"In any case, it's better to find accommodation first; the nights in the wild are truly too dangerous." The man thought for a moment before deciding it was best to find lodging first.
Stay for a day or two, then go meet up with that woman from the Jialan Council.
The Nord Kingdom is a desolate and remote place, but in even the smallest towns, as long as there is a human settlement, there will be inns. The man quickly found one, a two-story building that, from the outside, seemed to have about a dozen rooms.
Following the snow-covered muddy path, the town's inn was open to all its residents, just as it always had been.
Passing through the inn's sturdy wooden door, the inside of the inn was like a party scene; wooden tables and chairs were arranged in a chaotic manner, people were freely chatting, and drinking barley beer. The innkeeper and his wife continuously brought out various foods and beers from behind the bar, the fire in the hearth was burning brightly, and a thick meat stew was cooking in the oven, its aroma wafting throughout the inn.
The cold weather outside stood in stark contrast to the warm atmosphere inside, the windows of the inn were covered in thick condensation, inside and outside seemed like two different worlds. In the center of the room, a couple of drunk individuals, arm in arm, were dancing a traditional dance of the Nord people to the upbeat music of a minstrel, while a merchant from the Empire awkwardly tried to follow the lead of a burly man, his clumsy movements provoking laughter from everyone present.
"Lady Freya! Another mug of barley beer!" A burly man with two strands of thick beard shouted to the innkeeper's wife, slamming his wooden mug on the bar, the mug was completely empty, save for a bit of foam.
"Beautiful! When you call my name, you must include 'beautiful'! And more beer? Pay up first, you've already had four mugs of beer, that'll be twenty copper coins!" The stout innkeeper's wife placed her hands on her hips and scolded, smacking the man's head with a spoon. The burly man quickly reached into his pocket and, with a single motion, pulled out thirty copper coins, "Take it all, beautiful Lady Freya, now bring the beer!"
"Alrighty!" The innkeeper's wife waved her plump hand, and a pile of copper coins vanished into her pockets; having received the payment, she beamed with joy, quickly directing her staff to bring out more barrels of beer. The innkeeper, meanwhile, set a plate of roasted lamb before the soldier sitting at the bar, "Sir, your roast, please enjoy!"
"Alright." The soldier accepted the roast and ordered a glass of wine. He seemed to be quite old, with plenty of wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, focusing intently on his delicious meal.
On the other side of the room, a flamboyantly dressed minstrel in purple clothing, a red soft hat on his head, and with a lyre slung over his shoulder, was adjusting the strings of his instrument, preparing to begin his performance.
"Mr. Minstrel! What story do you have for us today?" A patron shouted.
"Yeah, if it's not exciting, we won't pay!" Everyone chimed in.
"Ho ho~" The entire inn was filled with clamor, the minstrel helplessly straightened his attire and slowly started playing his lyre, "Well, today I'll bring you an ancient story, a grand epic from a hundred and fifty years ago!"
"Over a thousand years ago, the land was still peaceful, people lived content and prosperous lives. Although the northern barbarians and the Central Earth Continent occasionally clashed, trade and peace were still the main themes. The Southern Realm was once the largest and finest free port and trade city, and the Dwarves living in the Eastern World Ridge Mountains used their exquisite equipment and crafts to trade with the Human Empire. In the southern wastelands stood numerous Dwarf strongholds, witnessing the gold era of the Dwarves... back then, the forests were less dangerous than they are now, back then..."
"But about a thousand years ago, everything changed."
"The world was altered."
The inn gradually quieted down, only the crackling of the lively fire in the hearth could be heard. The patrons settled in, for it was common knowledge on the Continent that one should remain quiet during a minstrel's performance. Only the merchant from the Empire seemed unconcerned, yet he listened quietly nonetheless.
The minstrel began to play a melodious tune on his lyre, the rhythm sad, yet filled with hope, "
Nearly a thousand years ago,
The Northern Empire was shrouded in darkness.
The Evil God wreaked havoc, Chaos rampaged, it was like purgatory.
The Totem God fell, the God of Beasts vanished.
Civilization could not withstand barbarism, wisdom retreated before the savage.
Peace vanished, warfare ravaged the lands.
In the Southern Empire, green skins rose.
Gnushu's head became an ornament for Uzagg.
The Dwarves' millennium-old fortress could not resist the spreading plague.
The statue of the Ancestor King was toppled, the treasures of ancient tombs became the invaders' delight.
Fortunately,
Alliances were renewed on the brink of national extinction.
The Long-bearded Guard and Lion Knights moved forward hand in hand.
However, this victory was not worth celebrating.
The Empire lost its Emperor.
Brothers turned against each other, trapped in endless disputes.
In the dark corners, the Undead climbed out of the graves.
Evil Beastmen corrupted nearly every part of the continent.
The world fell into decline, everything was in jeopardy.
A hundred and fifty years ago, a twin-tailed comet streaked across the sky, at last, a hero appeared.
That was Savior Ludwig.
The Demon Prince was vanquished, the Evil Shaman slain.
No matter how powerful the Child of Chaos, before him, it was nothing more than a lump of flesh.