"In fact, you don't have to accompany me." Echo walked along the Redwater River, the snow under her feet making squeaking sounds.
"The city isn't safe, this isn't Border Town," Iron Axe walked behind her, keeping a distance of two steps. "Moreover, His Highness told me that if you leave the castle and there aren't any other witches around, I should protect you."
"If I had known, I wouldn't have told him." She exhaled white air. "Besides, you don't need to use honorifics with me."
"In my heart, you will always be the chief of the Osha clan, Lady Drow Silvermoon."
At the mention of Osha, Echo fell silent. Although Iron Axe could not see her expression, he could feel that she was in low spirits. He wanted to say a few words of comfort, but he did not know where to start. In the end, he could only shut his mouth and silently followed her.
Compared with the meandering Redwater River in the wild, this tributary almost became a straight line after entering the city. The embankments on both sides were paved with bricks, which were flat and tidy. Every ten steps, there was a staircase leading to the river, probably for people to fetch water.
Today's snow was not too heavy, so they occasionally met one or two pedestrians on the road. Whether they were men or women, they all looked at Echo in surprise. Obviously, Lady Silvermoon's tall figure and light brown skin were somewhat special, coupled with her long blue-gray hair, especially eye-catching. In the inland of Graycastle, it was rare to see a pure-blooded Sand Nation.
"Let's go to the other side." Echo obviously did not like being looked at like this.
"Yes."
They found an arch bridge, carefully crossed the frozen bridge, and came to the east side of the Stronghold. There were few houses here, and the farmland was covered with snow. At first glance, it was all flat land. The blue city wall in the distance was partly visible in the snow, forming a sharp contrast with the west side.
"I've never seen such a scene in Iron Sand City." Echo sighed. "Before leaving the Southernmost Region, I thought the whole continent was the same. Except for sand, there was only sand, and water and oases were resources that had to be fought for with lives. But here, no one will bleed for the Redwater River. When you want to drink water, you just have to squat down. "
"But they will bleed for other things," Iron Axe said in a low voice. "The Golden Dragon, gems, honor, status … there is no escape from the struggle."
"Is that so … but Nightingale told me that she believes that Your Highness can stop disputes." She raised her head and looked at the gray sky. "Whether it's the Sand Nation or the mainland Kingdom, whether it's an ordinary person or a witch, they can all enjoy equal resources and live freely."
"This … I don't know." Iron Axe hesitated for a moment. He really couldn't imagine everyone putting aside their barriers and living together. Even someone like His Highness, who had mastered the power of God, might not be able to do so. He could undoubtedly conquer all his enemies, but could he make them willingly accept his rule? No matter what methods His Highness used, the seeds of hatred had been planted in the process of conquering them.
"Do you want to go back to Iron Sand City?" Echo suddenly asked.
"No, Lady Silvermoon," Iron Axe came to his senses and replied without hesitation, "I have sworn to the Three Gods that I will always serve His Highness Roland Wimbledon as my master and expand his territory. But you can rest assured that since he has promised to avenge you, he will certainly do so in the future. When you return to Iron Sand City, no one will dare to disrespect you. "
"But I don't want to be the chief of the Osha clan," she whispered. "I like to stay in places where the trees are evergreen, and I like to be with Vendy and Nightingale, and I like the songs His Highness taught me. I hope to go back one day, but I don't want to live in the desert and fight for water. "
Even so, in my heart, you are still the only successor of the Osha clan. Iron Axe didn't say what was in his heart, but bowed his head and said, "No one can force you."
The two walked through the white fields and came to an open area. Echo stopped and said, "Let's practice here, we shouldn't disturb others."
Iron Axe knew that Echo's ability was to make all kinds of sounds. She usually practiced in the back garden of the castle in Border Town. This time, in order to avoid disturbing the important meeting between His Highness and the nobles, she deliberately came here to use her ability.
He nodded and took two steps back. "I'll be on guard for you."
"By the way, I wrote a song for my hometown." Echo turned around. "Do you want to listen to it?"
"A song?" Iron Axe was slightly surprised.
"Yes, I used the arrangement method that Your Highness taught me to mix the sounds of various instruments together to make the melody more layered." Speaking of this, Huiyin's expression was clearly much more relaxed. "After trying it, I realized that a song can actually be so pleasant to listen to. Every addition of a different timbre will give it a completely different feeling. I don't know where Your Highness learned these methods from. When I was sold to King's City, I never heard any nobles talk about it. "
"His Highness Roland has always been different." He is the God's favorite, Iron Axe thought.
"Yes … there has never been a person who treats the witches as sincerely as he does," Echo said with deep sympathy. "But the names that His Royal Highness gave to those mixed methods are too strange. It's as if they were completely unrelated things together, such as electronic music, agricultural heavy metal." She smiled and shook her head. "I think that only he could come up with such names."
Before Iron Axe had time to reply, the song had already started.
When the mixed music flowed into his ears, he suddenly froze in place. This was such an incredible tune, like sand brushing across an oasis, or like orange fire leaping up from the ground.
At that moment, Iron Axe felt that he had returned to the desert under the scorching sun. "Is this … an illusion?" He looked down and found that the snow had disappeared. He didn't know when, but he was in an oasis. Looking out, the scorching sand covered his entire field of vision. The woman in front of him had her eyes slightly closed. The song echoed in the blue sky. Her feet were standing in a shallow water, and the ripples were slowly spreading. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
Passing through the sand and dust
Following the traces of the oasis
Your footprints are left in the sea of sand
Your silhouette is reflected in the clear spring
One day, the oasis will become a new desert
And a new oasis will grow in the desert
But the only thing that will not change
Is the legend about you
One of these days
I will walk in your footprints.
Looking for your silhouette
Before the dawn breaks
That tossing and turning silent moment
…
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