While the Eversleepers were rebuilding their morale and restarting their plans after the Stars Return incident, other groups outside the edge of human civilization that were also affected by this incident were also calming down this dramatic incident. confusion.
On the frontier islands and reefs in the eastern part of the Endless Sea, several tidal barriers were urgently set up. Powerful magical power formed a shield on the edge of the islands and reefs to replace the coastal defenses that had been destroyed by huge waves. Within the barrier, the Sons of the Storm, who had barely recovered their vitality, were busy day and night. They wanted to repair the magic circle on the island, rebuild the destroyed coastal buildings, and rescue those that were not polluted or decayed. Before the next storm comes, they must get these vital frontier islands and reefs back into operation, at least to the extent that they can be self-sustaining.
In an underground lair somewhere in Anzu, the druids of the All-Death Society finally re-sealed the "Body of the False God", and they lost a huge amount of biomass in the process. However, it is difficult to replenish it in a short time. The new flesh and blood multiplication plan has begun to be implemented, and the Grand Priest, who was seriously exhausted in the incident, has returned to the depths of the crypt and entered a state of dormancy that may last for a whole year.
In the deep sea, tens of thousands of Krakens lay neatly on the sea bed, burping and discussing how long the core fusion tower could run this time.
However, the mortal kingdoms on the continent of Loren do not know this. As the harsh winter approaches, calm is enveloping their kingdoms and empires - superficial peace.
Typhon Imperial Capital, Alder South, Noble District.
It has been two months since the last time I saw the Earl of Winterhold. After hearing that the northern Earl was about to leave the imperial capital, Archduke Ferdinand Wendell once again visited the Earl’s mansion in the imperial capital. .
One is the most powerful duke in the empire, and the other is an earl located in the cold northern part of the empire. There is obviously a gap in their status and titles, but in fact everyone knows that Archduke Ferdinand and the Earl of Winterhold have a very close personal relationship. Secret—these two families have been close allies many years ago. The Winter Wolf Legion controlled by the Wendell family is mainly stationed on the northwest border of the empire, which is adjacent to the hereditary fiefdom of the Earl of Winterhold. One-half of the warriors in the Wolf Legion are from the Winterhold area. The Winterfort family not only provides young men and women for the Winter Wolf Legion, but also provides material supplies to the latter for a long time. The Wendell family serves as the Winterhold family's authority in the empire. Protector in the web, this relationship has not changed for hundreds of years.
A mutual aid on the northern border battlefield twenty years ago established the personal friendship between Ferdinand Wendell and the current Earl of Winterhold, Parin Winterhold, and their friendship continues to this day. .
Compared to the last time we met, the Earl of Winterhold looked more haggard. This powerful spellcaster may not have had a good rest for many days and nights. His face was gray and his cheeks were sunken. Magic Glory's eyes also looked much cloudier than usual, and Archduke Ferdinand had to firstWorried about the health of his old friend: "Are you okay? Palin? You look like you haven't slept for three days and three nights!"
"Including today, it is indeed the third day. "The Earl of Winterburg sat in a large high-backed chair with a frown on his face. "I really can't sleep... Our Emperor is becoming more and more worrying."
"I heard. Said that His Majesty once again rejected your proposal and ordered the Winterhold area to prepare for the war in the coming year... He..."
"Your Majesty has completely refused to listen to any dissuasion, no matter what you said. , or what I said," the Earl of Winterhold shook his head, "Now is definitely not a good time to start a full-scale war. My Duke, no one knows Anzu's eastern guardian family better than you and I. They are a tough nut to crack. ——Indeed, the empire’s army is powerful, with new tactics and better equipment, while Ansu is outdated and backward in this regard, but this does not mean that we can do it without any cost... At least, not yet "
"Like you, we have never doubted that the power of the empire is enough to defeat the enemy, but the key lies in the size of the cost," Archduke Ferdinand frowned, "However, our Emperor seems to Having lost his judgment in this regard, he is...too radical."
"Not just radical, Duke, not just radical," the Earl of Winterhold's tone became serious, "I doubt...that. The crazy curse has begun to affect His Majesty the Emperor."
Archduke Ferdinand's eyebrows suddenly jumped: "What did you observe?"
He knew that the Earl of Winterburg was a powerful person. A spellcaster, he is also a learned master in the mysterious field. He may be far superior to the opponent in terms of force, but in the field of magic and curses, there are not many people in the entire empire who can surpass the Earl of Winterhold. He sees the brilliance of magic. Overflowing from the eyes of his old friend, the latter's expression became heavy and solemn: "I didn't observe anything, but there are some doubts that can be detected without the involvement of magic - His Majesty the Emperor is deliberately avoiding being caught by my magic. Eyes' gaze, when we met, there were four royal mages standing beside him. The powerful magic interference made me unable to see anything, and this is precisely the most suspicious thing."
"His Majesty knows that something is wrong with him..." Archduke Ferdinand's breathing became a little rapid, "But he consciously prevented you from helping him?!"
