Chapter 471 4. The Secret of Rivendell --- Learning From Qaz Brothers for My Love [4/20]

Chapter 471 4. The Secret of Rivendell --- Learning from the qaz brothers for my love [420]

Lordaeron is a typical feudal royal country, and the ruling class of this country is supported by nobles, big and small.

A feature of feudal countries is that the relationship between the nobles is intricate. After hundreds of years of marriage and alliance, betrayal and hostility, it is almost impossible to sort out the relationship between the various nobles in a short time. to things.

For this reason, in the city of Lordaeron, there is a special master of royal heraldry, who is responsible for managing and maintaining, as well as sorting out the relationship between the nobles in the country. When the family is in chaos, the masters of the heraldry will be responsible for selecting the most qualified young man to inherit the family, or a side branch.

In fact, this is not only the case in Lordaeron, but also in other human countries.

Heraldry, this weird "academic", can be regarded as a prominent school in these human countries. Many younger generations of aristocratic families will learn this science to recognize clearly who is the friend of the family and who is the family member. enemy.

However, the chaos of the aristocratic system, in addition to effectively enhancing the unity and internal relations of the aristocratic class, also has a very bad side. For example, some small nobles are likely to own land beyond the title and that power.

For example, the simplest example is Earl Barov, a great nobleman living in seclusion in the Stratholme district. He is an old nobleman in the Kingdom of Alterac. The status in the circle far exceeds that of an ordinary duke. The morale of the Perenold royal family ruling Alterac, and every move of the Barov family will directly affect the entire country.

And another example, our Lord Rivendell...

Rivendell only has the title of baron, but his actual power is not inferior to those great nobles. Baron Rivendell is the nominal manager of the entire Stratholme district. This is an official position directly appointed by the king. Baron this year At the age of 35, he can be said to be young, strong and energetic, and he was able to obtain such a high position at such a young age because of his family inheritance.

The entire city of Stratholme, the most prosperous city in the Stratholme district, was the private domain of the Rivendell family when the kingdom was established. As time went by, although the title of the baron's family became more and more powerful due to various reasons. The lower, but the power they actually control has not been weakened too much.

Especially after the establishment of Stratholme City, the Rivendell family began to rule the entire Stratholme District with the lowest title of baron, and could be regarded as one of the largest powerful nobles in the country.

But this family is very low-key. They have always been staunch supporters of the king. When the current king Terenas Menethil II ascended the throne, the Rivendell family made great efforts. Therefore, after the king was firmly on the throne, It also gave the Rivendell family absolute preferential treatment.

It's a pity that all the good things can't be taken by one person. Good luck in one aspect means bad things in another aspect.

The Rivendell family is low-key and prominent, but the succession of heirs within the family is very difficult. There has been only one heir for several generations. This is definitely a disaster for a noble family. , which means that the family is likely to become extinct.

And now, this terrible future has been placed in front of the contemporary Baron Rivendell... His son, the only son he loves the most, was seriously ill a few years ago, and there seems to be no hope of healing.

"Orix, are you asleep?"

As night fell, Baron Rivendell's exhausted voice sounded outside his son's bedroom, accompanied by a piercing cough. A moment later, the frail young man, the next generation successor of the Rivendell family, He opened the door for his father.

In front of his relatives, Baron Rivendell no longer had the hypocritical smile and gentle attitude he used to face other people. His black eyes were full of regret. He looked at his son, who was only 19 years old. The most beautiful age, but trapped in this damn bedroom, waiting for death in pain.

"Father...cough cough cough, I...I'm fine."

Orix Rivendell had a difficult smile on his pale face. He stretched out his hand, wanting to hold his father's hand, but when he raised his arm, a trace of pain flashed across his face , his body fell backward in tearing pain, and his father, who was quick-eyed and quick-handed, took a step forward and held him in his arms.

"Okay, son, don't talk, lie down quietly for a while."

Baron Rivendell smiled at his son. He picked him up and put him on the sofa beside him. Then he personally picked up the medicine bag on the side and cooked a bitter medicinal soup for his son.

This medicinal soup was requested from the most famous doctor in Lordaeron. With the influence of Baron Rivendell, he could easily find a good priest to treat his son, but in fact, in 1 year A few days ago, when Oryx had just contracted the disease, the baron took him to Lordaeron, and humbly asked His Majesty Faol to treat his son.

But the pope told him sad news.

Orix's strange disease, holy light, cannot be cured. It is a disease that has never appeared in the classics. It seems that in the deepest part of the young man's body, a strange power was born, greedily absorbing the young man. life force, and constantly tearing him into the darkness.

Faol, who was helpless, guessed that Oryx was not terminally ill, but was cursed, so the baron took his son to Dalaran, and even went to Quel'Thalas, but failed to find him. The way to uncover this strange curse is to watch his son weaken day by day and be devoured by disease day by day.

But people are not grass and trees, how can they be ruthless?

Although Oryx, a devout believer of the Church of the Holy Light, has repeatedly persuaded his father to relax, after the initial depression and despair, as time went by, the young man seemed to no longer struggle, but was in endless pain. In it, imminent death is seen as a relief.

"I can feel, father, I close my eyes, and I seem to be able to see...cough, holy light, holy light is calling me."

