——4e, Year 201, Last Seed Month, 20th, 11:00——
The Western Watch Tower is a defensive tower located to the west of Xueman. It is built on the Xueman Plain that is about to reach the mountainous area. To the south, it can protect the trade routes, and to the north, it can cooperate with another "White Watch Tower" for surveillance. The entire northern mountainous area may be infested by monsters or bandits. As for the wandering giants who tame mammoths, they will not approach this kind of building that is difficult to destroy and can be quite safe here - provided it is built.
Thorward King is the guard captain of this western watch tower. He has spent several months building this watch tower. At present, the stone main tower has been completed by workers, and they only need to wait to go to the creek. When the guards who bought building materials from Muzhen return, the wall surrounding the tower will be built, and overall it will become a barely qualified defensive outpost. Then the lord will send more guards to settle in. In that case, he will naturally not have to continue to face such guards. Two men, the rest all workers, more of a foreman's dilemma than a guard captain.
"Hey, boss -" Thor, who had a loud voice, waved to Thorward and shouted when he was still some distance away from the tower construction site: "We brought back construction materials and a group of workers -"
It was strange that they were workers. Thorward stood on the half-built city gate and looked at the convoy. Since the stones and logs were transported completely without any obstruction, it was impossible for any robbers to be stupid enough to rob them, so these were forced The four or five guys who looked like bandits pulling the cart were probably from Ximu Town.
Ximu Town is nearly two miles away from here. In addition, Thor and Loki need to ensure the safety of the cargo carriage. It is basically impossible to have time to pay attention to the prisoners, so some of them are unwilling to work. The stubborn ones have already taken the opportunity to escape, leaving behind some preparation workers who are willing to do the work themselves. They may not be good at work, but they can be taught slowly, and they should have no problem taking up weapons to drive away wild beasts and monsters.
"Hurry!" Thorward shouted back to the convoy: "Unload all the construction materials in time for dinner!"
Loki and Thor were still fine, but the bandits pulling the cart seemed to be more energetic. It showed that the two brothers had done them a favor in the guard tower on the road, and it also proved that they had not killed anyone yet. Human beings, a truly sinister gangster can never yearn for "having food to eat", and that kind of guy is also the main target of the guards everywhere.
"If I were you, I would let them abandon the convoy and hide in the guard tower." A female voice sounded next to Thorward.
Thorward turned around and saw a girl wearing a mage's robe. She had the appearance of an Imperial person with black hair and black eyes, but she had a pair of pointed ears like an elf. It was not possible to determine her identity for the moment, although Nords are generally I don't like mages, but I can't ignore the power they have. Maybe this is a mage apprentice who is out on business?
"Citizen," the guard captain finally chose a formal title: "This is an important military area of Xueman City. Please don't wander around here if you don't have something important to do."
"It's an important thing." The elf mage raised his hand and pointed around: "Does it count that this place will soon be destroyed by dragon flames?"
"Dragon Flame?" Thorward laughed: "Ms. Mage, I don't know if you have studied prophecy magic, but our court mage Farenja made several prophecies for the location of this sentry tower, and finally Surely this is the safest place – and, dragons? They’ve been gone for centuries.”
He was even more certain that this was a mage apprentice who was traveling and had some knowledge of prophecy spells but was not very good at it. However, since she kindly reminded her, there was no need to speak harshly. It was almost noon and he could consider inviting her to a meal. After confirming If her prophecy is wrong, she might be able to take the opportunity to ask her to enchant the standard weapons in the arsenal.
The elf mage looked at him and blinked, but did not explain further.
"Hey~Boss~" At this time, the first carriage of the convoy had arrived at the guard tower, and Loki jumped out of the carriage: "Do you know what news is circulating in Ximu Town? They destroyed Helgen in one fell swoop. It's flying towards Xueman, isn't it ridiculous? Before we arrive, is that dragon crawling underground?"
It's ridiculous - Thorward originally planned to smile in agreement, but he couldn't laugh at all. He can become the captain of the guard, so he naturally has better intuition than ordinary guards. He just refuted the mage's words with the only argument that "dragons are not "Existence", however, the news of the material convoy made up for this.
"Dragon..." He turned his head to look at the elf mage beside him.
"Here," the mage motioned to the long convoy on the road. Except for the stone carriages that had entered the guard tower wall, they were all vehicles loaded with logs: "One dive breath can completely burn it, even if it's me. Also... I am, if I could both fly and breathe fire, I wouldn't be able to help myself."
