I can evolve everything

The next morning.

The carriage axles had been freshly greased, and Fitz was stuffing the last piece of luggage into the carriage.

"Young master, these dry rations should be eaten sparingly, lest they get damp," old Fitz instructed in a nagging manner.

"Remember to write home at least every six months, as the master instructed. If that Sir Karen bullies you, you... well, you'll just have to put up with it."

Ryan chuckled and patted the old butler on the shoulder: "Don't worry, Fitz. I'll take good care of myself."

Lina stood at the bottom of the steps, clutching a small cloth bag tightly in her hand.

She quickly stepped forward only when Ryan was about to get into the car.

"Second Brother."

"Hmm?" Renn stopped in his tracks.

Lina shoved the small cloth bag into Renn's hand.

It was a roughly made amulet, crafted from some kind of animal bone, with the Wilder family crest crookedly engraved on it.

"I made this." Lina turned her head away somewhat shyly.

"Although I don't know enchanting, this bone is a tooth from a gray wolf I hunted on my first hunt. My father said that the loot from your first hunt brings good luck."

As Renn stroked the bone fragment, a warmth welled up in his heart.

"I will always wear it." He put the amulet into his inner pocket.

"And..." Lina looked up and met Raine's gaze:

"Next time we meet, I'll definitely show you how much I've improved. I won't lose to you."

"I'll wait." Rein reached out and gently ruffled Lina's hair this time. The girl didn't pull away, but her eyes reddened slightly.

Linus was still standing at the door, dressed in hunting attire, seemingly ready to patrol the territory at any moment.

He didn't walk down the steps, but nodded to Renn from a distance.

"Let's go."

Ryan turned around, got into the car, and closed the door.

With a soft shout from the driver, the carriage slowly started moving, its wheels rolling over the gravel road as it gradually disappeared into the distance.

Through the car window, Ryan watched the Wilder mansion recede into the distance, and his family members standing at the door watching him go, until the morning mist swallowed everything up.

He turned his head, leaned against the carriage wall, and gently closed his eyes.

In my mind, deep within the [Misty Corridor], the text about the "Black Rock Breathing Technique" was emitting a faint glow.

A new journey has begun.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The road to Sunset City wasn't too difficult, especially since the carriage was being pulled by a gentle and incredibly stamina-rich mixed-breed horse.

This glossy black mixed-breed horse was specially chosen by Lennar before his departure.

It doesn't have the temperamental nature of a thoroughbred warhorse, nor is it as cumbersome as an ordinary draft horse.

This horse has a broad frame and strong limbs; its name is Rye.

For someone like Renn, whose riding skills are currently limited to "being able to sit on a horse without falling off," rye is simply the perfect partner.

Two days had passed by the time the majestic Sunset City rose again faintly from the distant horizon.

The cold autumn wind blew across Mirror Lake, causing the flags on the fortress in the sunset city to flutter in the morning light.

Unlike the last assessment when so many people gathered at the entrance, Dawn Castle seemed rather deserted at this moment.

The candidates who failed had long since dispersed, leaving only the stationed knights and busy servants.

Raine, holding Heryl's hand, showed the apprentice knight badge to the guards at the door.

The guards were noticeably more respectful than last time, and they saluted and let us through.

A month ago, Karen had arranged to meet at the stables below the west tower.

The place was sheltered from the wind, and the air was filled with the mixed smell of hay and horse manure. For those about to embark on their journey, this smell made Renn feel much more at ease.

Ryan arrived not late; there was still half an hour before the agreed noon time.

But he wasn't the first to arrive.

Beside the stable fence, a slender figure stood with her back to him.

That's Ella Moonshadow.

The only one of the two "same-year students" to pass the test was wearing a dark brown leather armor today, a color that provides excellent camouflage in forests and swamps.

She had a one-handed sword that was rather long for her size tucked into her waistband.

Her long red hair was casually tied back, revealing half of her pointed ears.

Hearing the sound of hooves, she didn't stop what she was doing and greeted Ryan in a friendly manner: "I thought you would come in one of those carriages with velvet cushions, young master of the Wilder family."

Her voice was clear and bright, giving people a sense of vitality like that of a lark.

Ryan tied the rye to the post next to him, took a handful of beans from his saddlebag and fed them to the horse, then patted its neck.

"Those carriages can't outrun dire wolves." Renn turned around and looked at the girl's back. "Besides, if you're referring to the last assessment, I think the title 'pragmatist' suits me better than 'young master.'"

"Ha, pragmatist."

Ella turned around and threw the brush into the bucket, splashing a few water droplets.

"Using those underhanded street tricks to pass Sir Karen's test was actually quite effective. Do you know what some people in the Knights call you behind your back now?"

"What should I call you?"

"Rain, the 'Eggbreaker'." Ella couldn't help but laugh, revealing a pair of sharp little fangs:

"It is said that the clerks who were in charge of taking notes had nightmares for several days afterward, and in their dreams they were always clutching their crotches."

Ryan shrugged, looking completely unperturbed.

"Reputation is like mud on the bottom of a boot; it wears off as you walk. As long as the result is good, that's all that matters."

"Good attitude." Ella leaned against the railing, casually pulled a green apple from her pocket, and started eating it.

"But I'm curious, how do you, the second son of a sheriff, know those tricks? Did your family's aristocratic education include how to smash someone's head with a stool in a tavern?"

"I'd say I'm... self-taught," Raine said without offering further explanation.

He glanced at the sword at Ella's waist and changed the subject: "As for you, I thought all races with pointed ears liked to shoot arrows from a hundred meters away."

In the stereotypes of Raine and this world, elven blood means archer or druid.

A half-elf wielding a sword is as rare as a dwarf learning embroidery.

