The City of Marronligar

The sect's ability to take root at the beginning of the city of Malunliga was not entirely dependent on the inspiration of religion, but more benefited from wealth and force.At that time, the order was so rich that it could organize a well-disciplined army.For a new city-state, this is the best backing.As a result, the religious order became the earliest city defense army in Marenlica.

But in the face of changes in people's hearts, "eternal power" will come to naught.The control of the church gradually weakened, and the secular power of the city-state established its own garrison, and finally took the power of dominating Maren Liga into the hands of the Governor's Palace.Of course, facing the invasion of the Kurmans, the Governor's Palace also failed to have the last laugh.

So now, anyone can comment with hindsight: This may be the inevitability of history.

——Miscellaneous Notes of Silver Bay Tower: The Rise and Fall of the Order

Maren Liga has already rolled out the red carpet for the arrival of spring with a carnival.And in the far northwest of Kuno Continent, the cold winter has not yet left this land—or in other words, since the cataclysm 700 years ago, the Logmar region has never welcomed a real spring.

Snow has just fallen on the unnamed beach surrounded by steep cliffs. It is a vast expanse of whiteness, and it is hard to tell whether it is snow or sand.The rivers that stretch from the depths of the mountains to the sea have not yet fully thawed, and the streams meander under the translucent ice cover.The sand and gravel at the bottom of the water have been washed and polished countless times by time, and the round surface seems to be coated with a thin layer of cold light.

In order to avoid hitting the rocks, the Beacon, which arrived first, anchored a little farther from the shore, and the people on board boarded the beach in light boats.Except for a little effort in moving supplies and horses, the landing process was relatively smooth.When the Valkyrie arrived, Torresso's mercenaries led by Huta had already set up camp on the coast.

"This will be the No. [-] outpost for the Logmar expedition!" When mobilizing his men to explore the surrounding environment, rely on themselves, and use local materials to build the base, Huta impassionedly gave the camp the title.

Huta has always been good at inspiring people, and his clever words are basically the same; the crew of the Beacon are also used to traveling with him.This was not the first time they had done such an errand—during the never-ending sea exploration of the Beacon, the crew and mercenaries had already understood that the Kuno Continent was just a corner of this vast world.

Like a group of noisy passers-by, or visit different civilizations in different seasons, or stray into uninhabited wild lands.Looking for the moonlight and the Big Dipper in the crevices of the canopy of the dense forest, crossing the miasma-filled swamp with fear, walking to the nearest settlement with the camel caravan that came across...

The Beacon is like a walking megaphone, listening to unfamiliar voices along the way, and weaving the scattered fragments into a giant net with its flight path.

The unknown often brings danger, and danger brings fear.Beacon has always eaten fear as food, has encountered many dangerous situations, and knows how to face crises.

But this time the action in Logmar was different.

Most of the people on board had heard the legend of Logmar from Huta.These legends are half true and less frightening than pure fabrication.Fortunately, Huta, as the backbone of the Beacon, gave full play to his leadership talent, allowing the crew and mercenaries to work with peace of mind. Several camps were built sequentially from the seashore to the inland, providing support for Samuel and Hagrid's further exploration. be prepared.

The camp on the beach has been built, and half a day's walk along the Binhai River Valley is the No. [-] outpost that will be built soon.

As Huta saw last time, the natural environment in the coastal area is normal, and the most important water source can be safely used.In this uninhabited land, birds, beasts and vegetation grow wantonly, which brings great convenience to gathering food and wood. The mercenaries in charge of hunting are even ashamed to bully these simple prey with traps.

At this time, Huta was standing on the hillside of the coastal hills.Looking at the temporary outposts built with wood on the coast, Huta couldn't help but think: If people return to Logmar to settle down, build houses, roads, workshops, palaces, and city walls, from the lonely wilderness to the bustling city. How much time does the city need?

Another question is: How long will it take for the civilization to return to the wasteland?

This is probably the game between nature and manpower.So, when did people start to separate themselves from "nature"?This is a difficult problem that he has never thought about during his long journey.

Thinking of this, Huta couldn't help shivering.

"Captain, the Valkyrie has arrived." The first mate of the Beacon trotted over to Huta and handed him a telescope.

Through the small field of view of the telescope, you can see the Valkyrie with its sails furled.Beside the big ship of the religious order, small boats like fallen leaves are rowing towards the beach.

Huta put away the binoculars, and led the first mate down the mountain together: "Let's go, let's meet the two big men who are about to change Logmar."

Before getting off the boat, Hagrid noticed that Samuel was not in the right state.

