In the western part of the Loren Continent, the Ancestral Peak towered over the land.
This towering mountain stood in the hinterland of Augulay's tribal country like a giant beast, its "tusks" piercing into the clouds. Its three branches extended to the territories of the orcs, humans, and gray elves respectively. The towering mountain itself was the homeland of the elves and fairies. For everyone who lived on this land, this mountain had a very special meaning. Therefore, when the city-states of Augulay's tribal country decided to form a union, they unanimously chose to build their capital at the foot of the Ancestral Peak: Helm City.
In Augulay's tribal country, the five major races usually managed their internal affairs independently. The cities where multiple races coexisted operated independently like independent city-states. However, if there was a major event that involved the entire tribal country, the "Five Kings" would gather in Helm City to discuss the future of this land.
In the center of Helm City, in the highest dome of the city, the leaders of the humans, gray elves, elves, fairies, and orcs gathered around a round table to discuss several important matters. Wenna Baizhi, the leader of the gray elves, was among them, but she seemed to be in a daze. She looked past the tall Lady Camilla, the leader of the orcs, and the open terrace at the end of the hall. Her eyes landed on the Ancestral Peak in the background of the city. The peak stood tall beside Helm City, and at this moment, the light golden sunset shone on its surface. The entire mountain was facing the setting sun, and it seemed to be shining brilliantly.
Wenna sat in a special high chair and was in a daze for a long time until Wycliffe, who was sitting next to her, woke her up from her daze. "Wenna, Wenna, don't be in a daze."
The leader of the gray elves woke up with a start. She glanced at the human leader who had just woken her up. This middle-aged man with short silver hair always had a smile on his face, and this time was no exception. Then she looked at the other seats around the round table.
Lady Camilla, the tall feline, was sitting opposite her. She frowned a little discontentedly. The leader of the elves, Stiller, was sitting next to Camilla. This man with light blue skin always had a contemplative expression on his face. It was difficult for outsiders to understand his current mood. Across from Stiller was Stella, the leader of the fairies. The small lady was sitting in her favorite high chair. The chair was placed on a stack of books, the books were placed on a small stool, and the small stool was placed on the table. This large pile of books made her the person with the highest position in the room, but it did not make her more dignified.
"Ah —" Wenna finally came back to her senses. She blinked her eyes. "Is it my turn? What are we talking about? "
"Wenna, it's not a good habit to be absent-minded in an important meeting." Camilla sighed. Her voice had a pleasant hoarseness. As a childhood playmate and a forthright orc, she did not mind criticizing Wenna Baizhi's shortcomings in a formal and private setting. "What we are talking about is related to the future of the entire tribal country."
"Of course, of course, I know. I just don't think we need to discuss this matter for so long." Wenna nodded repeatedly. "As for Emperor Cecil's invitation, we have no reason to refuse. Whether politically or economically, the benefits of joining this new alliance outweigh the risks. "
"In fact, we have just reached a consensus on this point. Just when you were absent-minded and enjoying the scenery," Wycliffe said with a smile on his face. "We are discussing another thing. According to the idea mentioned in Emperor Cecil's letter, Stella has just put forward a very constructive suggestion."
Wenna's eyes widened. She subconsciously looked in the direction of Stella and saw the palm-sized lady standing on the stack of books that she used as the 'minister' with her hands on her waist and a smug look on her face. Wenna suddenly had a bad feeling. "Stella's suggestion? And you are still seriously discussing it? "
"Wenna, you sound prejudiced," Stiller said in a low and mysterious voice. "You should listen to the content of this' suggestion 'first."
"Well, I'm listening." Wenna looked at Stiller. "What is it?"
"The Augulay tribal country has a very different order from other countries. All the countries on the continent know that we are ruled by five kings," Stiller said in a low voice. "So Stella suggests that we send five representatives to the Silver Outpost according to the five 'royal families' and tell Emperor Cecil that the political structure of the Augulay tribal country is so loose. If it succeeds, we will have five votes in the future."
