Pillar of Yita

The ports gleamed with the aureola of the sun, and the vast azure curvature displayed the edge of the land. From space, the last hues of brown and green were fading behind the twilight zone. Kroid sat in a metal chair, a book titled ”Chronicles of Past Years” by Nestor at his side, watching his homeland sink beneath the horizon, all of Europe dipping into slumber while the sun crossed over the Iberian Peninsula, casting the final glimmers on this ancient land.

”Your breakfast is getting cold, dear.”

The tall man turned around, a smile briefly playing across his lips. Sicape came over and slapped the back of his hand, making him put down the metal flask.

With raised eyebrows, the pointed-eared Lady Elf looked at her boyfriend. Kroid chuckled and, taking her hand, leaned back to kiss her.

”You should get those kids in line,” Sicape bit his lip and said, ”Using the excuse of New World depression to idle around all day—Doctor Pelrun and I were saying, people of their age could be getting further education, or at least learning some useful skills.”

Kroid smiled towards the living room, from which sporadic shrieks were coming:

”Elsa, heal me!”

”Ah, Mr. Bore, it’s too late! There’s no healing, not in this lifetime, because poor Little Elsa has already fallen in a pool of blood!”

The little girl’s voice was full of dismay and apology.

”It’s rather good, isn’t it?” Kroid said to Sicape with a laugh.

”Good in what way?” Sicape, hands on hips—the kitchen kettle whistled and she glanced in its direction, walking back as she spoke: ”Kroid, you’d better control them.”

She turned off the stove, then stopped suddenly, raising her right hand. The communicator on her wrist flickered.

Startled, she activated the communicator; the screen flickered with interference, but as soon as she saw the situation on the other side, her eyes brightened and she screamed excitedly, ”Kroid, come here, it’s the little one!”

She turned and shouted towards the living room, ”Elsa, you all better come out here now, we’ve got in touch with Ade!”

The living room fell suddenly silent.

Then there was a chaotic sound of chairs dragging, and a group of people burst out from there, the first one, a clumsy young girl who almost bumped into Sicape, clearly the Healer who had been the first to die by Qin Zhi’s hand at the Elf Ruins.

Her face full of curiosity, she crowded around Sicape’s hand: ”Where is he? Where is Mr. Ade?”

”Back off, Elsa,” Sicape said with distaste, pushing away the blonde girl: ”Let me speak first, I’m the Captain.”

”But Mr. Kroid is clearly the Captain,” Elsa muttered in a low voice.

But with one glare from Sicape, the girl fell silent.

On the screen filled with static, Fang Hong, surrounded by darkness, looked at the chaotic scene glowing at the other end of the light screen, his smile coming uncontrollably to his cheeks.

But he blinked, as if sand had entered his eyes.

He awkwardly waved at the screen, trying not to look too awkward: ”Uh, hello everyone—”

”Hahaha.”

The people on the screen burst out laughing at his clumsy demeanor.

But as they laughed, they gradually fell silent, suddenly realizing that this was still the Ade they knew. That energetic, somewhat naive young man hadn’t changed at all.

Fang Hong also fell silent.

Before he opened this communication, he had imagined many scenarios, but now he had found he didn’t need to say anything.

On the slightly distorted screen, Sicape wrinkled her nose, her face full of disdain: ”Immature brat.”

The crowd couldn’t help but smile.

Fang Hong too grinned foolishly.

Then he saw the Captain’s face, which had hardly changed, but of course, it had only been a little over a month, so changes were unlikely.

But for him, these days felt incredibly long.

”Mr. Ade, do you still remember me?”

”Ah, of course, you’re Elsa.”

The freckled little girl, face lit up with joy: ”I saw that video, super cool! Mr. Ade, thank you for avenging me!” she said, vigorously waving her fist.

”The revenge isn’t taken yet,” Fang Hong replied, ”but rest assured, I’ll make sure it’s done.”

The little girl blushed, nodding excitedly.

”Alright, alright,” Sicape pulled the girl aside, her face serious: ”Ade, keep away from the Grand Guild if you can.”

Fang Hong just smiled slightly, not saying anything.

Seeing his expression, Sicape knew her words probably went unheard and glanced at him annoyed.

”Ade,” Kroid spoke, ”where are you now?”

”Ah, Mr. Kroid, this is Golden Bay Anchorage, I’ve just landed on Fenris Isle,” Fang Hong replied.

”Have you left Tarun?” Kroid nodded slightly: ”That might be for the best.”

”Did something happen in Tarun?” Fang Hong, sensing the implications in his words, asked.

”Indeed, some things have happened in Tarun. You just left there, don’t you know?” Sicape took over the conversation.

Fang Hong shook his head bewilderedly; since leaving Elpaxin, he had been cut off from the outside world, spending over a week at sea. In this era for Eteliria, a half-month was enough for a lot of things to occur.