Arcane Journey

Chapter 388 The Curse of the Lost Lady

What Brian didn't expect was that in such a harsh environment as the Lion's Road, there are still civilians living here.

These commoners lived in mud and thatch houses among the weeds, and the rest fished in the bay in leather canoes and built their homes on crooked wooden poles at the top of the dunes.

Most of the people seem to live alone without much communication with outsiders.

When the two reached noon, Badrick's leopard suddenly roared, and then three women emerged from the weeds and gave the ascetic a straw basket full of clams.

Brian found the three women, one of whom was very old, another with a big belly, and one who was young and beautiful.

There is no doubt that they are all ordinary civilians who cannot be more ordinary.

This made him ask suspiciously, "These ordinary people live in the wild swamp area, aren't they afraid of danger? Why don't they choose to live in a civilized gathering place?"

"Because they're nothing to fear, sir," Balderick told him:

"They just want to live, live, die, die, love what they love, even if they know that the lords of Baldur's Gate rule this land, but few people have seen them, even the nearest city Belgoost, yes To them, it’s just a name.”

Although the ascetic monk's explanation was very tactful, Bryan felt a concept similar to 'tyranny is fiercer than a tiger' from the lines in his words.

Obviously, although life here is a bit difficult, at least there is no exploitation and oppression, and people can live, grow old, sick and die in peace, returning to their roots.

With the improvement of his strength, although Brian was a lord and even the Lord Protector of the Kingdom of Cormyr, he didn't realize until now that he didn't know how long he hadn't personally observed and experienced the lives of common people.

Moreover, the convenience brought by magic made him disdain ordinary life for a long time, as if he had already escaped from this world, so that after Badrick took him and suddenly walked on foot in this dangerous swamp area, he unexpectedly It's a little strange.

It was for this reason that after he got used to it, his state of mind seemed to be changing silently.

This made him realize that with the continuous improvement of strength, if he wants to continue to break through, he may not be able to succeed by accumulating a lot of experience, but relying on the tempering of his mind.

"Although they know very little about everything outside the Lion's Road." Brian looked around, showing a thoughtful look, and said to the monk:
"But they have their own beliefs in their hearts, right. Presumably this should be all your credit. You let them complete their own redemption, or find themselves again. This makes me wonder, what are you doing here? How many years have you walked in this area?"

"Almost 50 years." Badrick sighed, and his leopard also turned around and let out a low growl like a whimper, and rubbed its master's muddy trouser legs affectionately, as if catering to the monk's words.

He said slowly, "From Candlekeep to Baldur's Gate, it usually takes me half a year, maybe longer, but I won't say that I know the Sword Coast. I only glanced at the towers of the archmages from afar and lord's castles, but I know the towns and manors, the villages so small they have no names, the hedges and the hills, the brooks that give water to the thirsty, and the safe caves where adventurers shelter, Even if the muddy, twisty trails aren't on the map, I know them."

"After all, my bare feet have crossed every inch of land here dozens of times." Badrick said with a smile.

"This ascetic monk is not simple." The idea of ​​the golden dragon Paralandasc sounded in Brian's mind, "but why didn't I feel the ability of a monk in him, but more like an ordinary mortal? ,very strange."

Although Brian had the same doubts as Jin Long, he ignored this boring topic, but looked at the ascetic monk with a slightly respectful look, and said, "Then you must be living a lonely life."

"That's not the case." Balderick shook his head slightly and replied, "I still have a loyal partner."

"Does your leopard have a name?" Brian asked.

"He must have," said Balderick, "but I was not his first master."

Hua Leopard turned around and looked at the two of them coldly. He was big, with bright hair and a strong figure. His muscles flowed back and forth like waves when he walked, but he was very friendly.

"Then who does he belong to?" Brian asked again.

"Of course he belongs to himself. As for the name, he didn't tell me. I usually call him Cat."

"I once had a cat too, but it was a catwoman."

Golden Dragon Paralandusk seemed a little bored, and took the initiative to share the past interesting stories with Brian, "Although that catwoman is very arrogant and aggressive, she always takes the initiative to be on top, but her body is softer than that of an elf , It’s really moist, if I have a chance, I’ll catch two for you and try.”

