Because of aging and the Arcane Bane...that's it?

This answer did not satisfy Fieri. She said, "On the surface, that's true. But when the Hand of the Goddess reestablished contact with the South, we heard some very ominous rumors."

"rumor?"

Fieri pulled out some reports that looked quite old. "First, several decades after the Arcane Blight, the Hand of the Goddess heard that many elders died instantly. The reactions they experienced were far more violent than those of the Halayach. Furthermore, after they reduced the Mage Tower to ruins, some strange, unusual dust was discovered in the rubble."

The Hand of the Goddess even collected some samples.

-----------------

"...It's very strange." Halffont muttered as he walked through the mage tower where his teacher once stood. "It's exactly what I imagined."

Naif sighed and said, "Among all the schools, the Prophet's Mage Tower is probably the purest—"

As they walked, Naif pushed open a secret door on the bookcase and took out a small box. "Before he died, he told me he had some small gifts for you... At that time, I didn't understand how we could give gifts to someone in another world... Now, I see that he is indeed the greatest prophet in the history of Faerun."

The contents of the small box were simple—a small bag and a piece of white paper with a pattern drawn on it.

Inside the pouch is a small bag of wonderful dust.

Some black, completely non-reflective dust.

Haffont nearly suffered a cardiac arrest after just one look. He lost his balance and bumped into the bookcase, yelling, "—Where did this dust come from!?"

At this moment, a small note quietly fell from the bookshelf and landed on Haverfont's head. Written on it in ancient Nesther was the following: [Don't worry. The Knights of the Secret Fire know the answer.]

This is the note from her teacher Zarason.

-----------------

Metatron only needed to take one look at the samples before coming to the conclusion: "...Sha's ghost is truly lingering."

The infiltration of the Evernight Goddess has even extended to the magic goddess fanatic parish like Halua!

However, these former infiltrators were most likely killed in the explosion of Shadow Network... but their descendants might not have such a deep relationship with Shadow Network and managed to survive.

Fei'eli raised her eyebrows slightly: "You don't look surprised, and you know it?"

Emiya was silent for a moment, then replied, "Before coming to Abel, we had just fought a bloody battle with the City of Ghosts. This is what the ashes left behind after the creatures that had transformed into shadows died."

"Ah, then I don't need to explain any further." Fieri looked relieved. "This solves one of my biggest questions for years. Be careful."

She paused for a moment, slapped her head, and said, "Oh, there's one more thing. Halruaa's faith in the goddess did waver somewhat. After all, Halruaa personally witnessed all three falls of the goddess. The spread of faith in Azuth was due to the demise of the second generation of magic goddesses... although the fact that the third generation goddess died so soon after was quite unexpected."

Emiya nodded. "So, in certain settlements, we shouldn't use rhetoric like spreading the Goddess's magical web..."

But soon, the faces of the entire team turned dark.

Because they heard extremely familiar descriptions.

"Yes," Fieri replied. "After their faith was shaken, they no longer believed in the Goddess of Magic, but they also didn't think other gods were much better. They turned to speculation and concluded that true gods should be more metaphysical, with an absolute gap between them and mortals, rather than the simple powerful creatures they are today. Today's [Gods] are essentially name thieves."

Hello! ?

Fieri frowned as she rummaged through the pile of documents. "It seems an organization has formed... What was it called? That's just a rumor, I can't remember exactly... After all, compared to Shar's invasion, it's no big deal."

Emiya was silent for a moment, then said, "...Do they call themselves the Gods Not Gods Society?"

He should have known that they would not sit idly by and watch Emilia and the others take such a gamble.

And Sig was even more direct: "--Are these guys cockroaches or rats? Why are they everywhere?"

Departure on the 15th

"Ah, it starts again." Looking at the falling notes, Zarason's two students sighed in unison.

Almost all fortune tellers share a common peculiar habit of being mysterious. They either leave people confused by what they say, or they have to break down things that could be explained in one sentence into pieces and slowly reveal them, only to reveal everything with a laugh after the predicted event comes true.

As a nearly unprecedented master of prediction, Mr. Zarason possessed both. This caused his students considerable suffering. Yet, in the end, they always found the outcome to be positive, leaving them with no choice but to suffer.

It’s a common experience for students to leave a note the day before that just answers a question they want to ask the day after.

Now, Haverfont even began to doubt Zarason's motives for accepting her.