Aurix Rivendell took the medicine soup handed over by his father with difficulty. The strange medicine soup was mixed with some sleeping potion, which could make the baron's son sleep well, but this potion contained a trace of Toxins, so I can't drink too much, and every time I take a nap after drinking the medicine, that is the happiest time for Orix who is suffering from pain.

"You'll be fine, son."

The baron was sitting on the sofa, stroking his son's dull hair, looking at his inhuman son suffering from painful injuries, he said softly:

"I will find a way to save you, I will find it."

"Don't worry about it, father."

After drinking the bitter concoction, Orix breathed a sigh of relief. While drowsy, he grabbed his father's hand and said softly:

"This is the will of the Holy Light, father, these pains are trials, soon, soon I will be inspired by the Holy Light, I am very happy, I can have a father like you, you will always be the hero in my heart... .After I leave, father, and mother live well."

A mischievous smile flashed across Orix's skinny cheeks:

"It's better to give me another brother... I will pray for you in the heaven of the holy light."

After finishing speaking, the baron's son could no longer resist the drowsiness in his heart. He closed his eyes, and after a while, a deep grunt sounded, while Baron Rivendell half-kneeled beside his son. He looked at his child with eyes full of the greatest love of a father.

"You're a good boy, Orix, and you didn't deserve this."

"If the holy light can't save you, then I... I'll look for it elsewhere."

A trace of stubbornness flashed in the baron's eyes. He lowered his head and kissed his son's forehead, then stood up and straightened his clothes in front of the full-length mirror in the bedroom. What was reflected in the mirror was the most perfect image of an aristocrat, his black eyes There was a flash of determination in his face, Orix's body could no longer hold on, and there was not much time left for him to save his son.

"My son, I will be your hero...I swear!"

The baron took one last look at his son who was sleeping on the sofa, and then strode out of the room without looking back.

———————————————————

Stratholme is a beautiful city at dusk.

The warm afterglow shines on the walls of the city. On weekdays and at this time, the city square is always bustling with people, with the noise of children and the laughter of adults, and the food carts pushed by hawkers walking around, As one of the most prosperous cities in the entire northern border, Stratholme has its own pride. As the hinterland city of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, Stratholme has propped up the entire crumbling country in the most critical moment more than once.

The city and its people should also be proud.

But today, no one stayed in the city square, and the passers-by on the street were all in a hurry, as if if they took a slow step, their souls would be absorbed by invisible demons.

On the city wall, the mages of Stratholme are working hard to prop up a magic shield for the entire city to prevent the yellow smoke in the sky from seeping into the city.

The smog killing incident in the north of Stratholme has spread to Stratholme through the communication channel of the kingdom. Now many people know that the smog is poisonous. The city shrouded in poisonous smog will naturally fall into panic, but the city guards Under the watchful eye, the city is still not out of order, but it is at the tipping point of order and chaos, and maybe it just needs a nudge...

"I've done everything you asked me to do."

In the basement of the "Crown Pharmacist Company" in the business district, Baron Rivendell wearing a black cloak looked at the strange old man in front of him, and said in a deep voice:

"I threw away my conscience, my oath, and the honor of my family. I have done what I promised. What about your promise?"

The baron's voice was filled with an unforgettable hatred. It was obvious that the old man in front of him was not his friend, he was like an enemy, but there seemed to be some kind of deal between the two parties.

"Of course, Mr. Baron, without your help, it would be impossible for those potions to be distributed to this land so smoothly, but if it's just like this, it's not enough..."

In the shadows of the basement, the strange old man's voice echoed, low and magnetic, like an old and staid old nobleman.

"The content of the original transaction was that you spread fear to this land, and we will save your only son. You said the transaction was completed? No, obviously not yet, the last step is still left!"

The old man turned around. It was a face that Baron Rivendell had never seen before, and it was not the middle-aged man who took the initiative to find him. This should be a mysterious organization with some kind of dark ambition, but the baron didn't care about it. He just wanted to save his son, that's all.

"I am not forcing you, Baron."

The old man saw the resentment in the baron's eyes. He was not angry. On the contrary, this mortal expression of hatred and powerlessness made him feel very comfortable. He looked at the angry man in front of him with appreciation. After a while, He said softly:

"You have already stepped into our side, and there is no turning back. I know that it may be difficult for you to dedicate your city to us, so I decided to give you some rewards first, so that you can have full confidence in us .”

"You want a healthy, handsome heir? You need poor Oryx to get rid of his inner sickness? Yes..."

"swish"

A black crystal was thrown to the baron, who held it in his hand, and the old man's voice sounded again in the darkness.

"Take it, you will see your son's "new life" with your own eyes, and after that, you will bring the shadow of death to Stratholme, and you will also receive this gift when the city is completely darkened .”

The baron tightly clenched the crystal in his hand, he raised his head, and there was no one in the dark basement. The baron let out a long sigh, he turned and walked out of the basement, he is not stupid, nor would he rashly trust a group of strangers, but it was indeed these bastards who gave the Crystal saved his son's life.

Like a drowning person falling into an endless abyss, after trying all methods, he could only hold on to the life-saving straw in front of him.

And at the moment when the baron put on his hood and quietly walked out of the basement, on the deserted street in front of him, tall war horses, carrying young knights, came through the light of dusk, amidst the neighing of the horses, Al Prince Sas stared closely at the baron in front of him. In the perception of the holy light, he could clearly feel the evil aura coming from the baron, which made the prince even more angry.

"You failed your king, you failed your city, you... failed your son!"