Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Dragonbone City.

It is named after the Dragonbone Mountains where it is located.

That mountain range stretches across the southern part of the continent of Akara; it is the longest and highest mountain range.

Extending eastward from the Blackwater Corridor in the west, it traverses the vast, boundless desert, reaching the central hinterland.

It is a natural geographical barrier.

It is precisely because of its existence.

In the thirty years following the descent of the demon god, the borderlands suffered almost no large-scale invasions by demons.

Until ten years ago.

The Kuroshio tributary, flowing from Giant's Canyon, shattered the peace of this remote land.

The disaster caused countless families to be separated and triggered the largest evacuation in the history of the border region.

Dragonbone City is situated between the emerald tundra and the Dragonbone Mountains.

Although it was called a city-state, it was actually not very large.

It was originally just a supply depot set up by the Transport Guild on the edge of the turquoise tundra for caravans traveling to and from the tundra to rest.

It gradually developed into a small city with a permanent population of only 20,000 to 30,000.

Most of them were caravan guards, porters, ordinary merchants, adventurers, and their families.

The architectural style of the city-state was very practical.

There were no fancy decorations, just low houses made of thick stone blocks.

The roof is covered with a thick layer of moss, which provides both warmth and privacy.

The streets are not wide, but they are paved smoothly.

There were general stores, blacksmith shops and taverns on both sides, their signs swaying in the wind.

Lin Gui sat on his staff, almost nestled against Elvia's back, and drifted toward the small town.

He was unable to use his body properly; his left arm was broken, and the pain in his ribs made him have to be careful with every breath.

If it weren't for the levitation spell supporting him, he wouldn't even be able to sit still.

Elvia, on the other hand, seemed more energetic.

After eating white bread and drinking honey water, I felt like I had been reborn.

She supported Lin Gui with one hand and controlled the direction of her staff with the other, her bright eyes looking towards Dragonbone City.

The staff swayed and floated across the low hills, and the outline of Dragonbone City became clearer and clearer.

Before even entering the city, Lin Gui saw the towering mountain range.

Dragonbone Mountains.

It lies before us like a massive city wall, separating the borderlands from the central heartland.

The mountain is grayish-white, gleaming faintly in the sunlight.

The mountain peaks soared into the clouds, their summits hidden in the clouds and completely invisible.

Lin Gui looked at the mountain peaks with a complicated expression.

Especially that tallest mountain peak, whose top can never be seen.

A very faint emotion flashed in his eyes.

But it was suppressed in an instant.

Elvia didn't notice any of this. She manipulated her staff and flew directly towards the city gate.

The city gates were wide open, but there was no one at the entrance.

The sentry posts on the city wall were empty, with only a few faded flags fluttering weakly in the wind.

Lin Gui glanced at it and immediately understood.

It seems that the nobles here have also received news of the black tide breaking out in the borderlands and have fled with their forces.

The staff floated into the city gate and landed on the street.

As soon as Elvia landed, she put Lin Gui aside and rushed towards the nearest inn.

She desperately wanted to take a hot bath.

Lin Gui stumbled, lost his balance, and fell to the ground.

"hiss--"

He grimaced in pain, the excruciating pain in his left arm making his vision blur, and his ribs felt like they were being stabbed.

Using his oak staff for support, he struggled to sit up and looked in the direction where Elvia had disappeared.

That guy has long since disappeared.

This guy.

Lin Gui muttered something to himself, but he was too lazy to curse anymore.

Forget it.

He leaned on his staff, adjusted his posture to make himself a little more comfortable, and then looked up at the street.

It was deserted.

It was very deserted.

There weren't many people on the street. Occasionally, a few pedestrians would walk by, but they were always in a hurry, with their heads down and obvious unease on their faces.

The shops on both sides were still open, but the shop owners stood at their doorways, glancing westward from time to time with serious expressions.

He had just glanced around the city wall and indeed didn't see many city defense soldiers.

Lin Gui, supporting himself with his staff, floated up and drifted deeper into the street.

It took about an hour to get here from the tundra.

His body doesn't allow him to do anything too strenuous; just floating slowly like this is enough.

His injuries were beyond the healing power of herbal medicine.

My bones are broken, my magic is depleted, and the extent of my internal injuries is unknown.

He desperately needs a pastor.

Generally, when an injured adventurer suffers a serious injury, he will go to a church to ask a priest for treatment.

But churches aren't something every city-state has.

When he first came in, he looked down from above.

There are no churches or other special buildings in this small town.

Lin Gui couldn't be mistaken.

Then there's only one place you can go to find a priest.

Adventurers' Guild.

Lin Gui, supporting himself with his staff, floated away.

After asking several residents with serious expressions along the way, we quickly found the place.

It's located in a relatively inland area of ​​Dragonbone City.

Lin Gui met the Adventurers' Guild, which he hadn't seen in a long time.

The Adventurers' Guild in Dragonbone City is a two-story stone building.

A faded sign hangs at the entrance, bearing the emblem of the Adventurers' Guild.

The door was open, and a cacophony of voices could be heard from inside.

Lin Gui, supporting himself with his staff, floated inside.

The guild hall was quite crowded, mostly with young people.

They stood around the notice board looking at something, or gathered in twos and threes to chat.

They wore simple leather armor and carried a variety of weapons.

Some carried swords, some carried bows, and some simply carried a wooden stick.

The moment Lin Gui floated in, many people looked up at him.

Those gazes held curiosity, scrutiny, and a hint of longing.

Lin Gui was also sizing them up.

young.

too young.

Those faces were all incredibly youthful, some looking only fifteen or sixteen years old.

Lin Gui could tell their strength at a glance.

Internship.

Internship.

Still an intern.

Occasionally, there are one or two low-level beings, who are already the strongest here.

None of them reached the high level.

The minimum requirement for the priest class is a high-ranking priest.

In other words... there is no priest.

Lin Gui's heart sank.

The Kuroshio Current is currently nearby.

Anyone with the ability would not stay in this city-state near the border.

Have all the priests I need run away?

Lin Gui, who had come to Dragonbone City intending to seek medical treatment, had no idea about this.

He withdrew his gaze and drifted toward the counter.

A young woman was standing behind the counter.

She wore the guild's uniform gray cotton dress, her hair was tied up at the back of her head, revealing her smooth forehead.

She was stunned when she saw Lin Gui floating over.

The levitation spell on the staff made her eyes flash with surprise.

She understood the special nature of this magic far better than any of the novices present.

She quickly regained her composure and flashed a professional smile.

"Is there anything I can help you with, adventurer... sir?"

She paused on the word "adult," her tone tinged with a hint of probing.

Having worked in Dragonbone City for so many years, she knows almost all the local adventurers.

She was certain that the disheveled mage in front of her was not from this place.

The Black Tide is raging right now, and yet adventurers from outside have come here?

Lin Gui, leaning on his staff, looked up at her.

His face was covered in blood and ashes.

His left arm hung limply at an odd angle.

His robes were tattered, revealing skin covered in bruises and abrasions.

But when he spoke, his voice was very calm.

"I need a pastor."

"I want to post a treatment request."

Upon hearing Lin Gui's request, the saleswoman said to Lin Gui with slight embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, most of the priests in Dragonbone City... have already fled to the east."

Lin Gui's disappointment was visible to the naked eye.

Just as he was about to leave the Adventurers' Guild and consider finding a private clinic,

One of the young men among the group of apprentice adventurers couldn't help but speak up.

"priest?"

"Monica from the Thousand Towers Squad, who went to complete an advanced mission."

"He seems to be just a pastor."

"I remember she didn't leave."