Chapter 266 Blood and Fire
Just say it.

Both wizards were silent.

The mountain wind howled, bringing with it the biting chill that only belongs to the night.

The robes of the two wizards were rustling in the wind.

"Could it be the little king who did it?" The wizard in the starlight robe asked, "The court of Ard Kalai has always been a little restless."

The middle-aged wizard asked:

"Why do you think they captured Thomas Moreau and Macao alive at this time, Shaquille?"

"Perhaps he did it to vent his anger?" Shaquille was a little uncertain. "Thomas Moreau is the leader of the radical faction in the academy. Maybe the little king was too oppressed by the nobles they influenced?"

Seeing that the dean was somewhat noncommittal, he thought for a few seconds and then continued:
"It could also be the nobles of Aedirn. They have been so restless recently that they no longer try to hide their agitation."

"And doesn't Thomas Moreau and Macao's target Radek have a relative in Vengerberg in Aedirn?"

The dean remained silent.

Shaquille was a little helpless at this time.

Ban Ade has been above all other powers for many years.

At their peak, even the king had to listen to them in order to stay on the throne. One can imagine how arrogant the wizards of Ben Ader were before the big trouble of the king's death.

Therefore, Ban Ade has countless secret enemies, people with bad intentions, and forces that would take advantage of his misfortune.

So it's not that he can't name other forces that might be plotting to harm Wizard Ben Ader.

But there are just too many people like this.

Even the Wolf School, which has always been neutral, honest, and upholds the pedantic spirit of chivalry, is suspected.

And this does not include Thomas Moreau and Macao's own enemies...

Tell the truth.

He was able to do such a thing so efficiently and effectively, and he also had the ability to cover up the traces so well.

The biggest suspect is not even the little king who is suspected of having a grudge against Ban Ade for killing his father...

But they are our own people in the college.

Experimental funding, research results, teaching position, political ideals...

Which one is not worth being stabbed in the back by your own people?

What's more...

She secretly learned about Thomas Moreau and Macao's schedule, easily dealt with the fighting power of the two wizards, and covered up her tracks so skillfully...

Those two wizards are both experienced and powerful sorcerers.

It is not easy to achieve each of these three items.

The possibility of internal strife is the greatest.

But Shaquille certainly couldn't say that in front of Henry Gedimides.

Moreover, the dean understood the possibility of internal strife much better than he did.

So after thinking about it, Shaquille made up a nonsense in a respectful manner:
"The sorceresses of Aretuza are also suspects. Aren't they competing with us for the position of Kaedwen's magic advisor recently?"

"And they have always been very interested in some of Ban Ade's research projects..."

The words have not yet fallen.

Ben Ade's dean, Heng Gedimidis, raised his hand and interrupted Shaquille.

"Boom~"

An orange-red portal appeared in front of us.

Shaquille was stunned for a moment and asked:

"Dean, aren't you going to continue investigating?"

"Vergen is not far from here. Maybe there are some clues there. If that doesn't work, let's go back to Ben Green Fortress and have a look..."

"These are the only two places where the Pontar River can pass."

Hearing this, Heng Gedimidis shook his head: "The shadow of war is just around the corner."

"Under the watchful eyes of the public, it is not appropriate for the academy to make any eye-catching moves at this time..."

"A large-scale search for two missing wizards will only expose our weaknesses to those who are interested..."

Thinking of the messy relationship with the Kaedwen royal family and the division and unrest within the academy, he sighed deeply in his heart.

He doesn’t understand…

Why is it that just by holding a fighting competition, the previously calm Ban Ade now feels a little precarious?

"But the radicals have been asking for an explanation..." Shaquille hesitated, "Thomas Moreau has always been an important member of that group, so..."

"Humph!" Hen Gedimidis snorted coldly and scolded, "They dare to ask for an explanation after the situation has become like this!"

"Jaines was bewitched into secretly researching the intersection of the celestial spheres, and I haven't settled the score with them yet..."

Heng Gedimidis looked at Shaquille and said, "You can tell them the following sentence exactly as it is..."

"If they keep causing trouble, we'll drive them all to the front lines when war breaks out!"

