Chapter 21 The Strange Story of the Old Castle (1)
Crozier's castle stands between the distant mist and a gray village and forest. The winding path bypasses the village and stretches along the undulating hillside into the dark forest.
There is no trace of warmth under the hazy sky. The breath and quiet coldness overflowing in the forest make people feel a little colder. Just stepping on the paths and stone bridges here can make people feel like they are falling into a glacier.
Such panic and sadness.
Kulala leads a small team forward.
She had a feeling, a vague feeling, that she was being watched as soon as she came here. There was no breeze in the stagnant air, as if someone was whispering, trying his best to tell her something.
This feeling and the rustling in the breeze lingered in my heart, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get rid of such a depressing and powerless mood.
After the failure of last night's battle, the remaining headquarters of Berthier's column and the Homonworth spring camping group ran all the way east to avoid the pursuit of the rebels.
They ran from dusk to early morning, and finally got rid of the enemy. When they came back to their senses, everyone could already see the gloomy castle of the Crozier family in the distance.
To the east from here are the farmlands and small towns under the protection of the lords. If everything goes well, they can get supplies here and wait for support.
If everything goes well……
Marching continuously throughout the day, Kurala braced herself for the battle and carefully examined the unfamiliar trees and shadows around her. An ominous premonition always lingered around her, as if the journey ahead was an abyss with no return, which made her want to
Turn around and run away.
I haven't experienced this feeling since the Whispering Forest the year before last.
There were huge stone statues standing on both sides of the not-so-narrow road, like human figures, most likely the ancient pioneers of this family. They were a striking reminder that as long as you took another step forward, you would enter the territory of the Crozier family.
The two statues, which are seven or eight meters high, have collapsed. The heavy stones have been crushed, crushed and dragged, leaving deep dents on the road. The broken and broken bases have not yet grown.
Moss and weeds will be damaged in a short time.
Cruella bit her lip.
Like everyone else, she had no choice. There were soldiers chasing her behind her, and just breaking out here was already exhausting everyone.
The silver-haired Miss Shutoral raised her hand and gave the order for the team to move forward. The four first-year Shutoral who followed them jumped out and crossed the stone statue in a scattered formation of alternating vigilance.
Entered the Verona territory of the Crozier family.
"Command, reconnaissance team report."
"There are signs of impact from large creatures at the entrance, please be careful."
"Every 30 minutes, psychic ripples will cause significant disturbances and interfere with communication signals."
"Reconnaissance team, the headquarters has received it. We will be there shortly."
A few minutes later, Ophelia, Berthier and Nona arrived with the remaining people.
Having lost their professors, most of the Extraordinaries, and almost all of the soldiers, this team that once numbered close to two thousand only had a handful of thirty or forty people left.
Neferti and her first-grade classmates were also among them. Although they received extra care, they still lost all their horses and baggage, and were in disarray, dragging their tired bodies and hobbling along. Once they arrived here,
Everyone fell into a deep dead silence and was surrounded by a dank atmosphere.
The only good thing is that there are no rebels nearby.
"Maybe it's the scenery and the weather," said Berthier, the most knowledgeable of the group. "The combination of very simple things has a huge power to infect us, but to explore this power, it is still
It is beyond our ability. Don’t worry, this is the influence of the environment on us. As long as we rearrange the details in front of us, we will effectively change or even dispel this bleak impression. Come with me!”
He led everyone up the hillside to take in the surrounding scenery.
An ancient lake with a strange shape sleeps among the low gray hills. It is slender on both sides and wider in the middle. It is next to Crozier Castle. It is dark and gloomy, like a dark eye, reflecting the dead shrubs and trees.
Withered trees. Visitors from outside looked at the lake, and the dead water surface was also there, staring at them like blank pupils.
In those huge eyes, there is also the reflection of an unrecognizable old castle, and the densely packed empty windows without curtains are creepy.
Berthier was speechless after witnessing this scene.
