The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 313: Daughters of Wrixia

Chapter 313: Daughters of Wrixia

A/N: this is the bonus Chapter of today.

These notes aren’t a permanent thing. I will only do so when I have multiple bonus Chapters to release, which I secretly hope is always.

Bonus Chapters owed: 2 out of the 4.

There is still a regular Chapter for today that will be released later in the night.

Thank you for reading and supporting me. Please continue to do so.

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Hex rushed through the leaves and thin branches in his way.

The main branches had multiple side branches, some of which were entwined with side branches shooting off other main branches. These connected pathways were called bridges as he learned from Elize.

She, or her light puppet, flew at the front, guiding Hex toward the Salty Leaf City. Hex allowed the captain on his back, to ensure none of the frozen humans fell off, or worse, shattered.

The wind whistled in his ears as he sped up. He could sense the life force of some of the victims, decreasing with each passing second.

According to Elize, they would reach the city in a few minutes at such speed. Her physical form already arrived at Salty Leaf City with the others. Sterling and his group moved to the Merchant Hut as soon as they parted. She had gone to the Healer’s Hut and summoned the healers.

Hex rushed in bear form. It was the only way they were able to take everyone on one trip. A second trip wouldn’t be needed though. Those who would leave behind, wouldn’t survive to require help.

As he ran, his short conversation with Elize, rumbled in his mind. Her claim that he and the creatures of the dark shared a connection with the Witch had shocked him immensely. Even though they lacked time, he insisted on some explanation.

Seeing Hex acting so stubbornly, she gave a summarized version with the promise of a complete one once they had the time.

The creatures of the dark refer to everything that can only survive in dark areas. Light is injurious to them or even fatal in some cases.

The shadow snakes survive purely through existing in host bodies. Once they are done devouring them, they leave to hunt for new ones. Just before dying, they will use the host to get near their next victim.

That’s why you won’t find old corpses or skeletons near their nests. These creatures have existed since a few Ages ago. But they were weaker and cowardly.

Take the shadow snakes as an example. They were little snakes, easily confused to be worms. The largest prey they could find were rodents and small birds.

But things changed when the Witch tempered with the Laws of Wrixia. The darkness increased. It strengthened. This helped the creatures of the dark to become stronger and more daring. Even Wrixia, the Guardian, couldn’t revert her manipulation of the Laws. She brought much suffering and threats to our lands.

All this happened many years ago. The majority has even forgotten her or her looks. But there are some who remember. And out of those, some are still out for blood. So beware, those who manage to link you to her, will come after you. Even if they have to sacrifice themselves, they will seek revenge.

Hex didn’t care for those seeking revenge. Ever since he realized people would come after him either because of the Witch or the Baron, he made up his mind to treat them like attackers.

No matter how valid their reason to seek revenge – even if their entire family had been wiped out – they would either kill him or be killed.

He accepted his origin and ties with everyone that mattered. It couldn’t be changed nor did he desire to change it. But he wouldn’t pay off debts he didn’t own.

What troubled him though was the fact that the Witch did something that made monsters such as the Shadow Serpents worse. Did she know the consequences of her actions? Had she upset the balance of things to take revenge for her suffering? Or...was she framed?

In the past, he would have believed the second one within a heartbeat. But as he learned more about her childhood, he couldn’t help but sympathize with her. Most likely she still had been her innocent self during her time in Wrixia. So, why would she do something like disrupting the lives of others?

He didn’t know how, but it wouldn’t surprise him if someone else had done something and his grandfather had framed her for it. The memory of the frail, old man, dying with tears in his eyes, lately set his blood on fire. If only he had been a better father, his mother wouldn’t have suffered. Perhaps, she might not have turned into the Witch, the terror that shook the world.

’Perhaps, I wouldn’t exist then,’ a small voice in his head popped up, which he smothered at once. It didn’t matter. If he was given the choice, he would rather not exist than let his mother suffer as much as she did.

"We are here."

Elize’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He saw a lush gathering of tiny branches and leaves in his path. He rushed through it, seeing Elize wizz toward a large hole in a stump.

Only did he observe his surroundings. Hundreds of branches seemed to have gone through this place. They passed each other closely, creating a dome of sorts.

Thousands of buildings either dangled from these branches or were built upon them. One of the branches above him seemed to have been cut off, stopping in the middle of the dome-like roof made of branches. This is exactly where he saw Elize’s light disappear.

His appearance caused some people to turn their heads but most went on with their business as usual. He passed hundreds of people as he rushed toward the stump. Once he got there, he didn’t see any stairs.

Flex Step.

He pressed his feet into the ground and launched himself upward. Just as he jumped, he noticed someone rushing toward him with a stair on wheels. Well, it was a bit late to stop now.

With a thud, he landed inside the hole.

"Come in. Hurry."

Hex stood stunned at the lady who appeared out of nowhere, urging him to follow her. She was beautiful and graceful, but it wasn’t her appearance that stopped him. No, it was the almost infinite nature element he sensed in her.

"Hex."

The captain had jumped off his back and called him.

"We need to hurry."

"Yes," Hex said, throwing another glance at the woman before him. He followed in silence and studied the place.

They were in some sort of corridor inside the branch. The corridor wasn’t long. They reached the door, through which they arrived in a large, white hall. Empty beds and a row of similar-looking women welcomed him. Elize too was here, standing to the side.

"We will start at once."

The woman who led him here seemed to be in charge. She clapped her hands and all the healers jumped into action.

They came in pairs of two toward Hex and with a wave of their hands commanded the air around them, picking a human off his back, one at a time.

In less than a minute they had taken everyone from his back and placed them on the beds. The women remained in pairs, with each pair tending to their patient. Hex couldn’t help but be in awe at their speed and control over the nature elements. It was...perfect.

"Wondering how they do it?" Elize whispered, standing at Hex’s side.

Hex had reverted to his human form. His already-torn clothes had suffered some more during this transformation. Thankfully, the bits and pieces required to cover his important bit remained in place and whole.

"They are called Wrixia’s daughters," Elize, seeing Hex paying attention, said. "They are children born with only one affinity, the nature element. They grow up at the core, in Wrixia’s care, and learn the secrets of Healing from Him."

"Him?" Hex asked. "You mean...Him. Wrixia teaches...humans?" Hex asked, surprised.

"Indeed. He trains these himself. Wrixia’s daughters are considered the epitome of what Healers can do. The nations around the world request their presence in their Court, hoping to have one of them at their side. Only a few are granted such requests. Most ladies like to remain in Wrixia."

"I never heard of them," Hex confessed.

"They rarely leave, so no surprise. Plus, the outside world doesn’t call them Wrixia’s daughters. They prefer the name ’Dryads’."