Blood tax

Chapter 29 Clippers to Homonwarts

The port of Bayeran is located in the bay southeast of the city. Ships of wheat and cotton from the newly conquered southern provinces, minerals from the north and livestock and fish from the west are loaded and unloaded through this main port every day, and then they are loaded and unloaded in Bayeran. It is processed into exquisite goods in the markets and workshops and sent to various places.

Griffith had been here once before, and he had seen the mountains of cargo and the crowds of passengers in the public port area. The strange mixture made him know where he was without opening his eyes.However, Homonwarts, an institution of higher learning in the mysterious world, has its own small private port, far away from the congested cargo and suffocating air.

Everyone says that all people are created equal, but some people are more equal.

Along the clean and spacious embankment, the school has built a beautiful vine pergola for the guests to avoid the heat.Plump blue and green fruits dangle from the vines within reach, and brunch has been prepared on long tables in the shade, with doughnuts, roasted spring chicken and juices all you can eat.

Many boys from commoners and lower-ranking nobles packed their bulging luggage on carts and ran down the red-carpeted road shouting.Well-dressed girls leaned against the railing, letting the sea breeze blow their long hair.

The freshmen from famous families are still under the control of the family at this moment.Their servants set the tables and chairs and served delicate refreshments.With impeccable expressions, the deacons of each family sent famous invitations to visit the large families nearby.

Griffith stood upright outside the pavilion of Larmor's house, watching the students and servants coming and going. From time to time, he stretched out his hand to press his waist, but found that there was no sword hanging there.

"Sir, do you need to check in luggage?"

"Thank you, my luggage has been arranged." The apprentice knight responded politely, and followed the sound.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a small creature not much taller than a child standing beside him, looking at him with big sparkling eyes.This creature has brown skin, pointy face and ears, big front teeth and round eyes...

S! H! I! T!

Goblin!so close!I didn't even notice!

Griffith broke out in a cold sweat, and with lightning speed, he pulled out the dagger hidden in his boot and took a step backward.If it weren't for the short weapon being unsuitable, Griffith had already stabbed the dagger into the goblin's head and twisted it twice.

"Sir, sir!" The dwarf creature was frightened to death by the gleaming dagger, and fell to the ground, "I'm Brownie 1019, not a goblin."

After Griffith panicked, he found that this little thing was indeed different from the goblin.Its skin is light brown, smoother and more delicate, and its face looks soft and round, which is completely different from the wretched and murderous feeling of goblins.

"The apprentice knight's luggage will be checked in with Miss Larmor's luggage, so there is no need for the school to bother," the housekeeper Ashford walked over with a smile, nodded to Brownie who was sitting on the ground, and said to Griffith, "Put your weapons away before anyone else notices the commotion."

"Yes, Mr. Noble, farewell, Mr. Noble," Brownie hurriedly got up from the ground, took off his hat, bowed to Ashford and Griffith, and ran away quickly.

"Haven't seen a brownie? Well, it's my fault," Ashford shrugged apologetically at Griffith. "I didn't expect your reaction to be that big."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ashford," Griffith retracted the dagger and said to the housekeeper of Larmor House, "I have encountered goblins in the east, and they look a lot like them."

"I see~ I don't have much knowledge about familiars, I only know that they are all created by magic. It seems that you have another research direction in Homenworth," Ashford showed a slight smile, He brought Griffith to the long table in the gazebo, "Mr. Brandon, in five minutes, you will be responsible for the safety of the lady."

"Order received, Mr. Ashford," Griffith thumped his chest, and let out a dull but a faint crisp thump.

"Huh? What's the sound?" Nolan, the eldest son of Larmor, who came to take his sister to school, put down the grapes in his hand and glanced up and down at the apprentice knight.

"Mail, Mr. Nolan, I wear half-mail under my coat," Griffith replied. "School rules don't allow weapons and armor to be carried during daily activities, so I wear it under my clothes."

"According to the school rules, you can't wear it under your clothes~" Sonia, who was lying on the handrail and looking at the harbor, turned her head and saw Knight Xi with a sweet smile.

