LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 45
The grassland growing on the sprawling plains began to bow down, swaying with the breeze.
With my mouth agape in a daze, I cast my gaze toward the distant horizon, captivated by the wave-like movements of the wind.
In this refreshing landscape where there was nothing obstructing the sky meeting the earth, I felt a sense of liberation.
Whoosh-!
The Nightmare, perhaps feeling similar to me, started to stomp its feet in excitement.
Its movements conveyed a desire to dash forward freely.
Since I too wished to ride the winds, I lightly flicked the bridle of the Nightmare.
“Let’s go!”
Neighing-!
With a spirited whinny, the Nightmare took off, pounding the ground as it began to run.
With no obstacles in our way, there was no need to change direction.
The Nightmare galloped faster than ever before.
Thud-thud-thud-!
The heavy sound of its hooves quickly faded into the distance as we drew near.
Monsters hiding beneath the thick grass occasionally came into view, but only for a fleeting moment.
The Nightmare swept past them before they could react.
As we darted ahead, I felt the wind approach from behind.
The gust, covering a wide area, caused the grass to shift.
The grass that had been lying flat on the ground suddenly changed direction, transforming into a green wave that began to follow closely behind the Nightmare.
It felt as if the wind was about to catch up to us. The Nightmare then picked up speed again, creating distance from the green wave that had been closely tailing us.
As we outran the wind and crested a small hill, a new landscape unfolded before us.
Windmills appeared, spinning in tandem with the refreshing breeze.
The windmills, lined up toward the horizon, were all turning at the same pace.
“Wow…”
The Nightmare didn’t stop. It continued to run, breaking free from the grassy meadows and entering into the vast farmland.
The nameless plants, ripening under the golden glow of the sunset, swayed gently in the wind, adorned with luscious grains.
After passing through the farmlands, a colorful flower garden came into view.
The assorted colors of the flowers exuded a natural beauty even in their disorder.
Beyond the flowerbed lay a towering castle wall that obstructed the view.
Peeking over it was a large windmill that seemed to indicate a city powered by wind energy.
“Stop!”
As I led the slowing Nightmare toward the city entrance, guards blocked my way.
Each of them drew their weapons, eyeing the Nightmare as if mistaking it for a monster due to its large frame characteristic of Hairan.
I gently patted the Nightmare’s mane and chuckled lightly.
“We’ve stopped.”
“Um, uh…”
“Is that… what you mean?”
Not advancing closer but halting in place, the guards began to whisper among themselves.
Their hushed voices carried gently on the breeze and reached my ears clearly.
“Isn’t that a monster?”
“That little girl is riding a monster? That doesn’t make sense. That’s definitely a Hairan breed.”
“What’s a Hairan?”
“You know, the horse that the lord always rides…”
“Ah… that big horse? But this one is even bigger…?”
“Aren’t you shorter than me? Horses vary in size, after all.”
“Hmm…”
After a long discussion, the guards cleared their throats and reclaimed their weapons.
Only then did the Nightmare relax its body.
“Ahem… What is your purpose?”
“I’m here for tourism.”
“Do you have any identification from elsewhere?”
In response, I presented the Bronze Badge issued by the Karma Empire.
The guard examined the badge closely and nodded.
“This is a badge issued in the capital. Your identity is confirmed; however, if you wish to operate as an adventurer here, you will need to obtain a new rank badge.”
“Am I allowed to enter?”
“As long as you don’t cause any trouble, you may. Especially with that horse…”
In any case, it seemed I was free to enter.
I nodded and, together with the Nightmare, stepped into the city.
Upon entering, the first thing that caught my eye was, naturally, the large windmill.
As I took in the scene, I moved further inside the city.
The atmosphere here seemed very peaceful. The faces of the residents showed little worry, and small boys and girls happily dashed about with little windmills in hand.
As I ventured deeper, I found a canal running through the center of the city.
Merchants had set up stalls on a large bridge built over it, catering to tourists and adventurers alike.
Leading the Nightmare, I approached the bridge.
Click-click-click-
The stalls lined with souvenirs such as windmills and small windmill figurines, representative of this town, were quite entertaining to behold.
Just then, a vendor at one of the stalls called out to me.
“Hey, miss!”
“Me?”
The vendor nodded at my query.
I led the Nightmare over to him.
He wore a broad-brimmed hat to shield himself from the sun.
“You’ve got a face I’ve never seen in Talen. Are you an adventurer?”
“Yes.”
“I figured! I have something that might be helpful for you, how about taking a look?”
