In the carriage, Lorraine Hill was talking to a thin girl with blond hair, who was looking curiously out of the car window.
Along the mountain road, trees are blooming with fine "white flowers", making the bare tree crowns lush and beautiful.
"Rime?" The girl repeated this unfamiliar word, tilted her head in confusion, and looked at Lorraine Hill in front of her.
"Although rime looks like snowflakes, it is not snow." Lorraine Hill recalled the scientific explanations he had seen in the past.
"They are not snowflakes falling from the sky, nor are they ice hooks left by water flowing through them, but ice crystals that appear naturally and directly on the trees for no reason."
"Actually, the essence is the crystal formed by the condensation of colorless water vapor. But because it is not piled up, accumulated and broken like snowflakes, it is more complete and beautiful." The girl stretched her hand out of the window, and a small ice crystal emerged from the window.
It floated down from the tree crown, landed on the palm of my hand, floated and rotated gently, then placed it on the colder book cover and handed it over.
The naturally condensed ice crystals show a standard hexagonal rhombus shape with subtle bifurcations, which looks very beautiful.
"It's so beautiful." The girl carefully bent down in front of the table and looked at the ice crystal.
Lorraine Hill looked at her interested expression and smiled. She rescued this girl from underground in the ruins, and later found out that she was actually the key to unlocking the seal of the ruins. Because her blood was needed,
So Viscount Moreau took her out of the cell in Iron Hill City.
"Do you have other family members?" the girl asked after she woke up.
"I don't know." The girl shook her head. She remembered that her father was away from home all year round. It wasn't until the guards came to her house to arrest someone that day that she knew what her father had done.
Because they were involved in a rebellious underground organization, their family was arrested. Only the brother escaped because of something else. After that, the mother died of illness in prison, leaving her alone.
"Father, he is probably gone, I heard the guards said that." The girl pinched her fingers uneasily.
"I don't know if my brother will survive."
"Have you ever thought about revenge?"
"I don't know, I hate those who abuse me, but I also know that some of them are just doing their duty." The girl said hesitantly.
"I don't know who I should hate specifically, I just feel sad."
"Is that so?" Lorraine Hill also sighed.
Many times when encountering misfortunes, you can always find a specific person or thing, and you just need to defeat them. Just like the snowflakes falling from the sky or the frost condensing in the water channels, everything has its traces.
But sometimes, misfortune and sadness are like the rime in the mountains, quietly condensing for no reason and covering the branches.
I can't find where it came from, and I don't know why. Everything just happened. Even if I want to defeat it, I can't find the object or thing to fight. It's like all my strength is hitting an empty place, and I feel empty and uncomfortable.
If the problem only requires fighting, it would be so simple and clear.
Unfortunately, everything is not so easy.
You are not a specific thing, but the entire era and environment have created everything now. Countless people are wrapped up in it, unable to extricate themselves, just like the cold water vapor at night slowly soaking in, no one can escape the severe cold of winter.
Outside the carriage the two of them were in, it was all white and covered with snow-white ice crystals. A convoy of about a hundred people was driving slowly through the mountains, heading towards the city in the distance.
——————
Aralia Province.
Originally this was a county and province in the interior of the empire, but due to the cession of territory after the war, it has now become an important border area in the west of the empire.
Newly built high towers rise among the rolling mountains. Soldiers wearing white and gray armor occasionally appear on the observation decks of the high towers, monitoring the border near Crancia.
These three-story stone towers were prepared with fodder and kerosene, which could be ignited once the opponent attacked, sending out a strong smoke signal to attract the defenders stationed behind them.
Although it has signed a contract with Crancia, the empire does not completely trust the other party, and a large number of elite legions are stationed here.
But what is different from the past is that the flag fluttering on the high tower here is not the black red dragon flag of the Paskar family, nor the bloody rose flag of the imperial royal family, but the white gryphon flag with gold background. They are from the empire
The lions of the mountains in the west, the soldiers of the mountain kingdom.
The Salius family is a relatively special one in the empire. The history of the Griffin Duke is not shorter than that of the Emperor's royal family, but is an equally long country.
In the era of the Cang Yue Kingdom, the Griffin Principality was a famous country in the mountains of the Western Region. The griffin-headed monster flying among the cliffs became the family crest, and they were indeed good at cultivating such ferocious monsters.
Those griffin knights who wield thunder spears travel in groups among the mountains. They are a powerful legion that can slay giant dragons.
During the rise of the Verdant Kingdom, the Griffin Principality also gradually developed, gradually annexing and unifying the countries in the West, and the two sides even had several conflicts.
Then when the Green Kingdom expanded southward, it encountered the extremely powerful magical country, the Kingdom of Oz, and suffered a huge setback.
Since then, the expansion of the Verdant Kingdom has gradually stalled, and the Griffin Kingdom has been unable to break through the mountains and have a decisive battle with the Verdant Empire in the vast wilderness.
Therefore, under the mediation of the Sage Association, the two countries entered into a marriage and merger. The Griffin Kingdom became part of the Verdant Empire, and the original royal family was named the Grand Duke of the Griffins and continued to rule this land.
This move eliminated the war, stabilized the green flanks and rear, and made the empire stronger.
Now, after the empire was defeated, the regent personally sent an envoy to the Griffin Dukedom and brought many promises and conditions. After some negotiation and agreement, the Griffin Duke agreed to send troops and sent those mountain legions to the south of the empire.
Build fortresses and walls to defend against possible attacks.
After that, the regent was free to vigorously clean up the remnants of the Pascal family in the south and continue to consolidate the security of the capital, Titania.
