Chapter 29 Chapter Twenty Eight

We flew over the black lands of Simharon, the sky above lit by thousands of starships.With millions of people on board those starships, it was like a spark of hope about to sink into hopeless hope.They must have spotted us with their sophisticated instruments.I wondered what they would see us as—a huge winged figure flying above the treetops.Maybe we'll just be thought of as a Simharon-specific creature. There are perhaps very few people who know the truth and know that a dragon is on their radar screen.At least Prince Jarod, Bishop Radisovik, and General Polis recognized dragons.But they couldn't possibly know that we were riding on the back of this night dragon.They came here not out of faith, but because it was the last place from which they could escape.They can't possibly know about our mission.And for this task, I know almost nothing.Do techies know?Is this a trap?Were Gwen and Queen Alisa just illusions?

Mosiah obviously thought so, but he didn't like to show his thoughts.I don't know what to think.Gwendolin seems to be real.I believe that her love for her daughter is real.Also, how could technologists make an image of Alisa in another time?When I think about it, my heart soars with dragons. But technologists may know that time, and thinking about it, my heart immediately hits the floor.Coffin Smither and the dark sect were also present at that time, and maybe they are responsible for everything we've been through. I looked up at the sky again, this sky full of life, millions of fearful, desperate, panicked lives, all the legacy of human beings.They fled the only home they've ever known into space, a cold, lonely place of death.Conifer's warships will be arriving soon, once their conquest of Earth is complete... I'm beginning to imagine this sky lit up with fire...

I shuddered and looked away.When I turned around, the sky was completely dark with rain clouds.I'm relieved to be able to avoid people who are on the loose and depend on us for everything (though they don't know it). Flying on a dragon is no joy.We walked through a torrential downpour and were drenched in no time.The frigid air brushing over the dragon's wings made our teeth chatter.We hugged each other for warmth and to prevent someone from falling.The dragon's back is very broad.We sat between the wings, but the sharp spines poked at me and it hurt.And my thighs quickly became sore from the improper sitting position.And, while the dragon is couriering us to Merylon Merlin's grave, its hatred for us is growing stronger.

Dragons loathe our touch and our smell.If the charm fails, it will flip over in no time, and let us fall to our death.Even now, it often flies sideways, forcing us to struggle to cling to its scales and mane.Then it slowly regains its balance, reluctantly.I think it must think that if one of us is so stupid as to fall, it must be our own fault, and it has no responsibility. Alisa hugged the Dark Sword.Mosiah and Father Saryon held her.I could only grab a protruding bone from the main tendon of the skin wing.I couldn't see anything below except in a brief flash of lightning.At first, I saw some large forests and grasslands.Shortly thereafter, I discovered a meandering river.

"Famiresh," Saryon called out through the cyclone, "we're almost there!" We headed down the Famiresh River.The dragon flew lower, making me think we were going to crash into the treetops.But the dragon knew how to fly, and though the treetops seemed to stab him in the stomach more than once, they never actually touched him. A most dazzling bolt of lightning spread across the sky like a sheet of white fire.By its light, I saw the city of Merilon for the first time. According to classic records, when the ancient magician Merlin led his persecuted followers to leave the earth and come to Simharon, they first landed in a plain between two mountains, in an oak forest.Merlin was fascinated by the beauty of this forest, so he established his city here, and declared that this forest would be his final destination.

He and other spinners and shapers carved marble and quartz into a translucent floating platform they called a "pedestal."On a pedestal floating among the clouds, they built the city of Marilon.But the wonder of wonders of the wizarding world was now a pile of ruins on the ground, her broken body slowly being covered and eaten away by wilderness. It was an unbearably sad sight.It clearly tells us that human creation, no matter how brilliant, is only temporary.There will always be a day when people's hands hang down, and they can never be lifted again.In the end, nature will erase all traces of human beings.

"Is Merlin's grave still there, Father?" Mosiah asked. "You don't remember? Of course, you don't." Saryon answered his own question. "I forgot how badly you were wounded when the city was attacked. The woods had burned to the ground, but the tomb was still intact. A storm of flames swept over it. It was later said that around the tomb The grass is not even browned. But this rumor is not true." Saryon shook his head and sighed, there were many sad things in his memory. Another bolt of lightning showed me Alisa's face.Her face was very pale, with awe and a hint of profound sadness in her expression.Like me, she had seen Merilon rebuilt in another life.It was a very different picture than this bleak, painful reality.

