Chapter 24 Chapter Twenty-Three

I couldn't help but glance at Mosiah triumphantly, hoping it would make him realize how deeply he misunderstood Saryon. Mosiah just looked at Saryon with all his attention, and didn't notice my expression at all. "What you say makes me wonder, Father. You said Simharon's magic was gone, but Father Reuven just gave me life force. The magic is all around us, and I can feel it .” Father Saryon looked at Mosiah with a puzzled expression. "Well, indeed. Son, you are partly responsible for the return of magic. The attack on the Well of Life—" "Forgive me, Father," Sheila interrupted Saryon, "Mosiah was hit on the head by the thugs near the main gate, and many memories have been lost."

"You should help me recover my memory, Father," said Mosiah, "so that I can predict what will happen in the future." "Hmm..." Father Saryon looked confused, "I don't think there is much to say. Or rather, there are too many things to say, but I don't have time to explain them all to you. Those who call themselves the dark sect People from Earth came here, and a man named Coffin Smither took Emperor Jarod out of power and almost succeeded in assassinating him. Fortunately, Jarod was warned and escaped in time. "You don't remember how you and Emperor Jarod survived in the wilderness?" Saryon looked at Mosiah worriedly.The latter just smiled and still didn't speak.

"And then Simkin came back from Earth—" "Ah!" Mosiah just said this, and then fell into silence again. "Sinkin is back. He told Jarod that the Well of Life wasn't destroyed, it was just covered..." This was exactly what we had assumed, and I gave Mosiah a wink, and Mosiah motioned for me to keep silent too. "The dark sect has a secret source of magic, and they extract the life force for their own use. In a daring raid, you, Mosiah, Jarod, and his friend James Polis open the holy well and release the magic back into the world , so we can fight Smither and the dark sect. Smither fled back to Earth.

"Garrod has regained the leadership of Saraken. Merilon has also been taken back. I went to Saraken to congratulate him on his victory and seek refuge with him." Saryon looked lovingly at Alisha and I. "Prince Jarod was moved by Alisa's beauty. When he learned that Alisa was Joram's daughter, his heart was deeply touched. He gave Alisa the throne of Merilon and announced that he was Joram Alisa's heir, is entitled to it. "Jarrod made Alisa Merilon's queen. Reuven went to the holy mountain to receive the training of the Catalyst Saints. Merilon and Saraken became an alliance. Cardinal Radisovik became a bishop after the death of Vanya. That kind man The bishop appointed me to be Alisa's tutor until she came of age." Saryon shook his head with a smile, "I think I am very unsuitable for this job, but Radisovik didn't wait for me to really understand what happened. Turned all my disapproval into approval. Luckily, though, Alyssa doesn't need a mentor."

Alisa shook Saryon's hand gratefully. "Times are different," sighed Saryon. "The magic has been restored, but it is still weak. Although Simharon's barrier has been rebuilt, we know that magic is seeping through the barrier, and we cannot find any way to stop it. There is no doubt that it is Smith Ser and the dark sect. "We're forced to live in an environment that mixes magic and steel. The Dukes are stronger because they can absorb more life force than anyone else in this world. Emperor Jarod trusts them, but I..." Saryon paused in bewilderment. "I understand, Father," said Mosiah calmly, "with your narrative, many of my memories came back. You have reason to be suspicious of most Dukes."

"I trust you, Mosiah," Saryon said. "That's what matters, knights..." He smiled at Sheila, "and is guarding this place. Although Jarod was initially portrayed as a savior, Now more and more people are criticizing him. Although Smither has fled to the earth, he still has his followers in Simharon. They continue to stir up unrest among the lower classes, spreading rumors that the end of the world is coming, Simharon can only be saved by bringing Smither back." "You know the warning Bishop Radisovik received?" We nodded without saying a word. "The Dark Sword must return to the builder of this world. That's what Bishop Radisovik heard, but we're not sure what it means. The builder of this world was Merlin, but he's gone so for many years……"

But Simkin said, Merlin is not dead!I suddenly thought of this and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.For a moment, I didn't hear what Saryon said. "...acquired by Joram's descendants. Emperor Jarod came to me in person..." Saryon blushed in embarrassment. "Ask me for the Dark Sword. I agree, but I demand that I take it back in secret, and that it shall be given directly to Alisa, Joram's daughter, in secret. The Emperor solemnly promises me, We will not be followed, and no one will take the sword from us." "The Emperor cannot represent Duke Xis," said Mosiah.

