Chapter 14 Chapter 13 Trust

She watched the dead dragon in the rocky valley—it had returned to its original size—and focused on the severed head that lay a few feet away from the scaled torso.Around this ghastly sight, Dorigen saw the smoldering remains of goblins and giants in great numbers.And there was Cadderly and Danica coming out of the valley, flanked by the dwarf brother, the elf maiden, and the fugitive Volbo giant.Although they may have been tired, none of them were apparently seriously injured. Dorigen slid back into her chair, letting the image disappear from the crystal ball.At first, she was amazed that she could break through Cadderly's magical defenses so easily and discover the young priest's location.However, when she saw this scene, this massacre and Valentenema's berserk rage, she understood that the priest's defenses could be forgiven.

Dorigen had thought she was witnessing the end of Cadderly, that the threat of Walled Trinity was about to disappear.She was almost going to call Aballister, almost suggesting that the old magician go out and recruit Valentenemar as an ally, and together they launched an invincible aggression against Caladon. When she saw that Cadderly had actually shrunk the gigantic Elder Dragon down solidly—supposedly by stealing its age, Dorigen guessed—she was astonished beyond measure, and equally astonished. The shock came when she sat back in her chair and honestly considered how she had felt during what she had just watched.

She felt bad when she thought Cadderly was going to die.Logically speaking, the ambitious Dorigen could have told herself that Cadderly's death was a good thing for the conquest plan of Walled Trinity.The interference actions of this young priest can no longer be ignored, and if Valenteneyma killed the young priest, it only saved Aballister from doing it himself.Logically speaking, Dorigen should have felt no sympathy for Cadderly as he stood visibly helpless before the terrifying Elder Dragon. But she did feel it, and she silently cheered Cadderly and his brave friends on their brave endeavours, even jumping for joy when the Fubo giant emerged from behind and chopped off the dragon's head.

Why did she do that? "What did you see today?" The voice startled Dorigen so much that she nearly fell off her chair.Dorigen quickly put the cloth back on the crystal ball—although the ball was once again a fog that showed nothing—and scrambled to sit upright and regain composure, while Aballister opened the front door that now serves as Dorigen. quickly walked to her side. "Drusil lost the little priest," Aballister continued angrily. "Looks like he's making his way through the mountains." You don't know how smooth it is, Dorigen thought, but she remained silent.Aballister would never have guessed that the young priest was now less than a day away from Trinity Walled City.Nor could the old wizard have imagined that Cadderly and his friends were clever and powerful enough to defeat a creature like the Elder Dragon Valren.

"What do you find?" demanded the suspicious Aballister, pulling Dorigen out of her inner musings. "Me?" Dorigen replied innocently, poking a finger into her chest, her amber eyes widening in feigned surprise. If Aballister hadn't been too wrapped up in his own thinking and thinking at the moment, he would have been able to see through Dorigen's obvious defensive overreaction. "Yes, you," the wizard growled, "did you touch Cadderly today?" Dorigen looked back into the crystal ball, mulled over the question for a moment, and then replied, "No." When she looked back, she saw Aballister still eyeing her suspiciously.

"Why did you hesitate before answering?" he asked. "I thought I had contact," Dorigen lied, "but after thinking about it, I think it's just a goblin." Aballister's scowl showed he wasn't convinced. "I'm afraid your son deliberately misdirected my Eagle Eye spell in the wrong direction," Dorigen added quickly, forcing the older magician to put himself on the defensive. "The last time Druzil saw Cadderly he was near a mountain called Yechi," Aballister said, and Dorigen nodded in agreement. "There's a storm building up there, so it's unlikely he'll get very far."

"Sounds reasonable," Dorigen agreed, though she knew it wasn't. The old wizard grinned wickedly. "A storm in the making," he said thoughtfully, "but nothing like the one my stupid son has had so far!" Now it was Dorigen's turn to eye him suspiciously. "what have you done?" "Done?" Aballister laughed. "You should ask me what I'm going to do!" Aballister spun around.For the first time since this whole project of conquest began—when Barjin invaded the Moezhi Library almost a year ago—Dorigen had seen him so alive. "I'm tired of this game!" Aballister said suddenly and violently, stopping his spin, his sunken face inches from Dorigen's twisted nose. "So, now I'm going to end it!"

