Wu! Wu! Wu!
After three consecutive horn blasts, the huge and overstaffed caravan immediately panicked. The civilians and rich merchants in the caravan looked behind them in fear.
The only fortunate thing was that the Knight on both sides of the carriages quickly suppressed the panic.
The people quickly followed the orders of the Knight and turned the carriages into simple defensive structures. After that, the women and children knelt on the ground and prayed to their respective gods.
The men picked up their weapons and acted as the final dam.
The sound of prayers soon spread throughout the entire convoy.
The panic quickly disappeared.
All that was left was peace and anticipation.
The people believed that their gods would not abandon them.
It was just like when he first brought them out of Naveya City.
This time, they would not be disappointed!
Faith was such a wonderful thing.
It would always obscure certain things that could be seen but were unwilling to believe, but not everyone could 'survive' by relying on faith.
At least, Catalina wasn't like that.
From the moment she plotted to steal the 'Holy Thorn Grail' for the sake of her priestly position, it was easy to imagine her faith.
She looked worriedly at the back of the caravan.
The Knight who accompanied the various temples had already gone to meet the enemy, but she did not feel happy at all.
Because she knew very well that this was just a sign.
It was a sign that the monster had caught up to the convoy and was about to launch an endless barrage of attacks.
She could even imagine the scene of the entire fleet being nibbled away step by step.
"Aileen, are you okay?"
"Are you thinking of … him again?"
"Don't worry, he'll be fine."
Lilith looked at her friend worriedly.
Atrina's expression obviously caused a certain misunderstanding in the priest of Love Temple. Atrina didn't explain herself to the misunderstandings.
After all, this was the state she should be in right now.
Without that man's support, the only thing she could hold on to was the legacy he left behind. Doing so would at least make her life easier in the future. After all, that man was one of the few who stayed behind to fight against the Devourer.
Moreover, it was the strongest one.
It was a sword that seemed to be able to split the heavens. Even thinking about it now, it was enough to shock everyone.
If it weren't for that sword, the outcome of the battle would have been reversed.
Them?
Not to mention escaping.
Death would be a blessing.
Unfortunately …
The man who could slash out such a sword was dead.
Until now, Atrina still couldn't understand her choice.
"I clearly had the chance to leave."
"But you still have to fight."
"As expected, when men are hot-blooded, they become a bunch of fools."
Atrina muttered softly to herself.
"Sir Ryan is no fool."
"Yes …"
"Hero!"
Lilith heard the whisper and she emphasized it.
However, her voice was very gentle.
She didn't want to rub salt in her friend's wound.
Atrina looked at Lilith and shook her head. She knew that Lilith was innocent in certain aspects, or else she wouldn't have become the disciple of the High Priest of Love Temple. But this also meant that Atrina couldn't tell Lilith the truth.
But even if he did …
No one would believe it, right?
Atrina's gaze swept across the people around her, and they all looked at her with respect.
It did not originate from herself.
It was because of that man.
"The monster has been beaten back!"
"The monster has been beaten back!"
The cheers swept away the heavy atmosphere of the convoy.
Atrina and Lilith heaved a breath of relief, but soon enough, Atrina's face turned heavy.
She saw a lot of injured Knight.
It was more than she had guessed.
More than that, they died in battle.
Without further ado, Atrina took the medical box that she prepared and walked towards the injured Knight.
Having that man's legacy didn't mean everything would be fine.
She still had to work hard on some things.
Lilith, on the other hand, was much more innocent.
The priest of Love Temple only hoped that there wouldn't be more casualties.
The post-war work was carried out in an orderly manner, and the meeting in the wagon continued.
"The enemy is very strong.
"Only people at the level of Knights can harm them."
The archpriest of War Temple was the first to speak.
He looked at the archpriest of Thorn Temple and Hunter Temple.
The topic seemed a little off.
But it had a hidden warning: parting ways in front of such a powerful enemy was not the best choice.
"The oracle is not to be disobeyed."
The archpriest of Hunter Temple said in a heavy tone.