It's not that Samuel was in a trance and his words and deeds were out of line, on the contrary, he was very conscious, and he was even in the mood to joke a few words with the teaching police brought by Hagrid.However, as soon as he turned his gaze to the land, Samuel's face was as pale as if he saw some monster, staring at the edge of the mountain thoughtfully, without saying a word for a long time.

At first, Hagrid thought it was affected by the nightmares of the past few days, but after a closer look, Samuel's reaction seemed to be due to other reasons.In front of outsiders, it was inconvenient for Hagrid to ask more questions.

Under Huta's management, the experienced explorers performed their duties, and the wooden outpost No. [-] seemed to be thriving.If it weren't for Huta's intention to stop anywhere, he could have become an excellent lord.

When the "mysterious guest" of the Valkyrie got off the ship, Huta immediately led the horse and greeted him: "How is everything going well?"

Hagrid didn't speak, but glanced at Samuel.

Torresso's patriarch nodded, his inscrutable smile was exactly the same as when he was in Maren Liga: "It's okay. I'm recharging my energy all the way, so it's up to you."

--lie.

The heretic judge frowned tightly, only feeling a suffocation in his heart.

Huta's mind is far more delicate than his appearance.Facing his old friend Samuel, he also sensed something was wrong, but he didn't know where to start, so he had to follow Samuel's meaning first.

Pointing to the outpost on the beach, he smiled boldly: "Look, my guys are doing a good job!" He folded his horsewhip again and pointed to the valley between the hillsides.The winding stream is covered with thin ice, like a twisted white silk. "On the other side of this hill, the second camp is almost built."

After listening to Huta explaining the progress of the camp construction, Hagrid and Samuel didn't delay on the beach, and immediately ordered their subordinates to rest here, and the religious order's flag was quickly erected in the center of the camp.The two rode on fast horses and followed Huta to the new outpost under construction.

On the way, Huta mentioned the twists and turns when the beacon came: "Not long after leaving the port, we caught a guy who was going to poison me; within a few days, another assassin appeared who wanted to stab me to death. A little interrogation After a while, I found that they couldn't even tell who the hirer was. But it's normal, if it were me, I wouldn't reveal my real name to the hired killer."

Samuel asked calmly, "How did you deal with them?"

Huta winked at him, and smiled: "Use your Torresso's method."

Torreso's patriarch just said "Oh" indifferently.

Hagrid didn't say a word the whole time, just observing his surroundings calmly.

From the beach to the steep and gentle hills, the fine sand, short grass and low dead trees spread slowly, as if human beings have never left a trace here.The long and narrow valley opened by the creek is full of weeds, and the flattest part has just been walked by a fresh trail by the expedition team.Except for the running water and the sound of horses' hooves, it was eerily quiet here, and even the chirping of birds could be heard from a ridge beyond.

Halfway through, Huta suddenly said in a very serious tone: "Samuel, there are only three of us now, you can confess to me."

Samuel paused with his hand grabbing the rein: "What?"

"Your physical condition. To be precise, it's the 'Blood of Torresso' flowing in your body." Huta reined in his horse and turned to look at Samuel. "The 'resonance' with the ancient sanctuary or the sacred artifact——I guess so. The closer you are to Logmar, the stronger your feeling should be."

Samuel held the reins tightly, but said nothing.

Hagrid snapped, "What's going on here?"

Huta shook his head: "I'm not from the Torreso family, so I can't feel anything except instinctive fear; I don't know the situation of the judge, but it should be similar. Only you, it seems that you can be here I saw something else. When I came here, I picked up the mercenaries mobilized by Heshan Manor at the southwest port, and one of the Torreso tribe had such a reaction."

Hagrid and Huta looked at Samuel at the same time.

After a long silence, Samuel responded with difficulty: "...the phantom of the past."

"What?" Huta didn't respond for a while.

"In the beginning, it was just flashing pictures and sounds, but now they last longer and longer. Earthquakes, snowstorms, fleeing crowds, the ancient languages ​​they speak...they sometimes overlap with reality, like faint hallucinations .But that's not an illusion, it's something that actually happened." Samuel raised tired eyes. "I saw the catastrophe."

Huta sighed: "Sure enough, it's exactly what the girl said. Fortunately, most of the people I brought don't have any Torresso blood, otherwise everyone is busy daydreaming in broad daylight, so how can they work?"

Hagrid suddenly felt very uneasy.He rode close to Samuel, grabbed Samuel's arm, and asked in a low voice, "When did this start?"

"Before disembarking from the Valkyrie." Samuel tried a little harder, but still couldn't shake off Hagrid's hand.

Hagrid couldn't believe it: "But I don't feel anything here, including fear."

