Pillars of Ita

"Little Joyce."

The boy's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard the voice. He turned around in disbelief and saw that figure - the old man guarding the lighthouse had been missing for a long time. Someone saw him and the man holding the sword. He left with the knights of the court, and it was rumored that he and the governor were missing in the stormy sea.

Some people say that the Imperial Army went to Harui to resist the Nagas. The abominable Archon finally died of exhaustion in the battle with the alien race. The old sentry who had been guarding the lighthouse for decades also died in the battle. middle.

But only little Joyce still remembered the other party's words: "You are back, Mr. Sentinel."

"Yes, I'm back, little Joyce."

"But you have been away for a long time, and the lighthouse is unattended. Even the door to the yard was broken by that guy Byk, and no one repaired it. They originally lit the lighthouse, but forgot to extinguish it, which almost caused a fire. …”

"They said you went to Harina, right? I heard that the Governor is dead, but I didn't like him at first - Mr. Sentinel, you also participated in that battle. Did the empire protect us?"

Little Joyce rambled on, but the old man just listened quietly.

He reached out his hand and stroked the boy's head.

He did not answer. Some lies do not need to be exposed deliberately, but boys will grow up one day. Men will remember what happened that day and who protected them and the city. Andreus once said Walking through the wind and rain, I did not bow to anyone.

That is everything worth their efforts to protect.

The first generation of magic emperor and the people he protects make a promise to each other.

The tall man remained silent. Issa, who was holding a scimitar, smiled softly, shook his head and sighed - the silver chain armor reflected the sunlight, and there were still imprints of the Naga sword on it. It had experienced a battle. , but did not gain any benefits.

Isa still shook his head: "Why bother? Do you think Andreus will welcome us?"

In the drizzle between the clouds, Minmir received a letter.

He doesn't need these people to understand, he just needs them to obey orders. Fortunately, the empire's system can still guarantee his authority. In the end, everything still depends on this somewhat uninteresting system.

When the rain becomes light, the sun passes through the gaps in the clouds, and dew shines on the grass blades, the sea of ​​clouds finally calms down, and the storm will eventually pass.

The knight in the Court of Swords looked at them and asked, "The tower guard is back. Do we want to ask him?"

Issa shook her head.

They fought a battle with Naga, but the process and results were not as expected. The empire gave up on the northern border, but from Campa to Likiam, the people living here faced the wind and rain and never fell down. Head, those people have weathered the storm and remained standing.

"Just wait a moment and I'll send you the map."

Two eyes watched this scene from afar.

And because of the alliance with Fang Plover in the end, the ship did not lose many men. After experiencing such a terrifying rainstorm, the captain was somewhat grateful to him.

He took out the communication crystal. Although the communication between the two realms and the etheric crystal veins seemed to be disturbed by the violent etheric sea, the fleet still stayed in Alteric Port, and the short-range communication on the island was not greatly affected.

Instead of the vulgar and barbaric lower class, in the minds of these sword-wielding knights, there is no place for ordinary people in the empire. They are just bargaining chips. Square bricks covered with moss are worthless in order to build the foundation of the empire.

He looked into the distance. Port Andreus was shining in the sun, but how long could the empire remain calm in this storm?

Fang Plover's voice came from the communication crystal: "Senior Minmir, I have asked someone to rub the map on the obelisk. It is not safe to send it with the letter. Now that the ether crystal veins are disturbed, crystal communication is more secure. ”

Where did the empire come from?

The empire provides shelter to everyone within its borders, and the shepherds gain inherent honor, but those at the top forget everything, thinking that they are born noble.

These ordinary people were Prometheus officers, but they didn't have to work hard for this little money. He was really worried that this young man would let them board the island without hesitation, but fortunately, the other party was gentler than expected.

In comparison, they look more like losers.

The knights were a little unimpressed: "...but we represent the empire, how can they disobey His Majesty's will?"

He handed the letter to the young man. The letter was sent by the islanders on the island. They had also seen the natives on the island, but they didn't take it seriously - they heard that some of the Chosen were with them, and the sailors I don't dare to cause trouble.

His luck is much better than that of Isa and Rudene, and at least this line of work is not without success.

Isa looked at everyone and asked: "Everyone, ask yourselves, the Andreusians were not the cause of this failure. Would it make you feel better to pass the responsibility to them? If you still have a sense of justice left in your hearts, don't let it go. Your goals have become too dishonorable."

He forgot that he was the leader of those Silver Helmets.

