I can evolve everything

In the following days, the cold winds grew even stronger.

The three-person team struggled through the howling wind.

Finally, on the fifteenth day after leaving Tiemu Town.

A gloomy afternoon.

A gust of wind blew in from the north, but this wind no longer carried only the smell of dust; it also carried the scent of people.

Rein reined in his black horse, squinted, and looked ahead into the cold wind.

Where heaven and earth meet, a colossal shadow stretches across the land, cutting off the horizon.

That's not a mountain range. It's a wall.

A colossal fortress, tens of meters high and entirely constructed of black rock, stretches for dozens of miles across the wasteland, blocking the border.

Rennes could vaguely see that a watchtower stood every hundred meters on the city wall. Countless flags fluttered on the wall, and even from several kilometers away, the grandeur of the fortress could still be felt.

This is the Northern Fortress.

It was also the most solid barrier for the entire empire.

"arrive."

Karen took a deep breath.

He straightened his back, sat on his warhorse, and seemed to be reliving those days.

"Welcome to the edge of the kingdom, children."

The old knight pointed to the fortress, his voice sounding particularly deep in the wind.

"Do you see that? Every stone on that wall is a carefully selected black rock, stacked one by one."

As Raine looked at the fortress, he felt a chill run down his spine.

That wasn't fear, it was excitement.

His heart pounded powerfully in his chest, and the Black Rock Breathing Technique circulated within him, as if responding to the call of this colossus.

"This is the North..."

Renn murmured softly, tightening his grip on the reins.

His gaze passed over the towering city walls and turned northward.

"Let's go."

Karen spurred her horse, and the warhorse neighed and charged forward.

"Let's go, there's no time to lose, let's report on what happened in Tiemu Town as soon as possible."

The three riders sped off northward, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The closer they got to the black fortress, the more tangible the chill in the air became, with icy winds carrying shards of ice that seeped into every crevice of the armor.

Raine tightened the ties at the collar of his armor and looked up.

From a distance, it only appears magnificent, but only when you stand at the foot of this fortress can you feel the oppressive presence of this wall-like structure.

This is the border of civilization, the first and most solid shield for humanity against the monsters of the far north.

"Stop!"

Before the three of them could even get close to the fortress gate, a loud shout came from the city wall.

"Buzz—"

More than a dozen ballistae slowly turned around and locked onto the three uninvited guests below.

At the same time, a squad of guards carrying halberds emerged from the shadows of the city gate.

The leader was a burly warrior, and although only his eyes were visible, Renn could feel the chill emanating from them.

"This is a restricted area!"

The centurion pointed his two-handed greatsword directly at the three men, his voice coming through his helmet, sounding even more muffled and cold.

"Whether you are lost adventurers or wanderers from somewhere else, dismount immediately and submit to inspection! Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!"

That's the rule of the fortress.

To ensure the fortress's safety at all times, any living thing that approaches the fortress is considered an enemy first, and only a potential ally second.

Raine's hand instinctively reached for the sword hilt, an instinct he had developed over the past few days in the wasteland.

"Don't move."

Karen whispered a warning to him.

The old knight neither dismounted nor got angry; instead, he smiled.

"Still the same old temper. Looks like that old bastard Roger hasn't taught you a lesson yet, Thor."

Karen reached out and took off her hood, revealing a face that, though old, was quite rugged.

"It's been years since I last saw you, and your voice has gotten even louder than before."

The warrior known as Thor was stunned.

He stared silently at that face, then glanced at the greatsword wrapped in layers of cloth on Karen's back.

The murderous intent in his eyes gradually faded, and then he looked at Karen with considerable disbelief.

"Clang!"

The greatsword slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

Thor ripped off his helmet, revealing a rugged face covered in a thick beard.

He didn't bother to pick up his sword; he rushed to Karen's horse, knelt on one knee, and gave a knightly salute.

"Team... Lady Karen!!"

This roar caused a stir among the guards on the city wall who couldn't clearly see the faces of the people in front of the gate.

"Karen? Is that Iron Hand?"

"Oh my god, it really is him!"

"Didn't he retire? Why is he back?"

Whispers carried on the wind. The ballistae that had been aimed at them quickly lowered, their alert status lifted.

Karen dismounted and reached out to help Saul up.

"Don't call me 'sir' anymore. I'm just a retired old knight now," Karen said with a smile. "Is the Northern Fortress still so heavily guarded?"

"You're joking!" Thor exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement. "As long as you return, the gates of this fortress will always be open for you! If Commander Roger knew you were back, he'd jump off the command tower!"

He turned to the guards on the city wall and commanded, "Open the gates! Our Lord Karen has returned!"

The winches sealing the city gates turned slowly, emitting a loud rumbling sound.

Amidst the awe or curiosity of the surrounding soldiers, Ryan and Ella followed Karen as they slowly rode their horses into the steel fortress.

"It seems our teacher used to be quite authoritative," Ella whispered to Ryan. "Although I had heard about it before, seeing this scene is still a bit beyond my expectations."

Ryan didn't say anything, he just looked at Karen's straight back.

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 interior of the Northern Fortress is even larger than it appears from the outside.

This place is practically a machine built to defend the frontier.

The streets were lined with blacksmith shops, metalworks, and barracks. The sounds of hammering and soldiers drilling could be heard everywhere.

Even a simple auxiliary soldier carrying supplies by the roadside looks quite imposing.

This is the foundation of the Northern Knights, and also the importance the entire kingdom places on the magical beasts beyond the borders.

"Uncle Karen!!"

Just as they reached the edge of the inner city's training ground, a voice came from not far away.

A young knight dressed in light silver-white armor ran over from the training ground.

He looked to be in his early thirties and wore a griffin badge on his chest.

"Valen".

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Karen smiled.

He opened his arms and gave the young man a hug.

"Good lad, you've gotten quite muscular in the last few years. I heard you're the vice-captain of the Griffin Squadron now?"

"Of course!" The young knight named Valen rubbed his sore shoulder, unable to hide the joy in his eyes. "If I didn't make some progress, how could I live up to your teachings back then?"

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, his gaze passed over Karen and landed on Ryan and Ella behind them.

"Who are these two?"

"My two new students, Ryan and Ella," Karen introduced briefly. "I brought them here to meet you."

Valen sized up the two of them.

After carefully observing Renn and Ella, he nodded slightly. When he saw Ella's pointed half-elf ears, he didn't seem to have any prejudice against them. Instead, he showed an interested expression.

"Since they're your students, they must be elites," Valen laughed heartily. "Let's go! To the command post. It's windy here, not the place to talk. I've already sent someone to inform the regimental commander."