Chapter 760: Act 114 – Eternity XV
Since the battle of Babel Fortress, the tales of the Guardian Clan have spread. It is said that they guard the knowledge of the divine people from ancient times in a secret place unknown to anyone; they are a unique golden race created by the Fierce Dragon Alphons. However, on the day the disputes reignite, they will return to the land.
“But in fact, there is no such thing,” Anlek said with a cold smile. “That is merely a legend conjured by mortals to comfort themselves. The real Guardian Clan has never existed; the knowledge of mortals is lost, scattered across the land, with their pitiful fragments of understanding about magic and order—”
After saying this, he raised his head, and above him loomed the icy steps leading up to a massive stone door, which bore no decorations and resembled those ancient fortresses.
Anlek stood at the base of the steps for a moment before slowly ascending with his companions.
The icy wind howled, and soon the entrance to the Temple of the Winter Sleepers stood before them.
“It seems that dragon is now dizzy from us,” Dejyar could not resist making a quip. Anlek shot him a glance that sent a chill through him: “The divine people created ‘dragons’ to manage the world in their stead, to combat the dusk—a Platinum Dragon Bahamut, a War Dragon Tiamat, a Fierce Dragon Alphons, a Knowledge Dragon Crystal, an Elemental Dragon Fiery, a Calamity Dragon Azure. ‘Dragons’ also created the first generation of warriors.”
“Blood and Fire people, the generation of gold. Legend has it that the golden generation had their roles: the dragon kin held the laws, the Minren wielded power, the witches held magic, yet the creations of the Knowledge Dragon and the Fierce Dragon never appeared upon the land.”
“This is the origin of this legend—”
“But in truth, it is merely a pact left behind by the Fierce Dragon Alphons, Odin, and the Azure Knights.”
“Odin?” Dejyar was slightly taken aback. “Are you referring to the Dark Dragon? What have they agreed upon?”
Anlek nodded: “Indeed, our greatest enemy. The irony is that those mortals gave him an inappropriate name; Odin was never a dragon, and he does not need to exist as one.”
“No one knows what they agreed upon, but it is certain that it relates to the later emergence of the Silver Generation. Odin has always awaited an opportunity, especially since the World Circle fractured, leading to voices within the deities questioning whether creating the golden people was a mistake—”
“After that, the subsequent legend was disseminated by the Buda, but its authenticity is questionable. This notion was likely fabricated by a Buda wizard to maintain the legitimacy of the sacred covenant.”
After he finished speaking, Anlek suddenly fell silent: “What truly remains in these glaciers is not the Guardian Clan, but quite possibly just a remnants of Milos’s will.”
“The will of the deity?”
Anlek lifted his head and saw the heavy stone door slowly opening before him, yet the gray hue in his eyes remained unchanged. He chuckled disdainfully: “No need to worry, it’s just a show. A god who has lost his throne in the heavens is nothing to fear. Milos’s will here only serves to signify that the legend is indeed real, and soon we shall witness it all—”
He turned back, his face twisted with a zealous fervor: “…The Duskgazer Dragon may have never been defeated.”
……
Brendel suddenly heard a rustling sound in the darkness, a noise that grew closer, like something crawling on the ground. He became alert, gripping the hilt of the Sword of Earth by his side, squinting toward the direction of the darkness.
Just a moment later, he caught sight of a figure.
“Hmm?” Brendel was slightly taken aback, for the figure he saw was that of the hunting maiden. “What is she doing here at this time?” A thought flashed through his mind; could this maiden be a spy left by Anlek? But then he shook his head; there seemed to be no meaning in Anlek leaving behind a spy.
Just as he was lost in thought, Peiya had already approached him. The hunting maiden appeared unaware that Brendel had woken; she quietly came beside the lord earl, gently exhaling, looking quite nervous, and then cautiously dared to glance at Brendel.
But just that one glance froze her in place. She saw Brendel’s bright eyes in the darkness, looking at her with confusion.
“Ah…” Peiya nearly jumped in surprise, momentarily frozen.
“Peiya? What are you doing?” Brendel asked calmly. He had reason to remain calm because the hunting maiden posed no threat to him.
“I…” The hunting maiden’s eyes revealed a complex emotion as she bit her lip. In the darkness, it was hard to discern her expression, but a wildness and determination shone through her deep black eyes. She suddenly lowered her head, meeting Brendel’s gaze with her dark eyes, and then timidly leaned closer to him, resting her head gently against his neck.
Brendel was taken aback. He felt Peiya shiver slightly in his embrace, his heart racing. But he did not understand the meaning of her action. “What are you doing, Peiya…” Brendel was thoroughly startled by the hunting maiden’s move, completely losing his composure. He hurriedly pressed down on her shoulders and pushed her away a bit, staring closely into her eyes.
He thought the hunting maiden might have fallen under some spell; after all, there were often spirits in the dark underground that could control hearts. However, the hunting maiden’s eyes were distinctly clear, merely filled with an uncomfortable and shy expression, hiding an unexpected vulnerability.
