Arcane splendor begins with the throne

Chapter 88 The Way of the Ranger
A silent figure walked straight towards the distant light source, his footsteps were barely audible, as if he was completely swallowed up by the surrounding darkness.

"All the elves on Blackman's border have been evacuated."

The heir of the Duke of Silver Griffin, Artus Swift, recalled the information from the scouts of Thorn Castle, and he couldn't believe his ears, but he heard such unbelievable news.

These elf rangers who caused headaches to the kingdom just disappeared without a trace, not even a single arrow feather was left behind.

It was like the mist that filled the forest and was suddenly dispelled by the hot sun at noon, lifeless.

"What's the reason?" Artes frowned and whispered.

I couldn't help but recall the back of Brian galloping towards the Blackman Forest more than a week ago.

He had a faint feeling that he was absolutely inseparable from this half-elf adventurer.

It stands to reason that the news that the elves suddenly retreated from Blackman's border should have been something to be happy about, but it was difficult for him to get excited from the beginning to the end.

Artes entered the room shrouded in light with a heavy heart.

Under the dim candlelight, looking at the elf chronicle in the room that seemed to be composed of endless scrolls and books, he rarely tolerated his imagination running wild.

Elves, noble and elegant.

One goes from barbarism to civilization, and then gradually weakens from civilization, until it lingers on its last legs and hides in the wild mountains.

Through reading these books, let Artes understand that no matter what race, if you fall behind, you will be beaten. This is an indisputable fact.

He looked at the still, silent shelves and sighed.

For a brief moment, he wished he had been sucked into the current of time so that he could avoid all the headaches.

"Almost all the knowledge about elves in this world is recorded in these books." Artes said to himself thoughtfully, "Thanks to my deceased brother, it is his hobbies and hard work that made me understand more deeply. understand the race."

In fact, Artes is also very fond of the history and culture of elves, otherwise, he would not have learned the language and characters of elves from scholars in the West King City.

The elf is good at decorating everything with beautiful words, which are both wonderful and romantic, which is what he likes.

Artes sat on a chair and randomly selected a book from the pile of books.

It is undeniable that this is a very beautifully bound book, even after going through vicissitudes of life, this unknown magic material has preserved it perfectly.

Arthur is very grateful that he has learned the elven script, otherwise, he would not be able to witness the elven history told in the ballad.

The title of the book is "Bright Evening Star". It is said that it is one of the most mysterious prophetesses of the elves, Veranthir. It uses delicate and mysterious ballads to describe a part of the elves in the immigration era:
I am at this end of the starry sky, and you are at the other end of the starry sky. They are far, far apart. The splendid eternity is endlessly far away, and we can never see each other again.

At the end of this romantic story in the starry sky, it also tells about a world full of fire and sand "My Atas". He can even feel the author's unforgettable memory of his distant hometown from just a few sentences missing.

Artes had to admit that these ballads were very beautiful and moving, but to his regret, human beings did not have similar legends.

Maybe one day, humans will create legends, right?Artes leaned on the chair and thought, but what will the human legend look like?
This reminded him of everything around him, and he sighed in disappointment.

Because everything he could see seemed dull and blurry.

Even those things that are born of beauty can become dull and mediocre. This is the so-called monotonous rhythm of life.

Crime and iniquity, lust and avarice, squabbles and rivalries, are everywhere.Traditions are dying, respectable values ​​are being lost...

Looking at another elf ballad "My Season of Love" on the table, Artes once again recalled his fiancée who was abducted by a bard.

She must be a romantic girl, Artes smiled bitterly.

He still remembers very clearly that it was this ballad, a romantic, sweet, and sad ballad, that moved his fiancée to fall in love with her.

This is also the only ballad he has heard that has been translated most successfully. Even after checking the original version of the Elf, he still feels that this ballad, which has been polished by the poet, seems to rhyme a bit more.

The one who sang this song best was the satyr with two horns on his head.

Damn it!What is my purpose here?Why did he suddenly think of these troubles, Artes thought sadly.

He didn't know why he was so troubled recently.

Is it because of the war?Arthur thought.

The consequences of the war, like the chronicles of the elves stacked on the table, are placed in the inconspicuous corner of the victors.

Perhaps one day, the history books of the Kingdom of West will be randomly discarded in the corner by other kingdoms just like the present.

The cruel era is just around the corner, like ravens smelling carrion, gathering in the air to welcome their feast.