"What's the purpose?" Thorward began to look around in the air.
"Are you going to explain your purpose to the beast? It's probably just for fun." The elf girl raised her hand and moved in the direction of the motorcade, and finally pointed at the tower: "There is something that cannot be burned in the end, and it will probably spray a few more puffs. "
"[Choke——]" A huge, wild and coercive roar sounded in the air. The horses pulling the cart broke free of their reins in panic and fled in all directions. The robbers escorting the carts even fled directly towards the tower, but Instead, brothers Loki and Thor drew their swords and looked around, as if they were preparing to face the enemy.
"You two idiots!" Thorward yelled, "Get back to the tower right now!"
It was as big as a mountain and as black as ink. The next moment, a huge monster glided down from the sky, hovering in the air with its wings flashing and watching Loki and Thor. Thorward swore that he saw this monster only in the sky. The lizard-like face of the "giant dragon" seen in murals and books showed a playful smile.
"It's really troublesome." He heard the female elf mage next to him say. When he turned his head to look, he found that she had taken out a strange staff at some point and knocked it hard on the ground under her feet.
"[Roar!]" The giant dragon spread its wings and swooped down towards Loki and Thor. The dragon flames sprayed from its mouth completely ignited the lumber carts along the way.
Huh - Thorvald, who was distracted, noticed that although Loki and Thor were in a mess due to the breath, there was no sign of fire on their bodies. They were retreating towards the tower in panic, but the elf mage was inexplicably... A flame ignited, and its heat made him take two steps back involuntarily.
"Ha...I can probably pull out Joan of Arc now?" The mage robe on his body was burning fiercely, but the mage was completely unaware and said incomprehensible words, and even took out an "M" shaped forehead ornament and pressed it on himself head, and then turned to Thorward: "That guy will be back in a few hours. Evacuate the workers as soon as possible and ask for help from the lord. In addition, [there is no need to mention anything about me]."
The next moment, her entire body completely disappeared in the flames.
——12:00——
Thorward had never run so fast before. It originally took two or three hours to reach Xueman from the Western Watchtower, but he ran there in less than an hour, and then traveled all the way through the plains and winding areas. Directly to Longxiao Palace in Yunding District.
Although there seemed to be a guy who looked like a nobleman stopped him on the road to complain about "someone yelling in his ear", Thorward, who was eager to be warned, pushed him into the artificial water channel beside the road. Anyway, all the guards were wearing uniforms. All the same, he had nowhere to complain.
"Calm down, child, calm down." The great Balgruuf seemed to be entertaining someone, but Thorward was too exhausted to pay much attention to him. He staggered with the support of the lord's guard Hollongana. Report out.
"The Western Outpost was attacked by a dragon - the legendary dragon!" He gave the most important information first, and then added details: "It breathed out flames and burned down the building materials. Loki and Thor were caught while escaping. Stopped, I ran back quickly to report the news, Holy Spirit, I have never run so fast before!"
It seems like there is anything else that needs to be reported? Thorward gasped for breath, but couldn't remember for a moment.
"What? A dragon? Is it alive? What is it doing? Has it left? Will it come back?" Thorward heard the court mage Farenga Secret Fire asking questions in a slightly sharp voice.
Thorward now felt an inexplicable contempt and disgust for this mage whom he usually admired so much: "It is ready to destroy the sentry tower and may come back at any time!"
"Ileris! Take people to the western tower for support immediately!" Lord Balgruuf decisively ordered his guards: "Remember to bring enough shields and bows."
"I'm going to help too, Lord." An unknown voice sounded. Thorward, who was nearly comatose due to too much overdraft, looked up. It was a very energetic, blond and blue-eyed Nord guy, wearing a brand new steel suit. A, seems confident in himself: "I have sufficient experience in fighting dragons."
"Yes, maybe we need your experience." The lord nodded slowly.
"I'll go too, a living dragon! It's much more important than studying dragon burial diagrams." Farenjia also recommended himself.
"No, Farenjia, that is a dragon. My soldiers cannot guarantee that they can protect you in a battle with this unknown enemy. And you are very important to Xueman and cannot make any mistakes." Balgruuf the Stalwart Patting the mage on the shoulder, he pushed him back into his seat.
"And you, child, you have worked hard. I order you to go to the Longxiao Palace barracks immediately and have a good rest. The warriors of Xueman will protect the sentry tower." The lord turned to Thorwald, whose consciousness was already blurred.
What on earth did I forget? With some doubts, Thorward's consciousness fell into darkness.
