The unicorn is restless.
The senses of this intelligent creature are far more acute than those of humans. Mira comforted it, and its restlessness proved that they were heading in the right direction.
The change in the weather has become another evidence. Although it is not as cold as before, in places where the woods are not so dense, you can always see dark clouds hovering in the distant sky when you raise your head.
Quite a few of the hunting mercenaries who had listened to the magicians' explanations before the trip believed that this was proof that the witch had been weakened - she no longer had the magic power to cover the entire area as before, which was gratifying. matter. But Horno and Camilo and our wise man don't think so.
It is true that magic can cause natural phenomena. The scope and degree of changes in this natural phenomenon are also related to the total amount of magic power itself, but powerful magicians do not necessarily bring storms, rain and snow when they walk. Camilo is only considered outstanding among humans. Not to mention the magic instructor, even the stronger Horno does not have such jaw-dropping exaggerated performances on weekdays.
This is because in the final analysis, magic causing natural phenomena is a sign of immaturity. Large-scale climate changes are often related to the birth of powerful monsters, but climate change does not necessarily occur wherever powerful monsters exist.
This phenomenon is called "passive magic overflow" in the magician industry - to explain it in layman's terms, it means that individuals with magic do not know how to control their magic because of their own immaturity, causing them to overflow all the time, which in turn causes climate phenomena.
And if this concept is further extended, the scope of the witch's influence on the weather will not be reduced as drastically as before. Thinking optimistically you can indeed think she's getting weaker, but if that's not the case.
She is.
The degree of control over magic power has improved.
"Imagine it." Horno explained: "The total amount of magic power of a magician is set to 100. Assuming that he cannot control the magic power and passively overflows all the time, then a large amount of magic power is actually lost and wasted. on meaningless things.”
"We assume this number is 60. The magic of 60 triggers large-scale weather changes, and it does cause considerable trouble."
"But this is still not a real offensive or defensive magic. It is just a passive and long-term consumption. As a result, although the total magic power of the magician is 100, only 40 can actually be used."
"That's why the first lesson for a magician is to control yourself."
"Magic," Camilo added.
"When they learn to control their magic power, although they no longer have this incredible climate effect, the visual effect is not so scary. But because the magic power is used more efficiently, the magic power will not be lost uncontrollably. The efficiency of casting spells and the intensity of magic are both higher.”
"In other words."
"More deadly."
"..."
Morale fell into a low state due to the explanations of the two high-level magicians, but the people chosen for this trip were all elite players. Not to mention the paladins with strong faith, these people under Stephen, who are adventurers and hunting mercenaries, are definitely not deserters.
In their industry, it is common to fight against large creatures and wild nature. If they did not have superhuman fighting spirit, they would not be able to persist until now.
Many people often think that an outstanding adventurer must have sufficient knowledge and good physical fitness, but as a figure like Captain Stephen, what he values most when selecting newcomers is indeed optimism.
Because both knowledge and physical fitness can be supplemented and absorbed through acquired training and honing, but if a person does not have the optimistic spirit to never give up in difficult situations, then even if the situation is not that bad, he is likely to Will get into trouble and give up early.
The spirit of carefully selected and tempered adventurers is a precious thing that allows them to quickly adapt to crises. However, the spiritual level of morale is not damaged, but physically they encounter an insurmountable gap.
"Crack——" "Rumble——"
In the afternoon of the third day after departure, lightning and thunder began in the sky.
The change in the weather this time was not entirely caused by the witch. After the sharp drop in temperature, the influence of the magic power subsided, leading to a return to warm weather. It was natural that a heavy rain would occur due to the rapid change in air pressure and temperature difference.
It just happened that the group was about to go downhill when it came. There were vines everywhere in the deep mountains and forests, so we had to be careful. In addition, if the rain made the ground slippery, we desperately wanted to catch up on the journey for a few more hours. It is likely to result in heavy losses for them.
