"The air is so cold," York said.
His assessment was correct. The temperature in the City of Floating Clouds is a full ten degrees lower than that of Antros, which is the advantage of a high-altitude city. We left the tropics, Dalton realized, and we were in Croita again, once again close to the sun. Who knew it would be colder?
Maybe we're just not close enough. Dalton raised his head and saw the curved outline of the tower extending into the higher sky, disappearing into the light and clouds. It had just rained here, and he smelled dampness, but no earthy smell. He couldn't deny that he liked it here.
But Sita was unhappy. "We left too early." The mercenary sighed, "Jed invited me to drink, how could I miss the invitation? I already owe him. Not to mention there are still many chores to deal with! Now, the monks and mercenaries are here again We can’t be found either.”
"The monks are managed by Gundrias, and the Paperclip Mercenary Group, their Nightingale collected the balance. We don't owe anyone." Zhuoer pointed out.
"Jed! He's an interesting guy. I hurt him and he wasn't afraid of me. You don't understand, Dalton. Even in Knox, new guys are worried about me setting them on fire."
"You should thank Uriel." If there is no holy water potion, you can see if he is still afraid. Even I would stay away. "You'll have new friends, York. Jade's invitation isn't Uriel's biggest concern."
"Ha! Who knows what he cares about? It's probably an old problem that can't be solved." The Sita mercenary yawned, "It's none of my business."
This is not the case.
Ever since he left the Antros Church, the Tower Messenger had been in a state of indecision. Something troubled him, but he didn't want to tell his companions. Dalton understood. Whether it's a demon lord or a corpse in a church, it means trouble. We have enough troubles already, it's better to get out of here first.
Finally Uriel decided to go to the dock. Two law wizards died in Antuoros. No matter how high the Silence School is, it is impossible not to send people to find out the reason. If the wizards of the school are allowed to land, Antuorus will undoubtedly fall again. Gandrias has made a contract that they cannot let his crown be taken away from him by the wizard.
This process was not as difficult as imagined. Without Dalton's precise control, the shadow dragon actually tore the wizards of the school into pieces, but was restrained by the unified ascetic monks. Under the command of the Judge, the monks of the church are highly disciplined and well-organized, and can display their strength better than the wizards of the school.
But that was before Dalton and the others joined the battlefield. In any case, the difference in mystery is absolute. The witchcraft and magic of the school wizards form a web, easily shattered by curses; the swords and spears of the Cross Knights are like dense forests, melted by magic and light. When the shadow dragon folded its wings and swooped down, some people began to drop their weapons and run away.
Since the war with Brestatik, the dragons have not appeared in Knox for four hundred years. They are not to blame for their panic. In the melee, only York, who had just become Gao Huan, was slightly injured. Uriel quickly pulled out his hand and killed the opponent with one sword.
When the wizard's reinforcements were exhausted, Pope Gaia appeared in the church and prevented the monks from being destroyed.
Dalton didn't think this puppet pope was very powerful, but soon he saw his appeal: the survivors knelt on the ground begging for mercy, the soldiers put down their weapons, and the monks shouted long live. The men swarmed around Gandrias, rolling like ants into the street behind them. Uriel watched them go away, his eyes full of compassion. Then, the tower messenger carried the prisoner up to the bell tower. I will never believe in any gods again, Dalton thought as he stared at his back.
Afterwards, they lingered in Danlau for two days and never returned to Antoros. During this rare peaceful break, no matter how curious York was, Uriel never mentioned his experience of searching for Lynde Punabag alone. He even tried to be as vague as possible about his dealings with the Gaia Church. , as if the person who went from Eastman to Moniantoros for a kid was some guy they didn't even know. Upon seeing this, Dalton was not going to ask any more questions, but York persisted and tried to find out what happened next.
Why is he so passionate about Gaia Church? Drow didn't understand. In the final analysis, we are just Uriel's helpers and have no good feelings towards Gaia or his followers. What happens to Antholos has nothing to do with me.
"This is our trophy, and someone should be worried about it. According to your logic, I shouldn't care about the Twinkle Pool." The Sita mercenary explained, "I live in Eastman, but it does not mean that I am separated from my hometown. Worldly affairs It's connected, Dalton. Don't you think of the Darkhorn?"
Dalton would have said no without hesitation before he met Ingrid and left Tide Castle. To this day, he feels that he has also changed.
