Whenever the shadow of the dragon swept across the hills and land, many descendants with the blood of the dragon would be born on the land. Astrologers claimed that the next generation born under the shadow of the dragon would have magical powers, and this was the origin of the Year of the Shadow of the Dragon.
A thousand years later, the blue sea was still washing the coast of White City as it had done a thousand years ago. Foam floated on the sapphire-like surface of the sea, leaving undulating wet marks on the long embankment of Antisquire. The highest wave had reached the bottom of the relief of the behemoth Leviathan carved in the sea of the long embankment. There was an iron ring there, used to mark the highest water level in the history of White City. The iron ring was now rusty and weather-beaten.
This long embankment was built in the era when the Lord of White City, Terrence, forged swords into plows. It was connected to the stone trestle that extended into the blue bay in the distance. There were hundreds of ships anchored there, and the sailing ship of the Elven Court was unique among them. It had a long row of vertical sails, and the bow was curved like a saber. This fleet had crossed the sea from Eleranta to this place, and there were a total of five groups.
On that day, the citizens of White City saw the fully armed Elven army disembark from these ships and then head east, batch after batch, and they never appeared again.
More than half a month later, Rand once again stood on the edge of the long embankment and looked at the yellowed top of the sail. The Elves had never returned, leaving only the empty fleet drifting in the bay like ghosts. It was not that no one coveted them, but all who dared to touch them received a stern warning from the Holy Church.
The breath of the sea soaked his cheeks, bringing with it a moist breath.
His heart was full of doubts. Why did the Elves of Eleranta come, and where did they go?
The empty fleet drifting on the surface of the sea seemed to be silently narrating something. Their whispers lingered above the bay like ghosts, sending chills down one's spine.
Rand suddenly felt a wind on the sea, and a chill ran down his spine.
He pressed his forehead, and his heart was slightly stunned. How could the wind blow from the sea at this time of the year?
However, the sea breeze immediately became violent. The surface of the sea was dark, and white lines appeared on the surface of the sea. A strong wind blew across the bay, causing the flags on the sailboats to flutter loudly. The trees along the levee rustled. Rand felt his hair flying and quickly pressed down on his hat. The wind immediately lifted the corner of his shirt. He saw the sailboats in the distant bay begin to sway one by one.
What was going on?
Several workmen were shouting from the direction of the harbor, their voices carried by the wind from afar. They seemed to be complaining about the damned weather, saying that a storm was coming. However, his intuition as a sailor told him that this was definitely not the prelude of a storm. Moreover, the rainy season was over. How could there be a storm on the Calm Sea when autumn was approaching?
He raised his head and narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, he saw a few black dots appear on the horizon.
They were elegant creatures flapping their wings. They were huge and beautiful, as if every muscle on their huge bodies was full of rhythm. The perfection and extremity of life were vividly displayed on their bodies. When they spread their wings, they seemed to cover the sky and the sun. The wind passed under their powerful wings, stirring up waves on the sea and piercing through the clouds.
Huge shadows swept across the land again, just like in the past when everything was ruled.
On this day, the dragons once again flew over White City.
…
The water droplets gathered on the intersecting gray rocks. A line of fluorescent light shone on the edges, reflecting the magnificent scene inside the Holy Sanctum. Ding dong! The water droplets dripped from the dome and fell into the pitch-black sacred stone pool. Ripples appeared on the surface of the pool.
"Lord Sage, the outcome of the battle has been decided."
Asebanto the Eleventh stood in the darkness and said in a low voice.
A few sacred candles in the distance emitted a dim light, outlining his milky-white satin robe. The robe hung down to the stone floor, and the bottom seemed to be stained with a layer of dark green.
The towering figure of Eleranta stood there for a long time, her emerald-like eyes exuding a deep luster in the darkness. Her gaze passed through the balcony on the side of the Boulder Cathedral. There were towering mountains and lofty ridges, the shadows of the forest under the sunset glow. The last ray of golden light was swallowed up by the heavy clouds, and the stars fell from the red and purple sky, bringing with them a tragic color unique to this moment of impending departure.
The light would disappear below the horizon, and then it would be a long night.
After a long while, she slowly said, "What did you see, Your Excellency Asebanto?"
"This is the news brought by my student. The Silver Queen has joined forces with the undead of Madara. At dawn on the 17th, an army of undead set off from the Arjean area. On the 21st, someone witnessed their march near Ovechin. If I'm not wrong, the undead of Madara have already arrived on the battlefield —"
"In the Evergreen Corridor, the army of Golden-maned Toquinin and Jorgendy Ridge is marching north day and night. Once they pass through the Gate of Arrobigan, the forces of East Metz Cruz will reach more than 500,000."
Asebanto the Eleventh took out a piece of parchment from under his long sleeve, read it carefully, and handed it over.
But Ellanta did not take it.
"Have you heard of the Battle of Erkatos, Your Excellency Asebanto?" She looked back and asked.
Ding dong!
Another water droplet fell into the pool.