Such an outstanding master of prophecy chose to pass on the knowledge of Halrua through a crystal ball to a little elf girl whom he had never met and whose face was even hideous due to the influence of the Shadowfell Underworld?

She thought at the time that this was Zarason's self-abandonment after being left with no other options in Halrua.

…Now it seems that this may be part of the plan.

She could only hope that this was part of Zarathon's plan and not Shar's.

But regardless, the problem remained unresolved. Naif frowned. "So, what's the problem with this dust? You said it's the death mark of those shadow-like creatures? Did you see it yourself, or did you hear about it from someone else?"

"..." Halffont paused, then continued, "Before we set out, a great war broke out in Faerûn. The City of Shade fought in full force, but was almost completely annihilated. I was also on the battlefield, and witnessed firsthand what the shadow creatures of death would become. This transformation into shadows must be a blessing or gift from Shar, but why would this phenomenon occur among the Halruaan people? I have no idea."

"I see." Her words gave her elderly senior brother a sudden realization: "I see. I've never understood why the people of Haligad are so stubborn and mean-spirited, so unbecoming of their station... I always thought they were deliberately defying the teacher because they disliked him. Now it seems I may have misjudged cause and effect."

The previous Mage King, Zarason, may have forcibly pushed for the relocation of the capital because he had glimpsed something.

"If that's the case, your journey south will be significantly complicated..." Naif said painfully, "Halrua has never had a civil war in thousands of years. And you're going to make an exception right in front of me?"

"That's not all." Halffont said, "What do the Halruaans know about gods who are not gods?"

"Not much, but I've been to their headquarters in Fayin City," her brother said. "Unfortunately, hearing about it is not as good as meeting them in person."

Naif's eyebrows rose slightly. "A bunch of unworldly bumpkins. Just because they live in the Outlands and aren't human, they raise their noses to the sky when they see us. A small area has split into a dozen factions—what are they qualified to define as gods? If the people of Haligad follow them in their madness, I'm happy to see it happen—if they believe such nonsense, their arcane journey will be over."

"Then I have some bad news," Halffont said. "The Gods-Not-Gods have been very active on the Prime Material Plane since the Arcane Plague."

After hearing Haffont's words, Naif was truly pissed off and laughed. "The people of Haligad have gone completely mad, haven't they? Shar? Asmodeus? Even if they changed their allegiance and embraced the AO, I'd still look up to them. What merits have the Goddess of Night and the King of Demons deserved to be worshipped by them?"

The former Shar believer wiped his sweat silently and said, "...That's not important. What's important is that if we investigate this matter, we might uncover a crucial fact: Do the Gods Not Gods and the Shar Church have any way to travel to Halrua?"

"They can't have them." Nayef thought for a moment and came to an immediate conclusion. "We've been incredibly weak over the past few decades. If they could find reinforcements, Halayah would have been destroyed long ago. The question now is how you plan to deal with them."

Then, they both sighed.

Shar and the devil may have infiltrated the South.

But unfortunately, since it is infiltration, it is very likely that you are in me and I am in you, and it is difficult to distinguish at all.

But slowly, Haverfont narrowed his eyes slightly. "...No, maybe this is an opportunity?"

-----------------

The activities of the Secret Fire Knights were interrupted.

Now should have been the busiest time, but all the parcels were placed on the ground halfway through sorting, and even the Goddess' Hands that had finished loading and were about to depart were pulled back.

The Hands of the Goddess who remained at headquarters and hadn't set out were summoned by Fieri. The last of the paladins had a grave expression on their face. "Alright, boys and girls, I have good news and bad news for you. You should have realized by now that for years you and your predecessors have been nothing more than messengers and menial tasks: besides delivering mail and training in martial arts, you've only been washing and feeding horses and maintaining the armor and weapons left behind by your predecessors."

"Now, it's time." The female paladin suddenly shouted, "Kwata! You've complained to me more than once about the violent temper of the warhorse named Swamp, who is under your charge. How are you getting along with him now?"

Kwata was stunned when his name was called, then he immediately raised his head and said, "I've figured it out a long time ago. He doesn't like staying in the stable all the time. He'd rather run outside all the time!"

"Excellent! Uregante, when you first joined the Secret Fire Knights, you were like a complete stranger. How are the weapons and armor of our ancestors being taken care of now?"

The tall Halruaan youth shouted, "The sword can cut through gold and jade, and the armor is invulnerable, as if it had just come out of the blacksmith's shop!"

