Zaraha City, Feron County, Principality of Elnifea.
This was originally an ancient city and is famous all over the world because of its ancient origins. Many scholars and travelers once came here, hoping to discover some unknown secrets from this city that was said to have existed in the ancient magic empire. As time went by, not many of the so-called secrets were discovered, and instead it became Felong County. A scenic spot, it attracts more and more tourists to visit here, and at the same time it promotes the vigorous development of the business and service industry here. But at this moment, the vitality of this tourist city has been burned out by the fire of war. Apart from a few scars of the war, what is left here most are countless people who are forced to wander on the streets, and the empire that temporarily occupied this place. soldiers.
But in the afternoon of this day, both the soldiers and their commanders were staring eagerly at a certain place in this city. That was the temporary command center set up by the imperial army here, and it was also the top local general, Ben Bernard. Where the general is. This famous imperial general had great military exploits and left many famous achievements, but no one from the empire or the principality thought that he would be in a good mood now.
Because he just lost a battle.
The battle that was originally a sure thing turned into what it was like later, which was indeed beyond the expectations of many people. However, when it comes to the organization of the Mages Council, people who know something about it also based on their personnel composition and their past deeds, Appreciating the power of these magicians, no one who knew the outcome of the battle near Fars Fortress would blame Bernard. But this is not the reason for his guilt. Although due to the unique "mercy" under a certain frost magic, the sacrifices in this defeat were extremely limited. At the same time, it was also the final result of the empire's excessive greed for credit and aggressive advancement. However, the empire was forced to let go. It is still an indisputable fact that the rhythm of his offense has been slowed down, and for Bernard himself, this is also a major stain in his life.
As a proud imperial general, he has lost his temper a lot these days, but as a competent imperial soldier, he also reported the truth to the Lion Emperor about what happened here, including... the one who caused all this. The fact that that woman was sitting in front of him.
The mysterious woman in blue robe suddenly appeared in this ruined city a few days ago. Her appearance at that time also caused panic in the empire, especially the soldiers who had seen the scene that day, thinking that she was going to be alone again. The city was besieged by a snowstorm. But it wasn't until the general's order was conveyed to all the soldiers that they realized that the magician lady was not here to cause trouble, but to negotiate.
Not negotiating as a representative of the Principality, but as a representative of... the Parliament of Seven.
Although he was filled with hatred, Bernard still did not act rashly. Instead, he placed the blue-robed woman in person, and at the same time conveyed her wishes to his superiors and the attitude he should have - these so-called diplomatic strategies. The direction has been set long ago, but those are aimed at the principality, not at the woman who made such a big fuss and then came to this place in a grand manner, and the Council of Mages behind her. Although in his personal opinion, the empire would never bow to anyone except a complete defeat, but the request made by this mature and mysterious woman did not seem to be related to their ongoing war. Those contents, in his opinion... were a little weird.
"Come here today, General... As a representative of the empire, I want to ask you again." The bearded general sat in his seat and asked seriously: "Your request is really Is there just this little content?”
"Yes, my dear General."
This is the main hall of Zaraha City, the former center of the city, and the current command post. The originally magnificent decorations and carvings became messy due to the arrival of the war. The interior of the hall has also undergone obvious cleaning. It is unknown whether the original owner moved it or the current owner plundered it. The carved decorations that represented opulence and luxury have disappeared from their original positions, replaced by neat tables and chairs, polished swords, and imperial guards standing at the door like wooden stakes. However, these chilling auras did not affect the woman sitting aside. On the contrary, she was holding a uniquely shaped cup in both hands and tasting the delicious food in it.
The setting sun projected from the window on one side of the hall, illuminating the place dimly and leaving the woman's beautiful silhouette in the center of the hall. However, Bernard himself was unwavering, at least not on the surface.
"Redkar has received your request and will reply soon, so... please be patient."
"I've been here for a few days, and I already understand the empire's attitude." The woman quietly put down the teacup in her hand, and gave the other party a bright smile: "But I want... you guys It seems that he still doesn’t understand what my request actually means.”
The general frowned.
"I have been observing the city for several days." The woman's expression remained unchanged: "In fact, the situation here is very bad."
