Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Shaer, who had disappeared for a while, appeared again.

She sat there with a smile, soothing Lansendel in a soft voice: ”Have you ever considered that every humanoid settlement has a sufficiently powerful mage?

They might not have other skills, but releasing a light canopy that lasts for three months is definitely within their capability.

So, you just need to think about how to make the star, which suddenly awakened after burning for so long, go back to sleep sooner, right?”

Lansendel was indeed caught in a chaotic rhythm and was clearly calculating based on Shaer’s words.

Hill pursed his lips, glanced at Shaer who was eyeing him with her peripheral vision, picked up a glass of juice, and drank it slowly with his eyes lowered.

Shaer, a bit puzzled, glanced at the unexpectedly silent Little Bear.

According to her understanding of the child, unless Hill couldn’t see the trap in her words, he wouldn’t do nothing.

Though the child stands neutral, that’s because he is not the type who strives to eliminate all evil... regardless of what kind of evil it is, he won’t always shout to attack and kill... but his nature is much kinder than most of those of the Kind Alignment.

In fact, Hill is truly kind.

When he looks at the world, he doesn’t consider people’s lives worthless just because of their factions.

In this regard, William is quite similar to him.

When rescuing people, he doesn’t care if they are good or evil, nor does he check whose followers they are. But, once everything is over, he will conduct a formal judgment... and those who can’t escape his Scales of Justice, even Shaer couldn’t find an excuse to save them.

William wouldn’t decide someone deserves to die just because they are followers of Evil Faction deities; he only judges based on whether they have committed sins.

Just like Nasir who was with Edna, though he’s stained with blood, he is the most standard assassin... only killing those whose lives are bought, rarely affecting the innocent.

And in Toril, those who qualify to be placed on the hunting list at the Temple of the Dark Night, it’s rare to find true good among a thousand people.

Thus, in William’s judgment, Nasir isn’t truly evil.

The same logic seems to apply to Hill, so when Nasir was walking in Agleya Town back then, Hill’s array had a small reaction, only slightly reddening.

And Hill’s city executive, Lynn, just came out for a few more looks and gave him the right to pass through the outskirts... even knowing he was Shaer’s Envoy of the Night.

From that moment onwards, Shaer truly took notice of Hill.

Although the multiverse always talks about deeds rather than intentions, in essence, it’s more about distinguishing enemies by faction and identity.

Shaer found Hill and William truly focused on actions rather than origins... Shaer discovered she was seeing this for the first time.

Although some have done this... they didn’t sincerely think this way but for some special reasons, like warfare needing temporary peace.

After the war ends, everything returns to so-called normal... those giving other factions’ people time to retreat before turning hostile are already considered quite upright.

Shaer thought, and it seemed only Tyr’s followers had such persistence.

Such Hill would never choose her side just because of her relationship with William.

Just like if William were sitting there at the moment, he would unhesitatingly remind Lansendel, even if this was Shaer’s goal... that’s why William firmly doesn’t appear before any Toril deities and strong individuals.

His excessive understanding of Shaer allows him to infer Shaer’s intentions almost immediately.

If he didn’t see it, William could treat it as unnoticed... but he would never allow Shaer to commit misdeeds under his nose.

Shaer smirked: her relationship with William is like love on a tightrope.

Though intense, it is cautious, requiring them both to be careful every moment.

Yet, isn’t this kind of thrilling love the secret to its everlasting freshness?

At least for Shaer now, thinking of her beloved immediately energizes her... unlike those who feel bland and boring as time goes by.

Shaer knows her nature well; if she loses this thrilling feeling, even the most intense love will gradually turn to void for her... determined by her cold core of the Dark Night.

Before falling into love with William, she couldn’t imagine a person who could stir her emotions, only agitated by Celene, could cause such fluctuations.

Although they’ve been in love for not long, Shaer can confirm, William is forever the lover she can’t control... it makes Shaer unable to strategize like she does in other matters facing him.

Though unwilling for William to meet Celene, Shaer actually can assert... her lover wouldn’t fall behind when confronting Celene like other deities.

Even if Celene remains just as chaotic and unpredictable.

