The thought tugged Raven’s mind, what could this young man be thinking? What were the thoughts that backed his actions.
If Northern had proved to be an intellectual person, why then was he acting otherwise? Selfish and stupid.
She couldn’t understand.
Shaking her head to dispel those thoughts, Raven looked at Northern.
“I’m impressed. You think quite deeply in many areas.”
Northern shrugged nonchalantly.
“Anyone would have thought that way if they’d been in my position.”
“I see…”
Raven observed him silently for a few seconds before his voice broke through.
“I can’t help but think how stupid Gilbert is after all this…”
She flinched, not expecting that remark.
Northern went on, oblivious to her reaction.
“If he managed to sway the students, regain Lotheliwan’s capital, accept the natives, and establish some order. Even though there might be rips and tears here and there, it was still commendable. With such order, they’d be able to return to the Central Plains, I’m sure.”
Raven frowned.
“It’s not that simple.”
Crouching down, she picked up a small twig and drew a map on the ground.
“This is the continent of Stelia, it is situated in the middle of the Talcia – Fuego sea. We are located here, in the southwestern area. At the edge of the land here, it’s the endless body of the sea, if we want to return to the Central Plain… we have to go here, cross Sloria stronghold to Luinngard Empire in the Northeastern area.”
She tapped that point emphatically.
“Luinngard Empire, is not just the powerhouse of Stelia for nothing. See, from the Northwest, all the way to the east-south-east, their territory encompasses all.”
Northern frowned, “Isn’t that almost half the continent already?”
“Quite.” Raven gestured at the map.
“The problem is, this northeast here, is where Luinngard port is. The port is our only lead to the Central Plain. As long as Luinngard is not opening their gates to us, we won’t be able to get a ship and journey back to the Central Plain”
“But it’s also possible to build a ship and go around…”
Raven dropped the twig and dusted her hand as she stood up.
“Do you think that would be a smooth voyage?” Before he could reply, she continued, “Have you heard of protectors?”
“I have, but I’m not sure what they do exactly.”
“Protectors are drifters assigned to guard the borders, preventing monsters from entering the continent.”
Northern’s brow furrowed skeptically. “How could any monsters cross that vast sea?”
“You are correct, and Talcia – Fuego is not a body of water that can just be swum through. No monster would make it that far.”
Raven’s eyes grew somber.
“But the protectors exist because monsters keep appearing at Astrionis’ borders.”
By being an avid reader of books and being up to date with newspapers, Northern sort of knew the kingdoms in the Central Plain; Astrionis was one of them, and was a particularly large city of trade just as Reimgard Empire, they also held a large sea port that led directly to Luinngard in starlock continent and routed also to other continents.
They were other countries that had sea port but Astrionis was the city of trade for some reason, even Reimgard didn’t hold a candle to them.
In trade that is…
“Where are the monsters coming from then?” he asked, seeking answers in Raven’s eyes. Though he already suspected the truth.
“I believe there is a rift in the sea itself.”
Northern’s frown deepened.
‘A rift in the sea? It’s exactly what I thought too…’
There was no other plausible explanation.
But it was also unrealistic, because it has never been recorded in history that a rift appeared in the sea.
‘It has also never been recorded in history that five rifts appeared at once’
The world was slowly changing, and everything was beginning to get uncertain and tremendously dangerous.
“I see… even if you go to Luinngard, the journey to the Central Plain would be a perilous one but at least there is a good ship that can withstand whatever dangers will come. But building a ship… it can never be as good as those vessels of tidal war that Luinngard might possess.”
Raven nodded solemnly. “Correct.”
“Correct.”
‘Crazy, I’m almost convinced… but nah, that’s just dumb. I mean…’
“Why not just focus all your energy on going to the Luinngard Empire, you guys are going to go there in the end, are you not?”
Raven looked at him then looked around, her gaze plowing through the people as they went on with their various activities.
“Do you really think they’ll feel at home in the Central Plain?”
Northern arched a brow and turned his head, for a moment trying to look at what Raven was seeing as she stared at them and talked.
He turned his head back toward her.
“… ‘feeling’ at home is a luxury. There, they’ll have food, better clothes and living conditions than this place where death lurks around every corner. At least there, they can truly live in peace.”
“And what of this place?” Raven pressed. “What becomes of it?”
“Luinngard Empire will eventually deal with it.”
Raven frowned. “What do you mean? How can you be sure? They’ve neglected the state of the continent for nearly thirty years.”
“Which is strange… if they are an empire, they have the power and might to close down these rifts yet they have not moved a bit. No matter how nonchalant a nation may be, they can’t just leave destruction lurking around their borders, these monsters are not predictable, and an amazingly sad fact is that they have a vicious gene of adaptation.
“They could tear down even tall walls in order to reach their prey. Except the Emperor of Luinngard is stupid, it makes no sense that they are blatantly ignoring the existence of this monsters just because they are defended from it.”
Raven slightly narrowed her eyes, “You are implying…?”
A gleam entered Northern’s eyes.
“They have something to gain from it…”
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[A/N] freēwebnovel.com
I’m so sorry guys for all these boring talks.
We are slowly getting into it.