The storm died down. Pug hopped on the edge of the stone, rummaging on the tip of his toes in the puddles formed by the ebb and flow of the tide.His black eyes seemed to see through every puddle below the cliff, looking for things that had been blown into shadow by the storm.The boy was wearing only a short shirt, and on his back was a bag of crayfish, rockclaws and crabs he found in a puddle. The bright afternoon sun wrapped around him through the thin mist of the sea, like a warm westerly wind caressing his brown hair.Pug threw his bag on the floor, settled it down, and sat down on a clean surface.The bag wasn't quite full yet, but Pug had decided to relax, and Chef Mag wouldn't blame him for taking too long for bringing back almost a full bag of seafood.He rested with his back against a large, warm rock, and soon fell asleep in the warm sunlight.

A cold, damp sea breeze woke him, and Pug opened his eyes suddenly, realizing at once that he had stayed too long.To the west, on the sea, huge black shadows were slowly forming over the islands on the horizon.Rolling, rolling clouds and pouring raindrops are like a black veil.The heralds of another storm have arrived on the shores of this summer, and a violent storm is just around the corner.Pug knew he was in danger, the raging summer storms would drown any daredevil who stayed on the coast, and even near the coast could become extremely dangerous if the storm was big enough. He picked up the bag that had been thrown on the ground and started running north, towards the castle.The dexterous figure jumped between the puddles quickly, and he felt that the cold wind began to become more humid and cold.The day was swallowed up by the gathering darkness, with clouds covering the sun.Bright colors begin to wither and turn into dull grays.On the surface of the sea, lightning flashed in the dark clouds, and the huge thunder covered the surging waves.

Pug tried to speed up, the storm came faster than he imagined, and the rising waves followed closely behind him, and now the raging waves were less than ten steps away from the sea cliffs. Pug leaped safely over the rocks as fast as he could, and twice a huge wave nearly lapped him in the lap.When he reached the beach again, he suddenly lost his center of gravity while jumping from the reef to the beach, and he fell to the ground, with a sharp pain in his ankle, as if trouble was waiting for him, the huge waves came rushing, and immediately killed him Submerged, he flapped blindly in the water, only feeling the bag on his shoulder being dragged away by the waves.Pug tried to stand up, but the injured ankle made him fall again, and he crawled in the water, gulping down several mouthfuls of the bitter water.He tried to raise his head high, panting heavily.He had just stood up when the second big wave came, and the higher and bigger wave hit his chest relentlessly.Pug had grown up by the sea and was an experienced swimmer, but the pain in his ankle had brought him to the brink of panic.

He desperately breathed the air between the waves, and half-climbed and half-swimmed towards the sea cliff, he knew that the sea water there was only a few inches deep at most. Pug reached the sea cliff and clung to the rock, trying not to put his weight on his injured ankle.He leaned against the rock wall and moved forward with difficulty. Every impact of the violent waves would make the sea water rise continuously. When Pug found a rock wall that barely allowed him to climb the sea cliff, the sea water had already passed. His waist, he used all his strength to free his injured body from the sea water.Pug collapsed exhausted on the flat top of the cliff, panting heavily as he lay on the ground.

When he started to get up and head back down the path, he reluctantly discovered that his injured ankle was unable to stand on the hard rocky ground. The rain began to fall, and Pug scrambled, the hard rock chafing his knees, until he reached the grass on the sea cliff.Pug fell to the ground, gasping for breath from the painful crawling.The huge drops of water gradually turned into fine and dense rain. When Pug felt better, he sat up and checked his ankles.He could barely touch it, but he was relieved to see that it was still moving, that the bones weren't broken, and maybe he needed to limp home, but compared to the horrible experience of almost drowning at the seaside just now, he felt much happier.

When he got back to town, he was drenched all over.He tried to find a lodging there, but the gates of the castle were shut, and there was no way his wounded ankle could scale the strong walls.On the other hand, if he enters the city tomorrow, what awaits him at most is Mag's scolding, but if he breaks through the wall now, the troubles brought to him by the Berserkers and Orgen Knights will be different. It's as simple as scolding. It was still raining non-stop.The sky was darkened by the storm clouds.He was beginning to be annoyed that he had lost the bag with the fruits of his day's labor, and he was equally regretful that he had been stupid enough to fall asleep during the break.

If he hadn't fallen asleep, he could have walked home without haste, without hurting his ankle, and probably still had time to explore the creek above the cliff.Now, it's all shattered and he won't be back here again until at least another week.Unless, of course, Mag hadn't sent another boy to replace him because he had returned empty-handed. Pug tried to avoid the unbearable rain, and he decided it was time to rest elsewhere.He stood up and tried his injured foot, the high, swollen ankle fighting the test with excruciating pain.But Pug didn't care. He limped across the grass to where he kept his things. He picked up his knapsack, crutches, and slingshot.

He swore he could almost hear the soldiers eating and drinking in the castle.He looked at the torn backpack—the bread and cheese inside were gone.Badger Bear?Or gophers?He wasn't sure.Oh, what disaster is next?He leaned on his crutches, took a deep breath, and started to cross the low hill across the entire sea cliff to the main road. On top of it, there were some small trees, but soon, Pug was disappointed to find that there was no more Much better elsewhere, with almost nothing on the sea cliffs, no less rain under the trees than staggering back to town. The wind picked up again, and Pug began to feel the cold on his drenched back.He trembled, and Pug felt as if a powerful hand was pushing him forward as the tree began to tilt under the howling wind.Reaching the main road, he began to turn north, when he heard an eerie sound coming from the great forest to the east.It was the sound of a violent hurricane passing through the gaps in the tall oak's thick branches, which added to Pug's sense of foreboding.The dark gaps in the forest might not be much more dangerous than the Kingsroad, but the tales of bandits and goblins made the boy's throat tighten.

Crossing the King's Road, Pug followed the bottom of the valley to get some shelter from the rain.But the violent hurricane wrapped the rain and made him unable to open his eyes. The rain and tears fell on the already soaked shirt together.During the storm, he nearly lost his balance and fell.Water began to rush into the canyon, and he had to take every step carefully to avoid stepping into those unfathomable puddles. He walked through the storm for nearly an hour.The road began to veer northwest, putting him squarely against a violent gale, and Pug stepped into the storm.The blouse on his body was blown up and wrapped tightly around his body.It was difficult for him to breathe, and he was terrified by the enormous force, and he knew that he was in danger, and the storm was far beyond his previous experience.A flash of lightning illuminated the dark sky, outlining the outlines of the road and trees. The dazzling light and thick darkness made people dizzy, black and white intertwined, staying in his field of vision for a long time, refusing other senses.A terrible bang exploded above his head, as if a hundred chemical explosions had exploded at once.Now, he felt he was more afraid of the storm than the tales of goblins and bandits.He decided to go to the bush on the side of the road, perhaps, the wind would be less under the cover of the branches and leaves of the oak bush.

Just as Pug was approaching the swab, an unusual sound made him stop immediately. In the dark storm, he could barely make out that it was a bush boar running out of the swab.While running, it suddenly stepped on the ground and fell to the ground. When it staggered up, Pug could already clearly see that the pig was staring at him, shaking its head from side to side.The two huge tusks are like two dark lightning bolts in the rain.Fear opened its eyes wide, and its two front paws kept pawing the ground in front of it.Wild boars are notoriously bad tempered, but they generally don't attack humans, but this one was apparently spooked by a storm.Pug understood that if it attacked him, he might be injured, and possibly even killed.

There was still a standoff between the two sides, and Pug was ready to swing his stick at any time, but he still hoped that it would run back into the forest by itself.The boar looked up, trying to pick out the boy's scent against the wind.Its small pink eyes are like two flickering flames.A voice made it turn back to look at the forest, then, it lowered its head and began to attack. Pug swung his stick in an arc and hit the wild boar's head from the side, causing the charging wild boar to slip unsteadily into the mud on the side of the road, but it still passed Pug's head. Legs, Pug immediately lost his balance, slipped and fell in the muddy water like the pig, and lay on the cold ground.He saw the wild boar get up quickly, pass by his side, then turn around and start a second attack.The wild boar rushed towards him at a more violent speed, Pug had no chance to stand up at all, he threw the wooden stick forward in vain to try to defuse the wild boar's attack, but the wild boar dodged the flying wooden stick, Pug Trying to avoid this deadly attack by rolling, but he really didn't have the strength to support the weight of his body.He desperately covered his hands in front of his face, covering his chest with his arms, waiting for the moment when he was pierced by the sharp teeth of the fleshy wild boar. After a while, he realized that the wild boar hadn't pierced him. He slowly lowered his hands covering his face, and found that the wild boar was lying on his lap, and an arrow embedded with black feathers was stuck on it.Pug looked into the shovel, and there was a man in a brown leather jacket standing on the edge of the shovel, quickly wrapping a longbow in an oilcloth to protect this valuable weapon from the rain.Then the man came up to the boy. He wore a wide cloak that hid his face.He knelt beside Pug, his voice cut through the roar of the rain as easily as he lifted a dead boar from the boy's lap: "Are you all right, boy." He looked at Pug's leg, " Broken bones?" "I don't think so," Pug answered aloud, checking himself.The right side of his body was in pain, his legs felt like they were being pricked by needles, and he still couldn't exert any strength on his ankle.He felt really bad today, but thankfully no lifelong damage was left. "Take it!" ordered the stranger, handing the boy his cane and bow, and Pug took them, and the stranger drew out a large hunting knife and began to clear away the dead boar.When he was done, he turned to Pug, "Come with me, boy. My master and I have a nice cottage not far from here. But let's hurry before this damn storm gets worse. You Can I go?" Pug stood up, took a few hobbled steps, and nodded.The stranger didn't say anything, took his own bow from Pug, and walked towards the forest.Pug had to work hard to keep up with him. Under the cover of the forest, the wind also seemed to soften a little.A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, and for a split second Pug saw the man's face, and he began to try to remember if he had ever seen this man before.He looked like an ordinary hunter or ranger who lived in the forest, broad-shouldered, tall, and thick-chested.He has black hair and beard, a face weather-beaten from long-term travel. For a while the boy suspected that he was a member of a band of robbers hiding in the heart of the forest.He quickly dismissed the idea, because a robber would not waste time on an apparently penniless child. Remember the man mentioned that he had a master, Pug guessed, or that he was a servant to a landowner who lived in the forest, and he served that landowner, but not like those slaves.A free servant who cultivates the land, herds the cattle, and harvests the grain for his master.He must be free. No slave would be allowed to carry a bow and arrow. That kind of equipment was too expensive and, moreover, too dangerous.Pug could not remember any landowners living in this forest, which was a mystery to the boy, and soon his curiosity put all the unpleasantness of the day's events behind him. About an hour later, the man walked into a thick swath, and Pug could barely keep up with him in the dark. The sun had been setting for some time, with the last rays of light from the storm.He could only follow the man by his footsteps and intuition instead of vision.Pug felt that he was walking on a path through the forest, and there were no bushes or rocks to hinder his steps.Where does this road lead?he thinks.It would be difficult to find this hidden path even during the day, let alone at night, unless—he was very familiar with it.Soon, they came to a flat clearing, and in the middle of the clearing was a hut made of stones.Light shone through the only window in the hut, and puffs of blue smoke rose from the chimney.They crossed the clearing, and Pug was surprised to find that the storm had softened here too. When they came to the door, the man stood aside. "Go in, boy. I must take care of the boar first." Pug nodded silently, then pushed open the wooden door and walked in. "Shut the door! Boy! You'll kill me from the cold!" cried a voice. Pug was taken aback, and quickly closed the door firmly. He turned around and went back. There was a separate room at the innermost part of the house. There was a fireplace and a beautiful hearth on the wall. The flames danced cheerfully and radiated warm light.Beside the fireplace was a table, behind which a burly figure in a yellow robe sat on a bench.His gray hair and beard hid almost all of his face except for his piercing blue eyes that reflected the firelight.A sneeze came from the bushy beard, and exaggeratedly exhaled a faint mist. Pug knew the man. "Master Kulgan..." he blurted out, the Duke's magician and advisor, a frequent visitor to the castle. Kulgan stared at Pug, then asked in a low, commanding voice, "So you know me?" "Yes, sir, in the castle." "What's your name? The boy from the castle." "Pug, Master Kulgan." "Oh, yes, I remembered you." The magician waved his hand. "Don't call me 'Master,' Pug—though I'm certainly not ashamed to be called Master by you," he said, wrinkling smiles around his eyes. "It's true that I'm older than you, but it's not that much. Come here, warm yourself by the fire, you're soaked, come, dry your clothes, and sit here." He pointed to the long man opposite him chair said. Pug complied, but kept his eyes on the mage.He is a member of the Duke's House, but is still a magician, a profession that is distrusted by people.Usually, it is difficult for them to gain general respect from the public.If a farmer's cattle had a monster or his crops suffered from blight, the villagers would blame these events on the hermit magician who lived nearby. It wasn't that long ago that Kulgan had been expelled from Kharid by some pretext or another, he was serving at the Duke's estate, and the Duke was trying to get him accepted.However, the concept of hereditary is difficult to change. When the clothes were dry, Pug sat down, but jumped up when he saw the red eyes staring intently at him from under the table in front of the mage.A scaly head poked out from under the table and looked at the boy. Coogan laughed heartily at the boy's gaffe, "Come here, boy. (Fantus) Fantus won't eat you." He put his hand on the head of the animal that was sitting on the bench next to him , and began to gently stroke the raised diamond-shaped eye bones on its eyes.It closed its eyes, lowered its head on the chair contentedly, and purred softly like a cat. Pug closed his mouth in surprise, but opened it again, and asked, "Is it really a dragon, sir?" The magician smiled kindly, "Sometimes it thinks it's a dragon too, boy, it's a firedrake, a close relative of a dragon, but much smaller than a dragon." The animal suddenly opened its eyes. He opened one eye and stared at the magician. "But... in fact, they are similar." Kugan immediately added, and the dragon beast closed its eyes again. Kugan whispered to the boy, "It's very smart, and it will care about your evaluation of it. You know, it's a very sensitive animal." Pug nodded. "Can it breathe fire?" he asked, eyes full of anticipation.For any thirteen-year-old boy, seeing even a close relative of a dragon is thrilling. "When he is in a bad mood, he may spit out a pillar of fire or two, although he is rarely in a bad mood. I think it is because he eats too much, and I spoil him. To You know, boy, he hasn't been out on his own for a whole year, so he lacks the training a real flame duck should have in a lot of places, in fact, I think he's too lazy and shameless. " Pug suddenly felt that he was no longer surprised. If a magician had spoiled such an animal, what could surprise him any more?In his opinion, the animal is now more human and less mysterious.Pug watched Fantes carefully, admiring the scaly body that gleamed golden in the firelight.About the size of a beagle, it had a long, curved neck and an alligator-like face. Its wings were folded behind its back, and its two paws were slowly waving aimlessly in the air.Whenever Coorg tickled its high protruding eyebones, its slender, curly tail would gently swing back and forth above the floor. The door opened and a tall archer entered.A large piece of pork hind leg was carried on his back.He walked silently across the room to the fire and started cooking.Fantes raised his head and used his long neck to conveniently raise his head above the table to peek, his forked tongue making happy noises.The dragon beast jumped down from the bench, then walked slowly to the stove with a noble temperament, found a warm place, lay down and began to nap while waiting for dinner. The servant took off his cloak and hung it over the door. "I think the storm will be over before dawn." He turned to face the fire and sprinkled wine and spices over the roasting meat.Pug saw a huge scar on the left side of the man's cheek, which looked even more furious in the light of the fire. Kugan waved his hand to the servant, "You know we still have guests here, you should get to know them formally. Meecham, this is Pug, and he came from Kared's castle." Meecham said to the servant. The boy nodded slightly, and then went back to tending the firewood on the stove. Pug nodded back, thought for a moment, and said, "I don't think I've thanked you enough for saving me." "You don't need to thank me," McMurphy replied. "If I hadn't startled it, it wouldn't have attacked you. So you don't have to thank me." A brown object was pulled out of the wrapped bucket and kneaded. "Oh, sir," said Pug to Culgan, "it was his arrow that killed the boar, and I'm lucky he followed the beast." Coulgan smiled. "Oh, poor animal, it was a welcome dinner, and just like you, it was at the wrong time and place." Pug looked at the mage in bewilderment, "I don't understand, sir." Kulgan stood up, took an item from the top of the bookshelf, and placed it on the table in front of the boy.The thing was wrapped in dark blue velvet cloth.It was clear to Pug that something wrapped in such expensive cloth must be of great value.Kugan removed the velvet cloth, and a crystal clear crystal ball appeared under the firelight. Pug couldn't help marveling at its beauty. It has almost no flaws. Under the fire, it reflected from its simple shape. All kinds of brilliance. Kulgan pointed to the crystal ball, "This is a precious gift, it was given to me by Sir Osfin. He is the greatest magic craftsman, he gave me this gift only because I made it for him. One... oh, or two things, of course, are no big deal. Well, let's try the magic of this thing today, come, look at it, look into the depths of the crystal ball, Pug... ..." Pug adjusted his sight so that he could see the depths of the crystal ball clearly in this blinding light, however, the whole room seemed to be enveloped in brilliant lights, which kept multiplying by a hundred times, non-stop Dancing and merging with each other, they engulfed Pug's eyes trying to peek into the depths of the crystal ball. They rolled and merged, and then gradually merged into a faint cloud. A faint cloud of white light appeared in the red flame The center of the crystal ball under the reflection.It seemed to Pug that the warm, cheery light was like a trap drawing his gaze into it. It's so warm...so familiar...like being in a castle kitchen.He thought quietly. Suddenly, the milky white cloud gradually spread in the crystal ball, became thinner, and finally disappeared.Pug could see the image of the kitchen clearly in his eyes.Chubby chef Alfan is licking sugar off his fingers as he bakes his signature mince pies.This aroused the annoyance of the head chef Mag who stood by, and he almost lowered his head to his chest when Mag scolded him for his bad habits.Pug smiled. He had seen this scene more than once.Then, the image disappeared, and suddenly, he felt tired. Kulgan returned the crystal ball to the velvet cloth and put it back wrapped in its original form. "You're doing well, boy," he said thoughtfully.He stood up and looked at the boy for a moment, as if thinking about something, then sat down again. "I didn't expect you to be able to evoke such a clear image the first time, but for someone who is trying it for the first time, you are doing too well." "gentlemen?" "It's all right, Pug." He paused for a moment, then said, "I used this toy for the first time, trying to see how far I could see unexpected sights, and then I saw you, limping away. On the road. Judging by your difficult pace and the condition of your injury, I think you may never be able to return to the city, so I asked McMur to pick you up here." Pug looked a little embarrassed by this unusual help, his cheeks flushed slightly, and he said with a way beyond a thirteen-year-old child's maturity, "You don't need to do this, sir, I will return on time myself." to the city." Coulgan smiled. "Maybe, but on the other hand, maybe not. This storm is a devastating disaster for any travel." Pug listened to the sound of soft raindrops on the eaves, and the storm looked like it would die down.He had some doubts about the words of the magician.As if reading the boy's mind, the mage responded, "Don't doubt me, Pug. This place is not only protected by tall ancient trees, but also by magical barriers. If you pass through this oak If you are on the edge of the wind, you will feel how terrible the storm is. McMur, do you estimate how strong the wind is?" McCoy put down the dough he was kneading and thought for a while. "Almost as bad as the storm that buried six merchant ships three years ago." He froze for a moment, as if reconsidering his deduction, then nodded. "Yeah, almost as bad, although it won't last that long." Pug recalled the storm three years ago, when a merchant fleet bound for Kared was swept onto the rocks below the Sailor's Mourn Cliff.During that storm, even the castle guards had to abandon their posts on the walls and take shelter in the castle and towers, for they could not stand in the storm at all.If this storm is really as strong as that one, then Maku's magic is too wonderful. Outside, the sound of rain on the roof is like a spring drizzle, soft and gentle. Kugan sat back on the bench and lit his long pipe, puffing out smoke rings comfortably, with a satisfied smile on his face.Pug noticed a few books behind the magician. He moved slightly, trying to see what books they were, but he couldn't see them clearly. Kulgan raised his eyes suddenly. "So you can still read, huh?" Pug tensed suddenly, realizing that he might annoy a magician by trying to see something he wasn't supposed to see.Cugan sensed the boy's uneasiness. "It's all right, kid. Those are books and letters that don't matter." Pug relaxed, "Yes, sir, I can read some words. Margo - oh, the chef at the castle, you know, taught me a little so I could read the price list in the shop and bills. So I also know a little math." "Mathematics, oh." The magician looked at the boy with interest. "Yes, it seems that you are really not simple." He turned around and took out a large book with a brown-red cover from the bookshelf.He opened it, turned to the first page, and then another, until he finally found what he thought was the right page.He placed the book open on the table in front of Pug. Coogan pointed to the page, which was decorated with ornate stripes of snakes and roses all around, and brightly tangled arabesques around the edges. "Read this, kid." Pug had never seen such a gorgeous book, and the words he had seen before were accounts written with charcoal sticks on Margo's yellow and torn vellum. He sat down and concentrated on the words, The magician nodded to him signally, and he began to read. "Then there appeared some tricks... Summoned beasts, from..." He looked at the words, it was an unfamiliar word. "...Zarcara." He paused, looking at Kulgan, waiting for him to correct himself, but the wizard just nodded to him to continue. "The South, Forgotten... Forgotten Empires...groaned in terror and died. later.Although Bosania was established, those soldiers remained loyal to the great Kesh.They reorganized their army, put on their armor and held their weapons tightly, and they did not hesitate to sail to the south to try to save the fate of destruction. " "Enough," Coulgan said, and closed the book. "You have a gift for reading, boy." "What is this book, sir, about?" asked Pug.Culgan stared at the boy, and Pug felt a little nervous again. "Well... I mean, I've never read a book like this." Kulgan stared at him for a moment, which again made the boy very uncomfortable.Then, he smiled, sighed softly, and put the book back on the shelf. "This is the history of this continent, my boy. It was a gift from a monk at Urshofen Abbey, by Keshian, and it's over 100 years old." Pug nodded, "No wonder it's such a convoluted read. What's it talking about?" Kulgan stared at Pug again, as if trying to read something from the boy.Then he said: "Many years ago, Pug, this continent, from the mountains of Gray Towers lying across the coast to the Bitter Sea, was part of the great empire of Caesar. It was in the far east A very small island country called Rillanon, but it continued to expand outwards, and soon annexed other island countries adjacent to it, it became the unification of all the islands there, forming a dynasty, known as It is called the island country. Later, it invaded the nearby mainland, but it was still called the island country at that time, but more people have shortened it to the kingdom. Karid, where we live, is also the kingdom It is part of the kingdom, and although it is far from the capital of the kingdom, Reliant, it is still ruled by it." "Then, many years later, the Keshian Empire gave up these territories, as it became involved in a brutal and protracted war with the Keshian Confederacy in the south." All Pug's attention was on listening to the mage tell the story of the fallen empire, but hunger still kept him noticing that McMur was putting some slices of black bread to toast in the grate.He turned his attention back to the mage. "What is Kaisen United..." "The Kaiser Alliance," Kugan paused, "is an alliance composed of some small nations, and Kaiser is their leader, just like Kaiser ruled many small families. Many years ago, in his Before writing this book, he led others to struggle against the tyrant who ruled them. Individually, they could not stand against the great Kaiser, but when they were united, it became an even match. The fighting, which lasted year after year, forced the Empire to abandon their northern territories in order to bring back the Northern Legion to support the war. He publicly declared that the South had become independent as a new young kingdom." "That was Duke Borric's grandfather, the young son of the new king. He led his armies westward, annexed the old and decaying countries, and established a new kingdom - Bosania, except One city, still belonging to no kingdom, is the Free Cities of Natal, also known as Duchy of Crydee." Pug thought for a moment, and then declared, "I think one day I will venture to the lands ruled by the great Kaiser Empire." McMur laughed. "So what are you going to be? A Freedooters?" Pug's face turned red.Walkers are unprotected vagabonds without their own landed property and regular income. "Perhaps, there will be such a day." Kugan said seriously. "Pug, that will be a long and dangerous journey. You must face it with firm belief and incomparable courage, because there will be many things that you can't imagine." When the conversation moved to the dinner table, it became some common topics. The magician had only lived in Kared's castle for more than a month, but he always chatted about some trivial matters there and complained.When the bread was baked, McMur brought them up, buttered and topped with vegetables and roasts.Pug had never eaten so well in his life.When he used to make a small castle in the kitchen of the castle, he could barely eat enough to eat every day.While eating, Pug noticed that the magician was always watching his every move. After the meal, McCoy cleared the table, piled up the plates and took them away, then swept up the debris on the floor and washed them with clean water. When Kulgan and Pug sat down to continue chatting, McCoy brought out a plate of minced meat and put it on the table. At the table, Cugan snapped his fingers at Fantes, who was sleeping soundly by the fire.The drake opened one eye and looked around, struggling between the comfort of sleep and a nice bowl of dinner.Finally, he climbed up tenaciously and moved about six feet to the table, stretched his neck, swallowed the dinner on the table, and then closed his eyes again. Cugan leaned back on the chair, puffing out smoke rings comfortably, "What do you want to be when you grow up? Son." Pug was barely supporting himself in the constant drowsiness, but the mage's question revived him all of a sudden.The moment of choice (meaning that boys must choose their future occupations and train accordingly) when every city boy will enter various apprenticeship schools, Pug said excitedly, "This summer, I hope I can Become a duke's swordsman." Culgan seemed interested in Pug's answer, "I suppose you'll have to wait another year or two before you become an apprentice?" 麦克莫又发出了嘲讽的笑声，“和那些长剑与盾牌比起来你似乎矮了一点，不是吗？男孩。” 帕格的脸又红了起来。他是城堡同龄孩子中个子最小的男孩，“厨师玛格说我属于发育的晚的那种，”帕格无力的反驳。“没有人知道我的父母是谁，所以我不知道他们对我有什么期望。” “你是个孤儿？”麦克莫问，两只棕色的眼睛同时抬起，表现出了一丝关切。 Pug nodded. “我在修道院附近的山林中被遗弃，一个女人在路边找到了我，她把我带到了城堡，因为他们没办法照顾我。” “是的。”库甘插嘴说，“我还记得当那些以保卫弱者为荣誉的人第一次将你带到城堡来的时候，你并不比一个只会哭喊的婴儿大多少。我想你能活到今天并拥有自由都要感谢公爵的仁慈，他觉得给一个奴隶的孩子自由要比奴隶一个自由的人好得多，没有任何的理由，要知道他完全有权力让你成为一个奴隶。” 麦克莫用一种似乎并不肯定的语气嘟囔：“公爵，一个好人——” 帕格已经听玛格讲过这个关于自己身世的故事不下一百遍了，在不断加深的困倦感中他已经不能够再让双眼保持张开了。库甘对麦克莫使了个眼色。高大的仆人从隔板后拿出一个毛毯和铺盖，当他把一切都布置好时帕格已经爬在桌子上睡着了。他将男孩抱起来，放在柔软的铺盖上，并帮他盖好毛毯。 范特斯睁开眼睛看了看熟睡的男孩，并贪婪的打了个长长的哈欠。它慢慢爬到男孩旁，紧紧贴着帕格的后背躺下，帕格翻了个身，一只胳膊搂住了龙兽的脖子，火龙兽的喉咙深处发出一声满意的低吼，然后闭上了眼睛。