Chapter 493

Chapter 493: Red Maple Dragon Lance

At the border village.

The sky was drizzling lightly. Several carriages were parked by the roadside, and some merchants and villagers were loading baskets of apples onto the carriages.

“Hey—”

They shouted their chants as heavy baskets of fruit were lifted onto the carriages. The vehicles swayed, and the wheels creaked softly, crushing small soil clumps and sinking slightly into a shallow trench.

“One more basket, that’s it,” a middle-aged man called out. Those nearby also breathed a sigh of relief.

After securing the cargo, the caravan members checked everything again before preparing to leave.

“Jenna, we’re leaving.”

Standing by the roadside at the village entrance, two girls said their goodbyes.

“Safe travels,” the black-haired girl looked at her friend about to depart, feeling a bit reluctant.

“You too. You must have gone through a lot. But you worry me even more.”

After getting to know each other better, Sophie also listened to Jenna’s experiences and became even more concerned.

“It’s nothing. I’ll be back at school soon, and who knows if I’ll ever return,” Jenna replied.

“That’s good. Study hard. Actually, I envy you all for being able to go to Emanas. After hearing your stories, it truly sounds like a magical and beautiful place.”

“Sophie could do it too. You’re still young. If you participate in the assessment within Clancia, there’s a chance to get in.”

Sophie shook her head, “No need to comfort me. I know I don’t have that kind of talent. These days, after listening to you, I’ve only learned a little.”

“For me, just living a peaceful life would be enough.”

“Oh, Uncle is calling me. I’ll talk to you later, Great Hero Jenna~”

Sophie ran toward the caravan, leaped onto the carriage, and then turned to wave goodbye to Jenna.

“Goodbye.”

Standing by the roadside, watching the Leck caravan disappear, Jenna whispered softly.

Seeing the caravan vanish around the bend, she packed up and prepared to leave.

“Hold on, little girl.” A voice sounded from behind.

Jenna turned around and saw it was a villager aunt holding a small package.

“These days, you’ve worked hard. Here are some apples for you to eat on the road.”

Though she said it was just a few, Jenna knew there were more than ten inside.

“No need to be polite. Take them. You’re still growing. Don’t starve on the way. We couldn’t repay you much these days, so this is all we have.”

“Thank you, Aunt. Actually, I’m repaying the caravan for saving me,” Jenna tried to explain.

“I understand, I understand. At the time, they asked if there were any doctors in the village. But let’s not be so clear-cut. Just take them.”

Seeing this, Jenna didn’t insist further and accepted the bag of apples wrapped in cloth.

“Thank you, Aunt.” She bowed slightly in gratitude and bid farewell.

Carrying her long saber and the package, Jenna left the village.

She didn’t head east towards Red Gravel City or take an airship back to school; instead, she chose the north, the direction of the Black Rock Duchy.

Earlier, when she told Sophie she was returning to school, it was just to reassure her. In fact, she had already decided to return home.

She wanted to find like-minded people to change the current situation in the Black Rock Duchy.

Although going back to school, learning knowledge, and enhancing her strength were the optimal solutions in everyone’s eyes, time waits for no one. By the time she officially graduated, it might be 3-4 years later, and by then, the Black Rock Duchy might already be in ruins.

Moreover, by then, there might be an absolute ruler in the Black Rock Duchy, making it even harder to change things. The current chaotic situation actually represents more opportunities.

During her time in this small village, she also read many promotional materials from the founding of Clancia. Nide County, as the birthplace of the West Wind Revolution, had many people who participated in the battles a few years ago. Many booklets and documents were still preserved.

After reading these, Jenna felt inspired and gained some confidence.

Great endeavors cannot be achieved overnight, but if one is afraid to move forward because of this, one will never reach the other shore.

Now, she was about to embark on the most difficult first step.

—

After the military academy in Nide County was established, the first batch of students began training, with various facilities and teachers gradually being put in place.

After several inspections and feeling that things were roughly on track, Lolan Hill also prepared to set off again, traveling westward with the caravan to the border province near the grasslands of Clancia, then heading to Solan County, which directly connects to the Holy Land.

After encountering the ruins of the Dusk Era, she became increasingly curious about the origins of the angels. What were these unique beings, and what connection did they have with the major organizations at the end of the Dusk Era?

Why was her affinity with the Angel Sequence so high? Was her body in this life a creation of a deity or a legacy of the Dusk Era? She urgently wanted to know all of this.

Where did she come from?

The Fireseed Plan was merely a product of the early Dusk Era when humans lacked confidence. Why has it been preserved, and what role did the committee represented by the Seven Virtues play in the ancient organization? What part did they play in the end times?

All of this drew the silver-haired girl to that peculiar country.

—

“Are you leaving?”

In a small house under the city watchtower of the military camp, two people sat facing each other, with only an unlit candleholder on the table between them.

“Yes.”

Today, Lolan Hill wore a long robe with a gray base and silver edges. A few strands of hair peeked out from under her hood, and her slender waist was accentuated by a belt. Her calves were covered by knee-high black stockings.

When recruiting her, Bard thought she was just a high-ranking official of Clancia.

After studying at the military academy for some time, Bard gradually understood the true identity of the girl in front of him: Lolan Hill, the great sage of Clancia, the founder of the national belief, and the spiritual leader.

This revelation stunned him for a long time, but it explained many things, such as why her knowledge was so extensive and how she could easily improve her strength and invite him to join Clancia.

“Even though I invited you, I apologize for not being able to give you special treatment. Everything depends on yourself to strive and prove your worth.”

“Consider it a test for you.”

“However, as a reward for protecting the villages in Nide County over the past two years, I have a gift for you.”

Lolan Hill smiled and floated a long wooden box onto the table from under the desk.

“Open it.”

Bard carefully opened the lid of the box, revealing a long lance.

[Red Maple Dragon Lance] (Perfect Coral Rank): Made of amber red maple wood, with the core made from the bones of an ancient dragon, engraved with extraordinary patterns. It comes with Dragon Power LV.4, Sunfire Lance LV.4, and Resilience LV.4. Fully activated, it grants a significant power boost, allowing for attacks that can melt iron with heat. The lance is also resilient enough to resist most attacks below Sequence 8 and minor deformations.

The tip of the lance is a three-sided pyramid shape, transitioning to a thicker body towards the rear. Near the grip, the lance features flame and maple leaf patterns, emitting an orange-red glow as magic flows through it.

The grip and counterweight ball are made from dragon bone, with engravings that serve both decorative and anti-slip purposes.

“Keep working hard, Bard. I believe you will become a renowned Knight Commander.”

(End of Chapter)