In the month of vitality (March), the weather gradually got rid of the cold, and the caravans, vehicles and travelers to Alto began to increase slowly.
When it entered the last week of March, it seemed that people from all surrounding countries had come to Alto. This big city standing in the west of the mainland became crowded and lively, because wait a few more days, the mainland The music festival "Aalto Music Festival" will be held, and countless musicians, musicians, bards, nobles and businessmen who like music are rushing to Aalto one after another.
In addition, it was originally the last big city for adventurers and mercenaries before entering the Dark Mountains, so Alto exploded with unprecedented vigor and vitality during this period.
Even in the afternoon, the gates of Nolan District were still crowded. Lilith, a pink-haired and charming girl, reluctantly dragged her older brother Sarah slowly into the city with the crowd.
"Brother, where are you looking? Concentrate on walking!" Lilith gnashed her teeth and growled at Sara, but habitually kept silent, as if she was afraid of attracting others' attention.
The sixteen-year-old Lilith is lively and beautiful, but she always seems to hide a faint melancholy temperament, which makes her fascinated by many boys in her hometown. There is even a son of a small nobleman who wants to give up his title for her. marriage of noble blood.
Sara stretched her neck hard, with an excited expression on her face: "Lilith, look, it's a moon elf! What a delicate, beautiful face! Those ears really move by themselves as in the legend, too It's so cute!" He pointed to a few beautiful elf girls who had entered the city not far away and said to his sister.
Curiosity welled up in Lilith, and she tiptoed to look over there with difficulty.
Silver moon-like skin, delicate and beautiful face, deep and mysterious beautiful "divine lines" on the neck, long fingers and slightly swaying pointed ears, all these moon elves exude a strange charm.
"It's not much prettier than me." Lilith mumbled slightly as she landed on her heels, and then she gave Sara a hard pinch, "Brother, put away your pervert heart and pay attention to your behavior, here is Aalto, the city that 'God Watches'!"
When she said the words "God is watching", Lilith subconsciously lowered her voice and watched the crowd around her cautiously.
Sarah, who has pink hair, is four or five points similar to her younger sister, and looks slightly feminine. He looked away regretfully, and seeing that he had already entered the city, he hurriedly dragged his sister to a remote corner: "Lilith, take it easy, you think it's you If I am so low-key and nervous, or if I am so enthusiastic and relaxed, it is more likely to arouse the suspicion of the church?"
"But after all...we are magic apprentices after all." Lilith looked left and right, and the words of magic apprentices came out vaguely in her mouth.
Sara spread her hands: "So what? No one in Alto knows. We will leave after consulting a few questions with scholars."
"Aren't you going to the Alto Music Festival, brother?" Lilith looked disappointed.
Sara showed her brother's majesty and shook her head: "It depends on the results of the interpretation. If time is tight, we must leave immediately. Lilith, we can still participate in the music festival in three years, and whether we can become official magicians , Maybe there is only such a chance in this life! Don't be self-willed, we will be mysterious and powerful magicians."
The word magician Sara is just lip-synced.
"I understand that the Alto Music Festival happens every three years." Lilith, who grew up in a repressed and terrifying life where she could be caught and killed by the church at any time, understands that she has no qualifications and rights to be willful, "We will be A noble and mysterious magician."
※※※
In the Copper Crown Tavern, adventurers and mercenaries talked and laughed loudly, uttering obscenities from time to time. Occasionally, two people fell in love with each other, and they would meet to go to the corner of the back door of the tavern or the guest room on the second floor to solve physical or financial problems.
Lilith grew up in a small town. Although there were many hooligans in the tavern, there were no vicious and unscrupulous people here. After struggling to avoid a pair of malicious hands, she finally squeezed to the front of the bar with her brother Sarah.
"Hey, don't you two have a drink?" The dwarf Cohen was drunk as usual.
Resisting her urge to use magic to kill all the damned men behind, Lilith nodded to Cohen, probably knowing the rules of the tavern: "Give us two glasses of ale."
Coen cheered: "Hi, the dwarf Coen likes a bold little girl like you the most, and I'll buy you another glass of ale in private."
Three glasses of wine that were bubbling and smelling oatmeal were quickly placed in front of Sarah and Lilith.
After paying the copper nar, Sarah took a sip from the wine glass: "Very good ale."
"Of course, the dwarf Cohen won't sell wine that he doesn't like." Cohen's eyes flashed briefly soberly, "Do you have anything to do?"
"Uncle Dwarf, we come from a small town near Alto. Some time ago, by chance, we got an ancient document and wanted to find a scholar to interpret the content." Lilith vaguely talked about her siblings' intentions, "Can you help Shall we introduce some scholars?"
Cohen burped: "Are the ancient documents written in the language of the Magic Empire or the Common Language? Or Elvish, Dwarf, Dragon, Abyss, or Hell?"
"The manuscript we got is not an original document, it has been translated into a common language." Sara and her sister glanced at each other and nodded slightly before saying, "But since there is no document before and after, we can't understand it at all. This manuscript, so I want to ask scholars to interpret it."
