The port of Beyeland is located in the bay southeast of the city. Ships of wheat and cotton from the newly conquered southern provinces, minerals from the north, and livestock and fisheries from the west are loaded and unloaded through this main port every day, and then shipped to Beyeland. In the markets and workshops, exquisite goods are processed and sent to various places.
Griffith had been here once before and had seen mountains of cargo and crowds of passengers in the public port area. The strange mixed atmosphere allowed him to know where he was without opening his eyes. However, Homemon Watts, an institution of higher learning in the mysterious world, has its own small private port, far away from the congested cargo and suffocating air.
Everyone says that all people are created equal, but some people are more equal.
Along the clean and spacious embankment, the school has set up a beautiful grapevine pergola for guests to avoid the scorching heat. Plump blue and green fruits dangle from vines within reach, and brunch is prepared on long tables in the shade, where donuts, grilled spring chicken and juices are on hand.
Many boys from common people and lower-level nobles loaded their bulging luggage on small cars and ran past the red-carpeted road, shouting. The well-groomed girls leaned on the railings and let the sea breeze blow their long hair.
The new students from well-known families are still under the control of their families at this moment. Their servants set up tables and chairs and served exquisite refreshments. With impeccable expressions, the deacons of each family sent visiting invitations to the nearby big families.
Griffith stood upright outside the pavilion of Larmore's house, watching the students and servants coming and going. From time to time he reached out to touch his waist, only to find that there was no sword hanging there.
"Sir, do you need to check in your luggage?"
"Thank you, my luggage has been arranged." The trainee knight responded politely and looked at the sound.
From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a small creature, not much taller than a child, standing next to him, looking at him with big sparkling eyes. This creature has brown skin, a pointed face and ears, large front teeth and round eyes...
S! H! I! T!
Goblin! So close! I didn't even notice!
Griffith broke into a cold sweat, and with lightning speed he drew out the dagger hidden in his boot and jumped back a step. If it weren't for the short weapon, Griffith would have plunged the dagger into the goblin's head and twisted it twice.
"Sir, sir!" The short creature was frightened half to death by the gleaming dagger, and fell to the ground. "I am Brownie No. 1019, not a Goblin."
After Griffith's panic, he discovered that this little thing was indeed different from the goblin. Its skin is light brown, smoother and more delicate, and its face looks softer and rounder, completely different from the wretched and cruel feeling that Goblin gives people.
"The trainee knight's luggage will be checked along with Miss Larmore's luggage, so the school won't have to worry about it," the butler Ashford walked over with a smile, nodded to Brownie sitting on the ground, and said to Griffith, "Put away your weapons before anyone else notices the commotion."
"Yes, noble sir, farewell, noble sir," Brownie hurriedly got up from the ground, took off his hat, bowed to Ashford and Griffith, and ran away quickly.
"Haven't you seen Brownie? Well, it's my fault," Ashford shrugged apologetically to Griffith, "I didn't expect your reaction to be so big."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ashford," Griffith took back the dagger and said to the butler of Larmore House, "I encountered goblins in the east, and they looked very similar."
"I see~ I don't have much knowledge about familiars. I only know that they are all creations of magic. It seems that you have another research direction in Homemonworth," Ashford said with a slight smile. Taking Griffith to the long table in the pavilion, "Mr. Brandon, in five minutes, the safety of the lady will be your responsibility."
"Order received, Mr. Ashford," Griffith hit his chest, making a dull but crisp sound mixed with it.
"Huh? What's the sound?" Nolan, the eldest son of Larmore, who came to send his sister to school, put down the grapes in his hand and looked at the trainee knight up and down.
"Main mail, Mr. Nolan, I wore half mail mail under my coat," Griffith replied. "School regulations do not allow weapons and armor to be carried in daily activities, so I wore it under my clothes."
"According to the school rules, it's not allowed to wear it under clothes~" Sonia, who was lying on the armrest and looking at the harbor, turned her head and looked at Knight Xi with a sweet smile, "If you are found out, you will have your credits deducted."
