Raphael explained: "It's really not easy to understand, because many people don't know the difference between fantasy, ideal, and delusion. My teacher Goliath taught me to personally verify the truth, and I can tell you about my feelings. Powerless civilians often fantasize about becoming an emperor, which is not impossible, because there are emperors in the world. But if everyone thinks so, it is a delusion rather than an ideal.
The real ideal is whether you can become an emperor or not, when you have such a thought, you have to realize what is the master in your heart. I have seen many kings, countless kings in the delusion of civilians, and in their hearts, they may not be as happy as you, the Ironback, but they also have their own fantasies, and the original human nature will not change because of status. "
Raphael was silent for a moment at this point, looking down at El Mar. Seeing that the Ironback had been silently thinking about something, he suddenly asked: "El Mar, why are you asking me this today?"
El Mar seemed to wake up from a dream and replied: "Because Amun told me that my accumulation of training has long been enough and I have passed many tests, but if I want to achieve the seventh level and integrate body and mind, it may be very simple or difficult for me, and I need a kind of enlightened guidance, like opening my eyes and seeing the light. The person who can guide me to open my eyes may not necessarily be him. "
Raphael asked again: "When did Amon tell you this?"
El Mar: "On the way here a few days ago, when you were following behind, he whispered to me, so I want to ask you today, please tell me your understanding and feelings."
Raphael's expression became serious: "My teacher Goliath once asked me a question – what is the greatest delusion of mortals?"
El Mar blurted out: "Of course it is to become a god-like existence."
Raphael nodded and said: "Yes, that is the answer. For the vast majority of people, this was just a delusion, but Gods did exist! So what is the true meaning of human nature containing divinity? We live in the world around us and also in our own thoughts.
Don't look at life according to your desires. Your ideal is your path. What kind of life you are depends on how you look at life. It's meaningless to only think about becoming a god-like existence. The real meaningful question is how a god becomes a god … "
Raphael looked at the moon and was explaining when he suddenly heard El Mar say, "Thank you for enlightening me by listening to your voice!"
Raphael replied casually, "You're welcome. These are the teachings of my teachers, and I'm personally seeking to verify their meaning. Today, I'm just telling you my understanding. Hmm, why did your voice change? "
As he spoke, Raphael suddenly realized that something was wrong with El Mar's voice. She was no longer communicating through their souls. Instead, she was speaking directly into his ear. Moreover, her voice had become a gentle woman's voice. Listening to it was very comfortable. He immediately turned his head and looked over. For a moment, he was stunned. When he reacted, his face turned red. He quickly lowered his head and whispered, "You, you … aren't wearing any clothes!"
The huge Ironback was gone, and a slim woman was sitting in the moonlight. She was about 20 years old, with long golden-brown hair. Her face was very beautiful, even a bit enchanting. Her cheekbones were slightly high, her lips were slightly thick, and her eyes were slightly deep. However, her facial features had a unique charm. She was a beautiful woman with an exquisite figure. What's more, she was not wearing a single piece of clothing at the moment. Her figure under the moonlight showed the most primitive and natural beauty.
Hearing Raphael's words, the woman suddenly reacted and said in a shy tone, "I forgot, I didn't pay attention for a moment." She stood up, turned around, put on a very common linen dress, and said, "Put on your clothes, I didn't scare you, did I?"
This woman, of course, was none other than El Mar in human form. She was indeed inexperienced, it was the first time in her life, and even she felt it was very sudden. Raphael turned his head to look again, and quickly turned his head back and said, "This dress of yours, to ordinary people, looks flawless, but in the face of supreme message magic, it's still equivalent to wearing nothing."
El Mar, however, asked, "Equivalent to wearing nothing? You deliberately peeped at me! You are a supreme mage, of course, you know supreme message magic. In the face of brilliant detection magic, does it make a difference whether ordinary people wear clothes or not? You know what you're hiding! "
The supreme mage Raphael, who had been talking with confidence and composure just now, was a little stammering at this moment. "I, I didn't! I'm just reminding you that detection magic detects objects, that, that is different from this situation. Your clothes are just a disguise of message magic, and you still have to use your magic power at all times … Sorry, I forgot that you didn't bring any clothes with you. "
El Mar's face also turned red, but fortunately, the moonlight couldn't see too clearly. She turned and said, "Look again, what about now?"
Raphael turned his head cautiously to take a look and exclaimed slightly, "It's a suit of armor!"
He saw that under the illusory linen robe on El Mar's body, there was another close-fitting dark golden soft armor. El Mar smiled and said, "Have you forgotten? I am an Ironback, and transforming into this armor is an innate ability. It is very useful in battle, and can be worn as clothes at ordinary times. "
Raphael asked again, "How did your voice also change?"
El Mar approached the tent and sat beside Raphael, explaining a little embarrassedly, "I've never spoken before, don't you think that the voice I used to communicate with you was a bit similar to that of Link and Amun? That was just using message magic to imitate my familiar voice, now what you hear is my own voice, does it sound good? "
Raphael nodded and said, "It sounds good."
