Northward of Castle Kurkel, the capital of the province of Grinoires, and into its confluence with Lantonilan and Viero, the town of Shallow Water had sat quietly on the western shore of Lake Vallenden for centuries, ever since it was founded by Count Hatinger in the Year of Revelation.
The coniferous forests of Grinoires that stretched to the north presented a completely different scene here. Large patches of cedar trees were scattered in the woodlands, and even though it was near summer, frost still fell from the treetops as the group passed through the forest road.
The closer they got to Shallow Water Town, the more obvious the signs of the so-called 'late spring' in the northern part of Viero became. The blazing hot summer was nowhere to be found here, and instead, the signs of the recovery of all things were slow to arrive in this area.
The air in the forest was still wrapped in the chill of the end of winter, and the sky was so gray that it made one's chest feel stuffy, as if the mountain god of the sky, Gyst, was stirring a layer of lime above the clouds. Brando sat on horseback and looked up. The forest was bare, and the thin branches between the tree trunks were like dense spiderwebs that stretched to the sky. The buds that sprouted in the new year were still covered with a thin layer of fluff, and a few withered leaves from the end of the previous year hung quietly under these buds. From afar, they looked like dry pupae that swayed slightly in the cold wind.
But this was not the Month of Recovery, but the scene of the hot August in late summer.
Such a spectacle made everyone in the group click their tongues in amazement. It was clearly the Month of Flowing Fire, but this place looked like the transition between winter and spring. Filas rode at the front of the group and sighed, "Is this scenery caused by the so-called Stained Frost Forest?"
His loud voice echoed in the forest, startling a grey deer in the woods, which greatly displeased the guides in front of him. It was said that it was bad luck to annoy the holy spirits in the forest, and these nobles were all so ignorant and reckless.
However, the local hunters wouldn't go as far as to argue with the nobles over such a trivial matter. Hence, they managed to live in peace along the way.
To Filas, the lucky knight from the Kirrlutz Empire had finally gotten rid of his status as a prisoner, and the ten days of prison life had bored him to death. However, he did not care about his previous experience and only treated it as a misunderstanding. This kind of open-minded personality won him the favor of everyone, because after he was released from the prison, he was treated as a guest of honor.
On the other hand, Miss Delfien was much more stubborn. Even though she was not imprisoned in the water dungeon, Freya persuaded her, and perhaps because she did not want to make enemies everywhere, Amandina secretly locked the Prime Minister's daughter in the upper levels of the dungeon and separated her from the other prisoners.
A week later, she was taken away by Veronica's men. However, before she left, the lady did not feel the slightest bit of regret. Instead, she scolded Brando.
Brando really had nothing to say to such a stubborn lunatic. He could only leave it to Veronica to deal with it herself. If the Legion lady was smart enough, he felt that she should be sent back to her country as soon as possible.
Filas looked around and suddenly pulled the reins to a stop. He turned back and asked, "Count, how far is it from here to the Stained Frost Forest?"
Laurenna frowned and answered before Brando could, "It's still very far. I checked the map. It's at least a week's journey. "
"So far!" Filas exclaimed, "According to our itinerary, this is about the distance between the Flowerleaf Ridge and the Alfalfa Wilderness. Is it equivalent to saying that the changes in the four-leaf clover forest can affect Vahina? "
He first made a stifled analogy, then sighed, "If the climate can be changed at this distance, wouldn't the trees in the center of the Stained Frost Forest be frozen into ice crystals?"
"Pretty much." Brando replied. Although he had only been to the Stained Frost Forest once, he was still very impressed with it. In addition, he had read a lot of relevant guides later, so he could be said to know it like the back of his hand.
Although the Stained Frost Forest Labyrinth had a forest in its name, it was actually a glacier, or an ice cave, inside. There were more frost monsters than he had seen later in Saint-ausol and Fanzin.
"It's really scary," Filas couldn't help but shiver, "Are we going to just plunge into the ice and snow forest over there? Aren't we going to buy some warm clothes or something along the way? "
"We already have, Mr. Filas," Metisha replied with a smile as she followed behind Brando on her unicorn. She also used her eyes to signal the only carriage in the middle of the group, which was piled full of supplies.
The little Prince, who had been sent to run back and forth beside the waggon, and with the hired local coachmen, endeavoured to keep it steady over the rutted road, and was heard to bray in a clear voice to the four thick-haired ponies, who paid no heed to him, but looked at him with a kind of contempt with their eight eyes.
Everyone couldn't help but feel a little amused and sympathetic at the same time.
But fortunately, Haruz was starting to get used to it. He raised his head and wiped his sweat, his face flushed. He was wearing a brand new leather armor with a longsword strapped to his back. He looked like a young Knight who had gone to a great noble house as an attendant, where was the image of the little prince in his brocade robe from before.
