The Mystic Dominator

The Vanishing Fire

　　On the third day of hitching a ride with the caravan of merchants, Ronald had already mixed quite well with the ones in the caravan.

　　To these merchants, a nobleman who didn't put up a fight was good to mingle with even if he was down and out.

　　However, due to the road conditions and the stamina of the horses, the speed of their journey was not as flying as the development of the relationship.

　　According to Ronald's estimation, in these three days of walking and stopping, they had probably advanced around one hundred and twenty kilometres.

　　An achievement that was quite good in ancient times and very tortoise-speed in modern times.

　　And according to the merchants in the caravan, before arriving at Berenwich, they would also make stops at a few larger towns in the neighbourhood, buying and selling goods in order to seek to gain as much profit as possible.

　　The next stop on the journey was a seaside town that arrived almost three or four days later, and was also a neighbour of the town where Ronald's mansion was located.

　　There Ronald himself would separate from the men of the caravan, as had been previously stated.

　　--

　　Walking around, the day went by fast, to say the least.

　　On a planet that was also illuminated by a single star during the day; also rising in the east and setting in the west, the angle of the sun's oblique rays gradually shifted, and the afternoon was coming to an end.

　　Sitting side by side with Ronald, Nessus, the line merchant, struck up a natural conversation while catching up with the car:

　　"Mr Ronald, it's getting late."

　　"Do you think it would be better for us to camp at the foot of the mountain, or walk a little further?"

　　"Camp ......."

　　Hearing the words of the traveller, Ronald immediately began to think about how to answer.

　　As a noble, it's best not to show his knowledge in field travelling, it doesn't match his persona.

　　So revealing a bitter smile, Ronald shook his head:

　　"I don't go out too much, I really don't have any idea about this."

　　Only after his words fell, the traveller Thomson who was driving in front of him spoke up loudly, pointing to the mountain in front of him and putting forward his own suggestion:

　　"Gentlemen, we can walk up the Black Mountain."

　　"When I was here three years ago, I had also passed by here before, there is a small town over the mountainside, so it's definitely not a problem if we spend the night."

　　Immediately, someone from the other traders in the caravan shouted:

　　"Thomson, you bastard!"

　　"There is this news if early to say it, last time in the town I can still have some fruit did not get out, originally thought not to last a week later, I have eaten half of this!"

　　The complaints of his peers did not affect Thomson, the traveller laughed and rubbed his apprentice's head: "I didn't come here three years ago, it's good that I can remember!"

　　While explaining, this guy didn't forget to tease the other with his bright voice:

　　"Besides, it's a good businessman who can seize every opportunity to make money, with the effort to complain about me, you might as well think about how to sell the fruit."

　　"People living on the side of the mountain don't lack for that, isn't the fruit left over from the last town an example?"

　　"Hey!"

　　"I'm going to make a big profit tonight, so don't be jealous!"

　　"I won't be jealous! But if you can't sell all the fruits, you can also give me a taste, I'm a young man who is still growing up."

　　"Dream on!"

　　A playful curse rang out, at the same time a yellow-coloured fruit was also thrown from one carriage to another, which was also mixed with a child's surprised cry.

　　Watching the men in the caravan talk and laugh there for a while, Ronald quietly turned his eyes to Nessus at his side:

　　"It looks like Mr Thomson is enjoying his apprentice."

　　"Not really?"

　　Smiling and shaking his head, Nessus' tone grew emotional:

　　"Being us traders, forming a caravan and hiring guards are only relatively rare opportunities, usually we can all go on the road by ourselves."

　　"Really to a longer trek and remote areas, when loneliness comes, but can not wait to be able to even their own horse want to call it to speak, and then have a good chat."

　　"It's a great thing to be able to take an apprentice."

　　"I see. ......"

　　Listening to Nessus' explanation, Ronald's eyes gradually drifted towards the mountain peaks in front of him.

　　According to the other traveller, this was called Black Mountain again:

　　"The Black Mountain in front."

　　"Has Mr Nessus been here before?"

　　Hearing Ronald's enquiry, while driving the carriage, the colour of memories began to show in Nessus' eyes:

　　"Black Mountain ......"

　　"I've heard of it, but there don't seem to be too many residents in the town up there, so I haven't gone there to do any trading."

　　"That's so ......"

　　There was a lot of chatter, the sun's shadow dragging longer and longer behind the caravan.

　　Around the end of dusk, the caravan began its climb up Black Mountain as well.

　　The Black Mountain was said to be a mountain, but it wasn't a treacherous peak of any great magnificence, it was just an ordinary place on the edge of a mountain range with a visual estimate of no more than 2,000 metres above sea level.

　　The more grandiose veins of the mountain would have to continue further into the depths of the forest.

　　Because the mountain was inhabited, the path here was even better than before.

　　However, in the process of climbing, trouble was eventually encountered.

　　Almost before the black mountain went completely 'dark', the road used for passage was suddenly blocked.

　　It seemed that due to the rainfall three days ago, the earth and rocks that had slid down the side of the ridge had cut off the road from it, and although the area wasn't large, it was still about a dozen metres in size.

　　People would be able to get through with a bit of hard work, but a horse-drawn carriage ......

　　Don't even think about it!

　　Witnessing the scene before them, the merchants in the caravan immediately jumped to their feet and cursed:

　　"Damn! I really can't sell this fruit?"

　　"Even this dirt road in the countryside is against me!"

　　This time, Thomson to did not add fuel to the fire, but opened his mouth and took the initiative to comfort:

　　"Gain, don't panic first."

　　"That town isn't too far from this side, it's not impossible to have to go over there."

　　"......"

　　Thomson's consolation had a very obvious effect.

　　Hearing that the town wasn't too far away, the traveller named Gain immediately turned his head to look at his wagon, and then turned back to look at the cluttered road again.

　　At this time the air was a little low, and the sky was cloudy.

　　This fruit ......

　　With a clench of his teeth, he stiffly shouted to his hired guard:

　　"Joel, help me carry that half box of fruit over, tonight you stay and keep watch."

　　"Okay!"

　　As soon as the employer opened his mouth, the guards responded immediately.

　　Lifting the fruit crate from the wagon in three or two strokes, the young man named Joel quickly carried the stuff over, and then revealed an honest, naive smile to his employer.

　　"Mr Gaines, do you want me on overnight duty tonight?"

　　"I can't forget about you, I'll count the money back to you."

　　Sending his guards back, Gaines immediately bent down and lifted the fruit crate, weighed it and headed for the front.

　　"Alas ......"

　　Seeing Gaine advancing without looking back, Thomson could only let out a long sigh:

　　"Kid, let's follow."

　　"Help Gaine if you can, even if it's a reward for people treating you to fruit."

　　"Yes, Mr Thomson."

　　The apprentice responded to the merchant, and the two of them then followed suit.

　　Ronald, who was left behind, and the other two merchants looked at each other, and finally instructed the guards to build a fire, before they carried their lamps and chased after them.

　　--

　　Once the sun set, the speed of nightfall became swifter and swifter.

　　Not to mention the fact that this place was still facing directly towards the west.

　　Under the direct shade of the Black Mountain, it didn't take long for the surroundings to have completely darkened, and the faint light in the sky was completely gone.

　　When rushing at a time like this, both speed and vision were greatly affected.

　　In addition to a barren and silent darkness, only a clump of low shrubs near the road can still be seen.

　　While following the rush, I looked along the mountain road.

　　The wagon camp behind them lit up with fires, and the traders in front of them cursed.

　　Then Ronald saw clearly.

　　The fires of the camp disappeared-