In April of the 56th year of the Double Star Calendar, spring had been here for more than a month. The rainy weather of early spring had passed, and although there were occasional drizzles, the weather was cool and refreshing. There was no biting cold wind blowing on one's cheeks, and the gentle spring breeze was pleasant.
The Bagan Plain was a small protruding piece of land in the southeast of the Euran Continent. To the east was the Yilan Continent, separated by a long and narrow strait. To the east was the endless mountain range. To the south was the Sea of Mara, nicknamed the "Great Lake". Ships sailing from the Sea of Darkness would sail past this "Great Lake" and through the straight and narrow strait in the west, they would reach the vast sea. To the west was the continuous mountain range, with scattered plains and hills. To the west was the coast of the Adriatic Sea, where there were many city-states. To the north was the Sea of Darkness, which was completely surrounded by land, and further north was the endless plains of the Euran Continent.
A small group of carriages was traveling on the Bagan Plain.
There were two carriages carrying people and three carriages carrying goods and food. There were twenty attendants, twenty-two mercenaries, and twelve church knights.
The carriages set off from the King's Castle, the capital of the Double Eagle Empire. They advanced along the Euran Plain, which was adjacent to the Sea of Darkness. They crossed the border and entered the territory of the Crescent Empire. They headed north, and then west, to the Republic of Weiss on the Adriatic Sea.
The carriages did not embark on a long journey for trade, but for a marriage.
The Mullenin family of the Double Eagle Empire sent a young girl to marry a noble of the Republic of Weiss.
It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but when the carriages left the King's Castle, they were silent. No family members came to see them off, and no residents of the capital came to watch the fun. The carriages set off in the early morning before the sun rose.
Padding Edgar, who rode at the front, was the leader of the carriages and the church knights.
Padding Edgar was tall and strong, with short hair. His burly body was covered in a silver half-body mail, but he did not wear the golden robe that represented the identity of a church knight. Instead, he wore a linen undershirt under the mail.
This strong knight's gaze was firm as he stared straight ahead. It was as if nothing could shake his will.
The carriage behind him was carrying the Mullenin Clan's girl and her two maids, so he had no choice but to be cautious.
Someone urged his horse forward and walked alongside him. "Knight Edgar."
The person who came was an old man with white hair and beard. His name was Olga Negro. He wore a maroon robe and leather armor covered his chest, arms, and thighs.
He was not a knight, but an attendant. He was one of the few martial artists among the attendants.
Although he was old, his stature was not inferior to Padding's. He was full of energy and his eyes were bright and full of expression. He didn't look old at all.
"How much further do we have to walk before we head west?"
Olga came from the Yilan Continent, so he didn't know much about the Euran Continent.
"Before heading west, we still have to pass through the Forest of the Dead," Padding replied. "After passing through the Forest of the Dead, follow the post road to the west until we reach the Yared Sea.
Then go north along the coast of the city-states, and you'll be able to safely reach the Republic of Weiss. "
Olga asked, "Can't we bypass the Forest of the Dead and take this route directly?" The old man looked a little worried. He didn't want to pass through the forest with an unknown name.
Padding shook his head. "If we bypass it, we'll have to travel a lot more. The road is rugged, and it might even attract a lot of bandits."
He obviously saw the old warrior's uneasiness and continued, "Olga, you're from the Yilan Continent, so it's not strange that you don't know about the situation here.
The Forest of the Dead sounds ominous, but it's only named in memory of the soldiers of the Double Eagle Empire who fought and died here.
Although there are magic beasts in the forest, they're all weak beasts and don't pose much of a threat to us.
They're much easier to deal with than the cunning bandits. "
Olga didn't say anything after hearing Padding's confident speech, and only nodded slightly.
It was obvious that he wasn't very satisfied with this speech, but since the leader Padding had said so, and he wasn't familiar with the Euran Continent, he didn't say anything more.
He changed the topic. "The Forest of the Dead, is this the resting place of the soldiers of the Double Eagle Empire?"
Padding's bright eyes dimmed a little. "Yes.
