"Without the Divine Hammer and without the help of the Silver Divine Arm, would you be willing to take it to the battlefield and gain the same glory as Shuma, but also end up dying?"

Stone's eyes flickered, he held his breath and reached out to grab the dragon slaying spear.

However, he was surprised to find that his palm had actually passed through it, and the dragon slayer spear disappeared from his hand.

"Damn illusions!" he yelled, angrily turning away.

"If you're joking, Rodrith," Robert said quietly, "it's not funny at all. ”

"Are you kidding?" the mage asked in a low voice. His strange golden eyes followed the back of the rider. "Robert, you should know me better. ”

The mage laughed in a strange voice that Robert had only heard once.

Then, with a mocking salute to the half-elves, Rodrith disappeared with the knight into the shadows of the dwarven underworld.

——

Robert sat in the meeting room of the High Seeker Council, frowning and listening.

Although the apocryphal cult was officially disbanded, the political entity leading the 800 refugees still bears this name.

"It's not that we are ungrateful to the dwarves who have given us a place to live. ”

Hendrick waved his scarred hand and said exaggeratedly, "We're all grateful, I'm sure of that."

Just as we are grateful to the heroes who recovered the Hammer of Kalas and gave us the opportunity to live here. Handrick bowed deeply to Robert, who simply nodded in return.

"But we're not dwarves!"

This passionate confession immediately caused a low burst of appreciation. As a result, it took some time for Handrick to quiet the waiting crowd.

"We humans are not supposed to live underground!"

"We make a living from farming. But we can't grow crops on the hillsides! we want land like a homeland that we have been forced to abandon, and that's the continuation of our lives.

I think those who have caused us to be displaced should pay the price!"

"Does he mean the Dragoon?" Stone whispered sarcastically to Robert. "I'm pretty sure they'll be happy that someone is coming to them to be responsible. ”

"These fools should be thankful for getting away with their lives!" Robert grumbled.

"Look, they bite Elistan back as if it were all his fault!"

Paladin's priest, who was also the leader of the group of refugees, stood up in response to Handrick.

"Because we need a new home," Elistan replied, a deep voice echoing through the cavern.

"So I propose to send an envoy to the beautiful city of Tarsis. ”

Robert had heard of Elistan's plan before. His mind drifted to a month earlier, when he and his companions had just returned from Deken's tomb with the hammer.

The dwarven lords, now subjugated to the leadership of Hunfer, have begun to prepare for the invasion of the evil forces of the north.

These dwarves are not really afraid of this force, after all, their underground kingdom is impenetrable in the eyes of their own families.

They also kept the promise Robert had made when he brought back the hammer: to let the refugees of New Grande live at the South Gate, the southernmost part of the Underworld Kingdom of Sobardine.

Ilistan brought the refugees to Sobadin. They tried to rebuild their lives, but the arrangement was not satisfactory for them.

Of course, their safety was not worried, but the refugees, who were mostly farmers, could not bear to live in the dwarves' underground caves.

When spring arrives, they can farm on the hillsides, but the harvest is only enough to make ends meet.

People want to live under a sky with fresh air and sunshine. They don't want to depend on the dwarves, not at all.

Elistan remembered the old legend of beautiful Tarsis and the swan-shaped ships that struck its harbor.

Back when Elistan first came up with it, Robert admitted that these were nothing more than legends.

Since the Cataclysm three hundred years ago, no one in this half of the continent has heard anything about Tassis.

Because the dwarves blocked the kingdom of Sobardine at that time, it was also the only passage through the Carolian Mountains, effectively blocking the transmission of information between the north and the south.

Robert watched with trepidation as the High Seeker Council voted one-sidedly in favor of Elistan's proposal.

They planned to send a small detachment of Utassis, who managed to contact the ships that came to the port, get on board, and even buy a ship.

"Who is going to lead this squad?" Robert asked himself silently, though the answer was already obvious.

Every eye was cast on him. Before Robert could speak, Rodris, who had been listening quietly and silently, walked up to the council, glaring at them with a strange golden glint in his eyes.

"You fools!" said Rodris, his hoarse voice tinged with anger, "you're dreaming of fools."

How many times do you want me to say it, how many times do you want me to remind you of the signs of the stars, how do you feel when you see two hollows in the night sky?"

The members of the council shifted their seats, and a few exchanged impatient glances.

Rodlis noticed this and continued, the contempt in his voice becoming more and more apparent.

"Indeed, I have heard some of you say that I have heard. It's just a natural phenomenon that happens all too often, like leaves falling from a tree. ”

Several members of the council exchanged views and nodded. Rodlis watched in silence for a few minutes, a contemptuous smile on his lips.

Then, he spoke again, "I repeat, you are all stupid.

The reason why the constellation called After Darkness has disappeared is because it has descended on Candela.

From the platinum disc, it is known that the constellation representing Palatine, commonly known as the Valiant Warrior, also came to Candela to resist its invasion. ”

Rodrith stopped. The Elistan standing before him was the prophet of Paladin, and many people converted to this god.

He could clearly feel the anger of the people around him at his deception.

How could God have personally intervened in the affairs of mankind? Unbelievable! But being seen as a lieabout would not have bothered Rodrith at all.

His voice grew louder and louder. "Remember what I said! It is recorded in the 'Prayer' that after the darkness will bring its 'army of screams'. These screaming armies are dragons!"

Rodlis's last sentence was hissed, as Hubble said – "creepy."

"We all know that. Hendrick interrupted him impatiently. Because it was past the time when he was accustomed to drinking a glass of wine in the evening, this gave the high priest the courage to speak.

