Chapter 383 - 368: Parting

Chapter 383: Chapter 368: Parting

Rudolph.

Roland had first heard the name Rudolph from the Giant Dragon he encountered in Wuxi Town.

Because of his [Animal Companion] Trait, he had been mistaken for a descendant of this mysterious figure. This allowed him to obtain the Dragon Race Bloodline, which in turn triggered the prompt for the [Dragon Descendant] Profession, causing his power to increase by leaps and bounds.

Afterward, Roland had tried to find clues about this person in various ancient texts, but in the end, he only found a single, brief record in a fragmented scroll titled *Heroic Epic*.

"In the year 497 of the Crystal Calendar, Rudolph single-handedly held back the Demons invading the world from the Eye of the Abyss, and was thereafter hailed as a hero."

Beyond that, there were no further descriptions.

’But how could that be possible? The power of the Dragon Race is vividly recorded in almost every surviving ancient text. And a Dragon Descendant, one who carries the Dragon Race Bloodline, surely couldn’t be an ordinary person. Even if such a being was eventually lost to the river of time, he should have left more of a mark. Besides, his ability to single-handedly fend off the invasion of the Abyssal Influence was a testament to his undeniable power. Records of such a legendary figure shouldn’t be so scarce.’

Thus, Roland had always harbored a strong curiosity about this hero named Rudolph.

Of course, his curiosity went no further than that.

After all, a hero who had died many years ago would have no real impact on his current situation.

So, he hadn’t deliberately sought out the deeds of this hero since then.

But since Galvis, who stood before him, seemed to have personally experienced—or at least had in-depth knowledge of—the first Abyssal invasion, the "Eye of the Abyss" incident of the Crystal Era, Roland didn’t mind asking a few questions to satisfy his long-held curiosity.

"Rudolph?"

Hearing Roland’s question, Galvis didn’t stop the quill in his hand, which continued to scratch across the page.

He didn’t even look up, his tone casual.

"Roland, this person you mentioned, does he have any more specific characteristics? You see..."

The Minstrel frowned, looking thoughtful.

"In the ancient tongue, the name ’Rudolph’ often symbolizes rebellion and genius, and is associated with mysticism. It’s often interpreted as ’the triumphant outcast.’"

"For that very reason... many ancient noble families liked to give their children this distinctive name."

"The triumphant... outcast?"

Hearing this somewhat convoluted interpretation, Roland raised an eyebrow slightly, then spoke cautiously.

"Based on the information I have, during the ’Eye of the Abyss’ incident in the Crystal Era, he single-handedly held back the invading Demon army..."

"Wait!"

Before the words were even out of his mouth, Galvis eagerly cut him off, leaning in closer with a curious glint in his eyes.

"So... Roland, how did you become interested in him?"

"Is it because..."

Considering that the Traits of his Dragonification were already apparent and that Galvis was one of his most trusted companions, Roland didn’t hide anything. He recounted his encounter with the Giant Dragon in Wuxi Town from beginning to end.

"I see, I see!"

After hearing Roland’s story, Galvis was so excited he was practically dancing with joy.

"To think that the hero my teacher wrote about was also a Dragon Descendant, and that you, Roland, now carry Dragon Blood because of it! This is... a wondrous twist of fate! I knew choosing you as the protagonist of my epic was the right decision! No..."

At this, he simply dropped to the ground, completely disregarding his appearance. He began to scribble furiously with his quill, muttering to himself.

"I must write this down immediately! When my teacher sees this record, he will be very, extremely satisfied with my academic progress!"

"Galvis... Galvis!"

Seeing his companion completely lost in his own world, Roland had to raise his voice.

Only when the Minstrel finally looked up did Roland continue, a bit exasperatedly.

"You just mentioned... your teacher? Does that mean you’re quite familiar with the Rudolph I’m talking about?"

"Er... well... I suppose you could say I know a little..."

Seeming to realize he had lost his composure just now, Galvis awkwardly touched his cheek.

"Remember what I told you before, Roland? Every Minstrel must complete their own story and epic. It’s a lifelong endeavor that we must constantly perfect, and it’s also the path to advancement for our Profession, although..."

As he spoke, he carefully finished writing the last few lines, then dusted off his knees and stood up.

"I’m not sure in what form this method specifically enhances my Power, but..."

Sensing he was getting off-topic, Galvis quickly steered the conversation back.

"In any case, the Rudolph you mentioned is the central character in the story my teacher chronicled."

"So..."

Seeing Galvis still hadn’t gotten to the point, Roland waved his hand in exasperation.

"What kind of person was this Rudolph, exactly?"

Hearing Roland’s question, Galvis’s eyes immediately lit up.