"If you are raided during the march, it may be too late to put on armor, and you will be at a tactical disadvantage," Griffith replied earnestly. "The Homonwarts Clipper needs to sail through the fjord, if..."

"Haha~ there is nothing, Sir Brandon," Nolan also laughed, "The territory from here to the north to Homonwarts is under the strict monitoring of the Imperial Fleet, the monsters along the coast, pirates and so on, It was wiped out many years ago."

"With all due respect, Mr. Brandon's prudence is commendable, Master Nolan. After all, this is the young lady's long trip away from home, and safety is very important," said Mr. Ashford, who was not too hot in a full black dress. Then he said to Griffith with a smile, "If anyone notices that Mr. Brandon's armor is not in conformity with etiquette, he will also think that he has just returned from the East and is still not used to life in a peaceful city, and will be considerate. "

At this time, a middle-aged man dressed as a mage tapped his magic wand in the distance, and there was an immediate echo in the private port:

"Homonwarts freshman, please board the ship, other guests please stay."

There were bursts of commotion and exclamations on the shore, and a beautiful and slender sailboat was like a willow leaf floating on the water, smoothly and elegantly rowing across the water and approaching the shore.She was as fast as a phantom, but silent.

Homonwarts' clipper "Flying Leaf" is responsible for the safe and rapid delivery of cadets from Bayeran's harbour to the campus in the north.It is said that each sail of this beautiful three-masted clipper has been blessed by magic, and it is like a colorful cloud as it passes over the sea.The keel of the sailboat comes from the giant fir trees in the dense northern forest, and the sailing on the rough strait is as smooth as crossing a mirror.

In addition to being used for daily transportation of teachers and students of the college, this clipper will also be used to transport fresh ingredients and other supplies.She set out from Bayeran's harbour near noon, and whether the sea breeze was right or not, she could reach the secluded fjords of Homonwarts before sunset the next day.

"Boarding, ladies and gentlemen, bring your carry-on luggage." A kind and elegant middle-aged lady pushed the glasses on the bridge of her nose and greeted the freshmen around her.

Griffith felt a cool breeze as soon as he got on the deck.Although it is still summer, it does not feel the heat at all, and it is as comfortable as golden autumn.

Fiona, who entered the school together, also boarded the deck accompanied by Lana. She jumped up and down to take Sonia's arm, and walked to the cabin together chatting and laughing.Rana, apparently not wanting to disturb the girls, waved at Griffith and found a space on the deck to sit down.

Griffith also found a shady corner not far from the cabin on the deck, took out a book and read it.His position is very close to Sonia's cabin, and if something happens, he can be there in an instant.

"Griffith~"

The apprentice knight who had just sat down looked up and found that Galadia was biting an apple and tilted her head at him: "Are you excited? You will soon become a member of the best magic school for mankind. Before asking you, you He also said that he is not suitable for learning magic! I can't believe that my body is so honest~ tsk!"

"My major is military command," Griffith defended, "Homonwarts also has good grades in this major, but it can't be compared with magic."

The elf girl laughed.Her bright and moving eyes are as beautiful as gems, and as distant and silent as the same serene autumn water.Griffith suddenly had an indulgent hallucination of slowly sinking to the bottom of the lake, and then his mind became active and alert as if it was lit up, and a trace of resistance slowly grew.

When the two met before, there was no such impression.Galadia's magic eye is gradually growing.

This is the fluctuation of inspiration. Griffith is growing in the direction of the Sequence 8 barrier-breaker. He has strong resistance to mental spells and illusions, and instinctively produces a stress response.

"Let me tell you~" said the elf girl indifferently. "You should give up the unpromising profession of a spellbreaker early, and strive to pursue progress in the direction of a paladin or a witcher."

Most of the apprentice knights who entered the Junior Sergeant School and were recruited by the army became lawbreakers.The growth of this Sequence pathway is very smooth, and by accumulating combat experience, one can steadily advance to a Sequence 7 Beyonder.

