Keith led the guards in the snow outside the monastery before the fog cleared. The carriage stopped in the middle of the two teams, and the coachman, Redbearded Gatsfian, sat quietly in the driver's seat waiting for orders, the white breath exhaled from his mouth condensing into wisps of ice on his beard.

Gatsfi was dressed in a Persian woodcutter skin, and underneath a cotton coat with excellent warmth. Ice blue eyes stared at the vast snowy road ahead, and a trace of sorrow crept up on his forehead. He looked at the Puma on the shelf, worried that they would not be able to complete the mission.

Keith endured the cold and waited quietly, without any expression on his face. Dressed in silver armor and with iron swords at their waists, the guards stood motionless in the snow like statues.

Suddenly, the stone door slowly opened, and Master Helde stepped inside, followed by Master Chadwick and Karlovak, as well as several Soul Eaters, and Keith noticed Rex standing among them.

He hesitated for a moment, then respectfully greeted him, kneeling down to greet the masters. Master Held's face was bright, and with a smile on his face, he said slowly, "Prince Keyes, please, thank you, may the gods bless you." ”

"The carriage is ready, please get on board Master Chavik. Keith said as he stood up.

"Go ahead, don't keep Hobbes too long. Helde said to Chadwick.

Chadwick nodded at Held, turned and followed Keith into the carriage, who waved at everyone and got in, commanding, "Go!"

Gatsfi gave the order, holding the reins in his left hand and the leather whip in his right hand, and threw it hard into the air, the whip made a "snap" sound, and he shouted, "Ah". The four horses immediately set off, raised their hooves and galloped forward.

Rex, Caterina, Babas, Odom, Tramitchell, Lehman, Bessie, and the two guards mounted their horses and ran after them.

From the monastery to the foot of the mountain, they walked for a day, and on the third day Gatsfeld finally pulled the master and prince outside the city of Whitehorse. Keith had already sent the guards to report the news to the king, and the people of the city were overjoyed and left their homes and took to the streets. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of Graybeard, so they lined up to sing, dance, party, drink and party, and the streets and squares were lit up with lights.

The king led his courtiers and nobles to the square outside the palace to await the return of the prince and the master, and a long red carpet was laid out in the center of the square. Two groups of guards stood at the edge of the square, each wearing silver armor, silver boots, and red cloaks draped over their shoulders.

King Hobbes, dressed in a beautiful gown, stood at the front of the procession, smiling, his orange beard fluttering in the wind, and behind him was his wife, Empress Maresia, who wore a crown and long blond hair hanging down her shoulders. Her skin was white and blown, her eyes were as clear as sapphires, and she stood with the maids with a solemn, gentle smile.

The Chief of Staff, Unos Sosa, stood to the right of the king, with a beaming expression, and the king tilted his head from time to time to talk to him. General Hagam and Captain Dioma stood at the end of the line, their expressions solemn and their eyes sharp, looking around the square with meticulous attitude.

Keith got out of the car first, and then helped Chavik down. Once he stood still, he shouted to the guards, "The wise man of the sky, the pioneer of mankind, the great Greybeard, our friend Master Chadwick has arrived!"

One by one, the guards carried messages upwards. At this time, the crowds on both sides of the street crowded over and applauded and shouted the name of the master. Everyone gathered around Keith and Chadwick towards the palace.

There was a lot of talk and praise for Greybeard and Keith. They walked through the market, the weapons store, the grocery store, the tavern, the cross street, the aristocratic quarter, and climbed a hundred stone staircases to the palace square.

Rex saw the king, queen, ministers, and maids standing together from afar, and they looked intently at this side. The greeting was unusually solemn, and Keith led everyone on. Rex suddenly remembered that Caterina had been a palace guard, and quietly asked her, "Hey, how does it feel to be back in the old place?"

"Oh! Caterina said angrily, "Memories of the past are nasty things. ”

"What memory?" asked Rex.

"Memories of the mistreatment of the captives, they were cold, brutal and disgusting. "You don't know how they mistreat their enemies!" I describe to you, the soldiers often torture the enemy with cruel means, burning, cutting out their tongues, gouging out their eyes, disemboweling their stomachs, oh, it's a nightmare!"

"Stop, please stop. Rex begged, "Stop talking about those unpleasant memories, please." ”

Caterina laughed, "Coward, I thought you were strong!"

Rex waved his hand and shook his head again.

As Keith and Chadwick walked towards the king, the band began to play. When Keith returned to his father, the king led the people to kneel down and saluted the master with his right hand on his chest.

