The "resurrected" wolf leads the way, and the knight leads the horse through the forest under the sunset.
As the strong sunset gradually became dim, Shade went deeper and deeper into the forest farm.
Time and space seemed to become chaotic here, and the rippling light made everything in the forest farm seem to have a strange brilliance. Suddenly, Shade seemed to have walked into the light and shadow of the old era, like a real knight , holding the sword and leading the horse, pursuing everything he desires.
He looked at the wolf intently. As the forest became denser, it finally got into the grass deep in the forest and disappeared. Shade subconsciously speeded up his pace, and when he led the horse out of the grass, he saw What we saw was the lake in the forest with rippling water under the last ray of sunset, and the island in the center of the lake.
The wild wolf stood by the lake and stopped moving forward. Shade opened his mouth in surprise and heard the horse behind him snorting from its nostrils and stamping on the ground impatiently with its shoe.
He stared at the scene in front of him with wide eyes. The last sunset on the horizon reflected red on Shade's face, and Shade couldn't believe that he actually found this mysterious lake under such circumstances:
"But why did [Swamp Witch] lead me to this place?"
He loosened the reins and subconsciously walked towards the lake with his sword in hand. But at this moment, the mysterious lake under the sunset suddenly began to shake like a projected phantom, and then the image of the lake became blurred little by little. , showing the true appearance of the forest.
The keen Shade has noticed the change in space and knows that this is because the lake will only appear during the day, and at this time, night has arrived.
The wolf, which was closer to the lake, had already plunged into the lake, and then swam towards the island in the center of the lake with a dog paddle. Although Shade didn't know what would happen if the lake disappeared together, he still wanted to get closer anxiously:
"Space stabilizing halo!"
Invisible ripples spread in all directions, but the thaumaturgy had no effect on the lake that was about to leave.
After all, Shade was a step too late, and watched helplessly as the mysterious and tranquil lake disappeared before his eyes, leaving only an empty forest farm, bathed in the moonlight above his head.
There are genuine miraculous elements around the mysterious lake, but these elements have also lost traces with the disappearance of the lake. Even, because of the departure of the wolf, the surrounding whispering elements have completely disappeared, leaving only the maroon color behind it. The horse is still waiting for Shade.
"The experience of Mr. Gretel in Lower Luther Village is like a fairy tale, and what I experienced today is also like a fairy tale."
He took up the reins again and prepared to set off back to Huntingdon City. He was not without gains. At least he was certain that the "Lake of the Cherubim" in the west of Huntingdon City in the Sixth Age was inhabited by the "Lady of the Lake" and was not the witch of the Fifth Age. The Lost Lake when the emperor visited the gods.
He led the horse for two steps, then reluctantly looked back at the forest, where the lake should have been:
"Is this luck good or bad? I have obviously found it, but because of the wrong time, I watched it disappear. The lake may not appear here next time, but if I can find it the first time, I will definitely Being able to find it a second time.”
Although he failed to set foot in that lake, Shade subconsciously felt that what he was looking for was on the island in the middle of the lake. Although this mysterious lake was completely different from the terrible Lost Lake in 5177 of the Fifth Era, it was still the same.
Hidden is the power that Shade wants to pursue.
The mission of pursuing divinity has become increasingly clear, and Shade knows that he has found the right direction. All he has to do next is to find the lake again, and then face the test that awaits him.
After riding back to the city, Shade did not immediately go to the White River Valley Vineyard, but once again found Mr. Kansas Drake, a retired folklore professor who lived in the old town west of Huntington.
When Shade rang the bell outside the fence gate, the gas lights were already on in the entire neighborhood. The air pollution in the old city was better than in the main city of Huntington, so you could see the brilliant starry sky in early winter.
It was still the fat maid who opened the gate for Shade and led him to see the professor in the study. The maid had already prepared dinner and was just about to push the professor's wheelchair to the restaurant, but when Shade entered the study
, when he seriously stated that he wanted to talk about the "Lady of the Lake" again, the professor hesitated for a moment, then looked at him in surprise, and waved his hand for a long time before saying:
"Okay, Mrs. Sendy, you go out first. We will call you after we finish talking."
The fat maid closed the door in the corridor, Shade sat on the chair outside the desk, and the professor struggled to turn the wheels of his wheelchair back behind the desk:
"Mr. Watson, have you found it now?"