"The trials of fate are like thorns everywhere, but we need to cut through the thorns!
I believe Lady Vanessa will not make a mistake! "
Edersen insisted as well.
His faith was deeply rooted in his heart!
The choice was unavoidable!
"May everyone … be safe."
The archpriest of Harvest Temple stood up and said to everyone in the wagon.
"May everyone be safe."
Everyone exchanged gazes and said their goodbyes.
It was as an old friend and also as a blessing.
That was because both of them knew very well that it would be very difficult for them to meet again after this.
Edersen sighed and got off the wagon.
The elderly archpriest adjusted his mental state and gathered everyone from Thorn Temple.
"We will head north.
Inform Lady Vanessa's believers that they will face another test of fate. "
Edersen said softly.
"The others are not coming with us?"
Atrina was shocked.
"Other than those from Love Temple and Melody Temple who are with us, the others …"
"They all have their own direction to move forward.
This isn't something we can stop.
Just like how they didn't stop us — if you want to say your goodbyes, please hurry up, we don't have much time left. "
Edersen said.
The elderly archpriest couldn't help but sigh again when he saw the worried-looking crowd disperse.
He was filled with regret now.
If he had insisted a little longer and chose to stay and let Ryan lead the group, the situation might be a few times better.
At least the morale of the people wouldn't be this low.
They wouldn't have to worry about being chased by monsters.
Ryan's strength was enough to strike fear into the monsters' hearts!
And him?
He was even weaker than a common Knight.
Without Lady Vanessa's support, what else could he do?
The messy thoughts in his heart made the elderly archpriest feel even more melancholic.
He couldn't even show his melancholy because when the convoy split into three, he looked at the smallest convoy among the three and couldn't help but gasp.
"North!
All the way north!
Move out! "
There were no more words of encouragement.
Those who could join the convoy didn't need such encouragement.
Although it was lesser than expected, Edersen didn't have the mood to pursue those who changed their beliefs at the last minute.
All he had to do was to be responsible for the people behind him.
Sitting in the wagon, Edersen opened up a cowhide map. It was given to him by Lady Thorn when he left Naveya.
The location of the hidden temple was marked on the map.
It also listed the possible dangers along the way.
"Arya Outpost, Yort Fields, Smochker Hills, Weiss Valley, Rinya Mountains."
As Edersen's finger moved, he read out the locations that Lady Thorn marked out and called out to the people outside.
"Erin?
What's wrong, Lord Archpriest? "
Atrina boarded the wagon.
"How many of us can join the battle directly?"
Edersen asked.
"Including the people who came with us, after the previous battle, there are less than 300 people."
I didn't count the number of Love and Music Temples. "
Atrina answered.
Following Hero Ryan's exploits, Atrina, who already had a certain position in Thorn Temple, had her status in the group skyrocketed.
In simple words, other than Archpriest Edersen, Atrina had become the second-in-command of Thorn Temple.
As for Atrina, Hero Ryan's lover, Einderson also trusted her very much.
So, without hiding anything, he placed the cowhide map in front of Atrina.
"This is?"
Atrina was taken aback for a moment before she reacted. Her expression changed, and after she finished reading the entire map, her expression turned even grimmer.
Arya Outpost, which is the closest to us, can become our temporary camp. "
But after that, Yort Fields … "
Atrina then looked at Edersen.
From the moment they left Arya Outpost and entered Yort Fields, they had officially left Naveya's territory. Compared to Naveya's "integrity", Yort Fields had dozens of lords and the terrain was flat and long. A normal merchant convoy would need around four weeks to travel through the area without any accidents, but with their convoy's speed, it would take them at least five to six weeks.
That much time was enough for the monsters behind them to devour their entire convoy.
In order to buy enough time, they had to build a line of defense in Arya Outpost to stop the monsters from advancing.
Or more precisely, they had to use their bodies to slow down the monsters, filling their stomachs and buying more time for the main convoy to retreat.
In simpler words, they were abandoning their pawns.
