Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 172: Guests of the Kant Territory

This story narrated by Pittman piqued a great interest in Gawain; at the same time, it also made lots of associations that couldn’t be suppressed emerge in him.

Many people would treat unofficial history and weird tales as absurd stories that weren’t worth mentioning. But at the same time, there were also lots of people willing to acknowledge them. Even the most absurd and unreasonable tales would always contain some reflections of reality.

And for those elves with their long lifespans and who held history records with far more detail and consistency than humankind, Gawain believed even more that facts were present in their legends and stories —— especially those aspects regarding the ark floating and speeding above the sea surface, the sea area in eternal night, and the huge tower that connected to the heavens. These affairs that exceeded the laymen’s knowledge of the Loren Continent were actually so detailedly described, so irrefutable in the legends of the silver elves. This compelled Gawain to make associations to some extent.

Aside from the Loren continent, other continents indeed existed?

Before civilization on this continent had developed, civilization had already emerged on another continent?

The ‘primordial elves’ escaped their homeland on an ark that could float and speed across the sea surface. What was the ark itself? Judging by the descriptions… Could it be a certain object that resembled a ground-effect vehicle[1]? Or a large hovercraft?

What about the sea area that was eternally shrouded in night? Could it be located within the region of the polar night? Did the phenomenon of midnight sun and polar night similarly exist in the north and south poles of this planet?

And what was that huge tower in the legend? It clearly wasn’t some kind of natural structure; instead, it seemed more likely to have been made by some being or beings. There were even projections of the starry sky and video materials of animals, plants, and minerals… Could it have something to do with that ancient advanced civilization that left behind the surveillance satellite?!

If Gawain Cecil had really found the Sea of Eternal Darkness and that huge tower on the secret voyage that he went on back then, those crystals would be what he brought out from the huge tower?

Countless pieces of information seemed to link together in this instance. It was as if some progress about the sequence of events was about to be revealed, but when Gawain carefully sought and analyzed, he realized that he was still unable to arrive at any outcome.

The information was too messy and broken; there were also lots of vaguely mentioned legends, strange tales, and speculations mixed up in them. There was too much uncertainty; it was completely insufficient to piece the truth of those years together!

At this moment, Gawain even developed an uncontrollable impulse, the impulse to build a big ship and head directly to the north of the kingdom, going out to sea for an exploration. He wanted to go to the sea area forever enveloped in night (it could also be in a long period of midnight sun state during specific times) and have a look at what exactly that legendary huge tower was!

Such an urge pulsed in his chest. He had to inhale deeply as he quietly pondered about the territory’s reserves of resources, technology foundation, industrial production capacity, as well as the gold and silver left in the vault in the mountains. After he went through each of these, his compulsion completely vanished, and he was rather discouraged and disappointed…

“Ancestor, are you okay?” Heidi looked concernedly at Gawain. The change in expression on the latter’s face had her very worried about whether there was a possibility of her ancestor passing away again (and looking at the situation, his passing this time would even be very unpeaceful).

But fortunately, Gawain recovered in time and waved his hand at her. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

“You’re interested in the Sea of Eternal Darkness?” Pittman who was at the side asked and then frowned. “But with all due respect, even in the powerful and prosperous Silver Empire, the Sea of Eternal Darkness is also merely a story. As is commonly known to elves, the storm, dense fog, and disordered magical power field sealed the entire ocean. Even with the technical skill of the elves, there is no way of navigating in a sea area far away from the shoreline, even more so for the respective human kingdoms which experienced a decline in technology. In those years before the Church of the God of Storms degenerated, the Storm Ecclesiastics could still guide the captains to navigate on some specific routes around the continent, but now that the Church of the God of Storms fell to become the Sons of the Storm, there was no longer anyone who could sail on the ocean…”

It was a rare instance for this little old man to persuade him with such a serious and conscientious attitude. Gawain was quite touched, but he still could not help but ask, “It’s already been seven hundred years. Are the nations still trapped on land and unable to head to the open sea?”

“Occasionally, there would be bold adventurers going to challenge the ocean, but those who come back alive are less than a third of them. Moreover, even if they do come back, most are mentally deranged, their minds damaged by the chaotic magical environment in the open sea.” Heidi shook her head. “Besides, what’s the use in challenging the sea? All riches originate from the land. Whether minerals or crops, they can only be found on land. I really cannot perceive a need in challenging the ocean. The only people with some development in the oceans is the Typhon Empire, but they’ve only found some magic materials in places close to the sea…”

Upon hearing her, Gawain could not help but frown as he glanced at Heidi. “You really think that there are no riches in the ocean?”

“Riches in the ocean?” Heidi faltered. “Humans are creatures that live on land. What riches that are useful to us could there be in the oceans?”

Gawain watched Heidi, he was really tempted to give her some really fervent and moving insight and education, but he soon realized that this preaching would do almost nothing for Heidi whose knowledge and outlook were limited. Hence, he could only sigh at the end. “You will understand one day. This continent is really too cramped for humans who’ve had their minds’ enlightenment. ——Forget everything else. We don’t even have a place to hide when a Dark Wave comes.”

A Dark Wave comes… No place to hide…

This comment immediately struck Heidi a little, but just as she wanted to question on, Gawain had already mentioned another matter. “Let’s put these aside for now. Heidi, I want you to help me gather some book materials.”

