Chapter 1: Migration

While his consciousness was still clear enough, Neo reverted from his wolf form. The most awkward part of doing this was the need for something to cover himself, as his original clothes had been torn to shreds in the battle at the waterways.

Unsurprisingly, intense pain set in. Along with the battle against the Eternal Night Warrior Gorton, this was the third time such severe pain had struck. Though Neo still hadn’t adapted, his reaction was far less extreme than the first time. Using the method taught by Nancy—subjectively blocking the pain signals sent from the body to the mind—this self-hypnosis-like technique could reduce the intensity of pain to some extent. The involuntary tremors caused by pain could also be concealed by pretending it was due to the freezing cold.

With the help of several guards wearing leather coats and cloaks who rushed over enthusiastically, Neo managed to preserve his dignity. More importantly, his fatal weakness wasn’t exposed.

For the people in the migration group, today’s events had been full of twists and turns. Neo’s return and his heroic intervention were undoubtedly the most dramatic turn of events, and against the backdrop of the cowardly and despicable Rooted Ones, they seemed especially inspiring.

The Turese saw themselves as Neo’s kin. At this moment, they realized that someone like Neo—a true one of their own—was far more reliable. Their affection and dependence on the Rooted Ones gradually shifted to this down-to-earth, unassuming young man who always managed to create legends.

The Mathuyans regarded Neo as an old friend. Even at the beginning of their eastward migration, this young man had won everyone’s admiration and affection. Many, despite disliking the Turese’s greed and materialism, treated Neo differently. They said, “Neo is a great guy—resilient, brave, and smart, just like us Mathuyans.”

The people of Watzburg also loved Neo. It was he who saved them from hellish suffering; it was he who fought bravely against the Dark Claws to ensure their safety; it was he who single-handedly lured away the Dark Claws’ pursuers so they could evacuate safely. Although most of the people of Watzburg didn’t even have time to say thank you to Neo, his image was deeply etched in their hearts. Many enthusiastic and open-hearted girls from Watzburg took the opportunity during the celebrations to boldly kiss Neo, drawing kind laughter from the crowd.

For Neo at that moment, he didn’t even have the strength to refuse such affectionate yet painful gestures. A phrase kept echoing in his mind but couldn’t be spoken aloud: “Sisters, just a kiss is enough—please don’t touch me. It hurts too much…”

The Pebblebeast people had already withdrawn in an orderly manner. Tamro shouted in Kodim dialect, “Next time, no one from the Senmu tribe will plead for humans. Right, brothers?”
“Right!”
“What’s our Pebblebeast tribe’s motto?” Tamro asked loudly again.
“To laugh until the end is to truly win!”
“Louder! Shout together!”
“Rise again and again, stay resilient—laugh until the end!” The Pebblebeast people shouted loudly, their depressed morale clearly lifting.

The Senmu druid leader, who was helping Doji with a simple healing ritual, glanced at Tamro and said to his assistant, “Record this—Pebblebeast tribe chief Tamro. Keep a close eye on him.”

Perhaps because they are intelligent enough to think deeply and diligent in their reflection, the Codims of the Woodfolk possess a noble sense of duty and mission to strive for the survival and development of their entire race. In particular, they have predicted the transition between old and new eras in the Natural Age—a profound change affecting every species in the Aemera world, one no one can remain indifferent to. Their arrival in the Erdrit Realm is mainly to seek out signs of the Endbringer of the Old World at the beginning of destruction.

Only through the Endbringer can one find the Founder of the New World. Of course, such beings with such gifted missions are not unique, but one thing is certain: they are all pivotal figures who shape the course of history. The Woodfolk’s goal is to select for the Codims a leader who can guide them through the times.

“The world is like a robust and miraculous tree—it must be born, and it must also be destroyed. Beyond that, there is another state closer to us: growth,” once said the wisest and most powerful legendary elder of the Woodfolk, pointing at an oak tree to all those bearing a mission. “Growth is inevitable. Just like this oak, at each stage it develops a canopy of new branches, absorbing sunlight and rainwater, while the lower parts beneath wither away. This is change. Throughout history, many races have perished in change, while others have risen. The elves thrived for 4,000 years, and humans have enjoyed glory for 3,000 years to this day. Why? Because they adapted to change, seized opportunities, and chose new branches full of vitality, blossoming with lush green life.”