During the civil strife a hundred years ago, many loyal soldiers died here in order to defend the glory of the Double Eagle Empire. "
"But this is already the territory of the Crescent Empire," Olga said.
"Yes."
After hearing Olga's words, Padding squeezed out some words after a while. "It's no longer the territory of the Double Eagle Empire.
Those loyal souls were left behind in a land that doesn't belong to them. "
"I'm very sorry, Knight Edgar."
Olga put his hand on his chest and bowed to Padding on horseback. "I didn't mean to offend you and remind you of these unpleasant memories..."
"Don't mind it, Olga."
Padding squeezed out a smile. "That was a long time ago, so long ago that you and I weren't even born.
The soldiers who personally experienced those battles have now returned to the dust. "Padding wasn't dissatisfied with Olga's words.
He wasn't a citizen of the Double Eagle Empire, and he was born in the peninsula further west. It was only when he thought of the things that happened on this land that he sighed with emotion.
Since Padding was so magnanimous, Olga couldn't say anything more.
At this moment, a church knight on horseback rode towards them.
This knight was sent out by Padding to scout ahead, and now that he was back, he must have found something.
"Knight Edgar." The church knight reported to Padding. "There's a small village ahead, nothing strange.
Looking further ahead, you can already see the edge of the forest. "
Because Padding didn't belong to the church, although he was the leader, the church knights didn't have a special title for him.
The church knight hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I've observed from a slightly closer place, and the villagers should have the same faith as us, worshipping the God of Light as the only God."
Padding nodded. "That's enough, you can return to the group."
The knight bowed to Padding and returned to the group.
Padding said to Olga, "The Forest of the Dead isn't as ominous as you think. There's even a village at the edge of the forest, and it's not too dangerous."
Olga nodded, and his eyebrows didn't furrow anymore.
"That's good."
His answer was concise and clear, and then he returned to the carriage at the back, pulled open the curtain and spoke to the people inside.
The faint and intermittent voice occasionally reached Padding's ears.
Padding thought that the old warrior was probably comforting the restless girl.
It had been half a month since they left the King's Castle, and if there were no major obstacles on this trip, then for this girl, she would never have the chance to go home again.
She would stay in the wealthier Weiss Republic, and become the wife of a noble, and have children until she dies.
If there were no accidents.
At this time, another church knight came to Padding's side.
This was a young man named Leon Pastin.
He didn't wear a helmet, and with a head full of golden hair, he looked extraordinarily handsome.
His eyes were filled with the vigor of a young man, as well as the pride of a church knight, and the firmness of his faith, making him look like a lion that had just come of age, full of passion and strength.
"Knight Edgar, I heard that there's a village in front, and those are our poor believers." Leon rode his horse to Padding's side and said to Padding.
"Knight Pastin, your compassion and benevolence are praiseworthy."
Padding said, "But they're already citizens of the Crescent Empire, and any reckless actions of yours may anger the Crescent Empire, and bring unnecessary trouble to yourself, your family, and your country.
So don't let your emotions get the better of you, okay? "
"Of course, I know what the mission is, and I won't cause any unnecessary trouble." Leon said.
Padding's advice calmed the young man's passion a little.
"May the Lord bless these poor people who are ruled by pagans." Leon drew a cross in front of his chest.
"Those bandits also heard the news that my brothers brought back, saying that it's a village of traitors, and needs to be purified." When Leon said this, his face was full of disgust.
The bandits he was talking about were none other than the twenty-two mercenaries.
These warriors who came for money had never been on good terms with the church knights.
Although both sides believed in the God of Light, the church had split into two hundreds of years ago. On one side was the Church of Light in the far west and north, while on the other side was the Church of the Holy Ghost, which had taken root in the easternmost part of the Eurand Continent.
The conflict between the two churches had been going on for a long time, and the believers saw each other as enemies. The hatred had taken root and spread for hundreds of years.
Padding frowned. "Take good care of those barbarians from the north. Don't let them cause trouble.
Warn Gris to take good care of his men before entering the Forest of the Dead. "
Leon clenched his fist and knocked it on his chest. "I won't let those heretics harm the believers of the Church of the Holy Ghost. Otherwise, I don't mind letting them bleed on this land."