The warm yellow light of the grape-shaped gas lamp in the study room illuminated Professor Drake's face with various expressions such as worry, surprise, fear and expectation. The old man has received countless young people who are eager to find legends, but
But for the first time, I have the expectation of this moment.
Shade nodded slightly, but then shook his head:
"It can be said that I found it, but I didn't find it. To be precise, I saw the lake at the last moment before sunset. But when I got closer, it disappeared. I can be sure that it was not an illusion.
That lake really appeared in front of me briefly."
He described to the professor the scenery of the lake and the appearance of the island in the center of the lake.
The professor in the wheelchair suddenly opened his eyes, leaned back slightly and took a deep breath:
"This is really Mr. Watson. You found it so easily, but you found it at the last moment of sunset. Such luck."
His face turned red, and then he suddenly covered his forehead. When Shade saw this, he stood up immediately. The professor waved his hand to tell him not to worry, but took out a small bottle from the desk drawer, and shivered.
A black pill the size of a pile of sesame seeds was put into the mouth:
"In the past few years, my blood pressure has been a little high and I have had some heart problems, but my friend prepared herbal medicine for me. I never thought that you could bring me such a surprise before I died."
He stabilized his emotions, closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing, then shook the small bottle towards Shade, and then asked:
"Can you tell me what happened to you today?"
"Of course, I also have some questions to ask you."
Shade started talking about arriving at Lower Luther Village today, omitting his experience of riding a horse around Luther Lake to see the scenery, and directly talked about encountering a pack of wolves in the evening.
This startled Professor Drake:
"I know there are wolves outside the city, but you actually encountered them?"
"Yeah, luckily I have a gun."
Shade said, and then mentioned that he was chased into the forest by a pack of wolves. After he had no choice but to shoot and kill one of the wolves in self-defense, the other wolves dispersed. But the wolf that was supposed to be dead came back to life and led him all the way in.
Went deep into the forest until we saw the mysterious lake.
After hearing Shade's "story", Professor Drake sighed with emotion:
"Every story I have recorded about encountering the 'Lady of the Lake' is so fascinating. Mr. Watson, your story is also so fascinating. Of course, it is also the most dangerous one among them. The wolves in early winter are extremely dangerous.
It's very aggressive and if you didn't have a handgun, I really don't know what would have happened."
After obtaining Shade's consent, he decided to add this story to his record. The reason why Shade came here specifically was to ask another question:
“I heard that in recent years, more citizens have encountered the ‘Lady of the Lake’ in the eastern part of Huntingdon than in previous years.
Do you have more specific information about them here? I want to visit them. Since I can actually find the lake nearby based on the experiences of the villagers in Lower Luther Village, maybe others have encountered the 'Lady of the Lake'
In the area, I can also find the lake again."
The information Professor Drake gave to Shade respected the privacy of those who provided stories, so only a few old records, such as the old Grave who lost one eye, contained the true identities of those people.
Shade wanted to know from the professor the true identities of the citizens who encountered the "Lady of the Lake" in recent years or even this year, but the professor hesitated and said:
"Mr. Watson, I know you want to actually go to the island in the middle of the lake. But according to current records, no one has ever been able to see that mysterious lake twice."
"But my experience this time was obviously different. I was the only one who saw the lake but couldn't walk across it."
Shade emphasized seriously:
"So, that lake might give me a second chance. In this way, I might also be able to help you find out what happened to you back then."
The old professor pursed his lips and frowned slightly, as if he was thinking. Although he was eager to know the truth about what happened to him, those who shared their experiences with him told their stories because of trust. Professor Drake wanted to know
He knows the truth, but he doesn't want to violate his own principles.
He wanted to refuse the young man in front of him, but looking at his serious look at the moment, he subconsciously thought that he would succeed. Neither of them spoke. Under the bright gas light in the study, Professor Drake suddenly felt that this
This customer is so friendly and reliable.
Finally he sighed:
"Okay, young man, you have convinced me. But I must tell you in advance that I have hired people to investigate all the locations mentioned in the records, and nothing has been found."
Not only the professor, Shade believed that the Orthodox Church in this diocese must have also sent a team of ring warlocks to investigate the situation, but they found nothing:
"It doesn't matter, you just need to give me your name and address, and I will take care of the rest."
He stretched out his hand to the professor, and the professor closed his eyes:
"Some people don't hand over their stories so easily."
Shade smiled:
"It doesn't matter, you just need to tell me one thing."