"If you are attacked while marching, you may not be able to put on armor in time, and you will be at a tactical disadvantage," Griffiths replied seriously. "The voyage of the Homemworth liner needs to pass through the fjord, if..."
"Haha~ There are no ifs, Sir Brandon," Nolan also laughed, "The territory from here north to Homemonworth is under strict surveillance by the imperial fleet. Monsters, pirates and so on along the coast, It was wiped out many years ago.”
"With all due respect, Mr. Brandon's caution is commendable, Master Nolan. After all, this is a long trip away from home for the young lady, and safety is very important." Mr. Ashford, who was wearing a black dress and was not too hot at all, nodded slightly. He nodded, and then said to Griffith with a smile, "If anyone notices that Mr. Brandon is not wearing armor according to etiquette, they will also think that he has just returned from Dongfang and is not accustomed to life in a peaceful city, and will be considerate. "
At this time, a middle-aged man dressed as a mage tapped his magic wand in the distance, and an echo immediately appeared in the private harbor:
"Freshmen of Homemon Watts, please board the ship, other guests please stay."
There were waves of commotion and exclamation on the shore. A sailboat with beautiful and slender lines was like a willow leaf floating on the water, smoothly and gracefully crossing the water and approaching the shore. She was as fast as a phantom, but silent.
Homonworth's fast sailing ship "Flying Leaf" is responsible for safely and quickly transporting students from the harbor of Beyeland to the northern campus. It is said that each sail of this beautiful three-masted clipper has been protected by magic, and its figure is like colorful clouds as it sweeps across the sea. The keel of the sailboat comes from the giant fir trees in the northern dense forests, and its sailing on the rough strait is as smooth as crossing the mirror surface.
In addition to the daily transportation of teachers and students of the college, this speedboat will also be used to transport fresh ingredients and other supplies. She set off from the port of Beyeland near noon. Regardless of whether the sea wind was suitable or not, she could reach the secluded fjord of Homonworth before sunset the next day.
"Come aboard, gentlemen and ladies, take your luggage with you." A kind and elegant middle-aged lady raised her eyes on the bridge of her nose and greeted the freshmen surrounding her.
Griffith felt a cool breeze as soon as he stepped onto the deck. Although it is still summer, I don't feel the heat at all, and it feels as comfortable as golden autumn.
Fiona, who went to school together, also boarded the deck accompanied by Lana. She jumped up and took Sonia's arm, and they walked to the cabin together, talking and laughing. Lana obviously didn't want to disturb the girls, so he waved to Griffith and found an open space on the deck to sit down.
Griffith also found a shady corner on the deck not far from the cabin, took out a book and started reading. His position is very close to Sonia's cabin, and he can be there instantly if anything happens.
"Griffith~"
The trainee knight who had just sat down raised his head and found Galadia biting an apple and tilting her head towards him: "Are you excited? You will soon become a member of the best magic school in mankind. I asked you before, you You even said that you are not suitable for learning magic! I didn’t expect my body to be so honest~ Tsk!”
"My major is military command," Griffith defended. "Homon Watts also has good results in this major, but it can't be compared with magic."
The elf girl laughed. Her bright and moving eyes are as beautiful as gems, and as distant and silent as a pool of tranquil autumn water. Griffith suddenly had an intoxicating hallucination of slowly sinking to the bottom of the lake. Then his mind seemed to be lit up and became active and alert, and a trace of resistance slowly grew.
They didn't have such an impression when they met before. Galadia's Magic Eye is gradually growing.
This is a wave of inspiration. Griffith is growing in the direction of a Sequence 8 barrier breaker. He has strong resistance to mental spells and illusions, and instinctively produces a stress response.
"Let me tell you~" the elf girl said nonchalantly, "You should give up the future-free career of spellbreaker early and strive to pursue progress in the direction of a paladin or a demon hunter."
Most of the trainee knights who enter the Junior Sergeant School from a young age and are drafted into the army will become law breakers. The growth of this sequence path is very smooth. By accumulating combat experience, one can steadily advance to Sequence 7 Extraordinary.
