"The Land of Fire was once an important place under the jurisdiction of the Magic Empire, and it was also a desolate place after it was abandoned. Due to the continuous damage caused by heat erosion and the lack of any maintenance and repairs, the facilities there have now become ruins. ”
The swaying bonfire vaguely appeared on the desolate land, and the figures sitting around the bonfire also looked extremely cold. Freya, who was sitting in front of the tent and talking, also had her knees together in front of her, stretching out. The fingers out of the black cloak casually fiddled with the fire in front of him: "Due to the geographical environment, no records can survive the history after losing the protection of magic. Members of the Mage Council in the past have also tried to save the rescued information in Tower of Tyran, but now...huh?"
"What's wrong with you?" The words paused for a moment, and the red-haired woman who noticed something looked up and looked in the direction on the other side of the bonfire: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"No, it's okay." Duan Qing, who was sitting there, broke away from his strange expression and waved his hands in a hurry and said with a smile: "I just have some words of gratitude, but I didn't have time to express them."
"Thank you? Is there anything to be grateful for?" Somewhat surprised by the other party's words, Freya's eyes widened slightly: "Although I don't know what's strange, but since those enemies have disappeared and are no longer harassing, then I will not continue to pursue him."
"No, this question is not that simple."
Shaking his head, Duan Qing interrupted Freya's soliloquy in an increasingly quiet voice: "We know their identities and how powerful they are, and we don't want them to retreat voluntarily so easily. Anyone can do it.”
"Really? But I didn't contribute much at all."
"No, you don't need to contribute."
Showing that inexplicable smile again, Duan Qing looked at each other slightly at the side of him: "As an N——, no, as a great magician, how can you at that moment Just showing up there is already our greatest salvation.”
"...I hope that my identity can still be of some help to you, adventurers." Freya glanced at the other party's face slightly, and after being silent for a moment, Freya also closed her eyes: "And every time Everyone has all kinds of unspeakable secrets, and I will not continue to pursue them."
"Let's just focus on what we have to do in front of us."
The crackling flames swirled into an intricate thread under the fingers of the great magician. Freya's voice then continued to slowly ring in everyone's ears: "The Land of Fire is the element of fire on the Free Continent. The place where the concentration is strong is also the hottest place on the continent, and those of you who are already close to this place should be able to feel it."
"Yes, the surroundings are indeed getting hotter and hotter. It feels like we are rushing from the cold snow-covered iceberg to the blazing sun-covered equator." Duan Qing replied casually, and slapped his palms: "If it really When we arrive at that place, the situation should be even more obvious than it is now."
"It is indeed hotter there than here." Freya looked towards the north: "If there are no special needs, I suggest that we choose to enter that area at night, so that the temperature may be maintained within the range that you mortals can bear. within."
"Night." Duan Qing's silent reaction was followed by Ninglan, who was beside him and asked first: "The temperature is not a problem, but won't the sight be affected by the dark night? Ninglan feels that the surroundings are... It’s a bit scary.”
"Don't worry, there is the grandest 'bonfire' in the world." The silk threads on his fingers suddenly bloomed in front of Duan Qing's eyes. Freya, who pointed in the direction of the bonfire, also had a bright smile on her face: "If the whole When the world is swallowed up by the void, that place should also become the brightest place in the world."
"Although the word 'most' can also be placed in front of the word 'danger'."
Shaking off her bright smile, Freya resumed her explanation and introduction with a straight face: "As you have guessed before, there should be one of the elemental springs in the world - the fire elemental spring. Place, regardless of whether the sacred mountain you are occupying now is a remnant from the pre-adventure era, at least the 'identity' of the Land of Fire can be determined."
"The ancient magic empire once occupied the energy there, and the remains of the facilities that remain under the high temperature also prove this, right?" Duan Qing nodded and replied: "But because of the fire element itself, Due to its nature, the energy conversion efficiency there should be the lowest in the world."
