Chapter 124: A Talent Worth Cultivating—Eden
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After returning to the surface, the teleportation array instantly dimmed. It would take another six months before it could be activated again.
Without a dedicated energy source, the teleportation array could only replenish its power through naturally drifting arcane energy.
The six men examined themselves once more. After confirming that nothing was wrong, they removed the cotton clothing wrapped around their skin, exposing their limbs and heads.
“Move out.”
Eden issued the order while dragging his exhausted body forward, yet his tone was relaxed. They had returned alive, and not a single man was missing.
Outside the earthen fort on the surface, Verin had been waiting for seven days.
More than a thousand soldiers had been summoned from the surrounding area and stood ready at all times. Should anything unexpected occur, they could be sent into battle immediately.
“My lord, the vanguard squad has returned.” Kyle entered the room and reported to Verin.
“Come. Take me to them.”
Verin put away the Druid’s Book and walked straight into the earthen fort.
After crawling out of the cave entrance, the six men sat on the ground without a shred of decorum, basking in the warmth of the sunlight.
“My lord.”
When Eden saw Verin approaching, he immediately rose and struck his chest in salute.
The other five men rose as well and struck their chests, expressing their respect.
“Sit. There’s no need to be nervous.”
Smiling as he looked at the six men who had returned safely, Verin was the first to sit down unceremoniously on the ochre earth.
Seeing this, the others sat down somewhat stiffly.
“My lord, this is what we discovered during our reconnaissance. Since our sense of direction was unreliable, we used the direction of the cave entrance as west for reference. Please examine it.”
Eden took a simple map and a book recording the conditions inside the cave from his cloth bag.
Verin accepted the map and the notebook. He spread out the map at once, then opened the notebook and began reading it on the spot.
Before long, Baird arrived at the earthen fort and sat beside his lord, studying the map on the ground.
“You were the reconnaissance leader, so you have the greatest say regarding the Underdark. Explain the situation to us.”
Seeing that his steward had arrived, Verin closed the notebook and smiled at Eden.
“Yes, my lord.”
Eden immediately began organizing his thoughts and explaining the situation in the Underdark.
His account was orderly and clearly prioritized. Verin and Baird nodded repeatedly. The young man was clearly worth cultivating.
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Half an hour later, Eden moistened his cracked lips and continued, “My lord, Lord Baird, that is the general situation. To be safe, I ended the operation in my capacity as captain.”
Baird nodded approvingly. “You did well. You didn’t recklessly push forward. The unknown is frightening, and the slightest mistake could have cost us this important teleportation node.”
“Very good.” Verin looked at Eden and smiled. “From now on, I want you to spend a year learning at Baird’s side and making up for your shortcomings.”
Upon hearing this, Eden knelt at once and bowed his head to Verin in gratitude.
“Thank you, my lord.”
Verin rose and helped Eden to his feet. “You earned this through your own hard work.”
“I think highly of you.” Baird stood and spoke solemnly to Eden. “Our lord has given you this precious opportunity to study under me because he thinks highly of you as well.”
“Have someone seal the cave entrance. Leave a company stationed here to observe the area at all times.”
“Yes, my lord,” everyone replied, saluting.
Afterward, Verin placed the map and notebook on his horse, then left the earthen fort with Kyle.
Once Verin had departed, Eden turned gratefully to Baird.
“Thank you for nurturing me, my lord.”
Baird shook his head and said sternly, “At most, my regard for you would have earned you a promotion and ensured that I kept an eye on you. But our lord values you enough to have you study at my side because he wants you to become more than a mere soldier. He wants you to develop toward commanding armies. Without his permission, even if I wished to cultivate your talents, I could not teach you these things.”
“Do you understand?”
“I do. I am willing to serve the lord faithfully for the rest of my life, remaining loyal until death. But without your recommendation, I would never have gained our lord’s regard.” Eden spoke from the bottom of his heart.
“You, honestly…” Baird said helplessly. “Don’t say things like that anymore.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Eden lowered his head at once in acknowledgment, offering no rebuttal.
“All right. I still have matters to attend to. I’m giving you a week off. Report to me after that.”
Baird patted Eden on the shoulder, his face filled with a smile.
“Yes, my lord.”
After Baird left, the other five members of the vanguard squad gathered around Eden and sincerely congratulated him.
“Congratulations, Captain. May your rise continue, and may your path ahead be smooth.”
“Brothers, although we have worked together for less than a month, we are comrades who have shared life and death. I, Eden, will never forget any of you.”
“Take care on your journey, Captain Eden.”
After bidding farewell to the other members of the vanguard squad, Eden left the earthen fort.
Just then, a knight’s attendant led a horse over to him and said respectfully, “My lord, Lord Baird ordered me to bring you this horse so you can travel back to Starwish Town to visit your family.”
“Thank you, brother.”
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“You’re welcome.”
After expressing his thanks solemnly, Eden mounted the horse and returned to Starwish Town.
Along the way, Eden enjoyed the gentle breeze and felt freer and more at ease than ever before.
Three years ago, he had been nothing more than a serf. Thanks to the rudimentary path of advancement established by the lord, he had become the first person in the army to rise to the rank of Bronze Warrior. Through relentless effort, he had achieved everything he possessed today.
He felt immensely fortunate to have encountered Lord Verin and Steward Baird. Otherwise, he would surely still be plowing fields in some unknown corner, living a life whose end he could see from its beginning, until he quietly departed this world decades later.
More than three hours later, Eden returned to Starwish Town. He handed the horse over to the watch, then went to the market to buy some seasonal fruit before heading home.
He knocked on the door and waited quietly outside.
Suddenly, the door opened, revealing a young woman he did not recognize.
Before Eden could ask anything, she spoke first.
“You must be Lord Eden.”
“Yes, I’m Eden. And you are…”
“Lord Eden, I was assigned by the garrison command to care for your family. You may call me Adona.”
Eden nodded, then entered the house.
When he saw his wife and his two little daughters, who were just learning to speak, his weary heart was healed.
“Da-da.”
He lifted both daughters into his arms and felt that everything had been worth it.
…
After returning to the castle, Verin placed the map and notebook on a bookshelf. The information would be completed the next time he organized a stronger force to explore the Underdark.
“Kyle, you should spend more time with Eden from now on.”
“My lord, why is that?” Kyle asked, puzzled.
“So you can make more friends. Is that clear enough?”
Verin glared at Kyle, then drove him out before beginning to deal with the official business that had accumulated over the past few days.
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