"Excellent!" said the leader of the Secret Fire Knights. "Now, I have good news for you: You are incredibly lucky. After more than eighty years, the Secret Fire Knights will begin recruiting new members—the path to becoming a paladin will be open to you!"

Suddenly, the open space in front of the fortress fell silent.

Before her subordinates could cheer, Captain Fieri gave them a word of warning. "Before you cheer, I must tell you some bad news: your trials may not be easy—you all have your own delivery missions. But this time, before arriving at your destination, you must spread the news that Halayach's magic network has been restored and that the servants of the Goddess of Magic will be traveling to various locations in Halrua. This time, you are not only messengers for the people of Halrua, but also messengers for the mysterious Lady, the Lord of All Laws! Moreover, you must depart immediately! Any questions?"

"Yes!" Uregant, who had just been questioned, asked loudly, "If the magic network has been restored, why do we need to bring a letter? It seems that this should be notified remotely by the Elders' Council!"

"A very good question. A paladin should be familiar with all kinds of regulations. This is the danger of this experiment—" Fieri said meaningfully, "Now, the elders still in Halayach have sent messages to various places. In theory, all places in Halrua should have known the news. But what if you go to a place and find that the locals don't know this news?"

Everyone present shuddered.

"The Secret Fire Knights are the knights of the Goddess of Magic. It is our duty to spread her prestige. Therefore, even if this mission may be dangerous, those who are willing to join the Knights should not refuse." Fieri said, "Now, those who are willing to carry out this mission, step forward."

After a brief eye contact, the goddess' hands took a step forward together.

"...Very good!" Fieri nodded with satisfaction and said, "Due to the special nature of the mission, each convoy is required to have at least five people traveling together. The replanned routes and missions will be distributed later. Before setting off, don the weapons and armor that have been entrusted to you for maintenance. I hope that during this journey, you will demonstrate the tenacity, courage, and wisdom that a Secret Fire Knight possesses! If you encounter a great danger that you cannot handle, call out Metatron's name in your heart and report your location. The goddess's servants will find you as soon as possible."

Then, the leader of the Knights paused and gestured to the girl in the crowd: "Also, Elise, follow me, you have an additional mission."

Elise had already tried to greet her friend, but was stunned by this. Her colleagues immediately cast envious glances at her.

The captain took the young knight into the reception room of the fortress, where Emilia and her group were sorting a large number of small objects and even soil.

They are the various souvenirs that the Secret Fire Knights have collected from various places over the years.

——And now, these souvenirs will become beacons of teleportation.

When Emilia saw Elise, she couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

It’s such a small world.

Then, standing between the two groups, Fieri said, "—you've seen this before. Let me make it short."

"The goddess's servants wish to travel to Haligad, but they have never been to Halrua before, so they need a guide wherever they go. The Mustafa family has a long history, and they migrated from Haligad, right?"

Eliser Al Mustafa was stunned for a moment, then puffed out his chest and said loudly, "Yes! And ever since I joined the Secret Fire Knights, I have traveled to Haligard every year, and often stayed there for nearly a month!"

Sixteen Conspiracies

The candidates for the Secret Fire Knight are about to set off.

Mr. Emiya of Lunya originally wanted to provide them with some additional equipment support, but this proposal obviously did not meet Fieri's approval.

Her way of expressing her opposition was simple and crude - she led Emilia and her group to visit the arsenal of the Secret Fire Knights.

"...Impressive," Emiya muttered.

Although Emilia had a clear understanding of the position of his creation ability in the world of Faerun, he still couldn't help but exclaimed in amazement the moment he stepped into the arsenal of the Secret Fire Knights.

At its peak, the Order of the Secret Fire numbered hundreds of paladins. "Paladins aren't known for their longevity. On the contrary, they constantly face danger, always the first to charge and the last to retreat. Being forced to retire from the front lines due to aging? This is a common occurrence, and for a paladin, it's a luxury to the extreme."

As a result, countless Secret Fire Knights fell on the road fighting for justice and wisdom, and left their final legacy in this arsenal.

Countless weapons were placed on weapon racks, a chilling chill faintly emanating from their scabbards. Suits of armor were hung on mannequins, shrouded in a shimmering magical aura, as if the heroic spirits of their predecessors still lingered there.

Fieri gazed at the legacy of the Knights of the Secret Fire, a touch of sadness evident. "Ordinary people are often buried with their most beloved possessions, while warriors often bury their weapons and armor. However, the Knights of the Secret Fire chose to be buried with flowers, each one a tribute of mourning at the funeral. The Halruaan people do this to commemorate their great contributions to the cause of justice."