Even the monarch of magic fell into confusion for a long time, and short-lived mortals will eventually lose their original intentions. They forget the knight who swept everything in the darkness, sweeping across the alfalfa field like a ray of light, forgetting the shining sun. silver pointed helmet——

It was a ray of light that flashed in the faint hope, a wall condensed by many wishes, crowned by the first generation of sage kings, and expectations dropped by the hand of truth. At the end of a dark age, mortals gained their country.

The dark-skinned girl handed the letter to the sailors on the boat behind. The sailors put down a sampan and delivered the letter. There was no signature on the letter, but the girl named it and wanted to give it to Mr. Silver Steps on their boat.

Because he was once the guardian of ordinary people, he was elected as the king.

If Archduke Perrit was here, he would probably disdain it, but the knight opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

……

The knights looked at each other. If Archduke Perrit was here, they might find support, but the empire was strictly hierarchical, and they could not refute the opinions of a Silver Order.

But they don't agree with this - everything in the empire should be shining, the well-dressed and gentle upper-class people, the shining wisdom, rational speech, the spark of creation, and the bravery of knights.

And Andreus will still exist.

He is not from this world, but he sees clearly.

There was no promise between him and Fang Plover. There was only one agreement: "Why, do you still plan to keep your promise?"

'Does the promise still count? '

Minmir opened the letter and couldn't help laughing. There was only one sentence in it:

Although logically speaking, all this has nothing to do with him, maybe it is because of failure, or maybe it is because he can't find an excuse for failure - he is a Silver Rank, but what can a Silver Rank do? ?

He looked past the ruins of the port and thought of everything that had happened here in the past thirty years. He couldn't help but sigh softly - he thought he was already hard-hearted enough, but he didn't expect that he would be killed by a kid who was a few years younger than him. The guy was convinced.

"Really," Issa said lightly, "Is this what you think?"

He actually called himself senior.

When they were underground before, the other party was not so polite to him, but Minmir narrowed his eyes slightly. Of course he understood where this respect came from. Looking at the island in the drizzle, he had to say, this kind of respect It feels pretty good.

"I have not fulfilled my last promise to you," Minmir looked at the projection in the crystal and asked, "I chose to escape before the battle. Even so, you still want to give me this map? You have to know, The weight of those seven obelisks.”

Fang Yu shook his head.

He originally planned to fool the other party, but the past was the past, and the present is the present. "One code is one code, and the agreement between us never included the final battle."

"Really, but I'm still a little pity," Minmir couldn't help but laugh, "I'm a little curious, did you really win, and where did Narsu Su go? If I had known this earlier, I would definitely have stayed. of."

"I don't know, but at least we are still alive and the storm has subsided." Fang Yu naturally couldn't tell the other party the whole truth, not to mention that he was indeed in the dark about Narsuyu's whereabouts.

Ms. Roman only told him that a new Storm God would be born, but never told him what the relationship was.

"What I really regret is my mission." Minmir said.

"But isn't the first half of the mission completed?" Fang Plover replied: "The Lighthouse in Guhai will calculate rewards based on the different parts of the mission completed. Senior Minmir should have received his own part, right?"

"Indeed," Minmir nodded: "But what I'm curious about is what rewards did you get?"

"Is Senior Minmir also interested in the rewards below the silver level?"

Minmir was startled for a moment, and then he understood - the tasks above the Silver Level were completely different from those below. He had also experienced that era, and the meaningful rewards for those below the Silver Level were pushed aside by the 'Bronze Level'. The doors' may be worthless afterwards.

He thought about the Sea Witch and what kind of rewards the other party had received, but he did not dare to ask. He just nodded and said: "I understand, indeed, but those rewards should be quite meaningful to you."

Fang Plover nodded slightly.

It's more than meaningful.

But it involves the realm of gods, and even if he has the intention, he can't open his mouth to anyone.

"Okay, this time I owe you a favor," Minmir looked at the map. "After I leave here, I will find a way to publish this map. I know you want to protect the indigenous people on this island. But even so, people will come to the island soon.”

"The news between us and SOLID, and this map will prevent more people from going here, but the Grand Guild will always send people to verify. You can protect them for a while, but you can't protect them forever."

Fang Yu looked at Minmil in surprise. He didn't expect that the other party would see his intention so quickly.

Minmir smiled: "I am a Silver Ranker no matter what. How can I not see the relationship between you and the goddess? And I heard that there are some Holy Chosen Ones on the island, not to mention this map Prome It would have been impossible for Hughes to hold on——"

His original purpose was just to get involved.