Not taking unnecessary risks is the sign of a mature team. Although it is the first time for Stephen and his group of mercenaries and paladins to travel together, our Luoan girl feels at ease in it, and there is a sense of familiarity with them. The smoothness and comfort of working with acquaintances.
In the final analysis, this feeling stems from each other's specialization. A famous teacher makes a good apprentice. Since our white-haired girl studied under Henry, what she learned was naturally the essence and no dross.
The experience and knowledge Henry has accumulated over a long period of time are consistent with the common sense summarized by adventurers and paladins who have experienced it frequently.
There is no annoying arrogant person that often appears in low-level mercenary teams. He clearly knows nothing about the situation and still puts on a big face just to satisfy his desire for performance.
Nor is he a short-sighted idiot who secretly stumbles on his teammates just to save his own face, unable to tell whether the situation is about to break out.
The mercenaries and paladins have a clear division of labor and are extremely efficient. This is what a team composed of experts and veterans should look like, but our little Mila feels very comfortable and comfortable among this group of people whose average age is in the second half of 40 years old.
The camp was quickly set up, and the mercenaries put the big pot outside to collect water. It was still a little early for dinner, and because of the rain and wind, they planned to use a big pot inside a small pot to warm some wine to warm them up. Warm up.
The rainwater flowed down the slope along the sloping tarpaulin. After the last horse was placed in the shelter, the busy people could finally start to rest.
"At least we don't have to worry about water problems in the short term." Looking at the continuous rain curtains outside the dark camp, Henry shrugged and said, while Captain Stephen looked at him with a complicated expression.
This time, the Luoan girl was assigned to the group that lit the fire. In the entire Baao forest, most of these trees were frozen to death by the severe cold, and there was no shortage of wood for burning. The packhorse that had consumed the food was placed with pre-collected and chopped firewood, which was very different from when the team traveled in size. To boil so many large iron pots, they needed more than just small branches. The mercenaries brought several Use a large or small ax to chop down dead trees and then chop them into small pieces of firewood for burning.
When the heavy rain suddenly came, even though it had stopped beforehand, many people still got wet, and the same was true for firewood. The Luoan girl and the mercenaries of the fire-making team threw the wet wood aside first, then took out the relatively dry wood and split it with a small hand ax, then used a knife to cut off the dry core wood in the center and cut it into wood chips, which were then placed On the stone pad used for lighting the fire.
Mira had done this countless times by hitting the flint with a fire sickle to cause sparks to ignite the kindling, but even so, it was still quite difficult to ignite it in a humid environment. However, after arriving here, she learned a new set of moves with the local mercenaries, which greatly improved the success rate.
This new gadget that goes with the fire sickle is called carbon cloth, and the reason why people on the West Coast haven't used it has to do with the level of technology. The principle of making carbon cloth is to simmer, use an iron box with a small hole on the top, cut the cotton and linen cloth into appropriate sizes, put it in, and then burn it across the iron box.
Because of the confined space, the cloth will not burn directly to ash as if exposed to the air. Instead, it will turn black and carbonize, becoming an excellent igniter similar to charcoal but thin and with a large number of holes.
What this simple small object requires is a certain level of relevant common sense and a level of civilization - at least a small gadget like an iron box that ordinary people can afford - and is not as good as Padro in terms of iron-making technology and forging technology. On the developed west coast, wooden containers are mostly used to hold various things, so it is natural that they do not know this skill.
Cover the flint with carbon cloth and then strike it vigorously with a fire sickle. The sparks spattered by the collision between the two fell directly on the flammable carbon cloth, and the dark red sparks immediately began to simmer and spread. This was far easier than knocking on a pile of sawdust in the hope that the sparks would fall into it and ignite. Efficient.
After the charcoal cloth was ignited, the Luoan girl placed it on the sawdust. After the simmering turned into an open flame, she gradually added some small branches. When the flames burned to a sufficient height, they were placed under the pot holder along with the stone slab.
