Whispering Verse

Playing cards with a cheating guy was a relatively new experience for Shade. After resting for a while with Miss Prince, the two left the tavern and headed to their next destination.

The Seven Broomsticks Tavern is considered a relatively large local gathering place for ring warlocks, and next, Miss Princes wants to introduce Shade to several relatively small black markets for ring warlocks.

Still in the lively and chaotic dock area, after leaving the tavern, the two took off their masks and walked along the street towards the port normally. Miss Princes led the way, and Shade followed. Originally Shade was thinking about finding some topics to talk about, but unexpectedly it was the sorceress who took the initiative to chat with him.

Miss Princes seemed to have been to many places and talked to Shade about the customs, customs and political systems of various places in the Old World. Whether it is the unique parliamentary system of Kasenrik, or the special habits of the Grand Duchess of the small principality in southern Delarion, whether it is the peculiar customs of the small tribes on the eastern coast of the kingdom, or the environmental protection regulations of the virgin forests in the southern part of the Old World, she actually I can say a few words.

From the great ice caps in the north of the Old World to the primeval forests in the south, from the cold water ports on the west coast of the Great Road to the Broken Islands on the east coast of the mainland, Miss Princes knew almost everything. Even if it weren't for her status as a correspondence magician, she would have wanted to go to the New World and see those peculiar natural scenery and majestic ancient ruins.

"I never made a trip to Kassenlick not long ago. Of course, it was just a short trip."

Miss Princes and Shade stood at the intersection waiting for the row of carriages in front of them to pass by. This was the local art gallery transporting goods.

She was observing Shade's expression as she spoke, but most of Shade's attention now was focused on the dock post office on the other side of the intersection.

Coldwater Harbor has more post offices than Tobesk. Although the permanent population here may not be as good as the Pearl of the North, the number of out-of-towners handled every day is absolutely unmatched. Because Miss Louisa said not to bring fish as souvenirs this time, Shade thought about going to the post office to buy some beautiful postcards.

"How's Kasenrik?"

Shade asked casually.

"It's very good, especially the vineyards in the south. The scenery there is simply beautiful."

Miss Princes said that young girls in the north in this era seemed to like the vineyards in the south.

She originally thought that Shade would continue talking about the vineyard, but she didn't expect that he would look at the souvenir shop next to the post office on the pier.

Colorful masks and various wooden models of ships were displayed in the window. Shade was considering whether he should buy some models to give to Miss Louisa.

"What do you think of giving these things to your friends? I finally came to Coldwater Port City, and I'm thinking about buying some gifts for my friends in the same group."

Miss Princes looked in the direction where his finger pointed, and the two walked together through the lively dock streets. It's Monday afternoon, but the pier is still bustling with people.

"For a female friend?"

she asked.

"Yes."

"She's definitely not going to like it."

The sorceress gave a decisive answer without thinking.

"Why?"

"Because I don't like it. Generally speaking, women won't like things that are in the way and have no use when placed on the cabinet."

"So what should I give?"

Shade asks her for help.

"You want me to help you choose?"

The blonde-haired girl pointed at herself, with an expression that wanted to laugh but also wanted to be angry.

"Yes, is it troublesome? Sorry, I just wanted to hear your opinion."

Shade asked hesitantly, thinking that he just paid the other person to be a tour guide, and there was no reason for the other person to help him choose gifts.

Seeing Shade say this, the sorceress took a deep breath:

"You really know how to find shortcuts. Souvenir shops probably have cheap small jewelry, such as brooches made of shells, or bracelets made of beautiful pebbles. Such things are small and exquisite. Although they are not valuable, they are not worth keeping at home. You will feel something is wrong. Look, the ruby ​​earrings in the window, although the stones are definitely fake, the mermaid-like shape is very nice."

"Oh! What a great idea! Please wait!"

With that said, Shade quickly walked to the souvenir shop next to the post office. Miss Princes was left standing by the mailbox, watching Shade's back go away:

"Does he really know nothing, or is he just making fun of me?"

The sorceress whispered.

Leaving the intersection, they did not enter the scope of the port, but walked north along the street until the surrounding buildings became increasingly sparse. After half an hour, they left the busy dock and climbed to the cliff outside the dock area. Shade saw the small lighthouse standing on the cliff from a distance, which was their target.

There is only a winding path from the city to the lighthouse on the sea cliff. Although no one maintains it, the ruts in the ground barely keep the road from being swallowed up by nature.

