It wasn't until the dead of night that the sounds of battle cries and thunderous roars coming from the direction of Gold Lionheart Fortress gradually died down.
Only when the magical radiance enveloping the fortress completely dissipated, plunging the slum area into darkness once more, did the impoverished people huddled in their huts dare, after a long while, to muster their courage and cautiously poke their heads out, gazing toward that dark silhouette shrouded in deathly silence.
"Mom, little Mila, it's okay now... are you hungry?" A young man, after observing for quite some time, finally pulled his head back and turned to ask the hut behind him.
He wore a padded jacket haphazardly stuffed with rags and dried grass, and in his hand, he tightly gripped a crude homemade shortbow and several wooden arrows carved straight, seemingly prepared to venture out.
Inside the hut, a woman wrapped in a tattered blanket was tightly hugging a thin little girl who looked only five or six years old, shivering from the cold.
"Lyle, don't go out, stay here." The woman stretched out a withered hand, pulling Lyle back, her voice firm, her eyes filled with fear and pleading.
Little Mila also lifted her small face from the blanket and nodded vigorously, "Brother, I'm not hungry... don't go."
Her small hands tightly grasped the hem of Lyle's clothes, as if letting go would make her brother disappear.
"I... I just wanted to borrow some food from Uncle Tyler." Lyle hesitated for a moment, looking at the worried faces of his mother and sister, and ultimately did not object. He crawled back into the hut, using a broken piece of wood to barely block the drafty entrance.
Being hungry, he could endure it a little longer. Once he left the slum area and got lost in the night's blizzard, with no shelter from wind and rain, it would be no different from waiting for death.
This was also why, even though such a huge commotion had occurred at Gold Lionheart Fortress, they still hid in this dilapidated slum area and hadn't scattered in panic like frightened rabbits.
It wasn't because these huts were particularly sturdy or reliable; on the contrary, they were rickety and could collapse at any moment from a slightly stronger gust of wind. It was because this was their only shelter in this icy, snowy land. If they left here, they wouldn't survive even one night.
He had even worried that those knightly lords might fight their way here and kick apart the hut he had built with his own hands. Fortunately, that hadn't happened.
Although Lyle had closed his eyes, his mind was not at peace. He felt a vague sense of dread and unease about tonight's commotion.
Ever since that unreliable, alcoholic father of his died in an accident, he had become the sole pillar of this broken family.
No matter how bitter life was, after learning to hunt from Uncle Tyler, they could at least barely survive. Perhaps there was even a chance to save up enough for the passage fee to let little Mila enter the fortress to live, no longer afraid of freezing and starving... This was one of the few remaining hopes in his heart.
And all these hopes were crushed to pieces in tonight's upheaval, leaving only a hollow heart filled with confusion and fear about the future.
Where did those terrifying Magical Creatures come from? What did they want? Would they... eat them? Various terrifying thoughts churned in his mind.
Perhaps... he should find a way to escape from here with Mom and little Mila... But, where could we escape to? From birth until now, he had almost never left this place. The outside world was even more unfamiliar and dangerous to him than this slum area...
Lyle's mind was filled with chaotic thoughts, his eyes nervously closed, his brow furrowed, his body slightly curled up as if trapped in a long and painful nightmare.
The woman sensed his inner turmoil. She didn't say much, just reached out and gently patted Lyle's back, just like when he was a child, then softly hummed a simple melody.
That was the ballad Lyle had heard since he was little, said to be from our homeland. Mother once said that in the distant past, that ballad was sung from the beautiful lutes and voices of Bards, telling of the wind and sea of the homeland, of harvests and love.
But now, we are displaced in a foreign land, drifting from place to place. The ballad has only retained a vague melody, and the homesickness forever hidden within the tune that can never be resolved.
Lordaeron—said to be an inconspicuous city-state among the southern kingdoms. We came from there, but now it has become a homeland we can never return to.
Under his mother's gentle patting and softly hummed hometown ballad, Lyle's taut nerves gradually relaxed a little.
He only hoped tomorrow would come more gently. They were not ready to face any surging waves...
The next morning.
The blizzard that had raged all night finally gradually subsided. The lead-gray clouds cracked open a few gaps, revealing the rare, pale yet precious winter sunlight.
When the first rays of morning sunlight shone through the gaps between the hut's wooden planks onto the damp, cold straw bedding soaked with snow water, Lyle, whose nerves had been tense all night, only managed to fall asleep just before dawn, emitting soft snores.
It wasn't until half an hour later that he gradually woke up under his mother's gentle patting.
"What's wrong, Mom?" Lyle rubbed his sleepy eyes and crawled out from his mother's warm embrace. He felt sore all over, and his throat was as dry as if it were about to smoke.
Little Mila was already awake. Using her small hands to gesture, swallowing her saliva, she whispered, "Brother... a lot of round guys passed by... like... like jelly."
"Slimes?!" Lyle instantly became fully awake, all sleepiness gone.
When he went hunting in the forest with Uncle Tyler, he had encountered this kind of terrifying Magical Creature before, especially that icy Frost Slime. The ice spikes it spat had once pierced a bloody hole in the hand of a fellow hunter.
