The twenty-four knights who followed the Wind Queen Saint Ossor were, in fact, the most outstanding heroes of the Elven Clan of that era. Of course, at that ti, they were not called Wind Elves, but were known as the Fog Elves, in parallel with the Silver Clan.
But these heroes had long since fallen one after another in battles against the Dark Dragon. The last to sacrifice herself was the Blade Knight Otarais—she was also the founder of this profession. It was at the mont when the forces of justice were almost about to prevail, when everyone saw the dawn of victory, in the Battle of the Grey Swamp. This last and youngest among the twenty-four knights, who was also the most favored disciple of the Holy Bow Shooter Soya, died on her own ground to cover the attack of the King of Flas.
In human terms, she was only sixteen years old.
However, Brand looked at this distinguished woman who held a sword in one hand and couldn't help but wonder. Could becoming a Heroic Spirit increase one's age? How else could she seem so much more mature?
"Don't interrupt, little one," Otarais placed a finger to her lips, a slight smile in her eyes. "Yes, I am that Otarais. But you can call Kaya; that's my nickna."
"I thought..." Brand looked curiously at the woman. "I didn't expect that instead of disappearing, you beca Heroic Spirits—" Heroic Spirits cannot co into existence from nothing unless a place like the Sanctuary possesses so attributes of the Heroic Spirit Hall—for example, the Red Hall of the Fla Temple that nurtured the Fla Favored Knights. And for a ring to possess the capacity of a Sanctuary was exceedingly rare.
This only attested to the worthiness of the Wind Queen's Ring as a Divine Artifact.
He paused for a mont and then suddenly thought of sothing and asked: "What is a Soul Seal then?"
Otarais nodded slightly, "Soul Seal is the abbreviation for Holy Seal Soul. The Wind Queen's Holy Seal is similar to the Fla Holy Seal and Earth Holy Seal. In our era, powerful souls were extrely valuable. These unyielding and pure souls were the most outstanding force in the fight against the Dark Dragon."
"Heroic Spirit Army?" Brand tried to ask.
Otarais nodded again. "Whether it was the Wind Queen or the King of Flas, the power they mastered through Holy Seals was essentially the power of legacy. This power itself originated from the Dragon Clan. Even sages shared this trait," she looked at Brand, "It was a brutal war. You would understand if you experienced it firsthand."
Brand naturally understood the brutality of the Saint War. He even recalled the souls of the Silver Elves in the Chablis Mountains, the sa Sanctuary, continuing their fight as Heroic Spirits, even under Martha's favor.
But he was highly curious as this Heroic Spirit Army was rarely ntioned throughout most of history. If Otarais hadn't told him, he wouldn't have known about it at all.
"Where did they go later?" Brand was suddenly taken aback by a thought. "After the great war, the various races established their own kingdoms. Did these Heroic Spirits return to the embrace of the Earth Mother?"
The young man thought this possibility was very slim. Referring to the Heroic Spirits of the Silver Elves in Chablis, he knew that most of them probably still existed in this world.
As expected, Otarais shook her head, "I don't know."
Brand looked at her, not surprised by the answer because Otarais had sacrificed herself on the battlefield before the war ended. It was understandable that she didn't know what happened afterward.
However, at the mont, he did not care much about this issue. It was already hard enough for him to gain a foothold in Erune, let alone concern himself with these elusive historical matters.
Otarais seed unwilling to continue on this topic either, as she proceeded, "The so-called Soul Seal—it is because the legacy power is undying. Lord Wind Queen divided the Divine Artifact Ring into twenty-four sub-rings, placing each of our souls within. We signed a contract with Lord Martha. From then on, our purpose was to train the next generation of heroes for the forces of justice, such as you, and other young people with talent just like you."
"But the war is already over," Brand responded. "Moreover, being permanently bound within the rings, don't you regret it?"
"We had no choice," Otarais replied. "Without a succession of sacrifices, the Dark Dragon would never be defeated. As for the latter—in different eras, who can predict when the flas of war will be extinguished?"
"We could only do our utmost to ensure the continuity of civilization."
Brand remained silent, comparing the ancestors of the Saint War Era to the nobles of his ti, they were indeed worthy of being called sages. However, this seed to be a common illness of wise nations; once life becos comfortable, civilization becos prone to indulgence.
He fell silent. "So, Lord Otarais, what can you do? Can you, like before, let use your skills?"
"I'm afraid not." The woman shook her head. "That was only a temporary asure. I can only teach you the swordsmanship I know, but it's a day-by-day process. It's impossible to reach the sky in one step, little one."
Brand looked at her, finding this explanation sowhat acceptable.
So the power of the so-called Soul Seal lies in developing the talent of those with potential. With these Heroic Spirits from the Saint War Era as ntors, a gifted person's growth rate would be self-evident.
But ultimately, it still depended on oneself. Brand suspected that his grandfather and Kulan each had their own Soul Seal, but their achievents differed drastically.
Kulan, as a Gold Middle Rank swordsman, was formidable. But factoring in the strength of the Soul Seal, he was rely average.
He thought for a mont, then asked his final question, "One last thing, Lord Otarais. You said this was the second ti you saved . What did you an?"
The woman looked at him with a slight smile:
"Do you recall the great fire in Buqi, little one?"
Brand was stunned, then suddenly realized. He widened his eyes, looking at her, filled with a lingering fear. If he hadn't found the Wind Queen's Ring at that ti, he might have died in the Red Pine Forest behind his ancestral ho.
...
(PS. Finally done writing, heroically fell, the destiny of the warrior.)(To be continued. For the rest of the story, please log in to qidian. More chapters are available. Support the author, support legal reading!)
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