"If Gris shows any dissatisfaction, report to me immediately," Padding continued. "I won't tolerate or tolerate those who don't cooperate."
Leon nodded. Padding's words had calmed him down, and his gaze towards Padding became fiery.
Padding wasn't a believer of the Church of the Holy Ghost, but his knightly demeanor and unquestionable strength made the young man admire him greatly.
When Leon looked at Padding, he fantasized more than once that he could one day reach the same height as this powerful knight.
Of course, Padding could feel Leon's fiery gaze, but he turned his head away as if he didn't see it.
Leon turned his horse around and returned to the rear of the formation. He rushed towards the mercenaries who were walking in groups of two or three, and then a small dispute broke out.
Leon didn't turn back to look for Padding.
Padding knew that these unlikeable mercenaries would probably settle down for the time being and wouldn't cause trouble in the village ahead.
Padding didn't like these barbaric mercenaries who were no different from mountain bandits. They only knew how to plunder and torture in the name of their faith, but they never confessed their sins to the God of Light. They thought that all this was a privilege granted to them by the God of Light.
But no matter how much Padding didn't like these undisciplined mercenaries, for the purpose of this trip, he had to get along with these mercenaries for the time being.
He was not the only one who was tolerating them. The knights of the Church and the attendants who followed them were also tolerating these rude and rude people.
At this time, Olga returned to Padding's side. "I heard the commotion behind us. Your knights and mercenaries are having a dispute.
What happened? "Olga asked.
"Don't worry, it's just a small matter," Padding said, "I just want those mercenaries to settle down and not mess things up."
Olga turned back and looked at the noble girl's carriage, his eyes full of worry. "Before leaving the Imperial Capital, I've always been against hiring these mercenaries to be Miss Romuona's guards.
Their behavior is boorish, and their reputation in the Imperial Capital isn't good. The residents are full of complaints about these mercenaries. "
"I also hate these barbaric northerners."
Padding said, "They have no religion to speak of, and only care about money … But we have no choice but to bring them along.
The journey is long, and we don't know what kind of difficulties await us before we can see the Adriad Sea.
Bandits, magical beasts, underground residents, and even wild elves … They can all attack us.
Therefore, we can only tolerate these well-trained mercenaries for the time being. At the very least, their fighting strength can be guaranteed.
Plus, they received a small bag of heavy gold coins. This money can at least ensure that they won't betray us. "
"I hope so." After listening to Padding's words, Olga could only nod slightly.
He still didn't trust those mercenaries, but he believed in this noble and powerful knight in front of him.
"How is Miss Romuona?
Is there anything that you can't adapt to? "Padding asked.
Olga shook his head and sighed, "Being chased to a faraway and unfamiliar country before reaching adulthood, and having to endure the bumpy journey, how good can it be?
Sigh, poor girl. "
"When she reaches the Weiss Republic, she won't think of the days in her hometown anymore."
Padding said, "Although the city on the water isn't as solemn as the King's Castle, it's rich and prosperous. It's a romantic place suitable for a girl to stay."
"No matter what the distant Republic on the water is like, it's undoubtedly better than the King's Castle." Olga said.
Probably because these words touched his sore spot, his expression looked a little sad, "As long as Miss Romuona doesn't need to suffer in that dilapidated place, no matter where she goes, it's a good thing."
Padding was silent and didn't reply.
The dilapidated place that Olga was talking about was naturally the Double Eagle Empire's King's Castle.
Padding's words had misgivings about the feelings of residents like Olga, but Olga wasn't a native of the Double Eagle Empire. When talking about the King's Castle, he wasn't polite at all.
Moreover, Olga wasn't wrong. The so-called solemn King's Castle was now just a lifeless dead city.
The so-called Double Eagle Empire was now just a Sunset Empire surrounded by the Crescent Empire. Only the King's Castle was left.
The flag of the double-headed eagle hung alone on the mottled and continuous walls of the King's Castle. The sun still shone on the flag, but the double-headed eagle was old and dying, a caged bird on the verge of death.