"The weapons and equipment he used during his lifetime will be passed down to future generations. For thousands of years, countless paladins have dedicated themselves to justice and wisdom. Maintaining these equipment today is already a considerable burden. Therefore, we have chosen to gift the equipment to the successor who is normally responsible for its maintenance, if he is willing and successfully joins the Secret Fire Knights." Fieri replied, "So, in fact, what the Secret Fire Knights lack now is users of the equipment, not the equipment itself. You want to support the equipment? I have to say, there is no need."

"I'm just a little worried," Emiya said. "According to the plan, the Hand of the Goddess will set off a few days ahead of us to explore the intentions of various regions for us. But if someone really has ill intentions, will traditional weapons and equipment not be enough?"

"The answer to this question doesn't lie with me, but with you all," Fieri replied. "If only Halayach has restored the magic network, then the north will be overwhelming against the forces of all other regions. Even those with ulterior motives will not dare to act rashly."

At this point, she laughed again. "Also, the Goddess' Hands aren't the only ones at headquarters now. We've been working as postmen for decades, so naturally, they're deployed throughout Halruaa. There are quite a few Goddess' Hands stationed in various locations. They're not as isolated and helpless as you might think."

"Then it seems there are quite a few candidates for the position of paladin," asked Emiya.

"...I hope so." Fieri sighed. "Based on past experience, when these followers begin to leave the protection of the Knights and try to prove themselves in the outside world, the passion in their hearts will quickly be extinguished by the grinding of reality. A reputable postman and a respected paladin are ultimately different: only those who always have the ember of their heart burning in the end can become a true paladin.

"—What's more, becoming a paladin may not be the most difficult step on the paladin's path. Only here, giving up early might not be such a bad thing."

At this point, she shook her head. "Everyone, it's Eliser, who will be accompanying you to Haligad, who you should worry about. Although she's a direct descendant of the Mustafa family, not all of them have moved to Halayach. Her family may be her support, but they may also be her bond. Furthermore, she's only seventeen, yet she's heading to the most potentially dangerous destination on this journey. She'll likely need your help then."

Equipment was just useless. Her own strength was insufficient, and armor alone could not protect her.

"Ah, don't worry about that," Emiya said seriously. "I spent some time yesterday preparing a brand new set of equipment for her... to ensure she has basic self-defense skills."

"Huh?" Fieri couldn't help but be stunned for a moment and shook her head. "Be careful... She's too lively and a bit careless."

At this moment, Eliser rushed in excitedly, shouting: "—Captain! Look, look!"

The Grand Commander turned around in astonishment, only to find that Eliser had completely changed.

She now has a breastplate made of shell material on top of her original tights, and a cowboy hat on her head.

——There is a strange weapon on the waist.

The older generation of Halruaan surprisingly easily recognized the weapon at Eliser's waist, and his expression immediately grew serious. "...Lantan's flintlock rifle. It seems your origins are far more complicated than I imagined."

Emiya never expected that the name of Lantan would appear in the mouths of the Halua people at this time and place! He had originally planned to look for Lantan in Abel after everything was settled!

At this moment, Fei Aili shouted loudly: "Elise, put the gun on your waist away. Don't let others see it unless it's a dangerous moment!"

"Huh? Why?" Eliser, who had just received the new toy, was stunned for a moment and immediately shouted.

"You're young people after all..." The Grand Master pressed his brows in a headache. "It seems your generation is completely unaware—the relationship between Halrua and Lantan is extremely bad! Before the Arcane Calamity, Halrua suspected Lantan of stealing Halrua's technology, which led to the creation of the printing press. Although the two sides ultimately didn't come to blows, they haven't spoken to each other for hundreds of years."

Halrua does have a printing press. During the activities in Halayach these days, Emiya saw with her own eyes that the Halayach people had long since given up using parchment. Even the elders used wood pulp paper, and the mountains of books were no longer handwritten.

However, this was the first time he had heard about the conflict with Lan Tan. The only good news was that, so far, the conflict between the two places was not severe enough to escalate into a brawl in Abel.

"Huh, huh, huh?" Eliser looked stunned, clearly unaware of the situation. But then his eyes lit up again, and he pulled out a metal cylinder from his other side. "It's okay, Lord Emiya also gave me other self-defense weapons!"

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