Asebanto the Eleventh raised his head in puzzlement. The candlelight, which varied in brightness, deepened the wrinkles on his face, as if they were carved by a knife.
"Are there any more variables, Your Excellency?"
"But … even if the eldest prince can deal with the White Legion, … facing the army of Jorgendy Ridge, it will be difficult for them to continue … unless …" He answered hesitantly, "unless Your Excellency intervenes."
"I won't intervene, Your Excellency Asebanto. I've already made it clear."
"If that's the case … I'm afraid it will be difficult for them …" Asebanto the Eleventh frowned deeply and shook his head again and again, "Your Excellency, … not everyone is a miracle like the Flame King and the Battle of Erkatos. It's precisely because it's impossible that it can be called a miracle."
"But miracles are difficult to reproduce —"
Ellanta did not refute him.
The last ray of golden light had already sunk below the horizon. The heavy twilight brought with it endless loneliness. The wind blew in the night, and the clouds in the sky slowly moved south along the ridge line. The moonlight quickly poured down, making the Calendula Mountains appear silver-white.
"I feel a throbbing. The Flaming Blade Oderfeiss has been reborn in this world and has chosen its promised person —"
Asebanto the Eleventh was horrified. He looked up in shock, "Your Excellency, this …?"
"There are heroes born in every era," Ellanta replied softly, "and the reason why an era is called an era is because it will replace the past. If you simply repeat the past, you won't get the answer."
"The Bugas are paying their debts. In the Holy War, they really shouldn't have intervened. Sixty years ago, someone shouldered everything for them, and now they must repay this kindness." She turned her head, and a rare smile appeared on her determined face, "The wind is blowing, Your Excellency Asebanto, do you feel it?"
Outside the Boulder Sanctuary, the wind was gradually getting stronger, and the trees were making frantic sounds. Countless leaves were swept up and flew into the sky, forming a torrent that fluttered and danced in the sky.
Some leaves were even swept up to the balcony and scattered all over the floor of the sacred hall. Several monks hurriedly ran to close the door.
But at this moment, the door at the back of the sanctuary was pushed open with a bang.
"Dragon —"
"Teacher, Your Excellency, it's the dragons!"
… …
"Duruma, Arreck, and Karsuk have all reported the presence of the Giant Dragon."
"The dragons are acting strangely. Did something happen?"
"There's one more thing, Your Highness, we need an explanation —"
Princess Gryphine finally raised her head from the pile of documents. Her beautiful eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her gentle and resolute silver eyes had an imperceptible sense of worry. She looked at the noble standing in front of her — a member of the Nonin Family. Behind him stood the Grand Duke of Grinoires. Perhaps there was someone else?
She opened her mouth and asked, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you said just now. Could you please repeat it?"
The princess' voice was not loud.
However, this caused the Purple Reeds Hall of Fort Ornevia to fall silent for a moment. The nobles, big and small, seemed to have realized something. They stopped talking tacitly and raised their heads to look in this direction. Some of them were bewildered, some looked like they were watching a good show. All kinds of faces with different expressions intertwined with each other. It was grotesque and variegated, like a weird picture.
The noble did not care about Princess Gryphine's identity at all. He walked out of the crowd with his head held high, and proudly took out a letter from his chest and placed it in front of the princess.
"Your Highness," he replied while pointing at the letter, "This is the report from the frontlines of Bucce, Golden Castle, and Karasen Highlands. The facts show that the undead of the Empire and Madara are amassing troops at the border. They are ready to make a move."
Princess Gryphine looked into the noble's eyes. She saw many people from the corner of his eyes. There were the envoys of the Grand Duke of Grinoires, the northern nobles, her grandfather Grand Duke Viero, and even the members of the Royal Faction. She saw Makarov and the others in the crowd. Those people first avoided her gaze, but quickly came over to her.
She secretly clenched her fists.
"There is also a report here, Your Highness," the noble continued calmly, "It says that Cruz has joined forces with Madara. Madara has sent tens of thousands of undead to the Eastern Metz region to participate in the war. The Jorgendy Ridge and Golden Mane Toquinin legions loyal to the Silver Queen have also passed through the Gate of Arroyo. The Crown Prince of Cruz is about to be annihilated —"
"I already know about this report," Princess Gryphine's face darkened, "What kind of explanation do you want to hear?"
"Your Highness," the envoy of the Grand Duke of Grinoires suddenly spoke, "Erouine is a small country. It is impossible for it to survive under the combined attack of Madara and the Empire. A small country should have its own way of survival. In recent days, you have supported your Count to stir up trouble in the Empire, ignoring everyone's advice. Now that your bold and reckless plan is about to fail, shouldn't you give us an explanation? "
Princess Gryphine was silent. Since the war at Faltan Harbor, both sides had used magic to block all magic communication in the area. For nearly half a month, there was no news from the battlefield.
She shifted her gaze to Amandina who was standing in the crowd. Amandina did not speak, but only nodded slightly at her.
She did not know why, but she felt a slight warmth in her heart.
