Pillar of Yita

After three days, the dust storm finally began to subside, but the tense atmosphere in the city didn’t relax for even a day, as the guards continued their daily search for his whereabouts—seemingly, the arcanists still believed he hadn’t left the city. As the days passed, Fang Hong was initially surprised, but later recalled that the other party was a master of the Prophecy System, which made him more understanding.

It appeared that Lady Marlan was still shielding him, intervening with divine strength, naturally obscuring his location from them.

However, the arcanists still had some skills, seemingly able to discern his presence within the city. But this discovery finally set Fang Hong’s mind at ease; since Lady Marlan was still providing shelter, he likely wouldn’t encounter any trouble leaving Bain City.

Yet, although the dust storm subsided, communications had not been restored, much to Fang Hong’s surprise.

This left him somewhat perplexed, wondering what exactly had happened. Could it be that the dust storm had been too fierce, thoroughly disrupting the typically calm Ether Sea behind Istania, and it was not something that could be calmed quickly?

The caravan headed for Quistack comprised seven beasts of burden, three of which were small sand lizards used for transporting personal belongings and supplies like food and water. Major goods were concentrated on three Biergo wingless dragons—similar to the giant beasts they had ridden in Tansnier previously.

Of course, the Biergo wingless dragons from the Holy Sanctuary were not as luxurious as those of the Princess, but they were larger, capable of carrying more.

Bain’s geological environment showed clear signs of marine sedimentation; scholars believed a massive ancient lake might have once existed here, but disappeared due to a great ancient upheaval. Between the rock pillars here lay Istania’s rare water system elemental crystal and limestone, so the dragons’ backs were mostly loaded with these materials.

Since it was a supply caravan, there naturally wasn’t anywhere for people to ride, and Fang Hong wouldn’t dare even if there were. The elderly knight arranged for him to hide among boxes filled with crystals, a special gap left for him, stocked with food and water.

For safety, he wouldn’t leave this spot until he was beyond a certain range from Bain.

Fang Hong eyed the heavy boxes around him, roughly estimating that when they returned, they’d likely be filled with daily necessities and ritual supplies that Bain, as a military fortress, didn’t produce, so such caravans were common in this city.

The dust storm lasting for half a month had disrupted these deliveries and significantly affected Bain. Consequently, it was clear that in addition to their caravan, many other caravans were leaving the city that day, forming a long line blocked at the city gate.

With so many caravans, the guards were bound to make mistakes during inspection, not to mention their caravan bore the Holy Sanctuary’s insignia, so the guards mostly allowed them through without trouble.

Finally, at the last gate, they were truly stopped for the first time.

Hidden under a heap of boxes, Fang Hong heard a muffled voice from outside, his heart suddenly tensing with recognition. It belonged to the middle-aged arcanist he’d encountered in the castle.

Arcanists were surprisingly stationed at the city gate, inspecting every group leaving the city, which shocked Fang Hong. Even Bain knights wouldn’t stoop to guarding the gate. Was the other party truly so idle? He finally realized that Affia’s disappearance had thoroughly worried them; otherwise, arcanists, with their status, wouldn’t stoop to such tasks.

He grew increasingly curious about the girl sharing a name with Princess Rupert’s sister.

Over the past few days, he’d asked around; Affia wasn’t a commonly used name in Istania.

Could such a coincidence be possible?

However, just as this thought emerged, Fang Hong felt unease—arcanists were renowned for their divination spells; could they truly discover him hiding in this caravan? Though Lady Marlan vouched for him, he couldn’t help worrying that a busy Lord Orlin might forget such a minor character like himself.

Lost in anxious musings, another voice suddenly echoed from outside.

”Mr. Lammonlay, this is the Holy Sanctuary’s caravan.”

Upon hearing this voice, Fang Hong’s shock far surpassed his earlier surprise. Initially, he was merely startled to hear the arcanist’s voice; now, it was as if a tempest roiled within him. He also recognized and was very familiar with this voice—it belonged to Ye Hua, one of the two Ten Kings in the domestic league, known as the Ranger King.

Recalling the Fanric incident, the recommendation letter Ye Hua gave to Count Westwood Sibika nearly got him killed in that place. Although he later came to realize Ye Hua might not have foreseen his presence in Fanric at that time and the letter was perhaps purely a recommendation, not aiming at him.

But thinking of the trouble he narrowly avoided, Fang Hong felt some resentment, albeit he did help Ye Hua in Dulun without expecting anything in return. Still, anyone would harbor some dissatisfaction after being treated in such a manner, wouldn’t they?

Moreover, Odin, who was opposed to him at that time, taught him many things afterward and even introduced him to the Hall of Thousand Doors. In comparison, who wouldn’t ponder more?

Yet these thoughts quickly vanished, leaving only puzzlement:

But why was Ye Hua here?

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