Spring had already arrived in the northern lands, but for Dragonrise Castle, which was located at the peak of the mountains, the cold wind was still the main melody that never stopped. The wind from the direction of the coastline and the surging air waves in the mountains kept blowing against the ancient stone fortress. Between the outer cloisters and the towering walls of the castle, the whistling sound could not be stopped day and night.
Huge braziers burned in the cloisters between the inner and outer court of the castle. An energy shield rose between the braziers to block the cold wind from the outer cloisters, but the howling sound still penetrated the shield from time to time. Sir Gorosh Hickel stood between two massive stone pillars, looking through the open cloister to the direction of the outer courtyard. The fully armed Dragonblood warriors stood tall and straight in the cold wind, as motionless as stone statues.
The powerful physique of the dragonborn could ignore the cold wind on the mountaintop. This was also one of the reasons why the people living on this land were most proud of their bloodline.
Footsteps came from the side. Sir Golos turned his head and saw Sir Casimir with short black hair coming to his side. He nodded slightly to the other party, and the latter casually said, "I heard from the Grand Duke that the wind in Tarlonde is colder and fiercer than here … I can't imagine the scene there."
"I can't either," Sir Golos said. "We dragonborn have never been to the north since we were born, and we are forbidden to know anything about the other side of the northern sea … In this regard, I am the same as you."
Sir Casimir was silent for a moment, and after a few seconds of silence, he suddenly said, "How do you think the people of the duchy will react when they know the truth? Will they accept this' arrangement 'that has been going on for a million years, and the current' mother race '? "
"… I'm afraid we can't accurately predict. There are too many variables behind this matter." Golos shook his head. "Even I was confused for a long time after I found out everything. My feelings about the primitive Dragons are … complicated. On one hand, when the Tarlonde civilization was doomed, they exiled the 'dragonborn' from their homeland and forbade them from returning to protect us. It was because of this protection that we did not have to face the final battle, and we did not have to become cold corpses in the wasteland in the north. But on the other hand … this protection was also imposed on us in the coldest and most ruthless way. Of course, I can accept this, but there are millions of people in the duchy, and many will not be able to accept this. "
"No one likes their fate, especially the dragonborn." Casimir smiled. "The wind in the mountains is too cold, and the dragonborn living here have become as cold as stone. In my opinion, it will take a lot of effort to make them gradually accept the truth of the Tarlonde …"
Before the knight could finish his sentence, footsteps were heard from the side, and a disdainful female voice rang out. "In my opinion, these thoughts are all pretentious."
"Lady Ashalena." Sir Casimir looked towards the direction of the voice and saw a woman with shoulder-length red hair walking towards them. He smiled and nodded as he greeted her. "Your comments are as sharp as ever."
"I'm just speaking the truth." The Dragonmark Witch Asharena snorted, seemingly unconcerned. "Saying that you don't like your fate being arranged is something you only have time to think about after you've lived too comfortably. Those who have crawled out of the battlefield will never care if their lives were arranged by others. If someone thinks that Tarlonde did them wrong when they lost their wings, then it's simple. Just send them to Tarlonde and kill them in the wasteland. If what they want is an unchangeable fate, then this is an unchangeable fate — the fate that the primitive dragons are facing. By then, I'm afraid they will cry and beg to come back. "
Casimir listened to the Dragonmark Witch's remarks and did not know whether to laugh or cry. He said, "… As expected of someone who has traveled in the human world for many years. Your perspective on the problem is indeed novel and powerful."
"I just remembered what a human said to me," Asharena said casually. "'Those who died bravely in battle are entitled to be buried with their swords, but those who live on can roast meat and brag next to the graves of the former.' I used to think nothing of this saying, but later I realized that it was true."
Casimir was stunned for a moment, and a strange expression appeared on his face. "… That doesn't sound like something a hero would say."
"Yes, he is not a hero. That's why he is still alive. Those who tried to be heroes have been buried with their swords," Asharena said softly, and the latter part of her sentence sounded like she was talking to herself. "… If it's possible, I really hope those guys can still drink and brag with us …"
Golos looked at the red-haired witch curiously. "Lady Asharena? Are you … "
"No, nothing. I was just distracted." Asharena quickly shook off her memories and looked up at the high-ranking courtier in front of her. "Ah, I almost forgot … Sir Golos, it seems that we have to go to the human world again. The representative of the Duchy of Holy Dragon has been decided. As the Grand Duke needs to stay here to stabilize the situation in the duchy, you and I will be the ambassadors this time."
…
Accompanied by Melita, Kassandra came to a high platform next to the camp. The protruding boulders were in a semi-molten and then solidified state. The brittle obsidian-like ground was still full of flowing light. Standing on the high platform, they could see the entire camp under Shelter Bay, most of the beach outside the camp, and part of the wasteland leading inland.
Even though the Month of Recovery had arrived, the cold wind in the Arctic was still chilly. Kassandra carefully controlled her elemental body to prevent herself from accidentally freezing while curiously looking at the mysterious land that was strange to the sirens. In her field of vision, large areas of ruins and some remaining alloy giants showed the advanced prosperity of this place. It made her feel a little regretful that she could not visit this place in the glorious era of Tarlonde. Many of the things that amazed her were destined to never appear again, or even if this place could be rebuilt, it would be many years later.
"As you can see, after that war … these are the only things left here," Melita said. "For races like us who are trapped by the rules of the world, the price of breaking free is so high. Just to be able to talk freely with an 'alien' like you like this, we have to pay with our lives."