El Mar: "Really good or not good? “
Raphael replied seriously, "It sounds good! … Is this the first time you've changed like this? "
El Mar looked at the moon and let out a long breath. "I didn't change like this, I am like this now. If there is any difference between me and an Ironback, it is the difference. After many years of training to this point, it is like the metamorphosis of those insects in the mountains. Amun said that it may be difficult or easy for me to take this step, and now I finally understand. No wonder he wanted me to exhaust my strength and asked you to stay to protect me, it turns out that Amun had already expected it. So I want to thank you, it was you who taught me! "
Raphael touched his chin a little embarrassedly. "Don't say that, that is because you have accumulated enough training. At this moment, it is like opening a window gently and seeing the light, and when you look back, it suddenly dawned on you that the moon has always been there."
El Mar murmured to herself, "Yes, the moon has always been there, it turns out to be so beautiful, it feels so good." As she spoke, she couldn't help but lean on Raphael's shoulder. As a mutant Ironback, her body was very sensitive, and she immediately asked, "Raphael, half of your body suddenly tightened, as if you had found an enemy, did I make you so nervous?"
Raphael hurriedly explained, "No, no, it's just that you suddenly became like this, I'm a little not used to it for a while."
El Mar asked again, "You don't like me being close to you?"
Raphael: "No."
El Mar: "Then why do you react as if you are secretly on guard?"
Raphael was sweating from her questions and explained repeatedly, "The body's reaction is indeed similar, but the situation is different. Many of people's habits and reactions are very complicated, and you still need to learn to experience and differentiate. I am nervous not because I don't like you sitting here. "
El Mar: "But I always feel that you are a little strange now, different from a few days ago."
Raphael said helplessly, "You are also different from a few days ago." Before his voice fell, the young supreme mage suddenly paused, and the muscles all over his body tightened imperceptibly.
El Mar said with some grievance, "You clearly don't like it, this is the reaction when there is danger, am I in danger to you?"
Raphael didn't speak, but said in his soul: "Be careful, the magic array seemed to have sensed something just now, the power of the activation is very weak, is someone spying on us in the dark?"
El Mar was taken aback and immediately communicated through message magic: "There really is an enemy? Why didn't I feel it, no, my reaction is more sensitive than yours. "
Raphael: "I am running a magic array, which Amon set up before he left, the detection range covers the surrounding swamp, of course it is a little stronger than your natural senses. There was indeed a fluctuation just now, very weak, but with magic, I shouldn't have been mistaken. "
El Mar: "Could it be a mutant monster in the swamp that accidentally passed by?"
Raphael frowned and said: "Maybe, but it's better to be careful."
El Mar smiled. "Don't be afraid, I am the King of the Swamp, if you encounter any enemies here, I can protect you!"
Raphael smiled bitterly and said: "King of the Swamp? No, you should be the Goddess of the Swamp, the Guardian Goddess of the Charcoal Marsh. Looking at you now, I wouldn't be surprised if people call you that in the legends of the future. I am the one protecting you now, your power has not recovered yet. "
El Mar shook her arm. "I recover a lot faster, this is also a kind of talent." “
Raphael: "Your physical strength has recovered, but your magic recovery can't be so fast, this has nothing to do with talent, you still need to rest for a while and continue on your way to be safe." As he said this, he suddenly stood up and pulled out his staff, looked up and shouted: "Who is it!"
"It's me, John! Amun asked me to come … "An answer came from mid-air, John put away the shuttle before he landed and jumped in front of the tent, then froze." Raphael, where did El Mar go? And this lady is …? "
El Mar stood up and pulled Raphael's sleeve, blinked and said: "I am the Goddess of the Swamp, the legendary Guardian Goddess of the Charcoal Marsh, don't you know me?"
John scratched his head. "What legend, why haven't I heard of it?"
El Mar replied with a smile: "The legend that Raphael just talked about, those legends in the human world, maybe this is how they spread."
John looked at her for a long time, then frowned and asked Raphael, "Amun asked you to protect El Mar here, and also asked me to come over, but you are with this woman. Where is El Mar, why aren't you protecting her?"
El Mar interjected: "El Mar is here, John, try to find her!"
John was a little puzzled and could only stare at Raphael. Raphael signaled with his eyes and quietly pointed to the woman beside him. John suddenly realized something, his jaw almost dropped, and his eyes widened. It took him a long time to react and said, "El Mar! Is it really you? “
El Mar stood there and twisted her body. "It's me, you just recognized me?"
John rubbed his eyes. "I didn't recognize you at all, it was just a guess! You really are the Goddess of the Swamp, in the blink of an eye, the Ironback became a great beauty! "
El Mar giggled and looked very happy. John and Raphael both looked at her and laughed. After laughing, El Mar asked, "John, why are you here? What's the matter with Amun?"