The rising fire illuminated the interior of the camp covered with a tarpaulin in the cloudy sky. Control the height of the flames to ensure that it would not rise too high and burn the tarpaulin. The work of the tarpaulin was handed over to other mercenaries, and Mira walked to the side. , the cooks began to prepare the warming drinks.
Pure alcohol will make them drunk now, so even though they are warming up, the warmed alcohol needs to be mixed with water and other things to make it a less drunken afternoon that mercenaries often drink. Drinks.
The Luoan girl looked around. Henry, Stephen, Adolphus, Camilo and others were gathered together. They were holding the map that Mario had before and were confirming the direction of travel.
Horno sat alone at the exit on the other side.
Although only a few people in the team traveling this time, including the Luoan girl herself, knew the truth about the witch, the fact that she was an elf was enough to deter most people.
Not only because I feel unreachable, but also because I don’t know how to communicate with her.
"What are you thinking about?" Mira came over and sat next to her.
The little unicorn came over and rubbed the side of its face against Mira, and the Luoan girl stretched out her hand to scratch its chin.
"It seems less afraid of you."
"..." Horno looked at them in silence.
"We're almost close, aren't you nervous?" she asked. Mira hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
"Because he is here?" the elf said. Mira glanced back at Henry, then nodded, and then shook her head.
"Maybe he who doesn't know is fearless." The white-haired girl said to Horno with a smile, and the latter was stunned for a moment, first lowered his head, then turned his head and looked outside.
The girl looked at the profile of the elf, which even she, as a member of her own sex, found astonishingly beautiful. The latter hesitated for a moment, and then put on a smile.
"Really...just because you know nothing, you can become anything."
"I finally understand the charm of human beings." Horno turned her head. Although she looked younger than Mira, her smile gave people a full sense of time.
"I, and many other elves, understand their destiny and their responsibilities."
"Elves don't have a country, nor are there many ethnic groups. Although we have the same differences in appearance as humans, elves only care about responsibilities and positions."
"Every elf knows what he will do in the future from the time he is born. We call it 'destiny.' And the elves who have rebelled against their destiny for thousands of years have been here."
"There are only a handful of them."
"Obey, be strict in self-discipline, avoid contact with outsiders and avoid contact with other races unless this is really necessary."
"It's really not free." Mira frowned.
"Yes, not free. Humans may think so, but freedom is dangerous."
"The abilities of elves are far more powerful than humans. Without order and the destiny of strict self-discipline, if everyone does whatever they want according to their own wishes, it will cause extremely terrifying chaos."
"Look at me, isn't this an example?" She still smiled faintly, but this smile was not happy.
"We live longer than humans and have greater ability to control magic. Therefore, freedom is dangerous for us, and rebellious thoughts and different practices are also dangerous. Only all elves stick to their own destiny according to destiny. Only by holding positions can the race survive forever.”
“Harmony with nature can be maintained.”
“Breaking this pattern and trying to pursue so-called happiness and beauty is like trying to hold sand with your hands.”
"In the end, nothing will be left." Horno still smiled, but his smile became increasingly bitter.
"Everything..." She said, and Mira frowned. She wanted to say something to refute Horno, but she felt that whatever she said would only expose the other party's scars. .
"Anyway -" The elf raised his head, as if to break the heavy atmosphere.
"A free heart is a good thing, at least for you."
"Because you are nothing now, you can be anything."
"I think this is probably the reason why he takes you on the trip without requiring you to be what kind of person you are."
"Because the future is so uncertain."
"It's something to look forward to."
As Horno said this, a look of nostalgia appeared on her face: "This is what my lover said when he took me on an adventure."
"At that time, I hesitated to go back, to return to a lawful, stable life where everything was predictable -"
"I'm a bad example though."
"But this sentence is not wrong."
She said lightly, and a mercenary came behind her with two cups of hot alcoholic beverages.
"Ladies?"
"Thanks."
"It's getting close."
"Yes."
"It all ends here."