“Is it still information about the basic spells and spellcasting theories of every faction?” Heidi asked instinctively. Materials of this aspect were what Gawain asked her to gather most often.

However, Gawain’s answer had her very surprised. “No, it’s about my life biography.”

“About your… life biography?” Heidi blinked confusedly. This request was really strange. In the entire world, it was probably only this ancestor of hers, who was once dead and then suddenly sprang to life, who could come up with it. “What form of it are you referring to? The heroes’ biography published officially by the kingdom?”

“Not only those, I also want the various editions circulated among the people. I want any kind that describes my life.” It really wasn’t convenient for Gawain to explain to her that he wanted to search for clues about the secret voyage that did happen but had disappeared from Gawain Cecil’s memories. Hence, he could only come up with such a sweeping request. “Even if it’s unofficial history, someone’s rambling, or even absurd stories that villagers use to scare children, I want them all.”

Heidi’s expression became odd. “What do you want these things for?”

Gawain had just wanted to make up a reason — such as being interested in the changes in thoughts of people through 700 years and whatnot — when an Amber suddenly jumped out of the shadows beside him. And this Amber was still blabbering, “He’s probably too idle and wants to check out which critic wants to sh*t on him… Either that, or he wants to see how everyone praises him and then secretly feel happy about it…”

In the instant Amber leaped out of the shadows, Heidi had lifted her staff with ease and went into the starting position of Wild Geese Descending On Sand[2]. However, Miss Half-Elf had also learned her lesson after being struck the previous time. After she was done with her nonsense, she immediately jumped behind Gawain, using the latter as a shield in front of her. She even poked out half her head and taunted, “Rua——I don’t believe you would strike at your ancestor— Damn, damn, it hurts!!”

Before she could finish the rest of her sentence, she was dragged out by Gawain holding onto her ear. Gawain was even especially curious as he pulled. “What were you thinking? Hiding behind the person for safety after making up things to scorn him. Would I not hit you?”

“Oh damn, I was wrong, wrong, wrong!” Amber was almost scurrying and hopping. “My ear is going to cramp, my ear is going to cramp!”

As a result, the tent was filled with a merry atmosphere…

A few days after the messenger was dispatched, a letter in reply from Viscount Victor Kant was sent to the territory of the Cecil Clan.

The old Viscount expressed utmost eagerness with regards to Gawain’s desire to call on him and graciously invited Gawain to visit the old castle and manor that the Kant clan took pride in. Thus, on the second day after the messenger returned, Gawain, who had long been prepared, set out on his journey to the Kant territory.

He departed in one carriage and intentionally didn’t bring more attendants. Other than the groom who drove the carriage, he only brought Amber, who held the post of his personal bodyguard, as well as Sir Philip, who’d just escorted refugees back to the territory quite recently.

When the silhouettes of the small towns and villages at the fringes of the Kant territory appeared at the end of the road, the sky gradually turned overcast. Cold wet winds and the smell of soil swept across the ground, the winds carrying the signal that rain was to come. It seemed that at the end of this Frost Month, before Fog Month arrived, this land was about to welcome a generous rainfall.

After this rain, the Anzu Kingdom’s brief autumn would be over. Next would be the endless winter of this northern kingdom. First, it was the 60-day-long, foggy, wet, and cold Fog Month, then, the 60-day-long Cold Month. Kingdom-wide snow would intermittently last till Revival Month came. Even the ‘southern borders’ where the Cecil territory was located would be covered in frost and snow.

After all, the entire Anzu Kingdom was in the north of the continent.

It was unknown whether the refugees in the wilderness would be able to arrive at the Cecil territory for shelter in time before the coldest days arrived; it was unknown if the territory’s Winter Development Plan would be achieved according to expectations; it was an unknown whether Anzu and the Typhon Empire would go to war this winter.

Gawain pulled open the panel on the side of the carriage. In the gradually overcast and darkening sky, he could already see the Kants’ old castle towering on a hill in the side-front. That ancient stone architecture rose high up; several dark spires pointed right at the sky full of storm clouds. And on the vast ground beneath the castle were row upon row of town buildings.

At present, the night and dark clouds arrived at the same time. The darkening of the skies in advance caused scattered lights to gradually light up the town. Gawain carefully counted the number of those lights, as well as their distribution, estimating the rich and poor and order of this land.

There were more lights than expected, and they could be seen everywhere in the town.

A drop of rain slantingly passed through the open panel of the carriage and landed on Gawain’s face. At the same, there was also a bleak cold wind that cut in. In a corner of the carriage, Amber pulled at the blanket tucked around her with force and muttered drowsily, “Gawain, close the window…”

Gawain smiled and put the panel down. The pelting sounds of raindrops that gradually became denser were already sounding from the top of the carriage shed made of waterproof wood.

The carriage sped through the Kant territory’s fertile and already harvested farmland. In the direction where the carriage came from, the road leading to the outside of the territory was slowly shaded by the curtain of rain, becoming a blurry scene, unable to be made out…

[1] Ground-effect vehicle (GEV) – a vehicle designed to attain flight over a level surface, usually the sea, by making use of ground effect, the increased lift and aerodynamic drag that the wings generate when close to a fixed surface

[2] Wild Geese Descending On Sand – a famous Chinese zither work