"Lord Jerran."
An attendant walked quickly on the mountain path between the towers, calling to stop the patrolling knights in front.
These knights all wear white armor and have wide white cloaks on their backs, blending in with the surrounding environment.
After hearing the shout, the leading knight turned around. He was strong and handsome, and he was none other than the eldest son of the Grand Duke Gryphon, Jerlane.
"What's the matter?" After Jie Lann stopped, the knights beside him also stood still and looked at the running attendants.
"It's a letter from Lionheart." He held up the envelope printed with fire paint, and the gryphon pattern in it was lifelike.
After accepting the envelope, Jie Lanen tore open the special contract paper on the outer layer, pulled out the folded letter paper, and read it.
Soon after, Jeran put away the letter and put it back in the lining of his armor.
"What's the matter?" Grace asked from the side. He and these knights were all friends of Ge Lann who grew up together, so they were not too restrained.
"Father asked me to prepare and go back in a few days." Jie Lanen held on to the cold stone wall and looked at the rime-frozen scenery in the distance.
"Apparently, they want me to go to Titania and find a suitable marriage partner among those noble ladies." Jie Lanen's tone was a little emotional, and he had already reached this age without knowing it.
In fact, among the nobles, he is considered an older unmarried young man. In the upper-class circles of the empire, it is very common for nobles to get married at the age of 16. Although extraordinary people have a lot of youth, Jie Lanen has also delayed it for a long time.
.
"It's time to find a suitable fiancée. This will also be good for your position." The companion on the side said.
In this era, the probability of young children dying is not small, and it would be a serious matter if a big noble had an heir.
"Yes, I understand." Jie Lan'en looked at the world shrouded in ice mist in the distance and recalled the girls he had met over the years. Among them were elegant girls from noble families, some were sunny and lively, and some were cute and slender.
Thin girls. Most of them have decent backgrounds, and to be able to appear next to them means they have passed all levels of competition and assessment.
He doesn't hate these girls, he can say a lot and appreciate them, but when he thinks about spending his life with such people, he always feels like something is missing.
Maybe it’s because I lack the kind of girl who understands my thoughts, understands my ambitions, strengths and weaknesses, but can tolerate me very well.
With this thought in mind, I postponed it until now.
It's a pity that the old Griffin Duke has already issued an order. After returning this time, he will probably be required to find a suitable betrothed within the time limit and cannot delay it any longer.
"Your sister's child can already walk, Jie Lann. What are you still hesitating about? Are you as weak and unassertive as a sheep?"
"If you rebelled against me and had a secret lover, I wouldn't be so angry, but what's even more disappointing is that you don't even have such a lover. You are like a lost lamb, wandering around in circles."
"What the Salius family needs is an heir like a lion, not what you look like now. A male lion that can't even find a lioness is looked down upon and despised by others. I hope you understand this."
Recalling the old Griffin Duke's scolding, Jie Lann couldn't help but smile a little bitterly.
Although there is a vague figure in my heart, where is that girl now? She is so mysterious that even with the family background of the Griffin Duke, she has not been able to find her whereabouts.
Maybe this time I can only go to Titania to see you. After all these years, it’s time for you to let it go, Geralan. He said this to himself, his thoughts gradually drifting away.
————
At the same time, in the far north, the frozen world.
Everything in the world is so cold, and the coldness penetrates into every bone marrow and penetrates into every gap, making people tremble and curl up, praying in mourning. Praying that this eternally frozen winter will end soon.
Under the heavy sky with flying snowflakes, groups of black-clad and black-armored warriors were slowly trudging through the snow. They held torches soaked in tung oil and marched across the field, protecting a small group of black-clad soldiers in the center.
The wizard.
Occasionally, monsters would pounce in the wind and snow, hissing and hissing with hunger, waiting for an opportunity to attack.
Facing these small monsters, the warriors drew their long swords from their waists and fought with them with flashing sword marks, while their voices were drowned in the wind and snow and could not be heard from behind.
The warm blood was sprinkled on the snowdrift, melting and leaving traces of ravines, and then quickly crystallized and was buried again by the falling snowflakes.
After the battle, some soldiers fell in the snow, frozen stiff, and together with the monsters, they were slowly buried in the ice and snow.
praying
blessing
sighing
The following troops sprinkled light blue petals on these warriors and then continued to move forward. Judging from the gray and black blouses on these men, they were all from the Trey family and belonged to the Ravens of the North.
These remnants of the Mercury Dynasty, who have experienced thousands of years, are still living in this world, and they are used to the sadness and disasters that come from time to time in their lives.
‘Death will do justice to everything, both you and me.’ This is the motto of the Trey family.
Compared with other nobles in the empire, this family is exceptionally old-fashioned and conservative. They stick to the traditions of the past, have always been restrained and frugal, and face all kinds of misfortunes calmly.
"Further forward, we will reach the promised land." Looking through the ancient parchment covered with snowflakes in his hand, a wizard wearing a crow brooch spoke.
"Can we really see it? The origin of that family." The wizard on the side asked worriedly. They had sacrificed many people along the way.
There is obviously no war, but there are so many casualties, and the times are so ruthless. Even now, the main line of the Trey family is still withering away, and now it even faces the danger of extinct heirs.
"We can only give it a try. This is our last hope." The wizard pulled down the upper edge of his hood to block the cold snowflakes coming towards him, and spoke among the broken snow.
"Forward! Cold Howling Crow."
In the ice and snow, the warriors in front raised the flag again. The gray raven grabbed the skull and stared into the distance. The wisteria flag from the second era still did not fall.