This approach does not require the special talent of the caster or the support of a deep family background, nor does it require the favor of a certain god like a Paladin, and its compatibility on the battlefield is far more than that of a witcher of the same rank.Therefore, the Kingdom has always guided suitable young people and carried out systematic large-scale training and training.

However, this Beyonder pathway has a fatal flaw—the promotion pathway above Sequence 7 is missing.

When Griffith first set foot on the path of the lawbreaker, he only heard vague rumors, and it was not until he entered the Larmor House that he fully understood the flaws of this path.

Lawbreaker is an ancient Beyonder path, but in the long Second Era, Extraordinary people beyond the Lawbreaker sequence have never been officially recorded, and the conditions and paths required for promotion seem to have been erased without a trace.

Sure enough, not only human beings, but even elves also think that lawbreakers can't be promoted... Griffith originally had a bit of luck, but this is completely shattered.He nodded slightly in disappointment, and turned his eyes to the busy strait outside the ship.

Before Galadia had finished speaking, she was about to say something else when she suddenly fell into silence when she saw the apprentice knight nodding, not knowing how to continue the chat for a while.

……

After departing from Bayeran, the Flying Leaf sailed north through the busy strait into the Sea of ​​Tranquility and continued along the edge of the coast.The surging of the waves is barely felt on the comfortable sailboat.

The provinces directly under the king's land where Bayeran is located, the Odessa region in the north, the Sevasto region and the eastern continent encircle this vast sea clockwise.For nearly a hundred years, the kingdom's navy has gradually eliminated pirates and monsters in the vicinity, and the coastal routes have become very prosperous and safe.

In addition to Griffith and Rana, there were also apprentice knights assigned and sponsored by the royal court, such as Ophelia and Medenmaia.They are not affiliated with a lord, and directly owe their allegiance to King Bayeran.

However, this did not hinder the mutual enthusiasm of the Shtorals.Long before they came here, they were already familiar with each other in twos and threes in non-commissioned officer schools and on the battlefield.

"This is the dividing line between East and West," Sonia gently put down the black tea in her hand, looking at the peaceful coast surrounded by green and flowers outside the porthole, "Griffith, would you like to have afternoon tea too?"

"Thanks, Sonia, but I'll skip it anyway, I'll fall asleep with dessert on a cozy afternoon like this," Griffith smiled and shook his head.

The small round table is covered with a clean white tablecloth, and puddings, petit fours, macarons, ice creams and sandwiches are slowly placed on a three-tiered silver tray.Homonwarts provided exquisite food for the trip, with orange juice, rum, and ice on tap in the cold-kept pantry.

"Look at people," Fiona, who was sitting across from Sonya, poked at Rana, who was bulging, "you won't be able to eat any more dinner."

"Well, I won't eat, I won't eat," Lana wiped his mouth and stood up, flushing down his mouthful of food with a glass of orange juice.

"You and Rana seem to have a good relationship, did you know each other before?" Sonia asked curiously.

"Well, since I was 7 years old, I have taken summer vacations in Xia Long every year," the bright-faced Fiona looked at the tall apprentice knight who got up and left his seat, "We have been good friends since childhood."

The selection of Cytoral comes from the oracle of the goddess who is in charge of fate and the future. Those who are selected usually have a close connection with the lord, and even have some kind of destiny disturbance.This is not to say that the two parties will develop into a romantic relationship, but that there is an unspeakable bond in a more unpredictable life.

Although the elves do not choose to practice in Total, they also respect the goddess prophecy.The reason why Galadia appeared in the East Adventure was also the guidance of the goddess.

"When I was nine, I was kidnapped by bad guys," Fiona continued, "and imprisoned in a cold mausoleum near the manor."

Sonia and Galadia, who were chatting on the side, did not expect the story to unfold like this, and were stunned for a while, staring at Fiona with wide eyes.

"The bad guys were going to tie me to a stone platform, and just when I was about to despair, Rana showed up.

"He was only 10 years old when he knocked down a grown man and dragged him to the door.

"Other bad guys chased after him, and Rana ran them around in the labyrinth-like basement, and finally got rid of them and rescued me from the cold stone platform..."

