Pillar of Yita

The snowstorm lasted for two days, gradually subsiding by the third day. On the morning of the fourth day, Fang Hong finally saw the Princess of Silver Weslan. She stood in the snow, carrying the ailing Xi on her back, wearing a thick fur coat over her armor, her face still flushed with cold.

The two walked to the edge of the platform under the woodcutters’ escort. The Big Catfolk first lowered a lift basket to bring up the mountain girl, then threw down a rope ladder for the Catfolk to climb up as well.

Hilveld walked over and placed her hand on the mountain girl’s pale forehead, while Sophie watched her nervously from the side. Miss Ship’s Officer saw her expression and couldn’t help but smile gently, shaking her head to indicate that there was nothing seriously wrong, and a good rest would be enough.

Only then did Sophie breathe a sigh of relief, sincerely thanking: ”Thank you, Hilveld.” The two had already met underground in Fenris, but seeing her in person, Sophie couldn’t help but be amazed at her beauty and poise.

Hilveld only smiled, showing her teeth: ”You’re welcome.”

Atira and Elisa took Xi to the infirmary. Sophie watched their figures disappear below the deck before turning her gaze back to Fang Hong and Hilveld beside her, saying: ”Let’s find a more secluded room, I have something to show you.” Only then did Fang Hong notice she was holding a package, wrapped in an old blanket.

”Let’s go to the captain’s cabin.” Hilveld suggested proactively.

”Lord Captain?” Sophie chuckled slightly, looking at Fang Hong.

Fang Hong’s face turned red instantly. He was reluctant to use the captain’s cabin for this reason: ”Don’t... don’t take it too seriously, it’s just what everyone calls me...” Fortunately, Sophie didn’t mean to embarrass him and just smiled it off: ”...It seems your prestige is quite high?”

Fang Hong cleared his throat loudly again.

However, he quietly fell back a step and asked Hilveld behind him: ”When did you learn healing skills?” Hilveld’s eyes curved like crescent moons as she shook her head: ”What is the captain talking about?”

”Before that?”

Hilveld laughed, glanced ahead, and said: ”Miss Sophie was just overly concerned. Xi just has a slight fever, there are medicines on the platform, and Atira knows the Disease Removal Technique, so what’s the problem?”

Fang Hong looked at her, realizing that this was the legendary placebo effect, seemingly effective on those without ailments too.

But the Miss Ship’s Officer’s slyness was something he had long experienced.

The three crossed the storage room and came into the workshop, where Sophie took a look around, somewhat surprised. Though she had seen pictures of this platform, seeing it firsthand was a different story—such a well-equipped platform was rare even in Silver Weslan.

This place wasn’t large, but it was indeed comfortable, with every tool perfectly secured in place. There were also some wall cabinets and hooks on the walls, hanging parts of various sizes, readily available for use.

One side of the workshop led to the captain’s cabin, where a thick carpet was laid, and an entire row of books filled the cabinet and desk. Brass heating pipes crossed the room, melting the ice crystals off the girl’s brows with warmth.

A small flowerpot sat on the desk, where a bunch of verdant vines drooped charmingly even in the harsh winter. Sophie walked over and touched the spines of the books on the shelves with a hint of envy.

Of course, it wasn’t due to Silver Weslan’s lack of financial resources, but the lack of necessity since Silver Weslan had genuine floating ships.

But she suddenly felt that such a platform had a certain practicality, at least being cost-effective— Silver Weslan did have floating ships, but only the elite teams enjoyed that privilege, which had nothing to do with her youth training team.

”This place is really nice.” Sophie sincerely praised.

Being praised by the Princess of Silver Weslan made Fang Hong somewhat flattered, but he hadn’t forgotten the matter at hand, so he couldn’t help but ask: ”What do you want to show us?”

”It’s this thing.”

Sophie finally unwrapped the bundle, dumping its contents on the ground. Fang Hong heard the clatter of metal before realizing that the blanket contained a pile of shabby armor, including a breastplate, helmet, waist guard, and gauntlets, which collectively should make a full body armor.

”What is this?”

Fang Hong asked. He noticed the magic guided path inside the armor and the slots for different components, realizing it was just an ordinary magic guided armor, not a valuable antique—or an ancient divine artifact.

Sophie clapped her hands, took a deep breath, and began to describe in detail the events of that night to the two.

After listening to her, Fang Hong couldn’t help but be stunned: ”You said you were attacked by an armor?”

He nudged the empty breastplate on the blanket with his foot, which was so corroded it barely held its shape, making a worrying rustling sound as if it would fall apart at any moment. There was a phoenix engraving on the front, and apart from being particularly ragged, it didn’t seem to have anything special.

Fang Hong found it really hard to imagine this piece, combined with the other components of the armor, standing up and assailing someone.

”It’s not exactly an assault,” Sophie responded: ”To be precise, it wobbled to my front, then toppled over. Then nothing else happened.”

”Just like that?”

Sophie nodded.

She thought for a moment and added: ”You might think I’m making a fuss over nothing, but after that, I checked around the cave and found no one else, which means how could this armor have walked through the snowstorm alone?”