"Oh, I remember now," Filas suddenly realized and nodded to himself.
"Filas," Brando turned around at this time and asked, "Have you ever gone on a winter hunt in your hometown? I heard that the Barrano area is one of the most well-developed areas in the empire, and Pesa and Freier are both important commercial towns. There are very few such forests in the area your father rules, right? "
"The Count is so knowledgeable," Hearing someone mention his hometown to him, Filas suddenly had a better impression of the Count of Tónigel. Besides, Brando was right, he obviously knew a lot about geography and culture. He immediately opened his mouth, "Exactly, but it's not like I haven't participated in a winter hunt. There were a few times when my father and I were invited to Floral Leaf Territory to participate in the winter hunt held by the Archduke of Floral Leaf. After all, the winter hunt is a very important event for nobles, both a tradition and an important social event. That's where I met Laurenna- "
"I see," Brando saw the female Knight blushing and knew that Filas was telling the truth. He also sighed inwardly. So they were childhood sweethearts, no wonder Filas could defeat so many challengers and win the beauty's heart. Plus, this guy's character was really not bad, and he could be considered to have some personal charm, at least compared to the children of the nobles, so it was no wonder Laurenna chose him.
He nodded on horseback and pretended to say inadvertently, "Actually, Mr. Filas can see our operation as a hunt, except that our opponents are more dangerous."
"Really?" Filas seemed to be energized, "Now that the Count says so, I seem to be a little eager to try."
"That's good," Brando smiled slightly. The Shire saw his Lord's smile and understood that someone was about to fall into a trap. He couldn't help but look at the young man with some sympathy, "I have a presumptuous request, if Mr. Filas doesn't mind, I'll leave the task of cleaning up the battlefield and organizing the spoils to you."
"Huh?" Filas looked overjoyed. In the etiquette of the nobles, only the most distinguished guests had the right to be the first to touch and distribute the prey. He never dreamed that the legendary Lord would think so highly of him — after all, it was unlikely that the other party was concerned about his identity, because just half a month ago, Brando had mercilessly imprisoned him and the daughter of the Prime Minister of the Empire. It was obvious that the name of the Cruz Empire was worthless in the eyes of the Count. However, it was precisely because of this contrast that he felt a little flattered and replied, "Since my Lord is so fond of me, then I shall respectfully accept."
For a moment, the young man was obviously a little confused by Brando's flattery, and even the way he addressed him had unknowingly changed.
Laurenna looked at her fiancé and couldn't help but shake her head, then looked up at Brando and said, "Thank you very much for thinking so highly of me, Count."
"It's okay."
Brando returned the gesture courteously on the surface, his expression calm and collected. In fact, he was laughing in his heart. He didn't bring the couple with him to meet up with Veronica or anything. In the final analysis, he took a fancy to the other's luck, which was as good as Martha's own son. Compared to the luckiest Knight in Cruz's history, Ferro's lucky hand was probably nothing — not to mention that the Wild Elf sister didn't seem to be very willing to help him with this matter now.
He could almost imagine the days of wealth in the future. If Filas wasn't the eldest son of the Prince of the Cruz Empire, he would probably have thought of detaining the other party permanently.
Of course, it wasn't as if he didn't have such thoughts now.
And with the previous conversation between Brando and Filas, the atmosphere in the convoy suddenly became harmonious, and the conversation gradually became much more casual. But Brando still noticed an exception. He turned his head — the convoy moved along the main road with a clanking sound, and the shadows of people moving about. After noon, the afternoon sun dyed the whole forest a dreamy color as it passed through the branches. But among the crowd, Freya rode alone at the very edge of the convoy, as if in an independent world. She lowered her head, holding the slate in her hand and looking at it over and over.
It was a weather-stained slate, its brownish-yellow surface covered with coarse grains, somewhat similar to the weathered granite on the Great Plains of Cramasu. A mysterious symbol was painted on the front and back of the slate with white paint. The paint itself looked like lime that faded easily, but wiping it by hand proved the opposite. Apart from this, Freya hadn't seen anything unusual on it in the past few days.
She didn't know why Brando gave this slate to her, saying that it was something that belonged to her, and that one day she would discover the secrets on it and other inexplicable things like that. But all these days, the slate was still a slate, and hadn't changed at all. The girl couldn't help but frown slightly, but in her heart, she wondered if this was another prank by Brando — he always seemed to like to make fun of her.
But the girl from the countryside of Bucce hesitated again and again, and in the end, she couldn't bear to throw away the slate. What if it was true? This was something that Brando had personally given to her, and for it, he had traveled so far — the two of them.
Because of this, she held the stone a little awkwardly, and couldn't help but be lost in thought for a moment. She didn't even notice that someone had approached her. Brando gently touched the future Valkyrie's elbow from the side. "Freya?"
