Sword and Magic and Taxi

So, it is very likely that the three apprentices of Eagle Wing are still alive and taken hostage? Joseph frowned deeply after listening to Zhao Mai's story. He turned to ask other druids: Apart from them, are there any apprentices outside the community who have not returned?

No more, Elder Joseph. The four taken away by Brother Dale were the only apprentice team outside before.

Well, I'm relieved in this way. Joseph asked Zhao Mai: Is there anything else that needs to be added?

Zhao Mai shook his head. He had already reported the kobold's attack, the rope being cut into the water, and everything he discovered later to the Druid elders. Because of this unexpected situation, can my parade mission be considered complete?

Yes, your apprentice mission is complete. Now you can follow the team to the north and take refuge in the city of elves.

I don't want to go to the north, but to the south. Zhao Mai shook his head: I need to go back to Nebo Town.

Why? Joseph was a little surprised: There are some changes in the southern forest and it is not safe. You are just an apprentice, and your safety cannot be guaranteed, and we can't spare anyone to escort you there.

Youyan River can take me all the way to the south. When I reach Langer Town, I can find a boat or go by land. I can always arrive.

Joseph and the other elders exchanged opinions with eyes and telepathy, then nodded in agreement: Since this is the direction you choose, we respect it. A calf who leaves the herd may die, but a tiger must stand on its own. You go Report to Teacher Celine, she is still counting the number of people going north. If you need anything, let Celine prepare it for you.

Zhao Mai smiled and saluted farewell. After he left, the elders started a conversation in Joseph's thinking space.

Are you sure about his loyalty? He's just an apprentice, and he can't see his character from his natural heart. Don't you feel relieved to give him that thing?

Joseph shook his head: I can't be 100% sure, just like none of us can predict tomorrow's weather completely correctly. However, my feeling tells me that Mike is someone who can be trusted.

Master Duncan seldom speaks on this kind of matter, but this time he said: Mike is not our only way out, and it is okay to leave it to him. We can't place all our expectations on the north and the west. Now someone is taking the initiative to ask Nan, that's a good sign.

Several druid masters discussed and finally agreed to Joseph's proposal with a slight advantage.

As soon as Zhao Mai returned home, he first returned to his sleeping place, dug out the disease-eliminating potion buried in the ground, and stuffed it solemnly into his backpack. After that, he found Teacher Celine and explained to her where he was going.

Not surprisingly, although Teacher Elf opposed Zhao Mai's plan, he respected his choice. You are no longer a teenager. Compared with Lucius and others, you are older and more mature. I can't change what you decide. I just hope you be careful, and be careful.

Thank you for your teaching, Teacher Celine, I will come back to learn from you.

Well, I'm either here or in the elven city of Selvirian. It depends on when this turmoil will pass. There was a trace of unresolved sadness in Celine's brows and eyes, as if she was worrying for the druid. Worrying about the future of the community. However, she saw that there were many druid apprentices who were preparing to go on the road not far away, so she hurriedly hid her sadness. Okay, everyone's time is tight, so I won't say much. You have completed an apprenticeship task and can cast a first-level spell. According to tradition, I should give you an apprentice gift.

After finishing speaking, she turned around and went back to her tree house, and came back after a while. She held a branch about one meter long in her hand, straight and straight without any forks. The elf Celine said with an embarrassed smile: I was going to give you my diamond stick, but suddenly I remembered that it was a reward for a certain task. I didn't have a second one after I gave it to you. A grown staff, after you settle down, find a place to insert it into fertile soil, water it from time to time, and it will grow into a woodland staff—although it may take a long time. Force and You are with me.

Thank you. Zhao Mai felt something was wrong, but he took it anyway. After gently hugging the elf teacher, he said goodbye to the Departed Walker community.

Zhao Mai followed the food reserves and walked outside, but he didn't expect the puppy to bring it under the big tree where Dale lived, and barked at him. Zhao Mai slapped his head, scolding himself for being too anxious and excited, for forgetting such an important thing. Dale was dead, and his chest full of potions was still on the tree, along with some of his old equipment. My body is about the same size as Dale, and I should find another piece of armor on my body.

The vines carried them up, and after a while sent them down again. Zhao Mai also changed into a full set of equipment, but the backpack was only half full-to prevent him from sinking into the water again. Adjusting the leather shoulder, rib and waist straps, tightening the leather helmet, and adapting to the newly acquired fine wooden shield. He also has a jungle machete strapped to his thigh, which can be used as a machete if necessary. But the biggest gain is the various potions in the backpack.

A team of about thirty people left the community northward, and Zhao Mai was alone. He had fully learned the lesson of the last time, and he couldn't let the weight of the backpack hinder his mobility. During the apprentice parade mission, there are still people who can slow down to accompany him. This time, things are not so good, so he can only take care of himself. The grain reserve is busy using its nose to determine the surrounding environment, it has not grown up yet, and cannot bear the burden for itself. Maybe even if he grows up, he won't be willing.

Zhao Mai used the wooden stick given to him by Teacher Celine as a crutch to help him walk. He didn't believe at all that this thing would grow into a staff. All staves are manufactured and require a great deal of effort from the maker. If a branch can grow into a woodland staff by itself, it is really a divine power that breaks the rules. But having said that, this wooden stick is unexpectedly very strong regardless of the details, and it feels good to the touch. It will not slip even if the palms of the hands are sweaty. It is suitable for use as a crutch.

Along the way, he often saw animal guards on alert. Sometimes it's a tiger lurking behind a bush, sometimes it's a python hiding among the branches. These are the druid's animal companions, who may not be with them for a while, but still obey the druid's orders. Reserve grains seem to be able to distinguish friend from foe with their noses, probably because they smell the smell of the seamless community on them? In short, Zhao Mai was often startled by these lurking sentries, but when he saw those animals ignoring him, he gradually calmed down.

This time he had a clear purpose, packed lightly, and arrived at the oily smoke river in half the time compared to last time. Afterwards, he spent more than half a day cutting off six relatively straight branches, four of them side by side, tied both ends as tight as possible with ropes, and then cut off the remaining two, tied at both ends of the raft to provide horizontal pulling force and prevent the raft from falling. Rolls left and right and capsizes. This raft couldn't stand a person and could only straddle it, but it was enough to provide the buoyancy Zhao Mai needed, and to keep the musket away from the water and keep it dry.

Reserve food sat on the bow, and Zhao Mai sat in the middle. A flat piece of bark is the paddle, which helps to steer the raft. With the help of such crude tools, one person and one dog drifted all the way south.