Chapter 365: 364. Face-To-Face With Death

Sylvester knew he had a lot of gold in Chonky bank. He knew it was more than what he could spend on his own. But, for his plans for the near future, he felt that even his hidden wealth was insufficient.

So, in the cold, harsh north, he saw a lot of hidden wealth in natural resources, from veins of precious minerals to rare plants. The best part was that he was close to the barbarians, the only people who could traverse the mountains and the various unique locations.

So, by being a middleman, he wished to earn money without even doing much.

Elder Chief Koruk knew that the best way to earn a place among the southerners was to offer something that only they could provide. So, without much protest, he started to mark the various locations on the map.

It took the man an hour to finish putting all the markings, but he didn't sound sure even then. "I'm sure there are more undiscovered resources in the mountains. But, this is the extent of my knowledge."

Sylvester took a look at it and felt reasonably satisfied. There were many gold and precious stone mines. This was a treasure trove just waiting to be opened and taken.

"What's this cloud-like part?" Sylvester noticed something strange.

Chief Koruk turned serious and added a cross to the cloudy marking. "No one should ever enter this place. It's a deep cave that starts as a small pit. The last Elder Chief of the Storst went in there to search for new minerals. It was exciting for him, but none of us were prepared to face what was to come.

"He returned abruptly merely a few hours after entering the pit. He started to vomit, felt sick, and revealed having trouble breathing. Then, he got better, as if healed, but that was the silence before the storm. Merely a day later, his skin started to rot and fall off, his body colour changed, and his internal organs started to melt away, eventually leading to his death.

"We tried to find out how and why it happened. So we sent some people into the cave, and when they returned, they suffered the same fate. We have no idea what's inside there, but it's life-threatening, regardless of your rank. So we have sealed off this entrance with a boulder."

Sylvester rubbed his chin and tried to think what it could be. Since it was found in a cave, it was a naturally occurring substance, and the side effects of the exposure were severe, which narrowed down the search.

'Could it be… Radioactive element? Uranium? If that's the case, then the cave is better sealed off. I can't think of uranium being used anytime soon. Perhaps a few centuries after I bring peace and force humans and other species to innovate with the mind rather than blades?'

"Agreed, this place should remain closed. Now, what about this little marking? Is this an animal?" Sylvester pointed to a spot west of Mount Dimos on the map.

Chief Koruk smiled fondly this time. "This is the region of the Snow Gorillas. They are utterly strong animals and highly territorial. But we have an understanding with them to respect boundaries."

Sylvester was delighted with this knowledge too. "Gorillas with white fur? I would like to meet them. Are they friendly?"

"..."

"Preacher of Solis, they are strong enough to easily kill a Black Knight. They are masters of warfare in their home grounds. They are anything but friendly."

"Such fascinating beasts." Sylvester was still in awe of the animal. "I will declare their region as protected land, so no humans enter it and get killed or harm them."

Sir Dolorem nodded from the back. "Great decision, Lord Bard. Respect the nature, and the nature shall guide you like a mother."

Sylvester looked at the blind knight with a sigh. 'He's overanalysing again. I just like Gorillas, nothing else.'

He continued to evaluate the whole map and saw many great points of interest from where the extraction would be easy. For example, the area near Fort Borzol had two gold mines, three gems and diamond mines, and some other precious stones. The best part was that all the locations were close to the White River.

"Will this be enough? What's your plan, Lord Bard? I do not wish for my people to suffer any longer. We have been on the move for months and feel tired now." Chief Koruk asked in an exhausted tone. He smelled of sadness, too, with some anxiety and hope mixed in.

Sylvester stood up instead and proceeded to move towards the exit of the tent. "Chief Koruk, worry not. First, choose where you want to set up your new town. Meanwhile, Sir Dolorem here will tell you the plan for your people's prosperity. Forgive me. I must move as I must oversee many other matters."

Sylvester then walked out and looked around. There were more than a thousand conical leather, cloth and fur tents. Many small bonfires were in the middle of the tents where men, women, children, dogs and cats huddled together for warmth.

"Chonky, you know what to do?"

Miraj was lazily hanging on Sylvester's shoulder like a piece of loose cloth. "Meow Meow is ready for magic, Maxy."

"Hah, alright." He chuckled and started the usual theatrics. Then, he raised his right palm towards the people and started walking while singing a hymn and producing a halo behind his head.

♫The embrace of Solis welcomes you all.

Let the old thoughts go and shatter that wall.

Accept this warmth while this light falls.

Respond to my hymns for the Solis calls.♫

Thud!

With Chonky's help, Sylvester showed his miracle. Instantly, a small hill of supplies appeared where Sylvester pointed his palm. Piles upon piles of clothes and food grains. This was all that the people required.

♫The light of day does chase away the night,

And so, with Solis' grace, all shadows might.

Embrace his warmth, and let it guide the way,

As in his arms, you shall find a place to stay.♫

Sylvester's words echoed and made everything clear to those with some brain. This was the land of Solis. Here, Solis reigned supreme as the greatest god.

