With the days getting shorter, darkness enveloped the castle long before Maxi finished his work.
She lit a candle and went to the window, her thoughts turning to Riftan.
No one in the castle worked harder than him.
Throughout the day, he inspected the land, trained soldiers, and searched the area outside the walls to eliminate any monsters or marauders that might be lurking.
And when that was over, he would check on the construction progress in the village, discuss taxes with the collectors, and make sure no one was causing problems on the property.
Although he worked day and night, he never showed signs of tiredness.
Was Riftan made of iron?
Most people would have been exhausted by such duties, but Riftan performed them as if they were no more difficult than shelling peas.
Maxi focused his thoughts on Riftan's resistance to forgetting what Ruth had told him that afternoon.
Riftan Calypse was no ordinary human; he was strong enough to overcome any trial, and there was no need for her to worry about something that was yet to come.
Comforting herself with such thoughts, she finished her dinner and rested in her room.
But when Riftan returned late that night, she learned that he would be leaving on a monster raid in two days, and she found herself overcome with anxiety again.
Riftan, however, seemed oblivious to his distress.
"As soon as compensation from Livadon arrives tomorrow, I will expel these prisoners.
Ruth told me that the magical device will be ready by then...
And with the new gate almost finished, everything should be fine even if I am away for a short while."
Maxi licked his dry lips and tried to speak as calmly as possible.
“W-Where are you g-going?”
“I have received reports that a horde of goblins has settled in that mountain.” Riftan pointed to one of the mountain peaks outside the window.
“It will probably take four to five days to eliminate them all.”
“W-Won’t it be p-dangerous?” Maxi looked at him anxiously.
“Are you worried that a goblin might hurt me?” Riftan grunted and looked at her in disbelief.
"Goblins are a nuisance, but they're not dangerous.
I'd say goblin attacks are only slightly more annoying than hunting rabbits."
“I-If they’re not d-dangerous, w-why not l-leave them alone?”
Riftan frowned discontentedly.
"It is my duty to protect this land.
Are you suggesting that I shirk my responsibilities?"
Maxi flinched at his sharp tone.
"Goblins may not be powerful creatures, but they are prolific breeders.
If they are not eliminated, they will multiply at an alarming rate and attack traders or destroy our hunting grounds.
I need to make sure that doesn't happen."
"I- I'm s-sorry.
I- I was p-presumptuous."
After studying Maxi's pained face for a moment, Riftan let out a long sigh.
He reached out to her, and she promptly threw herself into his arms.
He nuzzled his nose into her shoulder, twisting her braid around his hand.
“I’m leaving our bed to sleep on the cold, hard floor not because I want to, but because I have to.”
Maxi remained silent as he stroked her thick black hair.
The thought that he would have to sleep outside in freezing conditions made her feel sick.
Was it the fate of a knight's wife to live with such anxiety?
Perhaps noble couples kept their spouses at a distance to protect themselves from distress.
She feared she had become too attached to Riftan.
The next day, a new steel gate strong enough to withstand an ogre's hammer was installed, and the magical devices created by Ruth were mounted on both sides.
The devices resembled ivory disks, each approximately the size of a pumpkin.
Maxi followed Riftan to the gate to watch as the fruits of his labor were installed in the watchtowers.
The red magic stone that Ruth had shown her adorned the center of each disc, and the edges were inscribed with ancient writing.
“W-What is this, made of?” Maxi ran his hand over the smooth surface of the device.
“Basilisk bones,” said Ruth.
Maxi drew back his hand in shock.
“Bones?”
“Creatures of the Ayin Race such as basilisks, vipers, lizards and earth dragons possess powerful defensive magic, so most protective devices are made from their bones.”Maxi studied the smooth, polished disc.
Knowing what they were made of made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Ruth clicked her tongue.
"No need to be so shocked.
They're just bones.
This can't be the first time you've touched them since you eat meat."
“B-But those are m-monster bones!”
Ruth just let out a grumble and turned her attention to the device.
He attached it to a stone pillar using clay, then left through the gates.
Maxi was about to follow him when Riftan, who was busy giving orders to the guards, stopped her.
"Where do you think you're going?
