The village fell into complete chaos.
Cyrene was also at a loss.
Amos took a deep breath and quickly said, “Behind the third door in the prayer room, there’s a small box.
Inside is the money the villagers donated for repairing the festival courtyard.
Take it and head to the dock.” “The merchant ship probably hasn’t returned to the shipyard yet.
Wait on the ship, I’ll go find Phainon and be there soon.” Cyrene froze for a moment.
“But…” “No buts.
Whatever you want to say, wait until I get to the ship.” Seeing Amos’s firm expression, Cyrene opened her mouth because of her kind nature, but her pure trust in him made her nod in the end.
The two quickly split up.
Since he wasn’t a combat profession, Amos didn’t have a sword of his own like Phainon did, so he could only carry a small wooden hammer and run.
Fortunately, the Lost Secret Realm wasn’t too far from the festival courtyard.
After weaving through the woods a few times, Amos found a small patch of farmland.
Behind the field was a tree hollow half a person’s height, its depths impossible to see.
This was the entrance to the Lost Secret Realm.
Now that he had an adult’s perspective, could he still enter?
Without hesitation, Amos squeezed inside with a “sakisakisaki.” At first it was narrow, barely enough for one person to pass.
After walking several dozen steps, the view suddenly opened up.
Before him was a bottomless abyss where neither the sky above nor the ground below could be seen.
Huge roots and branches overlapped one another like roads.
Where branches occasionally crossed, platforms were formed.
Furry little fairies of all colors flew around on them.
Some looked curiously at the newcomer, while others waved their tiny hands as if greeting an old friend.
‘So this was the secret realm?’ Looking at the local fairies, Amos recalled a saying.
It was said that every time the Great Cyrene completed a great cycle, she would write one final story.
Aside from the first story, which became the Lost Secret Realm itself, all the others turned into little fairies.
In other words, every fairy represented one completed cycle by the Great Cyrene.
Amos didn’t know whether that was true.
What he cared about was whether the Lost Secret Realm could go beyond Amphoreus’ cycle.
But now clearly wasn’t the time to investigate.
Heavy footsteps sounded.
Amos turned and came face to face with Phainon, who was hurrying along the branches.
“Amos, why are you here?
Outside…” Amos interrupted him, “The Black Tide.
I’ve already had Cyrene board the merchant ship at the dock.
That might be the only way to leave Aedes Elysiae.” Phainon clearly understood Amos’s personality.
Rational and decisive.
And Phainon himself was gentle by nature, so instead of questioning why Amos wasn’t staying behind to protect Aedes Elysiae, he simply asked, “Do you think…
there’s really not even the slightest chance of saving Aedes Elysiae?” Amos didn’t answer, because Phainon already knew the answer.
So many famous great city-states had fallen before the Black Tide.
Why would Aedes Elysiae be spared?
But Amos also knew Phainon’s character, so he didn’t force him to board the ship.
“Go do what you want to do.
I’ll wait for you on the ship.
If you don’t come, I won’t set sail.” After saying that, Amos didn’t linger and turned to leave the tree hollow.
Looking at Amos’s decisive back, and thinking about those prophecies, Phainon seemed to understand something.
He said nothing.
He simply drew the longsword at his waist and entered the tree hollow as well.
——— By the time Amos reached the dock, the ship was already filled with fleeing villagers, most of them children.
Seeing Amos arrive, the captain shouted, “Kid Amos, can you sail a ship?” Amos nodded.
Someone else asked, “Can you read maps?” Amos replied, “I can do everything.
I’m a whole fleet by myself!” The captain burst out laughing, then jumped off the ship.
More than ten figures followed him.
Water over three people deep couldn’t stop them at all.
A few strokes and they were back on shore.
“There’s still two holds of grain onboard that we didn’t unload.
The rest is up to you.” The captain patted Amos on the shoulder, then drew his long blade and roared, cursing with all kinds of words that would never pass review as he charged toward the village.
Seeing this, the people on the ship erupted into noise.
But they weren’t doubting Amos’s ability to sail.
Instead…
“I’m going too!” “Husband!
If you go, then our child…” “Don’t worry.
If there’s still room, I’ll come back.” The man laughed openly, and more than ten figures jumped into the water, among them Phainon’s father, Hieronymus.
Phainon’s father waved to Phainon’s mother, who remained onboard, then turned to Amos.
“Where’s my boy?” “Saving people in the village.” “That brat really never gives anyone peace.” Hieronymus cursed under his breath as he headed toward the village.
After a moment’s hesitation, he turned back.
“My boy isn’t as mature as you.
Take care of him more in the future.” Amos had never liked making promises to anyone, but faced with this request, he answered without hesitation, “Okay.” Amos didn’t wait long before he saw Phainon appear at the end of the road.
During that time, some people had left the ship, and others had boarded, but one thing was certain.
None of those who disembarked ever came back.
Phainon stumbled toward them from the end of the road.
In barely twenty minutes, his former composure was gone.
His neat clothes were torn everywhere, all kinds of stains covered his body, and the shoulder armor he had forged with pride was nowhere to be seen.
The once spirited youth now had disheveled hair.
Countless emotions flickered in his eyes, and golden blood flowed from a wound on his cheek.
Seeing Amos, his lips trembled.
He wanted to say something, but sorrow blocked all words in his throat.
Perhaps only tears could wash them free.
Amos didn’t comfort Phainon.
There was no need.
The savior would stand up again and carry the blazing sun.
And he couldn’t.
Because Amphoreus had to have a savior.