Funnily enough, they ended up getting the news from the newspapers. In Nightingale's writing, the upheaval in Anthoros presents a different perspective: strife within the church, wizard faction struggles, conflicts between judges and associations... Fortunately, that night, the war started by them had already begun in Gandri. It was finished with Yas's intervention and became the last touch of color in the new flag. The Pope of Gaia finally kept his oath, but the tower messenger didn't seem too happy.
"This is temporary." Uriel explained at the dinner table. "When this period of time passes, Gandrias will step down. After all, the church is still a vassal of the Silent School and cannot stand on its own. I have to rely on the rules of taking over. Is the wizard Bijizuk merciful? To be honest, guys, I didn't want him to die at first."
As a result, York, who claimed that he cared about Antuoros's situation, began to care about another thing: "Did you really kill Jizuk?"
"Kill a law wizard? No."
"I heard it was two."
"Oh, I heard! Why don't you listen to me. I say, no. York. No."
"Then how did you...?"
"It's just an argument, in order to get Gandrias to side with us." The night elf told York, "Jizuk himself will not deny it anyway."
"Yes, but I'm afraid he would think so himself." The tower messenger's barely maintained smile also disappeared, "This is not me...forget it, this is the fact, what else should I say?"
"What's wrong with you, Uriel? You avenged Aiken and Dorothy, and we won."
"Spare me." As a result, he got angry and said, "Don't mention her name again."
It was not until the end of dinner that Uriel apologized to Sita and then locked himself in the room. From then on, York knew not to talk to him about it again.
"I think Uriel was not happy with Gandrias," Dalton told York.
"If he is not satisfied, he can put forward his opinion. Anyway, the Pope has sworn an oath. That piece of paper is a mysterious item and must have strong binding force."
"The problem is, he doesn't know how to give advice."
"Conquering a city, but you don't know how to rule it?" York blinked, "People often encounter this kind of problem, but they don't necessarily worry about it."
"Those are two different things."
"The difference lies in motivation. What does Uriel want the church to become? Others don't care anyway. They just want war, want victory, and then plunder everywhere based on these foundations. Indeed, I don't know the rulers, but I know mercenaries.”
"I have no doubt of that, York."
Sita rolled her eyes. Apparently, he finally understood the drow's taunting. "Now we are employers." He said, "Employers never have a headache." This guy is actually a bit unreasonable.
And when Uriel was completely out of trouble, it was after the echo came from the Tower of Sky.
Antolos's war message traveled quickly, spreading to the corners of Knox with the help of nightingales and magic. On the fourth day of their stay in Tamlao, the tower gave an ultimatum. "The 'Second Truth' is returning to the School of Silence," Soren Gessen wrote.
Suddenly, real fear for their lives forced them to leave Moniantoros as quickly as Dalton had fled from Wavesound after assassinating the earl. But the Tower Messenger still had a safe place to go, and I didn't think about that at the time. It seems that letting Uriel make the decision does have its benefits.
Now standing in front of the tower gate, the night elf had already started chatting with his companions. For a long time, no one came to let them go aside.
"I dare say that he will ask the commander this troublesome question." Sita looked very confident, "What do you think he will do?"
Why don't you ask us what will happen? Dalton was wary. He guessed that Uriel would be questioned about Jizuk and Oz Cranky, as well as the sudden appearance of the demon lord, the latter of which was particularly crucial. If they are looking for a way out of us, how should I respond? But until he came to the tower gate, no one asked them...
...To be precise, no one came over at all. What's going on? He couldn't judge anymore. They waited there for half an hour, only to teach everyone who passed by to take a detour. Dalton looked around absently.
"You might as well make a bet with an astrologer."
"Oh, there's no point in playing like this."
"Then let's find Miss Roma Penelope first. She is not an astrologer." Zhuoer didn't want to wait any longer. "Uriel will find us."
York readily agreed: "Where is Roma? The solitary cell?"
"If you ask me, she could be anywhere but there."
…
Walking on the steps to the conference room again, Uriel felt more relaxed than ever. Sleep until dawn, no need to take turns to keep vigil, and no need to worry about waking up from your dreams. This would have been unthinkable in Moniantoros and Zangwill. It is not unreasonable to say that the quality of rest is equal to the luck of the new day.
"Take your steps lightly," Lord Larsen instructed. "The lighter the better. There is someone living on this floor, and he likes to rest during the day."