He cleared his throat, struck a dramatic pose unique to Minstrels, and swept his quill through the air in an elegant arc.

"Ah, Rudolph! He is a living Legend, the brightest star in the darkest night, the perfect protagonist a Minstrel could only dream of!"

Galvis’s tone was rhythmic and full of infectious energy.

"His valor rivaled that of the ancient war gods, his wisdom surpassed that of the thousand-year-old sages! Every move he made held the rhythm of poetry, every choice he made shone with the light of destiny."

"In my teacher’s writings, he is so perfect that any adjective pales in comparison..."

Roland listened quietly to this magnificent praise, and only when Galvis finally paused for breath did he calmly press on.

"And then what? What specific deeds did this perfect hero actually accomplish? What did he look like? What weapon did he use?"

"Well..."

Galvis’s soaring enthusiasm suddenly froze. He scratched his scalp sheepishly, his voice dropping a few notches.

"Actually... my teacher’s story isn’t finished yet, so I’m not very clear on the specific deeds..."

Roland’s brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of displeasure crossing his eyes.

He had spent time telling his own story only to get a pile of empty adjectives in return. It made him feel like he was wasting his time.

He glanced at Galvis in silence, the clear disappointment in his eyes making the Minstrel squirm.

"Hey, don’t look at me like that, Roland!"

Galvis waved his hands awkwardly and hurriedly explained.

"But I promise you, in the time I’ve been following you, I’ve already recorded countless wonderful adventures! I’m preparing to return to the Eternal Song Forest to have my teacher review my work."

"When I do, I’ll be sure to ask him for all the details about Rudolph for you."

Hearing Galvis’s words, Roland was slightly taken aback and blurted out instinctively.

"Wait, you’re going back to the Eternal Song Forest?"

"That’s right..."

Galvis stuck his quill back into the inkwell at his waist and patted the dusty corners of his clothes.

"It’s time to go back and let my teacher see what I’ve accomplished."

He suddenly stopped, keenly catching the fleeting emotion in Roland’s eyes. A mischievous smile immediately spread across his lips.

"What’s this? Could it be that our ever-calm hero, Roland, is reluctant to see me go?"

To his surprise, Roland neither denied it nor brushed it off with a cold reply as he usually would. Instead, he simply gave a frank, gentle nod.

Although he hadn’t known the Minstrel for very long—and the man usually acted loud and flighty, often getting lost in his own world at inappropriate times while chronicling stories—beneath that unreliable exterior, Galvis had never once let him down in a real crisis.

Behind his seemingly carefree facade lay a sharp observational eye and unwavering loyalty.

’A companion like that is truly worth cherishing.’

Seeing Roland’s honest response, a warm glint flashed in Galvis’s eyes.

He dropped his playful expression, took a solemn step forward, and placed a hand gently on his chest, performing an elegant Minstrel’s bow.

"Don’t worry, my dear friend."

His voice was uncharacteristically gentle and sincere.

"I’ll return to your side as soon as I’ve reported my findings to my teacher. After all..."

He looked up, his eyes once again twinkling with that familiar light—the insatiable hunger for a great story.

"How could I possibly let go of someone who is destined to be the protagonist of a legendary epic? My story is far from finished."

Before his words had fully faded, a clear voice called out from the side.

"Wait!"

Looking toward the sound, he saw Avril and Teresa approaching with some simple food.

The previously high-spirited Galvis immediately shrank back like a deflated balloon upon seeing the Elf Maiden, his bravado visibly diminishing.

Avril handed Roland the food she was carrying—a rather humble meal of just a few pieces of coarse bread and a small chunk of cheese—and explained apologetically,

"Sorry, Roland. Supplies are limited. This will have to do for now."

Then, her gaze shifted to Galvis, her brow raised slightly.

"I thought I heard... you say you’re returning to the Eternal Song Forest?"

"Ye-yes."

Galvis’s voice dropped unconsciously, lacking some of its usual confidence.

"Perfect."

Avril walked over to his side, patted him lightly on the shoulder, and said in a calm tone,

"I have something I need to go back for as well."

"What? Have you gone mad?!"

Galvis, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, shrieked, his voice suddenly pitching high with incredulous shock.

"Avril! Many years may have passed, but the Elder Council has never rescinded the warrant for your arrest! Going back now is no different from walking straight into a trap!"

Faced with Galvis’s vehement reaction, Avril offered no explanation, merely shaking her head with a determined tone.

"There are some things I must take care of."

Before Galvis could object again, she decisively changed the subject, turning her gaze back to Roland, who was eating quietly.

"What about you, Roland? What are your plans?"