The City of Marronligar

The reason why I have dedicated a chapter to describe the cemetery of Marenliga City is not only the responsibility of "completely recording the city", but also out of respect for the dead.This city is run by the living—no one can deny this; but looking back, it is generations of dead who have written the past of the city, even if it is just a trivial punctuation in the notes.When they passed away in different ways, the grave became the city's memory of them.

In addition to the private burials of nobles and businessmen, there are several public cemeteries in Marenliga: one is located at the foot of the city wall, very close to the barracks; It is also not so regular; the catacombs set up by the temple are not large in scale, but the management is very meticulous.As for those tombstones, whether they are blank or engraved with epitaphs in curly script, they are the last voices left by the deceased.

——Miscellaneous Notes of Silver Bay Tower·The Castle of the Dead

"Can I leave Master Cormac?"

Hearing Adrian's words, Samuel was quite surprised—this nephew seldom expressed his thoughts frankly, even if he was being asked to do something against his will.He pretended not to hear clearly: "What?"

Sure enough, Adrian immediately retracted his abrupt speech: "No, please forget about it."

He lowered his head and quickly left in front of Samuel, as if he was escaping from something.Samuel watched Adrian's back disappear into the corner of the stairs, thoughtfully.

The night was particularly difficult for Adrian.

It wasn't because of the wounds on his body—the family physician who was resident in the mansion had already stitched up his wounds, and the refined medicine was much milder than the medicine used in the temple; nor was it because of the moisture brought out from the sewer—before going to bed, Ai Derian took a bath on purpose, letting the hot water wash away the chill that soaked into his bones; not to mention the psychological shadow left by those vicious lightless ones-it is only right to destroy the products of the catastrophe, and it is even more important to free them from the curse. It is a sacred ceremony.

What made Adrian toss and turn was what Louis said to him and that short and flirtatious kiss.

——You are still young, I am afraid you don't know what it feels like.

The bounty hunter, who was 16 years older than Adrian, was once so close, his deep voice was scorched by the warm air, which made Adrian's cheeks burn.

One day ahead, in the open space of the barn outside the city of Marunliga, Louis held Adrian's hand and raised the bow | crossbow, while telling him how to draw the bow and string quickly, while confessing that he had a relationship with Mrs. Bella. dye.Even the reason for the confession is so casual: because you seem to care about "who is that".

Deep in the abandoned mine, in the cold sewer, Louis rescued Adrian twice at critical moments.The bounty hunter's double swords are so cold, as spicy as his words, making it impossible to forget the moment when the sword light pierces the darkness and faces death.

Adrian turned over and watched the moonlight slowly crawl over the window sill, leaving an untouchable frost and snow on the window sill.The old shirt that Louis lent him had been cleaned, and was hanging out on the balcony of the wing building with other clothes of the residents of the mansion, soaking in the windy moonlight.

Even though they were under the same moon and in the same city, Adrian couldn't understand what Louis was thinking.

Did you really like Louis?

Adrian was also afraid to face this question, and was afraid to find the answer.The reason is simple: he "shouldn't" have such thoughts.

He came to Marenlica for the sake of his family, and it was his uncle who arranged for him to follow Louis. He learned from bounty hunters how to survive in Marenlica, and acted as Samuel's eyes and ears around Louis.Although Luis had actually broken away from the association, it would be a betrayal of the family if he refused to side with Torreso and have such affection for him.

What's more, there is no shortage of people around Louis who are obsessed with him: Mrs. Bella, the young girl standing outside the hotel, and those young men and women who yearn for the legendary experience of bounty hunters.Lewis does have the capital to be favored.In contrast, except for his identity as a member of the Torreso tribe and a little talent affirmed by the patriarch, Adrian can't find anything to be proud of.

Facing conflicting emotions, Adrian didn't know how to deal with himself for a while.

"Wonderful, fanatical, as sweet as mead..." He recalled Louis's description of this emotion, whispered the erratic but extremely accurate vocabulary, and slowly curled up his body. "...also heartbreaking."

