Chapter 811

Chapter 53 Encounter (Part 1)

In the year 1189 AD, on the first day of May, in the western region of Silgayan.

Early in the morning, the sky was overcast with light drizzle, but it soon cleared up.

When the rain started to fall, I happened to be flying over a towering mountain range. Disliking the feeling of water droplets continuously hitting my face and wetting my clothes and hair, I landed at random on a ridge, tucked away my wings, and hid under the dense canopy of trees, sitting cross-legged. I nibbled on the increasingly dry and hard bread that remained while taking out a map from my pack, frowning as I studied it.

I had thought I could still remember the route I took during the march two years ago.

But as I flew, I realized that identifying directions in the air was completely different from doing so on the ground. So, not long after leaving Aletheon City, I found myself unable to recognize any of the places I had been before. Looking down, all I saw were similar mountains and trees.

Fortunately, I still had the map.

I remembered that during the march, we often had to take detours because of landslides and collapses due to severe flooding, which blocked many roads. But this time, I could fly directly to my destination, as long as I followed the direction indicated on the map. I didn’t have to worry about mountains or roads; I just needed to fly blindly. As a result, my speed was very fast; I felt I was almost there.

If not for getting lost halfway, I might have arrived even sooner.

I began carefully comparing the map, but this map seemed to be a casual purchase, not official-looking. The mountains and rivers drawn on it were roughly sketched, making the map appear more vivid, as if they really existed.

However, after studying it for a long time, I couldn’t find any match for the mountain where I was currently staying.

But the territory of the Silent Castle was well marked on the map. According to the scale indicated on the map, I calculated that this place should already be within the jurisdiction of the Alanstre family.

Well, who knows?

After looking around for a long time and thinking for a while, I finally folded the map and put it back in my pack, admitting to myself that I was indeed lost again.

But I knew roughly which direction I should head next. So, after the rain stopped at noon, I got up and set off again, rising high into the sky against the lingering dark clouds. The weather was perfect for flying, with a gentle breeze and sunlight that wasn’t too glaring.

Flying over the undulating mountain ranges and green grasslands like an ocean, battling the surging currents, several hours of continuous flight still drained a lot of energy. It wasn’t physical or strength fatigue; it was the constant wind blowing past my ears, even gliding didn’t make me feel fully relaxed.

And after flying for a long time, one would get restless. It was necessary to touch the ground to dispel that sense of emptiness. Find a place to rest, find something new to try.

As the twilight glow slowly faded at the horizon, the sky had gradually darkened, yet the magnificent mountain scenery below was still clearly visible. The winding river to the left seemed like the lifeblood of these green mountains and ridges. I slowed down my flight, hearing the rustling sound of trees dancing in the wind.

Crossing another towering green mountain, the view ahead suddenly opened up. A vast pine forest appeared before my eyes. Moss covered the hills and wilds, and among the trees by the riverside, purple heather flowers bloomed, extending into the deep gray rocks, stretching endlessly.

I’ve arrived.

If I was still uncertain before, seeing the beauty of the pine forest made me realize that I had indeed reached my destination.

“How beautiful.”

I couldn’t help but exclaim.

The voice of Lady Alanstre and her flower-like smile suddenly flooded my mind again. [Quiet, peaceful, like a painting unfolding before your eyes.]

[Lady Sylvieja, if there’s ever an opportunity, would you still want to return here? I’ll show you this scene again then.] [I will come.]

[Then I’ll be waiting here.] Lady Alanstre.

I came as promised. Were you waiting for me?

But what was most disappointing was that when I recalled that moment on the walls of the Silent Castle and the last words she said to me, I no longer felt sad about it.

My heart felt as lonely as the scenery before my eyes.

Huh—

Tonight, should I spend it in this pine forest?

Suddenly, as I descended closer to the ground, looking for a landing spot, I inadvertently noticed a faint light flickering in the distance, at least a kilometer away on the ridge.

Is someone nearby?

It shouldn’t be a village, right?

Because I always fly in the sky and rest in dangerous places that ordinary people can’t reach, I haven’t seen a living person for days.

I’ve seen bones scattered along the way a few times. Should I go check it out?

Yes.

Not because I wanted to see humans, but because recently the food I ate was a bit monotonous. Whether it’s a village or a caravan, they might have salt.

Ah, but I don’t have money.

Should I exchange some prey for it? Anyway, let’s go check it out first! Bang bang bang!!!

Instinctively, I flapped my wings, accelerating sharply. A loud sonic boom echoed in the sky, and a white shockwave instantly formed before me, spreading out in chaos.

At this point, I was flying quite low, only about a hundred meters above the ground. The surging air currents crashed into the pine forest like waves, bending several tall trees, almost breaking them. Large amounts of pine needles suddenly rose into the air, like a pine rain, followed by a sudden cloud of dust.

I quickly held my breath. Candy cake.

Swoosh—

A scene like a raging storm rapidly receded behind me. I quickly retracted my wings, pushed my palms forward, and repeatedly sprayed frost mist to decelerate. Once my speed had completely dropped, I spread my wings again to maintain balance in mid-air, continuing to glide forward while turning my head to look behind me.

All I could think about was salt. I flew a little too forcefully.

The rising dust and flying pine needles, like an exploding mushroom cloud, slowly rose into the sky from the forest behind. In an instant, the scene was pulled hundreds of meters away.

“Mmm.”

I pursed my lips and quickly turned my head back, focusing on gliding.

I hadn’t used full strength in a long time, not even half of it. Only now did I realize that I seemed to have lost control over the degree of my strength—one wrong move and I might exert too much force.

The commotion was too big; anyone in front must have been startled.

This flight reduced the distance to the firelight, which was now less than half. It looked like a campfire, more than one, probably a temporary stop for merchants or refugees passing through. There seemed to be quite a few people, with wagons and tents. If they looked up at the sky, someone might spot me.

So, I dove towards the ground, accompanied by the fierce wind at my ears. Just before reaching the pine forest, I spread my wings, gently flapping to decelerate, floating down, and landing steadily on a pine tree, rolling twice before stopping.

Then, I surveyed the surroundings, listened carefully, and found no edible prey nearby. Disappointed, I patted my slightly disheveled, dusty clothes and cloak, put on my hood, tilted my head, and thought that it would be best not to approach directly from here. It would be better to take a slight detour first and then check the situation.