The painful wail and splattering blood were still a nightmare he couldn't shake off.
This sudden news made him even more uneasy. Had those Magical Creatures that captured the fortress already started moving around the slum area? What did they want to do?
Right at that moment, a light knocking sound came from outside the hut, along with a familiar, hushed voice:
"It's me, Tyler."
"Mom, I'll go out and take a look first." Lyle said to his mother, then carefully moved aside the plank blocking the door and crawled out from the low doorway.
Outside, although the sunlight was pale, the snow hadn't melted yet, but it could still drive away some of the chill.
The snow reflected a blinding light. A thin, middle-aged man stood outside the hut, constantly rubbing his frost-reddened hands and blowing white breath into his palms.
He wore a coat barely stitched together from several pieces of worn animal hide. A shortbow, a short knife, and several animal traps hung from his waist, making him look much more professional than Lyle.
He was Tyler, a friend of Lyle's father before his death, and one of the few neighbors willing to help and teach Lyle hunting skills after Lyle's father died.
"Uncle Tyler, what happened?" Lyle quickly asked, his voice tense.
Seeing him come out, Tyler visibly relaxed, stepping forward to give his shoulder a firm pat. "Good thing you're alright, kid. That commotion last night scared the hell out of me. I thought your rickety shack had collapsed from the shock."
"As for what happened last night..." The man looked left and right, confirming there were no outsiders around, then lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously, "I heard the lords inside the fortress provoked a Giant Dragon. Now the inside has been taken over and turned into a dragon's lair!"
"A Giant Dragon?!" A surge of instinctive fear welled up in Lyle's heart.
That was a terrifying creature that existed only in legends and Bard ballads, capable of breathing fire or ice, impervious to swords and spears, able to swallow an entire cow in one bite.
If a Giant Dragon really had occupied the fortress... wouldn't people like them become snacks at any moment?
Tyler gave his head another annoyed pat. "Look at you, scaredy-cat! What's there to be afraid of!"
He rubbed his hands, his tone becoming more confident, as if bolstering himself and Lyle. "Didn't you see those Slimes passing by just now? They must all be that Giant Dragon's servants."
"I heard there are Slimes distributing food up ahead. Based on Uncle Tyler's years of experience, this must be that Giant Dragon recruiting slaves to serve it."
"What if..." Lyle couldn't help but worry.
"No what ifs!" Tyler interrupted him, reaching out to put an arm around Lyle's thin shoulders, speaking in a tempting tone. "Imagine it: that never-ending food, warm shelter. A single cow leg that falls from between the Dragon Lord's teeth would be enough for us to gnaw on for days."
His eyes sparkled with excitement, as if he could already see a beautiful future. "In the future, I'll brush the Dragon Lord's scales, and you'll trim its claws. Guaranteed you won't starve. We might even save up some treasures."
"Remember how Uncle taught you to hunt back then? Be brave! The opportunity is right in front of us!" Tyler shook Lyle vigorously.
Lyle hesitated for a moment. Looking at the familiar gleam in Uncle Tyler's eyes, and remembering his mother and sister shivering from hunger in the hut, he finally made up his mind and nodded firmly. "Alright!"
He went back to report his safety to his mother and little sister. Of course, he didn't dare say he was going to become a lackey for the Dragon Lord. He only vaguely said Uncle Tyler needed him for something and they might be able to find some food.
Then he followed Uncle Tyler, joining the gradually gathering, sparse stream of people, and boldly made his way toward the fortress.
The snow on the road was thick, making each step sink deep. Most of the impoverished people around looked sallow and thin, their eyes numb or fearful. They rarely spoke to each other, just silently followed the flow of people.
By the time they reached the food distribution point, a crooked, long line had already formed. The end of the line was right under the massive iron-clad wooden gate of Gold Lionheart Fortress.
Lyle stood at the back of the line, couldn't help but stand on his toes and crane his neck to look ahead.
Under the fortress gate, several Slimes with bodies flowing with flame were spewing orange-red flames at a temporarily built earthen and stone oven, burning firewood.
Not long after, some unknown tubers, their exteriors roasted to a crispy golden brown, even slightly cracked to reveal their powdery white flesh inside, were carefully scooped out of the oven by several other Slimes using small shovels and placed on a stone slab covered with clean leaves nearby.
The sweet, starchy aroma and charred fragrance of cooked starch rose with the steam, rapidly spreading through the cold air.
"Mmm... smells so good." Tyler, standing in front of Lyle, couldn't help but sniff hard, greedily inhaling the faint charred aroma in the air. It was so enticing his soul felt almost hooked, and his stomach let out an even louder, embarrassing rumble.
Looking back, Lyle was also covering his stomach, his eyes fixed intently on the delicacies on the stone slab ahead, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down constantly.
When the two made eye contact, their eyes shone brightly, like hungry wolves spotting a fat sheep.
G-good... it really seems like they're distributing food!