Adrian was very grateful for Samuel's decision to let him recuperate at home for a few days, so that he could justifiably not see Louis.As for what to do in the future, we can only take one step at a time.

The next day, the sun rose as usual, and everything was as usual in Maren Riga.It’s just that the family of three in the old house behind the temple left Shadu alone. He also decided to leave that house and move into the temple to live with other priests.He has lost everything but his own life and the memory of his loved ones, but life will go on.

As Sadhu knelt in front of the idol and prayed for the lost family, Louis Cormac was walking out of the house.

The association is located on the other side of the market, not too far from where he lives, and it doesn't take much time to walk there.Of course, in the past few years, Louis has basically never stepped into the door of the association.

When the lock was locked, Louis only felt as if he had missed something.He stood in front of the steps, stared at his door and thought for a while, only to realize that it was because Adrian didn't show up.

Although they didn't get along together for a long time, unconsciously, Louis got used to the young man coming to the door at a certain time, with the short sword he gave him on his waist, and asked him "what should we do today".Adrian's words and deeds were always a bit reserved, and he was so humble that he almost didn't look like a member of the Torresso family, but at certain moments he showed no inferiority to Samuel's fierceness and determination when he was young.

Probably because of what happened the day before, Adrian didn't show up as usual.There was no knocking on the door, no formal greeting, and no dangling serpentine coat of arms.

Louis sighed and shook his head to himself: Isn't that what he expected?The fewer people who have anything to do with him, the better, this is also for Adrian's sake.So this time, he would not wait outside the Feishi mansion, and the crossbow and dagger he gave away should be souvenirs for this young student.

With this in mind, Louis tried to persuade himself.He turned his back and walked towards the Bounty Hunter Association, as alone as before Adrian appeared.

As expected, what "greeted" Louis was still the white eyes and ridicule of his former colleagues, but it was not so obvious compared with a few years ago.Louis looked around and found that there were not many people present. Apart from the top figures of the association he knew before, there were also a few new faces, most of whom were radical newcomers who had been promoted in one go.

Louis stood opposite the crowd, as if he had returned to the period when he was impeached by radicals and was helpless.He lowered his head and knocked on the scratched edge of the round table. He only felt that the scene was very ironic, and even a little nostalgic: "What's the matter with calling an 'outsider' like me here, President Chu De?" ?”

Chu De, the current president of the Bounty Hunter Association, is a standard radical.Before Louis was forced to resign, as the vice president, he was the main force who united everyone to evade Louis and promote cooperation with the Governor's Mansion.Today, Chu De has been sitting firmly in the chairman's position for six years, and his attitude seems to be much more amiable than before, at least he has done enough superficial work.

Chu De's tone and tone already had a taste of the Governor's Mansion: "Let's not go around in circles, 'former president' Mr. Cormac. I heard that you and the patriarch of the Torresso family, Samuel, are old acquaintances. And it's very close."

Louis, who was obviously being targeted, shrugged his shoulders and was noncommittal—everyone present six years ago knew that Samuel had dragged the church to intervene in the association's infighting in order to save Louis' life and basic titles, which showed that the two must have died early. Have a personal relationship.

"Well, we only have one question." Chu De cleared his throat. "He is working with the church to secretly investigate the sacred artifact of Logmar that can end the catastrophe. How much do you know about this matter?"

Louis frowned, and asked, "What are you implying?"

Chu De clasped his hands, and the ring on his index finger as the president's token was very conspicuous: "I'm 'expressing' that what they did is not good for us. Just imagine, if the catastrophe ends here, and even the Lightless Ones disappear, What about the association—no, not just the association, all the bounty hunters?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you understand?" Chu De was very dissatisfied with Louis' attitude. "Let's be honest, just like mercenaries want war, we need catastrophe, all risks that bring wealth. Famine, plague, lightless and war are not good things, of course, but they are rice for bounty hunters Money and food, only peace will kill us."

Louis understood what Trud meant.

The world itself is a catastrophe - he has always thought so, the existence of Chu De and others is the best proof.Human evil thoughts are more terrifying than catastrophe itself.

