CHAPTER 47: THE EASTERN EMPIRE 3

(Third Person POV)

The sun began to rise, slowly casting its golden rays across the horizon, bringing with it the beginning of a new day in this ever-changing world.

Year 2032, July 15, according to the global calendar.

In the Eastern Empire, in a small baronial city located in the south, the calm before the storm settled over the atmosphere.

In one of the hotel rooms with a classic style, furnished with simple furniture and warm colors, two individuals sat on a comfortable couch facing each other, each holding a tablet and staring intently at their respective screens.

"Alright, from the information we have, there are three cities where the White might be currently located."

Said a woman with long black hair cascading neatly down her back. She wore a white metallic mask that concealed her entire face, revealing only her sharp, focused eyes that radiated intensity and seriousness.

"Hmm, three cities..."

Responded the boy sitting beside her with a calm and confident voice. His mask covered the lower half of his face, highlighting his uniquely colored eyes that gave him a mysterious and distinctive appearance.

"It’s better if we split up and search separately so we can cover more ground. If either of us finds any clue, we’ll contact the other immediately."

"That’s what I was thinking as well."

The woman replied in agreement, her eyes moving between the data displayed on her tablet.

"Good. Before we go, let’s share our live locations. That way, if anything happens, the other can immediately know the exact spot."

Said the young man as he pulled out his sleek, metallic-colored smartphone.

The woman took out her phone as well, and both silently shared their live locations in a quiet moment filled with caution and planning.

"Alright, I’ll head out first."

Said the woman firmly, then stood up swiftly and silently.

She exited the room with quick steps, and as soon as she crossed the threshold, she began to run at a superhuman speed—so fast she vanished from sight, as if she had never been there.

Orlax watched the woman disappear for a moment before she completely vanished from his field of vision.

Then, he stood up calmly, gathered his few belongings, and placed them carefully into a small black bag beside him. He donned a long black cloak that covered his body entirely, adding to his shadowy, mysterious appearance, and set off as well.

’If I keep running at this pace, I’ll arrive in three hours... But if I use this...’

Orlax thought to himself as he stood atop one of the tall buildings, the wind blowing violently against his black cloak.

He closed his eyes slowly, focusing on the magical energy flowing steadily within him.

[Magic Control Activated]

His body began to float gradually in the air, as if defying the laws of gravity that bound everyone—everyone except him.

He opened his eyes slowly to find the ground receding beneath him, the city growing smaller from his elevated viewpoint.

’With this, I’ll be much faster.’

[Fire Magic Activated]

Fiery wings blazed into existence on his back, irregular in shape yet majestic, emitting a burning glow and an awe-inspiring beauty all at once.

’Perfect. Let’s test top speed.’

He took a deep breath and leaned his body forward as the wings started to move with intense force.

BOOM!

As soon as he launched, a massive shockwave erupted behind him, producing a deafening sound as if the very air had been torn apart. In an instant, Orlax disappeared from his spot and reappeared roughly seven hundred meters ahead.

"Wow... This speed... Almost twice the speed of sound... But..."

He said aloud, pausing momentarily as the wind still raged around him from the aftershock of his velocity.

He started moving again, every burst from him leaving behind a shockwave that rattled the air.

"It’s not useful in combat... I can only move forward... what a shame..."

He whispered as he steadied himself and temporarily shifted his focus from the thrill of speed.

Orlax dismissed the thought and refocused on his target, flying at top speed toward the intended city.

After about an hour, he descended a few miles from the city, avoiding unnecessary attention or disturbance.

The fiery wings vanished from his back, and his body stabilized. He began to run at a moderate speed toward the city.

A few minutes later, he reached its outskirts and started moving quietly through the crowd, blending in without raising any suspicion.

This city was unlike any he had seen in the Eastern Empire.

There were no defensive walls, no iron barriers, nor massive gates to protect it. It seemed completely open on all sides, as if it had no fear—or no value.

It was significantly less developed than any city he had visited before. Even its streets were narrow and more dirt than asphalt.

It looked more like a small rural village than an actual city.

There were hardly any cars on the roads, and no towering billboards or digital signs like those in the big cities.

The buildings were simple, low-rise, made of wood or stone in a traditional style.

The atmosphere was strangely quiet. People moved slowly, as if time itself passed more slowly here than anywhere else.

A peaceful, simple city, pulsing with stillness from every direction.

Orlax began searching everywhere for any clue that could lead him to "the White."

He wandered through narrow alleys, markets, and side passages, closely examining faces, looking for anyone with white hair or anything that might resemble his target.

He stopped to ask locals if they had seen a man with white hair wearing a mask.

Most simply shook their heads in denial.

He entered every tavern, one after another. They were all humble—some barely more than wooden tables and sagging ceilings, filled with the scent of alcohol, sweat, smoke, and conspiratorial whispers.

He checked the small inns—barely worthy of the name—asked the staff, and checked guest logs, but found nothing.

As time passed, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with shades of orange and violet, signaling the end of a long and exhausting day.

After hours of non-stop searching without rest, Orlax had found no trace of the White.

He walked to one of the old wooden benches on the side of the road, sat down slowly, and took out his phone from the small bag at his side.

"No luck on my end... How about you?"

He said in a quiet voice as the screen’s cold blue light illuminated his face.

"I’m still searching... If I find anything, I’ll call and inform you."

Came the woman’s calm voice from the other end, as steady as ever.

"Alright. I’ll move on to the third city."

Orlax said as he returned the phone to his bag, then stood quietly, brushed the dust off his black cloak, and set off once more without looking back.

On the other side, the witch had arrived at the second city a few hours earlier.

She wandered through the noisy streets, filled with the cries of vendors, the laughter of children, and the clamor of taverns.

But amidst all this noise, there was one place that was utterly different.

In a narrow, dark alley, hidden from view, far from the eyes of passersby, there was a scene entirely unlike the rest.

Several men’s bodies lay on the ground, covered in blood, some still frozen in terror, their eyes wide open. The air was thick with the scent of blood and death.

In the center of this bloody scene stood a woman wearing a dark cloak and a mask that concealed her face, but her eyes gleamed with a cold, deadly light.

She held a large man by the neck, lifting him into the air with just one hand, as if his weight meant nothing to her.

"Speak now... or you won’t live to see the sun rise."

She said in an eerily calm voice, as if talking to a close friend, though her words carried a threat of imminent death.

Tears streamed from the man’s eyes, wide with terror, his hands flailing in a desperate struggle to survive.

"Khgggh... I-I’ll t-t... talk... l-let... me go..."

He choked out in a broken voice, trying to breathe.

She slightly loosened her grip, not letting go, but giving him enough room to catch his breath.

"Talk."

She repeated, her voice still composed.

"He... came to this city... two days ago... but I don’t know... if he’s still here or left... I swear... that’s the truth!"

The man pleaded for his life, his eyes shaking as he stared at the woman who had slaughtered his comrades in a blink.

"Very well... then die now."

She said coldly, as if delivering an ordinary command.

Before the man could react, her fingers crushed his throat with a single squeeze.

His lifeless body dropped to the ground like a discarded sack of garbage.

She stared at him for a moment before whispering in a low voice, as if speaking to the wind:

"Enjoy these days, White... Death is coming for you from where you least expect it."

She turned calmly and walked out of the alley with steady steps, merging into the crowded street once more, vanishing into the crowd as if she had never been there.