Artes' instinct made him feel that certain rules of this world were gradually changing, just like the large-scale war between the Kingdom's army and the Tasha people two years ago.

Thinking of these heavy things, he felt as if he was surrounded by ghosts and ghosts, and he felt uncomfortable all over.

In his eyes, the mountains of elf chronicles in front of him were as eerie and frightening as a peacefully sleeping corpse.

Immediately, Artes felt that all the books seemed dull, and he was in no mood to read any more.

But why did he come here?
Artes suddenly realized his purpose of coming here.

At this moment, he heard light footsteps coming from far and near, he raised his head and looked towards the door.

"Lord Artus." A young man wearing blue steel chain armor entered the room and said with a slight bow.

Artus put down the book in his hand, nodded slightly, and said, "Stor, have you investigated everything clearly?"

This young man named Stoll was exactly the man he recruited in that frontier town. After experiencing the battle of the wolf man, the opponent was obviously much more stable.

His dream is to be a real ranger.

A true ranger?A bitter smile appeared on Artus's lips.

"It's all been investigated." Stoll said: "The guest invited by the Duke is the half-elf Brian we met in the 'Steel Hammer' tavern. He actually came back from Blackman. "

After Stoll finished speaking, he couldn't help but recall the scene when this half-elf, who was equally skilled in swordsmanship and magic, rescued him from the hands of a gnoll.

Although he knew in his heart that the other party just did it casually and didn't even bother to look at him, he kept in his heart and casually threw a sentence to himself:

"Remember, those who shiver from the cold can best appreciate the warmth of the sun, and those who have experienced hardships in life know the value of life best. Put away the sadness on your face, because all human pain is essentially It's anger at your own incompetence."

After Artes heard this, there was a look of joy in his expression, and then he asked: "Where are they?"

"In an oak forest on the mountain behind Thorn Castle." Stoll came back to his senses and said truthfully: "My lord Duke and His Excellency Brian seem to be discussing something very important, and no one should come near it."

It turned out to be an oak forest?

Artes looked stunned, his eyes full of confusion.

He tapped the table lightly twice, and immediately thought of a good idea.

He still knows the terrain of the oak forest in Thorn Castle very well.

So he planned to sneak over quietly during the night and eavesdrop on what important things the two of them were discussing.

"Is there anything else you want?" Artes, who was determined to pay attention, was about to act, and suddenly noticed Stoll, who had never left, and asked suspiciously.

"I'm very sorry, Lord Artes." Stoll hesitated and said apologetically.

The obviously hesitant words made Arthur's shadow feel something.

"I intend to say goodbye." Stoll said bravely:

"I came to Thorn Castle not to get three times the salary of ordinary soldiers, but to learn the skills of a ranger and become a real ranger. But here, I can't find a path that belongs to a ranger. There is only human greed and selfishness in front of you. People here are not worthy of being a true ranger."

"Then what do you mean by a real ranger?" Artes said with a sigh.

"It's because I don't know, that's why I came here. Unfortunately, there is nothing I want here." Stoll thought about it and said slowly.

"Yeah." Artes nodded and said, "Not every prospector who wanders the remote hills or sets traps becomes a ranger. A true ranger blends into nature and experiences its sanctity, and then becomes like a paladin Touched by its holiness. This is the true way of the knight-errant."

Artes finished speaking, paused for a while, his eyes stayed on the dusty elf chronicle, and continued:
"Stoll, please give me some time. Believe me, I will definitely find our way of being a ranger. Although the elves have also lost the essence of a ranger, there are indeed many heroes in their dusty history. Rangers, they are not only guardians of the wilderness, but also like druids, using the power of nature to cast divine spells."

Although he is the heir to the Duke of Silver Griffin, it is ridiculous that his father did not allocate power to him.

In Thorn Castle, he has always lived in the shadow of his duke father and dead brother, and was even looked down upon by many people, so he wants to form a real ranger army to prove his ability.

For he had no doubt heard it from the old King of West.

The main purpose of building Thorn Fort at such a high price was not to act as a bridgehead to attack the elves, but to prevent the evil creatures in the Griffon Mountains and Blackman, these wild mountains, from invading the border.

A wild warrior like a ranger is undoubtedly the best choice for guarding the wild land.

Seeing Stoll leave, Artes left the desk and got up slowly.

He intends to sneak to the oak forest of Thorn Castle.

He had never been so eager to know what his father and Brian were discussing.

(End of this chapter)