touchnovel Chapter 114 The Round Table Hall
Chapter 114 The Round Table Hall
Chapter 114 The Round Table Hall
Storm Hills remains unchanged.
The howling wind echoed in Xia Tong's ears, like the wailing of ghosts and wolves.
Traveling through this kind of place made Xia Tong feel somewhat irritable.
The few wolves that occasionally darted out along the way were all easily dealt with by Xia Tong using the Shining Stone Magic Shard.
Soon, Xia Tong arrived at the dilapidated house on Storm Hill that she remembered.
The first thing that caught Xia Tong's eye was more than twenty transparent soul jellyfish floating in mid-air.
Some of them floated under dilapidated rooftops to shelter from the wind, while others drifted along the eaves on patrol.
The once dilapidated little house has now become different.
There were also some storm eagle feathers and hay on the wall as decoration.
Around the house, a shallow path paved with colorful rainbow stones appeared.
The once bare roof is now adorned with several blooming orange-yellow fallen leaves, swaying tenaciously in the wind.
Most importantly, wisps of smoke were rising from the chimney on the roof.
From Xia Tong's angle, you can also see several thick animal skin rugs pieced together inside the house.
Xia Tong rode the Torret slowly towards the dilapidated house.
"Buzz"
A low-frequency vibration suddenly came from the air.
The jellyfish swarm, which had been emitting a soft, pale blue light, suddenly turned a wary, scarlet red at its core!
They all swarmed around in a flash.
The tentacles, laced with a hint of venom, swayed in the air, revealing their hostility towards Xia Tong, this uninvited guest.
Torret snorted uneasily and took two steps back.
All this noise seemed to have disturbed the homeowner inside.
A petite figure wearing a dark red hooded cloak rushed out of the house in a panic.
Xia Tong was still wearing his heavy Kaidan mercenary armor. Days of fighting and exposure to the sun and wind had made his skin dark and rough.
At first glance, he looks like a robber who has come to rob someone.
But Rodrika recognized those eyes, and she also recognized the spirit horse named Torret.
"————Xia, Xia Tong-sama?"
The girl's initially wary gaze instantly transformed into one of immense joy.
She then quickly turned around and waved to the jellyfish that were still glowing red and preparing to attack.
Her tone was like a gentle scolding of a child: "Oh dear, stop! This isn't a bad person!"
"He's my friend! He's Lady Xia Tong! Everyone, step back and behave!"
A miraculous scene unfolded.
Those soul jellyfish that were on the verge of a violent attack stopped the moment they heard the girl's voice.
The scarlet light quickly faded, returning to its original gentle, transparent light blue.
Like obedient puppies, they turned around in the air with a wronged expression, then slowly dispersed to both sides, making way for the cabin.
Rodrigo straightened her red hood, which had been slightly disheveled by the wind.
She looked up at the man on horseback, tears welling in her eyes: "Lord Xia Tong, it really is you!"
"It's been several months since we last met, hasn't it? You—you came back to see me especially?"
"Yes, Rodrika. You really are different now, you've become so much happier."
Xia Tong smiled and dismounted; these were his true feelings.
You have to understand, in the past, it would have been impossible for Rodrigo to decorate her house and face life with a smile.
Then Xia Tong turned around and took a heavy cloth bag from beside Toret's saddle.
It was a whole, processed wild goat, which he had hunted on his way here; the meat was succulent.
"I see smoke coming from your chimney. May I have the honor of having a bowl of hot soup with me?"
Xia Tong had traveled a long way and was quite tired.
"certainly!"
Her voice was as light and cheerful as a wind chime: "Please come in, Lady Xia Tong! It's windy outside."
Stepping into the house, a wave of warmth washes over you.
Xia Tong then smelled the rich aroma of meat.
He was surprised that Rodrik, such a delicate noblewoman, had actually learned to hunt.
After thinking about it, she realized that those obedient jellyfish around her might actually be the ones she used to hunt.
Xia Tong took a sip of soup and exclaimed, "Rodica, it's been a few months, and you've already learned how to hunt?"
Rodrigo, who was wiping a wooden spoon, blushed slightly upon hearing this.
She quickly waved her hands in denial: "Oh dear! Lady Xia Tong, you must be joking!"
