Pillar of Yita

Above the hall, the torchlight on the gray stone walls flickered slightly, elongating shadows into ever-changing shapes.

Unburnt pine resin rose in wisps of light smoke, gathering at the dome of the hall, where amidst the swirling haze, the Dragon Horn appeared increasingly mysterious and ferocious—as if it still lived within those ancient legends and stories.

The main arena was packed layer upon layer with people, their low murmurs interspersed with occasional exclamations that drowned out all other sounds.

Zhang Tianmiu seemed utterly out of place amidst it all.

He frowned, head bowed, concentrating on smoothing his sleeve with his fingertips, oblivious to his surroundings. After a while, he looked up, scanning around with a sharp gaze.

Soon, he saw his deputy approaching with a tall, tower-like man—by the sound of the footsteps alone, he could tell it was the proprietor of this local inn.

The other man saw him and nodded slightly.

Zhang Tianmiu had no intention of returning the gesture.

”Did you find the person you were looking for?” Mazak finally asked.

His voice was deep and steady.

Zhang Tianmiu shook his head gently, ”No, just some tourists. It’s actually unlikely that he’d appear in Elpaxin, we’re just being cautious—it’s a redundant move approved by those above.”

Only then did he drop his hand and added, ”Speaking of which, thanks for your help.”

”It was nothing,” Mazak replied, ”what about the other guests in the inn?”

”We’ll figure out another way.”

”That’s good to hear.”

Zhang Tianmiu looked up at his old friend. He wasn’t short, but he still had to look up to meet Mazak’s gaze. Men from Eis were always tall and burly, rumored to have descended from the wilderness of Istania, with the bloodline of the Dark Giant Dragon flowing in their veins.

But they were also the Giant Dragon’s sworn enemies, descendants of the Dragon Slayers.

”I heard you’re planning to hand over the inn to Silver Forest Spear?” He suddenly asked an unrelated question.

But Mazak did not dodge the question, nodding, ”What do you think?”

Zhang Tianmiu shook his head, ”I’m a soldier, you know we have our disciplines.”

”Discipline, as in staying out of natives’ affairs?”

”Pretty much, legally speaking, our principle is non-interference in domestic or foreign affairs, the same goes for all the major Guilds.”

”What about Guilds from other countries?”

Zhang Tianmiu scoffed, ”They can try.”

Mazak glanced at him curiously, ”You know Colin Ishurian also has an army, but they don’t operate like this.”

The former raised his eyebrows, ”We are naturally different from them.”

”Very proud,” Mazak slowly replied, ”but, right now, I just need advice from a friend.”

Zhang Tianmiu then realized, ”What’s the matter?”

Mazak looked toward the dome of the inn, where the huge Dragon Horn hung motionlessly. After a moment of silence, he said, ”I’m leaving this place.”

”Leaving?” The former was surprised, ”What happened, are you going back to Istania?”

Mazak shook his head, ”I have things I must do, just as you have your sacred duties, Zhang.”

Zhang Tianmiu suddenly understood, asking, ”Is this why you brought out the Ring of Golden Flame?”

Mazak’s gaze shifted to a nearby stone platform where the Ring of Golden Blaze lay on a tray, guarded by several strong Dwarves.

”The Ring of Golden Flame, though merely a proud creation from my younger days, I’ve always kept it as a keepsake. It’s like a daughter to a father, and someday she too will leave under the wing of someone she chooses.”

”Your tone doesn’t sound like it’s just about leaving—it sounds almost like you’re arranging your final affairs.”

”It’s not much different——”

Zhang Tianmiu watched him.

Mazak paused for a while, then continued, ”The place I’m going is very dangerous, I must settle everything beforehand.”

As he spoke, the former saw his deep dark eyes without a ripple of emotion, as if saying, ”A new coffee shop opened at the street corner, I’m going for a cup of coffee.” a matter so simple, yet with no intention of returning once he left.

His intentions were clear; this departure might be forever.

Zhang Tianmiu suddenly said, ”We’ve known each other for about five years now, right?”

”About that, I still remember your previous commander—I didn’t get along with him well.”

”That was my old superior; he retired last year, and you speaking ill of him here won’t make me happy.”

Mazak gave a faint smile.

Zhang Tianmiu uncharacteristically got serious, ”Then let me give you a piece of advice, you should understand we back every citizen, not just the Grand Guilds alone.”

”That sounds no different.”

”No, of course there’s a difference.”

”Can’t you make it more clear?”

”It’s discipline.”

Mazak pondered for a moment, then nodded, ”I understand.”

The two fell into a brief silence again.

Suddenly, a tumultuous uproar erupted from the east side of the hall. Most people in the hall were drawn by the commotion, curiously turning their heads, and Zhang Tianmiu’s train of thought was also interrupted as he looked in that direction.

”What’s going on?” he asked his deputy with his gaze.

But by then, Mazak was already looking that way and had started walking toward the commotion.