Her Graceful War Song

In Pathfinders Guild, Kyle held a letter in his hand as he approached Everett.

"Sage Everett, Rafael wrote to me and asked me to go to the capital. He said he needs my help."

Everett sat in meditation with his eyes closed and didn't respond. He had been angry for quite some time, and his temper showed no signs of cooling. He didn't want to deal with anyone, and wasn't letting anyone leave the mountain.

As a result, those who typically ventured out were now stuck here, while those who had gone out and hadn't returned didn't dare to come back. Winona was an example.

Before Everett left for the Southern Frontier, he had strictly ordered that no one was to construct residences in the northern part of the mountain. He had plans for that land. He wanted to build a five-story Starcatcher Tower. It would allow them to reach for the moon and practice martial arts, which would be very helpful for training their Lightfoot Skill.

More importantly, he had other reasons for wanting it.

Everett had intended to begin construction in the spring of next year. But upon returning, he found that they had already jumped the gun and started building residences in the northern part of the mountain.

The northern part of the mountain had a high elevation, and there was a waterfall across it. In other words, they wanted to build residences there so they could enjoy the beautiful scenery.

It was infuriating how little ambition they had, and how they prioritized enjoyment over practicality.

Did they expect him not to be angry? How could he not be angry by that?

And Adrian, his unreliable fellow apprentice, had publicly announced that he was in isolation training and wouldn't be coming out.

Fine. Adrian could hide away all he wanted. Everett held grudges, and he remembered things for a lifetime. This matter wasn't over.

If Starcatcher Tower wasn't built by next year, he wouldn't let it slide.

Everett stayed silent, so Kyle repeated carefully, "Sage Everett, it's Rafael. His letter was sent in such a hurry, so it must be important. I'll head out and find out what's going on, and return as soon as I can."

Though Everett was reluctant to acknowledge him, the mention of Rafael's name prompted a faint, barely audible hum from him.

Kyle knew that quiet acknowledgment was Everett's greatest concession. If it hadn't been for Rafael's sake, Kyle would have received a sharp rebuke instead.

Kyle quickly thanked Everett. "I'll head down the mountain right away. If there's anything important, I'll write back to you. If it's nothing major, I'll return as soon as I'm done."

After he finished speaking, Kyle hurriedly saluted and left. As soon as he stepped outside, his fellow apprentices surrounded him. Even Adrian, who had declared he was in isolation training, watched from a distance. "How did it go? Is Sage Everett still angry?"

"Do you think he's really going to make us tear down Orchid Enclave?"

"What are you talking about? Orchid Enclave? That's a training room! We need to present the same story to Sage Everett!"

"Yes, exactly! It's a training room!" Everyone nodded vigorously in agreement.

Kyle quickly said, "Sage Everett hasn't cooled off yet, but he's allowing me to head down the mountain. I'll lay low for a bit. Send me a letter once he's calmed down, and I'll return."

With envy and resentment present in their eyes, Kyle's fellow apprentices watched as he grabbed his sword. Then, he quickly mounted his horse and galloped away.

The rest of the apprentices turned to

look at Adrian, who had his hands on his hips and struck a rather dramatic pose. The wind tousled his hair, which he hadn't bothered to comb properly due to his frustration,

causing him to look like a ghastly

figure.

With a sharp turn, he said coolly, "Close the doors!"

The apprentices of Pathfinders Guild sighed. When would their mentor dare to confront Everett directly? Adrian always found a way to avoid it, and it was exasperating.

-

As Kyle rode hard, he felt a wave of exhilaration.

Usually, he stayed in Meadow Ridge during the winter and spent most of his time wandering through the mountains and rivers. This time, he had helped his fellow apprentices hurriedly build the residential area, Orchid Enclave, while Everett was away. NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.

However, they hadn't expected Everett to return so soon and catch them in the act.

Upon arriving at the capital, Kyle discovered he was called to paint for Jacob. Jacob kept apologizing and said he should have gone to Meadow Ridge instead, but he was swamped with trivial matters that kept him tied down.

Kyle chuckled softly, and there was a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes. "It's perfect timing. I've been meaning to check on Carissa."

He felt a deep gratitude for Jacob's request. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to leave Meadow Ridge at all. So, he felt obliged to fulfill Jacob's request.

When he heard the details, however, he frowned.

"The accuracy won't be high," he

said, "especially since you don't have

a painting of her when she was

young. I have to rely solely on your description to create an image of her current appearance. I'd consider it a win if I manage to capture even 75 percent of the details accurately."