Chapter 683: 529 ’The Great Disaster
The next day, early morning.
After a night of rest without encountering any turmoil, and having fully recovered in both spirit and state, Reiger’s group set off early, leaving the fortress-like colossal tower behind and continued their journey towards Norwich.
With various means provided by Reiger to assist in hastening their travel, the group managed to reach Norwich in roughly two and a half hours.
This sole port city of the Fairy Country, Britannia, is located on the southern coast and is not only a Refining City but also a major maritime hub.
Here, ships are constructed that can navigate the seas. Although it is impossible to travel beyond the Britannia lands of mystery and discover a second country outside of Britannia, one can reach the various shores of Britannia, greatly reducing travel time.
Therefore, Norwich also had business in trade and transportation, though it is somewhat overshadowed by the ironworking business of the Refining City.
In such a city, it is naturally very boisterous and lively.
The most common sight here is Forging Masters from the Tusk Clan, followed by merchants from various cities of the Fairy Country, Britannia.
Yet, despite being a bustling and noisy city, the first thing Reiger and the others saw upon their arrival was an utterly dark sky.
"Is that the rumored ’Catastrophe Vortex’?"
Da Vinci poked his head out from a carriage and looked at the dark sky with a grave expression.
The others also cast their eyes skyward, and their expressions varied—some looked somber, some furrowed their brows, and some appeared to be deep in thought.
In the Fairy Country, Britannia, the sky is usually dusk-colored, so a black sky is indeed rare.
Although the sky definitely turns black when it rains, the gathering dark clouds above Norwich were clearly not simple rain clouds.
They were extremely dense and oppressive, not spreading out as ordinary dark clouds do, but rather, swirling slowly above Norwich like a vortex, as if gestating some great terror, making everyone’s mood turn somewhat somber.
Due to its presence, the area near Norwich appeared gloomy and dark, with howling winds, as if it would rain at any moment yet never actually did, seriously affecting the mood.
"... It’s not going to suddenly start raining Mors down from up there, is it?"
Altoria muttered under her breath, but was overheard by everyone.
"Whether they fall from above or not is unclear, but once the ’Curse’ erupts, Mors will certainly appear," Alberon said with conviction.
This caused Matthew and Tristan, who were nearby, to both frown, looking troubled.
Although they were new to the land, they had become well aware of what Mors were, thanks to Alberon’s explanation.
And they had come to understand just how troublesome these things could be on the very first day they arrived.
"Speaking of which, what exactly is this so-called ’Curse’?"
Da Vinci, driven by curiosity, inquired of Reiger and the others.
"According to your description, the ’Curse’ seems to always exist within the Fairy Country, Britannia, present since a very long time ago. But this phenomenon is clearly not simply a natural disaster, is it?"
"If Mors are cursed fairies transformed into lost souls—fairies stripped of their names, luster, and meaning of existence—then why do a large number of Mors usually appear when the ’Curse’ occurs?"
"It feels like there’s some crucial connection between the ’Curse’ and Mors. Haven’t the people in this land ever sought to explore the truth behind this?"
Da Vinci’s doubts and curiosity were met with Alberon’s helplessly shrugging gesture.
"You have to realize, fair lady, fairies and humans are different," Alberon said. "There are indeed some clever individuals among them, but in this country, cleverness isn’t exactly in high demand."
"Fairies are beings who do not worry needlessly, nor are they creatures that contemplate dangers while at ease. Being able to play every day, indulge in pleasures, and satisfying their craving for entertainment is their utmost desire."
"Moreover, the fairies of this country are more fearful and wary of Mors and the arrival of the ’Curse’ than you might imagine, so generally, nobody pursues such matters."
Alberon paused, then continued.
"Currently, within the Fairy Country, Britannia, there’s only one general consensus: the ’Curse’ is bound to erupt periodically."
"Every hundred years, a ’Minor Curse’ will erupt."
"Every thousand years, a ’Major Curse’ will erupt."
"And since Queen Morgan ascended the throne, two thousand years have passed in the Fairy Country, Britannia."
"This means that the second ’Major Curse’ is approaching, and all the fairies fear that this ’Curse’ could be the millennial ’Major Curse’."
A ’Major Curse’ is indeed a terrifying event.
If a regular ’Minor Curse’ only affects a region or even a single city, then a ’Major Curse’ impacts the entire Fairy Country, Britannia.
