Myriad's Conquest 11 Moonligh

Adrian witnessed the same exact scene as the aftermath of the beetle's attack when most of Yarra's villagers reunited with their fellow brethren. There are lots of happy tears as well as sad tears.

Words of grat.i.tude, sorrows, lamentings, and cursing come out from every villager's mouth. Those who lost their relatives are truly unfortunate because they couldn't even bury the fallen's bodies as those bodies were left behind. Who knows what happen to those bodies now, probably already become feasts to the beasts.

According to Leo's and Gelian's words, initially, Yarra has a total population of 230 people, more or less. But now, that number has been reduced to 160 people left. So, about 70 people have lost their lives due to the stampede.

The Village of Yarra is literally had been overrun and destroyed, even the fire which engulfed it still hasn't subsided yet.

The second largest village in the northern region of Wilderness Island is now had disappeared entirely. It's truly a tragic sight.

Adrian, Zilong and the 1st squad only stood by at the side and watching silently.

For the 1st squad members, they already familiar with the scene because they had just experienced the same thing not long ago. This exact scene is what drives them the most in joining the Seastar's militia unit.

They wanted to get stronger not only for the advancement of their personal life but also, they didn't want the same thing to happen to their village again.

The old Merlin Bay Village is extremely lucky that both Adrian and Zilong was coincidently nearby.

Their help was a crucial factor in the village's survival.

That is why every member of the 1st squad clenched their hands and gritted their teeth as they are watching Yarra's destruction. They swore inside their hearts they won't allow the same thing happens to their newly rebuild village that had just been raised from the ashes.

Adrian turns his head slightly to the left and set his vision towards where Millea, the golden-haired peerless beauty, is standing at. It's strange, but this particular woman really attracts him.

There, Millea and Leo are in the middle of the conversation. Adrian couldn't hear what they are talking about. But not long, Leo left with a heavy expression on his face.

Millea still kept her indifferent face while her eyes feel rather empty. However, she then gently closes her eyes and crystal tears start flowing down to her cheeks. Her beautiful face exudes a mixture of sadness and solemn aura.

Afterward, she begins to sit down on top of a rock near the lake's water and placed both of her hands on her face. Next, she is letting out a low sound of crying as the moonlight shone over her.

Her visage right now looked like a G.o.ddess who is crying because of broken-hearted. Extremely beautiful and ethereal yet full of sadness and sorrowful at the same time.

Adrian's heart is beating very fast. At this moment, inside his heart and mind, there is nothing in this world except her. He only wants nothing but to comfort her and lessen her grief, even for a bit.

Adrian began to walk closer to her, slowly.

Seeing that his lord is walking, Zilong didn't follow him because he saw that Adrian is approaching the beautiful golden-haired woman from earlier, and Zilong didn't want to disrupt him. Thus, he went to help some of the injured people nearby.

Adrian arrived in front of Millea. He is standing for a while before he knelt with one leg and took out a tissue from his inventory s.p.a.ce.

He gently asked, "Are you alright?"

Adrian's calm and gentle voice woke Millea from her grieving state. She raises her lowered face and removes her hands from it.

Her eyes that full of tears is staring straight at Adrian's face. The clear blue eyes of her looked perfectly pristine and pure, Adrian couldn't help but lose himself at the sight of it.

Millea softly replied, "I'm alright..."

Although she had just finished crying, the way she spoke didn't tremble or sounds difficult at all. It looks like this woman is very strong-willed.

"Here." Said Adrian shortly while he also offered the tissue he took out earlier to Millea.

Millea accepted the tissue as she grabbed it from Adrian's hand. One could see from her slightly widened eyes that she is surprised by the tissue's softness and curious about it.

She dries the tears around her face with the tissue. And once she finished, she gazed back at Adrian's face and smiled gently as she spoke, "Thank you..."

Adrian didn't know that his small act of gentleness had lessened Millea's grief for a bit.

He also smiles in response while replying, "It's fine... By the way, I haven't introduced myself... My name is Adrian Dornan... Pleased to know you, miss."

Adrian also didn't forget to introduce himself.

Millea laughed for a bit after she had heard that, "Hehehe... I already know, Lord Dornan. You're the Lord of the newly rebuild Merlin Bay Village... No... I should call it the Seastar Village now... My name is Millea Agvir, and I'm the daughter of Yarra Village's late chief. Pleased to meet you too."

"Ah! I see."

"Hehe... Old Rogar has told me about you, before."

'So, it's like that,' Adrian realized that his ident.i.ty has been known by Millea through Rogar. And he also received important information about this Millea being the daughter of Yarra's chief who had just been killed in the stampede a few hours ago.

No wonder she was crying just now. It seems Leo had informed her about her father's fate.

Adrian tries to spoke again but found it difficult. He could only utter his intended words hesitantly while lowering his head, "I'm sorry for your loss. It's very unfortunate that we couldn't bring the bodies of the fallen back with us too. I'm very sorry."