"I understand, Dean." Shaquille nodded when he heard this.

"Yeah." Heng Gedimides nodded slightly and walked towards the portal.

Before entering the orange-red portal, he suddenly seemed to remember something, paused for a moment, turned around and said:
"After you go back, ask someone to check all the research projects that Thomas Moreau and Macao have conducted in recent years... no... compile them all and send them to me..."

"And there is a list of wizards who have competed with them for funding..."

Heng Gedimides' tone was cold, as chilling as ice.

Shaquille immediately stood up straight:
"Yes, Dean."

"I'll arrange for someone to check when I get back."

……

The next morning.

In the icon room, Aelin woke up from his meditation and sighed with both loss and relief.

After testing the combination of blizzard and giant ghoul decoction last night, he went to bed early.

It’s a pity that I had no dreams that night.

Goddess Meliteli did not talk to him again.

So whether there will be danger and chaos on May Day remains a mystery.

"I wonder what Ianna discussed with the old duke yesterday?"

Aelin muttered.

Then he got up, washed quickly, and sat next to the basket, waiting for the little priest to feed him.

Talk about it.

Although Ailin had not yet escaped the evil god's gaze, he no longer had to stay in the icon room all day, waiting for someone to bring him food.

But don't know why.

The witcher and the little priest tacitly did not mention this.

Soon.

The witcher's ears twitched.

"Deng Deng Deng~"

The footsteps arrived as promised.

But the next second Ailin looked towards the corridor in confusion.

Because in addition to the footsteps of the little priest, he heard another pair of footsteps.

It wasn't Nenneke who hadn't been here for a long time and had thoroughly taught the little priest the task of delivering meals, but...

"Aunt Ianna?" The witcher looked at the high priest who appeared in front of the young priest with a kind smile and asked in surprise, "Why did you come so early today?"

The high priest glanced at the empty basket on the ground and said:
"Come with me, the old duke wants to see you."

The old duke?
The demon hunter was stunned.

Why did the old duke come to me?
Corpse-eating bio-oil formula?
Or for Cinco de Mayo?
"Neither," the high priest saw through the witcher's thoughts from his expression and squinted his eyes to keep him in suspense, "But it's not a bad thing..."

"Let's go first. The old duke is still waiting. We can have breakfast on the way..."

It’s not a bad thing… The witcher glanced at the high priest’s wrinkled face and didn’t ask any more questions.

With her current expression, there would be no answer even if I asked.

then.

As he followed the high priest out, he looked at the young priest who had been keeping his head down since he came in. Ailin knew that she was still embarrassed about what happened last night, so he greeted her softly:
"Good morning, Lysa, thank you for bringing me breakfast."

"Morning... morning..." The little priest seemed startled and his tone paused.

After hearing the witcher's voice, she quickly lifted the white cloth on the basket and handed three juicy hard-boiled eggs that she had carefully peeled to the witcher.

The high priest noticed Lisa's strange behavior and stopped in his tracks, looking at the two people thoughtfully.

"you……"

"We have nothing..." The witcher and the little priest said in unison.

The high priest was startled when he heard this, and then seeing that the two wanted to explain, he nodded meaningfully and interrupted:

"Okay, okay, nothing, nothing..."

……

Because the high priest was playing tricks on them, every time Arlin and Lysa wanted to explain, they would pretend to be stupid and change the subject.

As a result, along the way, except for Ianna's happy smirk, the overall atmosphere was a little awkward.

therefore.

After the witcher finished his breakfast, Lysa ran away quickly with a red face.

"Mother Ianna, is this fun?" The witcher looked at the high priest helplessly.

"Of course it's fun..." Ianna nodded vigorously, "In a few years I will be serving the goddess. Among the few hobbies I have now, you guys rank first..."

So Lysa and I are your hobbies?

What is this word?

The witcher opened his mouth, but in the end just sighed and didn't want to argue with an old man about this anymore.

After all, although Ianna is gossipy, she won't tell anyone else. She just keeps it to herself... er... and enjoys it openly in front of the person involved.

So it will not affect the reputation of the little priest.

Therefore, the witcher did not dwell on the matter any further.