"All we need is time," Fang Plover replied: "The Ancient Knights will take away the chosen ones and the residents of the island, maybe find another island in Hanruina, or go to Lotao, It depends on the wishes of the islanders."

"As long as you have a plan," Minmir replied: "I can easily disclose the map. As for the favor I owe you, I will find another way to repay it. I can promise you a promise and help you with something. ”

Fang Yu never thought that a person of silver rank would be in debt, but he did not refuse.

After all, it was still a silver level, not to mention that he really had something to do and needed help from the other party.

He asked: "Senior Minmir, can you understand the movements of the imperial army?"

Minmir immediately understood what the other party was asking, "If you want to leave the empire, my suggestion is to do it as soon as possible. The empire will not suffer easily. The Northern Fleet must already be mobilizing. Don't count on the Knights of Ancient Training. They still have no influence." to the empire.”

This was also expected by Fang Plover. The other party's words only made him more convinced. Fortunately, the Seven Seas Brigade did not choose Gonzalez's proposal at the beginning, otherwise the Seven Seas Traveler might become a drag by being with them.

As a Silver Ranker in the first division, there should be no one who knows the empire better than Minmir, and his words are very likely to come true.

"So, what route does Senior Minmir think we should take to leave the empire?"

Minmir shook his head: "I don't know about this, but I thought that someone might be able to help you. She might also be able to help you deal with the treasures in the Pirate King's treasure house."

Fang Yu was slightly startled. He didn't expect that keeping his promise would bring him such great help. This was really like having someone give him a pillow if he wanted to doze off. If those 'heavy burdens' could be dealt with in advance, then their party leaving the empire would be Much easier.

"Who?"

"A weird guy, you may not know her, and it is difficult for outsiders to contact her," Minmir replied: "But it doesn't matter, just wait for her to contact you, just in my name."

Fang Yu nodded, roughly guessing the other party's identity.

Smugglers - or privateering pirates is not an exaggeration. There are many chosen ones in this industry, including some famous ones. They do work walking on the gray border, which cannot be said to violate the Star Gate. Regulations, but not very upright.

It is not surprising that people like Minmir can know someone who is a leader in this industry. Most of these people have eccentric personalities, which fits the description of the other person. After all, most ordinary people will not engage in such a career. '.

He and Minmir said goodbye to each other, then closed the communication crystal, raised his head, and happened to hear Tianlan's voice coming from outside:

"Sister Adni, are you leaving?"

"Well, I plan to leave with the Knights of Ancient Training. It just so happens that I have to go to Lotao to do some things." Adni looked at the lovely poet lady and smiled softly, "By the way, call me My real name is Sky Blue - Nia Linstern, that's my original name."

"Sister Nia...?"

Nia smiled at her and nodded.

She turned back and watched Fang Pliant push the door open and couldn't help but be startled - then smiled: "Why, the captain also wants me to stay?"

Fang Yu shook his head. He knew that Adni—no, Nia had her own mission. She came here for revenge and to complete her mission. When everything was settled, the other party was about to go on her next journey.

So is the Seven Seas Brigade.

But having fought side by side, getting to know each other, agreeing with each other's ideas, and standing on the same side to fight against a common enemy, they are not companions, but more like-minded comrades. When it comes to parting, it will be somewhat melancholy.

"We will meet again eventually," Nia smiled: "The disaster that will inevitably come tomorrow will become the fate of this world, and you and I both agree with the same idea and run for the same thing. We are on the same road. We meet each other halfway, and one day we will meet again.”

"Actually, Xing also told me about you, including your experience in Istania and the battle between you and Descartes. But at that time, I didn't expect to meet you in the empire. And have the opportunity to fight side by side with you——"

She paused for a moment, feeling a little emotional.

Nia looked at Fang Plover: "Actually, I have been willing to trust you from the beginning, but I'm sorry, maybe it's because my secrets are too heavy, which always makes me unnecessarily wary of people - but that It’s all in the past, I will treat you as my true companions.”

Fang Yu was stunned for a moment.

"star?"

He immediately remembered the tall image corresponding to this ID, but was it the person he knew, the former leader of Dawn Star?

He looked at the foundry lady with some surprise, as if he was getting to know her again.

Nia nodded, "Miss Alisa should have told you that I am actually from the Shadow Society. There is actually nothing to say about this organization. It originated from a loose secret society, and its earliest purpose was to fight against The dark power is coming back..."

