Ash arrives at Derek's house.
When I walked in, I saw the village chief and Uncle Derek sitting on the sofa, looking down at something together.
The village chief, Vann, is not very old. He is of the same generation as Derek and was also a member of the hunting team. However, he has a broad vision, is fair, and has the most profound knowledge in the village. So after the old village chief passed away a few years ago, he was elected as the village chief by the whole village.
He has soft blond hair and blue eyes, a gentle and elegant appearance without any aggression, and a gentle smile on his face. He is very popular with women both in the village and outside the village. In Derek's words, if this guy is not too stingy, he is really perfect and impeccable.
But compared to Vann, who is loved by everyone, Ash prefers Derek, who seems difficult to deal with at first glance.
When facing Fan En, even though he knew that the village chief was a good person, he couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine.
So when he was confused, he went to Derek first instead of the village chief Vann.
"Ash." Both of them heard the door open and looked over at him. Derek waved at him first, "Come here, there's news coming back, I think you'd probably like to know."
Ash paused, then walked over even faster.
Shortly after the celebration night, several key members of the hunting teams left the village, and they only told the outside world that they were traveling far away to do business - this was normal, the village would arrange for people to go out every once in a while to buy and exchange various goods - but Ash knew that this time was a little different, the team leaving the village not only had to buy supplies, but also had the task of finding out the surrounding situation.
Is there finally some useful news now?
"Sit down and talk." Derek pulled Ash to sit on the other side of him and let Ash look at something on the low table.
The metal base sat firmly on the table. On top of it was a transparent oval cover that looked very solid. Inside the cover was a brass the size of a goose egg, with strange patterns engraved on the surface.
In terms of craftsmanship, it is extremely delicate and exquisite.
"This is a lamp." Derek lowered his voice and deliberately spoke mysteriously, "A crystal lamp, used for lighting."
As he introduced, he reached out and touched a protruding button on the metal base.
Ash heard a slight "click", and then his eyes suddenly became bright - the pure white light lit up from the lampshade, penetrating the transparent shell unhindered, the light was steady and soft.
There was no wick, no oil, and no leather shade.
However, it lit up like a lantern. No, it was ten times or a hundred times better than a lantern.
"Magic..." Ash uttered the word subconsciously. Faced with an existence that was far beyond his common sense, perhaps only this word could explain everything.
"Yes." Derek snapped his fingers. "It's a lamp created by magic."
"Lannon sent it back specially." Fann said, reaching out to put out the lamp with a click. "Don't waste it. This also needs 'lamp oil'. It is said to be some kind of liquid made by alchemy. But we can't buy it here. Once it's used up, this thing will just be a decoration."
"Alchemy?" Ash wrote down this new word.
"The news has spread to all the bigger towns outside. Magic, alchemy and so on..." Fann sighed, "Our Duogu Village is just too remote. It takes at least half a year for new news to reach here than outside. Fortunately, we have arranged for people to go out and investigate."
Since this summer, many unfamiliar faces have appeared in major towns near and far.
These strange faces claimed that they came from outside the "Broken River Plain" and were wizards who could use the magical power called "magic" and possessed dazzling magical items. A bottle of potion at random could cure stubborn diseases and terminal illnesses.
They are a very, very incredible group of people.
They brought a subversive worldview and a brand new civilization. Compared with them, the aboriginals on the Broken River Plain were like backward and uncivilized natives.
Vann briefly informed Ash of the changes in the outside world. Seeing Ash's stunned look, he laughed, "Does it feel the same as Rachel? At least he didn't lie to us on this point. He is indeed from the outside world, and he is also a wizard."
"Why?" Ash frowned and asked without making any sense, "All this summer?"
Fortunately, Vann scored full marks in reading comprehension, so he understood: "I want to know why everything was calm before, but what happened this summer that caused so many people to come? - Well, Rachel also came in the summer."
"Ash, do you remember the story Rachel told you?" Vann said slowly, "He said that our place is called Broken River Plain by the outside world because there is a raging river surrounding this land, and no one can cross the river. And the reason why he was able to come in is because the river is drying up."
"I calculated the time. Rachel was probably the first outsider to set foot on this land. He came earlier than anyone else." Vann analyzed calmly, "When he came, the process of 'crossing the river' was still very dangerous, so only he and perhaps a few other outsiders went ahead. But as time passed, the river became drier, and 'crossing the river' became much easier, so more people crossed the river and walked in."
"But Rachel didn't tell the whole story," said Vann. "Just like he concealed the fact that he was a wizard, he also didn't say that the river was not the river we thought it was, but the so-called 'River of Elements'."
Ash nodded. That was what the old man from the troupe said during the celebration night. "The River of Elements is about to run dry." It matched Rachel's words perfectly.
Although we don’t understand what the Elemental River is, it is not difficult to judge that it is a natural barrier for the Broken River Plain.
It blocked people inside from going out, and also blocked people outside from coming in.
Now this barrier is about to disappear, and the land on both sides will soon be completely accessible.
When the old man in the troupe said “your peace will soon be shattered”, did he mean that these outsiders will bring them chaos and disaster?
"So far, those outsiders have not shown any aggressive behavior." Derek stroked his chin and said in a low voice, "According to the news Lannon brought back, most of the outsiders are warm and friendly, and have been welcomed by many towns."
