Chapter 814: The Third Young Master Of The Valheim Family
The final night of the harvest festival had arrived, and the celebration had reached its zenith.
News of the spectacular event had spread far and wide, drawing visitors from distant estates who had heard whispers of the legendary festivities that had been organized.
They came on carriages and horseback, on foot and in groups, their eyes wide with anticipation as they approached the glowing wonderland.
Because of this, the festival grounds were more crowded than ever before.
Stalls were packed with customers.
Rides had lines stretching for hundreds of meters.
Performers drew massive crowds that cheered and applauded with abandon.
The air was thick with the smell of sizzling food, and the electric energy of thousands of people having the time of their lives.
But because of this massive influx of visitors, the Holy Guard couldn’t spend their time casually like usual.
They were fully on patrol, their eyes sharp and alert as they monitored the crowds.
There had already been a few incidents—a pickpocket here, a drunkard there, a minor scuffle between rival merchants.
Nothing serious, thanks to the Guard’s quick intervention, but the potential for trouble was always present.
—
Aisha, Julie, and Skadi rode through the crowd on their horses, their gazes sweeping across the sea of faces.
They made an imposing sight, three of the most powerful warriors in the entire continent, clad in their distinctive armor, their presence alone enough to deter most troublemakers.
But despite the joy and celebration that filled the air, Julie and Aisha couldn’t help the sad expressions that lingered on their faces.
The search for Carmela had been fruitless.
They’d been in charge of the search parties, leading teams of knights through the surrounding forests and villages.
They’d questioned everyone they encountered.
They’d followed every lead, no matter how small.
But Carmela had vanished without a trace.
Aisha held a letter in her hand, Carmela’s farewell letter to her and her heart felt heavy in her chest.
She’d read it so many times that the paper was beginning to wear thin.
"I tried my best, Captain." She said to Julie, her voice heavy with frustration. "I used ancient magic to try to locate her through her writing. I thought maybe if I could trace the magical signature of the ink, I could find out where she went."
She shook her head sadly. "But somehow, she even managed to bypass that. I don’t have even a sliver of a clue where she is right now."
Julie let out a helpless chuckle. It was a sound devoid of humor, filled only with resignation and sorrow.
"There’s no need to blame yourself, Aisha. Carmela was an assassin. She probably knows every trick in the book to escape surveillance."
She looked at Aisha with kind eyes. "Even the small tracking spells you have, she likely knows countermeasures for them. Don’t underestimate a vampire who’s lived for over six decades."
Aisha bit her lip, her tail lashing behind her with barely contained frustration.
"But how could she just leave like that? I thought we were building something here—a connection, a family. I even gave her one of my wands to use!"
Her voice cracked slightly. "And then she just...goes away? Leaves a letter behind? How could she do that?!"
Her ears flattened against her head, a clear sign of her distress. She looked so aggrieved, so betrayed, that Julie felt her own heart ache in sympathy.
Julie let out another sigh, this one deeper and more weary.
"She probably had something very important to do. Something she couldn’t put off any longer."
She paused, gathering her thoughts.
"I know from the moment we saved her back then, she was growing more mellow, becoming a completely different person. Because of that I can say with confidence that she didn’t want to leave."
"She enjoyed spending her time here with us, with Cassius, with everyone by her side."
A flicker of confidence crossed Julie’s face.
"So the fact that she left means she’s going to do something big. Something very important to her that she simply cannot miss out on."
Aisha straightened up. "What is it then? If it’s really so important, why wouldn’t she ask us for help?"
We’re the Holy Guard—we can handle anything! Did she really think we wouldn’t help her?!"
Julie shook her head slowly. "Maybe it’s something we can’t help with. Maybe it’s something that would drag us into danger as well."
A look of realization dawned on Aisha’s face.
Julie continued. "So she decided to leave us behind. To handle it all herself, even though it meant breaking our hearts."
"That’s too much!" Aisha’s fists clenched. "How dare she take all our love and do something so selfish like that?"