John rubbed his eyes again and nodded. "Of course there's something. A monster tried to assassinate Amun on the way, but was injured by Amun and escaped into the swamp. Amun was afraid that it was not safe here, so he specially sent me here. "
Raphael and El Mar were both surprised. Raphael said, "This person is very capable, he could actually escape from Amon!" El Mar shouted, "This person is very bold, he dared to assassinate Amun!"
John explained, "This person's origin is indeed not simple, but he should be at his weakest now, and will not be a threat for the time being, but Amun is still worried. Sit down and talk, I will tell you the details. … El Mar, seeing you like this, I'm really not used to it, I almost forgot why I came here. "
… …
Three days later, Amon finally walked out of the Charcoal Marsh, the winding path stretching from the southernmost end of the marsh to the eastern edge, with the exit closest to the city of Salem. Link and Aesop were waiting here, and now there were wanderers from all over the continent in the city of Salem, as well as cavemen from various tribes in the mountains, as well as some highland giants who had migrated to the plains.
Aesop chose the strongest craftsmen among them to build a checkpoint here. Amon wanted to open up a trade route, but he also did not want anyone to invade Salem through this road, so he built a fortress at the end of this long and narrow road. Not only could it be used as a rest and supply station for caravans coming and going, but the terrain here was perfect for garrisoning troops.
Half of the walls of the fortress extended into the swamp, dug deep into the mud until the rock strata, and then stacked with boulders, and only half of the walls were built. When Amon walked through the gate, the craftsmen of Salem were busy, and when they heard that he was coming, they all put down what they were doing and knelt down in the open space.
The scene was grand and spectacular, which made Amon feel slightly embarrassed. Although he had been worshipped as a god as early as in the caveman tribes, after getting along for a long time, everyone was not so exaggerated. Then he realized that Link had built a shrine in the city of Salem, and the statues on the altar were him and Mourin. In the minds of the people of Salem, he was not equivalent to a god, but a god!
Now that a living man like Amon suddenly walked in front of them, for these people, it was like a god showing a miracle! What kind of miracle did Amun show? Alone in the impassable Charcoal Marsh, he opened up such a long and winding road, which was far beyond the imagination of the average person, it was a miracle!
Amon waved his hand gently, and countless soft white curtains of light fell from mid-air, gently sprinkling on the crowd. This was an advanced magic, capable of eliminating fatigue and pain, making people feel refreshed and carefree, and could be performed by advanced mages. But Amon did not use his staff, and his magic power was strong, and the range of the magic was very large. For the crowd, this was a blessing from the gods. Everyone knelt on the ground and prayed, not even daring to breathe.
Amon could feel the thoughts of these people in front of him, they were very focused and sincere, and they were very tired from their work, so it was natural for them to perform the magic. In front of him, Aesop and Link also bowed to the ground with a smile, as if they had expected this scene.
Behind the crowd, two people stood far away, and at this moment, they looked so dazzling to the eye. One of them bowed with a staff in his hand, and his expression was a little strange, it was the high priest of the Temple of Isis, George. The other person stood straight with his hand on the hilt of his sword, looking at Amon with an expressionless face. His posture was tall and straight, his face beautiful, and his whole body exuded an indescribable majesty. It was the supreme warrior Gabriel.
Amon felt a little bitter in his heart. He had met an unexpected assassin in the marsh, and the person who was really supposed to assassinate him was waiting here. Goliath had already said that the pursuers sent by the Empire of Eygut were George and Gabriel, and they were the last people he wanted to make an enemy of. What should come could not be avoided, and this was like facing fate sooner or later, so Amon could only sigh and walk over.
The people who were bowing to the ground heard the voice of Amun in their souls: "The road through the Charcoal Marsh has been opened, and the official trade route will arrive here in two months. You have all worked hard to build your homes, and the faith in your hearts is a true blessing, so continue to work. "
Amon quietly ordered Aesop to lead the craftsmen to continue with their work, and asked Link to follow him. The crowd got up, lowered their heads, and slowly dispersed with a look of awe. Link followed behind and said quietly: "These two came to Salem to find you, and then heard that you would be here, so they came to wait for you. I know they are your friends and benefactors, but I also heard that the pursuers sent by the Empire of Eygut are … "
Amon interrupted him: "I know all about it, and I will take care of it. They are guests of Salem, and we cannot neglect them."
Link: "Of course I know that, and I have been receiving them carefully and well. If they want to come, let them come. Your three personal guards are lying in ambush in the house next door, and I will be by your side, so there will be no problem. "
Amon waved his hand and said: "There is no need to let others interfere, I will take care of my own business. Let's find a place where there is no one to talk first."
As he spoke, he had already walked across the open space to the front, and Amon bowed and said: "My lords, long time no see, it must have been a long journey! I am really sorry that you had to travel so far because of me. "
(To be continued)
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