Chapter 268: The Echo of Presence (2)

“Any injuries?”

The four guards shook their heads, their movements still somewhat uncoordinated.

“No, sir.” One of their voices came out trembling, the shock was still evident in their tone.

Clavor nodded, his expression stern.

“Then listen carefully.”

The men immediately straightened their posture, their bodies responding to the command even in their weakened state.

“One of you will return along the path we traveled.”

The four looked at one another, a wave of surprise passing between them.

“I want you to take a message to Hark Castle.”

Clavor reached inside his tunic, taking out a small piece of parchment and a quill that he always carried with him.

He knelt before a relatively flat stone, its surface serving as an improvised table.

For a few seconds, he remained thoughtful, his eyes fixed on the blank parchment, organizing his words with the precision of a strategist.

Then he began to write, his hand moving quickly, every stroke firm and decisive. There was no room for hesitation or doubt.

He described the approximate time of the encounter, the location, and the direction in which the creature had traveled. He described its approximate size, although it was impossible to establish a precise measurement given the scale of that existence.

He described the orange aura that completely covered its body, so dense that it seemed like armor made of light. And, most importantly, he recorded the pressure, the overwhelming sensation that had incapacitated everyone present.

Clavor stopped for a moment, his quill hovering over the parchment. His expression became serious, the gravity of what he was writing weighing upon his shoulders.

Then he added one final observation, his words carrying a silent warning.

“The creature has not displayed any hostile behavior yet.” He mentally underlined the importance of that information, recognizing that it was the only positive aspect of the entire encounter. But he continued, adding.

“However, its presence was enough to temporarily incapacitate the horses and affect everyone present. Extreme caution is recommended.”

Clavor finished the message, his final words sealing the warning. He carefully folded the parchment, his hands pressing along the edges to ensure it remained secure, and handed it to one of the guards.

“Deliver it personally to Count Hark.”

The man held the letter with both hands, as if he were holding something sacred.

“Yes, sir.”

“If he is not at the castle, deliver it to the highest-ranking officer present. Make sure the message reaches whoever is responsible.”

“Understood.”

Clavor pointed toward one of the reserve horses, a younger animal that seemed less affected by the encounter.

“Take that one.”

The guard mounted quickly, his movements still somewhat awkward but determined. Before he left, Clavor added, his voice firm.

“Do not stop for unnecessary reasons. If you encounter any difficulties, prioritize delivering the message. This information needs to reach the castle as quickly as possible.”

“Yes!”

The rider pulled on the reins, and the horse began to trot, its hooves striking the earth at an accelerated rhythm. Within a few seconds, he turned onto the road they had come from, his figure quickly shrinking among the trees. And disappeared, swallowed by the darkness of the forest.

Clavor watched the man until he completely disappeared from sight, his expression grave. Only then did he turn his attention back to the fallen horses, his steps carrying him toward the still-unconscious animals.

He knelt down, his legs bending with the ease of years of practice. He placed one hand on the neck of one of the animals, feeling its accelerated pulse beneath his palm.

A small amount of mana flowed from his body, a controlled stream penetrating the animal’s flesh. It was not a healing technique, Clavor did not possess sufficient knowledge for that, he was not a specialist in restoration magic.

It was merely a controlled transfer of energy to stimulate the animal’s body, helping it regain consciousness.

Shortly afterward, the horse’s ears moved, a sign that consciousness was returning. A faint whinny escaped its throat, weak and hoarse, as if the animal were calling for help. Clavor remained beside it, his hand still resting on its neck, his voice calm and firm.

“Come on. Wake up.”

The animal trembled, its muscles contracting beneath its skin. After a few seconds, it opened its eyes, its dilated pupils still reflecting the fear it had felt. It tried to stand, its legs stretching with visible effort, but its strength failed, and it collapsed again.

Clavor caught its body before it fell completely, his strong arms supporting the animal’s weight.

“Slowly. There’s no need to hurry.”

Shortly afterward, the second horse began to awaken, its eyes opening slowly. Both were still frightened, their eyes constantly moving, their ears remaining turned toward the forest, as if they still expected that being to return.

Every sound, every movement in the trees, made their bodies tremble. Clavor stroked one of their necks, his fingers tracing calming patterns across its skin.

“It’s all right. It’s over.”

Although he knew the animal probably did not understand the words, the calm tone of his voice seemed to help, the vibration of his words conveying a sense of security. After some time, the horses managed to remain standing, their legs trembling, but firm enough to support their weight.

Clavor returned to the carriage, his steps quick.

“Let’s continue.”

No one questioned him. That region needed to be left behind as quickly as possible. The coachman returned to his seat, his face still pale, but his hands firm on the reins. The guards mounted again, their bodies still tense, but ready to continue. The carriage began moving forward, its wheels creaking against the earth.

This time, however, the pace was much slower, the horses still weakened by the shock. And no one had the courage to push them, to force a pace their bodies could not sustain. Silence returned, heavy and oppressive.

For some time, no one spoke. The forest continued passing by the windows, its trees seeming more threatening now, its shadows deeper. Until Judite finally could not bear the silence any longer, her voice breaking the quiet like a stone thrown into a lake.

“Father…”

Clavor turned his face, his eyes meeting his daughter’s.

Judite swallowed hard, her voice trembling.

“What kind of being was that?”

The question hung inside the carriage, carrying a weight that everyone could feel. Lukas also looked at his father, his eyes fixed on his face in search of an answer.

Aurora remained silent, waiting, her hand still holding Judite’s.

Clavor took a few seconds to respond, his eyes lost on the road ahead.

“I don’t know.”

The answer was so direct that everyone became even more tense, the brutal honesty of his words echoing through the confined space.

Judite blinked, surprised.

“You… don’t know?”

Clavor shook his head, a slow and deliberate gesture.

“No.” He looked through the small front window, his eyes scanning the empty road.

“I couldn’t even see its appearance. All I saw was the aura.”

Lukas frowned, confused.

“Because of the aura?”

“Yes.” Clavor took a deep breath, as if gathering the strength to describe the indescribable.

“That orange aura completely covered the creature’s body. It wasn’t merely a small amount of mana surrounding its body like a thin layer. It was so dense that it seemed to form a physical layer around it, a second skin of energy.”

Lukas remained attentive, every word etching itself into his mind.

Clavor continued, his voice lower.

“I have never seen mana like that. Not even in S-Rank warriors, nor in high-level mages.”