Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 534 - 534 257 Illaril Knights

534: Chapter 257: Illaril Knights 534: Chapter 257: Illaril Knights Gazing up at the gigantic city wall, towering over two hundred meters high and spanning the mountain gorge, marked by countless traces of age from wind and rain—the vestiges left behind by ancient years were visible across its surface.

Looking down again at the gate ahead, compared to the vast Dragon Claw Fortress walls, the entrance—though large enough to accommodate giants—seemed rather narrow in comparison.

This checkpoint, guarding the only route through the southern reaches of Klonia Kingdom’s lands near Orland, currently had its gates shut tight.

Fortunately, with daylight still lingering and accompanied by the Marquis’s envoy, the fortress guards were informed; thus, Leon and his companions were spared a night camping at the border and soon granted passage into the towering boundary walls.

Passing through the long entranceway and emerging from the corridor, the vista ahead suddenly opened wide, revealing a sprawling city below.

Within, life bustled and flourished, harmonious and vibrant.

Though termed a military fortress, it relied on ancient towering walls, behind which lay a half-circular city encircled by its own walls—the residence of the Deyatuk Family.

Yet, in contrast to the absurdly tall Dragon Claw City Wall behind them, the inner circle of walls surrounding the fortress appeared far more reasonable in height.

As Leon surveyed them, he noted that both the architectural style and their dimensions suggested the city’s defenses were built more recently, emphasizing just how much older the historic walls towering behind them truly were.

The group followed the knights of the Border Marquis to the fortress owned by the Deyatuk Family.

Receiving them was not Marquis Hedrian himself, but his eldest son, the Young Master of the Deyatuk Family, Count Sevis.

This Count Sevis looked to be about twenty-six or seven years old, sharing the same pair of emerald-colored eyes.

However, his hair was brown instead of the radiant golden shade passed down through the Drakemar bloodline.

This surprised Leon slightly.

Uncle Brian once mentioned that the Deyatuk Family, in terms of lineage, had closer ties to the original Drakemar Royal Family than the reigning Hecha Family, which had risen to power through usurpation.

The Count Sevis before him and Olivia, who was currently concealed outside to hide her identity, shared the same great-grandfather—their grandfathers were brothers.

By the customs of his homeland in a past life, the two families would be considered cousin branches.

And now, with Leon as Olivia’s husband, he technically had to call this “Big Cousin” Sevis by a term of familial respect.

However, compared to Olivia’s closer distant relations, the Hecha Family had perfectly inherited the Drakemar lineage’s signature golden hair and green eyes, while the Deyatuk descendants looked strikingly different from the Royal Family.

Naturally, as he looked at Olivia’s cousin, Leon had no intention of revealing their family connection on the spot.

Although it was said that during the civil war over a decade ago, the Deyatuk Family had resolutely supported the prior “Tyrant” Viren’s faction, holding the southern Royal Domain to repel the Eastern Alliance’s advances, and staunchly defended until Oran Royal City fell to Lydwen’s forces.

They never betrayed Olivia’s father, only agreeing to a ceasefire when the outcome was irrevocable and nominally submitting to Lydwen’s Hecha Dynasty.

But with the rise of a new ruler came the rise of a new court—what was done belonged to the past.

Leon couldn’t realistically expect the Deyatuk Family to remain as loyal to the previous king as it once had, not after a dozen years had passed.

The conversations during the meeting weren’t particularly pleasant.

Though Count Sevis remained polite, Leon found himself reprimanded by this grave-faced “Big Cousin” for each perceived misstep—having entered without declaration, lacking a royal decree, and inviting foreign military forces into the territory without prior approval.

Leon begrudgingly apologized, choosing not to argue over his complete unfamiliarity with the so-called Illaril Knights.

After all, if it turned out that this was truly aid summoned by Dinexion through the Holy Sun Church, being forced out of the border and sent back home by the Deyatuk Family could cause a great loss for Avalon.

The Border Marquis himself was currently absent from the fortress.

According to Sevis, his father was riding the Flying Dragon “Mountain Rock” and leading troops east of the Royal Domain to monitor the army that had intruded into Orland’s territory.

Taking into account the late hour, Sevis nonetheless arranged for the group to rest at the fortress, planning a visit to the Border Marquis the following day.

After enduring the reprimands and unable to retaliate, Leon returned to his room, where he took the opportunity to pinch and squeeze his wife’s adorable little cheeks.

Confused by his behavior, Olivia gazed at him with her innocent, bewildered expression.

He continued teasing her, kneading her face until his feisty little lioness flipped over in retaliation, grumbling in frustration as she pinned him down and launched her counterattack.

Only then did Leon let go of the “suppressed annoyance” he had gathered from her cousin’s scolding…

Alright, to be fair, this was just a flimsy excuse—he was simply looking for an opportunity to bully the girl.

The next day, with no time to admire the scenery or bustling prosperity of the Royal Domain, Leon and his companions followed the Deyatuk knights along the fastest route to arrive at the camp of the Marquis’s forces stationed in the eastern domain.

From a distance, Leon caught sight of the Flying Dragon lounging atop the hill, resting lazily with its “hands tucked.”

Compared to Lydwen III’s “Overlord,” this brown-scaled dragon beast, “Mountain Rock,” though seemingly larger in size, looked far less aggressive in demeanor.

At least in the Ustato Territory, Leon had never witnessed Lydwen’s Flying Dragon remain so peacefully within a military camp outside of battle.

It was said that at Orland’s peak decades ago, the Royal Family had over ten fully grown Flying Dragons under their command.

Regrettably, after the bitterly inconclusive clash with Kantadar and the devastating civil war over a decade ago, the Kingdom now only had three adult dragons left.

Waiting for the hatchlings within Dragon Nests to mature and restore the former glory would likely still require several decades, given the slow growth cycle of dragon beasts.

Olivia followed closely behind the knights, her small face poking out from beneath her cloak as she curiously gazed around, visibly in awe of the enormous and majestic beast.