As it turns out, Ives is probably the man who knows Herman best. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 When the rescue force of the watchfort rushed to the Origi fortress, Herman was leading the guards to stand on the top of the fortress and shout and curse, and a dozen people dressed as mercenaries were surrounded under the fortress, and from time to time they shot a few arrows at the top of the fortress to demonstrate deterrence. Ives and his soldiers hurried more than 30 leagues of the road, but it took less than a meal to relieve the Origami fortress, which was "fiercely attacked by the enemy". The mercenaries besieging the fortress were disarmed and handed over to Herman along with their equipment, and before leaving, Ives watched Herman arrogantly "teach" his captives, turned his head in anger and rode away.

Ives was silent on the way back to the Watchtower, suppressing his anger - not because of Herman's vile behavior, but because Miloka had dropped her sword in battle. That night, Ives reprimanded Miloka harshly, "For no reason, a swordsman should not drop his sword, even if he dies." "He taught the young swordsman so much. It was also that night that Miloca meditated in the training ground all night, and the next day was found sleeping on the ground.

But Miloka has not gotten rid of this problem so far.

Ives made his way to the top of the Arrow Tower in the northeast corner, where he first saw Miloka in action, and where he decided to take Miloka as an apprentice. "Tomorrow he's leaving the Watch Castle to pursue a new life, is it too late?" Ives said to himself, looking at the training ground, he had received a message from the Consortium a few days ago that the caravan would arrive at the Watch Castle tomorrow, and he had to be prepared before then, "I hope Solan is not mistaken." Ives sighed alone again, and went on his rounds.

As night fell, Ives sat at his desk as usual, and the wind beat against the wooden windows. Ives was a little sleepy after a busy day, shaking his head drowsily, and only the sound of the wooden window struggling to open it tirelessly reminded Ives not to fall asleep.

"Knock, knock. A dull knock on the door helped Ives sweep away his sleepiness. Ives opened the door, and Miloka was standing alone outside the door, her head bowed as if she was hesitating, but also a little timid.

"Is there anything going on?" asked Ives.

"My lord, I'm still ......"

"Come in and talk about it. Seeing that Miloka was struggling, Ives beckoned him into the house and sat down, and poured a cup of hot water, but Miloka still kept her head down.

"Have you ever heard of the Holy Sword?"

Ives' sudden question disturbed Miloka's thoughts, and he was even more overwhelmed by how to speak, he looked at Ives blankly, trying to figure out the meaning of the question from Ives' expression, but Ives's face was as calm as the water of a secret spring, and he did not reveal the slightest thought. "The Eternal Sword Kuitoun, Mr. Say mentioned it. Miloka replied helplessly.

"Very well," Ives said after taking a sip of water, "According to the annals, from the beginning of the Dark Ages to the present, there have been six people who have held Quiton—Victor the Conqueror, Mackay the Mad King, Alexander the Grand Master, Calby the Calby, Brillary Bert, and the Legendary Sword Saint Cleon. ”

"I've heard this from Mr. Say. Miloca picked up Ives' words, as if he were talking about the story of a bard, and he was less timid. Miloka did have some confidence in legends and stories, and during the more than ten years of wandering in the Southern Empire, listening to Say tell some ancient history, or listening to the stories of fellow wandering travelers was his greatest pastime.

"Since you've heard all of this, you've heard the legend that the Holy Sword can bestow victory on the owner, but that's not the case. Kuitohn does have its peculiarities, but not because it can give its bearer great power, but because it chooses extremely powerful masters every time it appears, or that the strength of these people itself attracts Quitto and makes it reappear in some mysterious way. Ives spoke of the Holy Sword for no apparent reason, and although this was not the purpose of Miloka's night visit, it piqued Miloka's interest.

"What the adults say is different from the version that has been circulated in the world!" said Miloca, who sighed as if questioning, and as if teasingly.

"When I was younger, I believed in the Bard's sacred sword—the hilt of which was inlaid with jewels, the blade so sharp as clay that it radiated with a dazzling light around the wearer. And yet the Kuitoen I saw with my own eyes ......"

"Your Excellency has really seen the Holy Sword?" Miloka was shocked by Ives' words and couldn't wait to interrupt him.

"Not only have I seen it, but I have been fighting with Cleon Garia for a year as a member of the Guard. Speaking of this, Ives's eyes showed a deep regret, not only that, but he was shrouded in desolation like a bleak autumn breeze when he didn't know what to say for a while.

Seeing Ives fall into sadness, Miloka also unconsciously remembered Say, Bane and others, and silently lowered her head and said, "I didn't expect adults to have such a glorious past. ”

Ives didn't care about Miloca's response, and he lifted his spirits and continued to talk about Quetton. "No one knows how Cleon obtained the Holy Sword, and even for quite some time, everyone believed that the Holy Sword was just a legend and did not exist. It wasn't until I was helping Cleon pack his equipment that I was burned by the hilt of the sword, and I curiously asked about it that the most ordinary-looking longsword he had been hanging on his horse was the famous Kratoun. Cleon never used Kratoun, not even when dueling with the Nanban Prince under Black Rock Castle. ”

"I heard the bard say that Cleon was later executed for treason, and he was the only one who ever had Quetton, right?" Miloca asked curiously, according to Ives, if the Holy Sword really chose a powerful man as its master, then how could such a powerful Cleon be executed.

"Cleon was indeed executed, in the name of treason......" Ives suddenly stopped, he didn't know how to explain the matter to the boy in front of him. As far as he knew, Cleon was a noble man who would never do such a rebellious thing as treason, but the whirlpool of political struggle was so complex that a young boy like Miloca could understand. "I can't really explain why, but the important thing is that Cleon was executed and still held on to his sword—just an ordinary imperial sword, not Quetoun. ”

Hearing this, Miloca finally understood what Ives meant by talking about Quithorn, and he remained silent, waiting for Ives to continue, so that he could get the answer he wanted without having to open his mouth.

"Miloca," Ives said solemnly, "your former mentor taught you how to use weapons—to be honest, you're a pretty good learner, and you're far superior to most people in terms of swordsmanship and judgment, but you've never realized that swords are more than just weapons for swordsmen. The sword is the swordsman's most loyal companion, it will never betray its master, as long as you don't give up and stick to the sword in your hand, whether it is a powerful weapon like Kratoun, or an obscure antique like the imperial sword, it will do everything in its power to respond to you and repay you. Swordsmanship is not only about fighting skills and moves, but also about the mind and spirit, and if you want to integrate the swordsmanship I have taught you, you must remember to believe that it is the premise of everything. I know it's going to be hard for you, after all, you've been practicing mercenary-style swordsmanship for more than a decade, but if you want to become a great swordsman and master the power of revenge, you must overcome this. ”

Miloka lowered her head slightly and listened quietly, thoughtfully. Ives waited quietly, knowing that thinking alone would not solve the problem, and that only through contemplation could Miloka completely change her understanding of the sword. After a long time, Miloka finally raised her head, and her eyes did not show the firmness that Ives expected, but a more dazed and hopeless loss.

"Has Cleon been rewarded with his sword?" asked Miloca.

Ives fell into deep thought, he did not answer Miloca's question, and silently walked to the window, thinking to himself: it will be soon.