Amos took the sword from Phainon’s hand and raised it, cutting the rope that bound the ship.
The trace of bright red blood on the blade told him what had happened.
It was said that everyone killed by creations of the Black Tide would become Black Tide creations themselves.
“Board the ship.” Amos gave Phainon no time to think.
The moment he stepped aboard, he started issuing orders.
“Cyrene, count the people and make a simple record.” “Phainon, raise the anchor and set the sails.” “Everyone else, stay quiet.
Whatever it is, wait until the count is finished.” Amos walked to the helm.
The captain had already left all the necessary tools there, including maps, a compass, and the voyage log.
He spread out the map and thought for a moment before pinning down a marker.
“Our destination is Janusopolis.” The sails rose, and the merchant ship slowly left the harbor.
Amos and everyone else turned back together.
The village that had once been warm and peaceful was now burning fiercely in the flames.
Perhaps he would see this scene many more times.
——— [The “Holy Land of the Divine Domain,” Janusopolis] Though it was a city-state founded by followers of the Titan of Passage, it worshiped the three Titans of Fate.
The reason was simple.
Aside from the Titan of Passage, the other two Titans of Fate didn’t really interfere with anything.
They were known as the “Invisible Talanton” and the “Silent Oronyx,” making them ideal for gathering faith.
Janusopolis wasn’t only the center from which oracles were issued, it was also literally the center of the world.
It wasn’t particularly close to Aedes Elysiae, and there were several city-states nearby that could have been chosen instead.
But no one objected to Amos’s decision to head to Janusopolis.
There were two reasons.
First, Janusopolis was one of the few neutral cities in Amphoreus.
It didn’t easily persecute outsiders and also worshiped Oronyx, the Titan of Time that Aedes Elysiae believed in.
Second, as the holy land of Paths, it had the most routes leading to it.
There was even a saying that all roads lead to Paths.
Thus, ever since the Black Tide began destroying the world, Janusopolis had taken in the most refugees.
It had a complete set of regulations for arranging them, supervised by the Titan of Law, the Scales of Fairness, Talanton.
Therefore, even if one didn’t intend to stay in Janusopolis, choosing it as the first stop was far from a bad choice.
“Another group of refugees…” “This Black Tide, can’t anyone stop it?
Where are the Chrysos Heirs?
After receiving so many offerings, how can they…” “Shh!
Watch what you’re saying!” Following the map and the voyage log, Amos first sailed along the coast, then entered the rivers against the current.
After spending more than half a month, he finally brought everyone to the city.
Listening to the discussions among the people at the dock, Amos’s expression remained unchanged, while Cyrene looked worriedly toward the cabin.
“Phainon hasn’t come out since boarding the ship.
Is he really okay…” Amos said, “He’ll be fine.
We’ll still need him to protect us from now on.” “You’re saying that way too casually.”, A somewhat hoarse voice came from behind.
Amos turned and saw Phainon walking over.
The youth seemed to have emerged from the shadows.
Aside from lacking his shoulder armor, he looked the same as before.
“Isn’t that exactly what you think too?” “Yeah…
looks like I have no choice but to become the savior now.” Phainon rarely joked.
It was awkward, but at least it showed that he had truly stood up again.
“What do we do next?” “Enter the city, find a place to stay, then sell the ship.” “Sell the ship?!” The traces of the captain’s entire life sold for only three hundred thousand Balance Coins.
If used to feed a Dromas with its favorite red soil, it would only last three months.
But for refugees, three hundred thousand was already an unbelievable fortune.
More than a month had passed since they arrived in Janusopolis.
As a “born Priestess of Time,” Cyrene had long been recommended for further study by the old priest of Aedes Elysiae.
She had now officially joined the Temple of the Three Aspects of Fate and become a full priestess.
With Cyrene’s help, everyone from Aedes Elysiae had found jobs that allowed them to survive.
Any complaints that arose were cut down by Phainon’s sword.
This future face of Okhema, who would one day fight the Crown Prince of the Kremnos, had begun to reveal his edge after being tempered by blood and fire.
Amos gathered everyone once more and distributed the repair funds Cyrene had brought out, along with the captain’s final wishes.
Following the principle of living frugally, they held a banquet without flowers or fine wine, then went their separate ways.
There were no troublemakers causing scenes like in novels.
Perhaps the people of Aedes Elysiae had high standards, or perhaps Phainon’s sword was simply very sharp.
In any case, everything went smoothly.
It was time for the three saviors to think about their own futures.
“So, what are you two planning to do next?” “Go to Okhema and join the Flame-Chasing Army.” “The Grove of Epiphany.” Without question, Phainon and Amos gave two completely different answers.
Cyrene had expected this.
“Then…
when are you leaving?” Phainon fell silent for a moment.
“Tonight’s ship.” “So soon?” Phainon smiled.
Ever since what happened in Aedes Elysiae, he had been busy nonstop.
It was time to set out alone and clear his mind.
Cyrene had no standing to stop Phainon.
But with Amos, she wanted to be a little more selfish.
After hesitating for a moment, Cyrene finally asked, “What about you?” “The Grove of Epiphany isn’t a popular destination like Okhema, so tickets are always available.” The three chatted for a while longer until it was time to board.
The two watched Phainon wave from the stern until the ship disappeared into the darkness.
The breeze carried a hint of coolness.
Amos was just about to suggest finding a place sheltered from the wind when the girl suddenly hugged him from behind.
Her slightly trembling voice came from behind him.
“Amos…
leave tomorrow instead…
okay…”