From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 439 The Harpist

Not everyone is harmed or suffers from delirium or mental disorder because of the existence of the Shadow Curse.

At least Shadowheart felt quite comfortable while moving around in the Curse of Shadows.

“This must be Lady Shar’s blessing. She’s protecting me, while the others will face her wrath.” Shadowheart looked at her teammates standing in the dim torchlight and stretched her arms and legs with a hint of smugness.

The adventurers served as the vanguard and rearguard of the team, responsible for clearing paths and keeping watch on pursuers. Originally, these adventurers, who bore important responsibilities, carried torches, vigilant against enemies that might leap from the shadows at any moment. However, after Shadowheart discovered Shar's blessing upon her, things began to take an unbearable turn for some.

Especially noteworthy are the three at the very front of the procession: Rose's former paladin Minsara, the priest Shadowheart Shar, and the former chief druid Halsin.

The three of them shared no common beliefs, especially after Minsara betrayed Rose.
“You should at least look up and see what your goddess has done to this land,” Halsin said with disgust. He had fought and won against the followers of Shar on this land, but in the end, he had failed to protect anything.

Because of Shar's wrath and the existence of the Shadow Curse, even though the Harpist and the Green Garden won the war, they were unable to completely drive Shar's power out of this land.

“Cheer up, Master Halsin.” Shadowheart smiled mischievously, but those who knew her knew it was a prelude to spraying venom.

Sure enough, she pointed to a grove of twisted trees and said, “I know you don’t like Ms. Shar’s darkness, but look—there are trees over there!”

“Don’t mock me in a place like this—especially after it took everything from me. You’d better show some respect and not force me to take action.” A deep voice came from Halsin’s throat, making it hard not to think of the low growl of a beast before it attacks.

"Really? Then I must say, the way you attacked was quite frightening." Yingxin didn't say anything more. In a verbal dispute, whoever gets angry first loses.

“These twisted plants are still alive.” Minsara swung the Life and Death Sword and severed the branch in front of him. “Katheric once led his army through this land, but each time he had to send men to clear a path. After goblins and ogres passed through covered in blood, these trees almost instantly returned to their previous state.”

“If what you say is true, then perhaps it means that the natural spirit of this land has not completely died…” Halsin carefully examined the broken branch, hoping to find concrete evidence. “Perhaps I can find a way to heal the wounds of this land…”

Drow smiled dismissively: "The Shadow Curse is an obstacle for us, but it's the same for Katheric. He certainly never imagined that one day Shar's blessing would become poison for him. He initially wanted to gather that bastard army around the Tower of the Moon, but after the Shadow Curse devoured a tenth of his soldiers, he had to change his mind."

“Shadows can turn the living into undead creatures, and even True Souls are powerless to resist.” Minsara’s tone remained arrogant. “If you truly wish to restore this land and break Shar’s Shadow Curse, it will have to be after we destroy the Supreme God. Otherwise, the army of Som will mercilessly overwhelm us.”

Halsin suddenly laughed: "It's ironic that we have to rely on Shar's protection to operate within the enemy's territory."

“I think we should stop chatting.” Shadowheart, standing not far away, had already raised her adamantite shield. “The terrain here is too narrow, and there are high platforms on both sides. If we are ambushed halfway through, the whole team will be cut in two!”

In addition to the shadowy curse that hangs over this land, the twisted plant roots that grow rampantly beneath the ground have also caused great damage to this land.

The brick path was lifted up from below and broken into several sections along the direction of the tree roots. The flat land also became uneven due to the expansion and growth of the plants, as if it had experienced an earthquake that stopped halfway through.

The farmhouses originally built outside Resven were torn into several pieces by the altered terrain, each on a different level. This terrain, created after the anomaly, is the main culprit for the team's slow progress.

"I want to go up to that high point and take a look." Yingxin pointed to a dilapidated wooden house. The ground it stood on had been raised high by the twisted tree roots, with only half of the wall still standing. Even so, it was enough to shelter some people with ulterior motives.

“I will cover you with magic.” Halsin raised his oak staff. “Druids do have some ranged spells after all.”

