name a single one. This was unlike any human magic he’d seen. Facing the giant beast ready to take flight, the disparity between man and nature was stark.

Anna climbed onto the beast’s ridge. The creature lifted its head and let out an ear-splitting screech.

Half the city’s lights flared to life in response to that cry. Silver Fox felt the pervasive fear saturating the city—even the lofty nobles were not exempt—and he, too, was gripped by it.

For the scene before them stirred the deepest fears within every resident of the imperial capital, forcing memories of the once-frozen city and a nameless presence too terrible to mention to resurface.

Alongside that, the history the Church had named the “Fallen War.”

Silver Fox watched as the giant spread its wings, bearing Anna aloft, soaring toward the military camp on the outskirts of the capital.

The kingdom’s knights were roused by the beast’s cry. Torches and gas lamps dispelled the darkness. As the colossal creature rapidly approached, the musketeer troops had already taken positions atop the city walls, guns aimed skyward despite their fear.

“Wait, cease fire! There’s a person on the bird!” a slender figure called out, scaling the wall with a retractable grappling hook. Clad in light armor, with a slender sword and a handgun strapped at her waist, her orange-red hair tied efficiently in a single ponytail, she became a beacon of resolve for the musketeers.

Drawing her gun and sword, she stepped before the ranks, ready to face whatever came, her eyes alight with excitement.

The beast did not attack the walls or the camp. It landed steadily in the open space between the barracks, lowering itself so Anna could slide down from its wing like descending a slide.

“Miss!?” A young man, long sword in hand and standing at the front of the formation, stared in disbelief. What was happening felt like a dream: a bird descending from the sky, carrying his beloved to stand before him—a scene only found in fairy tales, leaving him frozen and at a loss.

“Lance!” Anna called his name, rushing forward.

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Lance instinctively wrapped his arms around the figure who leapt into his embrace. The sensation—real yet tinged with coldness—confirmed that this moment was truly happening.

The expeditionary army stood in formation before the camp’s open ground. Under normal circumstances, whistles and teasing remarks about the relationship between this new knight and the noble lady would fill the air. But not now—everyone knew the grave nature of this mission.

Many were surprised that this young man had joined the expedition mid-journey.

Their embrace lasted perhaps ten seconds or more until Lance’s face flushed red and he stammered, “Miss, many people are watching.”

Unwilling to let go, Anna looked up at him. “Can you not go?”

“Miss, please don’t speak nonsense.”

“If I don’t, then all of you will…”

Anna’s mind was filled with Silver Fox’s venomous curse. Everyone she saw would soon be cut into cold, icy fragments by the villain’s magic.

Lance pressed his index finger gently against her lips, silencing her words.

Such talk could undermine morale. If taken seriously, Anna and her entire family might suffer consequences.

“I am grateful for all the care from you and Steward Horn these years. Now that the empire’s borders face turmoil, this time, it is my duty to protect your kingdom.”

“But, but—”

“Miss Anna, a knight must never break their oath.”

From the city wall, a fiery red figure appeared behind Lance. She crossed her arms, watching the farewell with keen interest.

She noticed the tears glistening at the corner of Anna’s eyes and her expression softened.

Indeed, the way of the knight is one of the most burdensome faiths in this world. Should they betray their true heart and forsake virtue, the gods would strip them of their power. Thus, even knowing this expedition was a one-way journey, knights would still charge forward without hesitation. This was the legacy of the Natherel Sanctuary.

Their armor bore the weight of the nation and its people.

“Then, make a pact with me. Leave him to me, and I guarantee he will return alive. As for the condition…” The red-haired woman propped her chin on her hand, gazing longingly at the giant beast within the camp. “Let me ride it around the imperial capital, even just for five minutes!”

The giant seemed to understand human speech. It lowered its head to regard the small yet vibrant figure, receiving her eager gaze.

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In the next moment—

The massive form shattered into pieces, dissolving into a flurry of ice blossoms that vanished into the air without a single drop of water left behind. Before disappearing, it cast the red-haired woman a proud, disdainful glance.

—“In your dreams,” the look said.

The effect of that glance was striking. The woman’s bold smile froze mid-expression. Her life seemed to halt at that moment, mouth agape, eyes unfocused. All dreams and joys were stripped from her. She appeared drained of color, turning rigid before the watching crowd, cracks forming as if she would shatter.

A knight had lost her dream.

This eerie scene lasted a long while. Anna, helpless, buried her head in Lance’s chest, unwilling to witness the woman’s grim fate.

The strange atmosphere persisted until the woman completed her broken reconstruction. She forced out a smile more painful than tears, saying, “Even so, our pact remains valid.”

She heard approaching footsteps, evidently the commotion caused by the beast had disturbed everyone.

Beyond the camp, she saw a solemn elder in red robes, surrounded by a crowd, heading straight toward the barracks.

Every fairy tale must come to an end, after which cold reality sets in.

As the instigator of this upheaval, no one knew what fate awaited Anna.

“If there’s anything left unsaid, now’s the time,” the woman said, her crimson eyes glancing at the two. She masked all emotion, brushing past them, returning to the Valkyrie image people knew.

She marched toward the grand procession outside the camp.

“In the name of ‘The Beyond,’ I swear this oath for you.”