Pawel sat at a table by the window, writing on a piece of paper with a charcoal pencil in his hand.
“Dear Jodi, I have decorated the house in Sanilo. It’s just as you asked for, with two floors, a good view of the surrounding area, exposure to the sun, and all the furniture is woodwork ……”
“The travelling money is still sufficient, and I have eaten carefully and slept well every day, and my hands and feet and five senses are sound. Please don’t let the elves send me any more gems and pearls, too many of them will rather cause discontent and jealousy ……”
“The urban environment of Sanilo is very different from what it used to be, there are many incredible creatures living here and Mayor Chapman manages it well.”
“Many of the transcendent beings that come here are very wise and can speak remarkable truths and profound insights. I once debated a man-eating crab scholar who said that far more crabs have been eaten by men than crabs have been eaten by men.”
“Why is it that a man can eat a crab but a crab cannot eat a man?”
“The scholar argues that the crabs developed cannibalistic crabs in order to gradually escape from being constantly hunted and eaten by humans, so it was a kind of revolt and forced humans to look at them squarely. It’s also true that cannibal crabs don’t eat people in Sanero, some of them are even vegetarians, and their favourite things are honey and potatoes, interesting, isn’t it?”
“Of course, it’s also because Mr Fellows, the King of White Bones, is sitting here, and no one dares to make trouble.”
Pava stroked the letter paper.
At that moment, a huge eye floated out of the window, peering in curiously.
Pawel pulled the window open and tossed the other a handful of grapes, “Hold on big guy, it’s almost done.”
The sandworm outside the window also opened its mouth wide and ate the grapes in one gulp, poofing its mouth in thanks. Then it twisted its huge snake-like soft body and continued to sit on the outside of the house.
Pava sat down and continued to write furiously.
“Dear Jodi, I look forward to sharing this beautiful and marvellous city with you, love you Pawar. Kiss you a thousand times.”
When he finished writing, he slipped the letter into the envelope and walked over to the dining table.
On the seat beside the table, a small elf had fallen asleep waiting. Its body was folded like a baby’s, its head resting against its feet.
“Hello?”
Pava fanned herself lightly with the envelope.
The elf jumped with a jolt and took to the air. It had a human-like face, only slim and with transparent wings.
Pava handed him the envelope, “This letter should be addressed to Lady Jodie, the tree demon in the Southern New World, in the Symbiotic Grove, by the Elf Lake.”
“Lady Joti will pay you, for your hard work.”
The elf glanced at the envelope with the address drawn on it.
It nodded and wrapped its arms around the letter and flew all the way out the window.
Pava also put on her leather jacket and wide-brimmed hat and pushed open the door.
He hopped onto the back of a sandworm and began to make his way through the streets.
The city streets were bustling.
The man-eating crabs on the streets were walking sideways, crunching each other along the way. They were carrying several barrels with their crab pincers, which gave off a sweet honey smell, and had obviously only just purchased the delicacies, so each one of them couldn’t wait, and their crab claws moved at a rapid pace.
The Frost Gargoyles were at the canal, carrying chunks of ice off the paddleboats and hoarding them in wooden crates.
This was an important commodity for Saniro. With the Frost Gargoyles around, the ice wouldn’t melt easily, and it was the only place where complete blocks of ice could be transported in peace.
The fish people also came up from the water one after another, and they threw their catch of fish, shrimp and shellfish to the shore. The fishers on the shore then packed all these seafood in wooden pots, spread them with crushed ice, and carried them to sell them.
Pawel looked the other way.
The Dwarves-only shop welcomed a number of merchants at this time. They did some picking and choosing, all looking for the most cost-effective weapons and equipment, buying them and then going to Yao City and Salt City to earn the difference in price.
The cave monsters, on the other hand, turned into the architects of the city. Carrying their bags and toolboxes, they used charcoal pencils to write and draw on the stones, knocking around the side of the houses to make them stronger and more beautiful.
……
Pawar arrived at his destination.
Sanilo’s temple.
Here, unlike in Yao and Salt, the shrine was built by the fish people and is said to have first been made entirely of clay and wood. After many repairs and constant fine-tuning, it is now brand new.
The surface of the temple is inlaid with many precious stones and pearls, emitting colourful light, and thanks to the powdered fluorite mixed into the clay, it also emits an ethereal light at night.
There is a group of fishmen who are specialised in guarding the surrounding area, they are the temple’s guards.
Here, Pava saw a man dressed in black robes, the other wearing three sacred flowers on his chest.
Pava jumped off the sandworm’s rough back and walked all the way over to him quickly, greeting him in the islander’s dialect, “It’s been a long time.”