Climbing up the withered branches on the stone wall, Yingxin quickly stood on the level of the wooden house. But before she could raise her shield again, a sharp metallic scraping sound suddenly rang out. It was the sound of a blade being drawn from its sheath. Then, a human male wearing leather armor jumped out from behind the broken wooden wall.

"Stop right there! You better not wiggle a muscle!" he yelled. "Who are you people?! What are you doing here?!"

"There's an ambush!" Minsara shouted, hoping to warn the team behind him, but they were still far from the main force and couldn't see the protective shield that Ivy had created with the Guardian Charm.

"Don't be impulsive!" Halsin had excellent eyesight and had already recognized the badge on the man's chest. "They are harpists!"

"I told you! Don't move!" The harpist, whose identity had been recognized, hesitated for a moment, but still raised her weapon to threaten Shadowheart, who had not yet fully stood up.

However, the latter seized this momentary opening and lunged forward.

In real combat, such stunts are extremely dangerous because they mean exposing your vulnerable back to your opponent.

However, Shadowheart has a broad, heavy shield of refined gold on its back, and ordinary weapons cannot break through its defenses.

Sure enough, the harpist's steel sword only left a trail of sparks on the adamantite shield before Shadowheart knocked him to the ground with a shoulder strike.

As he tried to turn over and stand up, Reverend Shar's favorite monstrous hard-headed hammer was placed in front of him.

"Tell your companions to lay down their weapons!" Shadowheart gripped the handle of her shield with one hand, bracing herself for any arrows that might come from behind, while simultaneously shouting to the other harpists still in the shadows that she now had a hostage, "We are not the enemy!"

“But you don’t seem like good people either!” A female harpist with long curly hair slowly emerged from another platform, holding a crossbow in her hand. “What are you doing here? Are you here to pledge allegiance to the Supreme God?”

“Before we begin our conversation, I suggest you light your torches,” Halsin said, waving the torch in his hand. “Whatever you intended to ambush, it would be extremely foolish not to rely on a light source for protection.”

As if to confirm Halsin's words, a mournful wail suddenly echoed from the boundless darkness: "Ah—"

Then came a cacophony of whispered conversations; if you listened carefully, you could only discern mockery and curses.

"Damn it!" the long-haired female harpist cursed, immediately ordering her men, "Ceasefire for now! Quickly raise the torches and move towards the center! At the same time, take a headcount!"

Scattered replies came from all directions, and torches were lit one after another. The harpists had deployed far more troops in this area than the adventurers had imagined.

No matter the time, the number of people and the flames can bring a sense of security.

The harpist, who had fallen to the ground, breathed a sigh of relief and, with Yingxin's help, got up and began to fumble for his flint and steel. But as soon as he reached into his pocket, he quickly asked, "Where's your torch? Or some kind of fire starter? I must have lost my flint and steel in the fight!"

"I don't usually call being captured in one encounter a battle." Yingxin shook her head irritably, while a flame appeared in her hand, lighting his torch.

Shadowheart is a half-elf, inheriting the magical talents of high elves from her father's bloodline. Although it's not enough for her to manipulate magic networks, she can still light a flame in her hand and throw it at people.

"Two people are missing! Sunderland, the Beacon of Light!" a long-haired harpist, emerging from the thorny bushes, reported loudly, issuing orders. "Jonas and Megan are both gone!"

As an intelligence organization dedicated to overthrowing tyranny and upholding equality, the Harpists' Alliance also has a clear class division to facilitate the transmission of orders.

The highest rank is the High-Rank Harpist, followed by the Fourth-Rank Wise Witch, and then the Beacon, the Harp Shadow, and the Sentinel.

Sunderland, now in the third tier, is undoubtedly a mainstay of the Harpists' League.

Unfortunately, this adventurous mission yielded no results and resulted in the loss of two teammates.

“Stand with us, harpists,” Halsin urged eagerly. “It is better to gather the light of our torches together than to be scattered by the shadows.”

Sunderland was still hesitating when another harpist screamed.

"There's a shadow moving in the darkness!"