"This world is really not friendly … far worse than our hometown," Kassandra shook her head and sighed. "Of course, I mean before our hometown was destroyed …"
"Your hometown was destroyed?" Melita looked at the siren with some astonishment. Apparently, she did not know this history.
"A long, long time ago … Our hometown suffered a sudden attack. The invaders were very powerful, and we had no power to fight back. So, we actually escaped," Kassandra said with a smile. "Many, many years have passed since then. Presumably, even those invaders have died. The ocean of our hometown may have been revitalized, but it seems that we can't go back."
"… Communicating with the 'extraterrestrial visitors' is really rewarding." Melita was stunned for a moment and could not help but sigh. "Races like us who have always been trapped on the planet have no way of imagining what the world beyond the scale of light years looks like."
Kassandra shook her head. "We are now trapped on this planet, so there is no difference between us. Even if I talk about interstellar travel with you, it's just bragging about the glory of the past. At the end of the day, we are all rebuilding our former civilization. It doesn't make sense to talk about the extravagance of the past. "
"That's true." Melita smiled. Then, as if she thought of something, she said thoughtfully, "It seems that all the races on this planet have finally embarked on the road of rebuilding their civilization."
Kassandra just smiled and said nothing. Almost at the same time, a young Dragon suddenly flew from the camp and landed on the platform where they were standing. He bent his neck to Melita and said, "Captain, Glisdall asked me to ask you. What should we do with the water elementals in the camp? They are getting noisier and noisier. "
Melita immediately thought of the water elementals that were trapped in the Draconic Runic Circle, sucked until they were only a dozen centimeters tall, and complained incessantly. Her expression became a little strange. "Are they still locked up?"
"Yes, they are. Glisdall wanted to try to get some water from them, but he failed. The water elementals have reached the limit of stability. If we continue to take water, they will immediately return to the elemental plane," the young Dragon answered honestly. "But without your permission, we dare not release them."
"Don't bother. We can't get any water." Kassandra waved her hand. "I don't leave any running water under my straw. Besides, I have carefully squeezed the water elementals."
"Then let them go." Melita nodded to the young Dragon. "By the way, inform Glisdall that if similar small water elementals are found in the future, just ignore them. Don't waste your manpower."
The young Dragon flapped his wings and flew away. Melita looked at Kassandra curiously. "Actually, I'm a little curious. Do sirens usually rely on hunting other water elementals and absorbing water to sustain themselves? I thought you usually get water directly from the natural environment. "
"Of course, we usually get water directly from the natural environment," Kassandra immediately said. "Sirens don't need to hunt primitive water elementals under normal circumstances. But there was an accident this time. When crossing the seabed, my men and I encountered an unstable elemental fissure. Some bold primitive water elementals ran out from it and attacked my team. In order to teach these bold madmen a lesson, I punished them."
As she spoke, the black-haired siren with a mole at the corner of her eye narrowed her eyes. "Don't worry about those guys. Although they have been sucked dry, as long as they return to the elemental plane, they will soon recover. But the feeling of being sucked dry by the siren will definitely leave a deep impression on them. At least for the next ten thousand years, those guys will not dare to act casually in this sea area."
Melita was a little stunned. She did not know if she should comment on the way the sirens had "taught them a lesson" or be amazed at how the seemingly peaceful sirens could be so cruel to their "kind". After pondering for a long time, she finally thought of a question. "Why would the water elementals attack the sirens who are also water elementals? Aren't elemental creatures very close to each other? "
"Very close?" Kassandra smiled. "Yes, it is true for other elemental creatures. Unfortunately, 'outsiders' like us are an exception on this planet. The primitive water elementals here do not welcome sirens like us who disturb the peace of their dimension.
"When the Antaverne crashed on the surface of the planet, we did not just destroy the continental shelf. Some of the structures on the Antaverne also destroyed many 'tributaries' of the water elemental plane. The impact has not completely subsided until today.
"So since ancient times, the relationship between the primitive water elementals and the sirens has been very tense. There have even been direct conflicts several times. But we also know that the fault is on us, so we have been trying to improve the relationship with the primitive water elementals. These efforts are not in vain. At least in the areas covered by several major elemental tributaries, we have been living peacefully with the local water elementals. But in more remote places …"
Kassandra curled up her tail and swung it in the air. "Those scattered water elementals do not care about the 'coexistence agreement'. They or they, or they, come to the sirens as soon as they come out, and most of the time, they refuse to communicate. Over time, we sirens have to fight back when we encounter similar situations."
Melita had lived for many years and had witnessed many incredible things in this world. However, this was the first time she had heard of something that only elemental creatures could understand and sense. She was surprised and intrigued as she listened to Cassandra's narration. When Cassandra was done, she could not help but sigh. "I really did not expect that … in a place that we do not understand, this world actually has so many unknown and interesting histories."
But then she felt that her wording was not accurate enough. She hurriedly explained, "Ah, sorry, I think I should not have used 'interesting' to describe this history …"
"Don't worry about it." Kassandra immediately waved her hand. "We sirens have a different way of looking at the world. So, you are not wrong. Even we find this history interesting. The battle between the elements is nothing. Anyway, we are used to it. And I suspect that even the primitive water elementals who are hostile to the sirens are used to it. Just like the last water elemental that I let go today. The more I think about it, the more I feel that I have let it go once 40 or 50 millennia ago …"
Melita was speechless.
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