Pillar of Yita

But the King of Sand paused for a moment before bursting into laughter: ”Just this? Is there anything else?”

Fang Hong shook his head.

Barbaltan glanced back at him, then withdrew his gaze and slowly replied: ”...It is indeed beautiful, this Sand Sea is the homeland of the Istania People... We call it the Silver Sand Sea, our ancestors have long traversed every inch of this Sand Sea and rooted themselves upon its vastness.”

”In the north and south of this Sand Sea, there are lands that are not less fertile. But our souls have long been connected to this ancient land, we were born here, and return to the soul here, while it may seem barren wasteland to the world, it carries a very special meaning for us. It is not just a superficial beauty, but a poetic beauty.”

”The poetry is far away, but also beneath our feet, upon the lone moon, and within the grains of sand.”

The King of Sand slowly recited an ancient Istania adage.

Fang Hong was somewhat surprised that the King of Sand would speak such words to him, for a moment, he truly could not comprehend the other’s meaning.

Yet listening to these words, gazing at this land, he felt his soul stir slightly...

The beauty spoken of is not just in these sleeping dunes, nor in the moonlight, neither solely in the sand and palm trees, or the deep black lake water. That is the moonlight of a thousand years, illuminating this ancient city, beneath so many mottled streets, lies buried the culture and history of Istania.

It is the lament of ages, the long poem of history, these tiny moving touches that are different from Earth. If it were merely an empty continent, what would be worth his journey here? Every step Fang Hong took in Eteliria is intertwined with the deep history of this land, and even becomes its future and history itself.

The poetry of the Istania People is indeed his distant journey.

And such beauty, isn’t it more touching?

The King of Sand gazed at the city in the darkness.

Quistack, and the distant Sand Sea, his territory.

In a voice full of length, he said:

”This is the land guarded by generations of Sand Kings.”

”Some among them view it as their private possession, some as the homeland they dedicate their lives to guarding, some see it as a treasure, some as a throne, but regardless, this land is precious. This point, whether for the Sand King or for everyone living on this land, is the same——”

”But mortal time has its end, the thought that one day Istania might cease to exist, turning into a ruin in the Sand Sea, like the elves a millennium ago, and even earlier, that splendid empire. Sometimes I can’t help but wish, if people could watch over this land eternally, if the Istania People could endure generation after generation, and the flames upon this Sand Sea would pass on without end, how good would that be...”

”It’s a pity, what mortals can never accomplish.”

Fang Hong looked somewhat surprised at this ruler.

He couldn’t help but think of certain rumors, but that the ’protagonist’ in those rumors didn’t believe in eternity?

Or was it just a whim of sentiment.

But Barbaltan shifted the topic, slowly said: ”To strive to guard, only for the things cherished in the heart—this feeling, surely a hero—such as Fanric’s Dragon’s Alchemist, Dolifen’s Savior, Mr. Ade should understand, right?”

Fang Hong was startled with alarm.

With a look of incredulity, he gazed at the King of Sand, on the other side, even Aleph glanced over.

But Barbaltan’s voice was low, not allowing others to hear. He continued: ”Do not be tense, young man. I brought you here today with no malice, even though I am aware of your identity—I hurt myself managing Istania, it’s so vast that it sometimes exhausts me, unable to govern it well.”

”Do you understand this feeling?” The ruler slightly tilted his head, as if merely narrating. ”Its surface is as beautiful as ever, yet beneath hides filth... In my early years, I was in high spirits, thinking I could change all of this, but in the end, I couldn’t change anything. Maybe I changed something, but it had little significance.”

”...I am old, plan to pass my position to Aleph, I perhaps won’t see Istania’s future, even if it still exists in the future is in question. But regardless, just like the father king handed this position to me, I will pass it down, like the desert’s flame, generation after generation...”

”The origin of my throne, in early years received help from some people. These people came from various places, including Colin People, and the Holy Choosers, the integration of Istania with Colin Ishurian has become inevitable in history, yet many people don’t see this point, they will only lead this kingdom to its ruin...”

”Young man, do you understand?”

Clearly, Fang Hong did not understand.

He completely did not comprehend why this King of Sand suddenly rambled on about these meanings—Barbaltan might be in the remembrance of the past, but it needn’t be before him.

Yet he faintly felt that this ruler was not as he imagined. Despite what Faris said, the association with Blind Followers still left a negative impression on him. But he did not expect, the real King of Sand would actually be like this.

Regardless, he was quite different from those he had met such as Wanderers and Messengers.

This even made him doubt his own judgment.

He looked to the side at Aleph.

The Crown Prince had clearly not yet recovered from the previous shock.

Barbaltan also looked at his son, asking: ”Aleph, what do you think.”

Aleph hesitated for a while, despite having myriad thoughts, he first articulated his first notion: ”I will carefully guard this land, father.”

”Guarding is far from enough...”

The King of Sand shook his head, but spoke no more.

Below the high platform, the light rising from the bonfire in the plaza was like a star, now slowly ascending, nearly even with the platform. The starlight on the high platform was so transparent that everyone couldn’t help but look in that direction, and in Fang Hong’s eyes, the dazzling starlight seemed almost close enough to reach.

The King of Sand also gazed at this brightness, his sight went below the platform, the Master of Ceremonies had completed the ritual, and was walking up the long steps.

Barbaltan squinted his eyes, said: ”The time has more or less arrived, Aleph, take your friend to receive the blessings.”

Aleph glanced over here, silent for a moment, then earnestly nodded.

But Barbaltan called him again:

”Wait,” he turned back: ”Young man, I introduce someone to you, let him take you to complete the blessing.”

Fang Hong was suddenly at a loss, only to see the white-robed elder beside Count Nulman now stepping forward.

...