The firewood pile burned fiercely, yet Goron Wimberton felt little warmth.
Though the tent was patched with cowhide and its base was tightly packed with earth, leaving no gaps for air to escape, he still felt a bone-chilling cold all over—especially his toes, which were so frozen they were nearly numb.
"This damn place—urinating here would freeze the air." He spat, stood up, and gripped the table with both hands. With a forceful lift, his hands' backs immediately bulged with veins, and the six-foot square solid wood table came crashing off the ground.
Only when he placed the table beside the fire did Goron feel somewhat more at ease. He took off his shoes, laid his feet on the glowing embers, and unfolded the paper scroll in his hand to continue writing the unfinished letter.
"To my dear Livia." "I've been in Hermes for over a month now. The Church folks prefer to call this place the New Holy City. If it weren't for the Dark Moon Covenant, I'd never want to stay here. I'd just want to return to your cottage and share the warmth of your bed with you." "It's ironic that the army monitoring the Church's every move has become their ally through the Covenant, don't you think? Speaking of the Church, I must admit their actions are truly astonishing. I remember my first visit twenty years ago when Hermes had nothing but mountains and rocks. The Church's settlements were all at the foot of the mountains. But now, they've not only built roads for carriages to climb the slopes, but also constructed massive fortress cities on the mountaintops." "If it's summer, you should come with me to see the New Holy City. It's even more magnificent than Graycastle. Remember the theater in Graycastle's capital? We once went there to watch Prince's Revenge. You marveled at how ingeniously designed the theater was and how spacious its interior was." "But if you see the New Holy City's training ground, you'll realize Graycastle's theater is nothing compared to it. I'd say it's more like a masterpiece of art than a building. A space five theaters' size, yet without a single stone pillar supporting it." Eight bone-like protrusions jutting from the exterior walls, their curved skeletons interconnected by countless branches and hemp ropes, suspended the entire roof like a suspension bridge. "What on earth came to mind?" "And those bones—if they were taken from the evil beast, I bet it must have been over a hundred feet tall. You'd only find such monsters in Hades. But my dear, don't worry. Even the most monstrous creatures are but the minions of the Devil. Before God's Stone of Punishment, no evil escapes divine retribution. Whether it's the beast, the Witch, or the Devil itself, all meet their end in ashes." At this point, Goron Wimberton set down his pen and shook his sore hands. Strangely, he'd been wielding his fifteen-pound twin-handed sword all day, yet now writing this felt exhausting. He chuckled at himself, "I guess I'm still cut out for rough work."
"Speaking of evil beasts, it suddenly occurred to me that my fourth brother, assigned to the impoverished Border Town, must have fled into the Changge Fortress—though the beasts there pale in comparison to those of the Hermes Defense Line. This cannot be blamed on him; even if I were to go there, I could only seek refuge. This reveals how unjust my father was, appointing my second brother to the throne simply because he showed exceptional intelligence from childhood? Father has forgotten that he didn't win the Graycastle throne through his wit. Since Mother's death, I've found it increasingly difficult to fathom his true intentions." The following words left Goron hesitant. He didn't know whether to reveal his true plans to Livia. After a moment's pause, he decided to continue writing. If everything went smoothly, he should have reached the Graycastle Palace by the time this letter arrived.
"Dear, Scholar Ang is absolutely right. If I remain inactive, the throne will never rightfully belong to me. He has already observed this through celestial observations. 'The Apocalypse Star is receding from the Sun of Fire, and will completely exit its orbit in no more than four months,' Scholar Ang told me. Clearly, time is running out, and I can't afford to wait any longer." "After today's battle, I'll return to the capital quietly with my loyal warriors. Coldwind Ridge may not match the prosperity of Golden Ear City, but it's never short of valiant warriors. With just a few coins and promises, they'll swarm my targets like hungry wolves. Of course, I don't want to do that. I just want to ask my father personally why he issued such a frivolous decree to contest the throne. What made him forget that I'm the rightful heir?" "Scholar Ang has already arranged everything for me, Livia, my love. Wait a little longer. The day I become the King will be the day I marry you as queen. If I fail... then you must not return to the capital. Live well in Coldwind Ridge." "I love you, Goron." He carefully folded the letter into an envelope and sealed it with wax. After double-checking, he tapped the table. Soon, a guard entered from outside the tent.
"Deliver this letter to the rose at Frosty Ridge. You needn't travel day and night, nor ride a horse disguised as an ordinary traveler, hitching a ride on a trade caravan between the two places. Just remember one thing: this letter must be delivered in person." "Yes, Your Royal Highness!" "Very well, go ahead." After dismissing his bodyguards, Goron sat down on the table, his feet dangling over the fire pit.
This leaves no way out for them.
He closed his eyes, reminiscing about his childhood. Back then, he would play hide-and-seek with his younger brother and sister in the Royal Capital Gardens. Whenever the little sister fell, the two of them would insist on joining her in the fall until she was safe. But when did it all begin? How did the three of them gradually drift apart like they do now?
Goron shook his head, casting aside his tangled thoughts. He knew melancholy suited him not, and these doubts would find resolution once he ascended the throne.
Just then, the dull sound of a horn came from outside the tent.
"Uuuuuh... Uuuuuh..." He leapt off the table, slipped on his boots, and stepped out of the tent. The entire camp had already stirred. Running soldiers and fluttering flags formed surging waves, converging toward the designated battlefield. In the distance, the mountains echoed with muffled reverberations, stretching endlessly.
The bugle sounds, and the evil beast attacks.
"Follow me!" He mounted the warhorse brought by his personal guard and dashed up to the top of the city wall.
Only by standing atop the walls of the Holy City can one truly grasp its grandeur—it stands like an impenetrable barrier at the rift of the Desolate Mountains. The summit is broad and flat, wide enough for dozens to pass side by side. Before it lies a glacial cliff, while behind it stretches a flat plateau.
This is why the Church is determined to build the new holy city on the mountaintop.
They built a line of defense that was almost impossible to break by taking advantage of the difference in terrain.
Goron Wemberton, however, had a vision for the future. The Church's ability to transport massive quantities of stone and timber from the foothills to the summit, and to build a city on Mount Hermes within merely twenty years, demonstrated an astonishing level of strength.
Yet no matter how much I despise these God-knuckle thugs, I must admit one thing about Goron: if we don't support them in defending Hermes, every nation on the continent will face a catastrophe. This is precisely the rationale behind the Evil Moon Convention.
When the Evil Demon's Moon descends, the four kingdoms bordering Hermes must dispatch troops to aid the Church, joining forces with the Church's Inquisition Army in battle.
Four banners stand tall on the city walls, each bearing a distinct emblem: 'Dawn' with its serpent-shaped scepter, 'Wolf Heart' with its interlaced blades and shield, 'Eternal Winter' adorned with an iceberg rose, and 'Graycastle' with its towering spire and long spear.
As a black dot appeared in the distant sky, Gollum Wimberton gripped his great sword.