The nights in Ullvashi are quite different from those in other cities of the Tistis Kingdom.
Thanks to the effect of White Burning Stone regulating the temperature and isolating wind and snow, the capital of this kingdom is brightly lit at night. The streets are free of snow, and there is no omnipresent cold wind, making the nightlife here considerably richer compared to other cities. Many taverns, inns, and restaurants remain open in the evenings, and there is even a night market providing 24-hour service to the residents of Ullvashi.
Of course, the most vibrant nightlife belongs to the nobles, who receive the most convenience and services.
As for the Queenâs Palace, when the nobles depart to their residences, the nights here become much more quiet compared to daytime. Only patrolling knights and stationed soldiers are visible everywhere. Additionally, maids and servants move around during this time; besides them, no one else is present.
"Swish!"
At a certain moment, outside a training arena located on the edge of the Queenâs Palace, a figure suddenly appeared here.
Reiger, clad in clothing characteristic of the Tistis Kingdom, silently appeared here, gazing at the wide training arena before him, with an inexplicable expression in his eyes.
Tonight, Reiger had not brought anyone with him.
Even Lilith, who stayed close to Reiger, claiming to protect him, was temporarily left in the Queenâs bedchamber and not allowed to follow.
The invitation letter that arrived in his hands during the day clearly stated a desire for him to come alone.
This seemed to have a hidden agenda, but only Reiger, relying on his exceptional skills and courage, agreed without hesitation.
However...
"Inviting someone to the training arena, is this a preparation for a direct fight?"
Thus muttering to himself, Reiger showed no fear. Instead, he smiled somewhat expectantly and walked straight into the arena.
He had already asked the Altrude sisters in advance. They told him that this was a private training arena, used by no one other than the owner, and no one dared to use it casually.
Such a private training arena was naturally a gift from the royal family to the legendary Valkyrie.
Because of her extraordinary talent and astonishing strength, the royal family made an exception by building a palace and a training arena for the Valkyrie within the Queenâs Palace, allowing her to reside there permanently.
This was treatment even royal family members did not enjoy.
Typically, royal family members are allocated residences in the Queenâs Palace; a private training arena is unheard of. Only this legendary Valkyrie could compel the royal family to make an exception by constructing a new palace and training arena for her, showcasing how much she is valued by the royal family.
This also relates to the current situation of the Tistis Kingdom.
After all, neither the Prince faction nor the Princess faction wants such a legendary Valkyrie to be recruited by the opposing camp.
To win over this Valkyrie, who embodies extreme combat power and potential, the Prince and Princess factions engaged in numerous conflicts in the past, which led to countless clashes, yet neither faction could sway her loyalty.
Therefore, to leave a good impression in the Valkyrieâs heart, both factions of the royal family decided to facilitate her needs, granting her many privileges that ordinary Sword Saints do not possess.
This training arena is said to be constructed at great cost. Not only are the materials special, able to withstand extreme impacts, but court magicians have also installed a defense system. Surrounding the arena is a tactical-level large-scale magic barrier that endures throughout the year, capable of shielding against the aftermath of internal battles and preventing external peeping and detection. It isolates the disturbances caused by fights, among other things.
Being invited to such a place in the middle of the night, itâs no wonder Reiger thought the other party intended to engage in a direct confrontation.
If one were to indulge in a conspiracy theory, some might even suspect that a trap has been laid here, and once Reiger steps inside, heâll immediately be trapped by the barrier, surrounded by an army with no escape.
At least, thatâs what Lilith thought, even Liz was quite worried, while only Ellie and Leo thought worrying about the safety of this monster Reiger was a complete waste of emotion.
"With his strength, he can walk freely even in the Hidden Land; except for the Priests, no one can do anything to him."
"Instead of worrying about him, we should worry about whether weâll be attacked again tonight."
Thatâs what those two said.
As for Reiger?
He was absolutely unconcerned, truly attending the meeting alone and unarmed.
And indeed, the worries of Liz and others were much ado about nothing.
When Reiger entered the arena, there was only one person present.
Long ice-blue hair reaching the waist, ice-blue pupils, dressed in a knightly outfit convenient for movement, exuding a cold aura, holding a longsword that appeared like ice crystals...
Such a girl, seemingly of the same age as Reiger, stood with her back to him, swinging a sword.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
There were repeated swings, neither hurried nor slow, each slash simple and unadorned.