"This is the most disturbing part—— Your Majesty consciously indulges his madness, which is more terrifying than pure madness." The Earl of Winterhold looked into Archduke Ferdinand's eyes. "I have lost your Majesty's trust. He ordered me to return to the territory and not to set foot again unless I am pardoned. Entering the Imperial Capital, so I can't do anything now. The only one who can take action is you - you have to keep an eye on the palace and prepare for the day when His Majesty will completely fall into madness. According to my estimation, His Majesty still retains most of his strength. Sober, he just changed his personality, so he can still be a qualified king when governing the country, but I am afraid this state will not last for a few years..."
"I am loyal to His Majesty the Emperor," Archduke Ferdinand said suddenly. After saying this half of the sentence, he was silent for a few seconds before continuing to speak slowly, "but I am even more loyal to this country founded by the martyrs."
"This is what you would say," the Earl of Winterhold showed a smile, but the smile soon turned weird, "Speaking of the founding fathers...our decadent and declining neighbor is really A martyr stood up..."
Pedinan Wendell's expression also became weird: "You mean...the Grand Duke Gawain Cecil who was rumored to have resurrected from the dead? Do you believe that is true?"
"Whether it is true or not, it is already an established fact, and based on the information I have and the results of several divination, it is more likely to be true. "Some," the Earl of Winterhold said seriously, "You should also have received information. The resurrected 'pioneering hero' is currently in the Dark Mountains south of Ansu. He has established a pioneering territory and is trying to re-expand human civilization. He went to the Gondor Wasteland, and he also solved several cult problems in the process. These actions were obviously not for pleasure - if all this was really a lie created by Anzu, there was no need for them to act it out. At this level, it is most appropriate for a resurrected founding hero to serve as a totem in the royal capital to enhance the legitimacy of their illegitimate dynasty."
"I did get this information, then. The actions of this pioneering hero are completely consistent with historical descriptions...but this thing is still too incredible."
"Whether it is incredible or not, we must consider this as a variable," the Earl of Winterhold said seriously. Said, "Cultists are now raging in Anzu, and their nobles are struggling to solve these internal problems. This has also led to our Emperor deciding to take this opportunity to launch a war. He has ordered the Winter Wolf Legion on the border to launch a new war against Anzu. A round of infiltration, and part of the infiltration route... is very close to the Dark Mountains."
The old Duke immediately knew what the Earl of Winterburg wanted to say: "Andesa is there."
Andesa Wendell, the heir to the Wendel family, the daughter of Bud Wendel, the youngest wolf general in history, after her father Bud Wendel disappeared on the battlefield, this young and talented The outstanding girl grew up quickly. She went to the battlefield as if she wanted to wash away the shame of her family's defeat at the border and avenge her father. She stood on the border where her father had been stationed, and that border was located in Ansu. The southeastern corner of - very close to the territory of Eastern Warden Silas Loren, and also very close to the Dark Mountains.
If His Majesty the Emperor's order to infiltrate reaches the front line, then Andesa will undoubtedly choose the Dark Mountains as the infiltration route - it is a dangerous polluted wasteland for most ordinary people, but for most ordinary people, For elite imperial warriors, it is a way to advance, and it can also bypass the main defense line of the Eastern Anzu Defense Corps. Ferdinand Wendell believes that if he still serves as the commander of the Winter Wolf, he will choose it. this roadWire.
“If they are unlucky, they will run into Duke Gawain Cecil. In this case, we would rather believe that all the legends of that Duke, including his resurrection, are "Really," the Earl of Winterhold said sincerely, "Andesa is a brave and powerful warrior. I have watched her grow up to today with my own eyes, but facing a legendary hero seven hundred years ago..."
< p> "She should know the appropriateness. As a commander, she will not act personally..." The old Duke frowned. Although he said so, he thought of his granddaughter's stubborn character and her behavior after her father disappeared. Feeling hatred for Ansu, he finally added, "I will remind her not to act impulsively. She has powerful elf rangers under her command, and I will remind her and ask her to send more suitable people." "Performing a mission."The two talked for a long time about the situation in the empire, about the situation on the border, about Ansu, and about the resurrected pioneering hero. They both understood very well - this is probably what they are doing. The last meeting in the imperial capital Aldernan.
After this, the Earl of Winterfort will return to his Winterfort, and Duke Ferdinand cannot leave Aldernan at will. The two old battlefield friends, who are no longer young, know the preciousness of time, but Time is limited after all.
The sun goes down.
The lights of the imperial capital gradually turned on. Looking at the city illuminated by the lights, Grand Duke Petinan, standing in front of the carriage, couldn't help but think of that legendary era - when human civilization fell into darkness. The descendants of the Gondor Empire carved out an era of survival in the barbaric wasteland.
At that time, the night was dark, but the people's hearts were bright.
"Tell me, what will the resurrected Duke Cecil think when he sees this era?" He stopped in front of the carriage and turned to look at his old friend. "The cult is raging. The society is decayed, the borders are deserted, and the human kingdom that was once a brotherhood is preparing for a war."
"...Probably disappointed in all of us."