The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 136: A thorny rose

Chapter 136: A thorny rose

Rose and the bald Knight with a scar ran at incredible speed. They knew their way around the grasslands and had a clear direction they were hurrying toward.

Hex and Althea, however, were faster. The high bushes obstructing visibility would be hard to navigate if Hex didn’t have his artifact, the monolith enhancing all his senses.

’They are close,’ Hex realized after focussing on the smell and almost inaudible steps they took between the grasses. He quickly signaled Althea to take care of the back while he jumped in the air.

Flex Step!

He didn’t hold back, applying enough strength to go above the bushes.

’There.’

He immediately saw their backs. Without delay, he made his second and third steps in the air. The thrust barreled him forward at high speed. The bald Knight sensed something and turned to look.

With his mouth agape, he saw Hex reach him within a blink. Before he could react, Hex had passed him.

Thud!

Hex controlled his landing, stopping about ten meters further than the running couple, giving them space to stop.

"Ah!" Rose gasped involuntarily when she saw someone appear before them out of nowhere. The bald Knight frowned and pulled her back. He didn’t seem willing to engage in battle at this time. He turned to run in a different direction but was obstructed by Althea who appeared behind them.

"You dare stop us? My family will tear you apart...," Rose rattled angrily at him.

"Shut up, Rose."

The bald Knight pulled Rose toward him and put his massive hand on her mouth, stopping her from continuing her rant. He looked calmly at Hex.

"What do you want?"

Seeing the actions of the Knight, Hex became vigilant. Hex’s experience had taught him to be wary of opponents able to keep their nerves in unexpected situations. People like the bald Knights adapted easily, making them a headache.

"I want answers. Why are the mayor and his people hunting us? And what are you two planning?" Hex asked straightforwardly. When he saw the bald Knight about to answer, he interjected. "Let’s not test each other’s intelligence. I know she was the one who put the mayor behind us. I just want to know the why’s."

The Knight looked at Hex and nodded slowly. He released his hand from Rose’s mouth while gesturing for her to speak.

"When Clannad came to us, father and the others didn’t want to work with him. He offered the extensive reserves of Fiend crystals in Grindeston’s vaults. In return, he asked for three things; long-term cooperation between our towns, help to recommend his grandfather become the new baron, and cooperating to enter the ruin of the fallen city Nortesol."

Hex listened attentively. "But I still don’t understand why I am being hunted?"

"Patience," Rose replied sternly. "I am getting there."

"You see, the key in all this is the third point. According to my father, the ruin is not a place anyone can enter. It requires the governor’s approval, resources, and ability. And what Clannad wished to acquire was something that required one more thing. A soul with ice affinity."

Hearing the last part, Hex’s eyes narrowed. "What did he want to acquire?"

It had to be important if Conrad and Clannad schemed so much to acquire the Ice Kobold and betray their town.

"The corpse of a genuine Frost Dragon with an intact Devil-grade crystal inside."

Hex failed to keep his composure. Devil-grade crystals weren’t easily found. He for one had never even seen it. ’And it’s a genuine Frost Dragon,’ Hex thought, his heart beating wildly. Wasn’t he training in a technique derived from that particular beast?

’Did the baron foresee this? Was this his intention?’ Hex couldn’t help but wonder. It was too much of a coincidence for it not to be true.

"The governor of Notresol was a Transformed Knight, a descendant from the Frost Dragon lineage. I don’t know how Clannad learned about the corpse because not even the royal family is aware of it.

Father and his friends agreed on the condition they would take everything else from the governor’s vault.

But some time ago we learned that they all had died. Father was angry and sad but he accepted it. But when I saw you at the eatery, I remembered something Clannad told me. He told me once that there was a boy he hated and would kill. That boy was the only one he had ever seen with hair as black as the night."

’Did you really hate me so much?’ Hex mused as he shook his head. He looked at Rose with resentment. "So, you told your father that I am a survivor?"

"Y-Yes."

"How did you know I have the Ice soul?" Hex asked with a cold voice.

"You have it?" Rose exclaimed in shock, confusing Hex and Althea. "I didn’t know. I just said so father would try to hunt you in this land and I could use the opportunity to flee."

Seeing Hex look confused and coldly at Rose, the bald Knight spoke.

"Rose is the love of my life. But I am a wandering Knight. Her father would never agree to our union. So, we decided to run away and live together while blaming you for her disappearance."

"And you expect me to let you guys leave, after knowing I was set up by her?" Hex asked coldly.

"I know we did you dirty but you are a stranger. Why wouldn’t I make use of you?" The bald Knight asked with a shrug. "You can fight us but it would put you at a greater disadvantage. Why not let us go this time? If Grint reaches the governor, I can assure you, he will let the governor know about the Devil Crystal and you being the key."

"You are right," Hex said after some thought. The bald Knight looked relieved. But the next moment he heard a muffled thunderous sound behind him. He barely turned when a spear struck his throat.

"Thorn!" Rose cried out, about to kneel beside her fallen lover. But her head flew in the air, landing on his chest.

Hex put his sword back.

"They were right. Those people can’t leave this place."