Faerûn: Lord of the Eternal Sun

【Name】Star Silver Kite Shield

[Quality] Excellent

[Details] The main body is made of hard birch wood with a layer of star silver steel plate inlaid on the outside. The three sharp corners are thickened so that they can be used to strike enemies. The total weight is 13.8 pounds.

……

Isaac closed his golden eyes. On the forging table lay two identical shields, differing only in size and thickness.

The shield made for Ian was slightly smaller and thinner, weighing only about 7 pounds.

Not everyone can wield a shield weighing over ten pounds for an extended period of time; even a weapon weighing only a few pounds will become exhausting after a while.

These two shields were made from ores and black birch wood purchased from the Grand Market. After meticulous cutting, polishing and forging, although the design is somewhat rustic, their defensive capabilities are quite good.

The cost is also high, exceeding 3 gold coins, which is more than half the price of a regular quality shield.

Ian, standing to the side, picked up his own shield, his face beaming with joy. No warrior could resist a superior weapon and armor.

…………

The wait was long, and in early October, Isaac, who was in training, finally received news from the High Priest.

A carriage bearing the sun emblem stopped in Iron Sheet Lane. A bald monk knocked on the door of the blacksmith's shop, and Ian, his face bruised and swollen, came to open it.

Even though Isaac held back during his sparring sessions with his mentor, he still sustained numerous injuries.

Isaac was excited upon receiving the news; the day of the assessment had finally arrived.

"I will go to the Temple of Amun-Ra to see the High Priest."

"It's not the Temple of Amun-Ra, it's the Temple of the Radiant Sun! The High Priest of the Sun wants to see you."

"Okay, please wait a moment."

Isaac's expression hardened. He needed to tidy up before heading to the main temple, wiping away his sweat and changing into a white robe, which was a sacred place for the Shahramuns.

The monks didn't have to wait long. Ten minutes later, Isaac, dressed neatly, walked out of the blacksmith's shop and boarded the carriage alone, while the bald monk acted as the coachman.

Through the curtain, Isaac saw that the two blacksmith shops next door had also closed down, just like the big blacksmith shop. He couldn't help but grit his teeth in anger. It was obvious that this was to hurt his business, and once the goal was achieved, they would naturally close down.

"Hmph~"

The blacksmith couldn't help but snort coldly, channeling his hatred towards the Lancaras family.

Meanwhile, far away in the Upper East Side, the pretty widow Tessa couldn't help but sneeze, suspecting that the weather was getting colder and she might have caught a chill.

……

The carriages of the Church of the Sun were much faster. On the stone-paved streets, many carriages and camels gave way, and some even scraped against the shops on the street.

Even the city gate guards in the upper city did not dare to stop them, allowing the church's carriages to drive straight in.

In just one hour, Isaac arrived at the Temple of the Sun in the Upper City, where the Sun Disc had hung high in the sky for millennia.

Returning here again, I am still awestruck by the temple's grandeur and sanctity.

Follow the bald monk up the long steps into the main temple, across the inner sanctum and fountain corridors, to the cardinal's chamber deep inside.

Along the way, we saw many temple guards, nuns, and acolytes.

Two heavy stone doors led to the huge room. The bald monk led the man to the door and then stood waiting, gesturing for Isaac to enter alone.

It was more of a stone hall than a room. In the center, beside a black stone table with gold sun patterns, two figures leaned against a gilded bed, savoring expensive elven wine and enjoying leg massages from nuns and monks.

The Church of the Sun does not emphasize asceticism, so such scenes are not uncommon. Becoming a priest in the church is much more comfortable than being a nobleman, and the social status is also much higher.

These two figures were none other than the High Priest and the High Priest of the temple, the supreme rulers of the church.

Isaac approached and bowed, showing due respect to the two high priests.

These two look young, but their combined age is probably over 500 years old; they are truly immortal.

"Son of the Sun, are you ready to face the test of the Seven Guardians of the Sun?"

The High Priest of the Sun made it clear that, given the difference in their status, there was no need for formalities with the Son of the Sun.

"Yes," Isaac said firmly.

"This is intelligence from the Zantalin Order. Take down their stronghold. Since this trial is to test your abilities, you are not allowed to bring any assistants. A paladin will monitor your actions."

"However, she won't be of any help to you, even if you're facing a life-or-death situation. You should be prepared."

Omanus took a piece of information from the sleeve of his robe and handed it to the Son of the Sun through a servant.

Isaac took a deep breath, opened the parchment, and examined the contents of the intelligence report.

The Zhentarim is the most influential underground secret organization in the entire continent of Faerûn, with members spread throughout northern Faerûn, the Sword Coast, and the interior, infiltrating both the political and business circles of the city-states.

For the price, Zantallinn will provide all kinds of services, including mercenaries, caravan guards, intelligence, smuggling contraband, assassinations, extortion, and overthrowing regimes, regardless of whether they are legal or not.

They can also be found in the Enoch Desert, where they collude with the Ethiopian lizardmen bandits and the Bedai barbarians to engage in evil deeds, and are mortal enemies of the city-state of Shahramun.

The underground gangs of this independent city-state also have intricate connections with the Zentalin Society.

Intelligence indicates that they have outposts on the Standing Stone Plain in the Enook Desert.

"Standing Stone Plains?"

Isaac frowned. This location was at least several hundred kilometers away from the city-state of Shahramun, and it would take a week to ten days to get there.

"High Priest, when should we depart?"

"Now! I hope to receive good news from you, not news of your death."

"I will never let you down."

Isaac left without hesitation.

……

Seven days later, in the boundless desert, two figures riding camels were traveling.

The autumn weather was cool, and Isaac was in high spirits. Although the journey over the past few days had been tedious, it had also served as a way to temper his will.

His companion, on the contrary, seemed much more impatient. The paladin assigned to him was none other than Tessia, whom he had met before, and who was only 25 years old.

During the week of travel, the two had little communication. Isaac could tell that Tatiana had a problem with him, but he didn't know what he had done to offend her.

"Could it be that I took away her trial, causing her to hate me so much?"

This was Isaac's speculation; in reality, the upright paladin despised his bribery and had nothing to do with the trials of the Seven Guards of the Sun.

"Isaac, according to intelligence, there are more than a dozen enemies at this outpost. They are all vicious thugs. I will not help you. I advise you to give up, lest you throw your life away."

Tessia tried to persuade him, though she despised him in her heart, and because of her character, she did not want to see him die in vain at the hands of the villains of the Zantalin Society.

Putting herself in their shoes, Tessia believed that with her abilities, dealing with three or four cunning villains at the same time was already her limit; any more would be too dangerous.

Deep down, I don't believe that Isaac alone could take down the outpost; even a standard four-man Sandwalker squad couldn't do it.

Isaac waved his hand dismissively and said, "If you can't win, then die! Die for justice, and I think my soul can enter the Sanctuary of Heroes after I die."

"Hmph~" Tessia snorted coldly and stopped trying to persuade her.