The Book of Hibernation

Winter Ji returned to the market, facing a dazzling array of goods, but her thoughts were a little wandering.

As a refiner, he just accepted a request, and it was from a necromancer.He didn't know if this was a good idea, and if it would cause any trouble... He was recruited by the Ten Sail Street Chamber of Commerce, so he could eat and drink for the time being. Is it really necessary to take the risk of taking the job of a necromancer?

Thinking about it this way, he felt a little ridiculous again.Since you are so entangled now, why did you agree to that necromancer just now?

After thinking about it, it wasn't the necromancer himself that hovered in his mind, but the three people she mentioned.Father, younger brother, fiance.All three died in foreign lands, and she wanted to retrieve their bones.

Goosebumps had come up on Winter Thistle's arms when she told her about it, and the goosebumps came back when she thought about it now.

Not because of fear of necromancers, but because of an inexplicable feeling.

Winter Thistle couldn't help thinking of the two deathbeds she'd witnessed: one of his own mother, and the other of Ryan's.

Lion and Winter Thistle's father were both mage Haman.Haman had a romance with the elf assistant, the elf was the mother of Winter Thistle, named Goldleaf.

Later, Jin Ye left the academy, and Haman met the merchant's daughter and entered into a formal marriage.At that time, Haman was a little older and already successful and famous. His wife was still very young and admired his intelligence very much.

Before Haman was killed, he found an opportunity to send his pregnant wife away. Through Haman's letters, his wife trekked hard to the edge of the elves' sea of ​​trees, found the golden leaf, and wanted to seek refuge.

From a worldly point of view, it would be difficult for Jin Ye and this human woman to become friends.But Jin Ye took her in without any grievances, and later personally delivered her, so Winter Ji had a half-brother, Ryan.

Not long after Winter Thistle witnesses the coming of life, she witnesses the passing of life.

Jin Ye has always been weak. Ever since Dong Ji could remember, she had been ill all year round. One summer night, she quietly stopped breathing.

Looking back now, that day was ordinary, with no warning signs, no severe attacks of illness, no moments of life and death, no chance to hold hands and shout "Mom, don't go".

Winter Thistle was not yet 19 years old at that time.For humans, this age is enough to be independent, but the half-elves are just short and childish teenagers.

The second death that Winter Thistle witnessed was the death of Ryan's biological mother.

A few years after Jin Ye's death, Ryan's mother also passed away due to illness.When Ryan was still young, he threw himself into his mother's arms and cried until the body was completely cold.Winter Thistle couldn't remember how they calmed down and how they managed the funeral, as if everything happened just like that.They don't think, they just do what needs to be done.

Both Lane and Winter Thistle were raised by their mother alone.They had different ideas about their father.

Dongji's mother, Jin Ye, is only obsessed with research and rarely mentions the past, so Dongji has no concept of "father" since she was a child; although Ryan has never met his biological father, he has heard many things about the mage Haman from his mother.

Ryan's mother was born in a merchant family and didn't understand magic. She only thought that man was elegant, gentle, mysterious, and extremely intelligent. Listening to her narration, she could guess how much love she had with the mage Haman.

It was mother's love that ignited Ryan's desire to find his enemies.After his mother also died of illness, he hoped to find out the reason and process of his father's victimization, hoping to know who ruined his parents' life.

Although Winter Thistle was not obsessed with these things, he also imagined Haman's death.He had seen two mothers die of illness, so what would it be like when his father was murdered and died?

Every time she thinks of these things, Dongji will try her best to adjust her emotions and divert her attention.

He didn't dare to think about it all the time.Even though it was a strange disaster that he had never witnessed before, he would think about it and shed tears.

As both he and Lane grew up, they saw more death on their travels.Livestock, wild animals, little monsters like goblins, poor and sick refugees, seriously injured traveling companions... They shed tears more than once, but every time they shed tears, they were not as painful as remembering the death of their loved ones.

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Various thoughts swirled in Winter Thistle's mind.He couldn't find the point and couldn't stop.He walked slowly in the market without looking around, his eyes were a little straight.

Suddenly a shadow cast down, blocking the dim light in front of his eyes.He raised his head, right in front of the blue-gray python's head.

Then, a pair of warm hands pressed on Winter Thistle's shoulders, the palms were so big that they could almost wrap his shoulders.

Winter Thistle recovered from her trance and recognized that it was Aldin.

