Published at 29th of January 2026 7:02 am

Chapter 1454: A Gentle Melody

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The caravan moved slowly along the narrow dirt road, wheels pressing softly against gravel and fallen leaves as it moved through the forest.

Supply wagons carrying crates and sealed chests rolled in careful formation, never straying too far from one another.

Every member of the caravan was a Magus. Their eyes constantly swept the tree lines, and their senses extended beyond sight alone. Detection spells were cast, threads of mana woven and unwoven as they probed for hidden threats.

Orc raiders or cultist scouts, either could be lurking among the dense foliage.

A teenager at the Mana Foundation Rank couldn’t help but yawn and lazily scratch his head. After constantly being on alert, he was beginning to feel bored and sleepy.

"Snap out of it!" The leader of the caravan, a middle-aged Mana Liquefaction Magus, hissed at the youth. "Never lower your guard, boy!"

The teenager snapped awake. "Y-yes, sir!"

Needless to say, the atmosphere within the caravan was tense and heavy. No one spoke louder than necessary. Everyone was on edge, ready to react at the slightest disturbance.

In the last few years, their secret battle with the Cult had gotten increasingly tense. It wasn’t abrupt, but a slow, grinding escalation, one that seeped into every corner of the Brotherhood’s operations.

Even the Acolytes and the Agents at the bottom of the hierarchy could sense that something was amiss. Assignments were changing. Patrols were being doubled. Messages were being delivered with stricter scrutiny. And familiar faces were beginning to disappear without explanation.

No one spoke of it openly, but everyone felt it. Moreover, it didn’t help that the higher-ups didn’t do anything about the growing dissidence. Or at least, that’s what it looked like.

Powerful Mana Core Magi, who had governed the organization from the shadows for centuries, were dying one after another. First came Gerald Acadia, betrayed by one of the rising stars of the secret order. Then Vulwin Preskian, assassinated by Gerald Acadia’s own protege.

In short, the Twilight Brotherhood was in complete disarray.

Thinking about how the secret organization he served was slowly collapsing into chaos right before his eyes, the leader of the caravan, Lebu Potts, couldn’t help but complain inwardly.

This is not what I signed up for, he sighed.

Once this assignment is over, I’m applying for leave and going back to my family for a while. Hopefully, the Wardens will approve.

But before that, he needed to ensure the supply caravan safely reached the designated safe house in Springdale.

And judging by how often the Brotherhood’s supply caravans were being attacked by Cultists, not for a moment did Lebu believe that this journey was going to be uneventful.

Just as Lebu swept the forest ahead for signs of ambush, a distant sound reached his ears.

It was the soft, melodious notes of a flute.

Lebu instantly felt a shiver run down his spine. The melody drifted through the trees, carrying effortlessly across the dirt road. One by one, the Acolytes in the caravan heard it. Their shoulders loosened, and their breaths steadied.

The tune was beautiful, soothing in a way that felt almost intimate, as if it was meant for everyone who listened.

Lebu’s eyes narrowed. Rather than relaxing, he became extremely alert. Music had no place in a place like this, definitely not in a forest known to be the playground of orcs. And anything that could put trained Magi at ease so quickly was far more dangerous than silence.

"Stay sharp!" Lebu muttered under his breath, his words causing the other Magi to stiffen.

The flute continued to play. It was sweet, inviting, and beautiful.

Upon Lebu’s signal, the caravan came to a gradual halt. The group of Magi quickly took cover, hiding the carriages with magic and erecting barriers around them for any sudden attacks.

Then, Lebu and two Mana Foundation Magi separated from the caravan, heading towards the source of the melodious sound. Their plan was to first observe and then act accordingly.

They moved swiftly and silently between the trees. Leaves barely rustled beneath their feet as magic dampened their sound and presence alike. With every step, the distant flute grew clearer.

At last, the trees thinned. Lebu raised a fist, bringing them to a stop at the edge of a small clearing. Beyond it, sunlight spilled onto the open ground, and there... the source of the music awaited.

And what the Magi saw took their breath away.

At the center of the clearing, a dusk-skinned youth sat calmly atop a low boulder. A wooden flute rested against his lips. His fingers moved in smooth motions, drawing out a gentle melody that carried through the air.

Animals had gathered around him. There were deer at the edge of the clearing, birds perched on nearby branches, and small forest creatures sitting unafraid at his feet. None were afraid of him. They were drawn by his warmth and beauty. And they all listened in harmony.

The boy’s features were soft and composed. Wavy black hair fell loosely around his face, held back by a simple scarf wrapped around his forehead. His lotus-shaped eyes shone with brown brilliance.

A long breechcloth was wrapped around his waist and legs, making him as someone who belonged to the wild rather than passing through it.

When Lebu’s gaze settled on the boy, he had this strange feeling that the boy was one with nature. The way the birds and animals looked at him with longing suggested that he was one of them.

Who... who the hell is this kid? Lebu snapped out of his daze.

And what’s he doing playing that damned flute in the middle of the forest? Doesn’t he know, it will draw out—

His thoughts came to a standstill when his fears came true.

The dusk-skinned boy suddenly stopped playing the instrument. He lowered his hand and softly sighed. A moment later, all the birds and animals around him scattered, as if sensing danger.

And a moment after that, the sound of heavy footsteps and hungry snarls rose from the edge of the clearing.

Shadows shifted as a group of orc raiders emerged from the treeline. They were tall, broad-shouldered, scarred, and armed with crude blades and clubs. Their eyes locked onto the boy sitting on the boulder, and their snarls twisted into savage grins.

The boy turned to them and flashed a mischievous smile.

"Ah, you’re early," he said gently. "I was just finishing the song."

Share