"Buck up, kid. Don't embarrass us!" Tyler gave Lyle's back a firm pat, whispering instructions. "We must let the Dragon Lord see our strengths!"
Lyle hesitated a little, asking softly, "Do we... have any strengths?"
"Ah! Never mind strengths or not." Tyler said urgently. "Hurry up and follow, the line is moving!"
The long line indeed began to slowly move forward. Although these Slimes' actions in distributing food looked a bit clumsy, their efficiency was surprisingly high. Before long, it was Tyler and Lyle's turn.
Standing on either side of the distribution point, acting as guards and maintaining order were two silver-gray Metal Slimes. They wore little helmets and carried small Spears, their small eyes revealing seriousness, seeming not very easy to talk to.
Tyler rubbed his hands, putting on what he thought was his most sincere smile, saying politely, "Slime lords, you see... could I become the Dragon Lord's servant? I can do anything! Brush scales, trim claws, clean the lair, I'm good at everything!"
Tyler patted his chest, trying hard to sell himself.
"Huh?"
The two Metal Slimes emitted confused hums, their round bodies wobbling slightly, then replied to him through "Mental Resonance."
"Mmm! We are guards of the Slime Kingdom!" One of the Metal Slimes straightened its round body, correcting him seriously.
"Recruiting farmers." The other Metal Slime added.
"Right, recruiting farmers, and shepherds." The first Slime agreed, nodding its round head.
"Farmers? Shepherds?" Tyler was stunned. This wasn't quite what he had imagined for "Dragon Lord's servants." He had imagined nervously serving a terrifying Giant Dragon. How had it turned into farming and herding sheep?
But who cares if it's serving a dragon or farming and herding sheep? As long as there's food to eat and work to do.
The smile on his face grew even brighter as he rubbed his hands. "Hehe, you lords have found the right person. I am a shepherd, been dealing with sheep since I was little. Those sheep, when they see me, they're closer than seeing their own mother."
He was talking nonsense. At most, he had picked up wild goat droppings at the forest edge to use as fuel.
"And this guy behind me..." He pushed the still somewhat dazed Lyle forward. "Look, this kid has an honest, simple face, clearly born for farming. He... he's been farming since birth."
Lyle was pushed so hard he stumbled, looking up in confusion.
When had he ever farmed?
He hadn't even stepped onto a proper field ridge more than a few times. At most, he had helped Uncle Tyler scatter some vegetable seeds on a palm-sized patch of empty land next to the hut, and they had all withered from lack of water.
Tyler gave his back a heavy pat. Only then did Lyle snap out of it. Seeing Uncle Tyler frantically giving him eye signals, he quickly stammered and nodded, "Y-yes... that's right, I'm really good at farming. I... the vegetables I grow are delicious."
"Oh..." The two Metal Slime guards looked at each other, their round eyes flashing with amazement, their bodies swaying slightly as if in admiration.
Tyler seized the opportunity, rubbing his hands and asking sheepishly, "Um, may I ask, lords, for shepherds and farmers... is food provided?"
The Metal Slimes looked at each other again, then puffed out their little chests, emphasizing, "Eat until full!"
"That's wonderful!"
"Here, your food." A Slime holding a stone slab hopped over, handing two roasted tubers with crispy golden-brown skins to Tyler and Lyle respectively.
The roasted tubers were large, bigger than an adult's fist, heavy and warm in their hands, emitting an intoxicating aroma.
"Thank you, lords! Thank you, lords!" Tyler was so happy the wrinkles on his face smoothed out. He thanked them repeatedly, respectfully accepting the food with both hands as if holding some treasure.
He couldn't wait to take a small bite. The skin was crispy, the inside powdery, soft, and sweet. The warm sensation instantly drove away the chill and hunger in his body, making him so happy he almost fainted.
Lyle also bowed and thanked them in a similar manner, but when he received that fragrant roasted tuber, he didn't eat it immediately.
He looked at the aromatic food in his arms, then thought of his mother and little sister still starving in the hut, a hesitant expression appearing on his face.
He swallowed his saliva, forcing down the hunger in his stomach, planning to save this precious food for them.
"Stomach very big?" The Flame Slime that handed over the food seemed to notice Lyle's hesitation. Its round body tilted slightly, emitting a questioning mental fluctuation.
It thought Lyle felt one piece wasn't enough.
Lyle quickly waved his hands, stammering to explain, "N-no, it's not that, I... I want to save it for Mom and my sister..."
"Eat until full!" The Metal Slime guard emphasized seriously again. Then, under Lyle's gaze, the two Slimes hopped over again, each holding another roasted tuber of the same size, and presented them to him.
"Thank you... thank you, lords!" Lyle snapped out of his immense surprise, his eyes instantly reddening. This time, his gratitude came from the heart.
He flusteredly accepted the other two pieces of food, hugging the three warm roasted tubers to his chest. For a moment, he seemed dazed, a faint glimmer of hope for future life seeming to rise within him.
The Metal Slime snorted, its round body swaying proudly. "Tomorrow morning, gather here."
"Bring family. Same, eat until full."
"Yes! Slime lords!"