Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

The vast majority of the arrows hit their targets precisely, just as their masters intended, demonstrating a terrifying lethality comparable to longswords and axes. However, pulling the arrows out of the target required considerable effort...

Chapter 226 Operation (1)

Babies a few months old are at their cutest. They look soft and cuddly, like boneless glutinous rice balls, with every part of their body round, plump, and full of elasticity.

Felscara frowned, pursed her lips, and began to sniffle, making soft panting sounds in her throat. She was preparing to unleash a cacophony of cries that would scramble the wet nurse and servants, ready to explore every corner of the mansion with her loud wail.

"Hehe! Ha...ya ah."

Suddenly, a clear, childlike, and adorable laugh rang out from the side. Ikosoya, whose chubby little face was wrapped in delicate cotton clothes like a little cotton ball, was now relaxed, her eyebrows raised, her eyes narrowed into slits, and she was laughing happily. Her little arms and legs were also moving like a little turtle as she watched her older sister and laughed non-stop.

Ferncitara, who had been brewing her tears for a long time, had all her plans disrupted by her younger brother's laughter. She looked at the little guy next to her with a puzzled expression, her face puffed up, looking both confused and surprised.

Seeing her older sister watching her, Ikosoya, who had just been laughing heartily, stopped laughing a little embarrassed, and the smile on her pink face slowly faded.

Seemingly satisfied with her brother's performance, Ferncitara turned her head back, pouted, sullen, and sniffled, ready to continue her unfinished work—announcing her awakening with a loud cry.

Just as her crying had reached about 80% of its peak, a clear and adorable laugh came from the side. As if she had seen something interesting, her little brother kicked his arms and legs excitedly, pounding on the crib railing with his radish-like little legs, his bright eyes fixed on Felsitara.

The little face that was just about to cry suddenly fell, not because of sadness, but because of confusion and irritability. Her cheeks puffed up in anger as she glared at her brother next to her. Only after the cheerful laughter disappeared again did she continue her unfinished business.

But it seemed that her younger brother was born to oppose her. Whenever Fercitala was about to cry, her lively and cheerful brother would interrupt her emotions with cheerful laughter, as if he had encountered a great thing. Like a little turtle that had been flipped over, he would excitedly move his little arms and legs around.

For a moment, the large cradle was filled with the continuous babbling of two little ones who couldn't even roll over yet, as they were communicating their emotions in the most vivid and direct way.

Such a cute and lively child would make even the most hard-hearted person stop and watch, and smile from the bottom of their heart.

A large, armored hand reached into the cradle and gently lifted Felsitara's tiny head, as if it were carrying a large potato, effortlessly cradling the delicate body in its arms.

Without her brother's interference, Philcitara, who had been preparing to cry, finally found her chance. Her face fell and she burst into tears. Her clear and loud voice immediately echoed in every corner, prompting a tall, voluptuous white figure in the next room to hurriedly enter.

A baby's cry naturally touches a mother's heart. No matter how strong a mother is, she cannot remain indifferent to that clear cry. It will make her heart burn with anxiety and restlessness, and she will not be able to put her mind at ease until she has personally confirmed that her child is safe.

Ikosoya, who was fidgeting in the cradle, was also lifted up by another pair of large hands. But she showed no fear at all, and was as excited as a fish that had just been caught, jumping and bouncing around in the hard embrace, making some incomprehensible noises, as if she wanted to talk to the tall figure in front of her.

Seeing the two brothers each holding a boy and a girl, one crying and the other laughing, neither showing any sign of calming down, Christina, who had rushed over, kicked her husband, both amused and exasperated, then took her son from his arms and reached out to Teresolus for her daughter.

Thesolius deftly brushed aside his sister-in-law's outstretched hand. He chuckled, playfully teasing the still-crying child in his arms. The louder the cries, the more pronounced his smile became. He pulled the child close, affectionately pressing his soft little face against it, and then said to Christina with a smile:

"Give me Felsitara, let me raise this lovely child. You can raise Ikosoya, how about that?"

Giving Thesolius a disdainful look, Christina snatched the gold from the hands of a treacherous man as if it were her own child:

"This is my daughter! You want to have your own child!"