In the girl's amazement, Griffith followed Lana out of the comfortable and cool cabin.

"I didn't expect you to have this kind of ability," Griffith said to his tall and mighty companion. "How did you get rid of those bad guys in the end?"

"We didn't get rid of them," Rana shrugged. "There's a limit to a little boy's strength. No matter how hard I tried, Fiona and I got caught."

"That……"

"It was Earl Sharon's bodyguard who saved us in the end," Lana said. "I was just procrastinating."

"That's quite a feat," Griffith said heartily.

"It's not enough, it's not enough, Griffith," Lana walked to the side of the ship, avoiding the relaxed laughter of the girls in the cabin, "I still don't know what those people are going to do to Fiona? There were symbols I didn't recognize painted on the floor and walls there, like some kind of ceremony, some kind of sacrifice. Earl Chalon captured the cultists alive and conducted interrogation, but the cultists disappeared quickly, the incident The truth remains in the earl's study. I would have some strange dreams, vague and eerie, and I guess it might be because Fiona has a strong affinity with magic, so she is watched by hidden beings."

Griffith couldn't help looking at the happy cabin, and then at Lana: "It's not so. The recent generations of the Xialong family are also well-known, and there are no strange rumors."

"I hope so," Lana smiled. "But now, Griffith, you know what? It's not surprising what happens at Homeworthy."

"How powerful can it be?" Griffith tapped on the side of the boat. "This is just an academy."

"Don't underestimate the mysterious power," Rana's steady voice seemed to fluctuate a little, "You don't know what's hidden under the human skin."

……

As dusk approached, the scenery on both sides of the Feiye began to change.The east coast is gradually receding, leaving only the boundless sea, and the vibrant scenery of the west coast is also slowly fading, and the gray tones begin to occupy the vast sky.

"Is it getting dark or am I blinded?" Griffith looked at the changes on the shore in surprise.

Looking from the side of the ship, the sea and the land seem to be shrouded in a faint gray mist, which is indescribably oppressive and dull.

"Neither," Galadia leaned on the side of the boat beside him, letting the evening wind blow her long black hair, "this is the Whispering Forest, the dark-stained place between Bayeran and Homonwarts. hills."

what forest?There is dark pollution around the capital!
"It's hard to imagine!" The elf girl pointed to the dark forest on the shore, "This forest blocks the land traffic from the north to the south. If you want to go to the Odessa region in the north, you can only go by sea or go inland from the west. .The forest has no sunlight all day long, and the shadows are full of distorted mutant creatures. Just staying nearby will pollute the mind."

The first time Griffith heard that there was such a place, he couldn't help but feel a little unreal fear in his heart.

This is a core territory not far from the capital of the human kingdom. It is close to the shipping route. There are prosperous towns and fertile villages nearby, but it has not been able to purify this land for thousands of years.

"Can't it be set on fire?" Griffith asked suspiciously.

"I have tried it for a long time, and the fire in the forest will be extinguished immediately, as if it was swallowed by the endless darkness," a strange flash flashed on Galadia's delicate face, "It is said that the pollution in the forest will spread to The sea breeds indescribable monsters."

At this moment, the afterglow of the setting sun suddenly disappeared into the darkness, and the gray coast sank into endless darkness in an instant.The joy and light of the whole world seemed to have fled away, leaving only the cautious sound of the waves.

Ah hey~ No one told me about this!This sudden change made Griffiths terrified, and his whole body tensed subconsciously.

Seeing the nervous look of her companion, Galadia showed a wicked smile, quietly approached the apprentice knight's arm, poked Griffith's neck with her slender fingers, and asked quietly:

"Are you scared?"

Suddenly, there was a panicked cry from the silent deck—"Wow!"

This shout suddenly appeared in the darkness, and the sailboat rowing off the terrifying and gloomy shore was shrouded in a mysterious atmosphere for a while.Galadia jumped in fright, and hurriedly leaned against Griffith.

A sailor on the deck shouted: "Ahead, get out of the way!"

(End of this chapter)