Chương 802: [763] - Y03.063 - Path To South Port II

The group continued to trek through the land, the hills of the south to their right, before they came across another minor fort. It was a minor fort which had been built recently, for Adam recalled there had been no fort here the previous years. This minor fort was full of a few hundred soldiers, like the other, and like the other fort, also possessed veteran units within its walls.

Sir Vonda and Kitool took charge of dealing with official matters here, but once more, the tale of their elders spread through like wildfire within the fort, many knowing the name of Mad Dog, while one figure also knew the tale of Flame Brand.

"How strong is the Silver Arrow?" Adam whispered, staring at the figure known was the Silver Arrow, an older woman who wielded a bow which seemed to be made of pure silver.

"Strong," Jurot replied.

"At the level of Whirlwind Arrow."

'Damn,' Adam thought, glancing around. Silver Arrow was apparently the strongest warrior here, around the level of a Grandmaster, but many of the officers reached the rank of Master. Adam thought back to the unit he had met from the north. They were apparently a new unit, a hundred soldiers strong, but compared to any random hundred soldiers from this fort, they were but children.

'Okay, I get why Aldland lost the war. If they were trying to fight against soldiers who wetted their blades, and arrows, in Aswadasad…' Thankfully, no one came to bother Adam, who kept out of the way.

'It feels good not being the centre of attention.' Adam sipped the tea he had bought in Ever Green. It held a gentle flavour, though not one he was familiar with. It soothed his heart, warming his body, preparing him for slumber. Somehow the group had managed to arrive at Petal Grove unmolested. Adam had passed through Petal Grove previously, though he could barely recall it. It had been a quick journey, a journey which had been marred due to meeting the terrifying existence known as Emperor Shama.

The town had a large fence around the outer fields, which spread out from the town almost like a spiral, just like the large walls around the town proper.

"Floria is in a precarious situation," Jurot said.

"We should spend little time within it."

"You're such a slave driver!" Lucy complained.

"Why can't we relax in Petal Grove? We weren't able to spend much time in Ever Green, and now we can't relax here?"

"We need to be careful," Adam said, glancing towards the demon.

"You need to behave, just like me."

"I've been behaving this entire time!"

"Really? I haven't noticed."

"Exactly!" Lucy grit her teeth, her neck tensing.

"I've met all those hunks and I wasn't able to drool over them!"

'Eh?' Adam thought. He thought back to all the times she used to fawn over strong people, including those in their twilight years.

'Right, I haven't seen her act up this entire year…'

"I'm sorry, Lucy. You have been working hard."

"That's right!"

"Once we get to East Port, we can relax then," Adam assured.

"We can use our connection to the Duchess to keep you safe, so you can probably relax easier there, rather than in Floria, which just came out of a bloody civil war for their freedom." Lucy hated when Adam made sense, since it meant that even he was thinking deeply about something. If he wasn't going to be cringe, she couldn't be cringe either.

"Fine…" Sir Vonda and Kitool dealt with the precarious situation at the gates, before the group made their way to the Adventurer's Guild. The Adventurer's Guild held little of Petal Grove's flair, though it was certainly greener than that of Red Oak, with several small gardens around the guild. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. After spending the night in Petal Grove, the party continued on, following the road to the hills.

Adam was surprised to find there was only a traveller's outpost here, rather than a proper military fort.

'I would have thought there would have been a fort here, perfect place for it.' As the group continued their journey, following the road east, they eventually came across the plains once more, and a river. They noted the appearance of gryphons in the distance, but they did nothing to disturb the party. It was then they came across the second order, and perhaps the most famous southern order. Once more, the order, which was built around a river, was watched over by the army.

The village around the order worked as though it was a typical day, and though the army presence was heavy and quite obvious, there seemed to be little bother towards the villagers.

"Hey, it's not just a coincidence that two orders are being watched over by the military, right?" Adam asked.

"The orders remained neutral during the war," Jurot replied.

"That was what their official policy was, but the members who were in the Aldish lands assisted the Aldish King," Jaygak said.

"The negotiations were completed recently, so their fate must have been decided."

"Their fate?" Adam asked, raising his brow.

"It is most likely they will be exiled," Jaygak said.

"Exiled? The orders?" Adam asked, blinking. He had never thought to hear such words.

"Even though they've helped the land so much?"

"That is why there is no death for the traitors," Jaygak said.

"Will they really exile the orders?" Adam's surprise was barely contained.

"I mean, the orders, they're full of great warriors. Each one probably has a bunch of Experts, and then the number of Masters and Grandmasters, it's just a highly concentrated force of great warriors, and he's just going to kick them out? One of them's a Paragon too!"

"The relationship between the orders and the land around them have always been peculiar," Jaygak admitted.

"Unlike the Iyr, where the growth of one family brings only strength and glory to the Iyr, in the lands of the Aldishmen, and Florians, an order growing too powerful can lead to awkward situations. An order is a shield for their land, but an order with too much influence is no longer a shield, but a sharpened blade, aimed at their throats. The north once felt such a blade with the Order of the White Dragon Knights."

"…" Adam stared out towards the soldiers and the fortress of the order.

'If they don't go away quietly, what's going to happen?' Once more, the boon that was Sir Vonda assisted the group. The group remained at the fort, where they met several more grand figures. However, even Adam could feel the tension in the air. The soldiers here were not quite as casual as the soldiers within the other order. They were all armed and ready to fight at the drop of a pin.

'Ninety seconds until midnight…' Adam thought. He exchanged a look with Lucy, who remained deathly silent, the pair wondering how she had managed to step into the military outpost without dying. Their eyes fell to Vonda, who seemed to be settling herself rather close to the demons that evening.

"…" Jonn remained silent, overlooking the order which he once called his home, the same order which had thrown him away when it became politically expedient to do so. The next morning, the group gathered quickly, and set off as quickly as they could. Adam used the river to rinse himself, but didn't do much that morning, and even when they took their first break, he decided against using his tower. South Port was expansive, matching the likes of East Port.

The city was miles long in every direction, with several sets of walls which set apart the different layers of the city. The evening sun basked the city in its warmth, though the air was warmer than the air of East Port. Various banners fell from the walls, those of white and peach, and peach and white, each with a gryphon rearing to attack within the centre.

'Nice.' As the group followed along the road to South Port, Jaygak sped up to Adam.

"How many days will we spend in South Port?"

"One, two, or three, why?"

"We should leave before the month ends," Jaygak said.

"King Merryweather will step onto Florian land soon."

"Right?"

"He is escorted by Elder Peace and other Iyrmen," Jaygak said.

"Right?"

"Are you sure you wish to be on the land while Elder Peace is escorting the King?"

"Why can't I?"

"There is no need to stress the Iyr with your presence," Jaygak said.

"You know, you make me feel like I'm some kind of monster, saying stuff like that…"

"You are some kind of monster," Jaygak stated, patting his back.

"If you leave the city quickly, I'll tell Elder Zijin you did so for the sake of the Iyr."

"Well now I don't want to."

"Okay."

"No, hold on, I'll do it," Adam said, feeling a shiver run through his back.

"We'll head out to East Port soon."

'Yeah, I probably shouldn't mess around too much.' Jaygak pulled back, smirking slightly. She couldn't believe he had fallen for something like that. Her smirk faltered.

'I shouldn't bully Adam too much when everything's so… chaotic.' Jaygak noted the silent glare within Kitool's eyes, before she returned an innocent smile.

'I hope nothing goes wrong in South Port,' Fred thought, before realising he must have jinxed it.