Teresus unexpectedly fell silent. He thoughtfully rested his chin on his right hand, seemingly considering the matter seriously. This caused Natamus and Ristina to look up at him. Even the two little ones seemed to sense the change in atmosphere; the one who was crying stopped crying, and the one who was laughing was no longer excited, and they all quieted down.

After a while, he suddenly realized something and tapped his left palm with his right hand, the sturdy and exquisite nail plates making a crisp clinking sound.

“I’ve made up my mind! ... There are already children here, and I don’t have to take care of them much. I can just enjoy spending time with them without having to endure any trouble. What could be better than this? I’ll be coming here often from now on!”

A soft pillow flew toward his face with a whoosh, moving with astonishing speed, like an arrow just released from a bowstring, but he caught it steadily, smiling as he looked at his frowning brother.

“You also have to continue our family bloodline! Don’t act like this has nothing to do with you! You should know that there are only two men left in our family now… and if you include my children, there are only three.”

…………

After a round of laughter and play, the two children were already yawning with exhaustion. They were placed on the soft bed and soon fell asleep. The softest, fluffiest fox fur blankets were used to cover them, protecting the tender little ones from any possible cold.

Even though she had just gently covered the children with the blankets, not wanting to disturb their sweet dreams, now, looking at the two chubby, fair little faces, Christina felt her heart melting, turning into sweet honey and soft clouds, making her feel as light as if she were walking on clouds.

With a gentle smile, Christina, a first-time mother, lowered her head and softly kissed the tender, supple cheeks of her two children, like dropping a pebble into a calm lake. A wave of immense joy and happiness rippled outwards, captivating her gaze.

If no one calls Christina, she might even sit there all day with a silly grin on her face... Many new mothers are like this, especially first-time mothers, who think of their babies even while sleeping.

With a touch of reluctance, Christina quietly slipped out of the dry, warm room, leaving the two sleeping children behind. Dolores, the lady-in-waiting who had watched him grow up, stood guard outside the door, looking at the exquisite cradle inside with a warm smile, just like an old grandmother watching her grandchildren.

"Go ahead, miss, I'll keep an eye on them from here."

Nodding slightly to her lady-in-waiting, Christina placed an unimaginable trust in the person who had raised her, and continued to tiptoe down the stairs until she reached the cobblestone path in the courtyard.

Two imposing figures clad in heavy armor had been waiting here for a long time. Magnificent and sharp swords hung at their waists. Just looking at these two figures, one could almost imagine the scene of clashing swords, corpses strewn across the fields, and rivers of blood. Even the mosquitoes flying by would slow down, trembling in fear of the terrifying aura and fierce power.

No one can deny the power of these two beings. The two brothers seem to have been born into this world for war, and every inch of their bodies exudes a cruel and terrifying rhythm, as if the horns of war sound with their footsteps.

When they are silent, they possess a terrifying aura as deep as an abyss and as imposing as a mountain, making people dare not approach them easily. Even battle-hardened warriors would shrink back in fear... But Ristina, dressed in white, simply approached, and that terrifying atmosphere filled with bloodlust shattered into dust.

Natamus first stepped forward to greet his wife—after all the unexpected events and hardships from pregnancy to childbirth, their relationship had become even stronger, like a sword that had been tempered… At least before, Natamus could never have been so attentive, and he had also learned a lot.

Teresus watched the two interact with a smile, and only spoke after Christina had fully regained her footing:

"It's time for us to head to the military base... The preparations have reached a critical point, and we must go to oversee the overall situation. There will be guards here to protect you, and your safety will be well guaranteed. I will leave Talina here to help her with some preparations... That's about it. We should set off now."

There was no lingering sentimentality, and although they both harbored deep and enduring feelings for each other, Christina simply said to her husband:

"Be careful, and listen to your brother's advice when things happen."

Natamus nodded steadily, his whole being as steadfast as a rock that has stood firm for millions of years in the cold wind, unyielding even to the most towering waves.

The neighing of warhorses echoed from outside the gate. One horse was as golden as silk, the other as black as night. The magnificent Passatria warhorses snorted, waiting for their masters to ride them. The silent guards stood ready, their swords, spears, and axes reflecting the morning sunlight, making even the warm light feel cold and piercing.