Aldin is considered very tall for humans, so when Aldin suddenly appeared beside him, Winter Thistle would always have the illusion of being threatened.Dong Ji is not used to seeing that ferocious python tattoo up close, nor does she like being approached so close suddenly.But this time, after the momentary shock, he enjoyed the warmth from his shoulder a little bit.

Aldin startled him, but brought him a strange sense of security... as if he was walking in the void unintentionally, and suddenly someone grabbed him and brought him out.

Aldin led Winter Thistle behind a corner and asked softly, "What's the matter?"

Winter Thistle glanced at Aldin, then lowered her head again.He didn't want to hide his emotions, but he didn't understand what Aldin was asking.

Seeing Winter Thistle's hesitation to speak, Aldin's expression became more serious: "You can tell me anything you encounter, and I will deal with it."

"What to do with it?" Winter Ji asked blankly.

Aldin said: "Don't be afraid. The almshouse fair is secret, but it's not chaotic. It's run under the watchful eye of the Chamber of Commerce, and I won't tolerate anyone who disrupts order."

Dong Ji was dazed for a moment, and finally understood.Seeing him like this, Aldin probably thought that something bad happened to him.

He bowed his head and chuckled embarrassingly: "I'm fine. I'm so sorry. It's my fault. I've been shopping for too long, and I made you worry in vain."

"It's not a matter of time, it's just that you look weird and out of your mind," Aldin said.

"I'm fine, really. I'm ashamed to say that I'm preparing for the refining experiment, so I'm looking at the consumables and pondering about those spell issues...some things get more and more troublesome the more I think about it, maybe I'm too involved in thinking, so the expression It's getting weird."

"Have you picked out what you need?" Aldin asked.

Winter Thistle nodded.

"That's good. You don't have to be polite, just buy what you need. You are the refiner we hired, and buying these things is considered a service for us. You can use this market. If I don't have time to accompany you in the future, You have to come a few more times yourself."

After hearing this, Dongji secretly heaved a sigh of relief.He had planned to come several times, and it would be best to come alone.Aldin took the initiative to propose this way, which saved him the trouble of carefully asking.

While talking, the two walked slowly towards the entrance of the market, walked through the silent almshouse, and prepared to return.

The topics they can talk about are very limited, nothing more than the fact that the market is very good and there are a lot of things. Once they leave this topic, Winter Thistle can't answer the conversation, but politely agrees.

Seeing the appearance of the half-elf, Aldin gradually reduced his questioning, but still looked at Winter Thistle unceremoniously.

The carriage turned back just as they were on the main road.In the carriage, the two of them got closer, and Winter Thistle couldn't avoid Aldin's eyes.

Suddenly, Aldin asked, "Are you a little uncomfortable?"

Dong Ji was taken aback, and immediately said, "Of course not."

"It's okay, don't be so nervous," Aldin said with a smile, "You have been very nervous. You have to be polite to me, but also have a more enthusiastic attitude, and be careful in every word... I can see it. I am a servant. I was born in the army, and I have met many people. Dongji, you don’t have to be like this when you get along with me, I’m not a nobleman.”

Apparently Winter Thistle didn't think so.As far as he knows, the chamber of commerce is more honorable than the average "noble lord".

The chamber of commerce has a chief and five directors, each of whom has its own jurisdiction, among which Harbor City is the territory of the anaconda Aldin.

Harbor City not only has beautiful scenery and busy trade, but also has many dark areas where the sun cannot be seen. In those corners that are difficult for nobles to reach, the power of "Anaconda" is entrenched.Because of this, even though Aldin was not a nobleman, those people respected him somewhat.

Before arriving at Harbor City, Winter Ji made a lot of preparations, inquired about various information about the chamber of commerce, and heard about Aldin.Winter Thistle's goal is to be hired, but once the goal is achieved, he is always a little nervous.

At this time, Aldin asked again: "Do you know why I hired you?"

"Because I am a refiner." Winter Thistle replied.

"Yes. Originally, we were just looking for a temporary bodyguard at the pier, and we could just hire your brother. But I immediately fell in love with you, and I hope you stay. It's not a short-term cooperation, but a long-term stay, in the harbor The city works for me."

This is exactly what I want, and I am very willing to serve the Chamber of Commerce—ordinarily, Winter Thistle should answer this way.In his envisioned scene of doing things, he answered the employer in the same way.But now he can't say it.

He is not stupid, he can feel that Aldin's eyes are mixed with other things.

He envisioned himself being hired as a refiner, but not those "other things".

