Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory
Chapter 404: Veyra

Chapter 404: Veyra

At high noon, the sun blazed overhead, pouring down waves of scorching heat across the vast expanse of land. Far from the heart of Sylvanwood, hundreds of miles northwest of Emerald Castle, a massive mountain range loomed—and there, stationed in tense silence, was a heavily armed force from the Castle faction.

They waited. Quiet. Still. But the air around them buzzed with a barely restrained impatience.

Thud. Thud. Thud...

At the front of the formation stood a woman—tall, commanding, and radiant with a fierce, holy light. Her golden hair shimmered under the sun, cropped short for battle. She wore a uniquely crafted battle dress armor, pulsing with intense magical energy. The very air around her shimmered and warped slightly, as if reality itself bent in deference to her power.

In her hands, she gripped a massive greatsword—so large it towered over most men. The blade was etched with countless glowing runes of pure light, each one humming with raw, divine energy. The sword was plunged deep into the earth before her, anchoring her like a monument of war.

She stood motionless, eyes locked on the distant silhouette of Emerald Castle. Her brow was furrowed, her expression tight with tension. She was waiting—clearly—for something. Or someone.

Behind her stood dozens more—elite warriors, each clad in gleaming armor, each exuding the same quiet intensity. These were no ordinary soldiers. They were Dragonblade Knights—13th Tier Legendary Units, hidden aces of the Castle faction. Like her, they stood in perfect formation, silent and alert.

The Dragonblade Knights were followers of the Holy Dragon Elrath, and among the greatest miracles of the human empire. Through countless battles, trials, and moments of soul-deep reflection, they had earned Elrath’s blessing. Their very beings had evolved—transcended. Dragon blood now coursed through their veins.

They could wield the forces of nature itself.

They were, in every sense of the word, superhuman.

Even the Angels of the Castle faction treated the Dragonblade Knights with respect—never dismissing them lightly. In truth, there was little difference between the two. Both were devout followers of Elrath. Both would give everything in service of the Light.

And yet, the tension was rising.

"General Roland," a voice snapped, sharp and frustrated. "Are we really going to keep waiting here? Why can’t we just march into Emerald Castle already? You know damn well the Inferno Devils are slaughtering our people across the Light Alliance’s lands!"

The speaker stepped forward—a woman with a fierce glare and a voice that cut like steel. "We should be out there hunting those treacherous bastards down, not standing around like fools!"

She wasn’t done.

"And honestly? I’m starting to doubt the sincerity of Emerald Castle’s lord. If they really wanted to help us, why the hell are we still out here waiting?"

"General Roland, I’m done with this. I’m not wasting another second standing around doing nothing. We should go in there, demand they send troops, and wipe those Inferno Devils off the map!"

"They’re part of the Light Alliance, aren’t they? Isn’t this their fight too?"

The woman’s name was Veyra—a Hero Unit.

And not just any Hero Unit. She was born from the ranks of the Dragonblade Knights, a rare 13th Tier Legendary Unit who had ascended even further.

Maybe that explained her bluntness. Or her recklessness.

She wasn’t one for politics or diplomacy. Her life had been forged in blood and battle, and she’d risen through the ranks faster than anyone before her. Her raw talent was undeniable—so much so that she’d caught the eye of Wisdom Angel Cain himself.

Cain had taken her under his wing, grooming her to become the most powerful Hero Unit in his command.

But there was no denying it—Veyra, like many of her kind, had a serious flaw.

The Dragonblade Knights were warriors to the core. Brave, loyal, and powerful beyond measure.

But subtlety? Patience? Tact?

That was another story entirely.

Everyone in the Castle faction knew one thing for sure—if you had to pick the most difficult group to manage, the most stubborn, the most impossible to reason with, it’d be the Paladins. Hands down.

We’re talking about the infamous bloodline of holy warriors—Radiant Paladins, Solar Paladins, Dawnfire Paladins, and the like. Legendary hidden units, all of them. And while they weren’t disloyal, and certainly not rebellious in the traditional sense, dealing with them was still a nightmare.

Not because they refused to follow orders.

But because their personalities were just... built that way.

If you wanted to be generous, you’d call them righteous to a fault—unyielding in their faith, unwavering in their pursuit of justice. But if you were being honest? They were rigid, single-minded, and often completely lacking in nuance.

The Paladins of the Castle faction were, almost without exception, the most devout followers of the Holy Dragon Elrath.

Their strength came from Elrath’s blessing, and with that power came a deep, unshakable sense of purpose.

Elrath represented the sun and the light—symbols of morality, virtue, justice, and peace. And the Paladins took those ideals to heart with a kind of fanatical intensity. They would die for them without hesitation.

To put it simply: for a Paladin, faith came first. Always.

Their loyalty to their liege lord? That came second—maybe even third.

In that way, they weren’t all that different from the Angels.

But here’s the thing—the Angels are the rightful rulers of the Castle faction.

They’re the leaders, the ones chosen by divine will to guide the rest. So when they hold strong convictions, when they lead with unwavering faith and absolute moral clarity, that’s not just acceptable—it’s expected. It’s their role. No one questions it.

But the Paladins?

They’re not leaders. They’re not commanders. They’re just one of many military units under the Castle banner. Subordinates. And yet, they act like they’re on the same level as the Angels—like their personal faith gives them the right to challenge authority, to question orders, to put their beliefs above the chain of command.

And that’s a huge problem.

"Hard-headed" doesn’t even begin to describe them. These guys are the textbook definition of a pain in the ass. They’re stubborn, self-righteous, and completely convinced that their way is the only way. Their loyalty isn’t to their commanders—it’s to their ideals. And worse, they actually believe they have the right to guide their leaders based on their own moral code.

Let that sink in.

They’re not just following orders—they’re trying to steer the people giving them.

What does that sound like?

It’s not just insubordination. It’s a goddamn cancer in the chain of command.

And no, that’s not an exaggeration.

Any other faction—any other faction—would’ve rooted them out and burned them to the ground without a second thought. No leader in their right mind would tolerate this kind of behavior from their troops.

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