Mortus had completely changed his appearance, and Uriel could not even recognize the city gate. A flag embroidered with a black bear fluttered in front of the portcullis, and a ditch surrounded the city wall. The ripples pushed the sand and slowly squirmed at the bottom of the river. As the convoy approached, the guards pulled the winch and lowered the wooden bridge.
"Fashionable design," Jenners said. "I started to change my mind."
"Really? I didn't." After realizing that it was actually the team leader who answered him, the nature elf was startled and instinctively looked at Uriel. At some point Joey landed behind the carriage, near them. But before the apprentice could think of a response, he spurred his mount to pick up the pace and stepped onto the wooden bridge with Rhaegal.
"I have to find a chance to leave the team." Janus said. "What excuse do you think I should use, Uriel? How about visiting relatives?" The blacksmith used this opportunity to leave before, but followed him back when he set off.
"No. Did you learn your common language in the north? The accent is too obvious." Uriel reminded. The blacksmith's identity was innocent, but Janus' lies could not stand up to scrutiny. If he dared to say that, others would immediately become suspicious. "I don't know the criteria for leaving the team, Janus, you should ask your friends."
"Mr. Zoman said that he is here to conduct a field survey for this year's geography subject. What is a geography subject?"
Uriel couldn't answer. "What about the others?"
"Others are ordered to serve their master. They go wherever their master tells them to go."
Yeah? Even Joey? Presumably Janus wouldn't understand. But Uriel thought he was right. The Silver Song Knight obeyed the order of the legion commander and guarded the exiled Blue Saint. These people all acted under orders, with the exception of Du Yilin.
He hadn't even spoken to her. At first, Uriel thought that the tower messenger Du Yilin was a difficult character to get along with, but he soon discovered that this was not the case. This well-known adventurer messenger attaches great importance to the difference in mystery, and actually has a vague style of the mysterious field period of later generations. The objects of her contempt are often mortals, but she is quite enthusiastic when facing wizards. Uriel knew who she would have something in common with, and he was Lindpunabag, the wizard of the Silent School.
Du Yilin did not hide her purpose. In fact, she knew everything about Bernard. Uriel often dealt with the latter, and the future Lord "Second Truth" seemed to understand his mentor. Even Bogart can't do this. According to the wizard's information, this knight and Joey are the colleagues who have been together for the longest time.
"He is a guard of the temple," Bernard told Uriel, "so most Silversong Knights don't recognize him."
"I heard that the transfer of Silversong Knight to the Holy Church happened after the Holly Agreement."
"Yes, but he is an exception. This is determined by birth. The Silver Song Knights were originally the royal family's guard. After it expanded into a legion, the cabinet imposed many restrictions on it. The emperor had to compromise with the princes and tacitly acknowledged that only children of the nobles could Join the Knights of Silversong. You knew him in Mortus, right? According to the law, it is impossible for him to become a Knight of Silversong."
"Can the Holy Church relax its standards?"
"Of course not. The church is a sanctuary dedicated to the three gods and does not allow anyone to move... He went to the church to confess his sins. But it is said that the monks had to teach him common language first so that communication could be smooth. As for the effect." Nard asserted, "I guess he must have tricked the priest in some way."
Uriel quite agreed, but he didn't have the guts to say it. "I am willing to believe in the power of the Goddess Bible, Lord." It is not too difficult to pretend to be a devout missionary. He really wants to understand the process of Joey's battle of wits and courage with the church priest. "Then Sir Veronkar made an exception and made him a Knight of Silversong?"
"Exception? No. Your Highness put him under my family name so that he can obtain the status of a noble attendant."
Bernard Sterling, he comes from the most powerful family in Aurenia and has ruled the Blue Cone Territory bordering the Blue Forest for generations. Cabinet Prime Minister Thurston Sterling is his brother. Uriel blinked, "That's it, Sir." He then remembered that the leader of the school actually had such an identity. The mysterious field has always paid attention to the status of mystery. The name of "Second Truth" obviously attracts more attention than the ancient family members from the Ancestors period. After all, the Aurenian nobles did not have any privileges after the Dragon Disaster.
"You won't report my abuse of power to the judicial authority, right?"
The apprentice came to his senses. "I didn't think about Sir ꓹ at all." I'm glad they didn't come looking for me. "Then how did he return to the church?"
"Wizards are allowed to have guards." Bernard replied, "And he has a close relationship with wizards. Of course, we didn't let him serve the monks he hated. That was the job of the attendants and newcomers. Joey participated in the battle with the saints. He has the qualifications to fight Valoran's war." The wizard's comments revealed a lot of information. "Except for the time when he first became a knight, I have no contact with him, and I don't understand the situation on the battlefield. Uriel, you have to find someone else."