But Sylvester didn't impose anything and simply walked out of the forest of tents after dropping another heap of supplies. He went towards the river to check how the bridge was coming along that he had commissioned a while back. The bridge was supposed to help connect the Duchy's capital with the sea on the other side of the White River.

"Chonky, what do you think? Will I get a promotion to Bishop?" He asked, just to relax his mind.

Miraj was yawning and being lazy like always. "Bishop? I don't know what that means, but you deserve the best, Maxy."

"Why?"

Miraj gave a simple-minded reply that one could expect, but simultaneously, it was heartwarming.

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"Because you're the best!"

Sylvester let out a chuckle and moved along. The second month of the year 5118 had begun, and the winter was still at its peak. The white sheets of snow still covered the entirety of the region, and not much was to be seen.

"Bard of Solisss~"

"Winter Ghost?!" Sylvester exclaimed and looked left and right in an alert state. He never liked the Guardian as the man always kept him on edge.

"Hisss…!"

Immediately, to Sylvester's great horror, he didn't even realise there was Ashra, the giant snake hiding beneath the snow on the ground. Her white scales had neatly blended with the environment. Only now, as she moved, was she visible.

But the more horrifying part was how she opened her jaws, and from there came out Winter Ghost in his usual attire. It was creepy and somewhat of a power move at the same time.

"Let usss speak~" Winter Ghost invited Sylvester over to the riverside.

Sylvester was careful and had already plotted escape plans. He ordered Miraj in whispers for the same. "Chonky, if she moves, then eat her."

Soon, Winter Ghost stopped beside the river and created a bench made of hard ice. As he sat down, he took out a parchment and called Sylvester. "Read thisss…"

'What is this now?'

Sylvester carefully took a seat and unfolded the parchment. He noticed the texture of the paper was old, and it was likely written years ago. But, the most peculiar thing he noticed even before reading was the blood print of all ten fingers of the hands at the bottom.

"This is…?"

Winter Ghost started speaking in his strange and eerie hissing voice. "The air isss getting warmer. Just like the earth beneath the Holy Land.~"

Sylvester was only listening to the man while he read the document. With each new line he read, his brows creased, and his eyes turned red in silent rage.

Winter Ghost continued. "You truly are the true bard—The true God'sss Favoured, the truly worthy of being a Pope. You saved believersss; you defeated the undead; you conquered the barbariansss. I see it clearly, yet I can not help you on this frontier~"

Sylvester held the parchment so tight that its edges started to crumble. "Since when?"

"Decadesss~"

Sylvester sighed, and his head plummeted down. A dangerous aura spread around him as his hands clenched tighter to prepare for what would happen. "So what now? We fight?"

Winter Ghost didn't move, but the scent that oozed from him was strong and bitter—death it meant. But the smell of durians also increased, confusing Sylvester.

Crack!

Sylvester took out dozens of solarium crystals. He knew there wouldn't be enough time to do anything since they sat merely three feet apart.

"Thisss isss not what I want, Bard~" Winter Ghost spoke in a threatening tone as he finally turned his face and looked into Sylvester's eyes. "Let thisss be a warning. Only the Brightest of light reachesss the throne, young bard—your golden halo isss too small—for the great silver outshinesss all~"

The piece of paper in Sylvester's hands finally burnt away in his palm. It clearly stated where Winter Ghost's loyalty lay. But what angered Sylvester more was that the words Winter Ghost said were the same as the Void Keepers who killed little Shane Kolt.

As if stuck in time, they didn't react or start a fight. But Sylvester was clearly the more tense person as he didn't know if he could fight Winter Ghost on his home turf.

'I can't defeat him. How do I run? I must call forth Lady Aurora and Gideon Gracia.'

"Don't move—You were dead the moment you sat beside me." Winter Ghost's chilling warning echoed.

Sylvester felt his breath going faster, which he tried to control. He thought of all his options, ways out and other tricks. But how could anything survive against absolute power? A seventh-level Archwizard against a Sixth-level Grand Wizard—It was a dream.

"You will be hunted by the Pope." Sylvester reasoned.

However, no reply came from Winter Ghost.

Shhhh….!

"What the…!" Sylvester gulped his saliva once his eyes fell on a strange event that occurred around him. "Everything's frozen! Even Winter Ghost!"

Shhh…!

'I-I can't move!'

Everything became slow and extremely cold. The world felt to be devoid of any light and happiness. The sky had become dark and stormy, the wind had completely died down, and even the river water seemed to flow in slow motion.

Sylvester started chanting old hymns to create a halo and forced himself to look up. It took him a few minutes, but soon he saw the figure of the floating body of the Shadow Knight, with its tattered black robes, and flame-like white eyes—Death had arrived.

"S-Shadow K… Knig…" He struggled.

But the Shadow Knight didn't, as its muffled, low-pitched whispering spread.

"Now you see the filth that you serve?..."

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