At noon, Adrian, who left the mansion to go out to relax, met Shadu in front of the temple.

The young trainee priest sat alone on the bench in front of the flower bed, his tired eyes looked at the spire of the side tower of the temple, where there were a few resting seabirds.

Compared with yesterday, Shadu had an extra green stone amulet on his chest, and an old copper thimble beside the green stone.Out of sympathy for Shadu, Adrian walked over on his own initiative.

"Are you okay?" Adrian asked softly.

Shadu raised his head when he heard the sound, and immediately recognized Adrian: "Ah, I remember you, you were the bounty hunter yesterday." out of position.

When invited to sit down, Adrian explained: "I'm not a bounty hunter, but the other...student, maybe." He looked at Shadu's amulet and thimble, feeling a little more relieved and relieved. "What are you going to do next?"

"I... I plan to move into the temple and live with other priests and brothers. The place above the hall is where we live." Shadu lowered his head, probably thinking of his mother and brother again. "My family is gone, and it doesn't make much sense to stay there. After my father passed away, my mother took me and my brother to move into the city, which is probably the reason..."

Adrian smiled wryly, "I'm sorry, we couldn't do anything for you."

Sha Du quickly shook his head: "No, you have already helped me a lot, otherwise I would have died in the sewer yesterday."

Speaking of this, Shadu suddenly remembered the scene in the rest room, and asked Adrian with concern: "Is your injury okay?"

"It's much better. It may look scary, but it's actually not that serious."

Sha Du breathed a sigh of relief: "That's great..."

Although he has suffered many misfortunes, Shadu still habitually worries about others first, which Adrian admires very much.He remembered the promise made by the heretic judge Hagrid Sauron, so he asked tentatively: "The funeral of Ling Tang and brother Ling, the church should also arrange it properly."

Sadhu nodded. "Yes, the funeral will be in four days." He held the amulet hanging on his chest. "I plan to take the relics of my mother and elder brother back to the farm outside the city, and bury them with my father. Judge Sauron said that the outside of the city is not safe, and he will arrange for several teaching police to go together."

Adrian's hanging heart was relieved.It seems that although Judge Sauron has a serious style, he still has a generous side in his heart.

"The judge also commissioned stonemasons to help make two tombstones."

The trend of the topic is very heavy, but Shadu tried his best to cheer himself up: "I was still thinking about what kind of epitaph should be engraved on it, but when I think of other relatives around me, I feel that engraving only the name is enough. Also, I have to thank you for that 'heresy'."

Adrian was a little embarrassed: "I wanted to stop the master and tell him not to talk..."

"Actually, I also thought about it. Wouldn't it be better if I didn't know about it. However, at least I understand my brother's pain because of this, and this can be regarded as an answer." Shadu once again thanked Adrian. "Thank you for thinking of me so much."

"You're welcome, I just did what I thought I should do."

Adrian raised his head and watched the seabirds resting on the side tower of the temple set off again, flying high towards Silver Bay.

After coming out of the association, Louis spent the whole afternoon in the "Barque" tavern in the harbor area, and did not return to his home in the market until nightfall.Before opening the door, Louis knew someone was inside.

Candlelight was shining from behind the wooden window on the second floor, which showed that the uninvited guest did not regard himself as an outsider, and was specifically waiting for Louis to come back.For a moment, Louis thought it was Adrian coming, but immediately rejected his idea.

However, except for the excluded option of Adrian, Louis basically guessed who it was.

When walking up the stairs, Louis clearly felt that the room was much warmer than the outside, and the other party should have lit the brazier in advance.Pushing open the bedroom door, the scene in front of him really confirmed Louis' guess: the brazier in the center of the room was burning hot, and even a little wind blowing in the face was hot; Samuel was sitting on the wooden table with his legs crossed, his hands in his hands. He was playing with a delicate dagger.

Familiar footsteps gradually approached, and Torreso's patriarch raised his head, with a smile in his eyes, and greeted the owner of the house: "Yo, Luis."

Authors have something to say: Spark of Hope-Marvin Kopp, Andreas Makusev

The end of another side quest