Old Graveyard

The next morning, sunlight dispersed the thin mist over the outskirts of Orlando City, the air carrying a cool hint of grass and dew.

After a simple breakfast, Xia Lin and Sera followed the vague map to the abandoned old graveyard.

The iron gate at the graveyard's entrance was already rusty and askew, gaping open like the weathered mouth of an old person, silently recounting the desolation of time.

Several toppled tombstones lay scattered near the entrance, their inscriptions blurred and obscured by moss and unknown vines.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse tree canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground, which dispelled some of the gloom.

"This sun is as fierce as a furnace. What blind undead would dare crawl out to sun their bones at this hour?" Xia Lin squinted, surveying the sun-drenched graveyard ahead. The newly acquired longsword at his waist swayed gently with his movements.

"Shut up, human." Sera's voice came from behind her veil, as cold as ever. Her purple tail swished impatiently beneath her robes. "Save your 'crow's mouth' energy and don't wake up those fellows who like to nap in the dark. I won't be responsible for collecting your corpse then."

Xia Lin pursed his lips and fell silent, beginning to examine the graveyard carefully.

This old graveyard, it was said, was once the final resting place for many nobles and wealthy merchants in the early days of Orlando City's establishment.

Back then, it was filled with tombstones and exquisite statues, where relatives often came to mourn, and the air was filled with the scent of flowers and incense.

As the city expanded and new burial grounds were established, this place gradually fell into disuse.

War, plague, and the relentless erosion of time had transformed this once glorious place into its current dilapidated state.

Broken statues, collapsed tombs, and withered trees that whined in the night wind all contributed to this forgotten corner.

The "Graveyard Phantom" the old dwarf spoke of, favored such damp, gloomy places, filled with the stench of death and undisturbed by the outside world.

Just as Xia Lin and Sera were about to step through the rusty iron gate, low voices drifted from not far away.

Xia Lin followed the sound and saw three people standing on another path beside the graveyard entrance.

Leading them was a young girl who looked no older than sixteen or seventeen.

She wore a well-tailored, light blue riding outfit that made her skin appear as white as snow. Her golden hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, shining with a healthy luster in the sunlight.

She even had a short sword inlaid with tiny gems hanging at her waist; it looked more like a luxurious accessory than a weapon.

A hint of nonchalance graced the girl's face, and her pair of clear blue eyes curiously surveyed the graveyard. A faint smile played on her lips, as if this desolate place was merely an unusual scenic spot on a casual outing.

Beside the girl stood a slightly older young man.

He was dressed in a sophisticated dark riding suit, his figure tall and straight, his features handsome, though a hint of lingering melancholy shadowed his brow.

His gaze towards Xia Lin and Sera was filled with alertness and undisguised scrutiny. One hand instinctively rested on the hilt of his sword, and his body was slightly angled towards the girl, as if ready to shield her at any moment.

Xia Lin noticed that when the young man spoke to the girl, he always bowed slightly, his posture conveying a deliberate respect, yet his eyes seemed to be trying hard to conceal something.

The last of the three, standing behind them, was a silent middle-aged man.

He appeared to be around forty, stout, and wore a well-maintained chainmail that gleamed with metallic luster. A kite shield and a battle axe, shimmering with magical light, were strapped to his back.

He stood like a silent iron tower, exuding an aura of calm composure forged through countless battles.

Upon seeing Xia Lin and Sera, he simply nodded calmly, a greeting of sorts. His eyes were sharp but not hostile.

"Are you two also here at this old graveyard... to visit old friends?" the middle-aged man asked first, his voice steady.

Xia Lin's heart stirred. These three were not dressed like ordinary people, and their demeanor was vastly different from that of common Adventurers. Especially the girl; she didn't look like someone who would come to such a place for a "spring outing."

"Something like that," Xia Lin replied vaguely, putting on a professional smile. "We're looking for something. And you folks?"

"Handling some private business." The young man interjected coldly, his tone stiff. His gaze swept over Xia Lin's reinforced Leather Armor and longsword with a hint of disdain.

The girl seemed unfazed by the tense atmosphere. Instead, she curiously observed Sera, particularly her robes and veil that concealed her entire body. "Sister, aren't you hot?" she tilted her head, her voice as clear as a silver bell.

Sera did not respond, only her gaze behind the veil grew colder.

"Ahem," the middle-aged man intervened, offering an apologetic smile to Xia Lin and Sera. "Children can be thoughtless. Please excuse us."

"Please, go ahead." Xia Lin shrugged. He didn't want any trouble with these seemingly troublesome individuals. He tugged at Sera's sleeve, signaling her to enter first.

Sera snorted and stepped through the rusty iron gate of the graveyard.

Xia Lin followed closely, brushing past the other group.

After Xia Lin and Sera's figures disappeared among the crooked tombstones deep within the graveyard, the young man immediately turned to the girl, his tone tinged with anxiety and displeasure. "Miss! Why must you personally come to such a filthy place? What if you catch something unclean..."

"Oh, Roland, you're becoming more and more like my father with your nagging." The girl pouted in annoyance, shaking the delicate silver bell bracelet on her wrist. "Besides, Little Feather is sick. How can I just watch it suffer and do nothing?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man's face broke into a helpless and doting smile. He stepped forward, tidied the girl's wind-blown hair, and said gently, "Miss Freya, I suspect you mostly wanted to sneak out and have some fun this time, didn't you? It's just a pity for us old bones to have to accompany you to this desolate wilderness to catch a cold." Although his words were teasing, his eyes were filled with concern and loyalty for the girl.

Freya made a face, then waved her small hand and walked towards the rusty iron gate of the graveyard. "Alright, alright, I know you two care about me the most. Since we're here, let's get down to business! Little Feather can't wait!"

Baroque watched the girl's brisk retreating figure, his expression becoming extremely serious. He turned to Roland and said in a deep voice, "Protect the Miss." Then he followed Freya, and before entering the graveyard, he solemnly promised Freya, "Miss, rest assured, no matter what danger we face, old Barro will risk his life to keep you safe."

Freya heard this, turned back with a smile, sunlight catching the tips of her golden hair, making them dazzling. "Uncle Barro, I've heard those words so many times they're practically ingrained!" Her tone was light, as if she didn't take the potential danger to heart at all. She skipped into the silent graveyard.

Roland followed behind them. Listening to Barro's impassioned vows and seeing Freya's carefree demeanor, he couldn't help but grumble inwardly, "Risk his life? Hmph, if it ever came to the point where you had to risk your life, I'd probably have reported to the God of Death long before you..."

He took a deep breath, tightened his grip on his sword hilt, and his vigilant gaze swept over the shadowy tombstones and statues within the graveyard. He quickened his pace to catch up.