Part Two: The Human World Chapter Twenty-Three I Finally Lost You
Asa wakes up.
This is the room in the hotel. The haystacks on the wall and the oil lamp on the table are still the same as when she left that night. She is lying on the bed where she originally slept, with her head on the hay she used.
On the woven pillow, although it must have been a long time ago, I still seem to feel the faint breath on it. The sunshine and noise outside the window come in, this is the morning in Oufu. Asa feels that his body is very light, and he feels very
Good, and I have never felt so good. The bones and muscles of my hands are so strong, and the skin is full of healthy elasticity and color. My mind is so clear that I can even clearly distinguish the voices of every orc outside.
Chu.
Walking out of the hotel door, the morning sunshine in the highlands brought with it a refreshing feeling that could penetrate the body. The orcs on the street were busy shuttling back and forth, chatting and roaring, creating a lively scene. The half-orc owner of the hotel was sitting at the door, shaving his hands.
There seemed to be another group of businessmen coming to the hotel, and he was going to be busy for a while. The city was full of vitality and peace. Asa shook his head hard, and when he finally woke up, he remembered
The bloody fear seems to be just a dream.
Some fragments of memories drifted out from somewhere in his mind like a cloud of smoke. During that half-dead time, although he could not move or speak, he could still vaguely know what happened around him. Although he did not remember it completely,
I also vaguely know that everything has started again. The people around me are no longer there, and the enemies I once misunderstood are no longer enemies. Now I am just alone in a strange city, a strange feeling of loneliness.
flooded my mind.
"The Lord of Cedros asked you to go to the city hall to find him when you wake up. He has something to tell you." The half-orc boss raised his head and glanced at him before lowering his head and continuing to concentrate on the food in his hand.
"Ah? Oh." Asa nodded.
Arriving at the city hall, Lord Cedros was holding a meeting with the elders of various tribes, and Asa was waiting in the city hall. It was still so busy here, with some orcs and human officials talking to each other and some holding
While the official document was being discussed, there were also a few ogres, werewolves, and lizardmen among them. Voices in various languages rang out one after another, and figures with different appearances mixed in and out, making the place more lively.
General Gru came in from the gate with a few werewolves and ogres. These orcs were all wearing weapons and armor, and they looked like they were the combat troops he led. General Gru just looked at him twice and then said to him
Nodding, he led the orc men into another conference hall.
Asa looked at Gru and couldn't help but nodded. Is this the terrifying enemy in his last memory? He suddenly remembered a story: Someone had a dream while sleeping in the mountains. After coming down from the mountain, he found that a hundred years had passed and the world had also changed.
It has completely changed. And he feels now as if he has had such a century-long dream.
The world has changed. So, what about her?
The meeting finally ended. The Lord of Cedros walked out of the conference hall with a smile on his face and waved to Asa, who followed him to the street.
"Has she gone back already..." After listening to the story of Lord Cedros, Asa just said to himself.
Cedros nodded and said, "Yes, she went back by herself. Go home and get married."
The word "self" seemed to sound particularly harsh. Asa didn't know whether Cedros meant it that way or if he just heard it that way. He felt as if his chest was hit and stabbed by something from the inside, and it was very painful.
It hurts, is very boring, very sore, and I even feel like I'm shaking.
"What are your plans?" Cedros asked, looking at him.
Asa was silent, with no expression on his face. The street still seemed so lively, peaceful, and full of energy. All kinds of orcs and humans walked around, ran by, shouted, and talked. But the noise seemed like
They were just phantoms, as if they were too far away to be reached and had nothing to do with him. He was just walking step by step alone. Cedros was watching him from the side and didn't say anything, just walking with him.
Finally he sighed and murmured: "I want to travel around and see various places. This is a wish I have made long ago."
"Oh? Don't you want to go back to the capital to find her?" Cedros asked, somewhat surprised.
This is of course not encouragement, just some curiosity. Young people usually have feelings that they can express but not receive.
"Since she wants to leave on her own, she must have her own reasons. Why should I go to find her?"
"Oh...it's really commendable that young people know how to make choices." Cedros nodded.
