Although the empire is located in the middle of the continent and has been in the south since Kislev, the entire northern province of the empire still has snow in winter, and in some years it will drop significantly depending on the climate. According to historical records, during the coldest years, crops failed, causing hundreds of thousands of people to die of starvation and freezing, and the starving people went into exile, causing massive chaos within the empire...... Such things are not uncommon. Rhodes could only lament how fragile and small human beings are in this world.

It's almost a struggle to survive in the cracks, one of the slogans of the Empire's human armies - to fight for the power to live. It is a portrayal of this bleak situation. As for those who shouted that they would fight for glory and freedom, they were just beautiful slogans shouted by noble knights in gorgeous armor. Most people, just to live......

Beside Rod, the wood elf Aryria tightened her cloak and muttered curses the weather. She could have sat in the enclosed carriage provided by Maximian, however, when she saw Rhodes riding a dark horse and walking at the front of the group, stubbornness prevented her from hiding alone in the warm carriage and watching others ride outside. Instead, he resolutely walked at the front of the line on horseback like Rhodes.

Of course, what she didn't know was that the human warrior beside her was not an ordinary human, and the blessings of the three gods of Kislev gave him an extremely strong hardy physique......

"You should get in the car and warm up. There's no need to be on the front line with us men. I don't mean to offend you, miss, but you really should be in the car, everyone's physical fitness is different. You've always been afraid of the cold, I can see it. ”

Riding on horseback, Rhodes turned to the Wood Elf and said.

Elleria didn't answer, she continued to wrap herself in her cloak, the cold weather freezing her little face even paler. A white mist exhaled from her nose and quickly drifted into the air.

"Is that big bird your pet? ”

In order to alleviate the awkward silence, Rhodes changed the subject and pointed behind him. Unexpectedly, this angered the wood elves......

"It's not a pet! It's not a big bird!"

Aryria roared angrily. provoked the imperial soldiers behind him to look confused.

Rhodes hurriedly apologized-

"Well, well, not birds, not pets. ”

"It's my buddy, comrade-in-arms, and you'd better be respectful of it. ”

Aryria put down the harsh words. Kicked the spurs and kept going.

For a moment, Rhodes remembered the first time he had met the Wood Elf, in the forest outside of Erengrad, and that, at the last moment, he was about to capture the Wood Elf archer alive, however, a giant eagle suddenly appeared, fanned himself away, and saved the elf at the same time. This bird of prey in the sky should be the giant eagle that followed Aryria's side back then. It's just that why it didn't go north to Norska with Aryria, Rod doesn't know. Can't the giant eagle fly over the Talon Sea?

"A chance for my buddy to have a chat with that buddy of yours?"

Rod followed, continuing to joke. The journey is boring, and teasing this little sister of the wood elf is the only fun. And the white bear Usok on the side was also very cooperative, looking at the wood elf ranger on horseback with a peaceful face.

Aryria was silent again, she turned her face away, and urged the horse to run forward. She didn't want to pay attention to these boring humans.

"Well, don't do that. Let's get down to business. Are you traveling alone?"

Rod cleared his throat.

"Have you seen other elves?"

Aryria asked rhetorically.

"Okay...... Then why don't your people join you?" the wind blew the cloak behind Rod, and the huge manticore cloak shook in the cold wind, making a shuddering sound.

"They prefer to stay in the forest rather than my adventures. They believe that the King of the Forest will lead them to defeat all invaders, and that the forest is their irreplaceable home. This has been the case for thousands of years. My people think that this is the law, like the soul of the forest, resurrected from the dead, constantly reincarnated. ”

Aryria said, looking into the distance with a deep gaze. In fact, sometimes even she feels lost and confused. Is there anything she is looking for? Is there any hope for the outcome she wants? The more she explores the outside world, the more she feels small. Like a small boat floating in the ocean, mighty and mighty, drifting with the current. It was as if his destiny was held in the hands of a powerful, invisible force. Or is the whole of the Wood Elves, the whole of the Extolloren Forest controlled by an unseen force?, in short, after all she has been through, Aryria only feels so weak and helpless in this world.

"It's normal, the fear of the unknown keeps us going. ”

Rod said with a shrug.

"No, not fear, but closure. "In the forest, my people have lived for thousands of years, little changed for thousands of years, and the outside world has been turned upside down. ”

Aryria's lips twitched, and Rhodes knew she had recognized some of the realities, but refused to admit them. The pride hidden deep in her bones made her still refuse to let go of that posture.

"Maybe you should go back and tell your people what's going on outside. ”

Rhodes said.

"It's not that easy, they won't believe me, and they might even arrest me and put me in a wooden cell. ”

Aryria's gaze darkened.

"In fact, I went out alone because I was against my father's will. ”

"It's they who don't understand you......"

Rod was comforted.

"It's like the Empire doesn't trust you. ”

Eleiria turned around and said, the corners of her mouth rarely raised a light smile, it should be said that it was more of a bitter smile.

"You and I are not understood as aliens, however, we are not really aliens. It's just that we see things that they don't see. ”

Rod smiled and rode on horseback. The Imperial GIs behind him only wondered when this Kislev had become so close to this Wood Elf Ranger? They had been together for less than a month, and had fought side by side once at most, but they often chatted together. There seems to be an endless list of words. Some of the soldiers wanted to get in and eavesdrop, but the high level of discipline allowed them to suppress this thought and continue to perform their duties as soldiers.

"Time will tell us right. Just like this time, the barbarians will eventually invade, whether the nobles of the empire believe it or not. If they don't believe it, they will inevitably pay the price. ”

Aryria's face grimaced.

"No, we can't afford that. Nor can this state of affairs continue. ”

Rod sighed. Of course, this worry is only known to oneself.