"I—I can barely even hold a sword, and I tremble at the sight of those fanged beasts. How could I possibly go hunting?"
She handed the bowl of hot soup to Xia Tong, a hint of gratitude in her eyes, and explained softly, "It was brought by a neighbor."
"It's that knight who lives in that dilapidated house on the east side—the one with lots of weapons hanging there."
Xia Tong's hand holding the bowl suddenly stopped.
Xi Jinping's dilapidated house?
Rodrika didn't notice Xia Tong's strange behavior and continued rambling on, "That knight looked fierce. He was wearing thick silver armor covered with beast patterns, and his voice was deep and intimidating."
"But he's a good man; he often brings over some extra game."
"I once invited him in for a chat, but he barely spoke."
"He only mentioned it briefly, saying that I resembled his former witch."
"But when I asked him about witches, he fell silent."
"My expression would become very pained, so I didn't dare to ask anymore."
"Oh, by the way, he said his name is Bernal."
"It really was him!" Xia Tong thought to herself.
It seems I should find an opportunity to pay him a visit.
Bernal was also a man with a tragic fate.
Unlike another quasi-king Vic, Bernal's witch jumped directly into the cauldron of fire atop Mount Giant, attempting to burn the Golden Tree.
But because at that time, the "destined death" was not released.
Therefore, his witch sacrificed herself in vain.
Bernal felt deeply humiliated by the supreme will, and his faith collapsed.
This is why he eventually joined the Volcano Manor and became a Herrscher who hunted down his own kind.
Xia Tong and Rodrika chatted casually like this.
Melina then materialized as well.
When Rodrika saw Melina, her expression immediately brightened with surprise.
She remembered that this was the gentle older sister who had guided her to place the injured Lord Xia Tong next to the Blessing.
As someone expelled from the royal family and deemed unqualified, Rodrika was blind to the light of blessing.
At that time, Melina used the power of her blessing to heal the injured Lady Xia Tong, a scene that Rodrika still remembers vividly.
"Long time no see, Rodrigo."
Melina smiled by the fire, looking tenderly at Rodrik.
The latter smiled shyly, and the two girls looked especially lovely in the warm room.
We finished eating.
Next to the blessing point beside the dilapidated house.
Melina looked at Xia Tong and said slowly, "Your strength has increased very quickly."
"Through all the battles you've fought, you've fully proven your strength and potential."
"You are now qualified to enter the Round Table Hall."
"Oh? A round table hall? What's that?"
Xia Tong pretended not to know and asked.
"That's where the heroes of the Faded Ones gather."
"Come on, let me take you there."
Melina reached out her hand, but before touching him, she whispered, "I'm letting you know beforehand."
"I'm just leading you into the Round Table Hall, but I won't be there."
"Furthermore, I will not speak to you in the round table hall to avoid being discovered."
"That place is a sacred site directly protected by the Two Fingers—but I am not guided; I could even be considered an outcast."
"Remember, the people in the Round Table Hall may give you power, but don't tell anyone about our pact," Melina explained.
Xia Tong understood that she was referring to the contract.
This means that Melina was acting in place of the witch, and that he was taking her to the foot of the golden tree in a private manner.
She led Xia Tong to the round table hall, merely to guide him in communicating with the Great Blessing that existed in another dimension.
Whether the Great Blessing would allow him to enter is another matter.
Normally, the Great Blessing will sense the rune strength within each faded being who wishes to enter the Hall of the Round Table.
Only when a Rune reaches a certain level of strength and is recognized by the Great Blessing as a hero with potential will it be summoned or teleported.
This is why Melina only invited Xia Tong into the round table hall at this moment.
Then, accompanied by a strong feeling of weightlessness and dizziness, the howling wind of Storm Hill disappeared instantly.
When vision became clear again.
Xia Tong found herself standing in a huge, circular hall with a ceiling tens of meters high.
The ground was covered with a thick red carpet, and several huge stone pillars supported the magnificent dome.
In the center is a giant wooden table with a diameter of over twenty meters.
In the very center of the hall, at the center of the round table, a huge, golden aura of blessing was burning quietly, radiating a warm and sacred light.
In the distance, a huge fireplace was burning, dispelling all the cold.