He flicked his fingers and left the room, leaving Dorigen wondering what the hell he was up to.The curtain that now served as her door was a merciless reminder of Aballister's angry power, and she couldn't help but shudder at the thought of the spells Aballister might be about to cast on Cadderly. trembling. Or rather cast magic where he thought it would go to Cadderly. Why didn't she tell her teacher the truth?Dorigen thought to herself.Aballister was planning a big move, maybe even going out to take care of his son himself, and Dorigen hadn't told him where she knew Cadderly was, or that the young priest had passed Ye Chifeng. It's miles away.

In theory, it would be safest for the woman to let Aballister go out and deal with Cadderly, because if Cadderly's attack on the Wall of Trinity was successful, Dorigen, who was not his ally, would be the safest thing to do. It should also be bad luck. Dorigen ran a finger down the bridge of her twisted nose, brushed her long hair away from her face, and looked at the cloth covering the crystal ball.Cadderly could be there in a day, and she hadn't told Aballister! Dorigen felt strangely detached from the cascading water around her, like a spectator from a distance.Cadderly could have killed her in Simista Forest, when she fell unconscious at his feet.He breaks her fingers, takes away her magical ingredients, and keeps her out of combat.

But he spared her life. Perhaps what guided Dorigen at this moment was a sense of honor, an unspoken sympathy between her and the young priest.A sense of morality asked her to let things take their course, to stand aside and let the two of them find out who was stronger, the father or the son. ※※※ Aballister held a smoking beaker aloft in trembling hands in his private room.Focusing his thoughts on the nightblade peak in the target area, he poured mana into the contents of the beaker: a powerful alchemical liquid. He chanted mantras, uttering mystical syllables from an almost meditative state, immersing himself in a swirling, growing energy.He continued for about an hour, until the fluctuating energy in the beaker almost exploded, destroying the entire Trinity Walled City.

