110 – Cycle (5)
After that, the priest continued to tell us stories from the mythical era that we were curious about.
It was a helpful story that was incomparable to the book the village chief handed over.
If you ride a horse non-stop from this territory in spring or fall, you can reach the land where all the disasters began in three days.
Because this happened a long time ago, the place is now a place where people can live.
However, traces of events that occurred during the mythical era remain there.
I could even hear such a story.
[There is no magic story.]
[For the time being, we will have to assume that there is no magic.]
Now that I have enough money, I need to find some luggage nearby.
Traces of events that occurred during the mythical era.
I might be able to get something through him.
“Then brothers and sisters… Umm, is this story related to this?”
The priest, who was quite perceptive, asked us that question.
How should I answer here….
“I had a dream.”
I decided to tell a lie that was as close to the truth as possible.
“Are you talking about a dream?”
Prophecy or oracle.
There is no excuse as convenient as this.
I actually had a similar experience, so it’s okay to dismiss it as a complete lie.
I told the priest a jumbled story of what I had seen.
It was as if I had obtained fragmentary information through a dream.
“It’s Arun…. This is my first time hearing this name. But the story goes that the first light definitely came from the east.”
This must absolutely move towards the east.
“So, is that dream what brought you here?”
“Yes, Father. As time goes by, the dream becomes clearer. “I want to find the clues to those nightmarish dreams I see every day.”
The focus of the story was on the war against monsters.
Every night, dreams of death and killing continue.
So, I want to escape from that painful dream as soon as possible.
After telling that story to the bride, I felt like her gaze toward us became softer.
“I don’t know if you are truly receiving the call of fate.”
“The call of fate… “What do you mean?”
“We call it a trust.”
After saying that, the priest stood up.
We also got up from our seats in sync with the bride’s movements.
The priest made the sign of the cross toward us.
Then he put his hands together and began to pray.
It seemed like a prayer to bless our journey.
After waiting for the priest to finish his prayer, we made a small request.
“A horse and a carriage…” .”
The priest looked us up and down for a moment, then nodded slightly as if he understood.
“If you are staying at the Silver Fox Inn─”
In this society, a letter of introduction exerts considerable power.
With the help of this kind priest, we were able to obtain a horse and carriage without any problem.
With this, I think we can head towards the east, which is presumed to be our final destination.
“Thank you so much, Father.”
“Thank you, Father.”
We made the sign of the cross to the priest and expressed our gratitude.
“No. “If you ever get lost, please come find me.”
He is truly a kind man.
It was an attitude that could not be compared with the priests of the empire.
“Now that I can get a carriage, I need to prepare some more bedding.”
The size of bedding that can be carried in a backpack is at most the size of a sleeping bag.
But now that we were able to obtain a carriage, we needed to prepare food and bedding more accurately.
You could wear clothes that are a little thicker.
“I’m glad. I was a little worried this morning….”
Priscilla’s gaze was directed to the place where the execution site was located.
I think we were lucky.
If things had gone awry or we had been careless, we might have encountered robbers who were targeting our money.
It seems like the security isn’t that good here.
For example, what if you showed up here in the same clothes you arrived at Logger Village?
You were probably caught up in a bigger commotion than you thought.
“I think we’re almost there now.”
I don’t know why, but I felt like the end of this trip was just around the corner.
Priscilla must have felt the same way, as she nodded her head slightly at my words.
***
The next day.
We went to the merchant association with a letter of introduction prepared by the bride and prepared a horse and carriage.
Unlike the carriages used in the empire, these carriages are for carrying luggage.
Of course the ride was the worst, but it was definitely better than walking in silence for three days in this weather.
“The weather is cold. “Stay inside.”
“I think it’s warmer here?”
Unlike before, I now have a clear goal to pursue.
That’s why we were able to find even more peace of mind.
“… “Is this what a honeymoon feels like?”
For example, to the point where we can share jokes like this.
“If this were a honeymoon, I think I would give up half of it.”
“Is that so?”
“I wandered through the winter forest in thin clothing and received death threats with farming tools. “We couldn’t sleep properly because we were worried about night raids, and we took turns taking naps.”
“When I look back later, won’t it just be a memory?”
Priscilla laughed a little at such a meaningless joke.