Uriel did so. "Is it the Prophet?" Apart from the Prophet, almost no one will be on this floor. "I would like to see him, Mr. Larson, when will he be free?"
"No time. What do you want to do?"
"I wanted to...ask about the messenger." Of course that wasn't the truth. The apprentice would have preferred to ask for the Bible if possible, but he knew it was better not to appear in the presence of the prophet. The deaths of the Black Knight and Jizuk...
Larson stopped, and Uriel realized that they had arrived in front of the lounge of the conference hall.
"It's Sidney who takes the day off. I remember he was also your astrology guru."
He had almost forgotten astrology. "I'm extremely honored by this."
The great astrologer took out the key. "To be honest, Uriel, maybe I shouldn't interfere with your choice, but I really hope you can take over my class."
"Successor?" Astronomy room? Even for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am not strong enough to take responsibility. "You have better choices, Your Excellency."
"You are different from them."
Uriel didn't understand: "What's the difference?"
But Larsen had unlocked the door. "Just wait for the Prophet to answer your question. Here, this is the Star Gap, give it to your mentor. Of course, you can keep it for a while. But don't bring it into the Port of Far Light! Someone did it. Live this kind of thing.”
If nothing else, this person should be the little lion Roma. "Why?"
"It's a simple truth, if you put the key behind the door, the door can't be opened again." The Port of Far Light is another door in the Star Gap. "The matrix array will turn into a loop and no one can get in."
He handed the key to the apprentice. "I won't go in. Remember to lock the door when you leave. I think you know exactly what the commander will do if someone disturbs him."
"It's clear as day," the apprentice assured. Larson nodded, took out his notebook and took a look at it, then walked out of the conference hall quietly.
Uriel opened the door.
He was startled and couldn't help but step back. Because the messenger is standing behind the door. He must have heard our conversation, because the apprentice couldn't help but cough. "Uh, are your injuries healed?"
"Mystery gap. Not injury."
"what is that?"
"You must know?" Joey frowned. "To be precise, the magic power and fire have lost synchronization, and the control is incoherent." It sounds a bit like Shunguai. "That's it."
He didn't explain it clearly at all, so Uriel had to observe by himself. But Joey seemed to be intact, and he didn't dare to let the other party take a second look. Questions were swirling in his stomach, and Uriel opened his mouth to say something.
The messenger motioned him to shut up. "You just came back."
"Eastman's Ladder Shuttle Station cannot reach Floating Cloud City directly, so I have to transfer in other countries to..."
"To Zangwill?"
Uriel wouldn't have been so shocked even if he had said Anthoros. After all, rumors of the turmoil in the Church of Gaia have long spread throughout the mysterious realm, and the brief cooperation between the church and the astrologers is still a secret. Uriel only confessed to his mentor in his dreams. "You know? But Ms. Mabel said...?"
"I woke up. But she disturbed the dream." The messenger told him, "You are in a hurry in your dream?"
"That's about it." It seems that Ms. Mabel just wanted to speed up the dream, so that I would treat Joey as a subconscious phantom... "Someone is chasing us in the dream." Uriel answered.
"She lied," the messenger emphasized.
"I thought you were more concerned about why she lied."
"One lie is the beginning of more lies, and it pays to stay away from her."
Uriel had known that he and Mabel Magdalen had no good feelings for each other. After all, there's no lucky person in the world whom he thinks I'd benefit from approaching. "I am here thanks to Ms. Mabel and her traveling companions," he pointed out.
"Knox, you are in danger thanks to Antolos and the Law Wizards. I don't remember anyone sending you to the School of Silence."
"This is my promise to Manai."
"Promise is more important than life, right?"
Uriel couldn't tell. Of course he cares about his own life, and those promises are mostly just words of indignation. At the end of the day, I just think of myself as a person and think I can change the world.
But the fear is real. Before going to Anthoros, he was not unaware of the risks of the trip. The sense of mission and justice that supported him at the time, but looking back on it now, it's hard to talk about just teaching his disciples. It's no wonder that he still doesn't regret it much. Maybe they can't do anything, Uriel thought, but they can't do nothing.
Does this mean I chose the former? He wasn't sure. "Then how do you weigh the Silver Song Knight's promise and Parsur's life?"
"..."
