The women hold their children, the men carry their luggage.
Carts, mules, pack horses.
One refugee group after another passes by, traversing from afar.
They almost all head in one direction.
Kana and four others ride on horses, traveling along the dirt road.
"So many people managed to escape," Alyris observed, seeing more refugee groups than she had imagined, which was better than expected.
"The Count led the troops, holding off more of the Blood Race from advancing further, giving these refugees some breathing time," Blake commented from the side.
Kana nodded in agreement, acknowledging this fact.
His uncle indeed wanted to preserve the last seeds of this country.
Indirectly cutting off the Blood Race's source of troops.
Unfortunately, he underestimated the power of the Blood Race's invasion.
This country will have no chance of rebuilding.
Alyris looked at the refugees in confusion, and softly asked, "Where can we go in the future?"
Alyris had never left this country. Since the village was destroyed when she was a child, she had been training as a Knight Apprentice.
For her, the future was about protecting the royal family, becoming their sword and shield.
She had never considered a situation like the current one.
The country was destroyed, and the royal family was the main culprit; she now felt utterly lost.
"Have you been to other countries? Seen other races? Ever yearned for the outside world?"
Kana suddenly asked.
These words left those around him pondering.
Neither Alyris, Blake, nor the other two knights had left the country, resulting in them bowing their heads in deep thought.
It seems they really haven't left this country.
A knight typically begins training at a young age, starting around age eight or nine.
Some even begin at age six or seven.
This training continues until they are about 14, when they gradually become official knights.
According to what's classified in the game levels.
Kana thought Blake should be Level Three; Alyris was also Level Three. But now Alyris should be considered as having an Elite Template. In the game's depiction, her avatar frame has a copper edge.
If Alyris mastered the Blood Power, she should be counted as having an Elite Template in-game depicted as a silver-edged avatar frame.
Later, she could even achieve a Hero Panel level and possibly a Legendary Panel level.
After all, she appears every April Fool's Day as one of the dungeon bosses.
Appearing alongside the clown king, which is himself.
As the game progresses, her strength naturally grows stronger.
She's truly a promising figure.
As for the other two knights, they would be considered Level Two.
However, despite being Level Two, different troop types mean varying strength.
Not to mention these knights are riding horses and clad in full body armor.
A knight's full body armor alone requires at least two gold coins.
Adding horses and weapons, sometimes it needs 4~5 gold coins to be fully equipped.
Compared to a soldier of the same Level Two strength with only cloth armor and a long spear, it's an utter crush.
Just like the Guard Captain Kearn was also Level Two, but he would certainly be overpowered by a knight.
"No, I've only heard others say at times, like there being many wondrous magic beyond.
And many peculiar races, like the beautiful, pointy-eared elves who can live for a long time.
Short and stout dwarves, dwelling in mountains, very skilled in weapon forging, and such," Alyris recalled.
"Ah, I know elves, I've seen them," the knight walking ahead turned, proudly stating.
Kana remembered his name was Kecha.
"I saw them on a merchant ship at the port of Coral City while patrolling. Their ears are pointed, resembling fins, and their eyes are large and blue."
Listening to his description, Alyris, Blake, and the other knight displayed expressions of sudden realization and understanding.
Kana shook his head helplessly, "You're mistaken; what you described isn't elves, but Children of the Sea."
Everyone looked at Kana, waiting for his explanation.
"Elf hair, due to different dwelling areas, is mainly golden, silver, or emerald green.
They are tall, very beautiful, chic in appearance; if you've seen them, you certainly wouldn't forget or confuse them."
Their popularity as a race is no joke.
According to statistics, among the players of "Stone of Creation," 80% have had elf character accounts.
The online player base playing as elves consistently maintains over 23%.
They're a distinguished race.
Humans as the second player race maintain an average online rate of below 20%.
Kana seriously suspects the total number of elves might not exceed the player base's elf characters.
"And the Children of the Sea, just as you described, have fin-like ears.
They usually have beautiful scales at the back of their ears, collarbones, and spines, naturally feeling sea currents, and can breathe underwater."
Seeing the group's strong interest, Kana thought for a moment and continued discussing.
"However, the number of Children of the Sea is not large and mostly scattered across fleets and merchant ships, often serving as navigators.
They are a race altered by the Stone of Creation, though not entirely transformed by the complete Stone of Creation.
Rather, using a large piece of the Stone of Creation to bestow attributes that adapt to environments.
In their race's legendary tales.
Their clan leader once held the Stone of Creation and wished thus: 'O gemstone of world creation, source of all life, grant us the ability to safely live at sea.'
His wish and resolve moved that large piece of the Stone of Creation.
Since then, they've sensed the movements of the sea, predicted ensuing tsunamis and storms.
They could also freely breathe underwater and are endowed with the power to safely live at sea."
Upon hearing Kana's narrative, everyone expressed enlightenment with a keen sense of longing.
"Didn't expect the Prince to be so knowledgeable," Blake praised.
Alyris nodded repeatedly, "Mmm, mmm, mmm."
"Prince, is the legend of the Stone of Creation true? Can it grant wishes, fulfill any desire?" Alyris's eyes sparkled with yearning.
The legend of the Stone of Creation is almost pervasive throughout the world, with countless related stories.
Some true, some false, interwoven together make most ordinary people think it's simply myth.
However, those with even some power know the reality behind it.
Especially small fragments, descending into the body directly.
At any moment, someone might activate a fragment within them, becoming a genius and gaining new abilities.
Such occurrences are very common.
"Of course, it's real; otherwise, why would stories of it be everywhere?"
"Is it true?" Blake was surprised, always thinking it was just a myth.
Kana looked at Blake oddly.
Logically, Blake should have known it was true.
Yet, upon thinking further, it seemed reasonable.
The country was in a state both enclosed and open.
Surrounded by sea on three sides and mountains on one.
The single safe land passage wasn't quite convenient to traverse.
Sea routes are limited and unsafe.
Nonetheless, the Safro Kingdom is positioned on the continent's edge, a fairly good spot.
Benefiting from considerable tax income through several ports.
Logically, with such natural conditions and Safro Kingdom's free, lenient policies, it should greatly aid communication and integration.
Yet, reality differs.