I also laughed heartily.
The carriage was uncomfortable.
Unlike the Empire, I was driving on a dirt road, so it was constantly rattling and bothering my butt.
I thought this would be the case, so I put bedding on the saddle, but the shock was so strong that it could be felt even through the thick bedding.
Nevertheless, I felt that the journey was more exciting than inconvenient.
“Let’s camp here today.”
“Yes, Max.”
Gather wood from around you, start a fire, put the prepared food in a large pot and boil it.
To be honest, I didn’t expect much from the taste.
But this stew is eaten in a place where the cold wind blows.
Even if the seasoning is a bit boring, you can’t help but feel that it’s delicious.
Crackling.
From Noble mtl dot com
After filling our bellies with some stew, we sat in front of the bonfire and basked in the fire.
“Why are you doing this?”
As I was idly basking in the campfire and thinking about the priest’s words, Priscilla leaned on my shoulder and asked me.
“I was thinking about the priest’s words.”
“Umm… “You said it was the way of the world?”
A quick-witted guy.
“Yes, you are right.”
In addition to His Majesty Arun, others were born with power estimated to be the mana of the sun.
They dispelled the darkness of evil spirits pouring in from the east.
After that, no being with power presumed to be the mana of the sun appeared.
The priest clearly said that.
Then, what is the Sun’s clan that has already passed down the Sun’s mana for 7 generations?
Why do we still have the mana of the sun?
“You said it is a power that appears to dispel the darkness of evil spirits, right? So does this mean that the darkness of the evil spirit still remains in the empire?”
War, famine, pestilence, etc.
It is difficult to think that all the disasters that struck the empire were born from the darkness of evil spirits.
“I continue to be concerned about the new conflict.”
“….”
Priscilla didn’t show it, but she seemed to be paying attention to this part.
“Where there is light, there is darkness.”
“And where there is darkness, there is light.”
Evil was driven out with the power given to drive it out.
It can be said that the Mana of the Sun has already completed its mission.
Nevertheless, it has maintained its power through seven generations.
I wonder if darkness has fallen on the empire for that reason….
“The old woman said that everything in the world cannot escape the cycle. He said that when something escapes him, something happens to purify him.”
I said that and activated the sun’s mana.
A warm energy spread around, and warmth began to appear on my cold face.
“The attack by foreign media that occurred here was out of a cycle. So a purifying effect took place.”
And everything returned to its original state.
“Then what about the mana of this sun, which strangely cares for the empire?”
Isn’t this force also a force outside of circulation? .
Just as I was thinking that, Priscilla stood up with a blank expression.
“Why are you doing this, Priscilla?”
“Over there… Something….”
I looked around at Priscilla’s words, but I couldn’t see anything.
“Over there….”
Am I being manipulated?
Thinking of that, I hugged Priscilla’s body a little harder.
“Come to your senses, Priscilla!”
“I’m fine.”
Priscilla said she was fine, but she continued and pointed with her hand in a direction of the forest.
“Can’t you feel something over there?”
I gritted my teeth and pulled out the sword from my belt.
It felt as if an incident from 7 years ago was being repeated.
“Please guide me.”
“Yes.”
I moved forward cautiously, guarding Priscilla on all sides so that I could protect her at any time.
It will soon be night.
Going towards the forest in the middle of the night is crazy.
I know that fact.
But for some reason, I felt like I had to move on from here.
Should I say, more accurately, that it feels like something is calling us….
As Priscilla headed in the direction she was being guided by, a gust of wind struck her so hard that it was difficult to keep her eyes open.
She held Priscilla’s arm tightly with one hand and covered her face with her hand.
Then a new scene unfolded before her eyes.
It was a hill with lush vegetation.
“This is…” .”
“Max! Hey, over there… !”
Where Priscilla pointed, there was something that looked like a large rock.
The moment she looked at it, her heart began to tremble.
[What a nostalgic energy.]
A voice came from something that looked like just a rock.
This….
“Dratus.”
[And what a nostalgic name.]
The dragon that had turned into a rock was talking to us.
[The fact that you came here means that a thousand years have passed since then.]
Such a voice came from a being that still appeared to be a rock.
[Now, it’s time to choose.]