Even in the middle of the night, on Mount Tverul, it was still very lively, just like the day. The gleam of dozens of oil lamps illuminated the ravine that had begun to take shape. The people living in Tverul City were still digging hard, taking turns again and again. The excavation never stopped for a moment.
No one complains, everyone knows that now they are racing against flash floods, and they must race against time. If they are one step behind, they will destroy their own homes.
The people in Tverul City have also been evacuated, and they can only sleep in the wild tonight. Many people look at the mountains in the dark, pray to the gods of Aaron Landis, and look forward to good news. Come quickly, so that they can return to their warm home as soon as possible.
The area where the gully was excavated was full of people, and it was farther away from this place. On a flat ground around a hill, Garlan was sitting on the ground, while Shulos was lying on his back beside him. , both of them looked exhausted.
Garland felt pain all over his body.
On the other hand, Shu Luos, who has always been talkative, was lying weakly and didn't even want to say a word.
Hearing the faint voices coming from across the hill, Garlan shook his head.
"In the end, I was far worse than those people."
He thought that he had practiced martial arts anyway, and his physical strength should not be that bad.
Unexpectedly, digging a pit is worse than those civilians who have never practiced martial arts at all, and even the efficiency is not as good as them.
"They're more skilled at it, and they're used to working from morning till night."
Schloss replied.
"If you don't work hard, it will be difficult for the family to survive."
Garlan stared at the sky in a daze, then he fell backwards and lay on the ground like Shulos, the stars shining on his face.
"Shoulos, you said that you have traveled in the mainland for a long time and have seen many things. Then, what you have seen is whether you have been wronged or bullied, and those people who are too poor to survive, Are these things common in Aaron Landis?"
"Yes, everywhere."
Garland sighed softly.
Class distinction is the rule of the world.
No one can break easily.
No one is exempt, and so is he. He used to think too simply, because he had enjoyed the privilege for so many years, so he took it for granted and forgot the hardships of ordinary people's lives.
Shulos looked at the night sky as if he was in a daze, but at this moment there seemed to be a lot of things surging in his eyes.
His eyes were struggling.
After a long time, he made up his mind and spoke.
"I don't think King Camos is a competent king."
Garlan turned his head and looked at Shulos in astonishment.
For a long time, King Camos was an existence that everyone admired in Aaron Landis, and everyone regarded him as a god.
Even the people who were in turmoil at the time were in awe of it.
It was the first time he heard dissatisfaction with King Camos from someone else's mouth, which surprised him and felt a little unhappy in his heart.
After all, that is the king who loves him.
He didn't like to hear that King Camos was bad.
"I didn't say this to slander King Camos. On the contrary, I also think that he is a great king, and a powerful and respectable king. In the war of the year, he was the one who saved him. Aaron Landis was revered by all the people of Aaron Landis... and I am no exception."
Shulos looked at the countless broken stars in the sky, and he murmured in a low voice.
"Maybe I'm asking too much, but Gal, I don't think it's enough. As a king, he doesn't do enough."
"He is the king of Aaron Landis, the king of nobles, but also the king of us commoners, but he rarely listens to our voices and cares about our thoughts."
"Gal, maybe what I said next is very strange and absurd, and it may make you angry, but I really want to say it, say it to you."
After traveling the continent for so long and seeing too many things, this kind of thought has always been in his heart.
He never dared to say it, because he knew that if he said it, he would only be regarded as a lunatic by others.
"I don't think this should be the case. Even if the nobles are indeed nobler than the commoners, we commoners are also the people of Aaron Landis. I... I don't know how to describe it, but... common people, untouchables, and even slaves , Everyone is the same, we and the nobles are actually the same, why can't we be treated as human beings the same?"
Garlan opened his mouth in astonishment and didn't come back to his senses for a while.
Half a step ahead is a genius, one step ahead is a lunatic.
Although Shulos' idea is only a vague prototype, and even he can't explain it himself, in this world of slavery, his idea is already shocking.
When Shulos said this, he stopped again, and shook his head with a wry smile.
"Forget it, just pretend that you haven't heard such crazy talk. The commoners are the same as the nobles. I myself think this is stupid."
He put his hands behind his head and sighed.
"The current Aaron Landis seems to be very powerful, but since the last king has been fighting for years and years, even though it is much better now because of the prestige of King Camos, the war has never stopped. The nobles may not care. , but the common people, especially the poor, live very hard."