"Move! Move! Get to flat ground!" Sunderland waved his torch, directing his men, while staring at the badge of the Father of the Oak on Halsin's chest and asking, "You'll fight alongside us, won't you, Druid?"

“Of course,” Halsin nodded, glancing back at the path they had come from, “but we need to rejoin the main force first.”

"Damn it! That's the opposite direction! We have to break through!" Sunderland shouted. "To the End of Light Inn, that's where we can stop these monsters from the darkness!"

The conversation in the darkness grew louder, and the invisible shadows began to materialize, like twisted figures with terrifying claws outstretched. They were only missing a tattered black cloak compared to Dementors.

The harpists saw their missing companions again in the darkness, but they had clearly been transformed into undead by the Shadow Curse, their eyes and mouths constantly emitting thick, smoky green mist, and their limbs were stiff and lifeless.

"Our swords aren't working!" a harpist cried out in terror. "There are so many of them, we're trapped here!"

Indeed, ordinary iron is no match for shadows. Unless it's a magical weapon or enchanted, a regular sword cannot harm these shadow monsters.

Sunderland quickly chanted the incantation, then waved his hand. A faint white light immediately enveloped the weapons of his companions.

Although this spell gave the harpists the ability to fight the shadow monsters, the monsters still outnumbered them.

"Trust me!" Halsin shouted to Sunderland, "Someone in our ranks knows how to deal with the Shadow Curse!"

"Get out of here! Coward!" Minsara's approach was far more brutal than the druid's efforts to gain trust.

She picked up a harpist who had fallen to the ground due to the attack of the shadow monster and threw him backward, the harp in her hand emitting a piercing scream.

The holy power of the Vow of Vengeance surged along the magical blade, making the Holy Slash far more convenient and direct than any enchanted weapon.

Standing on the high platform, Yingxin spun half a circle, throwing the adamantite shield in her hand, then raised her arms and loudly chanted the name of Shar, summoning holy flames to descend from the sky, illuminating the darkness and killing the enemy.

After the sacred flames quickly vaporized the shadow monster's form, she caught the swirling shield, then jumped off the platform and fought her way back with her comrades.

“…Pastor Shar?” The harpist, who had been taken hostage by Shadowheart, muttered to himself in disbelief. In fact, he had begun to have doubts when he saw the emblem on Shadowheart’s shield, but now that he heard Shar’s divine name, he was completely certain.

It's not fair to blame him for being inexperienced; who would have thought that a priest like Shar would be at odds with shadow creatures in Shar's territory?
"Harpists, follow the druids!" After only a moment's hesitation, the shadowy creatures emerging from the darkness began to close in and surround them. Sunderland knew he couldn't delay any longer and quickly ordered a breakout in the opposite direction of the End of Light Inn.

"Monsters here too!" The harpist's cry of alarm was cut short by another voice, "...Am I seeing things? Why am I seeing the sun?"

“It’s an illusion! Don’t get distracted!” Sunderland loaded the crossbow with a bolt and reminded him without turning his head.

But Halsin, who was already half-transformed beside her, suddenly stopped and returned to his original form: "No, it's not an illusion."

"What nonsense are you talking about..." Sunderland was startled by the golden light that flashed behind him before he could finish speaking.

It was a pale golden light, like morning mist, which formed a magnificent golden wave in the dark and cursed land.

The negative emotions that had been weighing on the harpists' hearts vanished under the soothing light, replaced by determination and joy.

Sunderland watched as the grotesque shadowy monsters melted and vanished like snowflakes falling into a fireplace, leaving not a trace. He also saw the undead creatures transformed from his former comrades suddenly fall, and the dark power that had driven their corpses had dissipated into nothingness.

Sunderland couldn't help but turn around to look, but could only see a god-like handsome figure in the backlight.

He rode atop a golden unicorn, raising his right hand high, radiating boundless light.

The ghosts and evil spirits that sprang from the darkness had nowhere to hide before him, and all turned into dust and thin smoke.

“By Io…” Sunderland murmured in a daze, “Is he an incarnation of some deity?”

(End of this chapter)