There was a moment of frozen silence. As soon as the words came out, the apprentice had already noticed that something was wrong. I shouldn't ask this, Uriel thought uneasily. Nothing could be more foolish than to mention a dream experience at this moment! However, it was too late to regret.
"You asked me, in a dream." The messenger's gaze was unbearable. "The Bible weaves a dream, and you came here uninvited and even changed it without permission. What you saw was what you wanted to see, so you asked. The truth of the year.”
"Better dreams than nightmares," the apprentice whispered.
"It doesn't change anything. It's what it is. I left everything behind. That's why I'm here," Joey told him, "but you don't have to follow my example."
He was far different from his dream self. In the past Joey, it was difficult for Uriel to find that he identified with the Aurenia Empire until MacAdam confirmed that he had changed his faith. As for Bai Zhishi, his sense of responsibility for the tower is unquestionable. In a thousand years, perhaps the messenger will inevitably be changed by the world.
"In Antuoros, the Silent School finally sent a law wizard to investigate the turmoil. I didn't dare to walk up the church's staircase." Uriel changed the subject, "I had to go to Danlaw first. Ms. Mabel weaved dreams and attracted the wizard's attention. Pay attention and we’ll have a chance to come back.”
"Which wizard?"
"Roxanne the Theologian Toslin. I haven't met her in person."
The messenger nodded. "She's no more of a threat than Shania Ravenus."
"No matter what, they can't be compared with Gizuk." Uriel said, "We met 'Tattoo' in the church."
The messenger looked at him. "Did you expect this?"
"...No. I can't see that far." Although logically, the Law Wizard would not stay in the Gaia Church longer, but the apprentice obviously did not understand "tattoos". What's more, Anti-Angle City Anthoros' status in the Silent School is equivalent to the city of floating clouds with high towers, so it is not surprising that they encountered the Sky Realm. Even when "Tattoo" isn't around, I get to meet Ozzy Cranky, "the weirdo expert." "This is all my fault."
"But you still have to go to the Church of Gaia."
Of course the messenger does not have a scroll of oaths, but sometimes he can still see through people's hearts. Uriel couldn't deny that he thought so. "I will go by myself, without anyone else. The Prophet once made a prophecy, and he determined that this is my destiny. You know."
"I'm not an astrologer. Neither are you. Otto is not our god, Uriel. You'd better remember that." What does that mean? Could it be that the prophet had already seen through me and deliberately used prophecies to send me to death? But the messenger finally allowed him to enter the lounge.
In any case, he has passed the test in the hands of his mentor. The apprentice breathed a sigh of relief.
The lounge has completely changed. The floor was covered with frost—and the walls and ceiling, to be exact—leaving only a small space in front of the windows. A pot of pothos survived, which reminded Uriel of Myrtle who was kicked down by her mentor. It is growing vigorously, and its branches and leaves have been dragged from the window sill to the ground. There must be longer hanging branches swaying in the wind outside the tower.
"Why do you live here?" Uriel asked.
"Do you know where I should live?"
Thinking about it carefully, Uriel really didn't know where the messenger lived. Even in Eastman, the messenger lived directly in Mr. Eads' attic. Why have I never thought of this before? "Wait, you didn't tell me your address?"
"I know your address."
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten it either." The messenger's answer made no sense at all. "I'm asking you."
The messenger frowned. "Nowhere else. This is it."
"Here? The lounge of the conference hall?"
"Outside is the common room." There is only a step between the long table and the sofa in the Destiny Assembly. The former is placed on the high platform, and the latter is placed at the other end of the room with the bookshelf, coffee table, chess table, soup pot... Bai Zhishi's room is considered the inner room of the conference hall, and the door is facing the main door of the conference hall. "I won't stay forever."
"That shouldn't be...?"
"You teach me what to do?"
Uriel was speechless. Anyone who can communicate normally can tell that he is only targeting the Affairs Department. By the gods, I don't have to worry about this. "Jizuk's target is the Bible. The demon lord appeared in Anti-Angle City, and I had a chance to come back."
"Sauron knows his purpose."
"Who? Demon Lord?"
"'Tattoo'. This man is the leader of the Ascetic sect, but he originally belonged to the theological sect."
"Why do wizards have schools of thought?"
"'Second Truth' believes that different wizards have different talents, and there is more than one way to the truth."
“What exactly is truth?”
"What do you think?"
Uriel thought for a moment. "The essence of mystery? Or the source of law and order. The truths of the School of Silence are like these."