I close my eyes.In the Marilon in another life, the floating pedestal was missing.No one could perform such a powerful magic to perform this miracle again.Those buildings standing on the ground are no longer crystal, but are made of ordinary stone.The palace in the city became a fortress, and the thick and solid walls were used to resist attacks, not to entertain guests from afar.Merlin's woods were replanted.The young oaks were small but strong, and stood guard over Merlin's grave in the place of their ancestors. I looked over to that life, and saw the end here—the young oak tree burnt to ashes by Conifer's laser fire.I looked away and stopped looking at that life.

The dragon began to circle and descend.We couldn't see where we were because another violent storm was suddenly closing in on us.The heavy rain hit my face, forcing me to close my eyes.Lightning fell around us and thunder exploded in our ears.It was almost on the ground that I saw the ground.A bolt of lightning illuminated the wet lawn and stumps of trees.I think the speed of the dragon's landing is too fast, and even makes me suspect that it is going to commit suicide and wants us to be buried with it. At the last moment, when I already believed we were going to hit the ground headfirst, the dragon raised its wings, rose gracefully slightly, and then stood on the ground on its powerful hind legs.The ground is rough for us, but the dragon doesn't care about the potholes at all.We are thrown forward by the impact.My head banged against the bristly mane, and my hands were scratched at the dragon scales.

"I have brought you to this tomb," said the Dragon, "now, leave me, and do not bother me any more." We obeyed the dragon's orders with great joy.I slid off the rain-soaked dragon's back and landed heavily on the ground.Then, I helped Alisa down while hugging the Dark Sword.She was shivering, her wet skirt clung to her body, and her blouse hung down from her breasts.Her hair was a mess, with strands sticking to her face.Her face was stern and calm, and she was determined to complete her mission. Saryon and Mosiah come to us.The dragon straightened up and spread its wings, and the deadly stars shone in the rain, their white eyes twinkling and twinkling.

