An old voice, a pair of eyes filled with wisdom, a pair of fangs, and a short wand that looked no different from an ordinary tree branch.
Elder Valencia, the old troll who had mysteriously disappeared when Many returned from the Azura Forest, had now reunited with Many under such circumstances.
Perhaps many of them would have asked a lot of questions when they saw the missing Elder Valencia. But now, after experiencing unimaginable twists and turns, many of them didn't say anything unnecessary. They just sat quietly beside the bonfire and watched the flames tremble in the cold wind. Many of them were silent.
"You have improved a lot."
Elder Warrenz poked the bonfire with a thin wooden stick. His eyes did not linger on Many for even a second.
"Perhaps there are many questions that you will never have an answer to. Perhaps there are many questions that you already have an answer to." His voice was weak in the wilderness. But now, many people could feel that this Elder was different – he was not a simple Giant Demon Tribe Elder. "Now, what do you want to ask?"
"Is my next path correct?"
It was a seemingly random question, but it did not surprise Warrenz at all.
Due to the thick clouds, the moonlight could not illuminate the surrounding landscape. The bonfire expelled a small part of the darkness. Just like the layers of mysteries and unknown history, the path in front of Many was still shrouded in fog and unclear.
"Alone, trying to save this world. Only one person can do this."
"Roslolian?"
Many said this name because it was an accepted fact.
"No, it's Cridere."
It was hard to imagine that Warrenz would say such a name. This was a name that most of the Abyss Tribe did not know, but he said it so easily without any doubt.
"Cridere …" Many could not help but think of that figure again. He seemed to be getting quieter and quieter.
"Oditore needs you not only because Oditore is the territory of the Empire of Saint Reims. The things left there are far more than what it looks like."
Elder Warrenz took out a few crudely shaped flatbread from his bag. He stuck a wooden stick into it and cuffed it to the side of the bonfire.
"Do you want a piece?"
Valencia waved the other piece of bread in his hand and asked Mano.
"Yes."
Many people nodded and took it. They stuck it into the fire like Valenze did. After a while, they asked, "Aren't we going back?"
"Go back?"
Elder Valencia laughed. His broken teeth made his laughter sound very old. "The war is not over yet."
Many people found it strange that they could only go back after the war was over?
"I'm just a custodian outside of Order. I won't bother with things that aren't within my responsibility."
Valenze flipped the pancake in front of the fire and continued to bake it. "Keep the balance and don't burn it."
Many people felt a little confused after hearing this, but they didn't rashly ask anything. The Warrenz before them wasn't as simple as the one-armed troll in their memories. It seemed that the reason for his broken arm wasn't just because of Krillin's Blade.
"Evelyn looks down on your lands, doesn't she?"
"Perhaps so."
"To tell you the truth, Evelyn doesn't look down on anything. Don't give yourself the burden of being looked down on."
Valencia shrugged. "We always put pressure on ourselves for no reason and push the blame on others. In fact, these things can only be blamed on ourselves in the end."
"You're right."
Many listened to his lecture like a student without any complaints. At this moment, it was hard to tell that he was the lord of a land or even the ruler of a country.
"Ramiel IV became the pope not only because of his piety, but also because of his ambition. Have you ever wondered where the former pope is?"
"No."
Many actually thought that, according to common sense, the previous Pope would only be replaced after his death, right?
"The pope doesn't have to be replaced because of death." Valencia seemed to know that Many did not understand this system. He smiled and said, "Do you think the pope is the pinnacle of power?"
"Maybe. Take Lambas for example."
What Valencia said was the truth. In terms of politics, his knowledge and opinions were miles behind Flora. This was an undeniable fact.
"Truth be told, power is not as complicated to you as you think it is. But for a normal politician … Hmm, for example, Queen Flora, Victoria, Count, etc., it's very hard to understand."
"Why?"
"Their political ideology and system originate from their inherent inheritance, their parents, or the influence of their environment. However, the implementation of these ideas is not necessarily correct. Do you understand?"
"I think so."
Many people would not say things that easily. That would be digging their own grave.
Valencia seemed to be satisfied. He nodded. "Power is not to be chased. It is to be explored. Once you understand the true meaning of power, that's enough."
"Does it have much to do with the path I'm taking?"
Many people were confused.
"You'll know if you keep going."
Elder Valencia seemed to be guessing at a riddle. He picked up the piping hot flatbread and bit into it. It was incomparably crispy and steaming hot.
Many of them picked up the flatbread in front of them and took a bite while it was still hot. The taste was not good, but the texture was acceptable. Many of them did not intend to use it as food to fill their stomachs, so they put it away after taking a few bites.
"The previous pope had reached the so-called pinnacle of power. Ramiel IV never had the right to do so."
Valencia looked at Many people who stood up. He knew that today's conversation was over.
"I'll continue on my path."
Many people nodded. They knew that Valencia would not mention returning to Oditore. He did not get any substantial information from this conversation. In short, he just had a new understanding of the "pope". What did "power" represent?
Many people did not care. What was important was that he still had to continue on his path.
"The next time we meet, maybe you will understand what I'm really working for."
Valencia did not stand up. He just shook the wooden staff in his hand and did not say anything else.
* * *
Just as Many people continued to walk towards the army of the Abyss in the north, a solemn meeting was being held in the snowy land.
Silence and coldness. This was the only atmosphere between the elders of the Undead Council.
Nois was the most powerful sorcerer in the Undead Parliament, but he had been beaten into a sorry state after a confident attack. Even if he did not suffer any fatal injuries, this indescribable humiliation was no less than being smashed naked in the head by a forbidden spell. The impact it brought was deep and unforgettable.
The people sitting on the six stone chairs were no longer the same, but the people had changed.
The seat of the Grand Undead Knight was now empty. The simple and old-fashioned stone chair was just like its owner's clothes, standing in the cold wind.
"Nois' failure was unexpected."
Leoric was still in his rusty armor, and his blood-red cloak swayed in the wind. His voice was low and emotionless.
Shavi, the Necromancer, sat opposite Leoric. She was against the invasion of the undead, but there was no turning back now. The army of the Abyss was entering the continent at every moment. As a former High Priestess of the elves, she could not bring herself to be happy.
"His failure is normal, but it's not normal that he is still unwilling to show up."
Kratos twisted his fat body, and his shining armor made a fragmented sound. Perhaps it was because he wore too many necklaces around his neck, but wherever he went, he looked like a merchant selling magic equipment instead of a warrior.
However, what he said was very pertinent. Even though he had been defeated by Eccleston in three moves, Nois was still talking and laughing in the Undead Parliament as if nothing had happened. But this time, he was like a frightened beast and did not dare to show his face again.
On the side, Dustin twirled a dagger between his fingers, and the flickering cold light formed a strong contrast with his extremely silent body. Although he didn't say a word, nobody could ignore his existence.