"Stereotypes are a disease, and they need to be cured." Ella swallowed the fruit in her mouth and lightly flicked the hilt of her sword with her fingertip.

"Bows and arrows are too noisy, and that's something only cowards use. The feeling of only being able to watch the enemy fall from afar, without even smelling the blood..."

She narrowed her eyes, and her playful expression instantly turned somewhat dangerous.

"That's so boring. I prefer the feeling of steel being driven into the bones."

"Very unique," Ryan commented.

"Besides, bows and arrows are expensive, you know!" Ella changed the subject:

"A well-made armor-piercing arrow costs fifty copper coins. If it misses or can't be retrieved, it's like throwing money into the water. A sword is different. As long as it doesn't break, it can be sharpened and used for several years."

"...That is indeed a very practical reason." At this moment, Raine was finding it difficult to deal with the overly lively and outgoing girl in front of him, and just casually responded to Ella's rambling conversation.

"Your horses are pretty good." Ella suddenly changed the subject, pointing to the rye who was chewing beans:

"Northern horse crossbreeds have good stamina and are not picky eaters. They are much easier to care for than those thoroughbreds that can only eat concentrated feed."

"My family chose it," Ryan said. "I don't know much about horses."

"It's okay if you don't understand, there's still a long road ahead." Ella finished the apple in a few bites, casually tossed the core into the air, then drew the short dagger from her waist and swung it around.

The fruit pit, suspended in mid-air, was precisely cut in half and fell to the ground.

She sheathed her sword with fluid, graceful movements.

"Following Karen, we'll probably be spending most of our nights in the wild. If you don't even know how to shoe a horse, you'll be left behind."

At that moment, Ryan's attention was drawn to the two halves of the fruit pit on the ground, and he did not immediately respond.

That's a really fast knife.

And it's not the kind of flashy speed, it's the kind of speed without any unnecessary movements.

This seemingly lively and talkative half-elf girl is definitely not to be underestimated.

"I will learn," Ryan said calmly.

As the two were talking, footsteps came from the direction of the tower.

"You seem to be having a good chat."

A hoarse voice rang out. Sir Karen appeared in their field of vision.

Today he wore a black trench coat over a chainmail vest, paired with canvas trousers and high boots.

He carried the two-handed greatsword on his back, with only the black hilt showing.

He looked tired, with puffy eyes.

"Sir." Ryan and Ella immediately stood up straight and gave a knightly salute.

"Alright, stop putting on this show in the street." Karen waved his hand impatiently. He walked to the manger, and without caring about the dirt, scooped up a handful of cold water and splashed it on his face, rubbing it vigorously, as if trying to wake himself up.

Water droplets dripped down his short, gray hair and stubble.

"Is everything ready?" Karen casually dried her hands on her trench coat and glanced at the two of them's luggage.

"Yes."

"Hmm, the stuff they brought isn't too stupid." Karen glanced at the blanket peeking out of Ryan's saddlebag and the water pouch at Ella's waist:

"At least I didn't bring anything that's all show and no substance. Last year, some idiot brought a whole set of silver cutlery, and it got stolen by goblins in less than a month. He almost lost his life in the process."

"I really don't know how this guy passed the apprentice knight exam."

He took a parchment scroll from his pocket, unfolded it, glanced at it, and then put it back.

"Listen, kids. Now that you're wearing that badge, I'll get a word in edgewise."

"First, I am your mentor, not your babysitter. In the wild, I will walk at the front. But if you fall behind or get stuck in a swamp, don't expect me to stop and pull you out."

"Secondly, uphold the laws of knighthood. Do not oppress civilians, and do not ambush human warriors, except, of course, monsters and unreasonable thugs."

"Third, and most importantly."

Karen walked up to Ryan, her stubble-covered face close to his.

"Don't ask why. Whether it's sending you to kill a rabbit or jumping into a dung heap, loyalty is a knight's virtue, and a novice knight should be loyal to the knight he follows."

Raine met the old knight's gaze without looking away.

"Understood," Raine replied calmly.

"Understood." Ella also dropped her playful demeanor, her voice clear and crisp.

"very good."

Karen straightened up, and the serious expression on her face gradually relaxed.

"That old bastard Linus wrote to me, saying that although you're not very bright, you're quite clever." He patted Ryan on the shoulder.

"I hope he's telling the truth. After all, people with sharp minds usually die later."

After saying that, he turned and walked deep into the stable, leading out a tall warhorse.

It was a pure black heavy warhorse from the North, clad in light horse armor, with fierce eyes, and it even tried to bite the ear of the horse next to it.

"Mount up."

Karen flipped and leaped onto the horse's back, her movements so agile that she didn't look like an old woman at all.

He simply squeezed his legs together, and the warhorse obediently began to move.

"Where to, Sir?" Ella couldn't help but ask.

Karen didn't turn around; she simply pulled her hood tighter, covering half her face.

"Head north." His voice came from under his scarf, somewhat casual. "As for where exactly... we'll just go wherever we end up."

"No destination?" Ella blinked and spurred her horse to follow.

"Now this is what traveling is all about." Karen loosened the reins, and the irritable black horse seemed to sense its owner's mood. Although it was still snorting, its pace became much steadyer.

The old knight turned around and looked at the two young men behind him.

"Don't frown so much, Ryan." Karen pointed to Ryan, who was packing his saddlebags and preparing to catch up.

"As long as you remain my followers, I'll hold up the sky if it falls. All you need to do is stay by my side."

Renn paused for a moment, then subconsciously relaxed his furrowed brows.

"This sounds... easier than I thought."

"Easy?" Karen chuckled, pulled a water pouch from her pocket, tilted her head back, and took a swig. "That's for now. When things really get tough, you'll miss this. Alright, keep up, don't fall behind on day one."

The three men and three horses slowly drove away from the sunset city along the main road.