Alepf looked up at his father. The King of Sand in his eyes was thin and serious, his bare hands covered with bones and bones under his robes, and the green tendons under his skin were exposed, like a shadow sitting on a throne, but only a pair of eyes burned with fierce flames, showing a stunning majesty.

He was long past the age of his prime, but his mind was still as shrewd as that of a young man, just as it had been more than a decade ago. At least in Alepf's opinion, no one dared to play any tricks in front of this man, his father, and even his son often felt a little uneasy under such pressure.

But today, Barbartan's tone was very gentle, just like an ordinary old man: "Have you seen Burred lately? ”

Alepf nodded.

There was a low sound of discussion all around, and people couldn't help but wonder if the Sand King's slowing down towards his eldest son meant something. Everyone was secretly suspicious of the deeper meaning of this change of attitude, and the courtiers looked at Alepf with deep meaning for a moment, and even his brothers looked at him with a hint of envy.

But Alev didn't even dare to take a breath of air. Afifa often said that he should inherit the throne, or it was her sister, and his affection for the throne was so special that he could neither desire nor resist, but what made him more nervous than how he should get along with his father, who was the king.

Barbartan was clearly well aware of his son's nature.

He spared no more words, and only looked over the shoulders of his eldest son, where beyond the palace, the deacons were rising from the bonfire, and the bright light reached the sky and the earth, as if there was really a shining star, rising from the darkness. He still remembers the first time he participated in the Star Ceremony as a child, when his father told him that only the higher the status, the higher the position, the higher the position to receive the blessing of the fire.

He had secretly vowed in his heart that one day he would be at the forefront, received by the King of Sand, and blessed by the light of the fire. At that time, the Penelope family was just an inconspicuous sideline. Later, his wishes were fulfilled one by one, and he did not even have to be received by the King of Sand again, because he himself became the King of Sand.

But the vision of the past has faded away and become a less important goal. He wanted to achieve more and more, and there were fewer and fewer, taking over the throne from his father, and the former enemies were also missing one by one, and the only thing left in his memory was only an encounter in the end.

"Babaltan, I will work with you to protect this land in the future."

"I have a secret to tell you."

After the heavy illusion in front of him disappeared, he returned to this familiar and unfamiliar palace.

Babaltan looked at the young man in front of him, who was somewhat similar to himself in the past, and sighed: "Alepf, do you remember what happened to Albert?" ”

Alepf immediately remembered his brother who had died of the plague, a great plague ten years earlier, and the war that followed it—war brought plague, as Attaria had known. The plague swept from Noganes, even to the south of Kaulin-Ihurian, and Istania was not immune.

The survival rate of young children in the Istanians of this era was extremely low, and they would always die of all kinds of strange and sudden diseases, even with starlight, the survival rate was only 50%. Of course, if Aleph knew the history of the other world, he might have been glad for it, because Aitalia was much luckier than the time when the other world was almost the same.

His youngest brother was not much younger than him, and he was already a 'grown up', but unfortunately he died in the plague, he was already nine years old at the time, and he already knew about it, so he naturally remembered it well.

It's just that Alepf is a little puzzled that his father has a lot of children, and he has not lived to be a full adult, and he rarely mentions these things on weekdays, so how can he mention Albert's matter alone today? He couldn't help but raise his head, but when he saw his father looking straight at him, he couldn't help but be startled, and hurriedly lowered his head.

"In the blink of an eye, another decade has passed."

"Thirteen years ago I was sent on an expedition and didn't even think I'd come back alive from Nogones, but in the end we defeated the Empire with the Cowlings."

The King of Sand seemed to be narrating something, as if he were talking to himself. "Alef, sometimes it's important to get to know the right people, and I made some friends during that war, like the Prince to the north, and some of the Chosen One. They helped me a lot, and your grandfather didn't do the same? ”

The man on the throne was reminiscing about the past, and the hall was a little quieter. However, the old ministers and the nouveau riche look slightly different, the old people who experienced the war thirteen years ago all show a sense of reminiscence, the tragedy of that war is recorded in the paper today, and the people who participated in the war come back only one in ten, and those who stay are called lucky.

And the upstarts who have risen in the past ten years have a slight subtlety in their expressions, and on such an occasion, they are naturally slightly embarrassed.

But no one will fail to understand the atmosphere at this time and say something out of place.

For a moment, only the voice of Babaltan was left in the hall.

Alepf lowered his head slightly, and there was a sense of uneasiness in his heart, always feeling that his father's words meant something.

"After the war, epidemics followed."

"But thanks to the Chosen One, the plague was quickly extinguished."