It was only when Rhodelis Hourglass's eyes pierced him like two black arrows that he quickly regretted it. "Y-what are you going to say?"

"Peace has long since ceased to exist in any corner of Candela," the mage said hoarsely, waving his thin hand. "Even if you find a boat, you can go wherever you like.

Wherever you go, just look up at the night sky, and you can see two voids without a trace of light. Wherever you hide, dragons will chase you!"

Rodrith began to cough, his body contorted with wheezing and seemed to be crumbling, and his bruising brother ran forward in time to catch him with his strong arms.

After Calamon carried Rodrith away from the venue, it seemed that the gloom had dissipated. The members of the council shook their heads, their voices trembling slightly, and they talked bitterly about the fairy tales.

It's unrealistic to imagine the whole of Candela in flames. Even this part of the Ansillon continent is nearing the end of the war.

The dragoon general Fierce Mina has been defeated, and the dragon army has been repulsed.

The members of the council left the chamber and returned to their homes or hotels.

They completely forgot to ask Robert if he would lead the squad. They took it for granted that he would.

Robert exchanged a solemn look with Stone and left the cave.

Tonight it was his turn to keep vigil.

Although the dwarves believed the Underworld to be safe, Robert and Stone insisted on placing a sentry near the outer wall leading to the South Gate.

They knew the dragoons so well that they did not dare to take this 'respectable' foe lightly in their sleep.

Robert leaned against the façade of the south gate, looking thoughtful. In front of him was a meadow covered with snow.

The night sky was cold and calm. Behind them was the Caroli Mountains, the only access to the South Gate, which was in fact a huge protruding rock.

This is one of the impregnable defense systems of the dwarves, and it is also the greatest contributor to the dwarven kingdom's ability to lock the country for nearly three hundred years after the devastating cataclysm and the battle of the dwarf gate.

The gate is sixty feet wide and nearly thirty feet high, and powerful mechanisms control its opening and closing.

The center of the gate is almost forty feet thick, and it is arguably the strongest gate in all of Candela except for the north gate.

Once closed, the difference between it and the rock wall is completely discernible from the outside, and it is the work of ancient dwarven craftsmen.

But since the humans moved into the South Gate, torches have begun to be lit here.

Allow men, women and children to go outside and breathe. This is an incredible weakness for the dwarves who live underground.

Robert stood there, looking out at the forest beyond the prairie, feeling no trace of tranquility, as Stone, Elistan, and Lolana joined him.

The three of them were discussing something, apparently related to him, but suddenly fell silent, making people feel uncomfortable.

"You look melancholy. Lolana whispered to Robert, placing her hand on his arm.

"You're right to believe Rodrith, right. Tanselle ——,Robert?" she stuttered a little as she tried to say his human name.

But she knew in her heart that his elven name would only bring him pain.

Robert looked at the slender hand on his arm and gently closed his palm.

Just a few months ago, these hands would have made him feel guilty and struggling, entangled in love with a human woman and a childhood friend.

But now Lorana's hand made him feel warm and calm, even if it still made his heart beat.

He pondered the reaction as he answered her question.

"I learned to trust Rodlis's counsel a long time ago. He said he knew it would be very disappointing for them.

Sure enough, Stone's face darkened, and Elistan frowned.

"I think he's right this time. We won a battle, but we were still a long way from a total victory.

We all know that Sorenia in the north is in the midst of fierce fighting. It is easy to assume that the dark forces will not only aim at the conquest of Abenisia. ”

"But you're just speculating!" argued Elistan. "Don't let the dark aura around that young mage distract you from your thoughts.

He may be right, but there's no reason to give up hope and try! Tarsis is a thriving seaport – at least that's what we've heard.

Where we are, we must inquire about the situation elsewhere. If this is the case, then we will surely find some paradise without contention. ”

Whether it's Scarlet Moon or Rodlis, they all come together for their respective beliefs.

While one is the embodiment of kindness and beauty, the other has a cunning and immodest style. But Rodrith may not be as weak as he appears to be.

Filin and Loras did not travel through thousands of years to get to the present, and Rodrith's memories were gradually forgotten in the turbulence of history.

The deeds of Rodlis in the past have been buried in the long river of history. Perhaps that untouched conscience is the best proof of his existence.

"Listen to Elistan, Robert—" Lolana said softly. "He's very intelligent.

When our people fled Quilenos, they did not flee blindly.

They are fleeing to a paradise without war. My father had a plan, though he didn't dare announce it-"

Lolana fell silent suddenly, surprised at the impact of her words: Robert shook off her hand and looked directly at Elistan with anger in his eyes.

"Rodlis has said that hope is nothing more than a denial of reality. Robert said coldly.

Elistan looked at him apologetically, and the half-elf smiled reluctantly. "I apologize to you, Elistan.

I'm so tired, please forgive me.

Your advice is good, we should go to Tarsis with hope, not so much. ”

Ilistan nodded and turned to leave. "Are you going to come along, Lorana?

I know you're tired, but we still have a lot to do before I hand over leadership to Parliament. ”

"I'll come right here, Elistan," Lolana said with a blushing face.

"I- I want to talk to Robert. ”

Elistan looked at the two of them considerately, and then walked down the dark path with Stone back to the South Gate.

Lolana stood at the entrance, her expression gradually becoming indifferent, as Robert visibly pretended not to see her.

"What's wrong with you?"

She finally asked. "It sounds like you're helping Rodrith fight the wisest and best man I've ever met!"

"Don't criticize Rodlis casually. Robert said hoarsely, sticking the torch into the bucket as he spoke.