But just because he doesn't pester her doesn't mean Ianna doesn't gossip.

"Priest and sorceress, which one do you like?" she asked curiously.

The witcher didn't want to answer, but he couldn't stand the high priest staring at him, which was creepy.

then.

After he sighed helplessly, he looked at the high priest seriously and said:
"Aunt Ianna, since you know that I am a child of miracles, you shouldn't ask such a question..."

"You must know that the time of sword and axe is near. It is the age of the winter wolf and snowstorm."

"The world will die in the frost and be reborn in the new sun."

"Ess'tuath esse! This is inevitable! Watch for the signs!"

"If you want to know what the sign is..."

"First, Filius Miraculi - the Miracle Child - was born in a bitter cold land."

"Death and rebirth, inhuman people bring blood and fire."

"I know..." The high priest immediately stopped smiling, "This is the prophecy of the elf sage Islin."

"But what does this have to do with you, Lisa, and Mary..."

The demon hunter stopped and remained silent for a while with his head down.

"I have personally witnessed the blood and fire, and I brought the blood and fire..."

"That blood is from the wicked as well as from the good..."

"It comes from the poor people who can't control their own destiny..."

"The fire set the palace walls on fire and set the travelers' tents on fire..."

"And the pillars of the shed will be burned..."

His voice was low, like the sultry thunder in summer, and it also had an undisguised smell of rust.

That is the smell of blood, the breath of war and death.

Hearing this, Ianna seemed to have thought of something, and her expression changed from serious to more compassionate.

"and……"

The demon hunter paused and stared into Ianna's eyes:

"And for the foreseeable future..."

"The blood will flow into rivers without distinction between good and evil, and the fire will burn cities and villages without distinction between the noble and the humble..."

"So before everything is settled, I don't want to think about these private matters."

After listening to the witcher's words, Ianna sighed.

This is the miracle child...

She gently stroked the witcher's hair and whispered softly:

"Good boy, it's not your fault, it's not your fault..."

Aelin felt the heat from Ianna's rough palm.

I don't know why my throat suddenly felt...tight.

"Let's go, Sister Ianna..." The witcher discarded those strange feelings and took a step forward to avoid the high priest's hand. "The old duke is still waiting for us..."

"By the way, what does he want from me?"

The high priest paid no attention to the witcher's dodge.

She gathered her emotions, squinted her eyes and smiled kindly again:
"It's a little surprise, you'll find out when you get there."

In this regard.

The demon hunter could only shake his head and continue walking towards the temple entrance.

……

Walk to the door and around the huge statue of the goddess Meliteli.

On the avenue where the heavy shadows of trees were interspersed with spots of light, the old duke stood outside the temple, in the same place where he had stood two days ago.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his body so straight that he didn't even look like a man in his sixties or seventies.

Aelin was curious sometimes.

As a great noble and the ruler of Elland, Duke Mason is so old that there is nothing he can't let his subordinates do, so he has to come here in person.

The demon hunter felt that there must be other driving forces behind this.

As for this driving force...

He glanced again at Ianna, who was about the same age.

Although the high priest was not young and his face was full of wrinkles and traces of time, it seemed that he had not taken care of himself.

But overall, she is very charming and has an elegant and graceful figure.

If you don't squint, at first glance, it looks like Ms. Vera when she was old.

So it doesn't seem surprising that the old duke would have such admiration.

"Are you thinking about something very rude?" Ianna suddenly spoke up, startling the witcher.

Before he could make an excuse.

The high priest narrowed his eyes and gave him a look with a forced smile.

"It's a pity that I'm a priestess of the goddess. I can't read minds like a sorceress like Vera..."

"otherwise……"

"I must pry open your cute little head and see what's going on inside."

The witcher could only sneer and quicken his pace as he walked towards the old duke who was trying to show off while standing with his back to them.

At this time.

The old duke seemed to hear their voices and turned around.

After seeing the witcher and the old priest, he stated his purpose very directly in his usual style.

It was just beyond Ailin's expectations.

The old duke really didn't come for the sword oil, nor because of the possible risks of May Day.

His first words were:

"Demon Hunter, have you ever seen the Wild Hunt?"

(End of this chapter)