It's dangerous out there."
“B-But Ruth…”
"Ruth is an experienced wizard.
He can protect himself.
Stay here, or I'll have to send you back to the castle."
Maxi nodded shyly.
Riftan ordered the sentries to protect her, then went up the ramp to give Ruth a signal.
A huge flame began to form outside the walls.
Suddenly, she came towards the gate with a roar.
Maxi shouted.
The ground shook, and an imposing barrier rose from the ground to block the flying flames.
Maxi watched, stunned.
The villagers who came to watch were lying on the ground.
The knight guarding Maxi whistled.
“He always loved a good show.”
Seeing that the knights were calm, Maxi realized that such a scene was nothing out of the ordinary for them.
They had undoubtedly experienced far more terrible things.
"Excellent!" Riftan bellowed.
"It's working.
Open the gates!"
At his command, the heavy steel gates opened.
Ruth entered, covered in dirt.
“Was that really necessary?” he asked.
“We have to show that Anatol is impenetrable even when I am absent” said Riftan, slowly descending from the wall.
“That should dissuade anyone from even thinking about invading us.”
“Well, if word gets out that Anatol's defenses are impenetrable, more sellers might want to do business here, which isn't a bad thing.”
Maxi then realized that testing the new magical devices had not been the only purpose of the demonstration.
Riftan was also trying to reassure the people of Anatol that their home was safe.
She saw him exchange a few words with the knights before approaching her.
“It’s time for you to go back to the castle.”
"And you?"
"I will transfer the invaders to Livadon's envoy.
Ruth and Hebaron, I want you to escort her back to the castle and begin preparing for the goblin attack."
Before she could say anything, Riftan turned and walked away with the knights, his cloak fluttering behind him.
She watched his retreating figure before mounting Rem.
Ruth and the red-haired knight did the same.
“So, we’re heading to the mountains again,” grumbled Hebaron as he led the way.
“And here I thought I could sleep in the comfort of my own bed for a while.”
Ruth smiled.
“Just a while ago, I heard you say that your muscles ached from lack of action.”
“Why don’t you try sleeping in the snow?”
"I must respectfully decline.
That is a death sentence for a delicate sorcerer like me."
Hebaron grumbled.
"Delicate?
I don't know a single White Dragon that has skin as thick as yours."
“That, Sir Hebaron, is just your opinion.”
Maxi rolled her eyes, unable to tell if they were joking or arguing.
When they reached the town square, Ruth suddenly slowed her horse.
“Let’s stop at the market.”
Hebaron turned to him, clearly irritated.
"We can't stop and let you handle your personal matters.
Come back later on your own.
For now..." Hebaron trailed off and stole a glance at Maxi.
Ruth sighed.
“Can’t you continue treating the lady as if she were a contagious sore?”
“Come now, when did I“”
"You're treating her like she's invisible.
Give her a break."
An embarrassed expression spread across Hebaron's face.
Before he could make a response, Ruth turned her horse to face Maxi.
"I just have a few more things to buy, and I should do it while the sellers are still here, since they won't be back for a while.
And it's a chance for you to see the market."
Maxi looked hesitantly at Hebaron.
Looking annoyed, the rider let out a sigh and turned his horse towards the market.
Maxi quickly followed.
“W-What are you f-looking for?”
"Magic herbs and stones.
I'm almost out of them, you know."Despite the cold weather, the market was busy.
Merchants sold almost everything, from tents they had set up.
Animal skins and bones, coarse fabrics, and rustic ornaments lined one side of the market, while the other side was filled with stalls selling meat, bread, potatoes, and bags of grain and acorns.
Frightened by the traders' loud voices, Maxi approached Ruth.
"Sorcerer!
Hey!
Slow down!
It's not easy to escort someone in this crowd."
But even Hebaron's thundering voice was drowned out by the noise of the market.
Maxi looked around nervously.
"Don't worry, my lady.
The chances of an attack are slim."
“T-That’s not very r-comforting.”
"Anatol is quite safe.
Acting so cautiously will only attract unwanted attention."
Maxi flinched and tried to look calm.
Seeing this, Ruth shook her head before stopping at a stall.