"Obviously, as a civilian, you can live safely under the protection of King Camos, so you should be grateful, but you are greedy and want more. In addition to being able to live in peace, you also want to live a better life. Such thoughts ...isn't it too ignorant?"
"... No, it's not that I don't know what to do, I want to live a better life, it's human nature."
Garlan's answer left Shulos stunned, he turned his head and looked at Garlan.
The boy didn't look at him, he could only see half of the boy's face.
He didn't see the lies and perfunctory from that half of his face. In an instant, all kinds of feelings surged in his heart, and he didn't know what it was like for a while.
He knew he had said a lot of things he shouldn't have said.
But for some unknown reason, perhaps because he would soon be imprisoned for kidnapping the nobles, right now, in this night, in front of this young man, he just wanted to say these absurd words.
Gal is a nobleman after all.
He thought Gal would be angry, he thought Gal would scold him for being ignorant, he thought Gal would call him crazy, that he was rebellious.
However, none.
In this way, he actually didn't know what to continue to say.
Shulos took a deep breath, smiled, and forcibly changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, the rumored Prince Gallan seems to be very different from King Camos. He seems to be loved by the common people. Huh? Gal, speaking of which, your name is similar to Gal. Prince Lan is quite similar, hahaha."
"I am."
"I'm telling you, that's enough, don't talk nonsense, I'm talking to you seriously."
"… Oh."
"Besides him, there is another Highness Heimos. One day, one of them will become the next King of Aaron Landis. Gal, which prince do you think is better?"
The boy was silent for a moment.
He said, "Heymos, he's a better fit."
"Hahaha, I knew you, a noble young master, would say that, thinking that he could fight and protect Aaron Landis, right?"
"… "
"However, as a commoner, I still prefer Prince Gallan to inherit the throne."
Shulos said, "Prince Heimos came to the throne, but he was just another King of Camos, the king of heroes, but the commoners hoped for a kind king who could make their lives less difficult."
The boy lowered his eyes and said nothing.
"However, if you think about it carefully, even if Prince Gallan is good to everyone, Aaron Landis is very dangerous if he can't fight. So, I think it would be great if the two of them could become one person. Bravery and skill in battle can shock the Quartet, make other countries dare not attack in the slightest, and be kind to the people, no matter the noble or the low, treat each of them justly and wisely."
"Two people become one person? You think so well."
Garlan, who was silent at first, couldn't help but speak.
"Tsk, I also know that this kind of king only exists in fantasy, but don't let people dream?"
"Then go to sleep and dream! Get up tomorrow morning and continue to work!"
"I protest! It's only for a little while-"
"Protest is ineffective."
…
The small noise gradually disappeared under the night, and the two people on the top of the mountain fell asleep one after another in exhaustion.
In the city of Tverul at the foot of the mountain, the people in the city had been evacuated to a safe place during the day. At this moment, the city was empty.
However, in the middle of this city that should have been deserted, the black-haired young man who had sneaked into the ruling government not long ago stood on the street, looking down at the things on his palms.
That's what he just took out of the executive government.
He took his hand, clasped it in the palm of his hand, and placed it close to him.
Then, he unfolded a note.
That was a message sent to him not long ago by his subordinates.
'… the city of Menestre... '
Heimos glanced quickly, then clenched the note into a ball, raised his hand, and threw it into the river in the city.
He rode away, and the figure quickly disappeared into the night.
The parchment soaked in the river water was soaked, and the text on it quickly melted into a smudge and could no longer be read clearly.
…
After a whole day and night, after everyone was digging sleeplessly, a channel was finally dug, connecting the piled pools and the crack on the other side of the mountain.
At this moment, only a small section of the mouth of the water pool has not been dug, and a few specially selected young, strong and agile young people are carefully digging there.
They also had thick ropes attached to them, and the other ends were fastened to solid rocks or tree trunks in the distance, in case of danger.
Just when there was only a thin layer of soil wall left in the ditches and pools, the layer of soil wall suddenly shook violently and was about to be washed away.
The dozen or so soldiers who had been staring at the place all the time were quick-witted and quickly dragged the young men who were digging below from the ditch.
It was too late and it was too fast, only to hear a muffled bang, the thin soil wall was instantly smashed by the current, and a huge amount of water poured into the ditch that had just been dug, and rushed along the ditch to the crack on the other side of the hill. And go.