"I remember Murat said that he and Isius were here inspecting the territory not long ago. Miss Viscount Lilia was also with them." Nona murmured to herself.
The scene in front of me is really unimaginable. A noble family was once active here.
No matter what, they must pass through here and head to the safe area to the east for shelter; the continuous actions and battles have exhausted everyone's dust crystals and materials, and the wounded also need food and rest.
The castle of Isius de Crozier is to the north of the main road, and there is a village by the lake not far to the south. It is shrouded in deeper haze, and even in the dim light of dawn, it is not clear and blurry.
What can be distinguished is that the entrance to the village is on a trail extending from the main road, located on the lakeside below the hillside.
The cold bare walls, the windows with empty eyes like soulless eyes, the dense shrubs, and the dead tree trunks like claws among the withered trees were all watching them silently.
The farmland here is not deserted, but the owner of the land has disappeared.
Are we really going there? Everyone hesitated to speak. In the end, Berthier spoke out:
"We can't establish long-distance communication without supplies.
"Divide into four teams.
"Joshua, take the wounded to the intersection below, set up an echo enhancement device, and maintain contact.
"Dedius, Kulala, you search eastward to confirm whether the subsequent evacuation route is safe.
"Ophelia, take the first-year students and a few sergeants to the castle to investigate and find as much clothing, dust crystals and spell-casting materials as possible. If there is a letter file, I want to know what happened in this territory.
"Nonna and I led a small team to investigate the nearby manor and collect food.
"We will meet here in two hours, everyone be careful."
…
Arriving at the woods outside the village, with the low hills and castles in the distance, the land that originally had a glimmer of light suddenly fell into darkness. There was not a single sound of insects or birds in the silent woods.
It was too quiet here, and there were slight and weird sounds in the silent darkness. It seemed as if something was watching passers-by from all directions.
The road turned another bend ahead. Nona turned around and waved the torch to see her surroundings clearly. The flashing firelight lit up a shade of trees, and between the dry vertical lines, there was a big black mouth.
Pounced over.
"Wow!!!"
The whole team was startled. Nona hurriedly glanced over there, only to find that the monster's huge mouth had stopped in place. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a building made of black stones. The wall on one side of the road had already
The collapsed, uneven gravel looks like jagged sharp teeth.
"Is this a Holy Grace Church?" Nona looked at it carefully for a while, and finally saw some traces. "Look at the top, there is still half of the coat of arms of the Holy Light."
She held up a torch and walked towards the ruins. Although it was early in the morning, there was no firelight, and after walking a few steps it was already dark.
The walls here are solid and thick, and the windows are small and squeezed into the high walls.
After passing through the long and narrow hall, you come to the altar with a cross plane in front. The horizontally expanded space becomes spacious here. This is a design that facilitates believers to gather near the altar to listen to sermons. The oppressive space is suddenly relieved under the high hanging windows.
Cheerful, let the heart of worship and awe rise suddenly.
"The wall is tall and the window openings are narrow. The reason for this design is to make the wall strong enough to withstand the lateral push of the cross arch above."
Berthier's voice sounded from behind, and he had already led someone in.
This Holy Grace Church has been abandoned for a long time. The tower in the center has collapsed, and even the tables and chairs arranged in the prayer room and the iron bell on the bell tower have disappeared. However, although the style is old, the size and size of the building
From a structural point of view, the standards of this Holy Grace Church are very high.
"This Church of Saint Grace was built at least a thousand years ago," Berthier looked around carefully. "Although the structure of the cross arch is strong, it is too bulky. In the second era, it was replaced by the design of rib arches and skeleton coupons.
"
As he spoke, he patted the wall: "Have you ever been to the Holy Light Cathedral in Beyeland? The dome of the hall there is more than forty meters high, and the stained glass windows on the wall are as big as clouds. This is because of the lightness
The new dome structure allows the buttresses to be lighter and taller. However~
"Judging from this building, it should have been very important and noble in the era when it was built. It should have been presided over by a Sequence 7 priest, and it was the center of faith in the nearby area."