"..."

"He will keep me safe during the journey, and even in such difficult times, with him by my side, neither wild beasts nor evil humanoids dare to come near me."

Balderick frowned, "It's just that the Sword Coast has become very chaotic recently. According to adventurers who passed by, there were even traces of devils in Baldur's Gate and Alturgard."

Brian nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this.

Near noon, they finally saw the shadow of Candlekeep.

The castle is located on an island half away from the shore. Even if you look from a distance, you can find the wealth of the island. Terraces cover the slopes, there are fish ponds below, there are windmills on the top, and the paddles made of wood and canvas are in the middle. Turning slowly in the breeze blowing from the bay.

Brian also saw sheep grazing on hillsides and bushbirds strolling in the shallow water around the ferry dock.

"Candlekeep is on the other side." Balderick pointed to the north of the bay and said:
"Under normal circumstances, the scholars at Candlekeep would take advantage of the evening tide to ferry us there, but now that the tide has receded, we can walk to the other side."

Brian nodded slightly, he was used to Brother Badrick's life like an ordinary person.

As the other party said, it is now catching up with the low tide, and it is receding quickly. The river that separates the island from the land retreats rapidly, leaving a vast brown mudflat, slightly flooded, with tide puddles all over it. Glittering like gold coins in the sunlight.

"Why is it called Candlekeep?" Brian asked.

"Because the people who live here are all scholars, they meditate, pray, be silent, and seek knowledge and answers in books, and the only thing that can accompany them in the dark... is candles."

Badrick smiled slightly, and beckoned Brian to follow, "Sir, if you want to sleep under the eaves tonight, come and cross the mud with me now. We call it the road of faith, and only those with firm faith can pass safely. And those with evil thoughts will be swallowed by quicksand."

Brian followed the monk's footsteps carefully. He found that the so-called road of faith was really winding. Candlekeep seemed to stand in the northwest, but Balderick didn't go directly towards it. Turn to the east and head for the deep water in the bay.

The sea in the distance shone with silver-blue light, and the brown mud creaked and squeezed between Balderick's toes.

He stopped now and then to feel ahead with his stick, and the leopard followed closely behind him, sniffing every rock, every shell and every clump of seaweed.

Brian followed, keeping an eye out for the line of footprints left by the monk and the leopard.

After walking about 200 meters, Balderick suddenly turned to the south, almost turning his back on Candlekeep. He walked another 100 meters in that direction, and then passed between two shallow tidal puddles.

The leopard poked its nose into one of the puddles, and a huge king crab caught his nose with its pincers, making him whimper like a cat. The smile blossomed, and finally received a gift package of silence.

After a brief but violent struggle, the leopard trotted back, wet and muddy, with the crab in its mouth.

"Aren't we planning to go to Candlekeep?" Brian glanced at the castle not far away, and finally couldn't help asking, "Why do I feel like we're wandering around, not heading towards our destination at all."

"Because this is the path of faith, Mr. Brian." Badrick persuaded with a calm expression, "Only by faith, perseverance, and piety, can you find the peace you seek in your heart."

"Piety? Tranquility?" Brian smiled and said:

"I don't have any gods to believe in, so naturally I don't need any piety. As for peace, let alone, I can guarantee my peace of mind and peace of mind at all times."

"You can't help but ask me questions, which proves that your heart has gradually been replaced by restlessness. How can this be regarded as peace and tranquility?" Badrick replied calmly:

"Faith contains many things, and gods are just one of them, such as beliefs and ideals."

He gave Bryan a meaningful look, and said in meaningful words, "If Mr. Bryan doesn't have firm beliefs and ideals, how can he break through to the legendary realm? Your heart has not reached the corresponding state."

"Okay." Brian shrugged helplessly, stopped talking, and obediently followed behind Badrick.

For some reason, after the other party finished saying these words, he discovered a problem that frightened him. His heart really couldn't calm down at the fastest speed, and there would always be inexplicable irritability.

As a psion whose strength has reached the legendary realm, Brian's will and belief are extremely firm, and he can calm down instantly at any time and think rationally about any problem.