Brendel suddenly realized something, gently releasing her a little, and sat up: “Peiya, do you want to ask me to save your brother?”
The hunting maiden clutched her collar with one hand, the thick black hair framing her face obscured her expression, but those sincere eyes beneath the dark lashes glanced down then flicked back up, filled with fear as she said hoarsely, “Lord, I dreamt of Aruta.”
“A nightmare?”
Peiya nodded in fear, “I dreamt he was unconscious in an ice cave, surrounded by many corpses.” She lifted her head, her eyes filled with terror.
Brendel breathed a sigh of relief. He comforted her gently, “It’s just a dream, Peiya. Anlek did not kill your brother; you saw that.”
“No,” the hunting maiden shook her head vigorously. “I saw him; he’s not far from here. I also heard that voice; he told us to hurry and save him… Lord, I…”
But Brendel was slightly taken aback. He suddenly remembered his own dream and could not help but frown: “You heard that voice too?”
He saw the hunting maiden looking at him in confusion, and then he explained, “What kind of voice did you hear in your dream?”
“I don’t know,” the hunting maiden shook her head vigorously. “It was like it was in my heart, making me feel very warm, making me want to believe in it.”
At that moment, Brendel had confirmed that it was the same voice from his dream. He furrowed his brow, sensing something unusual about the situation. Clearly, something beneath these glaciers wanted him to know something or to take him somewhere. Its power might not be as great as imagined, which is why it had to use such means.
He had encountered similar scenarios in the game, but never had he felt so deeply in the real world. After some thought, he asked, “Peiya, about your dream… do you remember where that place is?”
“I remember, it was in a deep valley not far from here,” the hunting maiden hurriedly replied, looking up at him with a pleading and hopeful expression.
“I understand. Go wake the others,” Brendel nodded, taking out his pocket watch to check the time. Though it wasn’t dawn yet, lives were at stake, and he was greatly curious why Aruta would appear here. Brendel’s heart had gradually formed some conjectures.
Peiya’s dark eyes seemed to light up in an instant. She looked up at him gratefully but then quickly appeared unease. The hunting maiden once again humbly lowered her head, kneeling before Brendel, holding his right hand with both of her hands, kissing his fingertips.
That kiss had nothing to do with romantic feelings; it was a humble gratitude from a servant to her master. The hunting maiden looked up cautiously at him and asked, “Sir Knight, is there still a need for a hunter in your estate? My father was once the most outstanding hunter in this area. I have studied to become an excellent hunter since childhood, I believe I would not be inferior even to the most seasoned hunters—”
“Peiya…” Brendel said, feeling a bit awkward. “I’m not helping you for that reason.”
“No, no! I will certainly satisfy you. Just give the word, and I will be willing to do anything for you,” the hunting maiden begged softly, kneeling before him.
It must be said that the hunting maiden had the grounds to say such things. Aside from her somewhat rough skin and the dirt in her long black hair, her beauty did not pale compared to any woman Brendel had seen in any region. Moreover, there was a wild beauty in Peiya that seemed to reside within her powerful build, ready to burst forth with her every movement, full of tension.
Seeing such a stubborn woman make such a plea, although Brendel felt quite awkward, it was not impossible for him to feel a stirring in his heart. He took a deep breath, finally managing to calm himself, shaking his head: “Peiya, you are our guide. I said I would save your brother if there was a chance; that is my promise. Don’t make me go back on it, okay?”
The hunting maiden was slightly taken aback, baffled as she stepped back a little, staring at Brendel, as if she did not understand why he would say such a thing. It was difficult for Brendel to explain how he differed from other nobles; he could only awkwardly smile at her, a smile unlike any she had seen from other nobles—either disdainful or greedy, unsettling.
“Go on,” Brendel finally said. The previous scene had been a bit too intense; he was a normal man after all. He suddenly envied those damned nobles; this envy turned into resentment, culminating in an authoritative tone: “Quickly, wake the others; we need to prepare to set out. Your brother is still unconscious; have you forgotten?”
“Thank you, Sir Knight.”
Brendel watched Peiya step back, finally easing a sigh. But another question remained unresolved. He turned his head and called into the darkness: “Have you seen enough, Miss Shi Do? If you’ve rested, we should prepare to leave.”
He had originally thought that this statement would scare off the scholar lady who had been quietly eavesdropping, but to his surprise, Shi Do was much more gracious than he expected. She politely smiled at him: “Mister Brendel, they say you are the epitome of ancient nobility, but when it comes to romance, you still fall short. In facing a noble, beautiful lady willing to make sacrifices, you chose to refuse; it’s truly disappointing.”
Brendel nearly spat out the water he was drinking.
But the scholar continued: “However, I admire you, Lord Earl. You have shown me noble character, one that is called refusing to take advantage of others.” The scholar lady smiled slightly at Brendel, nodding her head before retreating back into her tent.
……(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to support it with votes on qidian.com; your support is my greatest motivation.)