After climbing the cliff, the smell of the sea becomes more and more intense, the sound of seagulls in the sea breeze can be heard far away, and the sound of crashing waves is also refreshing. Miss Princes led the way, introducing the situation here to Shade as she walked. However, she probably doesn't come here often and needs to stop and go to find the most convenient way.

When he got close to the lighthouse, Shade saw the wooden boards and metal pipes piled under the old lighthouse.

"Is there maintenance going on here?"

Shade asked hesitantly.

"It is repaired here every summer, and the lighthouses in the port are very important. Not only do they guide ships on voyages, but the 12 lighthouses outside Coldwater Port City also play a role in guarding the coastline."

Miss Princes and Shade stopped together and looked at the old lighthouse standing on the sea cliff:

"Mr. Watson, do you know the history of Coldwater Port? Although this city rose due to the discovery of the New World, before that, it had been one of the most important seaport cities on the west coast of the Great Road. The history of the establishment of Coldwater Port It is completely unverifiable, but at the beginning of the Fifth Era, an appalling thing happened here. After that, the Orthodox Church and the Academy of Thaumatology built 12 lighthouses on the outskirts of Coldwater Port City as a base for large-scale ceremonies. , protect this city.”

"What does the ritual do?"

"I don't know. This is a secret of the church and the academy. I only saw some information in the history book of Zaras Conjuration Academy when I was writing a course paper. Of course, that was a thousand years ago. Now The so-called ceremony to protect the city has more symbolic meaning than actual significance. After all, now is different from the chaotic era at the beginning of the era. The Zhengshen Church can completely protect this place, so whether this large-scale ceremony relying on twelve lighthouses can still be effective, we It’s all unknown.”

In this old lighthouse on the sea cliff, there is currently only one old tower keeper, Mr. Edmund, who is the person they visited this time. The sign of the decline of these old lighthouses is such an important ritual node, and the guardians are actually secret ring warlocks.

The old gentleman did not belong to the church, and Miss Princes did not know to what organization he belonged. Because they could not be completely trusted, both of them put on masks before knocking on the door. However, no one in the lighthouse opened the door for a long time after knocking on the door.

Just as they were about to leave, they heard footsteps from the direction they came from.

Turning around, I saw an old man wearing a hat and a light gray cloth jacket full of pockets. He was carrying a fishing rod on his back, a bucket in his left hand, and a metal folding chair in his right hand, walking down the winding path under the cliff. Come up.

The folding chair looked like it was made out of stacked pipes under the lighthouse.

He looked about fifty years old, energetic, rosy-cheeked, and very steady on his feet. When he saw a stranger wearing a mask standing under the lighthouse, he asked:

"Who introduced you?"

Cold Water Harbor has a very strong pronunciation, and the way it is pronounced on the west coast and inland is very different.

"I bought a magical conch from you two years ago. You asked for 300 pounds at that time, and I gave you 310 pounds and told you that I might come back in a long time."

Miss Princes said.

"oh?"

Mr. Edmond nodded, as if he was thinking of the generous lady:

"I remember this. At that time, you said that it was my friend Lao Yue who introduced you."

He saw Miss Prince's gesture, so he didn't finish saying the name, but motioned for the two of them to wait:

"Okay, let me put things down first and then talk about things. Today's harvest is really quite big."

He must have gone fishing just now. When passing by Shade, Shade took a curious look into the iron bucket, but there was only one fry in it that was less than the size of Shade's three fingers.

"When fishing, there will always be times when you are unlucky. Today's tide is very strange. I bet there is something strange approaching offshore, and when I make a nest,"

Seeing that Shade noticed it, Mr. Edmond blushed and explained. The old man did not let them enter the lighthouse. Instead, after putting down the things in his hands, he stood on the edge of the sea cliff with the two of them, talking about things while looking at the sea.

Their feet were at least 50 feet (approximately 15.2m) from the sea. The tide was constantly lapping at the rocks below the sea cliff. The rumbling sound of the water made them have to speak with greater strength. But the feeling of standing here blowing the sea breeze and bathing in the water vapor is very good. The scenery where the sky and the sea meet in the distance also makes Xia De very satisfied.

The old man who lives here alone has a dog and two cats in the lighthouse. These three animals were quite humane under the lighthouse, eating the food given by Mr. Edmund while looking at the three people looking at the sea in the distance.

The dog is a common guard dog in the countryside, and the two cats are also mixed breeds, but they were quite close to Shade just now. If he hadn't been scolded by his master, he would have even wanted to throw himself at Shade's feet and roll around. It seems that Shade's affinity for cats is not only useful for cats in Tobesk, but also for cats from other places.