But today, it made it impossible for him to achieve this effect anyway.

This made him faintly realize that it is very likely that he really did not reach the corresponding level with his strength as Badrick said.

Thinking of this, he no longer repelled it in his heart, and began to follow the monk who led the way, walking silently step by step like an ordinary mortal.

The mudflat glows with damp light around it, reflecting nearly a hundred mottled tones.

The mud was a dark brown, almost as black, but there were patches of golden sand, patches of gray and red rock outcroppings, and clumps of black and green seaweed.

Shrub birds waded through tidal puddles, leaving numerous footprints, while crabs scuttled across the surface of the shallows, dodging frisky leopards.

Although the air smelled of sea salt and corruption, Brian found that this made him instinctively repulsive, but it made his heart feel extraordinarily peaceful.

Time passed by little by little in the silent rush, only the mud sucked on Balderick's bare feet, and then reluctantly let go with a 'snap', like a creaking sigh.

When the two of them crawled over the pile of rubble surrounding the shore of the island, Brian accidentally discovered that there were three people waiting there at some point.

They wore the tan robes of Candlekeep scholars, with wide bell cuffs and pointed hoods, two of them also had long woolen cloths covering the lower half of their faces so that only the eyes were visible, the other's robes Embroidered on the top is a blank scroll representing the emblem of Oghma, the god of knowledge.

"Master Badrick." The person wearing the emblem of Oghma said respectfully, "I haven't seen you for almost a year. Welcome and your companions."

The leopard turned its head coldly, lay down on the ground, stretched out its bristly tongue to comb its mud-covered hair, and Balderick shook off the mud from his feet, "We request to stay at Candlekeep for one night."

"Of course, I have prepared a sumptuous meal for you, but..." the scholar hesitated for a moment, then looked at Brian, "The Master of Manners of Candlekeep must have told this companion."

Before Master Balderick could speak, Brian continued, "Of course, I still know a little about the rules of Candlekeep. Don't worry, Master Balderick won't be in trouble."

Any adventurer who wants to enter Candlekeep will only need to pay a book.

This seems to be a very simple condition, but for the vast majority of people, it is as difficult as heaven.

Because this book must not be found in Candlekeep, which is known as the 'largest library in Faerun', and it needs to be appraised by the guardians of the volume, and its value must be at least around 1000 gold coins.

After Brian finished speaking, he took out the book he had prepared earlier, that is, the "Black Forbidden Book" he got from the madman Ogasila, and handed it to the volume guardian wearing the mark of Oghma.

For some reason, when Brian handed over the book, he obviously felt his heart calm down again inadvertently.

The original state of being able to calm down at any time has returned, and it is better than ever.

What moved him the most was that there was a faint tendency to break through the state of mind.

Just when he was puzzled by this, he suddenly found that the three guardians of the volume and Master Badrick beside him all showed expressions that they had expected.

"Congratulations, Mr. Bryan." Badrick solved his doubts in his calm words, "Successfully lifted the curse cast on you by Miss Lost."

"The curse of the lost lady?" Hearing this, Brian was really taken aback. He quickly opened the attribute bar to check, but found that there was nothing abnormal at all.

"That's right." Master Balderick said:
"The first time I saw you, I noticed the power of the curse from the Lost Lady on you. This curse is secret and powerful. If you hadn't handed over the "Black Forbidden Book" in time, it would have passed with the passage of time , turning you into a madman who lost his mind just like Ogasila."

"This is the price you pay for reading the "Black Forbidden Book." The guardian of the book wearing the Oghma emblem said:
"Only a god with powerful divine power like Miss Lost can pass this book and quietly plant such a trace of curse power on you, so that you don't even notice it."

After finishing speaking, he solemnly took out a golden cover made of unknown materials, carefully wrapped the "Black Forbidden Book", and said devoutly:

"Oghma said that no knowledge should be destroyed, because knowledge itself is not a problem. Right now, only with the help of the divine power of my lord Oghma, can this book be completely sealed in Candlekeep until it is truly suitable its owner."

(End of this chapter)