Pillar of Yita

The hall had fallen silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Fang Hong’s arm, where the blood-colored patterns—scars—were healing at a rate visible to the naked eye, relaxed only after the Lizardmen elder released his hand and gave him a cold look. That indifferent expression, eyes elongated like onyx stones, sent a shiver down Fang Hong’s spine.

”This is the forbidden knowledge of darkness, bearer of the Pale Glory,” it opened its mouth and spoke softly, ”Be careful, in the ancient times of the Empire, knowledge often meant falling into corruption, the powers of darkness lurk between the lines, tempting you to lose yourself.”

Fang Hong, not quite understanding, touched his arm—now completely healed—and looked up at the other party, then at the Toragotos atop Gold Mountain, and asked in confusion, ”Forbidden knowledge of darkness? But what exactly is all this, and what is the Pale Glory?”

”I understand why you are puzzled, child,” a massive voice resonated within his mind, as Toragotos replied, ”Because nowadays, very few are aware of these ancient secrets. In the last era, before the Numelin Elves left this world, they left behind five treasures.”

”Among them, the Hailin Crown and the Hand of Philosophy were given to humans, to witness the ultimate power of mortals in the next age. But then humanity divided, the Hailin Crown stayed with Aquen, coming into the possession of Colin’s first sovereign ruler, while his brother, carrying the Hand of Philosophy, crossed the Sea of Mist with wizards, arriving at present-day Hanaire, where they defeated the Giants and the Nagas, founding the fledgling form of today’s Osh atop the ruins of the Giants’ Kingdom.”

The Battle of the Broken Sword, Fang Hong had heard of this legend before, a history that the Osh People took pride in.

Toragotos continued:

”The Morning Light Holy Sword, forged by Rotas, was left by the Elves to the Dwarves, becoming the treasure of Ishurian, and thus Rotas was also dubbed the Shelter Protector of Dwarves. Before the sword was lost, it last came into the possession of the dwarven hero Valit.”

”And there was a sigil, the Eternal Gemstone, once the heart of the King upon the Elf Throne, possessing boundless Magic Power, the supreme object of the Elf Clan. It was given to the Wilderness People of Rotao, but when the Forest Elves and the Papalarians left Rotao, a Papalarian named Rabi took it with them. They used it to plant the White Sacred Tree, and that gemstone still sleeps within the Heart of the Giant Tree to this day.”

Fang Hong was somewhat surprised: ”I heard that Rotao’s Eternal Gemstone had long been lost, but turns out it was just taken away by Elves and Papalarians. No wonder Rotao still disallows any Papalarians to enter their borders, and despite being natural kin, they also share a quite distant relationship with the Forest Elves of Giant Tree Hill, revealing yet another layer to their relationship.”

The old Dragon slowly nodded his head.

Fang Hong naturally knew that the White Sacred Tree was Talaka, the foundation of Giant Tree Hill, home to the Forest Elves and Papalarians of today. As for the Heart of the Giant Tree, it was the core of the Holy Tree Temple. He looked back at Atira for a moment; if the Lion Man Reed hadn’t lied, the Elf Miss had once been one of the priestesses of this Holy Sanctuary.

Ancient Hall Defenders, Unicorn Girl.

He couldn’t help asking, ”Then the last treasure, is it the Elf Holy Grail?”

Toragotos replied, ”That is the most cherished object of the Elves, naturally different from the other treasures. People firmly believe it holds the secret of the Numelin Elves’ Immortal Life, hence the Elves did not entrust it to anyone, but instead guarded this ancient secret with seven Spires.”

Fang Hong couldn’t help exclaiming, ”Wait, seven Spires? I’ve heard an ancient song about them, so what it sang was true?”

The memories flashed through his mind:

’Beneath the seven Obelisks, is buried the secret of the Elf Holy Grail of Numelin, land where the twelve stars shine, eternal life, endless knowledge.’

But what is the land where the twelve stars shine?

The Giant Dragon opened his eyes, a golden gaze fixed on him: ”People believe that the Elf Holy Grail bears the last secrets left by the clan of Numelin Elves, perhaps Immortal Life, or perhaps the answer in the ancient prophecies—the answer that will tell us what really is the Star of Calamity?”

”Is this what you are here for?” Fang Hong finally caught on, looking around at everyone in the hall—the Lizardmen, the Old Dwarf, and the Giant Dragon: ”Is the third Star of Calamity truly upon us?”

”The Shining Sea is dimmed, yet from the signs of the Giant Serpent Tail, we gather some answers,” the portly toad replied in a booming croak, ”Only the Numelin Elves have lived through the second Star of Calamity, but after the battle of Aithelin, they sealed away all memories and knowledge related to it. Whether Aithelin or Isolin, they both sank into the depths of the Abyssal Sea, and the Elf Holy Grail might be the only clue to that war.”

”But what does this have to do with me?”

”Because only those approved by the Numelin Elves can approach the seven Spires and learn of the true location where the Elf Holy Grail is buried.”

Fang Hong suddenly remembered the black Spire he had seen in the other’s memory, and couldn’t help thinking, or perhaps beneath Fenris Isle there lay a Spire?

So the Lizardmen had gathered here with the intention of finding that Spire?

Then it occurred to him, the purpose of this legendary Giant Dragon in choosing this place for the trial was highly suspect. The so-called journey into the twelve levels below the ruins could be because the Spire lies beneath those twelve levels.