"I don't know what to choose, but an old man once told me that the world does not revolve around your feelings. I think it makes sense. She has her choice." Asa's mind was confused and stiff.
But listening to myself say such great truths, as if human feelings are enlightened and the world is clear.
"Hahahaha." Cedros laughed. He seemed to be very satisfied with the answer. He nodded and said: "By the way, only those who are not limited by their children's personal relationships are qualified to achieve great things." He was like introducing his proud work.
The artist pointed to the street and said: "First of all, let me ask you, what do you think of this city?"
"Very good." Asa nodded.
"But you know, two years ago this place was just a barren land. And the army of the Ironfast Empire was about to kill all the orcs in this highland. These races that are similar to us humans will immediately
They will disappear forever from this continent. You must know that their history is actually as old as ours, but their cultural forms are completely different. They all cling to their original way of life and ancient beliefs, refusing to communicate,
Progress. As humans continue to grow, they have become a weak and barbaric group. But, look at it now." His expression was no longer showing a work, but like a father showing off his son. "Look at it.
This is a vibrant scene here. Every orc is working hard to build his home. Have you ever seen such a vibrant city? Their original beliefs and lifestyles have completely disappeared with the destruction of the past tribes. From then on
Those who survived the massacre of humans were all young people. They grew up with active self-struggle and hard work. Their interaction with humans also made them lose their hatred. Their belief is no longer in unfounded gods and ancestors, but in
Freedom, legal system, hard work and struggle. In just two years, they built such a city, which will become even stronger in the future. It may even become, no, it will definitely become the most powerful country on this continent. Although I lead
They, but I am not the ruler here. There is no need for a ruler here. I guided them in this early stage, and will further improve the laws and systems in the future, allowing the residents here to govern themselves. Such a belief system
A country with freedom, equality, hard work and vitality is the greatest country. To create such a city and build such a country from scratch, is there anything more interesting and meaningful than this?" he said.
He waved his hand casually, but the gray beard and hair and wrinkles on his face did not reduce the vitality and pride at all. "What kind of personal love between children, you love me. Those short-lived things are compared with these great undertakings that can change history and the history of civilization.
, what does it count.”.
Cedros looked at Asa, those young eyes were full of fighting spirit and hope. "I can see that you are a very capable person. How about you, are you interested in working with General Gru to help me build such a country?"
Believe me, the joy you feel in pioneering and progress is unparalleled, and you are still young, maybe you can take over and lead this country in the future." The words coming out of his mouth can make every young person happy.
My heart is surging. "At that time, the development of the entire continent will be changed by your hands."
"Forget it." Asa shook his head weakly. "I'm really not interested in these big things. Now I just want to travel and have adventures freely."
"I misjudged you." Cedros stared at him and suddenly smiled.
"What?"
"It's not that you don't hold back on your children's personal relationships, you don't even know how to hold back on them. You don't know how to face feelings at all. You're afraid." The old man smiled slyly. "You're still too naive.
, Too kind. But those old guys know a little too much about the truth. Haha, even if it is true, sometimes it is better to know less about truth."
Asa didn't say anything. He was so troubled in his mind right now that he wasn't even interested in delving into the meaning of this sentence.
"But I advise you to go back to the royal capital." Cedros took out a scroll and handed it to Asa. "This is the teleportation scroll that Bishop Ronis left for you. He told you to go back when you wake up."
The royal capital, the Duke's Palace, and the wedding. Asa immediately had such an association in his mind. He shook his head and said, "I really don't want to go to that place anymore. It's not a bad idea to start traveling like this."
"You'd better not run around. The elves are looking for you everywhere." Cedros said, as if he suddenly remembered something, "By the way, if you go back to the capital, you'd better be careful with Duke Mrak."
"Aren't you with him?" Asa was surprised by this reminder. "Is he the one who has been helping you block the news about the establishment of Ofu?"
Cedros gave him a meaningful look and said, "Anyway, just be careful. I heard Xiaoyi told the story about the two of you in the swamp. It seems that you are probably the one who ran away from General Gru.
Soldier?"
Asa nodded.