The future "Second Truth" provided him with a lot of useful information, but Uriel's gains did not stop there. The apprentice sensed that the other party had lied unnecessarily. Is he more connected to Joey? This is unusual. However, Bernard's concealment made Uriel wary, and he knew it was best not to ask any more questions.
"For more details, I suggest you consult me. From my understanding of people, communication must be based on the target's interests and psychological state. It is best not to mention your god. If you can find a topic that interests him, maybe He’d be happy to chat with you.”
Even a thousand years later, Joey can still keep his mouth shut about me. Uriel's efforts were rarely rewarded unless he spoke first. However, the apprentice agreed with the wizard's theory, and there was no need for them to continue testing each other like this. The exchange seemed to end there, if they hadn't been discussing these things near the carriage.
"But I think you have your own job." Bernard changed the topic, "There are more challenging choices among these people, Uriel, why don't you give it a try?"
"You mean...?"
"Nature elves. They are more worthy of saving, aren't they? These pagan cultists. This is your mission, Uriel." The wizard said without raising his head, "Or are you here for Joey? The Three Gods are on top. Forget it, he is not your father."
Uriel had nothing to say. If there was any shortcoming in being a missionary, it would be now. He didn't think that the Cang Saint would change her faith, even if the other party now left her hometown. No one asked him to accomplish his goals, but Bernard was visibly unhappy with his inaction. If this continues, he will doubt my purpose of joining the team, although he still regards the truth as a joke.
The wizard was the last to step off the wooden bridge, and the guards turned the winch and closed the passage. There is a small gate and a floating wooden bridge across the river near the city gate. It is impossible for anyone to have dry feet while walking on it, but no one cares about this.
After entering the city, Du Yilin asked everyone to cooperate with her mission, so the Silver Song Knight took off his cloak, the servants put away their flags, and the carriage doors and windows were locked from the outside, as if they were pulling a cart of goods. No one came to greet them, not even the lord knew that noble guests from Marandeno were in his city.
"I heard this place is haunted," Jenners said. The manor occupies an area of two streets, but the buildings are not gorgeous. A gray-black square tower sits at the highest point, with most of the paintwork peeled off, and the portraits look like grimaces.
But these are all traces of history, and they are not to the extent of being haunted by ghosts. Uriel and Orcus walked around the fence and did not find a single wooden building or a gloomy private cemetery. On the contrary, the garden plants here grew extremely lush, and dozens of species of birds were hidden in the leaves. Exploring inside, most of the rooms face the sun, the spiral staircase is strong and sturdy, and even the view from the attic is unique.
"Nonsense." Zorman told him to shut up. "If you are afraid, get out and sleep on the street."
"I quite like it here." Janus immediately changed his mind. But this is the truth from the heart. He likes the bricks and the tower, Uriel thought. And I can only rack my brains and write down every house and tower here, and wait until I return to reality to confirm the pursuit.
"Bogart," Joey said, "I'm going to find someone to clean the room. You and Orcus will guard the door, drive away any guests, and don't allow any servants to go out."
"Yes, sir." The knight stroked his beard, "But I think Orcus alone is enough to do the job. Will Rego be with you?"
"He's responsible for the woman's safety."
"Then I'll go with you, sir. I've been to Mortus before, two years ago... I hope the location of the market hasn't changed."
Joey actually agreed. Uriel soon realized that he didn't know the road at all, and he could only find it thanks to the iconic square tower. If everything the wizard said was true, then the mentor had never entered this city. First the Knights of Silversong drove the free man out of the city, then they sent him to the battlefields of the Quicksilver Temple of Malandeno and the Blue Forest.
The experience of a free man made him a warrior, and the war of Aurenia turned him into a knight. The monks gave him new beliefs, language, and training, and the Knights of Silversong gave him the discipline and execution to obey orders. Those who once drew their swords against him because of his ignorant and barbaric sins now trust and listen to him. Uriel could see that Bogart was indeed Joey's friend, and even Rego and Orcus did not doubt his ability. Bernard still has memories of the person who asked him to lend his family coat of arms, and "Victor" Vilonka also thinks that Joey is an excellent subordinate. Joey in the dream was completely different from the free man back then. His eyes seemed familiar, but they were different from those of Bai Zhizhi.
This wasn't a nightmare, Uriel thought, no wonder he didn't want to wake up. But while these memories reduce the apprentice's curiosity, they also bring about new doubts. He wanted to know whether his mentor participated in the War of the Dawn, and how he became the White Envoy of Croita from the Knight of Silver Song. Sauron said that he only entered the tower two hundred years ago. Where was he during that time?