"You should remember the prophecy, 'The enemy who has passed away will surely return -'. It was under this will that we established this association. There are actually many theories about its earliest founders, perhaps Some of the Lightbearers, Silver Helm Knights, or Oath Keepers may also be Occultists, those beings you are familiar with.”

"They have been guarding this world since a long time ago and have never given up, but we have discovered a long time ago that the power of darkness has penetrated our world in another way, and some of the shadow people have become the human world. Among them, the other group of people in power convert many people into believers, whether they are Dragon Worshipers or behind the empire."

Nia recalled: "There was a fire in the Elpaxin Silver Library more than fifty years ago. It was from that time that we discovered the traces of the Shadow Man. After that, there was a long period of half a century. Fighting, we have experienced many betrayals, and even the Shadow Society itself has had a major split. There is no one who survives today who does not bear a bloody hatred for those beings in the shadows. "

She took out a dagger and handed it to Fang Plover.

Fang Plover took the dagger and saw a strange butterfly-shaped emblem on the sharp blade, surrounded by thorns. A girl lowered her head, feeling that she had seen this emblem there.

Suddenly he had an idea, raised his head and asked, "Is this the mark of the Shadow Society?"

Nia nodded.

Fang Yu immediately remembered that he had seen the illustration in the manuscript left by his parents - the pattern of the girl and the butterfly was exactly the same as the emblem, and the same emblem also appeared on the killer sent by the Kaolin royal family. On the scabbard.

Another incident even happened later. When he was away from Ayin Bullock, Jita encountered a group of mercenaries who claimed to be the 'Rust Foundation'. According to Miss Naturalist's description, the other party also had something similar to This butterfly emblem of the dagger.

"Rust Foundation..."

"The Foundation is not its original name," Nia heard him muttering to herself, and took the initiative to speak: "Their real name is 'Rust'."

She paused, "I know your people have dealt with them, but that's actually just how they show themselves to the outside world. Rust is just a symbol, and corrosion is the true meaning. The world will eventually decay, and everything will inevitably be destroyed."

"They are the other half of the Shadow Society, the traitors who split from us. They are now the minions of the Shadow People, and they are also the enemies we have been fighting against. Many high-ranking officials in the empire support this foundation, and they are encircling us from all aspects."

"That's why we had to go underground and didn't dare to reveal our real names."

Fang Yu didn't care much about this. His mind seemed to be completely attracted by another thing, and he subconsciously asked: "Does the other half of the Shadow Society also use the same emblem?"

"It's almost unanimous," Nia clicked, "because those traitors believed that they were orthodox and on the right path, and we were rescued by a mysterious goddess during the great schism. So we The only difference between his emblem and theirs is that there is the side mark of this goddess——"

Fang Yu silently looked at the girl who lowered her head.

From this point of view, the relationship between his parents and the Shadow Society may be deeper than he imagined - Xing did not tell him the full story at first, but the Great Schism of the Shadow Society had already occurred fifty years ago.

Both his parents and the forger lady in front of him were born long after that, but did his parents join the Shadow Society? What is the connection between the Dawnstar and the Order of Shadows?

Are their deaths, and everything after that, related to it?

He remembered another thing - the killers sent by the Kaolin royal family were most likely from the traitors of the Shadow Society, and this organization was not only related to the fire in the Great Library fifty years ago, but even spread across the air and sea. , also has considerable power within the empire.

Fang Yu raised his head again and looked at Niya. Was he fighting against such a behemoth? Behind him, there might be an empire—and the emperor.

"But as far as I know," he said, "that person has never been to the Empire."

"Because I have been to Ithurian," Nia said: "Do you still remember what happened between my father and the pirate king? In order to investigate my father's death, I personally went to Ithulian, and I was also the one who revealed the other party’s whereabouts to the empire——”

Fang Plover looked at each other.

Although that may very well be due to a misunderstanding, it should be the clearest clue as to why the pirate king rests in an unknown bay in the south of Istania.

The foundry lady came to Ithulian, found out the whereabouts of the pirate king, and sold it to the empire. She wanted to see her enemies fight each other until one party All the blood was shed.

Nia was silent for a while.

"I met him at that time," she said again. "He introduced himself to me as Xing - but that was just a code name, a pseudonym. He was a Chosen One, although I was a little curious about the Chosen One. Can you stay in this world for such a long time?”

"But after he heard about my experience, he introduced me to this organization, this association. He is the leader of the Shadow Society. There are four leaders in total, and he is one of them. I am not We know how many members there are in the Shadow Society, because most of us are in single-line contact.”