"Hmph! The Empire's alert is the most..."
"You know that's not what I mean, General."
The woman interrupted the other person's words with a smile.
"There are some... secrets hidden in this ancient city." She fiddled with her curly hair and looked up at the ceiling: "You may not be interested in these secrets, but... there are many others People are very interested in this.”
"What are you talking about? Please explain." The general's eyes narrowed, as if he was trying to understand this topic that he had never heard before.
"It seems... your emperor didn't remind you of this, right?" the woman said with some clarity: "I ask you to strengthen the defense construction here, and at the same time... allow the mage to The special action of the Parliament here is precisely for this reason. Because..."
She supported her chin with her hand and gave the other party a feminine smile: "I don't want to sneak in here like those people."
"...Impossible. My soldiers are the best soldiers. They report to me the situation here every day." Realizing the meaning of the other party's words, the middle-aged general's face finally turned dark. : "Although there have been many injured recently, I can guarantee that absolutely no one here can do anything embarrassing under my nose..."
"Your eyes may be deceiving you, dear General." The woman looked at the middle-aged man in the black imperial uniform opposite with interest: "For example... some of your subordinates, every day Are you doing something strange?"
This time, Bernard finally couldn't sit still: "You... are talking nonsense! It is impossible for my soldiers..."
"I know you have some prejudice against me, General." With both hands, she motioned the panting opponent to sit back down. Christine continued to look at the angry man with a smile: "You don't have to believe what I say. But I've been waiting here for a long time, both in terms of what I've observed here and the other tasks I've been tasked with, here..."
Her smile faded: "I'm not allowed to wait any longer."
"Hmph! Do you want me to...just because of your alarmist remarks..." The middle-aged general clenched his fists tightly: "Go investigate and punish your own men?"
His voice became louder and louder, and finally turned into a roar, but apart from attracting the attention of the guards present, it did not have any impact on the woman in blue robe. But before she could respond to the other party's attitude that finally broke out, a guard guarding the door suddenly walked in.
"What are you doing? You didn't see me talking to the distinguished guest..."
"Sir!" The guard immediately saluted and said, "The message from the empire has arrived!"
Christine and Bernard stopped moving at the same time. The woman in blue robe raised the corner of her mouth, then picked up the cup in her hand, as if she didn't care about the news that the soldier was about to say, while the general of the empire relaxed his expression and looked serious. Harmony said: "Really? Come up with the report quickly."
"yes!"
The soldier stood at attention again, and then took out a piece of white paper from his waist.
"Christine, I already know..."
Unlike the woman in blue who remained calm, Bernard suddenly stood up from his seat after hearing this, then maintained an upright posture and looked at the soldier with serious eyes.
"...I know your intention. In the name of the Emperor, I agree to your request. The members of the Mages Council can conduct investigations in that city in their own independent name, but... ."
"This matter has nothing to do with the principality."
"The hostile attitude between the Empire and the Principality will not change. You should also understand the reason. If you are willing, tell that old man Horsman..."
Kristine didn't listen to the rest of the sentence - the woman in blue robe suddenly stood up from her seat and looked towards the door with her beautiful face.
"...The Archmage of the Council of Mages, a member of the Council of Seven." Bernard took a deep breath and looked at the woman with destructive eyes: "We respect your wishes very much, but ...Can you also respect the will of our emperor a little bit!"
The woman ignored it and continued to maintain that posture. Only then did Bernard realize that the woman in blue robe was not staring at the soldier who was being summoned, but was staring at the dim sky illuminated by the setting sun outside the door of the hall.
"you......"
"I already know what the empire means." The woman suddenly turned around and said, "Thank you for your kindness and understanding, but...well, anyway...I'll leave first."
A blue stream of light suddenly flashed on Christine's blue robe. The next moment, in the stunned eyes of the general and guards, the woman who had been sitting there indifferently, even in the past few days, had been lying The woman who didn't leave here just disappeared in front of their eyes.
***************
Going back a little bit in time, among the four people at the highest ruins in a certain world, the one who was least aware of the situation they encountered asked his question in his usual hesitant tone.
"You, what's wrong with you?"
