The Skywalkers retreated once their sneak attack failed. This nation hoped to kill Lorius, who was weakened after the battle, regaining the balance between Freda and Alva.
However, they were met with the princess's full wrath, learning first-hand what kind of power Freda had obtained. After their retreatment, Arthur and Gala walked toward the Knight leisurely.
"How did you even..." The Knight of Honesty was out of breath after the battle that shook the world. It appears he lacked the energy to inquire further and just sighed. "I'm glad I didn't screw this up."
"You did." Arthur corrected. "I've noticed them before you did. How can you be this incompetent?" Everyone was taken aback by Arthur's words, who seemed a lot unlike him. "I might as well travel on my own if you are this unreliable."
"You..." The Knight of Honesty's face was pale with anger. He didn't expect to be lectured by a man half his age.
"What do you mean by 'You'?" Arthur frowned at him. "Remember that I don't work under you, and I'm not your prisoner. If you are going to treat me like this, I'll just leave."
"I..." The Knight swallowed his words. "I understand. I'll make sure to send scouts in every direction before we move." He was reminded again of the power this man showed earlier that day.
"Wow, what has gotten into you?" Gala asked with surprise. Until a moment ago, this young man was joking around with them. Suddenly, his personality flipped.
"I can read people." Arthur looked coldly at the Knight of Honesty. "I can tell when people dislike me or look down on me."
"That's why you tried putting him in his place?" Gala smiled. "Well, it's always good to know your value." She said while looking at Dia, who was descending from the sky.
"Well played," Arthur said to the returning princess. She smiled with pride as her feet touched the ground. "I didn't think you were this powerful."
"There's more to see," Dia answered, aloft.
"I guess my plan will go as expected." Arthur smiled as he saw the Knight prepare another carriage. "Let's just hope we'll make it to the capital alive."
***
They reached a city after an entire day of relentless pace. They avoided another assassination attempt because the Knight took secret routes and sent decoys in other directions. Opening the curtain to his carriage, Arthur spotted the city.
"Do you know this city?" He turned to Gala and Dia, who shook their heads. "Interesting."
"What is?" Dia was confused.
"This is the border city of Freda; you can tell by the high walls that ran parallel to it," Arthur explained. "Yet, the city managed to attract so many people. Can you see those fields?"
Arthur pointed in the distance. Since they were on higher ground than the city, they could see the lands around it. There were fertile lands full of farmers and their livestock. Even from a fair distance away, Arthur could see them working peacefully without worry.
"The farmers?" Dia asked.
"Yes, the farmers are leisurely working even though they're on a border city. Their attitude tells us how much trust they have in their king, the guards, and probably something else."
"Indeed, it is strange." Gala nodded. "Something else like what?"
"Like an artifact." Arthur grinned. "It should be around... now."
As soon as Arthur said that, they passed through a barrier. Gala and Dia widened their eyes in surprise as they looked through the window.
"Is that..."
"It's a protective barrier. I guess that unless someone carries a special item, the barrier would either reject or announce the intruders' entrance to the surrounding area."
"How did you know?" Dia asked with a frown.
"A Seika in the flesh!" Arthur mimicked a shocked expression then shrugged. "How about you get used to it?"
"I liked you better when you called me my lady." Dia sighed.
"And I liked it better when you only thought about how to kill me instead of asking questions," Arthur said as they approached the gate.
Seeing their carriages and the Knight of Honesty in the lead, the gates opened to allow them entrance. They passed through the gate that spans several meters before they saw the city.
Surrounded by endless farmlands, the city lined the horizon with its brick buildings and chimneys. A giant tree stood beside the gathering of buildings and threw its shade over half of them.
"Welcome to the City of Shades." The Knight of Honesty slowed down his horse to toddle beside them. "Even though it is a border city, it is one of the safest places to live in."
"I can see why." Arthur smiled. "Are we going to stay here before going to the capital?"
"Yes, we need to wait for the Knight of Courage to return. Until then, you can stay at the duke's house. He'll be receiving us, so do expect a parade of sorts."
"No thanks," Arthur said before closing the curtain. Gala looked at him speechlessly.
"You can't just ignore the duke of this city. He's the overlord." She explained, imploring him to act wisely.
"I'm not going to be shown around like a prize, nor is she." Arthur looked at Dia.