It was obvious as more and more monsters gathered.
Arya Outpost's fall was inevitable.
Atrina and Einderson knew very well what the consequences would be if they failed to defend the city.
So, who would be the abandoned pawn?
"Atrina, do you have any thoughts?"
Edersen asked.
Edersen was old enough to have enough life experience, but no matter how much life experience he had, it was useless in the current situation.
Whoever was left behind would be killed.
As Edersen with the butcher's knife in his hand, it was hard for him to make a decision.
So, he wanted to hear more opinions.
However, what happened next shocked Einderson to the core.
"I'll stay!"
Atrina said in a decisive tone.
"Atrina, don't misunderstand me.
"I asked you to come here to discuss, not …"
"I know!
But other than me, is there anyone more suitable?
Staying here will only result in death. Without a suitable person, the people won't be able to convince them, even with Lady Vanessa's glory!
"And in this team, apart from you, there's only me."
But you will need to lead the whole convoy to the north.
If that's the case, I am the most suitable person. "
Atrina interrupted Edersen and said with a serious face.
Edersen looked at Atrina and didn't speak for a long time.
In the end, the old man sighed again.
"Is it because of … Ryan?"
Edersen asked softly.
Atrina's body shook, she didn't say anything but the sorrow on her face couldn't be concealed.
"Ryan and you …"
"I respect your choice."
Edersen wanted to comfort Atrina but after the words escaped his mouth, he realized he had nothing else to say.
Between life and death.
Any description would be an understatement.
Just like how after Archpriest Scortu and Officiant Barry died in battle, Ryan and Kieran inherited the position of archpriest and officiant respectively.
Then, Ryan chose to stay and the position of archpriest would be inherited by Kieran, the officiant.
But …
The burden was too heavy.
So heavy that he couldn't breathe.
Whenever he thought about Ryan and Atrina, the pair of lovers, dying together, his heart would feel heavy.
Atrina left the carriage.
Inside the empty carriage, Edersen knelt down on one knee.
He was praying for the pair of lovers.
"The path filled with thorns is your test."
"The painful body will bring forth the noble soul."
"When you appear, everything will turn into the favor of fate."
"May the song of the Thorn Bird never stop."
The Thorn Bird only sang once in its life.
When it died.
From the moment it left its nest, it persistently searched for the Thorn Tree.
When it got what it wanted, it plunged its tiny body into the longest, sharpest thorn and sang with tears of blood — — the poignant and moving song that sounded like the sunset overshadowed all other sounds in the world!
When the song ended, the Thorn Bird died of exhaustion, sacrificing itself for the song.
Edersen hoped that the ending would change.
At least.
At least.
At least.
Don't be so lonely.
With some thoughts in his mind, Edersen picked up a quill and started writing something in the carriage.
Outside the carriage, Atrina's eyes showed a sense of hesitation.
She would never do something like covering someone else's retreat.
She wanted to use the whole convoy as bait in exchange for a chance of survival.
That's right!
She told herself that.
But the guilt rose in her heart uncontrollably.
As they got closer to Arya Outpost, the guilt in their hearts grew stronger.
When the convoy entered Arya Outpost for a rest, when the people in the convoy looked at her with respect, the guilt almost drowned her.
"Sister Atrina … thank you.
"I finally know why Ryan chose you."
Before dawn, a moment before the convoy departed after resting for half the night, Lilith found Atrina.
The priestess of the Temple of Love handed the 'amulet' that she had weaved overnight to Atrina and offered her sincerest blessings.
Atrina instinctively wanted to say something after she took the tri-colored silk talisman, but before the words could leave her mouth, she swallowed them back down.
'I'm just trying to survive.'
'I'm sorry.'
With such an apology in her heart, Atrina saw the convoy off. When the convoy was almost out of sight, the priestess of Thorn Temple turned around to the direction of Naveya City.
It was as if she was bidding farewell to her past.
But!
A moment later!
She widened her eyes!
A black line appeared in the sky!
A black line formed by a pitch-black monster!
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