"From his mouth, I learned about my father's plan. He, Rodrigo, and my mother all wanted to fight against the same enemy, the shadow man who infiltrated the empire from behind, and whom His Majesty the Emperor chose to ally with. Those things—"

"When was that?" Fang Yu asked.

"About ten years ago."

Nia looked at him: "I know you want to ask me about Dawn Star and your parents, but I'm sorry, I have only heard about them, but I don't know the details. I All I know is that Xing only became the leader of the Shadow Society after the Dawn Star was disbanded, and your parents’ matter had to happen before that—"

Fang Yu nodded. It has been more than two years since he came to Star Gate. After this year's birthday, he will be nineteen years old, and his parents died when he was still in his infancy. If you calculate carefully, that's about the same. That was twenty years ago.

He said nothing, naturally understanding the reason why Nia told him all this.

But after placing high expectations, he was disappointed again. The clues still stagnated here, as if there was still a wall between him and the truth.

However, he was not discouraged. Being able to learn everything that happened in the past from the foundry lady was an unexpected gain. He also did not expect that the Shadow Society would be related to the star and the Star of Dawn, no matter how it was said.

He always knows more about the past, not less.

He paused for a while before changing the subject: "...Ms. Nia, about your father."

"I already know everything about my parents...Ms. Odais...and the pirate king," Nia was silent for a moment, and there was some tacit understanding between the two of them. They both came from that past. Throughout the ages, we have all lost loved ones——

Ms. Nia has lost her father, and Ms. Odece is hardly the same person she knew.

"I originally thought I had taken revenge," she said, "but I didn't expect that everything was just an arranged plan - Senev has told me everything. He was once the deputy of the pirate king. If what he said was not Really, there’s no way he would be here.”

"...With his loyalty to the pirate king, he would never leave him at that critical moment and guard the lighthouse in Andreus incognito for nearly twenty years."

"...He stayed in that place just to tell me the truth and guide us to open the door of the treasure house, because the Heart of the Mountain among the three fragments is still in that place."

Fang Yu looked at the other party and could completely understand the confusion of the foundry lady at this moment, "So his plan is to hand over the Emerald Star to you?"

"Not entirely," Nia shook her head. "Their plan is to preserve all three Emerald Stars. The Empire not only wants to get the ether node, but more importantly, the secret hidden in the Emerald Star."

Fang Yu was stunned for a moment: "Wait, what do you mean?"

Isn't the purpose of the empire to open the passage to the shadow world? He understood the importance of the ether node to the other party from the beginning.

"The empire has suppressed the Lynn family for twenty years and betrayed my father," Nia replied: "Everything stems from these three emerald stars. You have met Artush and been to the Silver Tower. You should know why the shadow people are here."

Fang Plover seemed to be struck by lightning.

He immediately recalled the secrets that Atush and Farif had told him - the three geniuses were able to glimpse the secrets of the stars in the world inside the Emerald Star, but they also attracted the attention of the filmmakers. .

Perhaps it was because of that glimpse seven centuries ago that Xu led them to this world, which eventually led to the catastrophe fifty years ago. It was also for the same reason that the other party and Farif had to hide in In the independent time and space of the Silver Tower.

How could he not have thought of this?

The source of everything is precisely because of the Emerald Star, the Emerald Star that is divided into three.

I see--

The origin of everything twenty years ago started with Rodrigo's break with the empire. The Linn family was suppressed by the Seven Mage families, which made such a great mage finally cornered. This was the real reason.

Because one of the three Emerald Star fragments is in his hand.

That is what the empire really wants to find.

None of them even noticed.

The treasure the Empire is looking for is none other than Lyra.

It’s no wonder that the Seven Sorcerers family was confused, and even I didn’t see through it at all. Laila was naturally at the venue on Judgment Day, and even participated in the grand performance as a person on trial.

The prophecy of the Serpent's Eye was not wrong.

But who would have thought?

Fang Yu couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. At that time, he and the young man from the empire were all focused on Lin En's 'manuscript'. You must know that it was in the realm of honesty - fortunately, although the process was wrong, the result was is right.

The other party wants to find out the truth about the Star Device, but isn’t the truth about the Star Device true?

"The fragments of the three Emerald Stars and the cracked Sea Gem are in the hands of Sir Lyn," Nia continued. "The one of Stars and Mountains was left to my mother, and the Silver Heart was left to my mother. Entrusted to Sir Mawei, go away to Ithulian."

She looked at Fang Plover: "The one that finally became your maid lady's body."

"As for the last one, the Star Veil...it is not actually missing."

...(End of chapter)