Chapter 56: Chapter 56
Had the situation deteriorated that badly? Or was this yet another trial?
Ron had no answer in his heart, but since the instructor had already issued the signal, he could only comply. He immediately called for Karel and the others to check their equipment and confirm their combat readiness.
The other squads made nearly identical reactions.
But in the next moment, fate seemed to play another joke on everyone. Instructor Arnold stepped before the crowd once more and loudly announced:
“Everyone, form up by squad in a charge formation and return to the territory along the same route. Today’s training is over.
“I repeat, today’s training is over. Everyone return to the territory along the same route. Immediately! At once!”
Arnold had barely finished speaking before his companions suited him up in a set of armor. Seeing the crowd of apprentices still frozen in place, he immediately roared furiously:
“What are you standing around for! Execute the order immediately!”
“Yes.”
Only then did everyone snap out of it. Under the command of their respective captains, they began to orderly leave the watchtower. At this moment, another rapid burst of whistles came from not far to the south. Accompanying the whistles, arriving almost simultaneously, was the tolling of the territory’s Bell Tower from the north.
That was an alarm signal, and also a signal reminding all subjects outside to return home.
“Quick, quick, quick, move it!”
With even the territory’s bell tolling, Ron was certain this wasn’t some new trial; it was a sudden foreign enemy attack.
…
Just as the Blood and Fire Squad was about to leave the sentry post, Ron caught sight of Instructor Morris once more. By now, Morris was fully geared, his pitch-black armor exuding an overwhelming aura of murderous intent.
“Instructor, what happened? What enemy is in the south?”
Taking advantage of the brief window as the two passed each other, Ron quickly asked the question in his heart. Morris, seemingly preoccupied with thoughts of someone else, saw that the person asking was Ron and blurted out two words without thinking:
“It’s Aberrant Beasts, and cultists.”
After speaking, he realized what he had just said, and hurriedly added a couple more sentences. “The situation this time is somewhat abnormal. Don’t casually reveal this when you get back to the territory, so as to avoid causing panic.”
“Yes.”
Ron wanted to ask more, but there was no time. Not only was the apprentice procession rapidly departing, but Morris had also left the Blackstone Sentry Post under the urging of the other instructors.
However, while Ron and the others headed east and north to evacuate, Morris and the others headed south.
…
Returning to the territory without incident, Ron’s back was already soaked through. It wasn’t just the natural heat dissipation from his body after the rapid charge; it was also nervous sweating brought on by fear.
“All apprentices, return to your neighborhoods in an orderly fashion. Do not wander about!”
Just as they neared the town limits, Ron and the others encountered a squad of patrolling soldiers. They also belonged to the Territory Guard, but were part of the garrison forces.
If they couldn’t become Formal Knights, the majority of Ron’s batch of apprentices would also become garrison soldiers, then serve for at least five years according to their own wishes.
…
“Justin, Karel, let’s split up here. See you tomorrow morning.”
“Mm, see you tomorrow morning.”
After parting ways with the rest of the Blood and Fire Squad, Ron didn’t return to his own home, but went straight to Liya’s house. As a member of the Territory Guard, Uncle Jason was, unsurprisingly, not at home.
It was still winter, so Liya and Aunt Mary were also, unsurprisingly, staying at home. When Ron arrived, Aunt Mary was teaching Liya how to carve wooden ornaments.
These were the same wooden ornaments used for decoration and warding off evil that adorned the homes of the vast majority of families in the Sis Territory.
Seeing Ron come over, Mary immediately set down her carving knife, pulled Ron over to sit by the fireplace, and then scrutinized him carefully, as if checking whether Ron was injured.
Just as Ron was growing uneasy under her gaze and could only shoot pleading looks at Liya off to the side, Aunt Mary smiled and said, “It’s good that you’re back! I was just talking about you with Liya!”
“Sorry for making you worry.”
“It’s no trouble, no trouble. It’s good that you’re back.”
“By the way, has Uncle Jason been back?” Ron changed the subject.
“He came back once, then left in a hurry.”
Mentioning her husband, Aunt Mary’s mood couldn’t help but sink. “He said he received an emergency mission and probably wouldn’t be back tonight. He told us not to wait up for him.”
Hearing this, Ron suddenly regretted bringing up Jason, so he changed the subject once more. He picked up a fallen wooden ornament nearby and asked Mary:
“Aunt Mary, do these Anti-Evil Runes really work? I see them decorating every household?”
“Who knows! It’s just for peace of mind. Besides, in winter, this is about the only thing you can do to pass the time.”
Saying this, Mary picked up her carving knife again. But this time, instead of continuing to teach Liya, she took a wooden strip about two fingers wide and began carving it stroke by stroke.
She then didn’t forget to invite Ron, “I’ll carve the Anti-Evil Runes. You go chat with Liya. You’ve been busy training all this time, and Liya has missed you so much!”
“Mother, what are you saying!”
Liya was instantly overcome with bashfulness. She had been making eye contact with Ron earlier, but now she didn’t dare meet Ron’s eyes anymore, simply keeping her head down as she carved the Anti-Evil Rune in her hands.
This…
Ron was also feeling a bit overwhelmed at this moment, but this kind of experience interacting with family gave him a very grounded feeling: the feeling of truly living in this world.
It made him feel that he was no longer just a passerby or an outsider.
“By the way, Liya, does your family have any books?”
Seeing that the conversation had temporarily reached a dead end, Ron wanted to read a book to pass the time. He never expected Liya to show a surprised expression:
“Books? Do you mean official documents? Or books?”
“Books.”
“Ron’s” memories contained this word, so Ron didn’t need to worry about blurting out something that didn’t exist in this world. However, Liya’s reaction to books was rather unusual.
She had actually associated it first with official documents, deeds, and the like, rather than readable books.
Just as he was about to press further, Aunt Mary interjected at this moment. “The Sis Territory probably only has books at the Lord’s place. And I’ve heard that books aren’t good things. Hasn’t your Uncle Jason told you about this?”
“Uh, I don’t think so!” Ron thought for a moment and answered honestly.
At the same time, the doubts in his heart multiplied. How could books not be good things? Didn’t a sage on Blue Planet once say that books are the stepping stones of human progress?
How did they become bad things in the Sis Territory?
Seeing that Ron genuinely didn’t understand the inside story, Mary first muttered a quiet curse at Jason, then explained to Ron with a serious expression:
“Books are said to have been invented by wizards, but anything related to wizards will attract Evil Spirits, and books are no exception. For your own safety, it’s best if you don’t bring up books again in the future.”
“Things related to wizards attract Evil Spirits?”
This was the first time Ron had heard such a claim, and it was also his first time hearing legends of wizards from someone else. So he hurriedly asked again:
“Do wizards really exist in this world?”
“They do.”
Aunt Mary said with utmost earnestness, “If wizards didn’t exist, then how would we know the legends related to them?”
“Fair enough!”
Ron hadn’t expected Aunt Mary to say something so philosophical. He was truly at a loss for words, so he could only continue asking about the legends of wizards.