Millea shakes her head slowly and her gaze at Adrian is full of gentleness and tenderness. She softly speaks, "No, Lord Dornan... It was not your fault... This whole situation is truly tragic for Yarra, indeed. But you're the one who had helped all of us. Those bodies will only attract danger to you if you bring them along. We couldn't ask more than that. So, do not feel sorry about it as you have done a lot for us..."

"Lord!" Just as Adrian wanted to reply, he is interrupted by Rogar.

Adrian turned his head around and asked, "What's wrong, Rogar?"

Rogar glanced at Millea for a while before he looked back at Adrian and requested, "Could I have a bit of your time, Lord? I have something urgent to discuss with you..."

Feeling that Rogar really had something urgent that needs to be discussed. Adrian nodded then set his eyes towards Millea again and apologizing, "I'm sorry, Miss Millea. But Rogar needs me for something."

"It's fine, Lord Dornan. I'm sure it's a very important matter. I will leave you with Old Rog, then... I'm also wanted to check the other villagers, as well. And thank you again for that... hmm... Parchment you gave me just now," Millea quickly replied as she didn't want to disrupt Adrian. She immediately stands up and goes to the other villagers while still carrying the tissue with her.

Rogar is a bit dumbfounded from seeing Millea's gentle att.i.tude towards Adrian, he didn't understand what is going on.

Adrian watched as Millea leaves. Then, he s.h.i.+fted his attention back to Rogar again, "So... What thing did you want to discuss?"

Rogar scratched his head while feeling somewhat embarra.s.sed and hesitate.

"C'mon, Rogar. Just spit it out, will you?" Urged Adrian.

Rogar takes a deep breath before speaking, "It's like this, lord. Yarra's villagers are worried because they don't have a place to stay after their village has been destroyed. I wonder what plan did Lord have for them?"

Adrian is holding his chin while narrowing his eyes in response to Rogar's question. He muttered inside his mind, 'Why Rogar asked me this? Did he worry that I might not be taking them back to Seastar or something? That's why he tries to probe me now?'

"Hmm... Let me ask something first. What's the villager's original plan if we didn't show up?"Asked Adrian seriously.

"They said that they originally planned to escape to the west in hope for the sanctuary of our village, lord. Not only our village is the closest one to theirs, but everyone in Yarra knows about my history with their late chief as well as the fact that Rina is my daughter. So our village is the only safe haven for them..."

"Then, what would you do if your village didn't get attacked and you're still their chief? Would you accept these villagers from Yarra in your village?"

Rogar quickly replied without hesitation, "Of course, lord. Our village has maintained a healthy and friendly relations.h.i.+p with Yarra for years. It could be said the villagers there is still our family. So we definitely will accept them with open arm."

"And did you think that policy of yours will change because I'm the Lord of the village now?" Adrian asked further with a smiling face.

"Well... I...," Rogar couldn't speak properly. He did have some hesitation about whether Adrian would bring Yarra's villagers to Seastar or not.

Rogar believes that Adrian is a good n.o.ble. But the situation in Seastar although it is relatively good, it's still far from perfect. And having a sudden influx of new residents might cause troubles in the village. Which might be making Adrian disinclined to accept Yarra's villagers. That is what Rogar worried the most.

Adrian waved his hand and spoke leisurely, "You don't have to say anything else, don't you worry. I'll accept them into Seastar. You go ahead and tell them we'll depart for Seastar after they had finished tending the wounded. As for their future plan, we will discuss it tomorrow after these tired people had rested."

Hearing that, Rogar is excited. He eagerly nodded and replied energetically, "Yes, lord. I will certainly be telling them that."

Rogar immediately runs towards where Yarra's villagers are gathering around.

A sharp glint flashed on Adrian's eyes as he watched Rogar's back.

Actually, having Yarra's villagers move to Seastar is what Adrian wanted the most since he saw Yarra is burning. He kinda felt like a douchebag as he, in a certain way, is using these villager's tragic condition as a tool for his ambitions. But he was forced to do this because he did not have any other option.

The greatest fuel for Seastar's growth is none other than population.

Attracting settlers from the mainland will result in failure, as Seastar now is basically a very rural and frontier place which lacked attractiveness.

Since slavery exists in this world, Adrian is even thinking of buying slaves when the merchant visits Seastar later. He could release those slaves and makes them as residents of his domain. But the insufficient of money forced him to rethink, while Seastar's treasury only had the amount of 100 gold coins in which Adrian had decided not to touch it, in a case for something urgent.

Besides, freeing slaves in ma.s.s might pose some problems.

He could also try conquering neighbouring villages. However, Seastar's military now is still measle and too weak. Aggressive moves must be backed by powerful strength, if not, it will be useless.

Thus, his only option to raises Seastar's population is Yarra's villagers. It would be even better if those villagers decide to become Seastar's residents permanently.

Adrian sigh and muttered under the breath, "It's really hard being a Lord..."

***

Almost 180 people are marching in a large group through the river's south bank towards the direction of Seastar in the west.

The progress is slow because not only it's still at night but this large group had to bring the wounded too.

Zilong and the 1st squad have taken the duty of guarding the group's rear position alongside Leo and several other Yarra's men. While Adrian, Rogar and Gelian are in the front as they need to be the guide for the group.