She calmed down and coldly glanced at everyone present, then said, "The Count's actions are righteous and reasonable because Erouine must protect its people. For this reason, it will never bow to any bandits, regardless of whether it is the Empire or the undead! Count Tónigel has defeated the Empire once, and I believe that this time, he will also stop the Empire. I want to tell everyone a fact — "
"That is, Lady Martha once taught us that righteousness will always prevail."
The hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
It was almost a confrontation, and the atmosphere was so tense that one could almost see the sharpness of the atmosphere.
The envoy sneered.
"Your Highness, words alone will not win the war. The Empire and Madara have joined forces, and the undead have tens of thousands of troops in the Arjean region. Coupled with the powerful White Legion, please tell me, how will the Empire fail? Even if our Count Tónigel wins this war with Lady Martha's protection, how will he deal with the Lion Beastmen of Toquinin and the army of Jorgendy Ridge? "
Speaking of this, he could not help but laugh very frivolously, "Of course, maybe our Count will kill the enemy with his will. Who knows, he can destroy hundreds of thousands of troops just by bragging? After all, Lady Martha said that righteousness will never fail — "
There was a low chuckle from the crowd.
Duke Viero sighed and shook his head, "Princess Gryphine, stubbornness is not a quality that a good ruler should have. Although you are not the King of Erouine, you represent the face of the Royal Family. What you said before was too childish."
Princess Gryphine's face was as cold as ice as she looked at Makarov.
Makarov frowned and said, "… Your Highness, don't be too stubborn."
Princess Gryphine's face was filled with disappointment, and she said with disdain, "So, you have been waiting for this moment for a long time."
"Your Highness, you should say that we have given you and your Count enough chances, but your performance has disappointed us."
"What a disappointment —"
With a click, the main door of the Basil Hall in Fort Ornetto was pushed open. The one who came in was the Highland Knight's Grand Commander Bunide, followed by seven or eight young Highland Knights. Bunide looked around with a cold smile, "The most disappointing thing is that the one who saved Erouine is not the glorious Royal Faction, but a nameless junior. Some people are going crazy with jealousy behind the scenes. I'm afraid they will soon be swallowed by the flames of jealousy."
Almost everyone in the Royal Faction, including Makarov, had a change of expression. Only Oberwei's expression was normal, and he only frowned slightly. After all, being ridiculed like this was something that anyone would not be able to hold back.
"Bunide, are you crazy?!" Immediately, there were young Royal Faction people who wanted to step forward, but they were immediately pulled back by the people around them.
What a joke, this was the King of the Highland Knight, known as the 'Resting One'. He was one of the few Elemental Awakened elites in Erouine. Ordinary people would only be humiliating themselves if they went up against him.
Bunide did not even look at these clowns. Instead, he went straight to Princess Gryphine, knelt on one knee and performed a grand Knight's salute, and said, "Your Highness, I have good news for you."
Princess Gryphine was slightly stunned.
The Knight's Grand Commander had already taken out a scroll of official documents and handed it over with both hands, "Your Highness, Mehotofen's great victory. In the middle of last month, Count Tónigel defeated the White Legion in the battle of Fattan Port, annihilated the undead army of Madara, and then set up an ambush to defeat the allied forces of Golden Mane Toquinin and Jorgendy Ridge. As of the seventh of this month, the entire territory of Eastern Metz has been recovered and is under the control of the Empire's eldest son."
The hall was dead silent.
"This is impossible!" The Grand Duke of Grinoires's envoy rebuked loudly, "This is a false military report!"
"Bunide, what is going on?"
Princess Gryphine frowned. Even she could not believe it. Three battles in a row. Were the armies of the Empire, Madara, Toquinin and Jorgendy Ridge made of wood? Although she had no doubt that Brando could create a miracle, there were only a few people in Fattan Port. It was already amazing that he could maintain a stalemate.
Bunide smiled slightly and turned to explain to everyone, "After Count Tónigel defeated the White Legion, he persuaded the White Legion's Grand Commander, Duke Ambunar, to surrender. With this information advantage, he blocked the news. At this time, the allied forces of Golden Mane Toquinin and Jorgendy Ridge did not know at all. They went through the Evergreen Corridor according to the original plan, and in the end, they fell into the Count's ambush. Count Tónigel took advantage of the terrain advantage in the Arroyo Valley and almost wiped out the Lionmen and Jorgendy Ridge's army in one battle.
"What about the Dragon Queen? How could she deal with three giant dragons? "The envoy screamed.
But Bunide did not even bother to look at him. He turned his head and nodded to Princess Gryphine.
Princess Gryphine was stunned. A complicated look flashed in her gentle silver eyes. She hesitated for a moment before gently picking up the scroll.
Outside the palace, it was after noon. Between the flickering lights, it was as if the shadow of a dragon was floating.
…
(PS: Haha, today is the Holy Foundation Day. Did you guys get anything? Wo Wufa got Richelieu! This is not drying the boat! The Bishop's Natal Party is super happy! In order to celebrate, they have silently updated a thousand words. This is their unique moral integrity and character.)
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