Xia Tong felt that her emotions were also affected by the environment, and she became very peaceful, without any thoughts of fighting.
His arrival went unnoticed by anyone, because the transmitted light was actually quite common in the hall, so it was easily overlooked.
I wandered around inside.
Spiral staircases on all sides lead to the second-floor corridor.
The corridor is lined with rows of closed guest rooms, as well as passageways leading deeper into the forbidden library and blacksmith shop.
The air was filled with the scent of aged incense and a sense of sacred tranquility.
"It's much bigger than it looks in the game."
This is Xia Tong's direct impression.
Come to think of it, a round table hall is meant to accommodate many faded figures; it can't just be a small room.
At this moment, they are located in the round table hall.
Xia Tong frantically searched her mind for information about this place.
As far as he knew, the round table hall where Xia Tong was now located did not actually exist in the real space of the border area; it could only be accessed through blessing transmission.
In the royal city of Rodel, there is also an identical physical example of a round table hall.
That was the gathering place for heroes established by the first king, Gofulei, before he was exiled.
Its initial purpose was to gather heroes, follow the guidance of the two fingers, and uphold the Golden Law.
For example, "Dragonlance" Vic was once a Knight of the Round Table and one of the Faded Ones who came closest to becoming the King of Elden.
There are also legendary figures such as Alperish, the "mad tongue".
Sir Gideon Ofnir, the current head of the Round Table, was also a veteran hero of the Round Table.
"New here?"
Just as Xia Tong was lost in thought, a voice called out to him.
Xia Tong turned her head.
A man wearing a yellow monk's robe and a strange roulette wheel ornament around his neck walked slowly towards them.
His eyes were fervent and focused, and he always held a thick prayer book in his hands.
"Welcome to the Round Table Hall. My name is Colin, and I am a clergyman who teaches how to pray. I am also the guide of the Round Table Hall."
He then performed a rather disrespectful, but standard, church ritual.
"Now that we're here, we're compatriots."
"Although I know you're probably completely confused right now, I feel obligated to show you the way."
"Stay close, don't wander off."
Xia Tong could sense that this person was somewhat condescending and overly elitist.
Colin led Xia Tong around the hall, introducing the library in a businesslike tone as they walked: "That's the library over there."
"The one inside is Sir Gideon Ofnir, the Hundred Wisdom."
"He is the acting manager here, a true sage, and our leader."
"They really know how to flatter."
Xia Tong couldn't help but think to himself, "What kind of true sage is he? He's nothing but a cunning old fox."
"Unless you obtain a Great Rune, or have some information about demigods."
"Otherwise, don't bother him. The gentleman's time is very valuable."
Colin gave a small warning.
Then he pointed to the figure standing in a dark corner in the distance.
"That's Ensha, known as the 'Royal Remains'."
"He is the knight's bodyguard."
"Don't provoke him, and of course he definitely won't pay any attention to you."
Xia Tong looked at the spot he was pointing to. The person there didn't look like a living person at all; it looked more like a standing skeleton.
Colin then pointed to the stairs leading underground.
"That's the road to the blacksmith's shop. There's a bastard named Xiu Gu down there."
"Although he was of a different race, his blacksmithing skills were the best in the border region."
"If your weapon gets dull or you want to make it sharper, go to him."
"But remember to bring enough runes, they're not cheap."
He walked a little further and pointed to a room deep inside.
"The room over there is occupied by a lady named Fia."
"Many wounded or exhausted soldiers like to go there seeking—some kind of 'comfort'."
"But I don't recommend you go, because it will damage your blood and energy, and may even make you weak."
Finally, Colin pointed to the tightly closed giant door.
"As for that place—it's a holy site."
"The great Two-Finger is inside."
"Only when you have collected enough Great Runes will you be qualified to enter and hear the divine oracle."
After giving his introductions, Colin stopped and looked at Xia Tong.
"Okay, that's about it."
"The rest, you can figure it out yourself."
Colin reopened the book in his hands, seemingly ready to end the tour.
Xia Tong watched the departing, earnest guide, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
He knew, of course, that Colin would go mad in his pursuit of the golden mask, and that everyone here had their own tragic destiny.
"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Colin."
Xia Tong bowed slightly and gave him a standard knightly salute.