The magician threw the beaker across the room, where it shattered against the wall.A cloud of gray smoke rose, roaring and booming. "Makos. Makos-Macom-Dairan," Aballister whispered. "Go, go, my pet." As if hearing the magician's request, the gray smoke penetrated a crack in the stone wall, passed through all the walls, and exited the Trinity Walled City.It rose high into the wind, sometimes drifting with the wind, sometimes moving on its own, and at the same time the side of the magical storm created by the magician began to grow and darken. It flew over the mountains, and the lightning contained in it burst and rumbled.The ominous mass continued to thicken and darken, as if about to explode with accumulated energy. It flew swiftly over the towering peaks of the Snowflake Mountains, and headed unbiasedly toward the area around Nightblade Peak. ※※※ Cadderly and his friends noticed the strange cloud, which was much darker than the hazy clouds that are common on snowy days.Cadderly noticed, too, that other more common clouds seemed to drift from west to east, consistent with the weather pattern in this area, but this strange cloud was galloping almost straight south. A moment later they heard the first thunderclap, a loud, though indistinct, thunderclap that shook the ground beneath their feet. "Thunder?" Ivan paused. "Who ever heard thunder in the damn winter?" Cadderly asked Vander to lead them higher up, perhaps to see what was going on behind them.When they reached a higher plateau where they could see Ye Chi Peak directly through the gap between several peaks, the young priest was not so sure he wanted to see it. Branding bolts of lightning one after another—clear as crystals miles away, even as the already fading sky began to fade—slammed into the hillside, smashing rocks, splitting trees, Hissing into the snow.The strong wind bent the pine trees on the lower slopes of the mountain to almost parallel to the ground, and the hailstones that hit continuously and violently piled up on the thick branches quickly, making the trees bend even lower. "It's a good thing we have a dragon on board," Xuelin commented, quite shocked by the ferocity of the storm, and so were the rest of the companions.Vander grunted dissatisfiedly, as if he had said all he could say, but in fact, not even the Volbo giant who grew up in the harsh climate on the northern side of the Spine of the World could explain the cause of this distant storm. Amazing intensity. Another gigantic bolt of lightning slammed into the side of the mountain, illuminating the darkened sky.There was a loud bang where the lightning passed, and several tons of snow were shaken away from the place, causing a large avalanche, which rushed down the north side of Yechi Peak like a waterfall. "Who's ever heard of such a thing?" Ivan asked in disbelief. The worst is yet to come.More lightning, and more hailstones pounding hard in succession, hit the area around the mountain.Other avalanches soon began to occur, with waves of multi-ton snow rushing down the side of the mountain and re-accumulating far below.Then a tornado appeared, a whirlwind darker than the night that was about to fall, and as wide as the foundation of the Mengzhi Library.It circled the Everglades, tearing through the trees, and burrowed into great abysses through layers of snow. "We have to go," the Fubo giant reminded everyone, because he—and he guessed correctly, his friends, too—had seen enough.Xuelin said once more that they were lucky to get away on the dragon, and then Vander interjected to point out that the winter blizzards at such heights were unpredictable and deadly. Everyone readily agreed with Giant Fubo, but they also knew that it wasn't just a "winter storm" that was ravaging the Everglades. Not long afterward Vander found an overnight cave not far from the valley where the massacre had taken place, and indeed they were all glad to escape the suddenly frightening weather.The cave is divided into three chambers, but it is warm and comfortable.The roof of the cave is quite low, and the doorway is even lower, blocking most of the cold wind. Vander and the dwarves made up sleeping beds in the first, largest cavern at the entrance.Cadderly decided to stay in the smallest cave on the left, while Danica and Xuelin made their way to the right, and with every step the monk looked back at Cadderly worriedly. Dusk soon followed, and then came a quiet and starry night, very different from the snowstorm just now.Before long, Ivan and Pikel's usual duet of grunting and shrieking snores was echoing in the cavern. Danica tiptoed back to the entrance chamber and saw Vander's huge figure leaning against the doorway.Although he volunteered to serve as guard again, the volbo giant fell asleep, and Danica didn't blame him.It seemed quite safe to her now, as if the whole world had temporarily escaped the chaos, so she slipped quietly, disturbing no one, to Cadderly's chamber. The young priest sits in the very center of the floor, crouching over a tiny candle.He was so deep in thought that he didn't hear Danica approaching. "You should go to sleep," the monk said, placing a hand tenderly on her lover's shoulder.Cadderly opened sleepy eyes and nodded.He reached over his shoulder and took Danica's hand, pulling her to sit next to him, close to him. "I have rest," he assured her.Danica had taught Cadderly several meditation techniques to restore