Because of Hill’s unexpected performance, Shaer remembered her beloved once again, unable to seize the moment, allowing Lansendel a bit of time for his own thoughts.

He quickly realized those hidden issues in Shaer’s words... indeed, mages, even his Dawn Messenger could open a sunlight curtain covering the entire city, preventing ordinary people from dying in droves due to three months of endless darkness.

But what about fields and plants?

What about wilderness and forests?

Three months without seeing the light of day was enough to make the Toril people, who usually never feared starvation... Although it seemed there was nothing to eat or drink, except in the undead lands like Sel’s, people from other places would rarely starve as long as they dared to venture out of their homes and gather wild herbs and small berries in the bushes. From now on, they’ll understand what true famine means.

Cities were originally meant to provide humans with a sense of security, but if they chose not to go there, those with some Professional ability could live well in the villages outside.

And ordinary people in those villages were able to survive because of the existence of these Professionals.

But once a three-month darkness period arrived, the city turned into the only space for survival.

The crazed humans, having lost their food sources, could only rely on the mercy of mages and priests... perhaps they’d rather live in the most terrifying place, Sel?

Lansendel knew very well that once Toril truly became that way, he, as the Lord of Dawn, would gain the greatest source of Faith Power.

Even places that had always been unwelcoming to his Dawn Tower would reverently invite his Messengers to reclaim the city center.

But, does he need such false faith?

People who could only survive through the dawn he brings, such humble and pitiful Faith Power, Lansendel wouldn’t disdain it, but he absolutely wouldn’t want to steal it himself!

He had always looked down on Amanata’s shamelessness, could it really be just for that bit of power...

Lansendel clenched his fists tightly... If this power could allow him to completely destroy AO, then he might still have room to struggle.

But, it was just another experiment by an old man, why should he become a test subject?

Shaer finally reacted to her momentary distraction. Seeing Lansendel’s more intense struggle, she quickly lowered her voice and, using her enchanting voice known as the Night Singer’s, gently whispered: ”Compared to foolish Amanata, Dawn is the sunlight humans most yearn for.

Only Dawn is hope.

Only daybreak is light.”

Hill silently glanced at Shaer... The words were moving, but alas, a little late.

Though Hill found Shaer’s delayed reaction strange, he was quite pleased to see the result before him.

Lansendel opened his eyes and decisively spoke: ”No need to say any more, Shaer.

When have I ever cared about the mortals’ faith?

When they love me, I welcome them.

When they choose to grow up, to mature as they call it, and leave me, I’ve never tried to hold them back; I’d even wish them smooth sailing.”

”My shelter and warmth were always meant for those who recognized my path, not to force mortals to offer me their faith.

Ha~

You and I are not the same!”

Perhaps because Lansendel sensed Shaer’s hidden killing intent, his tone was extremely stern and cold.

Of course, it only elicited a cold laugh from Shaer: ”But you know that what I said is the true path of Toril.

Do those mortals, alive or dead, have a difference?”

”To them, yes,” Lansendel replied straightforwardly.

Then he stopped paying attention to Shaer and spoke in a slightly trembling tone: ”Celene, what are you still doing on the moon?

I need to talk to you, care to come down for a chat?”

A moonbeam swiftly descended, softly tapping at Hill’s terrace window.

Hill widened his eyes slightly and opened the window for the responding Toril Silvermoon.

”Why are you seeking Celene?” Shaer voiced her query.

Lansendel chuckled, looking at the leisurely walking-in goddess in white: ”Celene, you haven’t killed that Aislin yet, right?”

”Of course not.” Celene leisurely walked to the spot reserved for her and turned to glance at Hill across the fountain, ”Hill, I want to drink the mint wine you brewed with your own hands.”

She complained slightly: ”Even though you gave me the recipe, the brew made by my god attendants doesn’t match that feeling at all.

The taste is off!”

While Hill smiled and instructed List to serve wine and snacks to each table, Shaer voiced her displeasure: ”Why are you keeping her?

Thinking of letting someone research how Silvermoon turns into Dark Moon?”

Celene rolled her eyes at her: ”Why don’t you go clean up that moon?

If you want to turn her into Dark Moon here, I can act like I didn’t see it.

Are you going to do it?”