The swinging appeared unremarkable.
The slashing seemed plain and unsophisticated.
This sword dance couldnât even be called training; it looked more like lazy play.
Yet, with each unremarkable swing, each plain slash, Reiger raised an eyebrow.
"With each swing, an imperceptible cold forms on the blade,"
"Every slash carries with it the potential to change direction and form at any moment."
"Goodness..."
Reiger looked at the cold young girlâs eyes with a changed expression.
"To have made such great progress in such a short time?"
It seems that there is a reason this woman could become a legend.
"Swish!"
After swinging her sword again, the intensely focused girl stopped, closed her eyes, seemingly savoring the myriad changes and experiences brought by the recent slashes, arranging her thoughts, and preparing for further improvement next time.
After a long while, the girl opened her eyes, turned around, and looked at Reiger.
"ââââ"
Instantly, the gazes of the man and woman met in the center of the training field.
The manâs eyes were calm.
The womanâs eyes were cold.
No sparks flew, and no hostility arose, as though looking at someone completely unrelated to themselves, making it hard to believe that not long ago, the two had engaged in combat in the underground magma zone.
"Charity Himalafuzz?"
After a moment, Reiger spoke first.
"Should I call you that, or should I address you as âIce Maidenâ?"
There was a hint of sarcasm in Reigerâs voice.
But the female Martial God who had previously introduced herself as âIce Maidenâ in front of ReigerâCharity Himalafuzz remained composed.
"Itâs just a name, call me whatever you like."
The âIce MaidenââCharity said expressionlessly.
"Whether a templeâs holy envoy or the captain of the Queenâs Knights, thatâs all me."
Charityâs words made Reiger chuckle again.
"Thatâs not all, is it?" Reiger glanced at the sword in Charityâs hand and said, "The so-called National Guardian Divine Weapon in your hand, to my knowledge, seems to be the Inheritance Sword passed down by the Tistis Kingdomâs royal family through the generations, whose history can even be traced back to the Tistis family of the Ancient Magic Civilization Period."
"That sword, on par with Reinnaierâs Holy Sword, is another legendary Holy Sword, known as the Ice Sword, the Sword of Servants, the Sword of the Lake."
"In modern magic civilization, itâs said that this sword could only be used by the founding queen of the Tistis Kingdom. For hundreds of years thereafter, successive members of the Tistis royal family have failed to successfully pull it out."
"You being allowed to hold this sword, is it not merely because you are a templeâs holy envoy or because you are the captain of the Queenâs Knights, right?"
Reiger spoke indifferently.
"Perhaps, should I address you as the Princess of the Kingdom?"
Just like the Moslo Sword can only be used by a descendant like Liz of Reinnaier, so too can only a descendant of the Tistis lineage use the Inheritance Sword.
The National Guardian Divine Weapon passed down through the royal family from generation to generation is not something ordinary people can casually come into contact with, much less receive permission to wear it at their side after drawing it.
There is only one possibility, Charity is also a descendant of the Tistis family, a member of the royal family.
Therefore, Reiger began to be sarcastic.
One must know, the ancient ruins of Reinnaier were built by the Tistis family, and after Yuloli died, it was the survivors of the Tistis family who buried her.
And Charity, as a descendant of the Tistis family, actually led the temple people to dig up the tomb of the king where her ancestors pledged their loyalty; nothing could be more worthy of irony.
Unfortunately, this time Reiger was mistaken.
"I am the templeâs holy envoy and the captain of the Queenâs Knights, but not the royal princess." Charity said coldly, "The Tistis familyâs survivors arrived in this Northern Polar Regions and became the oldest, most mysterious, and strongest tribe here. Under the first queenâs maneuvering, they were incorporated into this country, spreading their branches throughout."
"The royal family is the direct bloodline, while I am merely a descendant left by a sidelined branch long since destitute, the bloodline of which has long been exhausted, with even the surname abandoned."
A descendant of a long-fallen branch with an exhausted bloodline?
Impossible, right?
An exhausted bloodline, how could it be possible to still gain royal permission to draw the Inheritance Sword passed down through the royal family for generations?
"The reason is actually quite simple."
Seeing Reiger frown, Charity didnât hide it, directly giving the answer.
"I am a rare atavistic inheritor, my bloodline experienced a reversion."
This is the true reason behind everything.