Cedros said: "In two years, we have silenced nearly a thousand people, and you are the only one who can escape from General Gru. Because during this period, in order to prevent war, General Gru
I'm very busy, but he asked me to tell you that although it was a misunderstanding last time, it was really a very interesting battle. I hope I can fight you again if I have the opportunity."
Asa smiled bitterly and said: "But I don't find it interesting at all, and I never hope to have such an opportunity again."
Cedros patted Asa on the shoulder and said, "Okay, you go back. I'm going to do some work too."
"I said I wouldn't go back..." Asa murmured.
He would never go back. He wanted to make a decision, but found that his heart was empty and he had no strength at all.
A few days later, a blue light flashed in the teleportation magic circle of the Imperial Capital Magic Academy.
The blue-white magic light surrounding him faded, and Asa realized that in just a blink of an eye, he had arrived in the magic circle of the Magic Academy from the wilderness.
Finally came back.
After walking out of the magic academy, Asa looked at the streets of the royal capital, which he had not seen for a long time, in a daze. He had been feeling like this for a while, dazed. It seemed that a part of his body was empty, uncomfortable, and there seemed to be something blocking it.
Panic. Although I had already decided to travel, I had no idea where to go. After walking alone in the wilderness for a few days, I woke up at a lonely afternoon in the woods and suddenly pulled out the teleportation scroll and opened it inexplicably.
used.
"I'm back again." Asa walked back to Sandro's big house and opened the door of the big house. This is his home in the royal capital.
Old man Sandro was still messing with the corpse, as if he would only do this kind of thing forever. He was still not surprised or surprised when Asa came back. He glanced at him and said, "Why do you feel so weak this time?"
"
Asa came closer and looked at Sandro's face with unclear beard and hair, shook his head and said, "I am not very energetic because I think about working here."
He still felt empty and uncomfortable in his heart. Maybe it would be better to live here for a while. Asa missed the ordinary life he and Sandro had here before.
"Oh?" Sandro was a little surprised. "Young people with such credibility are rare nowadays. In fact, I almost forgot about it. I heard that you were beaten to death for stealing that book in the west, right?
?Fortunately, I have got the book back. Since you have such professional ethics and credibility, I will be exempted from the work I owed you. Now you are free and you can do whatever you want."
What to do? What do I want to do? Asa was in a daze.
"By the way, return that work clothes to me." Sandro waved his hand and glanced at him. "Now I find that this thing seems a bit dangerous on you."
Asa took off his robe and handed it to him. Sandro spread this legendary top-level defensive equipment on the table and placed a few hands and feet on it.
In the store on Wangdu Street, Asa spent money to buy a suit of clothes for the first time in his life. He didn't know how to choose, so he didn't need to say anything. He just had to take out a shiny gold coin and the boss and his assistant would naturally come to him.
Give him some makeup. After putting on clothes, he combed his hair and shaved his face at the strong request of his boss. When he took a picture in front of the mirror, he was a little surprised. He had no idea that he looked like this. It seemed.
No worse than those noble young knights.
Asa suddenly remembered that Cedros had returned the appointment documents of the bishop and the duke to him. It seemed that he should return these to them, so he slowly and unconsciously walked to the front of the duke's palace.
After the servant informed him, Duke Mrak came to the door to greet him in person, with the same friendly and kind smile on his face. He did not see his deputy, Knight Clovis. With the Duke's sophistication, he naturally knew what not to do in any situation.
Meet such people.
"I have been waiting for you. I must thank you for rescuing my little girl from the clutches of the kidnappers." The Duke led Asa into the Duke's Mansion. Although he still smiled brightly, he was secretly very upset.
..
He was relieved that his daughter came back obediently before the wedding. Although his daughter didn't mention much about what happened outside, the Duke still roughly estimated from the few words that the young man had arrived in Orfor City.
It is very possible that he has realized that he has been blocking the news for Ou Fujian City. What if this matter comes out? I have deceived him before, and it will be difficult to deceive him again now. How about simply killing him and silencing him? No way.
, the consequences of offending the Bishop are even more disastrous. Where should I start... But this is another opponent who is incompetent. Power is not interested in him, and money has no attraction to him. I have misunderstood this young man before.
