Chapter 273 A Short Goodbye (1/2)
”Those were Deh they don't usually venture this close to the Valleys”
”But what are they?” Arran asked again, his expression troubled ”They weren't like the Reent”
He cast a wary look at the rocky path behind the to see either Ren of either — if anything had tried to follow them, the formation had clearly stopped it
Still, he wasn't fully reassured The mountains stretched into the distance as far as he could see, and between their snowy peaks and low valleys, he feared there would be so the barrier
Meanwhile, Brightblade creased her brow as she considered Arran's question ”Their nature is a matter of much debate and speculation,” she said after a es cast spells, soence is left in the Essence, and that this gives rise to the Dees, reawakened by the infusion of Essence”
”But you don't believe either of those things,” Arran said The tone of her voice strongly suggested that she thought both theories nonsense
”I don't,” she confirmed ”But what they really are, and where they came from… I have no answers to those questions All I know is that they've existed within theas the Society has kept records” Her expression softened, and she shrugged ”But they're no real threat Not with the Re their numbers in check”
Arran frowned From what he had seen, he hada threat ”If they're intelligent, can't they escape the htblade shook her head ”Forth of the mountains,” she explained ”There's no way for Remnants or Demons to escape on either side of theth of the mountains?” Arran's eyes ith surprise Froe extended for a distance that would take years to travel It seemed almost impossible for there to be formations on such a scale
”All ten thousand htblade confirmed ”In truth, those for the E the Remnants and Demons contained within the mountains, they form a barrier that no army can cross”
”So the creatures protect the Eh the idea sounded, Arran realized that in a twisted way, it e covered by fors locked in a garden, stopping anyone froht caused a shi+ver to run down his spine So like this could not be a n, he couldn't even begin to irand a plan
Brightblade preempted his questions, however ”If you wish, you can study the Society's history when you return to the Valley,” she said ”But right now, you must prepare for the road ahead You should be able to travel in a few hours' time, correct?”
Arran nodded reluctantly His injuries weren't too bad — nothing a few hours of rest and a quick onhis questions go unanswered caused hihtblade clearly had no intention of providing him with any further answers — not now, at least
”Excellent,” she said ”Then only a few ss re — a large sheet of paper and an amulet — then handed them both to Arran He quickly inspected them, and was pleased to see that the sheet of paper was a detailed map of the Ninth Valley's borderlands That, at least, would be useful in the years to coe on the htblade said, ”It's about three es nor Hunters travel there frequently I would suggest you go there for your Shadowflaht and nodded He had not yet given any thought to where he would start his training, and if Brightblade said this place was suitable, he o there
Moreover, if he was to spend several years training in seclusion, a sh With his Earth and Stone Realms, it would be a small matter to build a simple house, and he could spend any ti
He'd had no chance yet to , but now that he considered it, he began to think it ht not be so bad
”About two htblade continued, ”you will find the battlefield where Elder Nikias fell Once you learn Shadowflas on the Forms — if they are still present”
She furrowed her brow, then added, ”But I urge you to study the seals and wards in the books I gave you, first The battlefield lies at the edge of the Hunters' lands, and you should find theain He still had little idea of hoas going to infiltrate the Hunters' lands, but that any concealment wards he could learn would help hiiving it a brief glance It was made of smooth black stone, and he could detect no seals or enchantments on it