The sudden splash of water was like a huge wave, and all of a sudden the people who were closer to the ditch were soaked all over. They ran back quickly and left far away.
The huge amount of water that rushed to the crack slammed, rushed straight down from the crack, entrained countless rubble, rolled up the fallen trees, roared down from the high mountain, and soon formed on this mountain wall. A small mudslide.
The huge roar of the debris flow from the halfway up the mountain echoed in the mountain, which was deafening, as if the top of the mountain was shaken by this sound, which made people feel shocked.
But no one was frightened by this. On the contrary, everyone had a look of joy on their faces.
They dug the channel before the blocked pool collapsed, and they defended their home.
The crisis in Twilour City is over.
Everyone looked at the surging water, and their hearts that had been terrified all day and night finally let go. Some even clenched their hands and knelt on the ground to thank the gods they believed in.
After digging the trenches for a day and a night, everyone is disgraced and looks extremely embarrassed, but the atmosphere of joy is brimming here.
When the water in the piled-up deep pool was almost gone, and only the thin layer on the rock platform was left, which was only submerged to the knees, the young people with ropes tied to their bodies immediately jumped down and moved away. Rocks and trees piled up on the openings of the rock platform, and dig up the dirt blocked in the rock crevices.
Like ants gnawing at wood, they cleaned up the collapsed stone pile little by little.
There was still a thin layer of waterfalls on the cliff, only to see rubble and trees rolling down one after another.
Do this, and do it again for a day and a night.
The sun went down and rose again. When it rose to the highest point in the sky again, there was another bang. The last bit of gravel no longer needed to be cleaned, and was washed directly down the cliff by the flowing water.
The majestic waterfall reappeared on Mount Tverul, and the sound of running water, which was not very loud, became deafening again, and the eardrums of everyone on the side of the waterfall were buzzing.
Water vapor splashed.
The bright sun shines down, forming a colorful rainbow light on the rushing water vapor of the waterfall.
The crowd cheered loudly, the sound was so loud that it almost overwhelmed the deafening sound of the waterfall.
Everyone is covered in mud, as if crawling out of a mud pit, but everyone's smile is brighter than the noon sun at the moment.
City Lord Canillet, who also stayed on this hill for two whole days and two nights, finally breathed a sigh of relief at this moment.
Don't look at his expressionless, unmoving appearance, but he is actually very nervous.
The former king gave him the city of Tverul. If the city was destroyed by his hands, then even if he died, he would not have the face to go to the underworld to see the former king.
On the other side, Shulos stood there, watching the moment when the waterfall reappeared with his own eyes, the thing that had been blocked in his heart for a long time seemed to be washed away at this moment.
The bottom of his heart was unprecedentedly happy, and he raised his lips to reveal a smile.
Just when he was happy, footsteps came from beside him. When he turned around, he saw the middle-aged staff member who had been following the city lord walking towards him.
"You came to arrest us? To condemn us?"
Shulos looked at the middle-aged man vigilantly, he hadn't forgotten that he and Garlan kidnapped the nobles.
"No, it's just that Lord City Lord invited you to come over. He has something to tell you."
The middle-aged aide said, "That hall... um, where's your companion?"
"Well, over there, it's too dirty to wash."
Looking in the direction Shulos said, he saw Garlan standing on the edge of the waterfall, reaching out to catch the falling water, washing the dust off his face and hands.
The blond hair, which had been stained gray with dust, was washed away by the water splashed on him, and it became wet, but it also shone with a golden luster again.
Shulos stood with the middle-aged staff, looking at the young man beside the waterfall, waiting for him to come over after washing.
The bard let out a sigh.
"Hey, I ran over to find the unicorn, but I didn't see the unicorn, and I caused such a big trouble. Goddess Avtomir, have you abandoned your most handsome believer?"
Thinking of the experience of these ten days, he couldn't help muttering to himself.
"What? Unicorn?"
His muttering was heard by the middle-aged man next to him, the aide froze for a moment, then laughed.
"You are also hearsay, you heard this fake rumor."
"What? Fake?"
The middle-aged staff member smiled.
"Of course it's fake. How can there be a unicorn in this world? Even if there is, it will only follow the gods and cannot appear in front of us."
"But I clearly heard... and it's been passed on for many years."
