Two hours had passed since Reinhard received the letter from the head of House Deira.
He stood before the mirror in a spacious bathroom, lazily observing his reflection. Steam rose from the hot bath, and the scent of fresh herbal extracts filled the air, creating an illusion of relaxation. He dipped his hands into the water, running his fingers across the surface before slowly submerging his head, feeling the fatigue from recent training gradually fade away.
His body had changed significantly over the past few days. Not long ago, it had resembled a withered shell, but now his muscles had gained sharp definition. This was the result of his relentless training and rare alchemical elixirs that he had used to accelerate his recovery.
The water was pleasantly warm, but there was no point in lingering any longer. Reinhard exhaled, tilted his head back, pushing his wet hair away, and stepped out of the bath, quickly throwing a towel over his shoulders.
He moved to the wardrobe. He didn't take long to choose his outfit. He needed clothing that wouldn't restrict his movements yet wouldn't appear too formal. He picked a dark shirt and a black vest with silver embroidery, fitted trousers, and soft leather boots.
His only weapon for today was a sword.
Reinhard fastened the scabbard to his belt and left the room.
In the main courtyard of the estate, a carriage was already waiting for him.
The horses stomped their hooves against the cobblestone, while the coachman, dressed in a simple yet neat outfit, bowed his head, awaiting orders.
— "Everything is ready, my lord?"
Reinhard nodded and, without a word, stepped into the carriage. Inside, everything was luxurious but without excess. Dark velvet upholstery, comfortable seats, and a small silver flask of water in a designated holder.
The wheels rolled smoothly along the road, and soon, Haruma Estate was left behind.
The journey ahead was short, but the road led through a dense forest, making it a perfect place for an ambush.
The portal gates were a few hours away, and without magic, the trip to the capital would take at least two weeks. However, he had the right to use magical portals—a privilege of noble families.
The carriage moved forward smoothly. A light breeze rustled the leaves, sunlight filtering through the thick canopy, casting a play of light and shadow on the road. Everything seemed too peaceful.
Reinhard closed his eyes, lost in thought.
— "The portal… Then dinner with the family…"
He smirked to himself. A family reunion… He was looking forward to it.
As he planned his next steps, a sudden jolt of the carriage and shouts from outside snapped him out of his thoughts.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop.
From outside, he heard the clash of metal and short, pained cries.
Reinhard slowly opened his eyes, his posture unchanged.
— "I can't even reach the portal in peace, huh…"
He sighed in irritation and began chanting a spell…
ᛗᚨᛃ ᚦᛇ ᛊᚢᚾ ᛒᛚᛇᛊᛊ ᛗᛇ, ᚨ ᚱᚨᛃ ᛟᚠ ᚠᛚᚨᛗᛇ
The sounds of battle outside quickly faded, but his instincts told him—this was no ordinary bandit attack.
Someone had deliberately set up an ambush.
Reinhard remained inside the carriage, waiting for the attackers to reveal themselves.
Moments later, the door was yanked open.
A man with a smirk stood at the entrance, clad in light leather armor, a dagger in hand.
— "So here you are, little lord…"
But he didn't get to finish his sentence.
In an instant, a blazing beam of fire shot from Reinhard's palm, piercing the man's chest.
The body was sent flying several meters back, and when it hit the ground, a gaping black hole burned through his torso.
The remaining attackers froze in shock.
Reinhard rose to his feet and calmly stepped out of the carriage, chanting another incantation:
— ᛗᚨᛃ ᚦᛇ ᛚᛁᚷᚺᛏ ᛒᛚᛇᛊᛊ ᛗᛇ ᛒᚱᛁᚷᚺᛏ ᚠᛚᚨSH.
Suddenly, a blinding light engulfed the battlefield, forcing the enemies to shield their faces with their hands.
Reinhard drew his sword.
His lips curled into a cruel smirk.
— "Now… you're all dead."