"It is precisely for this reason that the Land of Fire is very well preserved." Fula, who nodded in agreement, continued to explain: "Many strong men and adventurers in later generations are also afraid of the environment there, and it has become very difficult to get involved deeply. Coupled with the protection and interference of the Fleur Empire——"
"Speaking of which, why does the Frey Empire want to protect that place?" Ningyu Ninglan asked the question at the right time: "And the most famous Roland family should do it?"
"As one of the main leaders who eliminated the ancient Magic Empire, the new Frey Empire will not allow others to get close to the legacy left by the Ancient Magic Empire."
It seems that she is very familiar with this historical information. Freya, who lowered her eyebrows in thought for a moment, answered again in a very clear voice: "It is said that at the beginning of the founding of Emperor Frey, someone also asked her whether to transfer the ancient magic empire to However, due to safety and position considerations, Emperor Frey did not agree to this matter."
"In order to prevent the existence of those springs of elements from causing more covetousness, Emperor Fleur instead ordered the dispatch of the most elite troops to protect these places, including Falling Star Mountain in the east, the edge of the Endless Sea in the west, and the emerald treasures in the south. The rugged land where the Lesser Andachel Mountains are located." Speaking in a calm tone, Freya then looked at Duan Qing's face on the other side of the bonfire with a strange vision: "Do you feel like it after listening to it? Strange? Don’t forget, the Free Continent was their territory when the Frey Empire was first established, and there wasn’t even a Mages Council at that time.”
"The Fleur Empire is so powerful?" Duan Qing put away the sneer on his face and scratched his cheek unnaturally: "Is it possible that these places were given away by Emperor Fleur later?"
"Of course not." Freya's face illuminated by the firelight was gradually suppressed by the hood: "The Principality of Ernifia—that is, after the Tadayans appeared, the eastern territory of the empire gradually fell, and many ancient The family was gradually wiped out in the long war, and all that was left was the scorched earth after the war that no one cared about, and the hatred that the two countries gradually forged."
"Ninglan seems to have seen these records elsewhere." A green and crystal-clear finger gently touched her chin. Ninglan, who was sitting upright next to her, smiled and tilted her head: "The three major families of the empire are also... It must have declined at that time.”
"That's right, only the Roland family in charge of the Northern Fire Land was not affected by the war that changed the fate of the continent." A hint of gloom flashed across her face under the firelight, and Freya nodded and replied: "It's also because of the same reason. The reason is that the Roland family has been criticized by many imperial nobles. Many people think that the most powerful 'Imperial Rose' who has been canonized by the empire has not played even half a role in this kind of life-and-death battle that determines the future of the country. It is simply unimaginable."
"Later, amidst unanimous condemnation and opposition from everyone, Paris Roland, the then head of the Roland family, was deprived of his title of duke. He was then repeatedly suppressed throughout the rest of the historical story, and finally became what he is now." Duan Qing said the rest in a low tone on behalf of the other party: "Although it is really sad to end up like this, from the actual situation, the strength of the Roland family is still among the top in the mainland. This-"
"It should be a side effect of guarding the Land of Fire all the time."
He looked back at Freya's face, who nodded in the swaying light of the fire: "Being able to stay in that place and prevent the entire continent from being attacked by flames requires more than just being stationed for generations. It can be done - the strength of the Roland family has been tempered and improved during the long-term garrison mission, this is an indisputable fact."
"It's amazing that a lady like Miss Laura can be born in the land of flames." She covered her mouth and chuckled twice. Ninglan tilted her head and looked at the dark north of the Gobi: "I really want to see that person now. place."
"This place is not far from the Land of Fire. I am a little surprised that you can arrive at such a fast speed." Turning back and looking at the broken pieces of wood scattered on the ground not far from the bonfire behind Duan Qing, Freya said Then he gave up the idea of asking: "Have a good rest, you will see me soon tomorrow."
"I have one last question." Duan Qing did not immediately get up and go to the tent as Freya said: "According to this historical record, the guardians who were stationed in the four directions of the southeast, northwest and northwest of the Freya Empire, Are their responsibilities the same as those of the Roland family?"
