Devouring World Dragon

Chapter 4 Waiting by the Sea
"Crash..."

Along the rocky coastline, the boundless blue sea remained restless, with waves churning and crashing against the rocks.

On the shore, a blonde girl dressed in a thin dress sat on a rock, barefoot, holding a ram's horn trumpet in her hands, playing it peacefully.

"Woo..."

The sobbing, low sound, accompanied by the waves crashing against the rocks, created a penetrating tone that sounded ethereal and beautiful against the backdrop of the waves.

In the damp, salty sea breeze stirred by the waves, the girl's dress fluttered gently, her long golden hair scattering, making her appear even more ethereal and otherworldly.

This flute-like instrument, with several finger holes punched into the ram's horn, was originally used by shepherdesses to call their flocks. However, it eventually became a beloved instrument among the North people because of its deep and melodious sound.

And this young girl was the most skilled ram's horn player on the entire island of Rogner.

On Rogner Island, almost everyone who heard her play exclaimed, "This is a beautiful melody that would move even the gods."

But what broke the hearts of almost all the young men on Rogner Island was that this beautiful girl had married someone else just a few months earlier. Yet, at this moment, this newlywed girl was playing an instrument on the shore, her low voice revealing a hint of sorrow.

After a long while, the sound gradually subsided.

She gently put down the ram's horn trumpet in her hand, and then, gazing at the vast, endless sea before her, the girl stared intently into the distance, as if she were anticipating something.

"Moo..."

Just then, accompanied by the mooing of cattle, a middle-aged man driving a herd of cattle passed by on a path not far from her.

Looking at the girl on the shore, the burly, bearded middle-aged man shouted loudly at her.

"Lina! Are you still waiting?"

Upon hearing the voice, the girl turned around and smiled as she looked at the middle-aged man in front of her.

"Uncle Trive."

The middle-aged man, known as Trive, looked at the girl he had watched grow up. Although his face was full of smiles, the deep sorrow between his brows was impossible to erase.

Kyle had been at sea for several months, and almost everyone who went out at the same time as him returned within a month with a full load of food. Only Kyle and old Boots had not returned. Everyone knew that something had probably happened to them, and they would never come back, but only Lina refused to believe it and chose to continue waiting.

And before they knew it, autumn had arrived.

Thinking it over, Trive sighed softly and then continued.

"Lina, Kyle has been at sea for several months now, perhaps..."

Halfway through his sentence, seeing the deepening sorrow in Lina's eyes, Trevor quickly realized what was happening and changed the subject.

"Actually, Bertin has always liked you. He said he'd marry you anytime you're willing... If you think Bertin is too impulsive, then Ella is fine too. She's steady and reliable..."

When he mentioned Bertin, seeing that Lina's face remained unmoved, Treve quickly changed his tune.

"Uncle Trive."

However, Lina interrupted Trif directly.

Trif's voice stopped abruptly, and under his gaze, Lina simply shook her head calmly.

"I've made up my mind, I will continue to wait for him."

Her voice was clear and gentle, but at this moment it sounded very decisive.

Trive opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

"What if Kyle still doesn't come back?"

"Then I'll keep waiting."

"What if Kyle never comes back?" "Then I'll wait for him here for the rest of my life."

Lina's resolute and stubborn voice reached Trif's ears.

Trif stared in astonishment at her stubborn expression, and could only sigh helplessly before driving the cattle away.

After Trif left, a look of sadness gradually appeared on Lina's face. She lowered her head, her slender, fair fingers tightly gripping the ram's horn, completely unaware that they had turned bright red.

……

The next day.

Inside the only temple on Rogner Island.

Inside the temple, the statue of the handsome sea god Njord was enshrined at the top, even other gods had to bow down to it, while the elderly prophetess sat quietly inside the temple, muttering words that no one else could understand.

Beside her, Lina pleaded desperately.

"Grandma Karin, tell me, what's wrong with my husband Kyle?"

In the Norse belief system, the female prophets in the temples possess the power to communicate with the gods and the spirits of the dead. Therefore, Lina, in desperation, had no choice but to seek the help of the female prophets on the island. However, Grandma Karin, who had always been obedient to her, remained silent at this moment, refusing to speak no matter how much Lina pleaded.

Left with no other choice, Lina had to leave.

"Squeak..."

Upon hearing the door close, the elderly prophet's murmured words abruptly ceased. Then, the temple fell into a deathly silence.

After a long while, a curious voice suddenly came into the prophet's ear.

Why didn't you tell her?

The prophetess showed no surprise at the sudden voice beside her; she was already used to these undead and elves that appeared from time to time.

She sighed.

"If Lina knew that her husband had gone to the land of the dead, wouldn't she faint?"

"Did her husband get caught in a storm?"

"The elf said in surprise."

"If that were all, I wouldn't have such a headache."

The prophet smiled wryly.

"But the problem is, Kayle died at the hands of Jormungandr, the son of Loki, and was swallowed whole by that giant serpent... If Lina finds out, wouldn't she want to avenge her Kayle?"

"But that's the son of a god! Who can defeat the son of a god? Besides, Lina is just a weak girl. If she stubbornly goes to sea, she might not even see Jormungandr before she..."

The prophetic woman was rambling on and on, when suddenly...

"Crack!"

Outside the door, there was a sound of something falling to the ground.

The crisp sound immediately startled the prophetess awake.

The prophet was startled and turned around to look, only to see Lina, who had appeared outside the temple with a dazed expression, seemingly out of nowhere.

At her feet, the ram's horn trumpet that had slipped from her palm rolled on the ground.

(End of this chapter)