The next morning, a thin mist still drifted through the gardens of Crow Candle Castle.
Isolde raised her wrist, where the Corona Band gleamed faintly against her skin.
Dark red specks of light drifted out from the band, slowly condensing into the silhouette of a unicorn in the garden clearing.
Moon stepped out from the mist.
A faint, dark red glow flowed through its fine coat, and its horn was sharp and beautiful, like a short spear charred by fire.
Isolde took out her bone comb, stood beside it, and slowly began to brush its mane.
At first, Moon just stood there quietly, but then, as if finding it comfortable, it lowered its head a bit.
Its mane was very smooth, a mix of dark red and a faint, translucent white. Once combed, it draped over the side of its neck, making the beast look much softer than when it had first appeared.
Isolde casually divided its mane into several sections and braided them into thick plaits.
Moon seemed to really like this hairstyle.
It shook its head, turned in a half-circle, and swished its tail back and forth while letting out a few soft whinnies.
Watching its antics, Isolde felt her mood lift slightly.
“I'm going on a long journey this time,” she said softly. “Would you like to come with me?”
Without hesitation, Moon nudged her shoulder.
Isolde raised a hand to stroke its face, her gaze falling once more upon the horn atop its head.
This horn was far too conspicuous. Riding it out like this would be like driving a Ferrari through a sleepy village.
She would probably get targeted and ambushed for her gear before she even reached Grey Oak Village.
Just as she was worrying, a line of text floated before her eyes.
【Contractee Moon requests to share skill: Witch's Mask】
Isolde paused.
She hadn't expected that passive skills could be shared.
Moon nudged her gently again, as if urging her to agree.
She quickly accepted the request in her mind.
A layer of faint light flowed from the Corona Band, slowly settling over Moon.
The light around Moon rippled like water. Its horn gradually vanished, and its dark red coat darkened bit by bit.
In the next second, a tall, beautiful black steed stood in the garden.
It had a sleek build and strong shoulders, its black coat gleaming softly in the morning mist.
The only things that remained were the freshly braided plaits. It seemed it really did love its new look.
Isolde walked around it a few times, finding the transformation more and more fascinating.
Moon proudly tossed its head, swishing its tail even more cheerfully.
The shared 【Witch's Mask】 combined with the Corona Band completely concealed its holiness.
Ordinary people wouldn't notice anything amiss.
Other adventurers would only think this black horse was high-spirited and had an exceptionally shiny coat.
As for high-tier professionals who actually possessed a keen eye...
They likely wouldn't believe that such a black horse was a mutated Mooncrown Unicorn.
Seeing that she planned to ride out, Lia quickly fetched a saddle from the storage room.
The saddle had been well-preserved, with thick leather and intact metal buckles.
Lia told her it was a piece of loot seized in the past. As for how that loot had been acquired, Isolde didn't need to guess.
She didn't dwell on it, simply taking the saddle and working with Lia to secure it onto Moon.
Moon was highly cooperative throughout the process, merely twitching its ears without moving a single step.
She had ridden a unicorn once before in the illusion, and with Moon's cooperation this time, she quickly grasped the knack of riding.
Isolde returned to her room, where Lia had already prepared everything she needed for the journey.
A dark grey cloak, a set of riding clothes and boots, and a pair of black fingerless gloves.
Isolde changed into the clothes and stood before the mirror.
The Radiant Ring was still on her finger. With a slight twitch of her finger, a strand of Soul Thread wrapped around the ring, suppressing its outer radiance.
From the outside, it looked like nothing more than an old ring.
The Corona Band around her wrist was also hidden by the fingerless gloves.
The black leather pressed against her skin, perfectly covering the band's position.
She placed the 【Secret-Peeking Button】 on her collar, just in case.
She then carefully packed away the map, potions, coin pouch, and several Mercenary Guild badges.
Rena's badge was placed separately into an inner pocket.
She also brought the poisoned shortsword.