"Can we still understand that in Falling Star Mountain, those two places in the west and south are also where the Spring of Elements exists?"
Blinking and looking back at the curious face of the gray-robed magician, Freya, who had already stood up, slowly turned back to her body. A look of memory appeared on her face under the firelight. , and after a long while, he nodded a little lonely and replied: "Yes, at least the main task of the garrison at that time was to prevent the attacks of elemental storms that may appear in all directions."
"Element...storm?"
"Yes, that was a phenomenon that happened a long time ago."
In the unexpected expressions shown by the two players one after another, Freya's red curly hair seemed to be gradually floating under the influence of the smell of the campfire: "Elements that have lost the control of the ancient magic empire have seen a large number of tidal phenomena all over the world. The north is naturally dominated by fire, while the south is dominated by ice. The Wolf family stationed in the southern part of the empire is the predecessor of the Snow Wolf Army of the Fleur Empire. Their family was also famous for its excellent ability to withstand the cold at first. ."
"As for those who resist the strong winds from the west, it is the people of the Garland family."
Facing the earnest eyes of Duan Qing and Anyu Ninglan, Freya sighed and sighed the last sentence: "The last head of the family, Furlo Galan, also died on the front line. Most families All the members also withered away. The then Emperor Eris Frey Kadreft mourned his fate, and in order to commemorate the contribution and achievements of the Garland family, he placed his only surviving daughter, Vanessia Roland, in the In the emperor's palace of Redkar."
"That is, my ancestors."
*******************************
The desolate Gobi gradually turned into a dusty desert, and the hot atmosphere gradually turned into a terrifying high temperature. The ground that should have reflected yellow-brown turned into a dazzling red as the layers of dry land and ravines disappeared. , as if it had been roasted and burned by a blazing fire. Duan Qing, who kept wiping the sweat from his forehead, was walking on this land with a look of embarrassment, dragging his feet that he could not take. He looked around and looked a little dripping with sweat, and his expression and movements But the maid who still remained calm finally fixed her sights on Freya who was leading the way: "Master, your Excellency the great magician, aren't you hot?"
"I have been practicing fire magic for a long time, and it is easy to bear this level of heat." Pointing to the edge of the sky in front of everyone, which was also reflected in red, Freya's gaze back was also full of helplessness: " If you can’t bear the heat now, your lives may be in danger later.”
"We are just mortals, but we don't have a bloodline as strong as yours." With a wry smile, Duan Qing continued to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Duan Qing stopped panting and said, "And in order to hurry, we passed directly through Red At the border of Sri Lanka province, let alone supplies, we are almost running out of water."
"I'm here to lead you to explore the Land of Fire, not to be your nanny." Freya turned back and slowly walked forward again: "Aren't you very good at taking risks? This level of survivability is very important to you. It shouldn’t be a big deal.”
"It's not just to save a little magic power to deal with the dangers we may encounter next, otherwise I would have put an ice shield on my body by now." Duan Qing's gray magic robe was also soft and sticky at this time. At the front of his raised arms: "Or should it be a flame shield? If an ice magician reaches such a place, it will probably be the most painful."
"From the perspective of removing the threat from the Land of Fire, water and ice magic is undoubtedly the most suitable."
Shaking her head, Freya closed her eyes calmly: "But...sister is no longer here, so I can only do everything on my behalf."
"Sorry for mentioning your sadness." Duan Qing, who hurriedly followed, replied apologetically: "We will help you bring her back."
"The Spring of Elements represents the origin of this continent, and it is also the place where it is easiest to communicate with the realm of the void." Freya, who got rid of the unhappiness on her face and continued to walk forward, replied in a low voice: "I promise you this time I also have my own selfish reasons for your request."
She turned sideways and showed the scene on the other side of the sand dune she had just arrived in front of Duan Qing. Several huge peaks spewing smoke and fire and strong torrents surrounding layers of magma were also present at this time. In the heat-distorted light, it gradually appeared at the end under the dark red sky: "I hope this trip -"
"It can be helpful to my practice."