After waving goodbye one last time, the two brothers turned and walked side by side until they reached the gate, where they finally turned and waved again.

As the thunderous sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, the march of war began...

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The little creature in front of me is actively interacting with me.

Tarina smiled as she looked at the little chubby bird perched on her finger. The fluffy little creature had grown its wings, but they were still too soft and loose to fly for long periods of time.

Following the methods taught by her teacher, Tarina raised her own magical pet. Having successfully established a close bond with the little creature, while her right hand was still writing down her research findings on parchment, her left hand was already teasing the round little thing.

In the small dish next to it, mealworms were crawling around. The edge of the dish was rounded and raised, and the smooth porcelain surface ensured that no small insects could escape. These nutrient-rich insects, raised using special methods, could provide the bird with the necessary nutrition to grow glossy feathers and a strong skeleton.

In two months, powdered medicine will be added to the insect feed, and the specially formulated medicine and unique solvents will bring about a dramatic change in this bird compared to its kind.

This process requires extreme patience and caution, and the specific procedures must be arranged with the utmost care; otherwise, all efforts may be in vain.

Therefore, Tarina dared not be distracted in the slightest. Even though she had very important things to do today, the relevant procedures and plans at hand could not be taken lightly.

Talina carefully wrote tiny characters in a small square on the parchment, barely the thickness of her little finger, to the point that the content was almost indistinguishable without close inspection. Only then did she finally breathe a sigh of relief and place the brass pen into the ceramic inkwell beside her to keep the nib moist.

A small lamp fueled by distilled spirits was continuously emitting heat, heating the green solution inside a delicate glass container. The solution was boiling, bubbling with tiny bubbles, but its color was so eerie and dangerous that it made one subconsciously think of a deadly poison that could rip one's intestines apart with just one sip.

After carefully inhaling the bitter yet refreshing aroma of the herbs and confirming that the required solvent had reached the right state, Tarina carefully extinguished the flame, poured the liquid from the glass container into another clean small bottle, then bent down and crossed out the contents of a small square on the parchment with a line before finally relaxing completely.

The girl stood up and opened the door of the spacious house. Outside, the bright red sunset had already spilled onto the ground, foreshadowing the approaching night.

A desolate yet powerful horn sound pierced the sky, crushing all other noises and exuding an unparalleled presence—this was the war horn in the heart of the city…

Chapter 227 Operation (2)

A new war is about to begin—when the mournful sound of the bugle echoes through every corner of the city, everyone knows this news.

Just as the sun casts its scorching rays from the sky, and the tides rise at regular intervals, submerging all low-lying areas... the march of war is hard to stop because of individual will; wisdom relentlessly crushes everything in its path, bringing destruction, conquest, and bloodshed...

Tonight, countless taverns throughout the city are brightly lit. In the final moments before curfew, everyone gathers here, enthusiastically sharing the latest news and exchanging their opinions, while simultaneously downing glass after glass of watered-down ale.

The entire city began to tighten controls, and merchants and travelers from all countries were not allowed to wander the streets outside of the designated hours. Armored soldiers patrolled the streets all night, making the city's criminals tremble with fear like rats whose dens had been exposed.

In this bustling yet suppressed and controlled city, two babies, destined to have no peaceful future, are giggling and trying to reach the figure in front of them with their tiny, radish-like legs and arms.

Gently bend the baby's soft little arms, loosen the shoulder joints, stretch the ligaments in the legs, then lift the baby's head, letting him sit up and lie down repeatedly, bending and bending, doing simple sit-ups...

These are all actions that would seem extremely dangerous to a normal mother... Not to mention doing them, they can't even bear to watch them, let alone think about them, for fear that the slightest movement of their own might break the child's soft bones and cause the tender infant to cry loudly.

Christina was in this state at the moment. Just two days ago, this resolute and brave mother had personally shot and killed a huge gray wolf and skinned the prey with her husband's help... but now she was full of fear and anxiety, her hands were clenched tightly in front of her chest, her fingers were white from the excessive force, and her lips seemed to want to say something but stopped... but in the end she did not say anything.

Because the two children showed no signs of discomfort, despite their swift and intense movements, Fersitala and Ikosoya laughed incessantly in Tarina's slender hands as if they were playing some kind of fun game, while their little legs kicked powerfully and elastically on the table, making the solid wood table bang loudly.