However, now was not the time to switch identities.
From Crow Candle Castle to Grey Oak Village, judging by the distance on the map, it would take at least a few days of travel.
Along the way, she would pass through the old trade route, dead forests, and several abandoned post stations. There was no telling who she might encounter.
Putting on Rena's face too early might easily expose a flaw if she ran into someone who knew her along the way.
The best approach was to travel under the identity of a rogue mage first.
Once she neared Grey Oak Village, she would switch to the "surviving" Rena.
Isolde picked up an unremarkable staff and looked up at Lia.
“I'll leave the castle in your hands after I depart.”
Lia immediately bowed her head.
“Please rest assured, Milady. I will do everything in my power.”
Isolde nodded, then suddenly remembered something and instructed:
“Keep the grey mist boundary on low alert. If ordinary travelers get lost, just guide them out. For those who barge in with weapons, use the gold coin test.”
“As for the greedy ones, you know how to handle them.”
Lia quietly noted the instructions.
“Yes.”
“If high-tier professionals arrive, do not engage them head-on. It's best to make them leave on their own. If they force their way in... trap them in the illusion formation and wait for me to return and handle it.”
Lia fell silent for a moment, then murmured:
“Understood.”
Isolde did a final check of her belongings.
Finding nothing missing, she walked out of the room.
The heavy castle gates slowly groaned open.
The morning's grey mist poured in, and a damp wind carried the scent of rotting leaves from the dead forest.
Moon was already waiting by the entrance.
Now disguised as an ordinary black horse, its forehead mane fell forward, perfectly covering the spot where its horn used to be.
Upon seeing Isolde emerge, it lightly stamped its front hooves, seemingly excited.
Lia followed close behind her.
Several faceless servants stood quietly on either side of the porch, bowing slightly.
Isolde transformed her appearance into that of Yu Lingye.
Pulling up her hood, the trace of cold aura belonging to the castle's master was suppressed, making her look exactly like a rogue mage traveling alone.
Stepping into the stirrup, she swung herself onto the saddle.
Moon's back was very steady.
It possessed a quiet, reliable sense of strength that ordinary horses lacked.
Isolde gripped the reins and looked back at Crow Candle Castle.
The towering black castle stood in the depths of the mist, its spires silent and its windows dark.
The crest on the eaves gleamed with a cold light.
The equinox flower blooming on the crow's chest seemed to declare death, yet also celebrate rebirth.
Once, this place had been Valen's lair, but now it had become her safe house.
It was a subtle, complex feeling.
For instance, as she quietly gazed at everything before her, a strange sense of unreality and floatiness washed over her.
Only when she saw the servants bowing their heads to her did a solid sense of reality return to her hands.
Isolde's gaze slowly drifted back to Lia, her tone casual.
“I'll bring you a gift when I return.”
Lia looked up, her cloudy grey eye lighting up ever so slightly.
But that spark of light quickly dimmed.
She seemed to remember that she was merely a doll. While accepting orders was fine, anticipating a gift felt like crossing a line.
Thus, she lowered her head once more and said respectfully:
“Thank you, Milady. But please place your own safety above all else. I hope for your swift return.”
A ripple of emotion stirred within Isolde.
She gave the reins a gentle tug.
Moon set off, its black hooves stepping into the thin mist.
Lia stood before the gates, her skirt fluttering in the morning breeze as her right eye watched her quietly.
“Farewell, Master. May you have a safe journey and achieve your heart's desire.”
The faceless servants bowed in unison.
Around the castle, flocks of crows cawed, circling above the structure.
It had been a very long time since Isolde had heard words of blessing like these.
The feeling was incredibly foreign, yet long overdue.
With her back turned to them, she waved her hand. The grey mist slowly parted before her, revealing the gravel path that led to the old forest.
The black steed carried her through the mist, its braided plaits swaying gently in the morning breeze.
Her silhouette soon vanished into the thin mist.
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