"That's probably the power of faith. 'As long as you have God in your heart, you can do anything with a sword'." Huta arched his chin, pointed to the golden star on Hagrid's armor, and said with a hint of sarcasm. "Although Samuel is a man, the way you traveled all the way to Logmar to investigate the catastrophe is really a bit like the Saintess Solti of Torresso and Saint Roland of the Order in the painting."

The judge ignored Huta's ridicule, but stared persistently at Samuel's eyes, trying to dig out more secrets from the deep emerald green.

Seeing someone coming on horseback in front of him, Huta coughed twice, reminding the two people who were in a stalemate: "Look, that's the girl from the Torresso family I mentioned just now. She probably heard us from afar and came here on purpose. meet."

Hagrid let go of his hand.

The young Torreso, dressed in men's hunting clothes and a leather cloak around his shoulders, jumped lightly from his horse in front of the three of them.She walked towards Samuel and curtsied respectfully: "Long time no see, uncle." After that, she raised her head, revealing a young face that Hagrid felt somewhat familiar.

Samuel nodded back to her: "I remember you are..."

"Chloe, Adrian's sister." Although she has a similar appearance, Chloe seems to be more outgoing than Adrian. "My brother was giving you trouble in Marenlica."

Samuel smiled and said, "No, he is a reliable boy and has helped me a lot."

Chloe breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, I'm still worried that he won't be able to adapt to life in a big city." She got on the horse again, "I'll take the two of you to the camp to rest."

It was already night when we arrived at Outpost No. [-].

The camp is built on a gentle hillside, very close to the water source, and has a wide view.According to Huta, they did not find any wild beasts such as wolves and tigers in this area, which is much safer than the strange islands he visited before.

To be on the safe side, they lit a bonfire in the center of the camp.After a busy day, the crew and mercenaries gathered beside the piled timber, drinking and chatting, while waiting for the chef to finish the dinner.

Hagrid and Samuel sat in the tent, falling silent over the same brazier.

It was Hagrid who spoke first: "You better not look for the ancient temple in this state. I will lead the teaching police there by myself."

Samuel shook his head immediately, and said firmly: "Impossible. When the truth of the catastrophe is revealed, I must be present, and the images I perceive also prove this."

"Did you come to Logmar to beg to die?" It wasn't the first time Hagrid said harsh words to Samuel, but this time was very strange, he couldn't find the feeling of peace of mind. "If something goes wrong at a critical moment because of the so-called 'resonance', I can't distract you."

"You really don't want me to die?" Samuel asked with a sneer.

Hagrid stared at Samuel, but suddenly found that Samuel, who was opposite the firelight, seemed to be a little thinner than when he was in Marenliga.

Samuel's indifferent gaze has been locked on the burning charcoal: "These days, I have been thinking about the relationship between the Torresso family and the catastrophe, and what the blood on our bodies means. Thousands of years ago, what did our ancestor Solti and your pioneer Roland do, whether the so-called sacred weapon can really..."

"Aren't we trying to find answers to these questions?" Hagrid looked away impatiently. "Saint Roland's manuscript mentions that the Lightless are 'induced to mutate' by some force, and the Toreso people can not only resist this mutation, but your blood can also restrain the Lightless. Plus you And your niece's reaction to the land, the relationship is clear."

Samuel didn't seem to hear Hagrid's words: "There is one more important question - why did I come to this point?"

"..."

"Betrayed my own family, betrayed Louis, betrayed the sect, and turned around to use your power, just to come here... I did this for the sake of the family, to fulfill my father's wish, or to prove that those sacrifices are meaningful Yes? That’s right, since I tried to murder the patriarch, I can’t go back.”

The Chief Inquisitor never thought he was afraid of anything, much less could he empathize with his enemies.But at this moment, Hagrid suddenly realized that he was worried about Samuel.

"Even now, you still—"

Hagrid originally wanted to calm down Samuel with an angry reprimand, but the moment he saw Samuel's expression, the "heart of stone" he thought had collapsed.

Samuel called his name again inappropriately: "Hagrid."

"Why?" Hagrid found his voice was terribly hoarse.

"When all this is over, if you and I can leave the ancient temple alive, then you can kill me."

The air in the tent suddenly froze like a sealed cabin.

Hagrid wanted to say something, but swallowed it back.He stood up, wanting to walk outside the tent alone.

When the curtain was raised, Hagrid stopped, and turned his back to Samuel and said two words in a flat tone: "You didn't have a good rest on the boat. Go to bed quickly, we can start later tomorrow."

Samuel looked up, staring blankly at Hagrid disappearing behind the fallen curtain.

The author has something to say: TwilightAtGlenebon - DmitryV.Silantiev/TheDunsward - SergeyEybog

The next few chapters will probably be regarded as the home field of the Ku Da Qiu Shen group