"That day, when I saw the Sufang tree that I had planted, I realized that so much time had passed."

The King of Sand looked at his eldest son and suddenly asked, "Alepf, I heard that you recently made a friend?" ”

Alepf was shocked in his heart, and involuntarily raised his head again, he didn't expect his father to even know this?

But Babartan said, "I also overheard someone talk about it. ”

He turned his head and his gaze fell on one of the courtiers in the middle of the hall. The middle-aged man with a solemn expression stood beside a pretty little girl with soft blond hair, tilting her head in this direction. Facing the gaze of the King of Sand, the middle-aged man only bowed slightly.

……

Fang Yu disposed of the robes and turbans he had used to infiltrate, changed his clothes, and went around the library again, and when he returned to the square, the celebrations and revelries in the open space had already begun for a short time.

He returned to the crowd and saw that no one around him noticed him, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in his heart - tonight's actions were smoother than expected, not only did he successfully achieve his goal, but he met the eldest princess, and he didn't get into any trouble, everything went so smoothly that he couldn't believe it.

Not long ago, Sophie said that he was in trouble, although he denied it verbally, but Fang Yu sometimes had some doubts about himself, did this little princess of Silver Vislan inadvertently point out some truth? After all, from Dorifin to Idus, and back here, it seems that there is not a single time when he does not get into trouble.

And small troubles will turn into big troubles, and big troubles will become big troubles, and even end up with things like the birth of the evil star and the war of the gods, as if their every move will lead Aitaria to the end of destruction. It's a bit absurd to think about it, but sometimes it's a little weird to think about it.

But fortunately, it doesn't seem to be the case. At least once, I didn't get into any trouble, and I didn't cause any foreign disputes as I imagined, but in short, not only did things not go in the worst direction, but even went incredibly well. Fang Yu couldn't help but reflect for a moment, was he too careless in the past?

If you were so careful every time and plan in advance, maybe you wouldn't get into so much trouble?

Fang Yu raised his head to look at the rising light above the bonfire.

It was the Star Ritual of the Istans.

This means that the festivities are in the middle of the process, and in the middle of the festivities, the crowd will gather around the bonfire to enjoy the performances of the court entertainers, and enjoy the food and drinks. At this time, the deacons will use magic to raise a star from the bonfire, and the brilliant light not only symbolizes the starlight of all living beings, but also the sacred flame of Andoma, the master of the realm of life and death.

Those who receive the light of the stars are blessed by Andoma, and in the coming year, it is impossible to say that everything will go well. Of course, it was just a good wish, but history became a tradition, and tradition was deeply rooted in the hearts of every desert people, making it a sacred culture.

It was also the most important time of the year for the nobles of Cuestac, and the desert people were not as closed and reserved as Kaulin-Eshurian, and young men and women often found their other half on such a celebration. I heard that there is a beautiful legend in the past in Istania that this is how the current King of Sand met the biological mother of Her Royal Highness the Celestial Princess, who was also the first lover of Babaltan.

As a young man, Fang Yu was naturally favored by many enthusiastic girls on such occasions, of course, because his alchemist robe and the Venus on the neckline were quite eye-catching.

"Mr. Alchemist, would you like to dance with me?"

"Mr. Alchemist, do you want to exchange bracelets with me?"

"Which family does Mr. Alchemist come from?"

The aristocratic maidens of Estanya are enthusiastic and unrestrained, with a bold and direct look in their eyes.

However, they are also very straightforward, of course, they are not those really ignorant girls, when they heard that Fang Yu was just a commoner, or the Holy Chosen One, they all left in a tactful tone.

For a while, Fang Yu couldn't cry or laugh.

Although all he could think of at this time was Sylvide—at most, there was a fleeting silver-haired girl, but it quickly faded from his mind. However, the straightforwardness of these noble girls of the desert people still made him a little speechless.

Of course, he also knew that Questak's annual social ceremony, especially in this square, was certainly not such a simple thing. These young girls from aristocratic families have received such an education since childhood, and they naturally have the most ideal goals in their hearts when they come to this place.

As for appearance, talent and others, it is not the most important thing, but family background.

And they don't have any unrealistic dreams, everyone is terrible, and their goal has been circled in their hearts long before the celebration begins.

Fang Yu sighed, perhaps this celebration was more pure for the Istanians than the one on the square outside the palace. If it weren't for Alep's face, and the reason for meeting the eldest princess, he himself might have preferred to go there instead of staying in this place.

After the girls left one by one, Fang Yuan's side finally became clear.