“We, the Codims, have many doers and hard workers, but we lack a banner, a truly strong and wise leader. In an era of change, a time when heroes emerge, we must search—using our unique methods and insights—to find our leader. At this time, he should still be growing through trials. We must find him, observe him, and see if he is worthy of our trust. For the sake of future generations and our race, I implore you all.”

This legendary elder not only outlined the goal but also spoke of the enemy: “The ancient forces seek to revive through change, and those who oppose our beliefs are our greatest enemies.”

The dark forces attempting to overthrow and destroy the entire world are obviously great enemies. Additionally, there are those who awaken the ancient evils buried in people’s hearts (evil spirits) and those who enslave and corrupt natural spirits—these are the more direct enemies of all those who believe in nature.

For this reason, the druids of the Woodfolk hold a complex view of Neo. He is the first person they’ve found who meets the criteria of the Endbringer of the Old World, yet he is closely tied to a powerful spirit seer, and both have saved their lives. Whether he is an enemy or a friend remains unclear—a source of their frustration.

“Let’s proceed according to the candidate’s plan—keep two of them under observation,” decided the leader of the Woodfolk.

“This person’s foundation is truly too weak, and starting from being a slave? I heard that Bennett, the second son of the Olivier family’s head, is also a believer in nature, and at a young age he already leads the Olivier family’s famous Oak Leaf Cavalry Regiment, searching for refugees in the northern part of the Edrith territory and winning great popularity. Shouldn’t we focus our attention on him?”
“The elders once said that in the early stages of change, it’s better to build up strength gradually. Those who shine too early, lacking sufficient power, are prone to becoming targets of criticism and may not last long. Of course, this Bennett is indeed outstanding, and we still need to verify that. But this time, we must remember the lesson—within the Olivier family as well, there are numerous factions competing against each other. We must not trust them easily or fall into their traps.”
“Mm, you’re right.” ……
In the blink of an eye, two days had passed since the duel. For everyone in the migration group, these two days had been extremely tough—traveling at night continuously, sleeping only 4 hours a day. Such an intense pace was already at the limit of what the people in the migration group could endure, and at most they could hold on for two more days.
Without the interference of the Pebblebeast creatures occupying Fort Watts, the migration group no longer had to stay close to the edges but could head northeast, then north before turning east. This morning, they crossed the Moroloro Mountain Pass and officially entered the Hylfanis territory.
“North, keep going north for 2 more hours, then set up camp early to rest!” The clerks used simple loudspeakers to encourage the people. After going through this journey eastward, these clerks had become familiar with their duties and turned into qualified, very important lower-level administrative officials. Whether there were battles or not, this ‘Assistance Corps’ was responsible for handling numerous trivial tasks. Especially in situations like this, it was these people who conveyed and implemented orders, and their abilities and attitudes directly determined the effectiveness of those orders.
Regarding the investment in the ‘Assistance Corps,’ Xavier shared almost exactly the same view asNeo—valuing them and being willing to spend money on them. These clerks competed for positions, and once hired, their families and they themselves received treatment equivalent to that of the head of the guard unit, enjoying various benefits and care, so they worked very hard.
Thanks to the clerks’ reminders, the people finally had hope. Exhausted as they were, everyone gritted their teeth and persevered. Some even swore that once they reached their destination, they would sleep soundly until they woke up on their own.
The news kept changing: “1 hour left—just 1 more hour and we can camp! It’s windy; everyone, keep warm. If you catch a cold, it will be painful for you!” “The scouts have chosen a good spot to camp—a place sheltered from wind and snow! Everyone, push harder!” “The cooking team is on its way. Once we arrive, there will be hot drinks, hot cakes, and roasted meat—hurry up! Speed up!” ……
“Clerk, this is the first time I’ve seen this. To be honest, their role is truly impressive. Without them, the migration would never be so smooth.” Valentina was in high spirits. Her black boots were equipped with high saddles, allowing her to sit more comfortably and steadily.