This path does not require special talents or deep family background support like the caster, nor does it require the favor of a certain god like a paladin. Its compatibility on the battlefield is also far greater than that of a demon hunter of the same level. Therefore, the kingdom has always guided suitable young people and carried out systematic and large-scale training and training.
However, this extraordinary path has a fatal flaw - the lack of promotion paths above Sequence 7.
When Griffith first embarked on the path of being a lawbreaker, he only heard vague rumors. It wasn't until he entered Larmore House that he fully understood the shortcomings of this path.
Spellbreaker is an ancient extraordinary path, but in the long second era, the Beyonders beyond the sequence of spellbreakers have never been officially recorded, and the conditions and paths required for promotion seem to have been erased without a trace.
Sure enough, not only humans, but even elves believed that spellbreakers could not be promoted... Griffith's initial hope was completely shattered. He nodded slightly with some disappointment, looking towards the busy strait outside the ship's side.
Galadia hadn't finished her words yet and was about to say something more when she suddenly looked at the trainee knight and nodded and fell into silence. For a moment, she didn't know how to continue the chat.
…
After departing from Beyeland, the Flying Leaf sailed north through the busy strait, entered the Sea of Tranquility, and then continued sailing along the edge of the coast. You can barely feel the waves from the comfort of a sailboat.
The province directly under the royal domain where Beyelan is located, the Odessa region in the north, the Sevastro region and the eastern continent wrap around this vast sea clockwise. In the past hundred years, the kingdom's navy has gradually eliminated pirates and monsters in the vicinity, and the coastal routes have become very prosperous and safe.
In addition to Griffith and Rana, Shutoral was traveling with him, as well as trainee knights appointed and funded by the royal court, such as Ophelia and Midianmaia. They are not subordinate to any lord, but are directly loyal to the King of Bjelan.
However, this does not hinder the Shutorals' enthusiasm for each other at all. Long before they came here, they were already familiar with each other in groups and in groups at military academies and on the battlefield.
"This is the boundary between the East and the West." Sonia gently put down the black tea in her hand and looked at the quiet coast wrapped in green and flowers outside the porthole. "Griffith, would you like to have some afternoon tea too?"
"Thanks, Sonya, but I'll spare it, I'll fall asleep enjoying dessert on such a cozy afternoon," Griffith smiled and shook his head.
The small round table was covered with a white tablecloth, and puddings, small cakes, macarons, ice cream and sandwiches were slowly placed on three-tier silver trays. Hometown Watts provided exquisite food for the trip, and there were orange juice, rum and ice cubes in the cold storage cupboard for easy access.
"Look at me," Fiona, who was sitting opposite Sonia, poked Rana, who had a bulging mouth. "You won't be able to eat any more dinner."
"Well, no more, no more," Lana wiped his mouth and stood up, washing down the mouthful of food with a glass of orange juice.
"You and Lana seem to have a really good relationship. Have you known each other before?" Sonia asked curiously.
"Well, I have been spending my summer vacation at Xia Long Ling every year since I was 7 years old." The bright-looking Fiona looked at the tall trainee knight who stood up and left her seat. "We have been good friends since childhood."
The selection of Shutoral comes from the oracle of the goddess who controls destiny and the future. The chosen ones usually have a close connection with the master, and even have some kind of destiny disturbance. This does not mean that the two parties will develop into a romantic relationship, but that there is an indescribable bond in the more unpredictable life.
Although the elves will not choose Shutoral, they also respect the goddess's prophecy. The reason why Galadia appears in the East for adventure is to follow the guidance of the goddess.
"When I was nine years old, I was kidnapped by bad guys," Fiona continued, "and imprisoned in a cold mausoleum near the manor."
Sonia and Galadia, who were chatting aside, did not expect that the story would suddenly unfold like this. They were stunned for a moment and looked at Fiona with wide eyes.
“The bad guys wanted to tie me to a stone platform, and just when I was about to despair, Rana appeared.
"He was only 10 years old at the time and he knocked down a grown man and dragged him to the door.
"The other bad guys chased him, and Lana led them running around in the maze-like basement. Finally, he got rid of them and rescued me from the cold stone platform..."
