Chapter 55 - Chapter 8: Excavation #4 (1/2)
Chapter 55 - Chapter 8: Excavation #4
The Enger Plains were very wide. Even the centaurs, who were very fast, needed a considerable amount of time to get from one end to the other end of Enger Plains.
Travelling from the south to the north, the elevation increased as they headed north. By the time they got to the Northern Limit Line, the place that the centaurs considered the end of Enger Plains, there was a high altitude comparable to a mountain.
The surrounding terrain also contained rocky slopes, wastelands and hills. It was because Ainkel’s magic power weakened the further away it was from the small temple.
After five centaurs returned to the south, In-gong’s group encountered more casios and geists as they moved further. He wasn’t sure about what type of surprises there would be, but he was certain that they shouldn’t spend that much time in the north.
They traveled a further two days towards the north. In-gong’s group reached the point that the centaurs thought was the end of Enger Plains.
”The Northern Limit Line is a little further ahead, but we call this place the end of Enger Plains.”
Ferocious Eyes said as he held his spear and gazed back and forth. He seemed to be drawing an invisible line.
Felicia explained further for everyone,
“The centaurs moved from season to season and the northernmost settlement is here.”
The centaurs had a nomadic life and used the entire Enger Plains as their home. The environment got worse the further north it was. However, if the season was right, it was a good place to live.
Despite being the first time they came here, In-gong and Carack just nodded. However, Daphne showed a different reaction. After listening to Ferocious Eyes’ and Felicia’s words, she spoke with an uneasy voice.
”The strength gets stronger the closer we get to the north. I can feel the fear of the spirits.”
Even In-gong shivered from the chills.
Daphne gazed at Felicia with anxious eyes. Daphne’s condition worsened the closer she got to the Northern Limit Line. She was more sensitive than In-gong or Feliciato the atmosphere of the north because she was a dryad.
Green Wind whispered in In-gong’s ears,
‘Master, I can feel an ominous energy from the north. If the energy felt from the drake ogres and casios was a firefly, the energy from the north is like moonlight. The reason for the purple energy is probably there.’
In fact, that was the purpose of his party. Moreover, it wasn’t just that.
‘The tomb of White Eagle is in the vicinity. I can feel it. I can only tell the direction right now, but it is obvious that it is located before the Northern Limit Line.’
White Eagle was also nearby. They reached the de facto end of the Enger Plains, but they had to go a little further north.
Carack, who was unable to hear Green Wind’s voice, turned around and asked,
”What do you want to do? We haven’t found anything special for two or three days. Should we keep going?”
Delia used to frown at Carack’s rudeness, but she was used to it now and just waited for Felicia’s reply.Felicia turned away from the north and said,
”It is dangerous, but... is it okay to go back without confirming after feeling something so blatantly ominous?”
If they were going to return, what was the point of coming here in the first place?
Ferocious Eyes lifted a spear and pointed to the northwest.
”If we go that way, there is a watchtower built by my ancestors. It is somewhat collapsed, but it was originally made to watch the Northern Limit Line. If we don’t get a clue when we go there, then we will return.”
'Master, that is almost the same direction as White Eagle.’
Green Wind added.
White Eagle had been used by a brave centaur warrior who fought at the Northern Limit Line. It was natural for his grave to be near the watchtower.
“What is the distance?”
Ferocious Eyes visualized it in his head and replied to In-gong’s question,
”If we move at the current speed, we will arrive in an hour.”
It was early afternoon, so that distance was sufficient to visit.
”I will follow your judgement. Like I said before, you are the leader of this operation on Enger Plains.”
Felicia told In-gong. She didn’t want the burden, so she looked elsewhere. In-gong nodded.
”Okay, let’s go there.”
”I understand. I will take the lead.”
Ferocious Eyes and the centaurs started to move at the same time. In particular, Karma moved next to Ferocious Eyes since her role was a guide. In-gong turned the draco towards that direction when he suddenly asked Carack,
“What is it?”
He had a strange look on his face. It was similar to his expression on the first day that they departed.
Carack faced In-gong and shook his head.
“I won’t say it.”
However, In-gong already knew the answer just by his expression. In-gong sighed before smiling. In-gong also felt an ominous feeling, but it was time to move.
”Let's go, Maybah.”
The draco immediately responded when In-gong called his name and he started running lightly after the centaurs.
&
”That is the watch tower.
Just as Ferocious Eyes said, they ran for an hour and saw a watch tower in the middle of steep mountains that stretched out like a folding screen. The outer wall was severely damaged and one side was completely stuck to the stone mountain. In the first place, it seemed to be a building made for the mountain.
”Let's go up.”
Fortunately, the stairs were wide enough for the centaurs and dracos to climb up. Ferocious Eyes went up first to check the dangers and everyone else followed.
The watch tower was bigger than expected and the height of the top floor was at least 10 meters.
In-gong swallowed as he moved closer to an outer wall. A cold, dry wind blew against his cheeks.
With the instincts of a creature, he looked at one specific point. Not only In-gong but everyone close to the outer wall was watching a single place.
There was something in a spot hundreds of meters away. It was a huge purple flame, and the various monsters around it were engulfed in a small purple aura. There seemed to be more than 200 creatures.
Green Wind had said that the flame was the source of her ominous feeling.
He heard a low scream the moment his intuition felt something. It was from Daphne.
“Young lady, are you okay?”
Carack rushed to ask Daphne, but she shook her head and didn’t answer. Felicia watched Daphne and said,
”I can feel the ominous aura directly. As I said before, this child is sensitive to it as a half-spirit.”
In-gong retreated from the outer walls with the centaurs and they gazed at each other.
Daphne seemed to regain stability from Felicia’s words and said to In-gong,