Her voice was thick with emotion, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
"W-We gave her everything. A home. A family. Friends who loved her. And she just...she just threw it all away!"
Despite her angry words, her eyes were filled with sadness. She was hurt. Deeply, profoundly hurt.
Julie also didn’t respond. She was also in a terrible mood, her heart heavy with loss.
She and Carmela had grown close over the past few weeks.
This was because both of them regarded speed as the greatest weapon in their arsenal.
Naturally, that led to countless training bouts, each one a fierce contest to outpace the other. With every clash, they gained a deeper appreciation for one another’s skill, constantly pushing each other to new heights and sharpening their abilities.
Yet their favorite moments always came after the battles.
Sitting together, they would replay every exchange, laughing as they pointed out each other’s mistakes, debated tactics, and shared insights on how to improve.
Before either of them realized it, the time they had spent together had forged a genuine bond, bringing them far closer than either had expected.
And now Carmela was gone.
Julie’s gaze drifted to Skadi, who was riding just behind them.
The normally exuberant wolf girl was a shadow of her usual self. Her ears were completely drooped, her tail hung limp and lifeless, and her eyes—those bright, sparkling eyes were dull and unfocused.
She looked like a dog that had been left out in the rain, abandoned and heartbroken.
This was how she’d been for the past three days.
She’d cried non-stop, her tears soaking her fur. She’d barely eaten, barely slept.
Every time someone mentioned Carmela’s name, she’d flinch as if struck.
Skadi and Carmela had shared a special bond.
She had looked up to the older vampire, had seen her as something like a big sister. And now that sister was gone.
’Poor puppy.’ Julie thought, her heart aching. ’I hope she gets over this soon.’
She was just about to slow her horse and offer Skadi some comforting words—
—when she heard it.
A commotion. Up ahead. Angry voices raised in confrontation.
Julie, Aisha, and Skadi exchanged glances. All traces of their personal sorrow vanished, replaced by the sharp alertness of seasoned warriors.
They kicked their horses into a faster pace, riding toward the source of the disturbance.
As they approached, they were surprised by what they saw.
A crowd had gathered around one of the food stalls, a chicken shop, from the looks of it.
And at the center of the commotion was a disturbing sight.
A middle-aged food stall owner, a man who looked weak and terrified, was being held at sword-point.
The blade was pressed against his throat, so close that a thin line of blood had already begun to trickle down his neck. His face was ashen with terror, his hands raised in surrender.
The man holding the sword was young, probably in his early twenties and dressed in clothes so expensive that they probably cost more than the average commoner earned in a hundred years.
His purple hair was immaculately styled, his features handsome in a sharp, aristocratic way.
But his eyes were cold, lazy, and utterly lacking in empathy.
Basically, his face was extremely punchable.
He was the very incarnation of a depraved noble.
Everything the rumors said Cassius was, this man actually was—and worse.
Behind him stood a group of servants: a butler, several maids, and a small squad of knights who bore the crest of a prominent noble house.
None of them made any move to stop their master.
"How dare you?" The young noble snarled, pressing the sword even closer to the shopkeeper’s neck.
The man whimpered, fresh blood welling up.
"Do you know who I am!? Do you possibly know which family this lord belongs to!?"
Before the shopkeeper could answer, he continued, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"I am Darius Valheim, the third young master of the Valheim family! And you dare to try to poison me with your food?"
The moment the name left his lips, Julie and Aisha exchanged dark looks.
The Valheim family was notorious throughout the empire.
They were one of the founding families, the old blood, the ancient lineages that had helped establish the empire centuries ago.
While they no longer held significant political or military power, their ancient prestige still afforded them a certain level of protection.
They were also infamous for their corruption.
The Valheim family treated their commoners like cattle, taxing them into starvation while they lived lives of unimaginable luxury.
They ignored laws with impunity. They did whatever they pleased, whenever they pleased.
