Mounted on horseback, looking at the devastation of Twilight City, Queen Mary asked Alfonso beside her, "How many more days can we hold out?"
Alfonso opened his mouth, trying to think of a suitable number, but he soon realized that he had no answer at all.
Mary didn't press further. She glanced back at the sorrowful faces of the citizens and said softly, "They say this is the end of the world."
Alfonso said softly, "Even the longest night will eventually give way to dawn."
Mary kept her head down, so her expression couldn't be seen: "If the stars fall and the sky collapses, what meaning will dawn have for us Old Oathtakers?"
After a long silence, Alfonso finally said, "His Majesty... will not abandon us."
Mary looked up, her delicate face concealing an unspeakable sorrow: "You and I both know him. Todd would never abandon us. I'm certain he's somewhere in this world, fighting against fate with his life..."
Looking up at the blood-red sky, tears welled in Mary's eyes. She whispered, "The end of the world is near, and Todd has been out of contact for so long. What I fear most is that there is another possibility."
Alfonso looked at Mary with confusion, pondering the other possibility she had mentioned.
Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he raised his voice: "Impossible!"
Mary looked at Alfonso, her eyes filled with uncontrollable sorrow and despair: "I hope I'm wrong."
Alfonso looked at Marie, his hand holding the reins of his warhorse trembling slightly.
The group then arrived at Muxi Square.
Mary looked at the familiar royal city in the distance, then suddenly dismounted and slowly walked in another direction.
Alfonso turned his horse around to catch up with Mary and said, "That's not the way to the capital."
Mary said softly, "I know... I need to go back; there are some things I must take with me."
Alfonso, riding his horse, blocked Mary's path and said in a low voice, "The undead will soon enter the city. The royal city will be the last line of defense. Getting there first is the most important thing!"
Mary slowly raised her head, and on her beautiful and delicate face was a determination that Alfonso had not expected.
"My lord knight, some things are far more important than life itself, aren't they?"
Upon hearing Mary's reply, Alfonso froze, momentarily at a loss for words.
Mary gave a slight bow to Alfonso on horseback, then turned and walked to the end of the street without looking back.
Watching the woman's disappearing figure, Alfonso gripped the reins tightly, remaining motionless on his horse for a long time.
Suddenly, he made up his mind, turned his horse around, and galloped into the city.
Alfonso raced through sunken, collapsed streets and through gardens littered with ruins, finally reaching a low hill in the city of Twilight.
Located in the heart of Twilight City, this hill stands out starkly from the surrounding urban areas, like an isolated island.
Alfonso dismounted and slowly walked towards the top of the hill.
On the hill, there are towering trees with lush foliage, endless green grass and wildflowers, and... hundreds of tombstones standing silently.
Alfonso recognized most of the names on these tombstones; the vast majority of them were members of the Knights of the Order who were buried here after their deaths in battle.
There was only one exception.
Alfonso climbed to the top of the hill and followed a moss-covered stone path to two tombstones in the hilltop garden.
One of the tombstones reads: "Adelina Sari Wilmot, an upright, humble, and courageous lady. She faced the injustices of fate head-on and never backed down. She gave her life to awaken a knight from hatred and prejudice."
Another inscription reads, "Leslie Monoz, my dearest friend, may his soul be forgiven."
Alfonso stared in astonishment at the two spotless tombstones, noticing that the bouquets in front of them had just been picked.
A short, stout man carrying a kettle and a shovel suddenly emerged from behind the tombstone.
The short, stout man smiled at Alfonso, seemingly having been waiting for him to appear.
Alfonso stared at the short, stout man with a full beard and asked uncertainly, "Walton?"
The man whose name was called put down his weapon, laughed, opened his arms, and hugged Alfonso tightly.
Alfonso looked down at his former partner, overwhelmed with emotion, and asked, "Why are you here?"
Walton released his hand and pointed to the tombstone: "This place needs to be taken care of; they need companionship."
Alfonso asked, "Do you know what's happening outside the city?"
Walton nodded.
Alfonso then asked, "You know it's not safe here, right?"
Walton nodded again.
Alfonso pointed towards the royal city: "The kingdom has a sanctuary there to shelter its citizens and defend against the undead. You must set off now, immediately..."
Walton grinned and said, "I'm not leaving."
Alfonso paused for a moment, then emphasized, "The necromancers will soon..."
Walton pulled Alfonso toward a large tree not far away, where crossbows, ammunition, and swords and shields were neatly arranged on the ground.
Walton looked at Alfonso and repeated, "I won't leave."
Alfonso looked at the short, stout man in front of him. The man's smile no longer showed any fear of death, but only a calm acceptance of life.
Walton then led Alfonso behind the two tombstones, where two newly dug graves were located.
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