Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

"Arson?" a patrol officer asked, shivering.

The sheriff also felt a pang of fear, but he still sternly reprimanded his subordinate, "Do you think an arson could leave not a single one of the twenty-five people able to run out? All these bodies have fatal wounds, it must have been murder followed by arson."

"Look at this person, the cut on his neck was enough to kill him, yet his head was also split open." Another patrol officer's lower teeth uncontrollably chattered against his uppers, almost crying out, "Who exactly were the deceased? Does one need to be killed twice in order to die? Have we encountered a cult?"

A patrol officer struggled through the crowd and handed a letter to the sheriff.

The sheriff broke the seal and briefly scanned the contents of the letter, then suddenly his face broke into a smile, "We don't need to worry about this case anymore. The sheriff of the dock district is willing to take over this case; he says it's a family feud."

"Do you think this was a family feud?" the shivering patrol officer asked.

"Would a family feud result in the extermination of an entire family? And would only the men die?" the sheriff said indifferently, "But since someone is willing to help us out, I wouldn't care even if they claimed they roasted themselves."

——Cut——

Not until they arrived at the docks did Winters, Bard, and Andre realize that they were actually setting off today.

Andre was eagerly hoping to see his family one last time before departure, but Winters and Bard had no such expectations.

Bard wasn't Venetian, and Antonio had strictly forbidden Kosa and Ella from seeing them off. Antonio had always strongly disliked such acts that could dampen the military's morale.

It was just as well that they didn't come; Winters didn't know how to face the farewell anyway.

Finally, it was time for Winters' hundred-man troop to board the ship, but a strange woman stopped Winters just as he was about to step onto the makeshift gangway.

"Mr. Montaigne, please wait," said the strange woman politely.

"Do you know me?"

"Someone wants to meet you, please follow me."

"Who is it? All so mysterious." Winters shook his head and followed her.

As long as it wasn't a sheriff with a group of patrol officers coming to arrest him, Winters wasn't worried about anything else.

The strange woman led Winters to a carriage, all black with silver trim, gesturing that the person wanting to see Winters was inside.

Seeing the carriage, Winters gasped and quietly took out a steel spike, grasping it in his hand.

With his other hand, he opened the carriage door, and simultaneously, Winters prepared to use the Arrow Flying Spell, with the steel spike poised and ready.

However, sitting inside the carriage was someone he didn't expect.

"Miss Anna? Why is it you?"

Anna, somewhat nervously, retorted, "Why can't it be me?"

"Uh… Are you talking about the same thing I am?" Winters realized he might have misunderstood.

"What are you talking about? Come in quickly, close the door," Anna pulled Winters into the carriage with both hands: "Don't let others see… I'm not married yet."

The two sat in the carriage, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Winters quietly stuffed the steel awl back into his pocket, the tension in his nerves easing to the point of fatigue. He joked, "If you've come to pay me for the painting, it's not the best timing. I'm about to take a ship to Tanilia."

In fact, since Xial located Winters the day before yesterday, Winters had been on edge. Last night, the tension had reached its peak as he repeatedly planned, checked his route, and prepared contingency plans. Yet, when it came time to act, it was still fraught with danger. Now, suddenly relaxing, a strong sense of fatigue washed over Winters, and he especially wanted to sleep.

Anna's eyes reddened. "Why are you always like this? Why do you treat me this way again?"

"I was just kidding." Winters quickly apologized and sighed, "The first time we met, you were angry and slapped me. Now why do you burst into tears so easily?"

"You're holding a grudge over that slap! You spiteful little man! I knew it all along, you remember everything but pretend to forget."

"If you say so, then so it is." Winters didn't have the energy to argue now.

This attitude made Anna even angrier. She suddenly leaned back in her chair and turned her head away from Winters. "Just go."

"Alright then, I'm leaving." Winters stood up. As he looked at Anna's neck, profile, and hair, an unbidden thought crossed his mind: Anna's profile might be my last memory of peace, representing the wonderful imagination of another path in life.

"Why aren't you leaving?"

"I want to look at you one more time." For some reason, Winters really wanted to touch Anna's hair. So, he reached out and tousled Anna's slightly curly hair, "Because the carefree and vibrant you is very beautiful."

Then he opened the carriage door and stepped out.

Arms from behind Winters embraced him. Anna, hugging Winters' back and crying, said, "I just want you to do one thing for me, just one thing... you need to come back, just come back."

"That's too easy, does it count if it's my ashes coming back?"

Anna broke into laughter through her tears, pounding on Winters' back. "You're really annoying..."

Then Anna took out a thumb-sized wooden carving of a goddess, holding a shield and a spear, from her handbag. The details of the tiny statue were fully realized and lifelike.

Anna placed the wooden carving in Winters' palm, "No matter how far or difficult, Athena will guide those who've left their homeland back home."

"When did you learn wood carving?"

"I never learned wood carving." Anna said shyly, "It's not good, right?"

How could I have been so stupid not to notice? Winters thought to himself. Anna's left and right index fingers had multiple new wounds, already red and swollen at the edges.

"This is the most exquisite carving I've ever seen. I'll trade you the most valuable thing I have for it." Winters searched himself but found nothing of value, so he took off his ceremonial golden sword and handed it to Anna, "This sword was my father's, but it doesn't really have any sentimental value... Anyway, it's the most expensive thing I have on me."

Winters wore the ceremonial sword today as only an inspection had been scheduled.

Anna, flustered and incoherent, said, "You can't, that sword is too valuable, I can't accept it... Why would you give your father's sword to me... Could it be as a betrothal gift? No, no, I...I...I... We're not that kind of relationship yet... Oh right, my family doesn't intermarry with northerners [people from the Empire]!"

"When did I say I wanted to marry you?! And why do you always say I'm from the Empire?" Winters was on the verge of passing out from frustration, "My mother's family is from The Federated Provinces, and my father's family has always been in Venetia; how did I become a person from the Empire?"

"You might be tall, but even if you're not from the north, it won't work... I don't want to get married yet..." Anna said weakly.