As hundreds of elves stood ready, bows drawn and blades glinting under the filtered sunlight, the tension in the clearing was suffocating.
The Ironcrest rchant Guild’s knights and mages felt the weight of hundreds of deadly arrows aid at their vital points, each elf perfectly still, their fingers resting lightly on the strings. If a single order was given, the entire caravan would be massacred in seconds.
Lyanna clenched her jaw. This wasn’t just a standoff—it was a warning. Beside her, Gorren, their mage, surveyed the situation, his usual composed expression cracking with unease.
No one wanted a battle, especially not here, deep in the elf territory, where every tree and shadow seed to be against them. This was not their territory advantage.
Just then, the ground trembled beneath them. A low, rumbling growl echoed through the trees as Lyra rode into the clearing atop her mount.
The enormous ninth-Circle beast coiled its muscular body, its obsidian-black scales gleaming ominously. At the sight of such a powerful creature, the knights and mages of the guild felt a flicker of relief. If a battle did break out, Lyra’s Mount strength might be enough to turn the tide... but that was just a thought.
Lyanna’s sharp gaze fell on the knights nearest to the corpse of their fallen comrade—the fool who had spoken of buying elves like livestock. Her tone was cold, clipped. "Tell exactly what happened."
One of the knights swallowed hard, clearly afraid that speaking might get him killed next. He hesitated, eyes darting toward the elves before finally answering, voice low and strained. "Lady Lyanna... he said sothing reckless. About... purchasing a slave elf from here if he had gold coins like the other nobles."
A heavy silence followed. Lyanna’s expression darkened further as she glanced down at the body.
’Fool. Saying sothing like that and that too in their land and in front of them, no wonder he is a death man now. No wonder the elves had responded with an arrow. He deserved it.’
Without another word, she turned away from the corpse, expression unreadable. Then, in a tone colder than ice, she ordered, "Get rid of it. Throw it far from here. Don’t let this disgrace stain the na of our rchant Guild."
The knights obeyed imdiately, lifting the body and carrying it away without ceremony. No one protested. No one mourned. In truth, many of them had harbored similar thoughts, but they had at least been smart enough to keep them to themselves.
Turning back to the elves, Lyanna let out a breath before speaking, her voice carefully asured. "This was our mistake. I take full responsibility for this filthy man’s words, and I apologize on his behalf. I hope this unfortunate incident will not damage the growing relationship between us."
For a long mont, the elves said nothing. Then, from deep within the trees, a single owl’s cry rang out. It was a signal.
As if responding to an unheard command, the elves slowly lowered their weapons and lted back into the forest, disappearing into the shadows like ghosts.
The Ironcrest caravan finally exhaled, the overwhelming tension in the air easing. Though they were relieved, one thing was clear—the elves had not accepted the apology. They had simply chosen not to kill anyone else... yet.
However, just as the situation seed to settle, the ground began to tremble again—this ti, from sothing far more massive.
From the depths of the forest, giant figures erged, shaking the very earth with every step. Towering over twenty ters tall, their massive fras blocked out the sunlight, casting long, ominous shadows.
Ten Giant Golems, each of them peak ninth-Circle in power, strode forward like walking mountains. The air around them pulsed with raw strength.
The knights and mages of the Ironcrest rchant Guild froze in horror.
Lyanna’s breath caught in her throat. "What... the... hell...?!"
One of the knights muttered in disbelief, "How are there Giant Golems in the elves’ territory?"
Another whispered, barely able to comprehend what he was seeing, "And that too Ten of them... and all ninth-Circle... Even a strong fighter might not be able to defeat them all."
A mage, voice trembling, added, "I thought the only giant in this entire forest was the one who leads the ogre tribes. Where did these ones co from?"
The giants ca to a stop, their sheer presence enough to suffocate the humans around them. Even the most battle-hardened knights, n who had fought in kingdom-wide wars, looked no bigger than insects compared to them.
One careless stomp, and a fully armored knight on horseback would be reduced to nothing but blood and shattered steel.
One of the Giant Golems, his voice deep and rumbling like distant thunder, addressed the elves first. "We were summoned." His massive gaze turned toward the stunned Ironcrest mbers. "An huntress warned us there might be a fight. We ca to ensure there wasn’t."
The giants cracked their knuckles, the sound echoing through the clearing like splintering boulders. Their stone-like eyes glowed with challenge as they glared at the humans.
"Now tell us, humans... Are you the ones foolish enough to pick a fight with us? Or are you stupid enough to disrespect His Majesty in his own land?"
A heavy, almost crushing silence fell over the caravan.
So of the knights visibly paled, their legs going weak. Even Gorren, despite being a ninth-Circle mage, tightened his grip on his staff. There was no scenario in which they could win this fight. Not against ten ninth-Circle giants—not here Atleast.
Then, a furious roar shattered the silence.
Lyra’s Mount let out a deafening bellow, its powerful body coiling defensively. The knights and mages instinctively braced for a fight, expecting their beast to unleash its terrifying strength.
But instead... it turned and ran.
The entire caravan watched in stunned disbelief as their mighty ninth-Circle mount—a creature they had depended on for protection—bolted into the trees, its massive form disappearing without a trace.
A few of the ridge giants scoffed, unimpressed. One rumbled, "that damn lizard, what’s your problem?"
The Mount didn’t respond as It was already long gone.
The knights and mages stared at the empty space where their greatest weapon had once stood, feeling like they might cough up blood from frustration.
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