And Darius Valheim was one of the worst of the lot.
He was known throughout the region for his depravity—he’d kidnapped countless women, murdering anyone who tried to stop him.
He’d never faced justice, because his family’s influence always protected him.
He was the true version of what everyone believed Cassius to be.
The shopkeeper was trembling, his voice barely a whisper.
"My lord, I don’t dare to do something like that! I haven’t poisoned you at all!"
Darius scoffed. "Then explain this chicken wing you fed me! The moment I put it in my mouth, my mouth started burning and my stomach started aching! That’s definitely poisoning, is it not?"
The shopkeeper shook his head frantically.
"My lord, I informed you that it was a spicy chicken wing! I warned you from the very beginning that you wouldn’t be able to handle the spice!"
Darius’s face twisted with rage.
"What? Are you blaming me? Are you telling me that I—a noble of the Valheim family am such a weakling that I can’t even handle a little spice?"
"No, no, my lord, I didn’t mean—"
"Silence!" Darius’s voice was cold. "Your excuses bore me. All I know is that you tried to poison a nobleman. A man who deserves respect and obedience from every commoner here."
His eyes scanned the crowd arrogantly. "And for that, you deserve death."
He raised his sword high, ready to bring it down.
But just then—
"Young Master Darius, I think you should stop right there."
Darius froze. He slowly turned, his arrogant expression shifting to one of surprise and annoyance.
"Who dares to disturb this lord—"
He stopped mid-sentence as he realized who was addressing him.
It was Julie, flanked by Aisha and Skadi. The three knights had dismounted and were approaching with measured steps.
Aisha was at the back, holding Skadi back by the arm. The wolf girl was absolutely furious—her fangs were bared, her tail bristling, and her eyes blazing with barely restrained violence.
She’d been in a terrible mood even before encountering this arrogant noble, and the sight of him tormenting a commoner had pushed her to the edge.
Aisha was the only thing preventing her from tearing Darius apart on the spot.
Darius, for his part, seemed to realize he was in a precarious position.
Even though the Holy Guard served the Holyfield estate, their reputation had spread far across the continent. They were known to be fierce, honorable, and absolutely deadly.
Especially the three leaders.
He was not stupid to provoke such a powerhouse, so he quickly lowered his sword before a charming smile spread across his face, a smile that only made Julie feel more disgusted.
"Oh, if it isn’t Miss Julie, the Captain of the Holy Guard!"
He bowed slightly, his eyes scanning her figure with obvious appreciation.
"I’ve heard of your reputation all throughout the land. They say you’re a powerful swordswomen, but also a beauty without equal."
"And it seems the reputation is no lie at all."
His gaze lingered on her curves, even through her armor. He licked his lips like a predator who had spotted prey.
"Truly, you are a beauty that knows no limits."
Julie’s expression remained impassive, but her eyes had gone cold. Behind her, she could feel Skadi vibrating with barely restrained fury.
Darius’s eyes shifted to Aisha and Skadi, and his smile grew even wider.
"And it seems that Aisha, the Seer of a Thousand Battles, and Skadi, the Wolf Who Paints Herself Red, have also arrived."
He clucked his tongue in mock sympathy. "It’s truly a pity. With how beautiful both of you are, you would be much better suited as my maids."
"The amount of money I would spend on you would be far more than you could ever earn as simple knights."
His tone was condescending, dripping with arrogance.
"And of course, I would give you something else as well. Especially when both of you come at the same time."
The implication was clear. Disgusting. Revolting.
Skadi let out an actual growl, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Let me go!" She snarled. "Let me tear him apart! I’ll rip his tongue out and feed it to him!"
"Skadi, calm down!" Aisha grunted, struggling to restrain the enraged wolf girl. "He’s not worth it!"
But Darius wasn’t done. He opened his mouth to make another snide comment when suddenly—
A wave of killing intent washed over him.
It was so intense, so focused, that his body froze instinctively. Goosebumps rose on his arms.