Nona listened to his explanation, raised her head and walked under the half-ruined beams: "So, a long time ago, here used to believe in the Holy Light, and a church that was very respected at the time was built. But, Yi
Hughes' family is the lord here, but it is the inheritance of the wizard."
Berthier recalled: "The Crozier family has not always been a wizard family. Earlier, they were believers of the Holy Light. There were priests among the family members, and there were Holy Grace Church members in the territory.
Not surprisingly."
"Griffith said that he and Aaron have a close family relationship."
"Yes, I remember too. 'Aaron' means 'favor of the Holy Light,'" Berthier said about history. "Magic has been flourishing for an era, but a few decades ago, there were still many people who persisted.
The traditional land was governed by the monks and paladins of the Holy Light Church. The wizards at that time were also very powerful, but they did not have the glory they have today."
…
Neferty and the first graders followed Ophelia into the castle under the protection of Desai and others.
This building is large in scale, with tall gables extending along the gentle slope of the lake. The hall, cloisters, spires and workshops are stable and intact. Apart from the appearance of decay, the entire building shows no signs of crumbling.
However, something inside the castle had been ravaged, and many stairs and corridors were damaged and inaccessible.
Everyone came to the floor where the owner lived, and spread out in twos and threes to look around. There is a master bedroom, a magic workshop, a study room and a material warehouse. It is the most likely place to find spellcasting materials and emergency supplies.
While paying attention to her steps, Neferti walked along the stone steps to the door. Under the arch of the hall, the heavy door was cold and eroded her bones. She looked around creptly and found that it looked like the master's study.
This is a cylindrical room that penetrates the upper and lower floors. The towering bookshelves reach to the ten-meter-high roof. The books and materials on the shelves are scattered everywhere. There are even a few letters on the ground by the corner of the table that I have not had time to take away.
letter.
Neferti carefully picked up a notebook and looked at the cover.
"The Diary of Lilia de Crozier"
"January 8, 1445,
"Brother is finally sending a reply from the south!
“He told me that this was an adventure into the hot and humid jungle and ancient civilization, and it was an archaeological miracle that unveiled the lost troll civilization.
"He was bragging again. If it were really so easy to find miracles, archaeologists should have discovered them long ago. He would have lied to me, and Murat would not have lied!
"I'm so worried about his health, eczema, and skin diseases. He has been wearing a strange silver mask for a long time. Will the rainforest in the south worsen his condition? I want to pray for him."
Seeing the girl's concern for her brother, Neferti sighed bitterly and continued reading.
“January 12, 1445,
"Brother is back! Holy light, I was frightened. If Murat hadn't been with me these days, I would have been frightened to death by the terrible things in Beyelan. Summoned by the Sacrifice of the Chosen One
What are they?
"My brother didn't seem to care. He was eloquent and kept talking to Murat and me, describing a magical lost world that had no trace in any documents.
"He said that there is a basin surrounded by mountains, hot and humid forests and ancient troll ruins. There are many extremely huge creatures living there. They are like the descendants of legendary dragons, trolls, and many strange and ferocious giant insects.
Rule that world together.
"I don't like it when he keeps talking! Especially when he announces his adventure story and then rushes into the laboratory!"
“January 13, 1445,
"What is my brother doing? He didn't even tell Murat~ It's so strange, they have such a good relationship! I also read their book drawn by Miss Xia Long, of course, it's an abridged version, the kind that can be shown to ladies!
"I have to go investigate!"
"January 14, 1445,
"What~
"Ise de Crozier, the Viscount of an ancient family, brought back some dry stems and leaves of plants from his great southern expedition? I can go to the garden and pull out a bag for him in five minutes!
"I want to tell Murat! Let's laugh at the great explorer Isius during dinner!"
Neferty felt something was wrong inexplicably.
She felt as if she knew and had even seen those plant specimens with her own eyes.
She turned to the next page tremblingly. Miss Viscount's delicate and beautiful words became confusing and distorted here, and only one sentence was left: