Chapter 14 Chapter Eleven The Bitter Harvest
The spring plowing season has begun.
Everyone works hard together during spring plowing. Men, women and children in the village work from before sunrise to night, sowing seeds or planting the tender shoots that were carefully cared for the previous winter.The work of sowing must be completed as soon as possible, because the atmospheric mages of the Sihana tribe will come here soon, spreading clouds like serf mages sowing seeds, and then pouring rain to make the farmland green and lush.
Throughout the year, Joram hated the spring plowing season to the core. Although he is now sixteen years old and his tricks of deception have become so perfect that it is almost impossible for anyone to see through them, the seeds are very sensitive to his honed agility. It is still too small, which makes him awkward and slow when planting with the crowd.Every night, his hands and shoulders ached from the stress of the day's menial work and trying to trick people into thinking he had magical powers.
This year, the task is even more difficult, because a new supervisor has arrived in Valen Village.It turned out that the overseer had died last winter, and the new overseer had come from the north of Simharon, where a rebellion by serf mages and other low-class civilians had been brewing for many years, so he Be especially vigilant for any signs of danger regarding insurrectionary events.In fact, he even actively monitors everything big and small.He found what he wanted at once—Joram.From the very beginning, he intended to stamp out the burning anger he saw in the young man's eyes.
One morning, mages gathered in the fields well before sunrise.All gathered together, stood before the overseer patiently waiting for the assigned work.
However, Joram stood impatiently, changing his feet from time to time, flexing his slender fingers, trying to get rid of the morning stiffness.He knew that the supervisor was watching him. Although he didn't know the reason yet, this person only chose him to watch him specially.More than once, while working, Joram looked up to see the overseer's piercing eyes watching him.
"Of course he will pay special attention to you, the beautiful baby I am most proud of." When Qiao Lang mentioned her doubts to Anya, she said so affectionately. "He's jealous of you, like anyone else who's seen you, he knows he's looking at a nobleman. It could also be that he's afraid, afraid of getting mad at him when you inherit your property and your title."
Joram had long since stopped listening to Anya's madness. "Whatever his reason is, he's spying on me, and it's not because of jealousy, remember this sentence." He growled impatiently.
On the surface, although Anya pretended not to care about Qiao Lang's worries, she was actually more scared than she admitted.She also noticed, clearly, that the overseer was watching Joram with hostility; Anya floated around Joram at first, or worked beside him as much as she could, trying to hide his clumsiness.However, under her overprotection, Anya always made the supervisor pay more attention to Qiao Lang.Joram was getting more and more tense and unhappy, the smoldering anger in his heart was growing hotter, and now it only needed a flash point.
"You, that one over there, start sowing," called the overseer, pointing to Joram.
Joram sullenly followed the other young men and women and began to sprinkle the sacks of seeds in the soil.Anya immediately followed Qiao Lang spontaneously, fearing that the supervisor would order her to work at the other end of the field.
"Saints of Catalyst, we are a bit behind schedule, I want you to give these young people the power of life, they have to float today instead of walking. I think this way, we can sow about a third of the fields today .” The supervisor’s voice sounded.
This request was so unusual that even Father Torpen raised his head and looked at the overseer questioningly.Their work progress is not behind at all, which is simply superfluous.Although Father Torpen didn't like the new overseer at all, he didn't raise any doubts.The Catalyst Saint was so caught up in the tedium of life that he finally gave up on his own research project.Day after day, he followed the mages to work in the field, or staggered back and forth on the ridge.The cold winter had left him frozen, and in the summer the warm sun had thawed him again, leaving him black and dry, looking like last year's corn stalks.
Catalyst saints begin to chant prayers.Joram was petrified. No matter how much life force was given to him, he was still destined to stay on the ground.The scar deep in his heart was uncovered again, and he was different from others.Joram almost stopped, but Anya behind him gave him a push, her sharp nails digging into Joram's arm, urging him to keep walking. "Keep going! He won't notice," she whispered.
"He will," retorted Joram, angrily trying to wrench his arm from his mother's grasp.
Anya was unmoved, her hand was still holding on to Joram. "If so, then tell him what we've told the others, that you're not well and you must conserve your life force," she hissed.
After the catalyst saints absorbed enough life force, the serf mages cast their spells one by one and floated up gracefully.Like a flock of little brown birds, they began circling the fields, quickly dropping seeds into the freshly plowed soil.
"Wait! Stop! You two, wait a second. Turn around."
Joram stopped, but his back was turned to the overseer.Anya also stopped, turned her body sideways, raised her chin, and looked at the other party through her tangled and dirty hair.
"Are you talking to us?" she asked coldly.
The Overseer ignored her and floated over the Catalyst Saints. "Catalyst saint, open a transmission channel for this young man." The supervisor pointed to Joram's back.
"I've opened it, Overseer. I think I'm capable of doing what I'm supposed to do—" Father Torpen replied in a hurt tone.
"Have you started?" the supervisor interrupted him, glaring at Qiao Lang. "But he's still standing there, absorbing the power of life, storing it for his own use! And then refusing to obey my instructions!"
"I don't think so," replied the Catalyst Saint, looking at Joram as if he had never seen him before. "It's strange, I didn't feel at all that young man sucked any life force from me—"
But the overseer had already let out a roar, and leaving the Catalyst Saints still explaining in detail, he walked across the newly plowed field to Joram.
Qiao Lang heard the supervisor approaching, but he still didn't turn to face him.Joram stared ahead, as if turning a blind eye to everything around him, he clenched his fists, why couldn't this person stay away from him?
Mosiah watched nervously, the truth burrowing under his skin like thorns.He immediately gestured for Qiao Lang to turn around and agree to the supervisor, Qiao Lang could fool the supervisor!He has spent the past few years like this, there are too many reasons that can be used as excuses.
But even when Joram saw his friend's gesture, he pretended not to notice it.He didn't know how to answer the supervisor, let alone reason with the supervisor.He could only stand there silently, keenly aware that the other mages stopped working and watched him.Blood welling up in his head, anger and embarrassment aching in his temples, why couldn't they stay away from him?
The overseer came up behind Joram and reached out to grab the young man by the shoulders, trying to impose his will on the sullen boy.But before he touched Joram, Anya squeezed herself between the overseer and her son.
"He's not feeling well, he has to save his life force..." she said quickly.
"Uncomfortable!" The supervisor snorted, and his eyes jumped to Joran's young and strong body. "He looks very healthy, even if he wants to be a goddamn rebel." The supervisor pushed Anya aside and put his hand on Joram's shoulder. As soon as he felt the supervisor touch him, Qiaoran turned around immediately Facing the supervisor, he even involuntarily stepped back a few steps away from him.
Mosiah, floating in mid-air nearby, started to fly down to slow down, but was stopped by his father's eyes.
"I'm not a rebel, please let me continue to work, let me use the most efficient method I think..." Qiao Lang said.He was breathing heavily and seemed to be suffocating.
"You'll work in the way I think will be most efficient, you little scoundrel!" growled the overseer, taking another step toward Joram.On the other hand, Father Torben was pale, staring at Joram with wide eyes, and suddenly let out a scream.He staggered and ran wildly, the plain green robe on his body caught up in his steps from time to time, and he grabbed the overseer's arm.
"He's a living dead man! I swear by the nine magic sects, Supervisor, this boy is a living dead man!" the Catalyst Saint exclaimed.
"What?" The supervisor was taken aback, and turned to face the catalyst saint who was still holding him madly.
"The living dead!" Father Torpen babbled. "I've suspected it before... but I've never tried to give him life force! His mother is always—he's a living dead! There is no life force in him! I can't get any response from him -"
Living dead!Joram watched the Catalyst Saints.Finally, someone uttered these three words.Finally, the facts that he already knew in his heart entered his brain and soul.Anya's story from memory hit Joram's mind: the prophecy, the child without the power of life.What Mosiah said in memory also came to my mind, the baby of the living dead was smuggled out of the city, and the baby of the living dead was smuggled out of Marilon.
He looked at Anya in horror...
...and then he saw the truth.
"No." He said, and the cloth bag with the seeds on his back fell to the ground, and he took another step back. "No." He shook his head.
Anya stretched out her arms to him, her dirty face was as pale as death, her eyes were wide open, full of fear.
"Joran! My little darling! My own little darling! Please listen to me—"
"Joran." Mosiah interrupted Anya, and his eyes flew over, ignoring his father's objection.The young man had no idea what he could do, except that perhaps he could comfort his friend a little.
But Joram didn't seem to hear Mosiah's call, he looked at his mother in shock, then flinched from her embrace, shaking his head violently.His black hair broke free from the tie, and the dark curly hair fell on his pale face, just like the tears that Anya warned him that he must not shed.
"The living dead!" repeated the overseer, obviously aware of the situation. "The higher ups are offering a reward for the capture of the living dead. Give me the power of life and catalyst saints." He ordered. "Then open the portal right away! I'll hold him down before the lawman comes—"
Things happen very quickly, in a heartbeat, or in the blink of an eye, or in an instant.
Anya still had Qiao Lang's pale face in her mind. She turned her back to Qiao Lang and turned to face the supervisor.Her son, her beautiful son, knew the truth now, and he would hate her for the rest of his life.Anya could see the hatred in Qiao Lang's eyes, and the hatred sliced through her like a cold blade summoned by the enemy. The three words "Law Enforcement Officer" resounded in the piercing pain, entangled her like sharp notes in a piercing music.
A long time ago, the Marshals of the tribe of Dukexis took her lover, the Marshals turned him to stone, and now they are coming to take her child, just like that time...
"No...don't take my child away!" Anya cried frantically. "Don't you do that! He'll warm up in no time, and I'll warm him up. Miscarriage? No! You're wrong! Look, I'll hold him like this, leaning against me, and he'll be warmed up in no time." It's going to warm up. Breathe, baby. Breathe, baby, you're lying, you're all bastards! My baby's gonna start breathing in no time! My baby's going to live. The predictions are all lies of……"
"Tell her to shut up, and quickly call the law enforcement officer!" The supervisor turned and shouted.
Father Toben felt the flow of the transmission channel, and the energy was sucked from his body, so violent that he couldn't stand up, and fell to his knees.He summoned up all his strength to shut down the transmission of the power of life, but it was too late.He raised his head helplessly, watching Anya's nails turned into sharp claws, her teeth stretched into fangs, and her tattered clothes turned into silky fur; It turned into a cat-shaped body and threw itself on the supervisor.
The catalyst saint screamed inaudibly, wanting to warn the overseer, the overseer turned around and glanced at the angry witch, he hastily stretched out his arms to protect himself, and stretched out a protective shield in reflex. magic screen.
There was a series of explosions, followed by a scream of horror and pain.Anya fell on a small mound of newly plowed mounds, and the spell she cast on herself stopped immediately, and she slowly returned to her human form.She looked up at Joram, as if she wanted to say something, then she shook her head and lay motionless on the ground, her eyes still open, looking straight at the blue sky.
Weak and frightened, Father Torpen immediately crawled over and knelt beside Anya.
"She's dead! You killed her." The Catalyst Saint murmured in shock.
"I didn't mean to," protested the overseer, looking at the lifeless body of a woman at his feet. "I swear! It was just an accident! She...you saw it too!" The overseer turned to Joram. "She's crazy! You knew that already, didn't you? She jumped at me! I—"
Joram did not answer him, the doubts in his mind were gone, the fear no longer blinded him, and he saw the whole thing happen through the clarity and horror of his thoughts.
In my mother's body, the warmth of the life force was fading.But in my body, there has never been such warmth.With the words of the truth in his mind, Joram was finally able to accept the truth, and this piercing feeling had become a part of him, like any other pain. Joram looked around, saw the tools he needed, and then bent down to pick up a heavy stone. He even stopped to feel the stone in his palm.The rough, pointed, sharp edge of the stone stung him. It was cold and lifeless, as lifeless as himself.He suddenly recalled the small boulder that Anya told him to "make it disappear in mid-air" when he was young. He weighed the stone in his hand, feeling the weight, Qiao Lang straightened his body, and threw the stone towards the supervisor with all his strength. The stone hit the overseer in the cheek, and there was a dull sound in his head that sounded like an overripe melon being broken. Father Toben was stunned, kneeling beside Anya's body like a stone statue. The serf mages felt that the life force in their bodies was gradually declining, and they were slowly falling one by one. They were shocked to understand what had just happened. Joram stood motionless, silent, gazing at the body on the ground. The way Anya died made Qiao Lang feel pity.Emaciated and emaciated, she clings to fragments of her past joys.Qiao Lang thought bitterly, even if she had died, she was no different from her life, and she was still unwilling to admit the existence of the truth until she died.Qiao Lang took a look, only at the supervisor lying on the ground.Blood was pouring from the grievous wound, forming a puddle in the freshly plowed dirt, and he hadn't noticed the stone Joram threw at him, and it hadn't even occurred to him that Joram would attack him. Qiao Lang looked at his hand, and then at the stone that fell next to the overseer's shattered head. The first thought in his mind was, how easy it is... It turns out that killing people with such a simple tool is just a piece of cake... He felt someone touch his arm.He turned sharply in terror and caught Mosiah, who recoiled as he saw madness and confusion in Joram's dark brown eyes. "It's me, Joram! I won't hurt you!" Mosiah raised his hand. Joram heard the voice and released Mosiah slightly.Recognizing Mosiah, his eyes shone with a faint gleam, driving away the original shadow. "You must leave here immediately!" Mosiah said eagerly.His face was pale, his eyes were wide open, the pupil became a small dot, and a pair of eyes seemed to be only the white of the eye. "Hurry up! You have to leave before Father Torben opens the teleportation corridor for the law enforcement officer to arrive!" Joram looked at Mosiah blankly, then at the corpse on the ground. "But I don't know where to go," he muttered. "I can not--" "Run away to the land beyond Hua! Escape to the border, the place you wanted to go before, there are some people living there, outlaws, rebels, and demon artisans are all there. Are you right? No, I spoke to them. They'll help you, but hurry up, Joram!" Mosiah shook Joram. "No! Don't let him escape!" shouted Father Torpen.The catalyst saint pointed at Qiao Lang, and tried his best to open the transmission channel connected to all mages present, and the transmission channel immediately delivered the power of life. "Stop him!" Mosiah turned around. "Father?" he growled eagerly. "Mosiah is right. Run away, Joram. Run away to the Land of Transfiguration. If you survive, the people who live there will take care of you," said the mage. "Don't worry about your mother, Joram, we'll bury her. You'd better go, young man, or the lawman will be here soon." A woman's voice came. Joram still stood there, staring at the body. "Give him a ride, Mosiah," said his father. "He's in a daze right now and he's not getting what's going on. We're going to try to buy as long as possible so he can leave." The serf mages approached Father Torpen, who stared at them and flinched. "You don't dare! I will report you to my superiors! This is a riot..." the catalyst saint whimpered. "No, you won't report us," said Mosiah's father calmly, and he moved on. "We tried to stop that boy, didn't we?" Another serf mage nodded. "Your life here is comfortable enough, Father. You don't want the status quo to change, do you? Mosiah, take him away..." Joram finally recovered, his sanity seemed to have drifted to a very distant place just now. "Where are you going?" he asked Mosiah firmly. "I don't remember the way..." "I'll take you!" Joram shook his head. "No, your future is here." He noticed what he said, and added bitterly: "You still have a future, come on, tell me where to go?" he repeated. "Northeast," Mosiah replied. "You still have to cross the river, and when you get to the forest, be careful." "How do I find these people?" "You won't find them. They'll come to you, and hopefully they'll find you before something nasty finds you." He held out his hand. "Goodbye, Joram." Joram stared at the young man's hand for a long moment, the first time he could remember seeing a hand extended to him as a sign of friendship or assistance.Joram looked at Mosiah's face and saw pity in his eyes, but he still couldn't hide his pity and disgust for Joram in his heart. Mercy for the living dead. Joram turned, and without looking back, he ran across the freshly plowed fields. Mosiah's hand fell to his side.For a long moment he looked at Joram, then sighed, and returned to his father's side. "Very good, catalyst saint." After confirming that Joram's figure had disappeared into the nearby jungle, the mage said. "Open the teleportation corridor and tell the law enforcement officer to come over, and, priest." He took advantage of the catalyst saint turning around and timidly wanting to walk back to his cabin, and added another sentence to him: "Don't forget Our agreement, okay? The tribe of Dukexis will only be here for a few minutes, and you will continue to be here for a long, long time..." Father Toben nodded in understanding, gave the mage another look with fearful eyes, and then ran away immediately. A woman knelt beside Anya, her hands were swimming over the charred corpse, a crystal coffin appeared and enshrined Anya, and other mages cast spells to raise the overseer's corpse and ordered it to float back to the farm by itself. "If that boy is really the living dead, if you let him go there, he will have no chance at all to deal with the monsters rampaging in the land of darkness." A woman said while staring at the dark part of the forest. "At least he still has a chance to fight for his future," Mosiah replied angrily.Seeing his father's eyes, he choked up and fell silent. There is an unspoken question in everyone's mind—— What kind of future?
In my mother's body, the warmth of the life force was fading.But in my body, there has never been such warmth.With the words of the truth in his mind, Joram was finally able to accept the truth, and this piercing feeling had become a part of him, like any other pain. Joram looked around, saw the tools he needed, and then bent down to pick up a heavy stone. He even stopped to feel the stone in his palm.The rough, pointed, sharp edge of the stone stung him. It was cold and lifeless, as lifeless as himself.He suddenly recalled the small boulder that Anya told him to "make it disappear in mid-air" when he was young. He weighed the stone in his hand, feeling the weight, Qiao Lang straightened his body, and threw the stone towards the supervisor with all his strength. The stone hit the overseer in the cheek, and there was a dull sound in his head that sounded like an overripe melon being broken. Father Toben was stunned, kneeling beside Anya's body like a stone statue. The serf mages felt that the life force in their bodies was gradually declining, and they were slowly falling one by one. They were shocked to understand what had just happened. Joram stood motionless, silent, gazing at the body on the ground. The way Anya died made Qiao Lang feel pity.Emaciated and emaciated, she clings to fragments of her past joys.Qiao Lang thought bitterly, even if she had died, she was no different from her life, and she was still unwilling to admit the existence of the truth until she died.Qiao Lang took a look, only at the supervisor lying on the ground.Blood was pouring from the grievous wound, forming a puddle in the freshly plowed dirt, and he hadn't noticed the stone Joram threw at him, and it hadn't even occurred to him that Joram would attack him. Qiao Lang looked at his hand, and then at the stone that fell next to the overseer's shattered head. The first thought in his mind was, how easy it is... It turns out that killing people with such a simple tool is just a piece of cake... He felt someone touch his arm.He turned sharply in terror and caught Mosiah, who recoiled as he saw madness and confusion in Joram's dark brown eyes. "It's me, Joram! I won't hurt you!" Mosiah raised his hand. Joram heard the voice and released Mosiah slightly.Recognizing Mosiah, his eyes shone with a faint gleam, driving away the original shadow. "You must leave here immediately!" Mosiah said eagerly.His face was pale, his eyes were wide open, the pupil became a small dot, and a pair of eyes seemed to be only the white of the eye. "Hurry up! You have to leave before Father Torben opens the teleportation corridor for the law enforcement officer to arrive!" Joram looked at Mosiah blankly, then at the corpse on the ground. "But I don't know where to go," he muttered. "I can not--" "Run away to the land beyond Hua! Escape to the border, the place you wanted to go before, there are some people living there, outlaws, rebels, and demon artisans are all there. Are you right? No, I spoke to them. They'll help you, but hurry up, Joram!" Mosiah shook Joram. "No! Don't let him escape!" shouted Father Torpen.The catalyst saint pointed at Qiao Lang, and tried his best to open the transmission channel connected to all mages present, and the transmission channel immediately delivered the power of life. "Stop him!" Mosiah turned around. "Father?" he growled eagerly. "Mosiah is right. Run away, Joram. Run away to the Land of Transfiguration. If you survive, the people who live there will take care of you," said the mage. "Don't worry about your mother, Joram, we'll bury her. You'd better go, young man, or the lawman will be here soon." A woman's voice came. Joram still stood there, staring at the body. "Give him a ride, Mosiah," said his father. "He's in a daze right now and he's not getting what's going on. We're going to try to buy as long as possible so he can leave." The serf mages approached Father Torpen, who stared at them and flinched. "You don't dare! I will report you to my superiors! This is a riot..." the catalyst saint whimpered. "No, you won't report us," said Mosiah's father calmly, and he moved on. "We tried to stop that boy, didn't we?" Another serf mage nodded. "Your life here is comfortable enough, Father. You don't want the status quo to change, do you? Mosiah, take him away..." Joram finally recovered, his sanity seemed to have drifted to a very distant place just now. "Where are you going?" he asked Mosiah firmly. "I don't remember the way..." "I'll take you!" Joram shook his head. "No, your future is here." He noticed what he said, and added bitterly: "You still have a future, come on, tell me where to go?" he repeated. "Northeast," Mosiah replied. "You still have to cross the river, and when you get to the forest, be careful." "How do I find these people?" "You won't find them. They'll come to you, and hopefully they'll find you before something nasty finds you." He held out his hand. "Goodbye, Joram." Joram stared at the young man's hand for a long moment, the first time he could remember seeing a hand extended to him as a sign of friendship or assistance.Joram looked at Mosiah's face and saw pity in his eyes, but he still couldn't hide his pity and disgust for Joram in his heart. Mercy for the living dead. Joram turned, and without looking back, he ran across the freshly plowed fields. Mosiah's hand fell to his side.For a long moment he looked at Joram, then sighed, and returned to his father's side. "Very good, catalyst saint." After confirming that Joram's figure had disappeared into the nearby jungle, the mage said. "Open the teleportation corridor and tell the law enforcement officer to come over, and, priest." He took advantage of the catalyst saint turning around and timidly wanting to walk back to his cabin, and added another sentence to him: "Don't forget Our agreement, okay? The tribe of Dukexis will only be here for a few minutes, and you will continue to be here for a long, long time..." Father Toben nodded in understanding, gave the mage another look with fearful eyes, and then ran away immediately. A woman knelt beside Anya, her hands were swimming over the charred corpse, a crystal coffin appeared and enshrined Anya, and other mages cast spells to raise the overseer's corpse and ordered it to float back to the farm by itself. "If that boy is really the living dead, if you let him go there, he will have no chance at all to deal with the monsters rampaging in the land of darkness." A woman said while staring at the dark part of the forest. "At least he still has a chance to fight for his future," Mosiah replied angrily.Seeing his father's eyes, he choked up and fell silent. There is an unspoken question in everyone's mind—— What kind of future?