The other returned his smile, “Long time no see, Pava.”
“You are now a famous bardic scholar. The Wonderful Adventures of Pava is much loved in both Yao City and Salt City, and many of the young scholars at the seminary are reading it.”
“It’s just a record of some of the stories that people have experienced.”
Pava smiled, “Chupirole, you’re supposed to be the youngest scholar of the Three Flowers, aren’t you?”
The first time the two of them met was outside of Yao City’s shrine.
At that time, Pava had only regained his freedom, and Chubirole had just graduated from the seminary.
Years passed, and the two took different paths in life.
“How long are you staying on this visit?” Pawel asked.
“I will return to Yao City tomorrow.”
Chubilur said, “I’m here on behalf of the Medicine Spoon Prophet to discuss some inter-city co-operation with Mayor Chapman.”
“There is also a …… formal invitation for you to join the seminary. If you wish, you can directly become a Scholar of the Three Flowers as recognised by the Seminary.”
Pava politely declined.
As if he had been prepared for this, Chupiroor did not continue to persuade him.
“By the way, I heard that there is a secret society in Yao City called the [Flame Society]. Do you know the details inside?”
Paiva asked curiously, “It’s said that it’s a group of scholars who want to directly study transcendent powers and even make special occult rituals and medicines.”
“Heard that.”
Chubilur nodded, “But the association is more of a rumour, with no definite information. It’s not even certain if the organisation exists.”
“On the contrary, about the Dragon’s Nest, are the dwarves credible in what they say?”
Pava spread his hands, “I have yet to visit this Dragon King. To be fair, you do have scholars at the seminary who have been there, wouldn’t it be better to ask them?”
“Those guys didn’t meet a dragon at all, they just saw a cursed snowman ……,” Chubilur had a helpless face, “The Blast Furnace Wonders Adventure Group is often godforsaken again, and it’s difficult to even confirm the news. ”
“Adventurers, always on the road.”
“See you next time then.”
“See you next time.”
The two said goodbye.
Pava once again got on the back of the sandworm and made her way to the docks.
On a certain paddleboat, the old friends of the [Blasted Wonders] were waiting for him there, they were about to visit the Dragon’s Nest once again. This time, however, it was to be done in secret, and could not be made known to anyone.
And this extraordinary journey will be fully documented in The Wonderful Adventures of Paw Paw – The Dragon’s Nest.
God Yao blesses!
Pawel prayed silently in his heart.
Hopefully, this time too, it would go smoothly and everyone would come back in one piece.
……
Looking at Pawar’s faraway back, Chupiroor was thoughtful.
He pulled up his hood and stepped all the way into the streets of Saniro City, between the sandworms and the gargoyles, and soon disappeared.
In a dimly lit room, Chubilur took off his scholar’s coat, revealing the rough linen garment inside.
There were already four men and women in the room.
“Since they’re all here, let’s get started.”
Chupirole said, “It would be best for everyone to reduce their actions in the near future, the Flame Society has attracted outside attention.”
The crowd frowned.
“Should we stop the experiments on the magic potion?”
“Of course not.”
Chupirole said firmly, “Lord Pill Spoon has repeatedly emphasised that the magic potion must not be stopped. This will be the first time mankind has touched transcendent power with knowledge.”
“The [anaesthesia] that it brings may open up a new era.”
All four of them sighed with emotion, “Lord Pill Spoon has studied for thirty years, the combination of pharmacy and theology, just for this first magic medicine.”
Someone worried, “But will this …… be blasphemous?”
“If the gods want to punish, so be it. I think the gods would be proud of us, their people!”
Chupirole said firmly, “Making magic potions from the extracts of transcendental creatures is to save more patients, so that they can be helped to treat their wounds and dig out the rotting parts …… This thing has to be done by someone.”
“The Flame Society exists to bring fire to those in darkness, and that is our ultimate purpose. The gods cannot do everything themselves, we must learn to light the fire ourselves, and this is the test and revelation given to us by God Yao ……”
“Gentlemen, let us begin!”
……
In front of the screen, Lu Yao, who was looking down on the perspective, watched all of this and felt a little relieved.
Pill Spoon had never forgotten her beginnings and had always remembered to use a combination of pharmacology and theology to cure people. She had figured out the route of magic pills, and was indeed worthy of the name of genius.
The scholars led by the Pantheon Society, who were carefully experimenting with the transcendent realm of natural existence, and the ascetics who were observing the miracles of the gods to comprehend them, were two different directions and systems.
The former was a collection of group wisdom and knowledge, while the latter was individual asceticism and challenging limits.
There is a bright future for all.
Lu Yao has something to say about them.
Make it quick.