"There is an old poem in Tverul that has been circulating, in which there is such a sentence, [White holy beasts haunt the sacred Tverul Mountains], it has been passed down by word of mouth, you can ask any one in Twilur city casually. old people, they all know."
The aide shook his head slightly and said to him.
"It's just in the past few years, I don't know that the tourist heard this poem from the old people and spread it, and the information that was spread changed halfway. There are white unicorns haunting, and there are people who add fuel to rumors of out of shape, saying that unicorns will appear in front of the most beautiful and pure girls in the world."
"Because of this incident, many inexplicable people have come here over the years to find the so-called unicorn."
Shulos was stunned by the staff's words.
"Then why didn't you explain it clearly?"
"Why explain clearly?"
The middle-aged staff member smiled meaningfully.
"Because of the rumors of this unicorn, many people came to Tverul City for this purpose, which made our place more prosperous than before."
Shulos: "..."
Ah, it's actually a fake. He thought that he could really see the legendary unicorn with Gallan, but he was really disappointed.
…
Um
Wait, something seems wrong.
If the white unicorn doesn't exist at all, then what is the white shadow that Garlan saw that day...
Moreover, in retrospect, Shulos always felt that the white image deliberately led them to the waterfall...
pat.
pat, pat.
It was the very soft sound of treading water.
one more time.
Gently, step on the ground and splash the water.
The very light sound of stepping on the water seemed to be in my ears.
Shulos was startled.
wrong.
Obviously they were next to the big waterfall, and the sound of the water pouring down from the waterfall was deafening, so that they had to raise their voices to hear them even when they stood so close to speak.
But what came to my ears...
Not only him, but the middle-aged staff beside him, and the city lord of Canille, who was standing not far away, and everyone by the waterfall at the moment heard the gentle tread on the water.
pat.
Da da.
Like the sound of four hoofs landing lightly, it sounded so unreasonable in their ears, one click, one click, as if stepping into their hearts.
Everyone raised their heads in unison and looked in the direction of the sound.
In the dense and verdant jungle, a light figure ran from among the graceful trees.
Its limbs are slender but powerful, and it leaps high with a gentle kick.
When it ran lightly, its body showed an indescribable graceful arc, and even the gesture of leaping on the water was so graceful.
pat, pat.
It came running from the forest, jumping on the ground, splashing a few small splashes as its hooves stepped on the ground alternately.
It hopped lightly, leaping off the rocks of the flowing water.
In the blink of an eye, it came to the blond boy by the waterfall.
It was a snow-white white deer, like the incarnation of the elves of the mountains.
It has a huge body, almost a head taller than the teenager, but its posture is more beautiful than anything else.
The bright sun shone on it, and its fine white fur was as smooth as fine velvet.
The long horns on its head that stand like branches seem to be carved from flawless white jade.
It stood in front of Garlan, with eyes as clear as water, staring at Garlan quietly.
Then, it lowered its head slightly and sent the fresh green laurel branch in its mouth to the boy's wet hands.
The waterfall tumbled from the cliff, splashing clouds of water vapor.
The blond boy stood there on the edge of the splashing and falling water, the bright sunlight falling on him.
He raised his head and stared at the white deer in front of him.
The golden pupil reflected the shadow of this beautiful white deer.
He raised his hand and touched the snow-like velvet with his fingertips.
The snow-white white deer stood in front of the boy, lowered his head, and approached the boy's cheek gently.
It's like rubbing the ears of a young man.
…
The sound of the waterfall is still rushing.
Apart from the sound of water, there was no other sound at all.
When he saw the beautiful white deer, the city lord of Canilee paused for a moment.
At this moment, the ancient song passed down from the Tverul Mountains flashed in his mind.
Maghe
The benevolent among the gods.
His body turned into the earth, carrying all the heavy burdens.
His blood turned into two rivers that gave birth to Aaron Landis.
His flesh was turned into a field of wheat that nourished all his people.
His bones turned into majestic mountains.
Holy Twilur Mountain is his backbone.
His heart was beating deep in the mountains.
White holy beasts haunt this sacred mountain.
That is his incarnation.
Overlooking the land of Aaron Landis from the top of the mountain.
O holy Mount Tverul, rising above the earth.
Children of Aaron Landis, please remember.
That white holy beast.
It will only appear in front of the Holy King.