Veil of Destiny

Chapter 11 Training and improvement

Dorian slowly regained consciousness, the crude wooden ceiling of the wagon coming into focus. The gentle rocking beneath him told him he was in a moving cart. A particularly rough jolt sent a sharp pain through his wounds, causing him to groan loudly.

With a swish, the curtain covering the window was pulled back, and Ryder's large head poked through. "Awake, Dorian?"

"Where am I? How long have I been out? Damn this lousy cart! And this road! Are we driving on a plowed field?!"

"Take it easy. We'll be back at Fort Farle in two hours. There's a priest there. For now, we have to make do with what little potions we have to keep your wounds from getting worse. You're tough, though. You are roasted so deliciously, the guys almost added you to the dinner menu," Ryder said with a mischievous grin.

"Damn it, we really need a priest. Next time, we'll kidnap one if we have to. Lucian's medicine is so terrible!! It hurts me so much.If only he had half the skill in making medicine as he does in making magical weapons! So, how did the fight go this time?"

"Besides you, we have four more injured, all pretty serious. Who'd have thought a patrol of knights could be so tough?" Ryder shook his head and continued, "We are so unlucky. It was indeed the Snow Fox Brigade, and not just any group—their elite squad, about three hundred strong, ten times our number. Damn, even their squad leaders are nearly mid-level knights. Luckily, that idiot wanted to duel Grayson. Tristan immediately put an arrow in his ass."

During the forest skirmish, the patrol cavalry captain was finally captured. He withstood several rounds of torture and said nothing. Then Reginald stripped him, smeared his genitals with honey, and left him near an ant nest. Within minutes, the captain spilled everything.

The Snow Fox Brigade took over this small Fort Cyrus, they sealed off the lord's manor and captured over a hundred strong men from the nearby area. They have been working day and night to excavate something inside. But this mission seems to be highly confidential, and as the captain of the patrol, his position is still not high enough to know the details. Reginald spread a handful of ants over the already injured genitals of the patrol captain, who immediately screamed in agony. "I'll talk, I'll talk! I heard that the previous lord used to worship a necromancer in the manor, and it's said that the underground area is the necromancer's laboratory! Water,Water, quickly flush it for me!" Reginald asked again several times, convinced that he could get no more out of it, and then ended the knight's suffering with a swift stab of a dagger.

Due to the numerous injuries and the fact that their mage, Dorian, was nearly roasted, the group realized their thirty men were no match for the enemy. The disheartened nobles decided to retreat, knowing they still had four months before the deadline. Despite the setback, they learned a valuable lesson about the strength of the Snow Fox Brigade. As for spoils, there was nothing of value. "What elite mercenary group? They're dirt poor!" Grayson cursed as he scavenged the battlefield.

The middle-aged priest who treated Dorian's injuries in the Fort Farle church didn't seem to have much power. It took him six or seven healing spells to cure Dorian's wounds. The chubby man leaped off the bed and handed him two gold coins, ignoring the flattering words behind him, and hurriedly fled. He instinctively hated this kind of place. If it weren't for the fact that the priest's healing abilities were truly remarkable, he would never set foot in here.

As night fell, the group gathered at the most luxurious spot in Fort Farle, "Etherea's Night." Known for its opulence, Etherea's Night offered the best in drinks and women, catering to the affluent. The three-story building was as tall as a typical six-story structure, with a wide plaza in front that was always filled with ornate carriages at night. A five-meter-wide magical fountain adorned the entrance, its waters reaching up to six meters before scattering. A purple magical flame floated above, burning day and night, adding to the romantic and mysterious ambiance. The elaborate magical array at the fountain's base cost a fortune to maintain daily. Inside, the grand hall was lavishly decorated, bathed in a golden glow from magical lights, and adorned with art from around the world. The second floor featured private rooms decorated in various continental styles, ideal for scheming and intrigue. The third floor had a larger hall, often used for slave auctions and other events.