The 14,000-strong Thornvile soldiers, gathered in front of Ardun, the bustling logistics stronghold of today, embarked on an expedition at the top of a great plain towards Ardun Castle.
The main army of Orkney, led by the Black Knight Norman, had shown the audacity to march westward towards the kingdom's western counties, attempting to invade them.
With the civil war ongoing, people were fleeing the country. This situation displeased Duke Louis of Orkney. Using this as a pretext, he launched a swift campaign westward, forcing the counts to submit, and was preparing to invade the Thornvile lands located in the southeast.
Lord Alfred, leaving the main army under Captain Knight Mikail in the north of his lands, aimed to seize Ardun Castle, which was located near his lands.
Ardun Castle had long served the kingdom well. It was a special fortress built by King Arthur against Morgana. Though it had lost its former glory, it remained a popular castle.
This castle had not been invaded in centuries, and this belief over time turned into a legend, making Ardun Castle a sacred place.
The legend was this: Ardun Castle, which even Morrigan could not take, was invincible and indestructible. Only the followers of destruction could obliterate it. If the followers of destruction managed to destroy it, then truly, it would be the end for us...
This legend still held popularity and was part of the propaganda of the Holy Mary Kings. If this castle was destroyed by Alfred, it would cause a great upheaval throughout the kingdom.
As Duke Alfred's thoughts wandered, he felt the gaze of the watchmen at Ardun Castle upon him. Despite some suspicious eyes, he noticed some of them still appeared proud and confident.
"What do they want?"
The Duke looked at Virgo, who stood by his side. As Virgo's eyes landed on the green flag displayed by the castle's watchmen, he immediately understood and turned to his lord.
"They are requesting a diplomatic meeting with Your Grace," Virgo said calmly. The Duke squinted his eyes, sensing something was off. He had heard of the old commander's reputation. It was said that he was a tough old man.
"Very well," the Duke decided. "Then we will give them what they want."
"As you wish..."
With two Sun Knights, Alfred approached the castle walls. Upon the opening of the gates, he came face to face with the old castle commander.
Castle Commander William emerged, with his faded white hair, short and sparse, and a tall yet frail demeanor. Unlike Duke Alfred, he had no guards behind him.
The Duke narrowed his eyes and looked at William with curiosity. There was no arrogance or pride in this man's eyes, only calmness.
"Duke Alfred," William said in a calm tone. Alfred responded with a calm look, maintaining a cold demeanor without dismounting from his horse. William smiled.
"You remind me of the proud Gawain from the old stories, Your Grace."
"Is that so?" The Duke raised an eyebrow at the compliment. Despite the words, it wasn't much of a compliment. The term "Proud Gawain" was often used in mockery due to the Thornvile family's notorious pride.
The descendants of King Arthur, who would never bow to anyone, including Gawain, were often ridiculed by others for their pride.
"It seems you have a lot of confidence in yourself," Lord Alfred said calmly. William smiled approvingly. "After all, this is Ardun. Even the capital is not as secure as this castle."
"You are right," the Duke smiled faintly. A trace of sarcasm appeared on his lips. "After all, I destroyed its towering walls and occupied the precious palace of the Kings."
William's eyes narrowed. He sighed, and a smile of resignation appeared on his face. "Look, I don't want war. But taking such a castle and regretting it later... this castle won't bring you any benefit."
"I don't want to occupy this castle, Commander," the Duke said, making William uneasy as he drew his Galentine sword and pointed it at him.
Sparks and supernatural vibrations echoed, and the ground shook. The castle, trembling like an earthquake, caused unease among everyone.
"Ha!!"
Lord Alfred angrily yanked his sword out and swung it down with tremendous force. The sword, with incredible power, caused the anti-magic barrier to tremble again as Alfred's Mana continuously flowed into the sword.
"Fall back! Fall back!"
The Galentine, Ardun castle's defense, began to collapse. A great hum spread across the area. Suddenly, the Duke's Mana expanded, and with a surge of fury, destroyed the anti-magic shield, causing a massive beam to crash into the wall.
As Galentine's glow shook the entire wall, the door was quickly destroyed. The wall was pierced, and the beam obliterated hundreds of soldiers. William, retreating wearily, regained his composure as he saw that the Sun Knights were quickly passing through the regenerating anti-magic.
"Attack!"
The Sun Knights, with their legs enveloped in Mana, stormed the castle with superhuman speed. Every soldier that crossed their path was ruthlessly slaughtered, and the Duke took a breath, stepping closer to enter the castle.
The anti-magic defense had healed, but it was too late. The Duke swiftly entered, and Galentine quickly became covered in thick blood.
Everything unfolded suddenly, and William had retreated deep within the castle. Even though the Ardun castle courtyard had been overrun, it still had a small inner keep.
All the magical doors were shut, and Lord Alfred's soldiers could not enter until the anti-magic closed. The anti-magic, which could only be destroyed from within, was an incredibly strong defense.
Its name only gave the illusion that it was a shield against magic, but it was not. It blocked everything with Mana in it, including potions, and even civilians who didn't know how to use Mana.
"If hiding inside won't save you..."
The Duke said coldly. He wasn't lying when he said he would destroy this castle. Alfred, who had prepared Galentine, effortlessly drove his sword into the ground with a hum.
As the sword half-embedded itself in the ground, Galentine shone even brighter and caused a localized earthquake. What the Duke was about to do was create a quake.
In the Aura world, the world's core was not a giant fireball. Instead, it was a natural element, like a large tree wrapped in a giant cocoon.
The core of Aure carried pure Mana from the depths of the world to the sky through its branches. The route of this transport was like a tree's branches, but it was massive.
Galentine was powerful enough to sever the branches of the Aure core. If one of the branches of the Aure core were forcibly cut, the pure Mana accumulated underground would cause a massive earthquake on the surface.
This was the cause of earthquakes in Aure. If the branches of the Aure core aged, they would gradually break apart, causing earthquakes, but these were typically rare.
Like the Duke, Agravain was also skilled at creating earthquakes. Unlike Alfred, Agravain achieved this by having large serpents gnaw at the underground branches, and although destructive, he saw this as merely wasteful.
But the Duke was different. It was an excellent tactic to destroy a place like Ardun.
"Everyone be ready."
As the Sun Knights followed the lord's orders, Alfred, with a fierce grunt, struck Galentine into the ground, and with his Mana, fired a massive beam downward with tremendous force.
A great hum echoed again, but this time, it was completely intense. As Galentine's attack struck the core's branches, the earthquake began to slowly make its presence known.
As the castle shook, the catapults set up by the Lord's soldiers were destroyed. Then, pulling Galentine, the Duke, with the Sun Knights, surrounded himself with a fiery shield as the intensity of the earthquake reached its peak.
As the legendary Ardun castle collapsed, the anti-magic defense fell, and with it, Ardun castle was destroyed forever...