The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 362: The other Elders

Chapter 362: The other Elders

"They are here," Hex heard Elize say behind him.

Hex turned to face her and Jonathan. The isolation had been removed at some point. Looking at their faces, he didn’t sense any suspicion.

’I think I have been discreet enough,’ Hex thought, keeping his face straight. He followed their gaze, although he had sensed slight fluctuations from that direction without hearing Elize’s words.

A minute or so later, a coach came into his sight. Hex furrowed.

’It has no wheels. But those would be useless if it moves like that,’ Hex mused. The coach didn’t move as others he had seen. This one didn’t come from the road. It came from the sky. Using winged-horses.

’Flying horses. The things you see if you travel the world,’ Hex thought, marveling at the magnificent beasts coming toward them.

These winged horses were larger than the regular ones by an entire head. That is, a full horse’s head. The wings stretched thrice the length of their body length. When they were nearly above them, he saw the winged stretched out, gliding through the air, descending gracefully.

All four horses were gray in color. The outstretched wings gleamed in the sun at their back, giving them a divine feeling.

’Wow’. That was the sole thought in his mind as he watched them approaching the ground. Up close their magnificence only increased.

’I wonder how the coach will land,’ Hex wondered. The wings helped the horses, not the coach. He didn’t have to wonder for too long, though. Just as the coach was about to hit the ground, he sensed a slight change in the wind flow.

The wind gathered at great speed beneath the coach. And just as the coach would hit the ground, the air cushioned the coach. Not only did the air catch the coach, it adjusted itself quickly enough to prevent an upward bounce.

As soon as the coach came to a halt, the coach opened up. Literally. Its roof sprang free and flew upward, stopping a meter above its initial position. The walls came apart and gathered to one side, revealing the interior.

The most luxurious set of seaters, and backrests appeared in Hex’s vision. Without even feeling it with his touch, Hex could tell how comfortable sitting them would feel.

’Damn these high positioned people. I feel like a street rat traveling in the most crammed-up way possible,’ Hex grumbled inwardly. He remembered his dreams of becoming the baron and living a life of luxury and respect in the castle on top of Grindeston.

’Someday,’ he vowed. He hadn’t given up on his dream. Someday he would make it come true.

"Elder James, Elder Marcella, Elder Joane, three of you came?"

Elize greeted the people who came, showing her shock openly. She, like Hex, hadn’t expected the Elders to come in person. Not so quickly after one of theirs had been killed. Heck, the Elder’s remains were not even ten meters away from the newly-arrived group.

Ten people had come. The three Elders, though none of the three looked too old, stood in the middle. The seven others – Hex believed them to be their personal guards – stood around them, forming a crescent moon.

’The Elders are all at the Transformation Stage, as are six of their guards. Only she, the one in the middle, seems higher. I can’t sense her Stage.’

Hex observed the newly-arrived group with interest and without restraint. Wasn’t it normal for a young man to be intrigued by Elders and other powerful people? It would be strange if he showed no or little interest.

Just like him, the group stood in silence and observed the surroundings. All ten just skimmed over the skins and bones lying on the ground. Hex frowned at their reaction.

’Come on, man. He was someone like you guys. Wasn’t he worth a little more than a glance?’ Hex sighed. He hadn’t known the Elder. Heck, he hadn’t even seen his face. But seeing the way he was ignored, hurt.

Their eyes landed on the frozen blocks and halted. Hex noticed their pupils dilate a little.

’They recognize it,’ Hex thought. They even glanced at each other, trying to be subtle about it but none of the three present were fooled. Hex didn’t need to look at Jonathan or Elize. He was certain their expressions were calm and collected, making it impossible to read them.

’They even give these little guys more attention than their old colleague,’ Hex sighed.

The three Elders finally looked away. Their gaze landed on them. If Hex had thought their reaction was great when they saw the Serpents then their current expressions were downright extreme.

All three stared in shock and fear.

’At me. They are all staring at me,’ Hex observed. For a second it confused him, but then understanding dawned upon him. Their gazes studied his face and hair. The sight of the latter caused them to tremble.

"What’s the meaning of this?’ One of them, a lady looking prim and proper, dressed in regal clothes, demanded. Her already-pale face seemed to have turned stark-white. She pointed at Hex, while shouting at Elize and Jonathan.

"Who is that? Why wasn’t the council notified of such an existence? Is he related to...hherr?"

She almost gritted her teeth as she pronounced the last word.

The others, although silent, had readied themselves. Hex knew it would take one order for all of those guards to attack him.

’I hope they are ready. I am not going down without taking them with me,’ Hex snarled inwardly. He retrieved the crystals of Death and Earth and held them inside his palms, ready to inject the Souldust in them. Even Enlightened beings wouldn’t stand much of a chance against such a destruction.

"Elder Marcella, calm down. He is someone I can vouch for," Elize said with a stern face, stepping between him and the Elder.

As soon as she appeared between them, the guards and the other female Elder hesitated. They all knew her after all. But the Elder named Marcella didn’t stop.

"So? Who are you to stop me? I am an Elder. Your power doesn’t scare me," Elder Marcella snapped at her.

"And yours doesn’t scare me," Elize replied, her voice so calm no other emotions could be felt within it. Even the Enlightened Knight guarding the Elders gulped as Elize unfurled her wings.

"So, unless you wish the council to lose another Elder, please calm.the.fuck.down."

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