Wenna had already guessed what this' constructive suggestion 'was, but what Stiller said was still beyond her imagination. She could not help but look at Stella with admiration, and then looked at the others with a strange look. "So, what's your opinion?"
"We have already voted. We are just waiting for your opinion," Wycliffe said. "I personally think this suggestion is very attractive, but my rationality does not allow me to do things according to my own preferences, so I voted against it."
"I also oppose it." Stiller shook his head. "This is nonsense. It will even damage the reputation and prestige of the tribal country."
Camilla waved her hand. "I don't think so much. I just think it's stupid, so I oppose it."
"That's it." Wenna spread out her hands. "I also oppose it. The reason is that the three of you together."
Then she looked at Stella and said, "Well, except for you, everyone opposes it. Let's move on to the next topic."
Stella immediately went back to her chair in frustration. She seemed to have muttered a few words, but the people present were already used to it. They believed that the optimistic sprite leader would cheer up before the next topic.
"Let's finally talk about the 'Magic Net Hub'." Wycliffe glanced at the meeting schedule in his hand and his eyes fell on Stiller, Camilla, and Stella. "First of all, I am very happy that we finally reached a consensus last month and approved the plan to set up the Magic Net Hub on the Peak of the Ancestors. Now we have successfully set up a temporary verification device, but as of last week, this device has been … a little problematic."
"It's a big problem." Stella had indeed pulled herself together. She stood up and spoke in a hurried and clear voice. "The set of magic obelisks for testing worked fine at the foot of the mountain. But as soon as they were transported to the top of the mountain, the interference immediately increased. Although the transmission of magic power is not a problem, the signal is full of clutter. Our scholars have been studying it for several days. The current conclusion is that the interference is from the outside, and has nothing to do with the structure of the obelisk itself. "
"Some superstitious mountain people think that the sleeping souls in the Ancestral Peak are making noise in the crystal of the obelisk because the obelisk has disturbed their sleep," Stirling said in a deep voice. "So now, in addition to solving the problem through technical means, we are also diverting our energy to appease the mountain people's uneasiness."
"Actually, I have a good idea." Stella waved her arms. "We can say that the magic obelisk can communicate with the spirits of the ancestors. After this thing is built, it can be used to chat with the ancestors. Maybe the mountain people will support it. But in the end, all of you are still against it."
Wenna Baizhi could not help but sigh. Wycliffe covered his forehead and muttered, "Stella's ideas are really attractive. Voting against it is a challenge."
"I feel the same." Wenna glanced at Wycliffe and then back to Stella. "Anyway, let's find a way to solve the interference first. In order to start the project on the Peak of the Ancestors, we have invested a lot of money in advance. This matter will definitely be pushed forward. In theory, the Peak of the Ancestors has the best congenital conditions in the country: high enough altitude, clean atmosphere, stable magic environment. No matter how you look at it, there should not be such interference. This phenomenon is worth further research. "
"Of course, of course, we will do it," Stella said quickly. "We will study it carefully. But we may not find anything. I will arrange the scholars to collect the interference data on the mountainside and the other mountains this week. If there is still no clue, I am afraid we will have to ask for help from the technical experts in Cecil. "
This time, the opinion of the Sprite had finally gained everyone's support.
…
The meeting was over, and the tribal leaders began to leave.
A huge golem walked into the hall with heavy steps. It lifted a small stool on the round table with its nimble arms. Stella nimbly jumped a few times and sat next to the golem's neck. She waved to the others and quickly commanded the golem to leave the hall. Camilla looked at the golem's heavy body and could not help but shake her head. "We should really forbid her from bringing the golem into the hall. The ground here needs to be repaired every year."
After saying this, the orc leader said goodbye to Wenna, shook her head and left. Then, the leader of the Eldars, Stiller, left. After most of the attendants left, only Wenna Baizhi and the human leader Wycliffe were left in the large hall.