He is obsessed with his younger daughter, but it seems obvious that he is not. As for the eldest daughter who chased him, it seems that something happened when she came back, but she is getting married soon, so of course she cannot afford to bet on a bargaining chip.
In two places...
Compared with the revolving thoughts and worries in the Duke's heart, Asa seemed like a piece of wood. He followed the Duke numbly as he walked in the Duke's Mansion. The place was still so luxurious and beautiful, and people could be seen walking around and busy everywhere.
With all the decorations and lanterns and colors, the atmosphere was filled with joy.
"Father, my sister's wedding dress has been tried on. Please go and have a look." Chris ran from the front and looked a little surprised when he saw Asa. She kept looking at him with surprised eyes.
"You should also come and see. My daughter's success depends entirely on you."
Hearing Duke Mulak's invitation, Asa suddenly felt a strange feeling in his heart. It was a feeling that he had finally found it. Now he finally understood why he came back by accident, and why he walked there unknowingly.
The Duke's Palace came here, all to see her.
He followed the Duke through a short corridor. He felt that he had never walked such a difficult and thrilling road. With every step he took, he could hear his own heartbeat, which kept squeezing the blood to his head and rushing upwards.
.
Finally, after turning through a door, she appeared in front of her.
She is no longer wearing the dirty adventurer attire, but is wearing a snow-white wedding dress, like a fairy in mythology, and her thick black hair is beautifully tied up, no longer casually tied up.
.With her lightly rouged face and lightly made-up eyebrows, she had never looked so beautiful.
Boom. Asa felt that her empty chest was filled instantly. It turned out that the empty place was her.
She saw Asa. She showed incredible surprise at first, and then a flush rushed to her cheeks, dwarfing the rouge on it. Although she tried hard to restrain herself, there was a flash of light flowing in her eyes. Her body trembled slightly.
For a moment.
As if she was trying to make up for the emptiness she had felt for so long, the feeling in her chest was not just full, but turbulent. Countless huge impulses collided and entangled with each other, and were about to burst out of her chest. Look at that point in her eyes.
Flash, his heart hurts. It hurts like a knife.
As long as she calls, steps, moves, and looks, he can rush over immediately, and the anger in his chest will explode immediately. No matter if this is the Duke's Palace or not, even if it is the palace, there are thousands of troops.
Even in the sea of knives and fire, he will rise up with his sword and take her out together. What about their respective lives and what the world is like?
However, she finally restrained herself, blinked, and the sparkle in her eyes disappeared, and all traces of excitement gradually returned to calm. She also saluted him like an ordinary guest and smiled slightly.
Asa could hear the sound of his internal organs shattering, being crushed alive by the tsunami in his chest.
The Duke's slender eyes flickered over the two of them, and with his subtle insight into the world, he naturally saw everything clearly.
"My good daughter is really the most beautiful bride in the world." No one can see what the Duke is thinking. He is a perfect example of a kind father before his daughter gets married. He hugged his daughter lovingly and kissed her.
"You guys prepare slowly, I still have official business to deal with with Mr. Asa."
"You come with me." The Duke patted Asa on the shoulder.
Asa followed the Duke into a room like a zombie. The Duke closed the doors and windows himself. Only then did Asa realize that this seemed to be the Duke's bedroom.
The bedroom is a place for sleeping. A person usually only fully relaxes when sleeping, so the bedroom is the home of the family, a true nest, a place that truly belongs to oneself. This most private place is absolutely
It will not be used to receive guests casually. And if it is really used to receive guests, there are only two possibilities. One is that there is no other place available, and the Duke's Palace will definitely not be unable to find a place to talk about things. The other is that it is used to communicate with guests.
What people talk about must be the most personal and secret things.
The Duke looked at Asa and said: "Xiao Yi will get married the day after tomorrow. She will marry the son of a Marquis of the Erni family, the Knight Clovis." The strange thing is that the signature gentle smile on his face is no longer there.
, replaced by a cold indifference.
Asa said "oh" without any emotion in his face and voice, indicating that he understood.
"But Xiaoyi doesn't like him, and she simply hates him. He doesn't like Xiaoyi either. But they still want to get married. Do you know why?"
"I don't know." Asa replied almost reflexively, but he was still distracted.
