Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Since the Floating City fell into Harua, the dream path to the outside world for the Archmages has been completely stabilized because of the Undead Tribe.

Not only did they define a wide public straight-line area, but they also built an incredibly sturdy road filled with the presence of the Weave.

Though it may not completely prevent undead or destructive forces like the Great Road of Ferun, causing mindless undead or evil creatures to instinctively detour, at least this road can block the invasion of sandstorms and undead creatures.

More importantly, no matter what means are used, this road’s connection with the Weave cannot be severed.

Everyone understands just how important this is to the mages of Harua.

They were brought to the point of having to use spaceships to travel by the connivance of two Thieves’ Kingdoms, due to the support of some hidden forces for the other party, forcing the mages into a situation where they could only resist with force, wasn’t it?

However, after betraying the current Goddess of Magic for so many disorganized reasons, they now possess a road that can guarantee the mages’ safety.

By rights, the Haruans should be happy.

But they can’t be happy at all.

After all, the premise for the appearance of this road was the current Goddess of Magic setting things right.

And most of the mages of Harua were basically the ones who were to be ’done away with’.

Ironically, the only ones completely unharmed in Harua are those evil mages who had betrayed the Goddess of Magic from the start and embraced Shaer’s embrace!

Those people, during the chaos of Harua, seized many benefits and then righteously and ostentatiously moved to Chult!

Not even a pet cat was lost.

Of course, Edna didn’t leave them completely without a chance.

Like those departing Followers of Shaer, as long as they were willing to abandon their gains and stay far away from Harua, Edna had no intention of wiping them out entirely.

How to say it... some things commenced partly because of the extremism of Midnight.

While it’s usually expected that regardless of how wrong the Main God one believes in might be, the followers should unhesitatingly follow suit.

But this is just talk.

Not everyone is an incorrigible Follower of the Night.

Between Midnight, who intends to purge evil from the Weave completely, and Black Eye, who offered those followers more hope, the mages’ inclination is obvious without contemplation.

Even mages aligned with kindness wouldn’t endorse something as insane as Midnight’s actions.

Edna was different from other deities.

Raised by the Undead Tribe, she rarely understood the concept of putting oneself in others’ shoes.

Just considering how much she would scoff at the foolish orders from the so-called leader if she were a Harua mage left her unable to wipe out those Harua mages who had taken the wrong path completely.

Moreover, she had even let those mages who defected more thoroughly by following Shaer go... although, to Midnight, who was more despicable was uncertain.

But Edna still possessed enough reason to analyze and judge such distinctions.

After all, she genuinely didn’t consider herself the same person as Midnight.

So, even after Ambori had gone to Aesces, Edna permitted the Undead Tribe to truly enter Harua.

Before that, she spared no effort to rebuild that main road... she even invited Olypher and Ambori to help ensure that road’s resistance amid storms and seawaves.

Although such a combination is understandable but undesirable for the people of Toril, the work done by the two was commendable.

Especially Olypher, who worked hard to construct the road to withstand temperatures as low as minus one hundred degrees Celsius.

Of course, her effort aimed at receiving a similar return... she established a winding direct path amidst the mountains and ice plains in Northern Ferun.

Naturally, as a follower of Agleya, besides her own priests and the Undead Tribe, people from the Snowfall Isle Alliance were also allowed to use this road.

Therefore, Olypher also hoped Edna could bless this small path.

She didn’t require Edna to give that very long and winding path such a strong blessing, just to deepen its connection with the Weave a bit more.

No choice, considering the strength of the Winter Priests was usually only slightly above that of apprentices.

The spells available to them were just so few.

Although the priests wielded short daggers and wolf fang clubs, their physical endurance was insufficient... if they could master martial skills with strong physical stamina, who would want to be a Winter Priest?

Thus, even though their level wasn’t high, those nearly instantaneously cast divine arts were truly beneficial to these ’Ice Couriers’.

And on the ice plains, what existence would idly mess with these delivery priestesses, what prospects would they have?

After all, everyone understood that while Olypher might offer some basic support, she would absolutely not overreact due to their casualties.

The likeliest action would be the involvement of the Undead Tribe.

Then, most who could come to investigate these troubles amidst the ice plains and ice peaks were undead riding White Dragons.