"Maybe. Everyone has their own truth, and they don't need to spend a lifetime pursuing it." The messenger did not deny it.
"So what do you think truth is, Joey?"
"The answer to everything."
“Is the Bible a fragment of truth?”
"You've met Nadia, she also has a Bible."
In Alanvor in the dream, Nadia Astrid, the president of "Twilight Veil", mastered a long sword that can open the door to heaven. She sees it as the key to saving the Society. Later, this sword somehow ended up in the Silent School, and was taken away by the Black Knight not long ago. If you ask Nadia, she would never regard the Bible as some fragment of truth.
"I understand," the apprentice replied, "but I'm not sure others understand. A lot of people are looking for the Bible of the Gods now, Joy, especially the School of Silence. I think the Tome of the Oath is one of them. Give it to It would make it easier for me to give it to someone who can protect it. Can you help me?" Although the parchment could restore the magic power, he really didn't plan to risk carrying it anymore.
"Stay in the high tower, and no one will find you again." The messenger did not agree. "Jizuk was interested in you not just because you had it. I have the Bible, too."
We all lose. Uriel understood this after Zangwill's disaster. It turns out that there will be a day when you will be harmed by me. "But now Jizuk is dead." He said softly, "There was a complicated process. It has something to do with the demon lord." The words reached his throat, and it was difficult to swallow them. But the apprentice couldn't hide it at this moment. "When the Black Knight and the Law Wizard fought, I killed Jizuk."
"You became a Kongjing? Otherwise you wouldn't even be able to touch him."
"No. I used the Black Knight to kill him."
"Then you invite the secret society to attack Anti-Angle City?"
"The ones who attacked the city were war mercenaries." Uriel answered truthfully, "But before, in other places..." I stole the prisoners of the church, led the association to attack the church, and even killed the monks myself, so that Lord Shimmer could lead Walk away from his fellow demons. To this day, I still think I did the right thing. "...I've been in contact with them."
"The people who sell pies to the devil are also related to them, but only the judicial organs will punish them by massacre."
"No matter what the reason is, my betrayal is a fact."
"No one knows about this." The leader of the tower, the demon hunter, said.
Uriel couldn't help but glance at his seven-pointed star mark. Although he had expected it... Joey himself was also a nameless one, and so was Parsur. This kind of thing was destined, he had no choice.
But I behave differently. "No." Uriel confessed, "The demon lord knows. The shimmer lord Anlini also knows. Those members of the association must have told him." He heard his own fear. "The Black Knight asked me to be his nightingale...I rejected him. I can't stay in Croita!"
"Why did you refuse?"
Bai Zhishi's words were astonishing. Uriel forgot everything he said.
"Don't you think that commitment is important?" the messenger asked, "even more important than life. Then why refuse?"
Why? Uriel didn't understand either. He does sympathize with the Nameless Ones, and does not think Hitarian and Ruth are guilty of anything. These are all old problems. He thought about it countless times, but never got a conclusive answer, let alone now that it is difficult to think calmly... Uriel also asked: "What's the use of saying this? I have already refused."
The messenger's gaze faintly swept across the frost. "Then what do you want to say?"
It's a problem that doesn't follow common sense. Fortunately, he has a lot of troubles to deal with urgently. "And the Church of Gaia." Uriel confided.
"The leader of the Ascetic Sect is dead, but the Church of Gaia has not been reborn?"
"I don't know what to do." Gandrias is not the best candidate, but if he lets it go, the church will either be disrupted by wizards and divided into other schools, or it will simply become the spoils of the demon society. There is no doubt that the secret society has occupied the churches in Mintland and Danlaw, but the judges who can contain the situation have suffered heavy losses... Uriel must restore the basic operation of the Gaia Church as soon as possible to cope with the expansion of the society.
"It seems that you came back too early."
"In the final analysis, I have no position to interfere in the internal affairs of the church." Uriel is the messenger of Croita's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not a knight of the cross.
"What would you do if you had?"
I'd be a Cross Knight instead. Uriel couldn't help but think. Suddenly, he found that the answer was obvious. "I have many ideas, but most of them cannot be realized. I have never been a ruler." He gradually understood, "Gandrias is different. Although this man is not trustworthy, the crown does not belong to him entirely. If I see evil monks again..."
The messenger nodded and opened the door. "Go to the first floor."