"You are not a prize but a war hero." Gala shook her head. "The people need hope. The war has taken a toll on everyone, no matter how many barriers they have."
"Ugh." Arthur groaned. He looked at Dia, who simply shrugged. "I don't like those who manipulate me." He said to Gala.
"It's for our benefit, Seika. We're on the same side. To be loved by the public is to be feared by the king."
"Are you saying the king wouldn't be able to do anything if the people loved me?" Gala grinned and nodded. Arthur sighed and opened the curtains to find the Knight of Honesty with a troubled face. "I'll attend your parade."
"Thank you, Seika!" The Knight's face brightened. "I'll make sure that it won't take long." The Knight rushed forward to give his commands.
"Happy?" Arthur turned to Gala. "However, don't expect that everyone likes us." He said to her with a grim smile. "In every society, there are bound to be controversy."
"That can't be," Dia frowned. Arthur simply shrugged. He learned very well that people fear the unknown.
They reached the city's gate after a short while, where a giant man rode a warhorse. He had the build of a monster more than a human, but he was undoubtedly the duke.
"Welcome, Seika!" The duke saluted him as soon as Arthur got off his carriage. When the duke saw the princess, he looked at her with apprehension.
"Greetings, Duke of the Shades City." Arthur greeted with a smile. "Please treat her the same way you would treat me." He gestured at Dia, and the duke seemed taken aback.
"Ah, of course, yes." The duke nodded and opened his palm toward a parade carriage. "The people are waiting, so please."
Arthur nodded and jumped into the carriage that white horses pulled. He offered his hand to the two ladies and helped them up. The duke rode in front of them, and the parade started.
"Duke of Shades City and the heroic Seika have arrived!"
An amplified voice rang in the streets as the parade entered the city. Arthur saw that people gathered on both sides of the streets, celebrating their arrival.
"Isn't it weird that I'm a hero for something that I did for myself?"
"That's how it is. The public adores heroes." Gala smiled and waved at the citizens. Music spread as they marched down the street.
Arthur looked at the people and saw that their eyes held awe. It seems the sight of the heroic slave who saved their kingdom was awe-inspiring. However, he didn't feel pride or fulfilled.
'These people would turn on me in an instant if I'm not on their sides.' Arthur thought sadly.
Suddenly, a rock came flying from the crowd toward Arthur. It was about to strike Arthur's face when it stopped. He used the spiritual power coming out of his arm to stop it.
"Who did this?!" The duke roared in anger. "Guards!"
A group of knights rushed forward and seized someone from the crowd. They pushed the culprit forward, who turned out to be a young man with a defiant look.
"Let go of me!" The young man roared. "He will bring nothing but doom to Freda! He's Lorius!" The crowd grew fearful as the guards dragged the young man in front of the duke.
"What does Lorius mean?" Arthur was confused.
"It's an ancient name." Gala frowned. "Forget it. This man is insane." She shook her head.
"What does it mean, Gala?" Arthur pushed again, and Gala sighed. She looked at him with a saddened look.
"You were right about the people here," Gala admitted. "Lorius means The Calamity, a name given to what lies beyond the Calamity's Gates."
"Are you saying that the king will ruin this kingdom?" The duke's eyes were cold. However, the young man didn't back down even while being restrained on the ground.
"Lorius will!" The man gritted his teeth. He looked at Arthur with a hateful gaze. "Everyone knows what he did yesterday! He's no human!"
"Take him away and have him hanged!" The duke ordered, and the guards dragged him away. The people shook their heads as the atmosphere turned fearful.
"Wait a second." Arthur jumped from the carriage and landed in front of the guards. "Let him go." He ordered them, but they didn't listen. With a sigh, Arthur wrapped them with his spiritual power and moved them away.
"What are you doing, Seika?" The duke was confused. "I apologize for this incident, but you don't need to act yourself."
"Listen here," Arthur crouched in front of the young man who looked at him hatefully. He offered him the rock, making the young man confused. "A rock can't kill a normal person, not to mention me."
"Seika!" The duke tried to interfere.
"Take this and leave," Arthur gave the rock to the man. "Next time, preferably when you grow stronger, attack me with a sword; you'll have a better chance of protecting Freda. Who knows, you might even kill Lorius."