The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 221: Reaching the core (1)

Chapter 221: Reaching the core (1)

"You seem to be doing well. I guess one more night and you might resume your duties."

Hex listened to Rosa’s assessment of his condition. Her confidant smile worried Hex the most. If she discharged him one night earlier, he would have to leave the district. He felt unwilling this close to his target.

"Elena, you disagree?"

Hex looked up. Rosa’s gaze was on her apprentice. Elena hesitated at first but then lifted her chin and faced her teacher.

"Miss Rosa, you once told me that there are no infirmaries outside the gates. If we let him leave without ensuring that there are no hidden injuries, he might still be at risk. Our Codes as Healers don’t allow us to make light of someone’s life."

Elena spoke without blinking and stood as stiff as a plank. Her voice didn’t fluctuate but lacked emotions.

’Damn. Way to pile up on my guilt. But thanks...I guess.’

Hex could tell how much willpower it took of her to confront her teacher. Glancing at her pale fist she was clenching tightly, he only sighed inwardly.

Rosa scrunched her brows. Elena’s change in temperament didn’t seem to sit well with her. Hex expected her to admonish Elena but she just sighed in the end.

"I am not sure how to react but seeing you stick to the Codes I taught you, pleases me. Very well, we will do as you said. He will leave after two days of observation. But you will take care of him."

As soon as Rosa left, the two resumed their conversation of the first night. The young girl’s focus was more on the fields of nice-smelling flowers under a clear and sunny sky.

Hex described various colors and flowers to her. In his heart, he thanked Hestia for filling his head with all the information about flora.

Elena couldn’t get enough of the stories and visuals. She wished for more. Whenever it was her turn, she replied quickly, without holding much back. With some patience, Hex worked out a map of sorts in his head. He knew the passages, the secret codes, and the schedule of the King and the visiting princes.

To hear as much as she could, she didn’t leave Hex’s side. She sat on her knees on his side, her head resting on the bed. After a few hours of non-stop chatter, she gradually drifted to sleep.

Hex waited for her breathing to turn slow and relaxed before getting out of bed. He stood behind with a conflicted gaze.

’I don’t think you deserve to remain caged up inside this wall. I am hurting you so you can be free.’

Hex stood there in silence. His lips curled up.

’Who am I kidding? I am just trying to lessen my guilt and play a hero. I am just as vile as your family who keeps you trapped in here.’

Hex raised his hand and chopped against her nape. He tried to be as gentle as possible. His bear-handed sword technique allowed his control over his strength to be perfect. Elena’s expression never changed. She looked happy and peaceful as Hex placed her on the bed.

’Sleep tight. I will return in the morning.’

The infirmary was empty most of the time. No one ever visited during the night. The almost-perfect flow of operations run by the royals lessened the chances of injuries to a great extent.

Hex exited the building, disguised as Elena. He sensed the guards in the dark alleys and rooftops but acted indifferent to them.

’I am happy she is a shy person of great status. Only a few people dare to engage her in a conversation. As long as I stay clear of them, navigating the area should be a cinch.’

His first target was the most important one on his list, the Temple. Similar to the one in Notrelune, this building was huge. It stood like a monster shrouded in the darkness and mist. Hex didn’t see people around it but his senses were prickled by the amount of energy fluctuations coming out of the building.

’Refined Knights. And not a few.’

Hex took a sharp breath. He estimated ten to fifteen Refined Knights inside the Temple. And his intuition alluded to an even scarier presence inside.

’I bet my life that they have at least one Transformed Knight inside.’

Knowing and witnessing the might of a royal family were two things. Hex knew the royal family was the strongest of the Kingdom. They had a small army of Refined Knights hidden in a ruin, not to mention the Gatekeeper and perhaps a Transformed Knight. Not to mention, this was but a portion of their strength. They still ran the Kingdom without problems.

’But even with this might they didn’t dare to face the baron. How fucking amazing was he?’

Hex didn’t hang outside the Temple for long. It didn’t make sense to draw the attention of a powerhouse just yet.

The next target was the Queen’s grave. The grave wasn’t far from the Temple. He reached it within a few minutes. To his surprise, he didn’t sense anyone near.

’That retard King lets his daughter clean this entire place? Is he scared of something?’

Sterling’s request to steal the Queen’s eyes weighed on his mind. When he accepted the request, he didn’t mind disturbing the remains. In his mind, robbing a grave and scavenging remains inside the chasms didn’t differ.

But meeting Elena and seeing the care she gave the grave put him in a dilemma.

’I still have some time. At least no one comes here, making the job a bit easier. But if I leave Elena here after taking the eyes, she might be in danger. But how will I take her with me, especially after mutilating her mother’s corpse?’

With a sigh, he left the small yard and made his way to the third target. The house where the royals lived was a bit further to the north. It took him about half an hour to reach it. But as soon as he arrived, his eyes widened in shock.

He recognized the mansion. He recognized the broken sigil on the gate. And if he still doubted his eyes, the silent roar of his Dragon Bear Soul confirmed it.

’The Saint’s mansion? Why is it here? Shouldn’t it be in the Noble’s district?’

’And the feeling in my soul...the dragon’s core is here!’