"Because of power. After I marry the Erni family, it will be of great benefit to both parties, especially me. My status and real power in the court will take this as an opportunity to skyrocket. You have already been to Oufu,
I’ve seen that orc city, and do you know why I risked so much and agreed to help them find a way to block the news of the city’s construction?”
Even though Asa was in a trance, he was a little surprised by the Duke's direct confession. He shook his head: "I don't know."
"It's still because of power. After the establishment of Ofu City, it will have a great impact on the interior of the empire. If I marry the Erni family, the political turmoil caused by this will skyrocket. It may even be possible for one person to be inferior to ten thousand people.
Above." Duke Mrak's delicate eyes revealed a vulture-like light, which probably no one has ever seen before. "But do you know why I am so persistent and thirsty for power?".
"I don't know." Asa was a little shocked. He could sense that there was something unusual in the Duke's words.
The Duke looked into Asa's eyes and said in a knife-like voice that was completely different from his usual gentle tone: "Because I was once like you, watching the woman I like being snatched away by others. And that
People may not even be as good as one of my little fingers."
"At that time, I was younger than you, as free and unrestrained as you, wandering alone in the world, fighting on the battlefield, drinking and singing. I liked a woman very much, and she also liked me very much. I thought that a sword in my hand would be enough.
I don’t have to worry about anything else in the world to protect the woman around me. But unfortunately, this world is not a world of only two people. In order to preserve the status and interests of her family, she had to become a concubine of a nobleman.
, and finally got involved in the war and died. From then on, I realized that in this society composed of countless people, the power of an individual is insignificant, and only power is the power in this society. So I have been working hard to move up.
Climb faster than anyone else and higher than anyone else.”
Asa looked at this man in surprise, who had always been so deep and calm. His current passion and fanaticism were comparable to those of the craziest pagan.
The Duke's expression is full of real emotions and vitality, which is something that no matter how good his acting skills are, it can't be imitated. Once a stupid person with a clumsy tongue expresses his true emotions and excitement, even if he cannot reason with the truth,
You can also persuade the listener emotionally. Besides, the Duke is by no means a fool.
"I can see that Xiaoyi likes you very much. She is my daughter and I know her. I can also see that you like her very much. I see my former shadow in you. But this marriage can never be changed.
, it affects political struggles, and may also involve the lives of tens of millions of people. At this point, there is no room for personal feelings."
The Duke's eyes locked with Asa's. His expression was full of sorrow, pity, majesty and salvation, like a martyr. "Do you feel very painful? Very sad? Feeling that you are powerless? Do you want me to tell you how to overcome this?
pain?"
Asa looked at the Duke blankly and listened.
The Duke extended his hand. "Come with me. You are a very capable and promising man. I have told you all my secrets. You can ride with me on the coming storm. Only go
Only by gaining the greatest power to stand at the top of this society can you no longer be controlled by this social force and control it. Only then can you let your feelings transcend this society. Only then can you get everything you want.
No need to have such pain again. You are more lucky than me, and you can even recover what you once lost."
True emotions are the most precious thing in everyone's heart. The more profound and sophisticated a person is, the less likely they are to show it to others. But only those who use this truly most precious thing as a means of communication can be truly authentic.
A master of Machiavellian tactics.
No one will not be moved by the true feelings of others, especially when this passion is also the words lurking in the heart.
The Duke saw something burning in the eyes of the young man in front of him.
No young person can be immune to love, and no young person can be insulated from the heroic ambition to trample the world under his feet. When the two are combined, it is enough to make the young elements that are strong in their blood boil, burn, and even self-immolate.
.
But with a long sigh, the fire in the young man's eyes went out again.
Asa pressed the Duke's inviting hand back and said: "Forget it. I think it's better to live a relaxed life. And she... won't want me to do this. I can hear your true words.
I’m very touched. Please don’t worry, I will never tell anyone anything.”
He escaped and didn't even dare to take another look at the room she was in. He was afraid that if he laid eyes on her again, he would desperately agree to the Duke's promise.
He hurriedly turned the corner and bumped into a man. Just as he was about to move away, the man screamed happily and held him in a warm hug.