Millea is walking just behind Adrian while being accompanied by Rina and several other women. Although she is trying hard to keep her expression normal, Adrian can see she is still very much in sadness. Moreover, she always kept her mouth shut since they depart.

Adrian originally wants to go to her again but he refrains from doing that. He thinks she might need some time alone.

Currently, all of Yarra's villagers already know about what happened to the old Merlin Bay Village. They were surprised when it was revealed to them that Merlin Bay Village was being attacked too by the beasts that came from the northern forest a week ago.

And Rogar also told them about how Adrian and Zilong have helped them, the village rebuilding project, Adrian became Seastar's Lord, he told them everything that has happened this past one week in Seastar.

But Rogar did not reveal anything about Settlement Creation Token and the fact that Adrian and Zilong possessed magic weapons. Though, those magic weapons were definitely known by Yarra's men as they have seen Adrian and Zilong used their respective weapons in the battle a few hours ago.

Initially, the villagers were reluctant traveling to Seastar because that village's owners.h.i.+p has changed, and the new Lord might not want them there.

However, Rogar convinced them by telling them that the Lord himself has accepted them. Hence, they were all agreed to go.

Adrian did not join their discussion earlier as it will be too awkward. He let Rogar handle it all.

***

It's weird, but Adrian is always curious about it ever since he was summoned. It's about the night in this world that is not really dark at all. One could see very far and a bit clearly even when the time already past midnight.

But if Adrian thinks about it further. It is not really strange.

This Gloria Realm is illuminated by two moons. Both moons have an almost similar size. One has a grayish white colored surface just like Earth's Luna, while the other moon's surface is radiant blueish colored. They don't have names, people in this world called them with their a.s.sociated colors, White Moon and Blue Moon.

Adrian did not know whether these two moons exclusively belong to Gloria Realm or they were also the natural satellites for many other realms. Because, according to the system, the realms within Myriad's Universe didn't get separated into each compartment of s.p.a.ce.

These realms including Gloria are simply collections of flat earth that floating around inside a ma.s.sive s.p.a.ce. They were simply hundreds of islands that was surrounded by the ocean of darkness. Some realm is close to each other, while others located really far away. So, in theory, one could travel to another realm by the way of s.p.a.ce travel.

Returning back to the moons. The result of a combination between the light from the White Moon and the Blue Moon gave off a very fantastical atmosphere during the night in Gloria Realm. Adrian felt what people in this world see during the night is akin to seeing a high definition video with blue filters albeit much warmer darkish blue.

The Myriad's Universe is very non-sensical yet magical at the same time.

Which is why, right now, Yarra's villagers who had marching for hours know they had finally arrived near Seastar Village where they could already see long, neat wooden fences erected in the far.

As they got closer and closer to Seastar, they can see the fences more closely and they were awed by it. Because even though it is only simple fences made from woods, its appearances looked very st.u.r.dy and strong. And not to mention, there are rows of high wooden watchtowers stood near the fences protecting the entirety of the village.

These fortifications gave extremely safe feelings to Yarra's villagers who had just experienced a terrifying moment.

It must be known that Yarra Village although it was bigger than Seastar, it did not have fences surrounding it. They didn't even have a single watchtower. Hence, Yarra has practically lacked any kind of protection.

Rina, Millea, and Gilean were flabbergasted as the village that they used to know has become unrecognizable like this.

Millea is a quick-witted woman, so she could discern things more quickly. She found that the fences were built to encompa.s.sing a large plot of land with the village's heart in the center. It is totally different from any other fortification as they were only being build near or close to important places right in the middle.

That means the one who was planning this fortification design has the preparedness of the village's expansions in mind when he or she designs it. Thus, that person probably has a bigger ambition regarding the village itself.

Millea couldn't help but steal a glance at Adrian in front of her. She felt that there is no way for Rogar or any other people in this village to have that kind of ambition, she thought it must be the work of that young lord. Millea is sure of it.

Unknown emotions exude from her eyes as Millea watch Adrian's back.

***

Yarra's people soon arrived near the village's gate.

The gate is completely shut.

Zeke, the leader of the 2nd squad, is guarding the gate alongside two of his subordinate. While the other two members are patrolling inside the village.

He has already been informed by one of his men that there are a large group of people heading for the village.

Once those people were near and Zeke saw that Adrian himself leading them. He quickly spoke loudly, "Quick, open the gate! The lord is back!"

The members of the 2nd squad didn't waste any more time as they immediately opens the gate.

After the gate had opened, Adrian strode towards Zeke.

Just as the members of the 2nd squad are about to salute him, Adrian stopped them by waving his hand and he gave them orders instead, "Zeke! You and your men will a.s.sist Rogar in bringing these people to the Community's Hall and settle them there. Do you understand?"

Zeke and his men quickly nodded and simultaneously replied, "YES, LORD!!!" Then, they hastily went about doing what they have been ordered to do.

Finally, one by one, the refugees from Yarra started to enter the Seastar Village under the glorious light of the two moons.