"But they will certainly be forced to comply," Saryon said.It almost seemed to me that he was looking for an excuse to comfort himself. "When did that happen, Father? There's a saying on Earth, 'To each man's own agenda.' I don't think Duke Xis was impressed by the arrival of the angel." "Do you think we're being followed?" Alisa asked Mosiah. "I think we should be very cautious," Mosiah answered her gravely. "We've lost a lot of time." We resumed our journey, more cautiously, but also at a faster pace.It's now more than half the afternoon.It has been less than twenty-four hours since Conifer's attack.The part of me that remembers Earth began to wonder in agony whether our planet was under attack by now.

There's no point worrying about things beyond your control, I'm here to do my job.We continue to walk down the spiral tunnel.It goes all the way down.Perhaps it was the warlocks who shaped the tunnel and placed the night dragon here. The tunnel is spacious so our trip was made easy.Compared with just now, this is actually a good time.And we walked this way for a full hour.I believe we must have gone three or four miles beneath Simharon. We still haven't seen the dragon, or heard it.It sleeps during the day.We've smelled dragons and dragon excrement, though.The air was filled with an increasingly strong stench, the smell of fermented feces, and all kinds of unpleasant smells.Soon we were all covering our noses with handkerchiefs or skirts, and it was hard to breathe.

We came up with a deduction—if that can be called a deduction—that, in Mosiah's words, "The smell of dung is fresh, which means your dragon is alive, Father, and still dwells in this cave. .” "I don't remember the smell being this bad," said Saryon.His voice was muffled by his robes. "The dragon added another twenty years of dung," Sheila said. "I don't like to think what else we'll find in this lair. Mounds of rotting corpses, maybe, or something." "Fortunately, dragons don't eat people." Alisa said tremblingly, "We all know that we have bad taste."