"Hmm?" The familiar voice made the girl turn around with a start, and she asked in shock, "Bu, Brando, what's wrong?"
Brando frowned at the future Valkyrie, and of course, her flustered attitude couldn't be hidden from anyone. "What are you thinking?"
"I … I'm just trying to find out the secret of this stone, Brando, what exactly is this?" Freya's face was slightly red, and of course she was embarrassed to say that she had been thinking the wrong way before. But fortunately, the country girl still had some quick wit, and hurriedly held up the slate in her hand and asked doubtfully.
Brando glanced at the slate in her hand. This slate was called a key in some occasions in The Amber Sword, but it was actually just a replica of the War Slate. Most of these slates were passed down between the Miirnas or even older prehistoric civilizations, and were used to record the information of the real War Slate.
But there were also some records of ancient secrets, and some records of the history, culture, and war before the War of the Holy Saints. Players had unearthed many such slate fragments in the past, and most of the background records about Tuman, the Dark Dragon, and the War of the Holy Saints were deciphered by players through such text.
But the one he gave to Freya was particularly different.
In the game, this slate had a deep relationship with Freya.
In that turbulent history, the title of Valkyrie, which represented recognition and praise of Freya's strength, was not an honorific title given to the Valkyrie by the players of Erouine, nor was it even a title given by the kingdom itself. But from Cruz to Saint-ausol, and even in Madara, even her enemies gave her this title.
Of course, this was not just because of her personal charm. And most of the reason was because of Freya's Valkyrie Mark.
The mark on her forehead, which looked like a holy flame, would appear whenever the Valkyrie was in danger or when she tried her best, and it would be accompanied by a pair of huge light wings. In such a state, the power of the Valkyrie would often show a geometric increase.
It was said that this sign first appeared during a competition in the Royal Knight Academy. This was also one of the main reasons why he insisted that Freya go to the Royal Knight Academy. And after that, the frequency of the Valkyrie Mark appearing became higher and higher, and in those battles where thousands or even tens of thousands of people fought, it was obviously impossible to hide this secret.
In the original history, Freya's power was first announced by players in the first battle against the North. After that, the title of Valkyrie followed her like a shadow. But other than that, more players began to search for the hidden secret.
And the one who finally deciphered this secret was the player who discovered this slate. Brando could not even remember the player's ID, but he clearly remembered the whole incident from beginning to end.
It should be not long after the Second War of the Black Roses. More and more copies of the War Slate were widely discovered from all over the world, and players began to spontaneously decipher the content on the slate. At the same time, the history of the War of the Holy Saints became clearer and clearer in front of everyone.
But from this slate that was discovered in Tónigel, the player who discovered it interpreted a completely different record. It was neither about the history of the War of the Holy Saints, nor was it a description of a certain war or a certain myth. Instead, it repeatedly mentioned the existence of the Valkyrie Mark.
And at the end of the slate, there was a vague mention about the way to activate the bloodline of the Valkyrie.
The player who discovered this slate at first thought that it was a quest item to obtain a high-level bloodline, but after he tried all kinds of methods and still failed to obtain the next step of the quest, he finally thought of the Valkyrie of Erouine. So he posted his experience and the contents of this slate on the forum. Not long after that, the slate was bought by others at a high price, and then it came to Freya.
Brando remembered that it should be the Silver Year of the First Era. Not long after that, the Valkyrie of Erouine mastered the ability to freely enter the state of the Valkyrie.
Until just before she died in battle.
But seriously speaking, Brando himself did not know how to use this slate. He only knew the original location of this slate and some of its subsequent experiences from the news circulating on the Internet.
But at least he was sure that this was what it was, and it would definitely have an effect on Freya. He thought for a moment and asked, "Do you trust me, Freya?"
"I … Of course I trust you, Brando." Freya was slightly stunned, and then she seemed to understand what Brando meant. She looked at the slate in her hand and nodded helplessly. "I understand. I will keep it well."
"You don't have to think too much about it. Maybe at some point, you will naturally discover its secret." Brando grabbed the reins and rode side by side with the Valkyrie. But since Freya was troubled, he could only comfort her.
"Brando … You are becoming more and more like a Roman aunt."
"You can just say that I am becoming more and more like a fraud. I can accept that." Brando replied helplessly.
Freya glanced at him and smiled at him. "But it's good that you haven't changed at all since then. Sometimes I am afraid that you will no longer be Brando after you become a noble. "The girl from Bucce turned her head and said quietly.
"I haven't changed, but you have." Brando nodded. "You have become more mature."
"What … What?" The Valkyrie blushed a little.
"You wouldn't say such things in the past. You would most likely say, 'Brando, why have you become so strange?'"
"Brando … You, you are too much …"
… (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to qidian.com to vote for me. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