"You don't know? Oh, maybe you really don't know..."
Duan Qing looked at Art's expression, and then explained briefly: "This... Fleur, to be precise, His Majesty Fleur, is the founder of a certain empire."
Looking at Art's increasingly surprised face, Duan Qing nodded: "He is the founder of one of the 'two major tribes' you understand."
"Ah..." The young man from the Nosier tribe also nodded: "That's really awesome..."
It's more than a little bit... Several people thought at the same time.
The founder of the Fleur Empire, the queen who named the empire after her, was indeed just a sergeant major at the beginning. Apart from the attractiveness of being a woman, she seemed to have no other characteristics to write home about. But hundreds of years ago, in that chaotic era, this woman's life could indeed be described as a legend. In just a dozen years, the first emperor of the empire, who combined the meticulousness of women with the strength of men, unified most of the Free Continent with his own army, and left behind many well-known deeds. And a charisma that is as attractive as fire. She left countless pieces of history that were praised by future generations, and most of them were completely preserved by the history of the empire. Among the folk bards, her heroic deeds were sung countless times in every corner of the Free Continent, and then echoed in every rumor, after-dinner chat, and stories told to put children to sleep.
"If the names just mentioned are legendary figures from an unknown era, then Your Majesty Fleur is the legendary figure of our time." Looking at each other silently with the other two people, Duan Qing concluded Said these words: "What she left behind still affects our world to this day."
"And such a character...had been here before."
"Hey, in this case... we are really honored." Nan Tieshan squeezed his fists, with an excited smile on his face: "We have actually stepped on the footsteps that the first emperor of the empire once walked. .....”
"We have never seen the emperor's handwriting, so the authenticity of this text cannot be determined." Xue Ling Huanbing calmly came to the opposite conclusion, and then moved in front of Duan Qing: "Rather than struggle here, it is better to Why not take a look at what the person who left the handwriting discovered..."
In front of them, the platform they first noticed below quietly appeared in front of them.
The collapse of the corridor pillars has buried this place, but the black stone pillars among the rubble are still standing there, stretching their bodies towards higher places. However, the postures of those stone pillars are not even as good as ordinary trees. If you ignore the complicated patterns carved on them, they seem to be no different from bare telephone poles.
"These pillars...are different from the stone pillars we have seen before."
Carefully touching the surface of those black stone pillars, Duan Qing said in a low voice: "It seems that they may be able to do... things that the stone pillars we encountered before could not do."
"What can they do, miracles?"
"We don't even know what the 'miracle' of the Nosir people is...but those magic patterns in the clouds are very possible."
After carefully observing the direction of the lines, Duan Qing leaned forward and touched the middle of the rubble: "It's probably... here. Big brother, Xiao Bingbing, come over and help... ..."
"Who are you calling Xiao Bingbing..."
Although he was angry at the other party, Xueling Huanbing still helped the others and worked together to clean up the place. Then, under the rubble, a pile of stone fragments with the same carved patterns were found. and a disc engraved with complex patterns.
"What... is this thing?" Picking up the disk on the ground, Duan Qing gestured to the others: "Can it still be used?"
"There is no magician, there is no magician." Nan Tieshan spread his words and said, "We are all laymen... How about we go down there and give it a try?"
He pointed to the glowing white ball in the center of the square below.
"You have to go, I won't try." Duan Qing looked at the place hesitantly, then shook his head decisively: "I might as well look here... Huh? "
He looked at a depression on the floor and gestured tentatively: "Is this here? No, no, it can't be stuffed in..."
"Where is it? Let me see..." The big man squatted down and snatched the disc over: "It seems that it really can't be stuffed in."
After looking at the square floor for a few times, the woman in the black cloak said angrily: "This shape must be wrong! Are you two kidding me..."
Buzz!
Before she finished speaking, Duan Qing, who had taken back the disk, put the edge of the disk against an inscription on the edge of the square groove. A magical hum suddenly appeared in their ears. Several people Hearing the sound, he looked back and saw a stone pillar behind them suddenly emitting a pale white light.
"It seems..." So Duan Qing picked up the disc in his hand and extinguished the white light that was about to light up.
"It's still useful."