"I have done as you say," said the dragon, "let go of the spell that binds me." "I don't have to let you go," Saryon knew that the dragon was tricking him. "As long as you return to the lair, the spell will be unlocked naturally." Yelong roared at us, biting his big mouth together in the air helplessly.Then it leaped into the storm in the sky, flapped its wings, and disappeared into the high clouds. After the giant beast left, all the strength in Saryon's body seemed to be drained. "Perhaps we should order the dragon to stay," said Mosiah, "or at least order it to come whenever we call. We may need to get out of here quickly." Saryon shook his head. "I'm out of power. The dragon is fighting me every second, and I can't hold on to that spell anymore. And..." He glanced around where we stood in the storm. "For better or worse, this is the end of our journey." "Where is the grave?" Alisa asked.These were the first words she had spoken since we left the Dragon's Nest. "I'm not sure," said Saryon, "it's totally different here..." The storm began to die down.The thunder still rang non-stop, but it was far away now.Only the clouds remained overhead, obscuring the glowing starships and leaving us in total darkness. "We might grope for hours without finding the grave," Saryon said despondently, "but we don't have much time. It's almost midnight now." Mosiah raised his hand and chanted something, a soft yellow light appeared in his palm.I don't know of a sight that comforts me more than this.It was as if he had just come back to earth, taking a little light from the bright summer sun, and bringing back to lift our spirits and light the way for us.The light even made me feel less cold.I stopped shaking.Alisa tried to put on a sad smile. "The tomb is here." Saryon pointed forward. The light cluster illuminates the remnants of the oak tree that once guarded the tomb.But at the end of this bleak scene, I saw a few tiny seedlings growing from where their parents had stood, ready to take over their parental duties. The tomb of pure white marble was in the very center of these small trees.The rest of the wood had been covered with wild vegetation of all kinds, but they could not come near the grave.The thick vines turned around the grave, and the dense weeds fell in front of the grave, as if they dared not touch this grave that made them awe. Mosiah held the light aloft so we could see clearly. "I remember the first time I came here," he whispers. "I felt very peaceful, and it was the only place in Merilon where I really felt at home. A lot has changed, but the feeling It still exists, which makes me happy." "This is a blessed place," Saryon said. "Merlin's soul rests here." "Now that we've come here, what should I do?" Alisa asked, "Should I put the Dark Sword in front of the grave, or..." She held her breath, and so did I.We all saw it. There is already something on the grave.A black figure is clearly reflected in the white tomb. "I knew it!" Mosiah said fiercely, "This is a trap. We...don't! Alisa! Stop!" He reached out to grab Alisa, but it was too late.Alisa's loving eyes had already seen the shadow that was still blurred before our eyes.With a terrified, heavy, battered cry, she ran to the grave.The Dark Sword was thrown on the grass by her.She stretched out her hands and fell down crying, hugging the body on the white sarcophagus. It was Joram's body. Mosiah didn't look at the body on the tomb anymore, his responsibility lay with the Dark Sword.He hurriedly wanted to pick up the sword.The sword lay like an ugly black trail among the grass, not reflecting the magic light of Mosiah at all.When Mosiah's hand was about to touch the Dark Sword, he stopped suddenly. "Sheila!" Mosiah's light caught her. It's not surprising that we didn't notice Sheila earlier.She curled up and leaned against the grave, blood covered half of her face.She opened her eyes and looked at Mosiah. "Run away!" she gasped, "Bringing the sword of darkness..." "I'm afraid it's too late." A figure in a white robe stepped out from the shadow of the charred oak.Mosiah lunged at the Dark Sword.A bright light shot out of the darkness and struck Mosiah in the chest, knocking him down on the grave.He slid down, limp in the grass and stagnant water. Coffin Smither bent down and picked up the Dark Sword. "It's a pity you're late, dear," he said to Alisa.He didn't even glance at the two wounded men at his feet. "We have an antidote ready. But as you can see, it's of no use to your poor father now. His last words were addressed to you, and he said he had forgiven you." I rushed towards the smug, victorious man.I have no weapon, but I believe—I know—that I can strangle him. I didn't run very far when some strong hands caught me.These hands were wrapped in silver gloves, and they glued a silver saucer to my chest.The pain irritated my body, and I found myself unable to move at all, and even breathing became a struggle.My limbs are paralyzed. They also affixed silver plates to Saryon and Mosiah.I'm glad they seem terrified of Mosiah, which proves he's not dead yet.Sheila's hands were still free, but her feet were locked down by some kind of metal gear placed on top of her combat boots.She sat up weakly, and I noticed she couldn't move her lower body.Her eyes were on Alisa. "Forgive me... Your Majesty," she said softly, "I... failed you. I failed him." Alisa said nothing.I don't believe she heard what Sheila was saying, she was completely absorbed in mourning.Her head was resting on her father's still chest, and her arms were wrapped around him.She was urging her loving father to come back, but he did not respond to her dear voice. "Bring her mother," Smither said, "and we can reunite the family." A technologist stepped out of the shadows, tugging at Gwendolin's arm.Gwen was disheveled and disheveled, but she didn't look hurt. What we saw in the dragon's lair must be a hoax.But even now that the evidence is overwhelming, I'm still skeptical.I saw the love in Ge Wen's eyes at that time, it was impossible to fake.Gwen came to us, her attention focused on