Dong Ji's eyes wandered, obviously a little flustered.Aldin snickered, and then said: "Look, my brother is a mage and also has the qualifications of an enchanter. Why do we need another refiner? You are a spellcaster, you must understand."

Winter Thistle nodded: "Well... because Lord Kanai is not good at this direction."

Aldin said: "Yes. Although Kanai has the qualifications of an enchanter, in his own words, that thing is just waste paper for facade. In fact, he is not good at dealing with those things in the laboratory. Have you seen His lab is gone, what do you think?"

Winter Thistle replied honestly, "It's kind of empty."

Aldin laughed out loud: "Isn't it! Kanai is a battle mage, not a scholar at the table. He is not good at studying these bottles and jars at all. If you want to ask what he is good at... he may be more Good at killing. He was a mercenary like me."

Upon hearing this, Winter Thistle frowned slightly.Aldin could see that he was frightened, and it was lovely to be frightened.

In fact, Winter Thistle recalled the previous afternoon when he insisted on taking part in the dock work. Kanai said that he was not good at fighting and would only be a burden. To illustrate this point, Kanai grabbed him with a stance spell and fixed him in the air .

If he is Kanai's enemy, Kanai can crush all the bones in his body.Fortunately, Kanai was in control and didn't hurt him at all.

When recalling the experience of those few seconds, Dongji still felt faintly terrified.

Aldin continued: "Killing an enemy is something I can be proud of, but if I put it on a mage, I will be questioned by my partners and disgusted by my peers. Alas, I don't know much about it. I can understand the mentality of those mages. Kanai has been in a college where mages gather together, and he must understand better than me. So, in fact, not only I need you, but Kanai also needs helpers, and companions who understand magic. Partner up Only by doing things can we play a greater advantage.”

Winter Thistle nodded.But Aldin didn't finish: "For me, this 'advantage' is also very important. I have trusted servants in my family, and others have them; I have well-trained combatants under me, and others have them; I There are excellent mages around, and others will also have them. However, not everyone knows refiners. The chamber of commerce needs people like you, and so do I."

The two sat opposite each other in the carriage.Just as Winter Thistle was about to say something, when he saw Aldin stretching out his hand, he subconsciously withdrew his hand from his lap.

Winter Thistle withdrew his hand, but Aldin's hand fell on Winter Thistle's knee, and he pressed it lightly, as if to comfort or encourage him.

The fabric of the robe felt cold to the touch, but the temperature of the palm was much hotter than the air.The heat spread from the cloth to his knees, and the legs under the robe trembled slightly.

Winter Thistle had nowhere to hide, and felt that she shouldn't hide, so she could only smile back a little stiffly.

"Winter Thistle, I really like you, and you know what I mean," Aldin looked straight into the half-elf's dark green eyes, "I've written a lot, mainly to let you understand——I hire you, keep you Next, although some personal emotions are indeed mixed in, it is not just because of this trivial matter. I am looking forward to your performance as a refiner, and I hope to see your ability and loyalty. Do you understand?"

Aldin's expression was very serious, which was his expression when he was serious about dealing with affairs.

He obviously didn't say any frivolous or embarrassing words, but Winter Thistle didn't know how to respond.

In short, Dong Ji listened carefully to the above passage and understood it.So, in the end he just said "I understand".

"That's good," Aldin smiled, "I'm tired of looking at your cautious face. Just do what you want. I believe that you will hire you. You live a comfortable life. As an employer, I happy too."

These words were quite sincere, but in Dong Ji's ears, it made him more vigilant... These words seemed to express that he didn't mind, but also seemed to express a subtle warning.

He always felt that perhaps Aldin was unwilling to let him make a deal with the necromancer.After all, this is not a glorious thing, and it will not bring any benefits to the Chamber of Commerce.

The almshouse market is the site of the chamber of commerce, and perhaps his every move will be reported to Aldin by an eyeliner.However, it is said that there is no need for Aldin to monitor an ordinary subordinate.Besides, if Aldin didn't want him to have contact with necromancers, why did he take the initiative to bring him to a place full of taboo items?Or, in fact, Aldin has no other meaning, but to express recognition and encouragement?

Not only did Winter Ji not relax, but she thought more and more.It was hard for him to get down, and he was very worried that if he did something wrong, he would make his employer dissatisfied.

He asked himself to quickly cut off these messy thoughts and think of something else, lest it hang on his face and be seen by Aldin.