Pillar of Yita

"Tonight seems particularly cold, it's only late summer and there's already frost forming in the woods. I remember Tarun's winters don't have snow," Fang Hong remarked as he glanced at the surrounding mist.

Kroid took a sip of his drink and exhaled a breath of white mist, which melded into the forest. "No, it doesn't," he said, walking forward.

Seeing this, Fang Hong followed, stepping on the leaf-covered humus soil which felt like a cushion, loose and thick. Ahead lay a broken sword, which he stopped to pull out—a Colin Longsword, its blade shining like a mirror with the emblem of White Oak City still visible. It had been forged with bright flames—and before quenching, the mark was chiseled onto it.

He held the sword in his hand, turned the blade over, the blade width approximately three fingers, its edge gradually narrowing, with exquisite craftsmanship, the shiny reflection casting onto his face, showing his composed expression.

"It's a fine sword," Kroid turned and looked at the sword in his hands, "it's a pity it's broken."

"But it isn't war gear."

"Perhaps, but war gear isn't necessarily good."

Fang Hong threw away the sword and asked, "I'm quite curious, why aren't the people of the Silver Forest Spear constructing fortifications inside the ruins?" He looked in that direction, the Elf Ruins faintly visible behind the mist. "Wouldn't it be easier to defend there?"

"Maybe they haven't had the chance, and the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team won't just stand by and do nothing. Both sides want to take control of these ruins," Kroid replied after taking another drink. "Perhaps there really is something important inside the ruins." He suddenly asked, "By the way, do you know the other side?"

Fang Hong nodded. "The grand headquarters of the Silver Forest Spear in the second world is very famous in China, known as the Silver Forest Crown. It has two branches called Silver Forest Shield and Silver Forest Staff, both part of the Wind Talkers Club."

Kroid listened and fell silent for a moment before responding, "It seems like something big must have happened in the second world."

"Why?"

"Don't you follow the community?"

Fang Hong broke into a sweat; he wished he could check it as well.

Fortunately, Kroid didn't press the matter further. "More and more grand guilds are returning from the second world to the first world, which isn't a good sign," he patted Fang Hong's shoulder. "You haven't experienced the Battle of Bain from thirteen years ago, you'll understand when the time comes."

Fang Hong felt bewildered. "The Battle of Bain?"

Kroid shook his head.

He shook the water bottle, turning it upside down and realizing it was empty. Looking through the bottle, he saw Miss Sicape walk through the mist with an angry expression, so he quickly hid the bottle behind his back.

Miss Sicape glanced at him and asked sternly, "Have you seen that woman?"

Kroid looked puzzled for a moment.

Fang Hong reacted faster, asking, "Are you talking about Miya, Miss Sicape?"

"She's gone missing. I've asked the people from Group A, and someone saw her leave by herself after the combat ended," Sicape said, glancing at Fang Hong. "That woman is unreliable, she's with the Grand Guild, not our kind, Ade."

But Fang Hong seemed to ignore the latter part. "Miya is missing?" his heart thudded. "I'll go look for her!" With that, he ran off into the forest without looking back.

"Wait—" Miss Sicape watched as the young man's figure disappeared into the mist, retracting her hand in frustration. "This kid..."

"What exactly is going on?" Kroid finally asked.

"Someone saw her enter the ruins alone, who knows what's going on," Sicape said with a worried look. "That woman is not simple at all, and that guy Ade doesn't understand anything. I'm worried he's going to get badly hurt over this."

Kroid stroked his stubble, his thick eyebrows almost knitting together as he thought for a long while. "You've noticed it too?"

Miss Sicape nodded. "The War Blades she gave to Ade, they're clearly Dragon Knight weapons, so I—"

Kroid interrupted her. "Let him go, Miss Sicape; boys have to go through some hardship." He looked down at his girlfriend with a gentle gaze. "You're starting to act more like a mother; let's have a child, Miss Sicape."

Miss Sicape was momentarily stunned, her cheeks gradually blushing. "What are you talking about, are you saying you plan to stop adventuring?" She suddenly stopped, gazing fixedly at her boyfriend. "Kroid, are you planning to retire?"

Kroid nodded. "Haven't you noticed?"

"With so many grand guilds moving to the first world, I'm not blind," Sicape hesitated. "But..."

Kroid said nothing more, just holding her hand.

Sicape leaned into him, her body resting against his broad chest. "Alright, I've had that thought too; after all, no one wants to go through what happened thirteen years ago a second time. But I still want to stay a bit longer, you know, Ade really is talented..."

"You want to mentor him for a while?"

Miss Sicape nodded.

"But he lacks Magical Adaptability."

Remembering this, Sicape got a bit angry and muttered, "So, I want to convince him to properly become an Alchemist, but that guy's head is as if it's carved from granite, impervious to persuasion."

Kroid chuckled helplessly, "You say you can't convince him, he is serious; he will leave the adventure group after this mission." He looked into the distance, the temperature continuing to drop and the mist in the woods getting thicker. "He has his own path; I am very clear on this."

"Yes, just like you, stubbornly annoying," she retorted.

Kroid laughed softly, and simply squeezed his girlfriend's hand a little tighter.

...