her grieving daughter. She threw her arms around Alisa.Alisa wept on her mother's breast. "Oh Mom, it's all my fault!" "Don't say that, child!" Gwen smoothed Alisa's black curly hair.Those curly hair are so similar to her father. "Not so. If you hadn't taken the Dark Sword away, your father would have used it. Then they would have killed him immediately. Your father loved you, Alisa, and he was proud of you." Alisa shook her head, speechless.Ge Wen continued to comfort her. "Your father is well, son. He is happy at last to be at peace after all this time." The cemetery fell silent.All we could hear was Alisa's intermittent weeping.I glanced worriedly at Saryon, his body was shaking with excitement, tears kept rolling down his cheeks, but he couldn't raise his hand to wipe them away. Coffin Smither stood in front of us, holding the Dark Sword in his hand, his lips twisted slightly. "An ugly thing, isn't it?" "You're not beautiful yourself." I know the voice.Simkin! I looked around expectantly, searching all shadows incessantly. Nothing appears.No teapots, no teddy bears, no faded watercolors of young men. I started to doubt myself.Did I really hear that voice?Did anyone else hear it?Smither was still looking at the Dark Sword proudly.At least fifteen technologists guarded lazily by the side, and their captives were completely controlled.Sheila looked at Mosiah with concern, who was gradually waking up.Ge Wen and Alisha comforted each other.Saryon was weeping for his son. That voice must be just my imagination, I'm going crazy. "It's almost midnight, master," said a technologist to Smither. "Yes, thanks for reminding me. I'll take this sword to the rendezvous if I hand it over to Conifer—" "You're a fool if you do that," Sheila told him. "They're never going to keep their word. They're not going to let anyone live." "On the contrary, they're interested in using us," Smither said mildly. "Maybe because we've shown them how useful we are." "What are we going to do while you're gone, Master?" asked the Technician. "What do we do with these people?" He pointed at us with a silver-gloved finger. "Kill them?" "Don't kill them all," Smither replied after thinking for a moment. "Give the lawman to the questioner, he will soon begin to desire death. Hand the girl and her mother to the questioner too. Joram must have told them how to forge the dark sword, and the dark where the stones are. They may still be of use to us." I concentrated every ounce of strength and will in my body, trying to break free from the shackles of the silver disc.I tried desperately to raise my hand and rip the silver saucer from my chest.But I can't even move a finger. "As for the pastor and the mute, and the CIA spy or whatever," Smither went on, "we'll just leave them to Conifer. It's a token of our loyalty. You guys The people who make arrangements for the first refugee boats to land are ready to start the selection process. You know what we want: the young, the healthy and the strong. The old, the children, the sick and the handicapped are sorted out and handed over to Conifer, just as we agreed. Pick out all magicians who can use their vitality. If they don't want to join us, execute them immediately. They may become very dangerous when they return to their hometown." Smither held the blade of the sword with both hands, and raised the Dark Sword. "Now the Dark Sword is mine—" "I'm yours?" said the sword mockingly. "Oh, this is the happiest day of my life! Give me a hug, bastard!" The Dark Sword began to twist and turn, the ball at the head of the hilt was swinging back and forth, the sword was swinging up and down like two arms, and the body of the sword was twisting back and forth.Smither stared wide-eyed at the living sword, clutching it like a poisonous snake that would bite him badly if he let go. The tsuba stretched, and the hilt swelled.The hilt becomes the neck, and the blade becomes the human body.In the end, the Dark Sword became a man, neither young nor old, with the face of a fox and a shiny beard.Everything from his feathered cap, velvet jacket, leggings to shiny shoes is orange. Smither, who stood still, still held Simkin—solid, flesh-and-blood Simkin.He laughed, put his arms around Smither, and kissed Smither on the lips. "Do you want this? Do you really want it? I'm yours?" Simkin pushed Smither away, but still grabbed his shoulders with both hands, and asked him solemnly. "Get him!" cried Smither furiously, striking Simkin with both hands. "That's not the right answer," Simkin said softly. A technologist ran over and stuck a paralyzed silver plate on the orange velvet coat. "Thank you for your kindness!" Xin Jin frowned, looked at the silver plate carefully, and then raised his head to look at the technician, "But I don't think it matches my clothes." He carefully took off the silver plate Come down and put it on the chest of the stunned technologist. The man's body twitched and became stiff. "What did you do to the Dark Sword?" Smither was almost speechless with anger. "Or I'll order them to shoot! You'll die on your next breath." "Shoot!" Simkin yawned.He leaned against the grave and began to examine his nails very carefully. "What do you want, Smither? The Dark Sword? Of course I can tell you where it is. It's guarded by a dragon, a night dragon. You might be able to get it, but not before this midnight .Poor Cinderella, I'm afraid you're going to be turned into a pumpkin." Smither gritted his teeth hard. "shooting!" The silver robes fluttered and gathered.Each Technician carried a sleek silver pistol. A blinding silver light pierced through the darkness, but instead of hitting Simkin, it struck the grave next to him.The marble exploded, sending rock fragments flying in all directions.A second laser flashed.Simkin took the light in his hands and crumpled it up as if it were a ball of clay.Then Simkin threw the ball of light into the air, and the ball of light became a crow, which spread its wings, flew over Simkin's head, landed on the grave, and began to clean its beak with its claws. Coffin Smither's face was