But Rachel was also warm and friendly at the beginning, and was welcomed by almost the entire village.
Ash raised his hand and gently grasped his left forearm. The mark felt icy cold through a layer of clothing, calming his anxious heart.
He had felt uneasy when he saw Rachel.
Later, Rachel died, but this uneasy feeling did not go away.
He originally thought that this was because he listened to the warnings of the elders in the troupe, but now it seems that he had been wrong all along.
From the beginning, his uneasiness was not because of Rachel.
Rachel was just the beginning of it all.
The appearance of Rachel indicates that the Broken River Plain is no longer closed and Duogu Village will be exposed to the sight of outsiders from now on.
His uneasiness was because of what would happen to the village and him after the "River of Elements" dried up.
"Ash." Derek smiled and ruffled his hair. "Look at the bright side. We are finally not confused. And Lannon also brought back good news--" He winked at Ash proudly. "Magic, all the mysterious powers of wizards, we can also learn!"
Ash opened his eyes wide, grabbing Derek's clothes almost eagerly: "Really?"
"Really! Some of our people have already been taught and learned their power!" Derek laughed. "Ash, all kinds of incredible things have happened to you. You must be a good material for learning magic!"
Ash's eyes lit up.
***
On the other side of a distant continent, in a wizard tower that towers into the clouds.
Sigourney lay on the soft big bed, raised her left arm, and the black silk sleeve slid down her forearm, revealing her slender and pale arm.
On the arm, a silver-white star was crawling there cutely.
He raised his right hand again and poked the stars from time to time, nonchalantly and a little absent-minded.
“Knock, knock, knock.” There was a knock on the door. “Sigourney, this is Nance. Can I bother you?”
"Come in," said Sigourney, lowering her arms, but still lying lazily, motionless.
Nance walked in.
"Sigourney, where are the etiquettes for entertaining guests?" Nance walked over the floor cluttered with clothes, alchemical materials, and books, and approached the bed. He lowered his head to look at the young man who looked like a corpse, exhausted and depressed. "And your room, how long has it been since you cleaned it?"
Sigourney tilted her head slightly. "First question, this is your wizard tower, I'm just staying here. Logically, I'm the guest. Second question, about... three days?"
"It's become so chaotic in just three days?" Nance was shocked. "Do you still remember that you were once an elf?"
"I'm sorry." Sigourney pulled the corners of her lips coldly, "You also said that was in the past. I'm a vampire now."
"The vampire race is also known for its nobility and elegance, okay!"
"Maybe it's because I'm not a pure vampire?" Sigourney looked at him innocently. "Look, I used to be an elf, which is the race with the worst compatibility with vampires."
So why is it that when two elegant and noble racial attributes are superimposed, the sum becomes negative?
Nance took a deep breath and said, "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Isn't it clear that after the attributes of the two races are superimposed on this guy, the only thing worth looking at is this guy's face? !
Why get angry at a brat who has nothing to offer except his face?
Nance calmed down.
"I came here to tell you that the results of the Wizard Association's exploration of Broken River Plains have come out."
Sigourney snorted in boredom: "Why tell me? I'm not interested in knowing."
Nans ignored him and continued, "The River of Elements will completely dissipate in half a month. From now on, the two continents will be unimpeded, and the Broken River Plain will no longer suppress the power of wizards. And the humans living on the Broken River Plain have been identified as superior magic materials comparable to the elves through observation and research during this period of time."
"Human? Magical material?" Sigourney raised her voice in disbelief.
Nance sighed, "Yes, they are humans, and they are also magic materials. It seems to be related to the magic-free environment of Broken River Plain for so many years. Every person on the plain is an excellent spellcasting primer and potion material. I suspect that crazy Rachel discovered this earlier than anyone else, so she secretly went there."
He shook his head with regret and sympathy. "Recently, magical creatures such as elves, blood races, and orcs are becoming increasingly scarce, and the supply among wizards cannot meet the demand. Now, the Broken River Plain has suddenly appeared. The 'magic materials' in it are of high quality and large in quantity, which makes the Wizard Association very happy. After half a month, the Broken River Plain will completely lose its protective cloak and will only become a hunting ground and breeding garden for wizards."
"...Interesting." Sigourney lowered her eyes, and after a long silence, she laughed softly, "Ha, you humans, finally even spared no humans! It's so interesting! I really look forward to the half month passing earlier - so that I can have a good look at the excitement!"
Nance also laughed: "Aren't you worried?"
"What are you worried about?"
"Your contract partner," Nance reminded him, "that child is also in danger. Rachel chose him, which means he must have some outstanding qualities as a material."
"Isn't he favored by the stars?" Sigourney brought up what Nance once said and sneered sarcastically, "How could something go wrong?"
After he finished speaking, he was stunned for a moment, then tilted his head hesitantly: "It shouldn't be a problem, right?"
He quietly placed his right hand over his left forearm. Under his silk pajamas, the temperature of his arm was as cold as a corpse all year round. Only the mark of the stars strangely emitted heat, which was the human body temperature that he had lost for a long time.
If the contract partner dies, even this little bit of warmth will disappear...
Thinking of this, he frowned slightly.
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