Even if dragons are greedy, they wouldn’t let a white dragon kick in their doors for such petty cash... To put it bluntly, the Undead Tribe with the white dragon is actually fierce; these dragons were driven away by the Undead Tribe.

But when the word gets out, others will only say they were crushed by the white dragon.

No chromatic dragon wishes to accept such a disgraceful outcome.

Therefore, Olypher doesn’t need a perfect Weave power like the Harua Dalu.

In recognition of Olypher’s earnest efforts in helping out, Edna did contribute her part.

But according to Hill’s understanding of Edna, even without Olypher proposing an exchange in this manner, Edna would probably still help.

The ’Old Age Striking King’ once took Edna, witnessing the struggles of many northern girls.

At that time, Olypher’s sacrificial rituals were still bound by the cost of failure being death.

Even so, when the Undead Tribe discovered what these girls were doing, none stepped forward to stop them.

After all, those making these girls unable to survive might just be their own families.

Even if the Undead Tribe helped them this time... in the face of being unable to escape family control, the exact utility of this help is uncertain to anyone.

Sometimes, some things are pointless no matter how much outsiders do.

If they lack their own power, they dare not leave home, no matter how cold that home is.

Even if Agleya could offer them a cleaning and maintenance job... there are still some girls stuck in their internal dilemmas.

Having Agleya as a city that allows kind-hearted people to take refuge, yet there are still northern girls who would recklessly risk their lives for the Olypher priests—all due to their own helpless situations.

Therefore, Edna has always been friendly towards these Winter Priestesses.

Hill genuinely didn’t expect that Olypher’s emotional system has recovered to appreciate the art of reciprocity... If it were the old her, knowing that Edna wouldn’t overlook everything, Olypher certainly wouldn’t exert a bit of effort.

Hill was actually quite pleased.

The probability for a creature like a Great Fairy to recover after a heart is shattered is as tiny as Ambori stepping onto the right path—practically incredible.

But this also resulted in another outcome... Most of the Northern Ice Plain is impossible to give Shaer a chance to intervene.

There are quite a few countries on the Ferun Great Land, but to attract the attention of the Undead Tribe, yet not be in the territories controlled by the Snowfall Isle Alliance and their affiliates... Hill pondered for a moment and could only think of one place, Quel Senta and the nearby countries.

Even though Quel Senta has Azuth’s temples, to be honest, only a couple of cities count.

Other cities, though they covet Azuth’s grand scrolls, have no intention of worshipping the Deity of Mages.

Otherwise, the mess created by the lady courtesy of Asmodeus wouldn’t have escalated so easily.

Just consider the Shuni Church managing to cause so many pieces of Mystra; it’s clear how chaotic Quel Senta could be.

Yet previously, Shaer had no interest whatsoever in Quel Senta.

Put simply... for her, Quel Senta truly had no utility value.

Hill couldn’t help but tilt his head.

If there’s intrigue now, then... Right, the environment of Quel Senta suits Athena and her two companions perfectly.

They certainly can easily find followers within.

Hence, it’s a matter of when Shaer’s two Chosen will target Tethyr.

The Royal Family of Tethyr is quite interesting.

They’ve always been adept at inviting wolves into their home... Put simply, Royal Family members understand mutual destruction very well.

If I’m unable to sustain, I’ll definitely drag you and all our subordinates into ruin.

Initially prosperous, the Tethyr Royal Family was the strongest among Anmur, Kalinsan, and Tethyr, but eventually became the weakest, hoping the neighboring two to check and balance each other, all due to their self-inflicted troubles.

Therefore, once those princesses can’t hold on, someone’s bound to find the Royal Seal to invite the Undead Tribe into Tethyr.

And the Undead Tribe will surely go.

Let’s just say, the Undead Tribe isn’t necessarily interested in Tethyr.

But their inability to penetrate from Anmur to Kalinsan, always having to bypass that country, certainly keeps their curiosity itching.

Possibly prompting newcomers to this world to revisit Toril, first glance at what Tethyr is like.

Then, it’s a matter of seeing Quel Senta’s response.

Hill finally realized why Shaer has been testing the Undead Tribe’s reaction all along... She needs to clarify, if Quel Senta and Tethyr encounter problems simultaneously, which would the Undead Tribe check first.

With an invitation in Tethyr versus no invitation but friends in Quel Senta, which path would the Undead Tribe choose first.