"Don't believe the rumors, Your Majesty." Mosiah's words ended the conversation. Our enthusiasm is already fading.But we still have hope, and it is this hope that keeps us going.We are very tired.Our legs ached and the stench made us sick.That smell pollutes everything, even the water we carry.We shuffled and turned another corner.Sheila, who was walking in the front, suddenly stopped and raised a hand. The torches that had illuminated the stone walls just now did not illuminate anything.A huge black cave appeared in front of us. "This is the Dragon's Lair," Saryon whispered.It was so quiet here that we could clearly hear his whispering voice. We hardly dared to breathe because we could hear a breath—a loud breath, as if someone were tugging on a huge bellows. We hesitate, like gamblers who stare at the dice for the final hand, then grab them in their hands, beg for victory in a heartbeat, and throw the dice. "I'll go first," said Saryon, "and don't follow until I tell you all is well. If the dragon attacks me, Sheila, Mosiah..." He stared at them without blinking. "I hope you two will do everything possible to protect my children." "I promise you, Father." Sheila said respectfully.She raised her sword, hilt up. "Okay, Father." Mosiah folded his hands. "Good luck. I'm sorry..." He paused, not finishing his sentence. "Sorry?" Saryon asked gently. "Why are you sorry, kid?" "I'm sorry for Joram," said Mosiah. Saryon raised an eyebrow.After all, Joram had been dead for twenty years. Joram died at the hands of those men, but not at the hands of Mosiah. Alisa hugged Saryon, blinked, suppressed tears, and tried to smile. "Father, the only father I've ever known." I also hugged my father.Yes, he is my father. We waited in the tunnel, listening for the slightest sound.I was so nervous that I had forgotten about the stench. "Night Dragon," Saryon's voice came from the darkness. "You know me, you know who I am." Then there was the sound of grinding against a stone wall.A gigantic head slid across the rocky floor, and an even larger body stood upright.Then, a white cold light illuminated the dragon's nest. We could see Saryon—a black silhouette shrouded in that white light.We can't see the night dragon.Its head is high up, beyond our field of vision.I also remember not being able to look directly into the dragon's eyes. We held our breath, waiting for the dragon's answer.Maybe it will sentence us to death.Alisa and I held each other's hands tightly. "I know you," Yelong's voice came from a high place, "Why do you want to disturb my rest?" We start breathing again.The power of charm is still there!Alisa hugged me hard, and I put my arms around her too. Mosiah gave us a stern glance of reproach.Neither he nor Sheila let down their guard.Sheila held the torch aloft in one hand and the sword in the other.Mosiah's hands clenched, the magic echoing in his consciousness, pressed against his lips.He is reminding us to keep quiet, the danger is not over yet. Alisa and I hurriedly separated, but our hands found each other again in the dark. "I have come to lift your burden," said Saryon, "to free you from your enchantment. This young girl is of Joram's offspring." "It's me!" cried Alisa. She let go of my hand and walked into the dragon's nest.Sheila and I both followed, but Mosiah blocked us with outstretched arms. "The charm doesn't involve you!" Mosiah said quickly: "You will destroy the charm!" What Mosiah said should be correct, he must know more about charms and magic than I do.I had to stop.Though it took almost all of my restraint to keep myself in the tunnel, I watched Alisa leave me and walk into that great danger. Sheila was pale, and her eyes seemed large and dark.She also understood Mosiah's reasoning, but thinking of her responsibilities as a knight, she fell into great distress.Sweat seeped from between the knight's brows.She bit her lower lip. There is nothing we can do but wait. Alisa and Saryon turned into two black silhouettes in the white light cast by the night dragon.That white light doesn't allow us to see what's going on in the dragon's lair, it just makes everything a blur of gray. "She's the living dead," Long said.Then, in a terrible voice, the dragon began to chant the prophecy. "'A man of the king's court will be born who is dead but will live. He will die again and rise again. When he returns, he will hold the destruction of this world in his hands.'" "That's about my father," Alisa said proudly and calmly. "You are indeed the one. Take what's yours and take it from my lair. It's been keeping me from sleeping for twenty years." Saryon and Alisa walked towards a large rock pile to the left of our line of sight.With Alisa's help, Saryon began to move the stone quickly.None of us want to linger here any longer.The three of us who were waiting in the tunnel did not dare to move.We can't see the night dragon, but we know that it has noticed our presence.Its hateful intent is already oppressing us.It longs to kill us, not to feed us, but to revenge.Charm blocked it, but it was almost unstoppable. At this point, Saryon and Alisa's work was over.They stood on the cairn, and for the first time in her life Alisa saw the monster her father had created.She worked up her courage again and again, and failed again and again.Finally, she clenched her teeth and reached out to pick up the Dark Sword. Without warning, figures in black robes appeared in the darkness, five of us surrounded us in the tunnel, and many more were in the dragon's lair, their black robes and hoods clearly visible in the faint white light. "Don't be reckless!" Mosiah warned urgently in a low voice, "Get out of here! You will destroy us all!" "Quiet, traitor." A Dukexis raised his hand, and Mosiah, bending over in excruciating pain, fell to his knees.But he still resisted. "Fool!" he struggled, panting. Sheila took a step forward and raised her sword. That Duke Xisi waved his hand again.The steel blade in Sheila's hand turned to water, running down her arms and onto the rocky ground.Sheila could only open her mouth wide and stare at the raised hands in surprise. "What is this for?" asked Father Saryon angrily. "Hand over the Dark Sword." Commander Du Kexi ordered.He approached Alisa. "Hand over the sword of darkness, and you will not be hurt." "You don't need to come to this place. Leave immediately, we will take the Dark Sword to the emperor." Alisha said in an unquestionable tone. "There is no more Emperor," said the Duke, "Galrod and his False Bishop have been dethroned, and we now rule Simharon. Give us the Dark Sword." Alisa stepped back, "You have no right..." Red flames shot out from Duke Xisi's fingertips, like scorching tentacles, trying to wrap around Alisa and capture her. Alisa subconsciously raised the sword of darkness to protect herself. The flame tentacles hit the Dark Sword, and the Dark Stone immediately swallowed it clean, and the hilt of the sword shone with a blue-white flame. "Sentence to death on the son of Joram the traitor," Duke Xisi announced. Magic surged forth. "Stop! Don't cast spells!" Saryon yelled in fear.He staggered forward.Standing between Alisa and Duke Xisi. "dragon……" The dark sword devours magic, and the blue-white brilliance is dazzling, as if the dark sword is already hot... Yelong roared in pain and frantically.It spread its wings, and the stars of death flickered.In its wide eyes, the soul-shattering light is burning fiercely in the deep eye sockets.Saryon clutched his head, staggered a few steps in pain, and collapsed on the stone floor.White death stars rained down all around us.Dukexis's black robes burst into flames, and they and their spells withered in the dreadful rain of light. "Fool!" Mosiah repeated his own words, his expression was stern, and his calm was so hopeless. "You're going to destroy us all!" I looked for Alisa, but couldn't find her.She was unarmed and alone, but she must have gone to challenge the dragon. "Alisa!" I yelled and ran into the dragon's nest.I can't save her, but I want to die with her. I ran as if I had jumped off a high cliff.I opened my arms and found that I could fly.