Cohen laughed: "This document is probably related to a treasure?" After being the owner of the Adventurer's Tavern for so many years, he has seen many similar things. Some people became rich and bought manors. People are gone forever.
"We don't know either, because we don't understand it at all." Lilith concealed the key points, trying to force an honest smile.
Cohen took a sip of ale and said, "The reason I've survived until now is because I never ask the secrets of the guests. Your documents need to be interpreted by scholars, and they can only be interpreted by historians, Aalto's well-known historians With Baker, Alfonso…”
"Which one do you think is the best?" Lilith asked cautiously, "Or which one is the most suitable?"
Cohen exaggeratedly shook his long blond beard tied into braids: "Not one is suitable, because they are all nobles! Only nobles and priests are proficient in ancient languages, can read historical documents, and know many secret things. Your share If the manuscript is brought in front of them, there is a high possibility that problems will be seen.”
"Is there really no suitable scholar?" Lilith and Sara were very disappointed, but admitted that Cohen was right. It is indeed easy to be suspicious of bringing such an ancient document to the nobles. In the face of powerful church and aristocratic officials, my brothers and sisters who have no background may be forcibly arrested and interrogated, "Are there any historians who are not of noble origin?"
Such historians do not have access to many hidden documents, and are not very vigilant against magicians and cultists.
Cohen shook his head again: "If you are not an aristocrat, there is no possibility of becoming a historian. Wait..." He suddenly remembered something, "I know a scholar who came from a poor background, and he is also a 'historian'."
"Which gentleman is it?" Lilith asked expectantly, and Sarah had the same expression.
Cohen said triumphantly: "This scholar is Lucien Evans, a talented musician and a 'historian' at the same time."
"Mr. Evans who wrote the piano pieces of "For Sylvia" and "Serenade in G Major" first movement?" Lilith's mouth was opened into a circle, and the expression on her face was very complicated, full of surprise and enthusiasm. , Surprised, unbelievable, "Is he also a historian?"
Sarah's expression was not much better than that of her sister.
Cohen finished the glass of fine wine: "You don't believe me? I watched Lucien grow up. He is a very smart and talented young man. Hiccup, anyway, I heard from the Musicians Association that a lot of music When creating music and operas, everyone would ask Lucien for historical questions and call him a 'historian'. For non-secret historical documents, Her Royal Highness even asked the scholar Mr. Baker to help him translate ancient books and documents."
"Even so, Mr. Evans has only studied history for five or six months." Sara still didn't quite believe it.
Cohen was dissatisfied: "Hmph, both Her Royal Highness and Mr. Baker praised Lucien for his excellent talent for organizing and summarizing, his unique ideas about history, and his strong memory. He can completely become a man in five or six months. A qualified historian. Genius needs no reason!"
Ever since Lucien became famous, Victor's words have become a household name in Aalto.
"If there are no other suitable scholars, maybe we can go to Mr. Evans." Lilith looked at her brother cautiously and expectantly.
Cohen saw her expression: "Little girl, do you really want to see Lucien?"
"Of course, I like Mr. Evans' music very, very much, especially "For Sylvia", which shows us pure and beautiful music with simple melodies." Lilith was excited, "I want to participate in the Arto The festival is all about meeting Mr Evans and hearing him play."
"Uncle Dwarf, since you watched Mr. Evans grow up, can you tell me whether he is elegant and handsome?" Lilith asked expectantly and shyly.
Cohen laughed loudly: "Of course, Lucien is a handsome young man."
Lilith, who received a satisfactory answer, looked at her brother. Sarah's heart was softened by the expectant eyes, and it was true that no other suitable scholars could be found, so he nodded and said, "We'll go find Mr. Evans later."
"You have to wait until tomorrow, because in order to prepare for the performance of the music festival, Lucien is living in his suburban 'Browns' manor to create and practice with peace of mind, and now it is almost time for the city gate to close." Cohen A reminder to them.
"Brons" means quiet in the common language.
Lilith pulled up her brother's sleeves and walked out: "Go now."
"What if I can't enter the city at night?" Sarah was puzzled.
"It happens to be staying at Mr. Evans' manor."
"..."
…
When Lilith and Sara arrived at the "Browns" Manor, the sky had already darkened. Against the background of the night and the black forest behind, the main house of the manor looked like a monster quietly lurking in the darkness.
"Why does this manor have a gloomy feeling..." Lilith shuddered subconsciously.
Sara felt the same way, but forced a laugh: "It's always like that at night."
After telling the guards guarding the gate of the manor their intentions, Lilith and Sara were quickly greeted by the housekeeper, Mr. Lopez.
"Master ordered me to take you to the living room." Lopez was the original housekeeper of this manor, in his fifties, solemn and steady, and Lucien did not replace him because he would leave at any time.
It was dark, but it was not time for dinner, and the main house hadn't been lit yet, so it looked more and more gloomy.
Sitting on the sofa in the living room and waiting patiently for a few minutes, Lilith and Sara saw a young man in a black coat and white shirt coming down the stairs. It seemed mysterious and quiet.