Melodious music could be heard in the distance, and the Ceremony of the Stars had reached the second half, and the starlight rose until the highest point in the night sky, and when it reached the top of the palace, it exploded like a bouquet of flowers, sprinkling brilliant light on the entire Questrak. At that moment, the celebration will reach its climax.

Fang Yu planned to stay until that time to leave, and at the peak of the celebration, the moment when the blessing of the stars was sprinkled on the whole city, leaving this palace of sand sounded romantic, didn't it?

Unfortunately, it backfired.

Because before that, he had seen Aleph.

His Royal Highness the Prince hurriedly found him, completely devoid of his usual demeanor, and even said a little breathlessly: "Ed, my father wants to see you. ”

Fang Yu was immediately stunned.

He looked at Alep, thinking that His Royal Highness the prince would not appear until later, at least until the Sand King and his party on the high platform had left. And the reason why he originally planned to leave here early was precisely because he didn't want to meet the other party, of course, it was not that he intended to avoid His Royal Highness the prince, but that he really didn't want to make more trouble in this place and on this night.

didn't expect that people were not as good as heaven, things still found themselves, and they came so suddenly.

His Royal Highness the Prince hastened to find him before the Star Ritual had even been completed, and told him as soon as he opened his mouth - the King of Sand wanted to see him?

Fang Yu almost doubted his life, could it be that he was the protagonist of the legend, and he had to find himself in everything? Because even if he wanted to break his head, he couldn't think of a reason why Babartan wanted to see him, and he had never met the king of sand, and there was nothing to do with the two.

Well, maybe it's a little bit related......

But the other party may not know.

"The King of Sand wants to see me?" Fang Yu almost thought that the other party was joking with himself, and pointed at himself and said in a daze.

"Don't worry, my father just knows about the relationship between that tower magic furnace and you, and wants to meet an alchemist as young as you."

Alepf calmed his breath, but he looked much more relaxed than before, and even laughed - this was the first time Fang Yu had seen His Royal Highness the prince laugh these days. Fang Yu couldn't help but secretly guess, it seemed that the other party's gift should be quite liked by the Sand King.

So, that's why he was able to meet this king?

He couldn't help but be a little speechless.

I knew I shouldn't have pretended to be this force.

However, he seemed to have forgotten that if he didn't pretend to be this force, it seems that he would not be able to come to this place, let alone meet Her Royal Highness the Celestial Princess.

"That," the last thing Fang Yu wanted now was to be in the limelight, after all, he had only done a lot of things in Bein, and theoretically speaking, he was still on the opposite side of the King of Sand - although the King of Sand may not know, Fang Yu still couldn't help but feel weak, after all, he had only met Her Royal Highness the princess not long ago.

He hesitated, and finally couldn't help asking, "Can I refuse?" ”

Alepf couldn't help but laugh.

"No kidding, Ed," he shook his head, "give me face, I'm out of luck if you refuse." ”

Fang Yu couldn't help but be speechless.

He really wanted to say, if you are not unlucky, I may be unlucky, although it is only a possibility. But looking at Alepf like this, he really couldn't say anything about refusal, the other party has helped him a lot these days without hesitation, and he really treats him as a friend and brother.

And now it's just a meeting with the King of Sand, which may be an honor in the eyes of many people, if you refuse, what reason should you have? Of course, the general excuse can't be said, what kind of stomach ache or something is better not to insult the IQ as soon as possible, as for the straight talk?

Fang Yu felt that he might as well go and meet the Sand King.

And the other party didn't seem to intend to give him this chance to refuse, so he grabbed his arm and walked forward, saying, "Don't be so nervous, my brother, my father is very talkative." ”

Alepf panicked, this was the first time he lied since he was a child, and he couldn't help blushing slightly, but he couldn't care so much for a while-fortunately, he was facing the other direction, and Fang Yu couldn't see it-and as for whether his father was very talkative, Aleph himself didn't believe in such nonsense anyway. He was a little weak-hearted, and added, "It will always be good for you to meet him, my father is not a stingy man, and if you repair the tower magic furnace, he will always give you some reward-"

"Probably ......"

"Probably?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"I mean, Father is supposed to see you because of this," Alepf coughed, "after all, I can't think of any other reason why he wants to see you......"

"Wait a minute, so you're not sure?"

"Of course...... Somewhat sure," Alepf said embarrassedly, "Maybe it's because you're too young, after all, such a young alchemist should be rare in Istanya." ”

In the face of the other party's ambiguous statement, Fang Yu became suspicious, and he felt more and more that this so-called audience was not so reliable.

"Wait, Alef, it occurred to me that something had not yet been done...... I really have to go back. ”

"Ed, please give me face."

"No, I don't give it."

……

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