Chapter 28 (2/2)

The two successive blows had crippled the Norton Kingdom. They met defeat in each subsequent battle with the Kingdom of Pralync. In just three years, the once mighty kingdom, now hanging on by the skin of its teeth, had no choice but to move its center of power. Its monarchy relocated south to take refuge with the Free Trade Confederation. However, the assassination of King Leon by the fallen Annie Abel in several years’ time had caused the complete collapse of the Norton Kingdom. And so, the weak Freedom Confederation of the South, which had been protected by the Norton Kingdom’s troops before that, had no choice but to directly confront the Dark Elf forces.

The future of the human race had seemed dark indeed.

Considering the behavior of the game server so far, any missions regarding the demon, Tarlvess, would be truly important. He would be able to earn many Omni Points from them.

“Fine. I really don’t understand you though,” Celine responded.

Despite that, Celine still carried Link as she flew towards the North.

“The dean of East Cove Magic Academy, Earl Anthony, is a Level-7 Master Magician,” she began to explain, “There are powerful Rune Barriers around the academy. Even the Girvent Forest around the academy is under the surveillance of their watchtower; it’s extremely sensitive to dark magic. It’ll be very hard to for me to hide myself there, so I can only send you to the border of the forest.”

This came as a surprise to Link. He had thought that Celine would be able to enter the academy with him. If that was so, then he and Celine would have to part ways.

Feeling the soft, warm body behind him, Link stayed silent, full of reluctance.

Celine sensed it and said laughingly, “I would have to leave even without the Rune Barriers. As you know, since I showed my true form, my father’s lackeys will be after me again. I need to shake them off first.”

“Be careful,” Link stirred. Yes, this wasn’t the time for romancing. Celine was in constant danger. He needed to get stronger as fast as he could!

“Don’t worry. I’m used to it. Those hounds are all idiots,” Celine giggled.

They continued to chat as they traveled. Celine flew very quickly. Half an hour later, a vast expanse of rubber trees appeared beneath them. It was the Girvent Forest, also praised as the Courtyard of the Gods.

Lush green trees and shrubs, dappled sunlight, birdsongs and the aroma of flowers astonished their senses. A wide path stretched out in a straight line through the forest, some clearings appearing beside it every now and then. Those were forest ranches. Further in, at the middle of the forest, there was a bustling small town—the town of River Cove. A clear stream ran through the middle of it.

From up in the sky, Link’s heart was filled with joy, yet tinged with regret by the picturesque scene.

In the lore, the Dark Elves had used a God-level item to conquer the South. When the Dark Elves reached Girvent Forest, the East Cove Magic Academy, which had just been rebuilt, had been forced to use powerful magic barriers to stop the Dark Elf Army from advancing. Between the two forces, the beautiful Girvent Forest had been reduced to ashes.

This time, Gladstone was saved, and Annie lived. Would history change because of that? Link had no idea. But he vaguely sensed that all he had changed were some minor details—the main flow of history was not that simple.

They soon reached the western entrance of the forest where Celine landed. “I’ll drop you off here.”

“Many thanks,” Link smiled. He was reluctant to part with her, but he knew that in order to walk with the Demon Princess in the future, he had first to catch up to her footsteps.

Celine, too, was sentimental. In her heart, she saw Link as a true friend and she was worried considering that he was now in a weakened state of magic.

She gritted her teeth and pulled three feathers from her wings. She quivered in pain as she wrenched them off.

She passed the soft feathers to Link. “Take these with you. Burn one when you’re in danger, and I will come to save you.”

Link took the pitch-black feathers from her. Information popped up on the game interface.

Feathers of the Demon Princess Celine Flandre

Quality: Epic

Effect: Summons the Demon Princess to your aid when burned.

(Note: A token of friendship.)

Link carefully hugged the feathers to his chest, making Celine blush a little.

“I’ll remember it,” He said.

Celine took out a pendant of mystic silver. “A storage pendant. Most of the magic books from Gladstone are in there. Your New Moon Wand, and Fire Crystal Staff will need to be hidden—you can put them in here.”

Dimensional storage gear was very expensive. Such a pendant probably cost more than 2000 gold pieces, but Link needed it, and the books inside it, desperately. He had been rushing around Gladstone and didn’t really have time to consider them, but the magic books were especially important to him now. It came as a pleasant surprise that Celine had prepared all this for him.

“You… I’ll take it.” Link wasn’t coy. The greatest favors needed no thanks.

Celine watched as Link put on the pendant. Suddenly, she walked up and planted a kiss on his forehead before taking a few steps back. Her smooth, white face flushed. “My friend, I’ll leave now.”

Link felt the tingling on his forehead. In a daze, he nodded. By the time he came to, Celine had already left.

It was as if a piece of his heart had gone with her. He touched the pendant that lay on his chest. It felt like Celine was still with him. Strangely comforted by it, he stepped onto the forest path.

The wide path in the forest was also known as the King’s Lane. It led Northeast, passing through River Cove Town in the middle of Girvent Forest, past East Cove Magic Academy, and finally to the capital of the Norton Kingdom, Springs City.

It was the only path leading from the South to the capital.

“Springs City must be a mess right now,” Link sighed.

In the game, Norton Kingdom had crumbled not just due to the invasions but also because of internal squabbles. The capital city was in chaos mainly due to the struggle of power between King Leon and his younger brother, the Iron Duke.

The chaos in the capital city had spread throughout the land. Take Girvent Forest, for example—all was peaceful and beautiful. But it was just a façade for the danger that lay within.

Link met that danger within 12 miles of setting foot on the King’s Lane.

A skinny old horse had collapsed by the roadside, it’s neck slit by a knife. The blood hadn’t coagulated yet, so it had probably died not long ago.

Listening carefully, Link could hear some noises coming from within the trees by the road. It sounded like someone was battling.

Just then, the game interface shifted and a new notification appeared.

Mission Activated: Aid and Rescue

Mission Details: Save the master of the old horse.

Mission Reward: 5 Omni Points.

A mission!

Letting his curiosity get the best of him, Link took the mission without another thought. Then, cloaking himself in the Spell of Silence, he traced the sounds to their origins, deep into the forest.