red and white, and foam was coming from his mouth. "Shoot him!" He tried to command again, but anger and fear jammed his throat, and while his lips moved, no sound came out. "Oh, I say, I think it's a lot of work," said Simkin listlessly. He was rocking an orange silk scarf, and the pistols of the technologists had turned into bouquets of tulips.The silver saucer fell from my chest, turned into a little mouse, and burrowed into the grass.I can move again, and I can breathe freely again. Sheila pulled the shackles off her feet as easily as she took off her shoes.She helped Mosiah to her feet, and Mosiah was pale, but he was awake and alert.He narrowed his eyes and looked at Sim Jin with distrust in his eyes.Saryon was also free, his expression troubled.Simkin is leisurely playing with all of us, not just techies.Sure, he's on our side, but we don't know how long he'll help us, especially when he's bored. But at least for the time being, he found it amusing. Technicians took out other weapons: stasis grenades, mutant guns, and death scythes.But those things turned into all sorts of weird, useless things—salt shakers, rubber, clock radios, and pink gin sodas adorned with little umbrellas.Magic is played out one after another around us, like fireworks at a carnival. I'm starting to worry that I've lost my mind.And I'm not surprised to see some technologists start turning around and running away. While all this absurdity was going on, Simkin saw Alisa.She stood beside her mother, looking at Simkin in bewilderment. Simkin stopped the magic show, took off his feather hat, and bowed gracefully. "Your Majesty." Then he stood up straight, tilted his feather hat on his head, and asked, "Your Majesty, how about my clothes? I call it Apocalypse Apricot Yellow." Alisa looked even more bewildered.When she saw that the Dark Sword had turned into Sim Jin, she was stunned, who was heartbroken.She didn't know what the hell was going on.Like us, she doesn't know now if Sim'jin brought us victory, or kicked us as we head towards our end. "Who are you?" asked Coffin Smither. "A bag of magic residue." Simkin smiled treacherously. "That's your problem, right? You don't know me. You and your people never knew me. Oh, you tried to manipulate me, you tried to use me, but you never did because you Never really believed me." Simkin turned his weird orange heel, patted the crow's head, and smoothed its feathers.The crow responded with a rude "quack" twice.Simkin walked across the marble tomb, smiling, and stood before Joram. We looked at him without saying a word.Neither Alisa, Saryon, Mosiah, me, nor Smither and the technology technicians left behind remained motionless.Simkin has us all under control. Simkin looked at Joram's gray and marble-cold face. With his fingers, he smoothed out Joram's curly black hair and placed it on his shoulders. "He trusts me," Simkin said. "No matter what, he won't use me. I betrayed him, I teased him, I used him. He broke a world to set me free. He would give up his life." , to protect me. What I do now is for him." Once again, Sim'jin began to transform, shrinking back into the dark and unlovable Darksword.But this time I noticed that there was a ring of orange on the hilt. The Dark Sword planted itself on Joram's chest. A gust of wind was blowing from the west, and it was cold and bitter.In the night sky above us, storm clouds were blown away and shredded by strong winds.Stars and starships shone white in the dark.Then, the wind died down and the air stagnated. Everything stands still - the stars, the wind and us. Sheila held out her hand. "Now you can wake up, Joram. Come on, it's nearly midnight." Joram slowly opened his eyes.He saw Sheila first. Sheila nodded, "Everything is fine." Now I know my guess was right.Sheila is the one who makes us jump in time, she's the one who made it all happen.She has indicated to us that she is a clerk, but she does not work for the CIA or the FBI.She is a servant of God. Qiao Lang turned his head and looked at Ge Wen and Alisa. Ge Wen smiled, as if she was also one of the people who set up the situation.At this time, I saw many shadows gathered around her, there were hundreds of them.It's the dead.Gwen once called out to them for help, but they did not abandon her.She escaped from the pursuit of the technologist because the dead rescued her.She who appeared in the dragon's nest is also real. Alisa took a deep breath.She wanted to believe it, but couldn't believe it. "No!" Coffin Smither seemed to be strangled, "It's impossible! You're dead!" "'A man of the king's court is born who is dead, but shall live. He shall die again, and shall rise again,'" Joram was quoted as saying.He sat up and jumped down to the grave energetically. "Quidquid deliqusti. Amen." said the Dark Sword. Joram places the Dark Sword on Merlin's grave. A man appears next to the grave.He was tall, with a gray beard and short white hair.He wore chain mail and mail of ancient times, and carried no weapon but a staff of oak and holly. He bent down and reached for the Dark Sword. "You're not the Excalibur," he said, "but you can do it." "Thank you." The sword replied coldly. The old man raised his sword high into the air and uttered a long-lost incantation.Light began to shine on the sword.Smither howled in pain, and threw his arms over his head as though blind.His subordinates also covered their eyes and lowered their heads, unable to see anything. I couldn't move my eyes away. The light spreads and expands outwards, driving away the darkness.The grave is wrapped in light, and then us.The light fell on the woods, on the city of Merilon, and on the broken world of Simharon. The light illuminated the sky and contained all the starships in it. The light lifts us off the ground. I stood in a glowing sphere and flew upwards.Looking down, I saw dark green grass soaked by rain.I saw Smither look up in horror as he saw his own doom rushing toward him from the sky.Simharon, a world built by exiles, fell. We shall go into exile once more, to a new world, a star far away. But the magic is with us.