Amid the girls' exclamations, Griffith followed Lana out of the comfortable and cool cabin.
"I didn't expect you to have such ability," Griffith said to his tall and mighty companions. "How did you get rid of those bad guys in the end?"
"We didn't get rid of them," Lana shrugged. "A little boy's strength has its limits. No matter how hard I racked my brains, Fiona and I were caught in the end."
"That……"
"The one who saved us in the end was Count Chalon's escort," Lana said. "I was just stalling for time."
"That's pretty impressive," Griffith said sincerely.
"Not enough, not enough, Griffith," Lana walked to the side of the boat, avoiding the relaxed laughter of the girls coming from the cabin, "I still don't know what those people are going to do to Fiona? There were symbols I didn’t recognize painted on the floor and walls there, like some kind of ritual, some kind of sacrifice. Count Chalon captured the cultists alive and interrogated them, but the cultists quickly disappeared. The truth remains in the Earl's study. I will have some strange dreams, vague and strange. I guess it may be because Fiona has a strong affinity with magic, so she is watched by a hidden existence."
Griffith couldn't help but look at the happy cabin, and then at Lana: "That's not the case. Recent generations of the Sharon family are also very well-known, and there are no strange rumors."
"I hope so," Lana smiled, "But, Griffith, you know what? Nothing is strange about what happens in Homemonworth."
"How powerful can it be?" Griffith tapped the side of the ship, "This is just an academy."
"Don't underestimate the mysterious power," Rana's steady voice seemed to have a slight fluctuation, "you don't know what is hidden under the human skin."
…
As dusk approached, the scenery on both sides of the Feiye began to change. The east coast gradually fades away, leaving only the boundless sea. The vibrant scenery of the west coast also slowly fades, and gray tones begin to occupy the vast sky.
"Is it getting dark or am I dazzled?" Griffith looked at the changes on the shore in surprise.
Looking from the side of the ship, the sea and land seemed to be shrouded in a light gray mist, which felt indescribably depressing and dull.
"None of them." Galadia leaned on the side of the boat next to him, letting the evening breeze blow her long black hair. "This is the Whispering Forest, a place polluted by darkness between Byerland and Homemonworth. hills."
What forest? There is dark pollution near the capital!
"It's unimaginable!" The elf girl pointed to the dark forest on the shore. "This forest blocks land transportation from the north to the south. If you want to go to the Odessa area in the north, you can only go by sea or go inland from the west. . There is no sunlight all day long in the forest, and the shadows are filled with twisted mutant creatures. Just staying nearby will pollute the mind."
This was the first time Griffith heard that there was such a place, and he couldn't help but feel a somewhat unreal fear in his heart.
This is the core territory not far from the capital of the human kingdom. It is close to the shipping routes and is surrounded by prosperous towns and fertile countryside. However, it has not been able to purify this land for thousands of years.
"Can't it be set on fire?" Griffith asked doubtfully.
"I've tried it a long time ago. The fire in the forest will be extinguished immediately, as if it was swallowed by endless darkness." A trace of strangeness flashed across Galadia's delicate face. "It is said that the pollution in the forest will spread to The sea breeds unspeakable monsters.”
At this moment, the afterglow of the setting sun suddenly disappeared into the darkness, and the gray coast sank into endless darkness in an instant. All the joy and light in the world seemed to have escaped, leaving only the cautious sound of the waves.
Ah hey~ no one told me about this! This sudden change made Griffith feel fearful, and his whole body tensed subconsciously.
Seeing her companion's nervous look, Galadia showed a smirk on her lips, quietly approached the trainee knight's arm, poked the back of Griffith's neck with her slender fingers, and asked quietly:
"Are you scared?"
Suddenly, a panicked cry rang out from the silent deck - "Wow!"
This shout suddenly appeared in the darkness, and the sailboat rowing offshore on the terrifying and eerie shore was enveloped in a mysterious atmosphere for a while. Galadia was startled and hurriedly leaned towards Griffith.
A sailor on the deck shouted: "Directly ahead, stay out of the way!"