The vendor gestured to his stall.
I wondered why he called me over, only to realize it was merely a sales pitch.
I began inspecting the items laid out on the stall as he spoke about each of them whenever my gaze landed on one.
“As you can see, I sell numerous storybooks. I’m sure you know that the adventure of unraveling the secrets of this world and advancing into the unknown is thrilling.”
“Are the contents of these storybooks true?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Now, how about this one.”
Nodding, the vendor quickly changed the topic.
He pointed to an old book tucked away in a corner.
“The ancients would think of one being whenever dark clouds gathered in the vast sky, that being who appeared shrouded in lightning from a blackened sky…”
“Thunderbird?”
“Oh, you already know that tale? Then how about this one… the story of the wicked dragon sleeping in the snowy mountain… said to bring endless winter, the tale of Kashpa.”
“Is that a story of a real dragon?”
“Indeed, all the storybooks I handle are based on reality.”
A small laugh slipped from my lips at the vendor’s words.
It was a pleasant kind of laugh, not a mocking one, so the vendor chuckled along as well.
As our laughter danced away on the wind, I nodded and extended my hand.
“That sounds interesting. I’ll take one.”
“Excellent choice!”
As the vendor retrieved the book and began to wrap it in paper with a smile, he moved to recommend the next one.
“Next, how about this one? The embodiment of fire that burned the world…! A record of the now non-existent Kalbain…”
“Do you have anything else?”
“Hmm, it seems that doesn’t suit you. How about this one then? The story of the elves who fled to the ends of the world. The tales of them soaring through the skies with the wind as their friend are said to resemble spirits…”
“That’s one too, please.”
The vendor, pleased with the sale of the old book, continued to beam with joy.
His foolish-looking grin somehow radiated happiness, and I stuffed the books he handed me into my bag.
The books cost 3 silvers each. While it felt somewhat pricey for second-hand books, I paid without haggling since I was in a good mood.
“Take care! Welcome to Talen, and I wish you well on your adventure!”
The storybook vendor handed me a makeshift windmill crafted from reeds as a service.
Though it looked rough, it spun beautifully when the wind blew.
Just like the large windmill in this city.
Having found a reasonably priced inn, I headed straight to my room.
It was time to read the storybook I had bought on the street.
Since the inn staff brought dinner to my room, I could enjoy my meal while reading the book.
[To the Ends of the World, Beyond the Storm Wall]
The title inscribed on the old cover.
I munched on soft bread while flipping through the pages.
To the Ends of the World, Beyond the Storm Wall
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Culture and Language of the Elves
1. About the Elven Language, Kamphra
2. Spirits that Share a Lifetime
Chapter 2 The Burning Great Forest
1. The Dark Mage who Made a Pact with Demons
2. The Battle of Spirits and Demons
3. The Captured Souls of Elves
Chapter 3 The Storm Wall
1. Toward the End of the World
2. The Elves’ Last Refuge
3. The Storm Wall that Severed the World
Chapter 4 The Vanished Elves
1. Spirits Left Behind in the World
2. The World Tree and Its Seeds
3. The Magic Book Left by Demons
As I turned the pages, the scent of the aged book wafted gently.
As time passed and the sun set, the dark night brought its arrival.
I lit a small candle and bowed my head before it.
The first story inscribed in the book, as I could see from the table of contents, revolved around the culture of the now-vanished elves and the language they once used, Kamphra.
It was here I understood what “Galad” meant.
1. About the Elven Language, Kamphra
This is knowledge that is now fading from everyone’s memory.
The passage of time has carried the elves’ songs on the wind far away, and when the magnificent great forest vanished, this world began to forget Kamphra along with the elven race.
However, some humans who inherited their knowledge remain, and in this book, I bestow upon you important knowledge that must not be forgotten.
The word ‘Galad’ signifies the elegance of trees and strong power, and is also a title given to the guardians who protect the race.
Those who inherit that name do not leave the World Tree, even in death, and the souls that have worn down through the ages will ultimately forget their very existence, slowly fading away…
The word ‘Eres’ embodies the diversity of the wind and unfettered freedom…
As I kept turning the pages, my eyes soon began to droop.
Reading a book in a small room under the light of a single candle was quite a challenge.
Especially for a young girl’s body.
I closed the thick book and rubbed my sleepy eyes.
The long yawn that escaped marked the conclusion of my day.
I set the book I had been holding on the table and climbed onto the bed.
As always, I fell asleep with hopes for tomorrow.