strength, and she had not disputed his words. "This journey is much more difficult and dangerous than you expected." Danica said quietly, and there was a slight wavering in her usually firm voice. "There is one more obstacle ahead of us that may be the most difficult to overcome." The young priest understood the implications of her inferences.He also believed that the violent storm they had witnessed battering the slopes of the Everglades was clearly the work of Aballister.Also, he was scared.They have survived many ordeals in the past few years, and in the past few days, they have survived many ordeals, but this storm at least points out that the greatest test is still ahead, waiting for them in the Walled City of Trinity.Ever since he was attacked by the hybrid monster and Gamera, Cadderly knew that Aballister was after them, but he never imagined that this magician would be so powerful. Visions of avalanches and tornadoes invaded his thoughts.Cadderly had cast some powerful spells of his own lately, but he believed that the intensity of magic displayed in that storm was far beyond his ability, far beyond his imagination! The young priest, trying to remain resolute, closed his eyes and sighed. "I didn't expect this much trouble," he admitted. "Even dragons appear," Danica commented, "I still can't believe..." Her voice died in a sigh of disbelief. "I know it won't be easy to deal with the elder dragon Varun," Cadderly agreed. "Do we have to go there?" There was no anger in Danica's soft voice. Cadderly nodded. "Destroying Qilufu made the world a better place, and destroying Varentenima also—although I didn't expect to do it before, or even think that it was possible. What I have lived so far to accomplish Among the things, destroying Qilufu may be the most important thing.” A wistful smile crossed Danica's face, as she caught the gleam of a smile in Cadderly's gray eyes, which were barely open. "But not the most important of all the things you want to accomplish," the monk said quietly. Cadderly's eyes widened, and he regarded Danica with genuine admiration.How well she knew him!He was thinking of the many tasks to be done unfolding before him one by one, and also of what duties and responsibilities would be imposed on him by his special relationship with the god Denir.Danica sensed it, looked into his eyes, and knew exactly what was going on in his mind, if not exactly what it was. "I have a way forward in front of me," he admitted to her, his voice weakened but still firm with determination. "A rather treacherous path, no doubt about it." Cadderly chuckled at the irony, and Danica looked at him suspiciously, not understanding why. “Even after witnessing the scene before setting up camp today, I’m afraid that my biggest obstacles in the future will be caused by my friends,” he explained. Danica froze and moved away from him. "Not from you," Cadderly assured her quickly. "I have foreseen that there will be changes in the Moezhi Library, drastic upheavals, and those who will lose the most in the process will not agree to it." "Principal Thobicus?" Cadderly nodded, looking serious. "And the Patriarchs," he added. "The development of the hierarchical system in the sect has been far away from the spirit of God Denir, full of formal rituals and piles of useless documents." He chuckled again, but there was sadness in his voice. "You know what I did to Thobex to get him to let us come here?" "You tricked him," Danica replied. "I dominated him," Cadderly corrected, "I entered his mind and forced his will to bend. In doing so, I was able to kill him, and the effects of this psychic attack may last The rest of his life." A look of confusion appeared on Danica's face, and the confusion quickly turned to horror. "Hypnosis?" "Much worse than hypnosis," Cadderly replied glumly. "Through hypnosis, I may be able to persuade Thobex to change his mind." Cadderly looked away, seemingly ashamed. "But I didn't try to convince Thobicus. I changed his mind against his will, and then I went into his mind and altered the memory so that when we got back to the library - if we could get back - — he's not going to bounce back." Danica's almond-shaped eyes widened in shock.She knew Cadderly was disturbed by what he had done to Thobex, but she thought her beloved had cast some kind of charm spell on the headmaster.And now what Cadderly said, although similar in effect to charm, seemed to be more vicious. "I took his will in my hands and crushed it," Cadderly admitted. "I stole the very essence of his self-respect. If Thobex remembered it, his pride would forever be gone." There is no way to recover from this shock." "Then why did you do that?" Danica demanded softly. "Because the path I should take is determined by a power greater than myself," Cadderly said. "It's also greater than Thobex." "How many tyrants have said something like that?" Danica asked, trying not to sound sarcastic. Cadderly smiled helplessly and nodded. "That's what I'm afraid of, too. But I know what I have to do." He continued, "The vessel must be destroyed—studying such a sentient and evil object brings nothing but catastrophe—and with If the battle in the Walled City of Trinity really happened, it would only be an absurd farce that cannot be tolerated, no matter which side wins in the end." "The way I forced Thobex left a nasty, disgusting taste in my mouth," Cadderly admitted, "but I'll do it