Wenna moved her stiff shoulders and neck as she had been sitting for a long time. She turned around and held onto the small ladder beside the high chair. She climbed down the ladder and looked up at the tall Wycliffe. Then, she asked curiously, "Aren't you leaving?"
The silver-haired Wycliffe smiled and walked slowly to the nearby balcony. He looked at the direction of the city and the mountains. "It is rare for me to have a moment of leisure. I have to extend the time away from the documents as much as possible."
Wenna pouted and walked to the front of the balcony. She followed Wycliffe's gaze and saw the ancient Helm City bathed in the light of dusk. The Ancestral Peak in the distance reflected the orange-red light. Wenna was no stranger to this scene. She had often come to the meeting hall of Helm City as the leader of the gray elves. She had seen this scene many times.
"What a magnificent city," Wenna could not help but whisper. "A new era has come. I wonder if the scenery here will change, just like Windsong City or Baiyu Port."
"Nothing stays the same," Wycliffe said with a smile. "Helm City is regarded by many as a symbol of antiquity and tradition. But if we trace back to history, isn't it the product of a revolution?"
Wenna Baizhi blinked and suddenly could not help but laugh. "You're right."
As one of the rulers of this land, of course, she knew the origin of Helm City.
This great city was located at the foot of the ancestral peak and was jointly governed by the Council of the Five Kings. In terms of style, it had a unique feature in the entire continent. The buildings had the rigid straight lines and grand appearance of the ancient Gondor style. At the same time, they had the dignified and practical style of the distant western dwarven kingdom. Although this land was historically the home of the gray elves, the orcs, the spirits, and the fairies, the city was a mixture of the ancient Kingdom of Gondor and the dwarven kingdom. This unique feature had something to do with the history of Helm City.
Helm City was built more than seven hundred years ago when the ancient Kingdom of Gondor collapsed. The survivors fled in all directions. Among them, the pioneers who migrated to the west of the continent crossed the rift valley and mountains at the border of the ancient empire and stepped into the ancient and mysterious land of Augoray. At that time, the several major races in this land had not yet formed their own tribal nations. They existed loosely in the form of tribal alliances. The sudden migration of humans from the human empire was a very shocking event for the natives of this land. After some contact and mediation, the natives finally decided to accept the refugees from the Kingdom of Gondor, and the latter chose to repay the kindness in their own way.
Apart from some knowledge from the Kingdom of Gondor (which could still be used after the Great Demonic Tide) and treasures, the greatest reward that the westward pioneers gave to the natives was Helm City.
They used up all the wealth they brought with them during their exile, and used the Kingdom of Gondor's knowledge of architecture and planning that was far more advanced than the natives'. They also used an ancient contract during the Gondor era to invite the dwarven craftsmen from the west of the continent. It took them ten years to build the city at the foot of the ancestral peak. After that, they only occupied one-fifth of the city and gave four-fifths of the city to the other four races.
At the same time, the new knowledge and ideas brought by the Gondor people were an important reason why the tribes of Augoray changed their traditional structure and formed a more closely connected tribal nation.
Hence Wycliffe's words: Helm's End itself was the product of a revolution.
Wenna Baizhi suddenly sighed. She could not help but feel a little emotional.
More than seven hundred years ago, when there were no human activities in this land, the ancestral peak had already been the holy land of the four races. This land had its own traditions and customs in the past thousands of years until the Kingdom of Gondor was destroyed by the Great Demonic Tide. The survivors of the empire crossed the vast wasteland and came here. The young and creative humans brought about earth-shattering changes to this land.
Regardless of the opinions of the ancestors who faced the changes at that time, as a descendant, Wenna had to admit that it was these changes that created this country that was far stronger and more united than before.
Today, new changes knocked on the door of the Augoray Mountain Range again. This time, the changes were brought by humans again.
The creativity of humans … is really incredible.
(End of Chapter)
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