In the silent room, Rhodes packed his belongings, having not recruited a single squire since the disappearance of his last squire, Tallinnam. Each of the attendants who stayed with him did not live for more than two years, and in order to prevent more young people from dying, Rhodes never recruited any more attendants.

"Great Lord, are you going to leave for China?"

Behind him came Brandio's deep voice.

"Well, let's go today. Like you said, in this place, you don't see hope. We can't count on someone else's future. ”

Rod lowered his voice and returned. Under the flickering candlelight, the stone walls are heavily shaded. Both were preoccupied.

"Well, that's right......"

Brandio slurred—

"Before I leave, I want to see someone again. If he could, maybe he would come with me to Kislev. ”

"Yes. As long as you're not a Chaos believer, you can bring anyone with you. ”

Rod said with a smile.

"Not Chaos Believers. He's an old friend of mine. ”

Brandio said.

......

In the afternoon, when Rod and Brandio arrived at his old friend's house, the sight made Rod frown.

It should be said that this old friend of Brandio is really a strange man, with a good mansion, not living in a castle, but living in a forest. The nest of naturally growing branches became the abode of the strange mage. Yes, the old friend Blandio is talking about is a native Imperial mage.

"Long time no see, old friend. A hoarse voice full of the vicissitudes of time came from the tangled branches, and when the sound was over, a burly middle-aged man stepped out of the cracks in the trees.

"You brought outsiders into my territory without my consent, old friend, it seems that you are not good enough to keep your promises. ”

The middle-aged man walked straight over, but he didn't look at Rod at all. So much so that Rhodes wondered if this guy was like other imperial noble lords, a foreign race from the north with ease.

"Lord Rod Lawn, Grand Lord of the North of Kislevfe, Grand Duke. He's not an outsider, in fact, I've decided to go to him. ”

Brandio said. His voice was clean and full of affirmation. The hermit looked displeased.

"You've decided? Didn't you tell me that you'd never be involved in politics again in your life? Why, you forgot your vow?"

The middle-aged man laughed.

"I haven't forgotten, but Lord Rhodes may be different. ”

"Mendrar, I've been thinking a lot lately that maybe our previous negative retreat was wrong. There is always hope, there is always a place where people like us are needed. The world is so big, it doesn't have to be in the empire to drain our lives. ”

Brandio spoke earnestly. Only then did Rod know the name of the middle-aged man. Previously, Rhodes only knew that the person he was going to visit was an imperial nobleman, lord, and mage.

"Even the empire can't be saved, and there is hope elsewhere?"

The Mendrar wizard sighed softly.

He casually cast a small spell, and in front of the three of them, a round table made of wooden rattans and three small chairs rose from the ground and appeared in front of the three of them.

"You may be seated, Lord Rhodes. ”

The wizard called politely. It could be seen that the old mage was not happy with the stranger's visit, but out of respect for his old friend, he still entertained Rod.

"Do you think there's hope? Lord Rhodes. ”

The wizard Mendral suddenly turned his head and asked Rod.

"There is no hope. But if you give up, you're wasting the time the gods have given you, wasting your life. We may fail, but we can come to this world without regrets. ”

Despite being unprepared, Rhodes expressed his opinion.

Mendral smiled, "I used to think so. Soon, his voice fell low again.

"Continue to be silent, or face it bravely, sometimes it's just a thought. ”

Rod encouraged.

Of course, silence becomes a habit after a long time, and sometimes, we just can't live without it. ”

Rhodes added. This made the old wizard cast a strange look. Obviously, there were some words that he listened to anyway.

"So, have you decided? Go to the northern country of ice and snow, show your skills again, and then fall again and break your head and bleed, for a petty official position that is not worth mentioning, you will be tired from running around, and even lose your life in the end?"

Mendral turned to look at his old friend.

Brandio picked up the teacup and put it down again.

"What's the point of living if you can't do it vigorously?"

"We're not young anymore, old friends. ”

The wizard persuaded.

"The rest of your life will be spent in the flames of ice and fire, burning your own life, not wasting your life in a filthy mansion. ”

Brandio retorted. He is like a child, devastated by the years, and still wants to burn himself. On the other hand, the old mage in front of him. The age is not very large, but he looks depressed. The years have left a merciless mark on his face, an indelible past.

"I envy you, Blandio, for the countless setbacks that have not yielded you, and you will be radiant at every opportunity. ”

The two of them talked word by word, and Rhodes could only get a glimpse of the imperial past between the two men from these few words. It can be felt that the old wizard is also a love-hate and disappointed man for the empire. It seems that it is not only civilians who are defeated by reality......

"We're in our fifties this year, so we don't have much time left. Maybe you still have it, but I don't have it. While there's still a little time, do something. so that you will not regret it on the sickbed. ”

Brandio said in a deep voice.

"Like a lion, brave for three seconds, or like a sheep, cowardly for a lifetime. That's it. ”

Rod added.

However, the persuasion of the two did not seem to change the decision of this forest wizard. His interest lies in planting flowers and grass, and Rod can see that this castle is not visible from the outside, but when he walks in, it is like walking into a paradise. Every glance is a landscape. This is probably the old wizard's only hobby for more than ten years, or even more than twenty years.

"I must warn you, High Lord of the North, that I am not cowardly. If you haven't experienced our time, if you haven't lived in this country, you don't understand the cruelty and difficulties. There is always more despair than hope. Don't you see? Most people are addicted to pleasure, and the people who indulge in carnival are the real cowards. There are many imperial nobles who have dozens and hundreds of girls in their mansions. Loss of temperance, loss of chastity and perseverance, loss of loyalty. This is the real coward. You should really go and see more, learn more about this country, and then come here and talk to me. ”

Mendrar's eyes became abruptly bright. At this time, Rod discovered that under this cheek full of vicissitudes, there was a brave and unyielding heart. Even if he is scarred, he still does not want to go along with the world. It's no wonder that over the years, the Emerald Lord could become Blandio's bosom friend. Yes, at least they haven't sunk yet......