Despite being padded with soft fur to ensure the two children wouldn't get hurt on the hard tabletop, their activity truly exceeded Tarina's expectations—the girl had never seen such lively and healthy children before. Their small bodies seemed to be bursting with energy, their skeletons were sturdy, and they were fully developed, with no flaws whatsoever.

With the baby's tiny, walnut-sized hand grasping her thumb, Tarina slowly raised her arm, and Felsitara was lifted off the table without any hindrance. Her seemingly delicate little hand did not waver at all, easily securing herself firmly to Tarina's arm, while she giggled happily and kicked her little feet back and forth.

This is a movement that even adults with strong bones and muscles would find difficult to maintain. But this newborn baby can do it with ease and seems to be able to hold it for a long time, demonstrating his excellent grip strength. It's hard to say whether this is some kind of innate instinct passed down from human genes.

Gently bend down, put your ear to your chubby belly, and listen carefully to the sound of air being inhaled from your lungs and the beating of your heart, judging the health of both based on experience.

Use your fingers to make quick and skillful gestures in front of your eyes to attract the child's attention and help them judge the eyesight of their bright eyes.

Stretch the joints, rotate the wrists, and move the ankles to confirm there are no deformities or developmental problems.

…………

The two children were like kittens being manipulated, spinning around in Tarina's hands, making Christina, who was watching nearby, twitch her eyebrows. It wasn't until quite a while later that the girl with the pale blue hair finally nodded in satisfaction.

"It's confirmed, madam. Both children are very healthy. I have never seen such healthy and energetic children. They will surely become extraordinary people in the future."

It took a lot of effort to put the child, who was clinging to her arm, onto the table. She wrapped him in animal skin and watched the two little creatures, wrapped like caterpillars, trying to wriggle on the table. Talina couldn't help but smile.

It was already late autumn outside, and the nights were quite chilly, but inside it felt warm and comfortable—thanks to the ceramic pipes buried under the floor, the burning hot air continuously brought heat, keeping the temperature comfortable, so even young children could expose themselves without worrying about catching a cold.

A dedicated servant will be responsible for lighting a flame at the end of the pipe, and this flame will also be used to boil water and prepare food, making the most of everything. This process will continue until the warm spring.

Christina, equally beaming, was genuinely happy for her two children and offered her heartfelt thanks to the girl before her.

"Thank you for your blessing, Talina. I also believe that they will become great people in the future... It's amazing that in such a short time, I can't live without these two little ones. No matter what I do, they are the only things on my mind."

“That’s normal, madam. You are a responsible mother…”

Tarina smiled and gently pried open her small hands, which were tightly gripping her sleeve, while dodging Ferncitala's next scratch.

"Whether skilled or inexperienced, a qualified mother should first and foremost love her child. Only by doing so can she be called a mother; otherwise, she can only be called a nanny at best."

"Speaking of which, Talina, you have a lot of experience. Have we met before? I dare say that no one in this city can do childbirth and childcare better than you."

She gently took her two children into her arms, and just as the two little ones were about to cry out from hunger, Christina had already begun to feed them with premonition—she and her children were almost in perfect harmony, and the two little ones grew up to be exceptionally healthy, with appetites that ordinary babies did not have…

Tarina, who was packing her things, turned around upon hearing this and said with a slightly forlorn tone:

"...In my hometown, many children in the village were born through my hands, the oldest of whom is just three years old...So when it comes to delivering babies and taking care of children, I have quite a bit of experience and insights."

Ristina paused for a moment, then continued, in the soft voice of her daughter in her arms:

"...Dr. Talina, you must really like your village, right?"

"After all, I spent my entire life there. I know every tree and blade of grass there. I've walked through every forest and every corner. I know the voices and faces of every person... These things will stay with me for the rest of my life, and I will never forget them."

"Similarly, I can never forget the terrible things that happened there... Some things are destined to change, otherwise the tragedies will continue to occur."

She slowly applied pressure with her fingers, not even noticing that the small metal fork in her hand was beginning to deform. This girl, who had always appeared gentle and resilient, finally revealed something bloody and scarred, as well as a gentle yet tenacious will.

…………