"He stayed? What do you mean?"
"You still have the nerve to ask me?" Eze asked unhappily, "Your little apprentice's trouble! Have you forgotten?"
"I thought he wouldn't agree to help."
"Huh! Why don't you tell the truth? You didn't ask him at all."
"Please understand me, old man." Larsen sighed, "You are a defender of Four Leaf City, so you don't have to sit across from him at the Destiny Assembly."
Eze couldn't discuss this with Larson, and maybe that was his purpose. Although it was unexpected, the Eastmans would be better able to speak with the leader involved. As long as I get through these days...
"There is one more thing to do, Haines. With the commander participating in the mission, you will be free soon, right?"
Eze asked warily: "So what?"
"This year is the year of the cold moon. According to the regulations, I have to hold a reunion and invite the astrologers of the same year back to Blumnot. But except for you, I haven't been able to contact anyone recently."
anyone? "Let me guess, 80% of your class has no astrologers left."
"They're not as lucky as you, okay?" Larsen's tone was sarcastic and somewhat emotional. "Believers of the Goddess of Life are really different. It's a pity that I...well, I finally understand the idea of 'tattoo'. It's such a genius idea."
"Heather will not accept that kind of blasphemy." Eze said categorically. "After the fire goes out, his genius will stop here. But in the end, I can't compare with him. Even I am about to retire, La Sen."
"It's still early. If you want to advance, go and establish a good relationship with your minister. He is right in front of you. The opportunity is rare." They all knew that this was not an opportunity. Larson quickly ended the call, leaving Eads to deal with his messy work duties. After all, I have nothing to complain about. The task of an astrologer is much heavier than that of a garrison. But other than trivial matters, he no longer knew what to talk about with his old friend. Gaota's study life seemed like a lifetime ago.
"Three people," Eze said softly.
…
The foam rolled in the glass and slid dangerously over the edge. Uriel quickly picked up the bottle. "Just right?"
"It spilled a little." Cecilia reported honestly, "But you just poured too much. In terms of movement, your hand is steadier than mine." She frowned. "You are stronger than me."
"The reason is obvious. Do we want to compete again?"
The waitress couldn't help but smile. "That's right. I spend all my time practicing my ability to fall asleep." She poured the cup back, laughing at herself, but she didn't look unhappy. After all, who wants to dream all day long if there are people around them who can talk?
Uriel noticed this. "Maybe you can try other ways to relax. You see, we will be able to take shifts soon." He pointed to himself, "In your free time, how about going to the park to watch the juggler turn into a rabbit? To tell you the truth, this is something I have only dreamed of doing before. .”
"Still free to watch rabbits?"
"Well, they all are." Why am I making fun of myself too? He didn't feel bad. "Do you remember what day I came?"
Cecilia had put the cup down and turned to face him. "The fourth day of the first week." She touched the ends of her hair, "No one remembers it more clearly than me."
"Today is the second week..."
"...the seventh day."
"In four days, I can officially take over. By then, you will have time wherever you want." Uriel has already found out that Cecilia has no home to return to. She lives behind the kitchen on the first floor of the bar. , apprentices are also arranged there. In recent days, Eds Haynes has been kicked downstairs by guests and forced to huddle with him. Fortunately, the chef only comes to the bar part-time and does not need to stay.
Cecilia was about to speak, but her eyes moved behind him and immediately lowered her head. Uriel received the hint and turned to take a look.
"I'm afraid you have to wait." The bar owner stood beside the bar like a ghost and announced to them: "I want to go out."
"Have a nice trip, sir."
"You seem to be eager for me to leave?"
"No such thing!" The apprentice immediately denied.
Eze looked at the apprentice, raised his hand and dropped the key on the table. "Open at five o'clock in the morning. If you're one second late, you're out. Do you hear me, kid? You're in charge."
"Uh, me?"
"Can the word 'you' refer to someone else?"
Uriel shut his mouth and took the key. To show his attitude, he immediately hung it around his waist.
"I will be back in two days." Haynes told them. "If you have any problems, you can deal with them yourself. Generally, no strangers will come... Under normal circumstances, no one is allowed to go upstairs. And Uriel? Don't let me catch you." Until you are lazy!"
"I remember, sir," the apprentice assured.
"You have a lot to remember!" Eds Haynes muttered. "Cecilia can tell you, but that's not her job. I'm keeping an eye on you, kid, even when I'm not home."
In Knox, this was most likely not a threat, but even so, Uriel didn't see him keeping his eyes on the counter. I really think too much. After Mr. Haynes closed the door, the apprentice turned his head and winked at Cecilia: "I think you can go to the park today."
"Don't be like this!" She couldn't help but laugh, "But we can close the store earlier and help you realize your dream."
…
There was a sound coming from the wine cabinet, vague and subtle, as fine as the friction of gravel. This is not an illusion. The Knox Bar is almost entirely made of logs, so it's normal to have rats. It often rains in the flaming month, and when the time comes, insects will come to join in the fun. Is there a way to deal with the mysterious creature? Uriel couldn't help but imagine.
He slowly approached and pressed the cupboard door with his palm. The broom was very close, and he took it easily. As soon as the door opened, he could pat the things that escaped on the ground.
The glass seemed to be covered with fog, but Uriel didn't notice it until he noticed that the water droplets were flowing upward abnormally, forming strokes. The apprentice was startled and almost swiped him with a stick, but the cost of repairing the glass made him hold back. "who?"
