The journey back through the city of Erathos was a completely different experience. With a new, powerful member and a major objective completed, Yanaki's confidence had grown significantly. The atmosphere within the party was no longer as heavy as before.
They soon encountered a group of Shattered Wraiths wandering on a ruined street. The first time she faced them, Yanaki had to struggle just to survive. Now...
Seeing the malicious spirits charge towards them, Sylva simply took a step forward. Without needing a shield, the mere presence of a level 5 Guardian Treant, with the pure life energy radiating from its body, was enough to make the low-level wraiths halt, hesitating.
Yanaki didn't even need to give a detailed command. Elara understood her intent. She didn't need to sing, just hum a single note. A wave of gentle, peaceful energy radiated out. The growling Wraiths fell silent. The rage within them dissolved, and they slowly faded into motes of light, liberated.
The encounter was over in seconds, without a single drop of sweat, without a single scratch. Yanaki looked at her party and smiled. They had truly grown stronger.
Along the way, Elara guided her through a new area. Vast, cracked training grounds, rusted iron weapon racks, and rotted wooden training dummies.
"This used to be the barracks of the Knights of Erathos," Elara explained, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "They were the pride of the kingdom, famous for their courage and absolute loyalty to the king. Their commander, Sir Kaelan, was known as 'The Unbeaten Sword,' a living legend of our time."
She sighed. "But during the Great Cataclysm, their courage was tested to its limit. I don't know exactly what happened, but Sir Kaelan's pain must have been immense to bind the soul of such a great man to the citadel for so long."
Elara's story gave Yanaki a deeper insight into her next objective. Sir Kaelan wasn't an ordinary monster. He was a fallen hero, a soul tormented by his past.
After several hours of travel, they finally arrived. The ancient citadel of Erathos loomed before them, a colossal fortress of grey stone, majestic even in its ruin. The towering walls were breached in many places, and the main iron gate had been torn asunder, lying twisted to one side. A different aura emanated from this place, distinct from the rest of the city: not just sorrow, but also iron discipline, regret, and a smoldering fighting spirit.
Right at the entrance, the signs of a fierce battle were still fresh. The ground bore scorch marks from magic, deep gouges in the stone from a heavy weapon, and even the faint, shimmering energy dust left behind by recently destroyed spirits. Yanaki even saw a broken piece of a player's shield and a discarded, empty healing potion.
This was Borg's party's trail. Clearly, they had fought their way in. And it had not been an easy fight.
The path into the citadel was not empty. Standing in the middle of the ruined gate was a figure in full plate armor, holding a long spear. The spirit of this knight was not ethereal like Elara's, nor twisted like the Wraiths. It was solid, and it radiated an air of discipline and honor.
As Yanaki's party approached, the spirit knight raised its spear, blocking their path. A deep voice, echoing as if from within a helmet, spoke. The voice held no malice, only the solemnity of one on duty.
"Stranger, none shall pass."
[Knight Sentinel]
Level: 18
Description: The spirit of a loyal knight who still guards the citadel's gate even after death. Will attack anyone who tries to trespass.
"This is the final resting place of my fallen brothers-in-arms," the voice continued. "Turn back."
Yanaki stood before a completely new kind of challenge. This wasn't a monster that could be defeated with brute force, nor a spirit that could be soothed with compassion. This was a sentry, a soul bound by its own oath and duty.
How could she get past someone who couldn't be convinced by normal reason, and was also too strong to be confronted directly?