anyway, and, if my fears come true, maybe it will." I have to do it again." He was quiet for a while, thinking about the many unrighteous things he had witnessed in the Mengzhi Library, many things that had deviated from the righteous way of God Denir from a long time ago, and tried to find the Specific examples explained to Danica. "If a young priest in the library has an idea," he said at last, "even if he believes it to be divinely inspired, he is not allowed to escape from meaningless duty unless he first has the dean's permission. , allot the time, and he can't actually execute it." "Thobicus must have foreseen..." Danica began to argue, arguing from a practical point of view. "This process usually takes a whole year," Cadderly interjected, no longer interested in hearing a logical argument for a course of action that he knew in his heart to be wrong.All his life Cadderly had heard Master Avery say these things, and they produced in him a sense of indifference so strong that he almost gave up the Denierian Cult entirely. "You've seen Thobicus do it," he said firmly, "a year wasted like that, and while the story the young priest wanted to write, the picture he wanted to paint, might still be there, that kind of The feeling, the atmosphere, some kind of sacred feeling that led him to write, has long since ceased to be alive." "You're speaking from your own experience," Danica reasoned logically. "A lot of experience," Cadderly replied without hesitation, "and I know that many things that I've grown used to in life, many things that I now know I should change, I don't want to change because I Fear." He put a finger on Danica's lips, holding her back from responding. "You're not one of those things," he assured her, and he became very quiet, and the world, even the snoring of the dwarves, seemed to fall silent in anticipation. "However, I do think our relationship should change," Cadderly continued. "What started in Carraton should continue, or it should end." Danica grabbed his wrist, pulled his hand away from his face, and stared at him without blinking, not sure what the always-talkative young man was going to say next. "Marry me," Cadderly blurted out. "officially." Now Danica blinked, and then she closed her eyes, hearing the words echoed a thousand times in the next second.She had been waiting for this moment for a long time, longing but also afraid.For although she loved Cadderly with all her heart, being a wife in this land of Faerûn meant a duty of service.And Danica, who is arrogant and capable, does not intend to serve anyone. "You approve of these changes," Cadderly said. "You agree with the path my life will take. I cannot do it alone, my love." He paused, almost hesitating. "I don't want to do it alone! When I finish what God Denir asked me to do, when I look at the results, I won't feel the slightest satisfaction unless you are by my side." "When I'm done?" Danica asked rhetorically, emphasizing that Cadderly was using a personal pronoun, and trying to figure out exactly what role Cadderly wanted her to play in the relationship. Cadderly considered the emphasis in her response, then nodded. "I am a disciple of the god Denir," he explained, "and most of the battles it leads me to must face alone. I imagine it the way you imagine your research. I can understand that every achievement A goal, obviously I'd be more satisfied if..." "What about my research?" Danica interjected. Cadderly knew she would ask that question, and understood Danica's concern. "When you break rocks and learn the kung fu of Kijir Nujeel," he began, referring to an ancient kung fu test that Danica had recently completed. "What's on your mind?" Danica remembered that, and a big smile spread across her face. "I feel your arms around me," she replied. Cadderly nodded, and pulled her closer, kissing her cheek tenderly. "We have so many things to share with each other," he said. "My research may require me to travel far," Danica said, pulling away. Cadderly laughed out loud. "If there is a need, then you should go," he said. "But you will come back to me, or I will go to you. I am confident, Danica, that the paths we have each chosen will not separate us. I believe in you, and I believe in myself." The haze on Danica's beautiful facial features seemed to be swept away.The smile on her face widened into a dimpled smile, and tears of joy shone in her brown eyes.She pulled Cadderly back and kissed him long and hard. "Cadderly," she said sheepishly, her wistful, mischievous smile setting off a train of thoughts racing through his mind.A shiver ran up his spine, then came down again, as Danica added, "It's just the two of us now." The rest of the night, with Danica asleep in his arms and the dwarf's snoring continuing unhindered, Cadderly leaned against the wall, remembering the conversation. "How many tyrants have said something like that?" he whispered into the empty darkness.He thought again of his path, of the profound impact the actions he would take would have on the entire region around Lake Impasque.He believed in his heart that these changes would improve everyone, and that the library would once again return to the true way of Denir.He believed he was right and his path was inspired by a God he could trust.Yet how many dictatorial tyrants have said something like that? "Told you all," Cadderly replied grimly after a long pause, and hugged Danica a little tighter.