In other words, if the ’Major Curse’ arrives and is not handled properly, the Fairy Country, Britannia might face extinction.
Naturally, people would be deeply concerned about the arrival of the ’Major Curse’.
"How was the last ’Major Curse’ resolved, then?"
Da Vinci asked Alberon.
Since the queen has been in power for two thousand years, that proves that a thousand years ago, Fairy Country Britannia also experienced a "Catastrophe."
Da Vinci then wanted to know, how that "Catastrophe" had disappeared.
However, it was not Alberon who answered this question, but Altoria.
"That time, it was the Tusk Clan chief, Woodworth, who stepped in to resolve it."
Indeed.
The previous "Catastrophe" was resolved by Woodworth.
At that time, the "Catastrophe" was wreaking havoc within the borders of Fairy Country Britannia, causing vast casualties. The previous chief of the Tusk Clan went to combat the king of the Mors tidal wave under Queen Morgan’s orders, only to be vanquished by the King of Mors, his effort ending in vain.
In a critical moment, the offspring of the vanquished former Tusk Clan chief was born.
He inherited the grand title of the former Tusk Clan chief, born with the richest blood of Asling, reverting to an Asling himself, his strength surpassing the aged former Tusk Clan chief.
Thus, Woodworth defeated the King of Mors, suppressed the Mors tidal wave, and successfully resolved the "Catastrophe" that was ravaging the entirety of Britannia.
Thanks to his deed, Woodworth became the hero of Fairy Country Britannia, regarded as the queen’s sharpest sword, until in recent centuries, as the Elf Knights gained prominence and the aging Woodworth gradually weakened, losing the authority he once had.
Before the emergence of the Elf Knights, Woodworth could be said to be the most favored fairy in Fairy Country Britannia, second only to the queen herself.
Therefore, Woodworth harbored such disdain for the Elf Knights, largely because their rise led to his gradual loss of power and favor, turning him into an old relic in the eyes of many fairies.
To attract the queen’s attention and draw her eyes upon him once again, that fellow even hid his true nature and put on a gentlemanly front, which was truly laughable.
"Reversion to Asling, huh?" Da Vinci exclaimed with a sense of awe, "The most primitive fairy born from the Inner Sea of the Star, that’s one of the oldest mysteries."
"Indeed it is," Tristan spoke solemnly, "Even in my time, fairies of this caliber were few, and each held an exalted status within Britannia."
"The King of Mors..." Matthew shifted his attention elsewhere, looking worriedly at the dark vortex in the sky, cautiously saying, "That vortex isn’t where the King of Mors is being born, is it?"
Everyone fell silent.
This was indeed a speculation that no one could deny.
Only Reiger, having emerged from the carriage, had been observing the vortex in the sky all this while, until at this moment he suddenly spoke.
"That vortex probably has nothing to do with the ’Catastrophe.’"
Upon saying this, everyone was astonished.
"It has nothing to do with the ’Catastrophe’?"
Altoria, Matthew, Da Vinci, and Tristan all expressed their surprise.
"How can that be?" Alberon was even more incredulous, saying, "According to the information I’ve received, ever since the Mors began to appear in large numbers and the curse’s power on this land grew stronger, that vortex appeared alongside them."
"Therefore, many fairies believe that vortex is the accumulating source of the ’Catastrophe,’ with some even suspecting, like Matthew said, whether a King of Mors is being born inside it."
"All signs suggest that it should be closely related to the ’Catastrophe.’"
Indeed, because of this, the vortex was termed the "Catastrophe Vortex."
However, Reiger remained indifferent as he spoke.
"The problem is, I haven’t felt any curse’s power from it, but I have sensed an astonishing magic power instead."
No power of the curse?
Astonishing magic power?
Everyone exchanged glances, some even with bewildered expressions.
"...It seems that the waters of Norwich are quite deep," Da Vinci commented thoughtfully.
"What exactly is going on, Reiger?" Altoria approached Reiger with a worried look, inquiring.
Reiger did not answer but shifted the topic.
"Let’s go see the chief of the Earth Clan first."
The matter of the "Catastrophe" is not urgent for now.
Reiger, who was familiar with the original work, knew very well that this thing wouldn’t cause much trouble.
Instead, the vortex in the sky, which housed a power possibly related to him, was of more immediate concern.
Before dealing with that, he decided to assist Altoria in ringing the pilgrimage bell of Norwich first.
Otherwise, he might not have the chance to accompany Altoria on this pilgrimage later.