"Where were you last night?"
Memories flood into the mind. Uriel remembered that there were guests staying in the attic...and his flying ring. "Sauron?"
"I am Soren Gerson!" Human, are you polite?"
"Okay, Mr. Gerson." It felt strange to address a ring like that. "Don't scare me."
Unexpectedly, it was not satisfied: "You are too perfunctory, boy!" Let’s use some prefixes to show respect.』
In the hands of the messenger, the ring does not have so many words. Uriel was vaguely aware of this guy's virtue. "Wise Mr. Gershon?"
The ring reluctantly accepted. "You closed early yesterday, didn't you?"
Could it be Mr. Haynes's eyes? But the apprentice remembers that Joey is its owner. "I'm sorry, I'll leave the key for him next time."
"The master doesn't need the key, didn't you see?" "The ring quickly erased this line of text. "You left early"
"The mercenaries have gone to settle accounts with their employers." Uriel told it. The room full of people he bumped into at the restaurant were all mercenaries, and they claimed to be the elite group in the adventurer industry. Interestingly, their mercenary group is also called "Knox". Uriel has discovered that although this bar is not specifically designed to receive them, no one will come except the Knox mercenaries. "Just in time, we had the opportunity to wash the tables, chairs, counters, and wipe down the signboard."
"So what? Where have you been?"
He realized that this guy was here to cause trouble. "I'm going to see what changes have occurred in Yotsuba City."
"Are you going with a girl?"
"We're just taking a walk," Uriel said defensively.
"Stop hanging out, kid. Compared with the world without mystery, Yotsuba Castle has changed so much that you don’t want to see it with your own eyes.』
"A lot of mysterious creatures?" Uriel understood.
"Let's put it this way, the density of monsters and ghosts in Knox Bar is not an exception." It included itself. "Eastman belongs to Croita, a vassal state of the mysterious fulcrum, and is not very well behaved. The order of Yotsuye Castle is due to the lord, she is a very capable person.』
This is the same in the watch world. Uriel has also heard from outsiders that there are more Venetian gangs in the south than traveling knights. The Knights' Bay in the east is often troubled by pirates, but the lords don't care about it and only enjoy themselves behind the high walls of the castle. . Luckily I don't have to live in a place like that. He felt a little regretful thinking about it. "They all lit the fire?"
"Not necessarily" the ring actually said, "Mysterious apprentices possess extraordinary knowledge, and even mortals can obtain mysterious items. They are the most mainstream 'mysterious creatures' in Knox."
"Can mortals also use mysterious items?" This new term is easy to understand.
"It's unusual, isn't it?"
Abnormality is mystery. Uriel understood: "So they are also mysterious creatures."
"That's it. Do you want to try it?』
It's hard not to be moved. Uriel couldn't help but raise his head and look at the wooden floor of the attic. The ring did not appear, and it must have been worn by Joey on his hand, but the frost words condensed on the glass were clearly legible. "Do you have others of the same kind?"
"Of course, but you'd better think of something practical. The ring is the status symbol of the tower members and cannot be given to anyone casually," Sauron wrote arrogantly, "but I have other things here..."
"Forget it. Thanks for reminding me, Mr. Gessen. I will try to go out during the day."
"what? It won’t hurt you”
Of course, contact with mysterious objects does not burn the soul, but Uriel's curiosity will be burned. He knew why he ended up where he was today. Once I master the mysterious power, I will never be able to escape. Gaia warns people to resist temptation... "Come to think of it, I don't have much use for them. And I don't understand, why do you want me to become a mythical creature?" he reveals.
Ring pretended not to hear. "You're afraid of lighting a fire"
If I really have to figure it out, I have too many things to fear, Uriel thought to himself. "I——" Just as he was about to speak, he saw a faint red shadow on the glass. That was probably Cecilia's hair, but it was so foggy that it was hard to see what she was doing.
Is she still listening to me? Uriel hesitated for a moment. "I just don't think it's necessary. Didn't you also say that Siye City is safe?"
"The Yotsuba City cannot run away with long legs, but the mysterious creatures can." Tell you what, kid, we" the words came to an abrupt end. At the same time, the apprentice felt a cold wind blowing down from his head. Needless to say, only Sauron's master can interfere with his actions.
Uriel picked up the rag and wiped the glass clean again.
…
The window on the second floor is facing the tower in the distance, and the huge clock is turning its scales, delivering a quiet and melodious sound on the hour.
"You're blaming the situation on the garrison again"
"He's good at repairs."
"He is a druid, my lord, you cannot use him as a magic weave master"
"You teach me how to use people?"
The conversation ended immediately. The ring changed the subject quickly and without leaving any trace: "The garrison has gone out, he has personal matters to deal with."
"Do you hear a change in the chimes?"
"..." Sauron reorganized the language, "It's almost half shorter"
"Does it have anything to do with the law?"
"There is no abnormality in the order. "I'm afraid the bell tower is too old," the ring wrote, "The history of Yotsuye Castle exceeds two hundred years." Mortal buildings will always become obsolete. The tower has experienced three thousand years without any damage.』
The messenger raised his head slightly. Cloud shadows covered his eyes, but he didn't blink. "Two hundred and three thousand. That's what's new here," he commented.