"Great Herald, Supreme Wise Man, Master Chavik the Greybeard, friend of the people of the Empire, welcome to the Temple of Heroes. King Barguf IV Hobbes of the Reich would like to offer you his heartfelt and sincere respects. The king exclaimed.

"Arise, wise monarch Bargulf IV Hobbes, and the gods will bless you and your people. Chadwick chanted like a priest.

The king stood up, and the others followed. He turned around and invited Chadwick to the Hero's Temple. So the master and the king went side by side and entered the temple. The temple hall was already set up for feasting, with tables piled high with toast, apple pie, goat cheese, baked potatoes, donuts, salmon steaks, roast lamb shanks, deer steaks, cabbage and potato soup, and everyone's favorite mead.

Burning candles in silver candlesticks illuminate the food, and torches hang on the walls. After King Hobbes and the Maestro took their thrones, they announced the opening of the feast in public, and the band played the "Song of the Heroes", and everyone sang in chorus:

The night I woke up from my home

Inside the bottomless cliffs of the White River

Despite my physical death

But my sight remains

Look at the place where I came

The eyes of the dead shimmered

The high song of war glory was sung loudly

I walked around like a ghost or a human

Walk through the pine forest and camp above the pitch black night

I came to this fiery crowd

Listen to their singing like the wind

"Sing louder and louder, skimmy musicians

Let the gods hear and weep and mourn with us"

It is you who give them glory, and the spirit of Magsta, the god of war, shines forever

They sang until dawn

Every piece of ash gathered together like an expedition

I yelled and cried out of despair

Stop everything from going to ruin

Roar out the syllables of the ancients

Until peace was restored to the world

Caterina used to listen to this song a lot, when she was a ten-year-old girl, and it made her feel honored, and it was the greatest motivation for her to strive to become a member of the Imperial Royal Guard. Of course, the process of struggle is full of hardships and is not easy. Eventually, she got her wish, but instead of making her happy, the glorious cause she felt was a cause that made her troublesome in vain. She was especially depressed in the face of tormenting those who had lost wars, and she was by nature a pacifist who advocated freedom.

During the banquet, the noisy atmosphere suffocated her, and this kind of boring joy tormented the mood. So Caterina left the hall through the side door and went out to the balcony to get some fresh air, and before leaving, she looked back at Rex, who was having a drink with the prince, and he was very happy.

It's ironic to say that the place you once dreamed of reaching now just wants to leave, like some dreams that you didn't fulfill your heart's desperate desire before they were realized, and when they actually achieved it, they were extremely disappointed, that the dream was not as good as they imagined, and everything seemed unreal. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a guard not far away staring out of the high wall, a longing look like she was yesterday.

"You seem to be upset, why?" Rex asked with concern.

Caterina smiled and turned her head to Rex as she walked by, "I thought, maybe you can tell me why!"

Rex walked over and took her into his arms, kissed her lightly on the forehead, and said pleasantly, "Because...! ”

Caterina giggled, pressed her face to his chest, felt Rex's heartbeat, and mischievously said, "yes, I need you." ”

The lover in Rexlou's arms suddenly felt a multiplier of strength, and a strong desire made him want to protect her and prevent her from being hurt in any way.

Inside the temple, Babas and Odom drank mead. Keith walked between the Master and Barbas with his glass in hand, telling the crowd stories of his adventures and adventures, and everyone applauded. On the throne, Chavik and the king were talking cordially, giving their views and exchanging views for the upcoming athletic convention. Tramitchell mingled among the soldiers, showing off her pirate experience, and the soldiers couldn't stop praising her for her bravery.

Lehman and Bessie watched coldly and sat quietly in their chairs eating doughnuts. Their eyes were bright and their eyes were floating, observing the every move of everyone in the hall.

After a while, the queen Marethia took her husband's leave and the master, and was accompanied by a maid to the bedroom, who was in bad spirits and pale.

To add to the excitement of the feast, Keith summoned two gladiators to perform martial arts in the center of the hall, which made everyone's blood boil even more with alcohol. The two gladiators, dressed in leather armor and masks, began to fight with their hands, like two wild beasts, fighting hard to get each other to the ground. They don't use weapons or magic, as the rules of the game only allow fists.

The Temple of Heroes was filled with singing and dancing, and everyone was immersed in the party. Only Master Chadwick knew that this was the beginning, and in the days to come, more kings, warriors, mages, assassins and other important figures would appear one after another.

And what he is looking forward to is to find a warrior among these heroes who can be qualified to guard the dragon.