Two days ago, Valentina faced off against Tamro and nearly lost her life. When Neo learned of her situation, he ignored his own injuries to restore her vitality, and thanks to his timely intervention, she was barely affected. However, this external vitality couldn’t compare to her own innate strength—Valentina’s hair and eyebrows turned gray, making her look 10 years older. Only today has her skin regained its luster.

Since the white socks were with the Wind Team, Neo rode a horse today as well. These past two days had been painful for him as well. Fortunately, though everyone had suffered somewhat, things remained relatively calm and peaceful. Otherwise, if more conflicts arose, Neo wouldn’t know how to deal with them.

Riding alongside Neo and Valentina were Dave and Milien, who shared one horse, and the four of them chatted as they traveled. Neo had earned respect and status through his strength and actions. Although he didn’t hold any formal title, no one in the public eye still saw him as a lowly slave, so chatting like this became normal. Both Neo and Milien were happy about it—they no longer had to pretend in front of others.

Clomp! Mud and snow splashed as Ebut and Jief rode up to Neo and the others from behind. Not far behind them was a team of over 40 people tasked with clearing the traces left by the group.

Ebut pulled on the reins to slow down his horse and then said to Neo and Valentina, “The cover near here is ready.”

Whenever Neo was around, he paid close attention to clearing traces and never relaxed. This time, he assigned Ebut and Jief to oversee the task personally and had extra snow collected in dozens of bags as cover material—all out of this sense of vigilance.

“Work harder and clean another 700 meters carefully. All workers will get an extra gold coin as a bonus,” Valentina said. She understood Neo’s mindset well, and since the order came from her as the leader of the guard team, it carried even more authority.

“Yes!” Ebut was hardworking and never delayed tasks. He immediately rode back to inform the team members of the new order and the good news.

From their journey through the dark regions, Neo brought back invaluable treasures. Just the gifts given to Xavier and Valentina were enough to solve their long-standing financial problems. It was the first time Valentina experienced the advantage of having money—making one’s words carry more weight.

Jief brought back news from the Wind Team. Hearing that everything there was fine, Neo felt much relieved, especially since the injured members hadn’t experienced any complications despite the harsh weather—something truly fortunate. The Wind Team was behind the main group and, as per Neo’s orders, was traveling eastward in a large group, creating many traces to pretend to be a migrating group.

“This is already Hylfanis. Are you sure the enemy still won’t give up on us?”

Nio glanced at Dave, who had raised his doubts, and nodded. “Some of our enemies are cunning and smart. Attacking when their targets think they’re safe and relaxed is their specialty. Just wait—I think some people will even go so far as to send air riders on risky missions to figure out where we are.”

Nio’s prediction was accurate. The failure to capture them in Wurtzburg had made Fad and the others anxious, especially after Eirith’s miserable return and several days of no news at all. Fad then summoned the airship that had once been used to help the dark forces attack Solis, sending it eastward. Although repeated searches along the way delayed them, the airship’s speed meant they were not far behind the migration group.

Another factor was the air riders from the Black Scorpion Mercenary Group. The Pebblebeast people had sold them the news that the migration group, consisting of Rooted and refugees from the three regions, had successfully entered Hylfanis territory.

Without an army or supplies, relying only on wisdom and prestige to lead and shelter refugees along the way, and still managing to relocate them over vast distances under extremely harsh conditions—compared to such achievements, the Olivier family’s series of “rescues” in the north of Edrith territory paled in comparison. This clearly didn’t serve the Olivier family’s interests; they certainly didn’t need some outsider to appear at this critical moment and dilute the glory and reputation that should have belonged entirely to them.

Before the migration group officially made contact with Hylfanis’ regular army, the leaders of the Black Scorpion Mercenary Group believed they could still do something to make things harder for the migration group’s journey eastward. So this time they sent out 10 reconnaissance air rider teams, each of three members—a significant investment indeed.