ALL NOVEL Chapter 24: Return to Siria
Having promised to help Lilien, Luo Wei began devising a plan to get them back to the city.
The two knights had suffered severe internal injuries and wouldn't regain consciousness anytime soon. Their horses had fallen prey to the monster, leaving them without transportation.
Luo Wei only had one horse, and there were five people here. She couldn't possibly make three of them walk back, could she?
It was over sixty kilometers from here to Siria City, so walking back wasn't a viable option either.
"Troy, can you take them back?" Luo Wei looked at Troy.
Ever since learning of Lilien's royal identity, Troy's aura had grown cold. Only when he heard Luo Wei's question did he turn his head: "I can. Please give your orders."
Luo Wei was surprised by his demeanor. What had gotten into Troy?
But with Lilien still nearby, she couldn't inquire further: "Then please take them to the city first."
Troy gave her a long look: "Understood."
He pulled out a thin cord from his collar, on which hung a bone whistle, and gently blew into it.
The whistle's sound was clear and melodious, with strong penetrating power.
While Luo Wei was still wondering about the purpose of the whistle, Lilien excitedly tugged at her, pointing towards the sky.
Soon, a dark shadow appeared overhead.
"A griffin, it's actually a griffin!" Lilien exclaimed in disbelief, covering her mouth.
Luo Wei curiously looked up. The dark shadow grew larger and larger, finally flying over their heads. It turned out to be a creature with a giant eagle's head, a lion's body, and massive wings.
So this was the griffin from Western mythology?
That Troy, having such an impressive mode of transportation and not using it, instead making the two of them ride a single horse for such a long distance!
Luo Wei glared at Troy, who looked back at her, puzzled.
The griffin flapped its wings, stirring up gusts of wind above their heads, before slowly descending next to Troy.
It folded its wings and stood up, towering at twice Troy's height, with the body of a lion but the shape of an eagle.
Troy stroked the griffin's neck fur, making it lie down, then hoisted the unconscious knight onto the griffin's back before looking at Luo Wei.
Luo Wei understood immediately and said to Lilien, whose face was flushed with excitement, "Your Highness, please get on."
Lilien hurriedly replied, "No need to be so formal, Luo Wei. Just call me Lilien."
Luo Wei obediently nodded, "Alright, Lilien."
She helped Lilien climb onto the griffin's back, as Troy didn't seem like the type to be gentle with ladies, given his cold demeanor.
After Lilien was seated, Troy pulled Luo Wei up as well, protecting her as they stood by the griffin's right wing.
Accompanied by a clear bone whistle sound, the griffin spread its enormous wings and took to the sky.
As expected of a legendary creature, it could fly so steadily even while carrying five people, and at such a high speed.
The wind howled, and Luo Wei could barely keep her eyes open. If it weren't for Troy protecting her, she would have surely tumbled off by now.
Lost in her thoughts, she felt like she had forgotten something, but couldn't quite put her finger on it at the moment.
"Lilien, are you going to Siria Magic Academy?" Luo Wei asked loudly, fearing her voice might be drowned out by the wind.
Lilien raised her head and asked with some hesitation, "Do you know of any place where we can stay? I'd like to rest and freshen up first!"
She was covered in mud and reeked of a foul odor, not wanting to appear before so many people in this state.
Moreover, Robert and Vincent needed a quiet place to recover, and they had no accommodations at the academy.
Hearing Lilien's response, Luo Wei felt relieved.
She didn't want to return to school either at the moment. Although she had just realized that she might have misinterpreted the divination results, what if she hadn't? What if there really were holy knights at the academy?
"Then I'll take you to the small courtyard I bought in the city first!" she shouted back.
Lilien nodded gratefully.
Carrying the five of them, the griffin swiftly flew back to Siria.
Luo Wei looked down at the miniature version of the city below, her feelings mixed.
It had taken over three hours to escape, but only thirty minutes to return. The difference was staggering!
Wait a minute, she finally remembered what she had forgotten – where was her horse?
As they flew over the small courtyard, Troy crouched down and stroked the griffin's wing. The griffin turned its head to look at him, showing a human-like understanding, and slowly descended.
Luo Wei heard Bella's scream from the courtyard below; she must have been terrified.
After the griffin landed in the courtyard, Luo Wei was the first to jump off, comforting Bella who was crouching behind a flower bed, trembling: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. This is Troy's mount, it won't hurt anyone."
Roman also ran out from the house, his face lighting up with joy when he saw her: "Young Miss, you're back!"
Luo Wei smiled and replied, "Yes, I promised you I would, so here I am."
Roman raised his little hands and jumped on the spot, letting out an excited cheer.
Seeing this scene, Troy's eyes softened once again.
Lilien slid down from the griffin's wing and looked around the small courtyard, her face showing a hint of surprise.
Such an exquisite and spacious courtyard must have cost a fortune, further convincing her that Luo Wei's background was not ordinary.
Troy lifted the two knights down and placed them on the ground, then mounted the griffin's back again.
"Troy, where are you going?" Luo Wei noticed his movement.
Troy paused, straightening up: "I'm going to fetch the horse."
"Oh, then hurry back," Luo Wei waved her hand.
It was getting dark, and leaving a horse alone outside could easily lead to it being attacked by wild beasts.
Troy breathed a sigh of relief and quickly rode off on the griffin.
He disliked royalty and didn't want any contact with them.
Luo Wei turned back to instruct Bella, asking her to go out and find two strong helpers to come back. The two knights were big and heavy, and the women and children here were either too weak or too small to move them.
If only she had known to ask Troy to bring them into the house before leaving; he had lifted those two men as easily as if they were chickens.
Fortunately, Bella quickly called for help, and people came to carry the knights into the rooms.
Luo Wei then sent Bella out to buy some clothes. Both she and Lilien were covered in mud, stinking and almost pickled like salted fish.
Little Roman helped to boil water, and soon they were all able to take hot baths.
After changing into clean clothes, Luo Wei came to the living room.
Lilien had finished bathing even faster than her and was already sitting in the living room waiting.
"Lilien, why aren't you resting in your room?"
Luo Wei walked over quickly. She could see that Lilien's face was already very tired and had thought she would take a nap in bed first.
Lilien was indeed exhausted. She had fought the monster for a long time today, and then was almost killed after being swallowed into its stomach. Both her spirit and physical strength were nearly depleted, but she still had some questions she wanted to ask Luo Wei, so she forced herself to come out.
"Luo Wei..." she began, finding it difficult to speak. It wasn't right to ask such suspicious questions of someone who had saved her, but she couldn't rest easy without asking.
TBC