I'm Here!

In mid-March, the gentle spring wind traveled south, passed along hundreds of miles of great river, and arrived at the edge of the boundless great lake. The blue Pacific stretched as far as the eye could see, its waves glittering with rippling light, the tides rising and falling day and night, enough to break the heart of anyone who looked upon it.

"What a vast sea! What a man's romance!"

Xolotl rode in a dugout canoe, stopping at the edge of the sea, gazing out over the ocean with a sigh. Toward the azure sea, he too held an ideal of exploration in his heart; it was just destined to be hopeless in this life.

Several hundred dugout canoes moored at the mouth of the Talsas River. Two thousand elite warriors of the Imperial Guard Legion immediately disembarked and spread out to guard more than ten miles. The king stepped onto the west bank of the Talsas, and at a glance saw Grey Earth Puapu, wearing leather armor, his face slightly plump.

The scouts had arrived a step ahead to deliver the message. Grey Earth Puapu, stationed at the river mouth, had already been waiting for a long time. The moment they met, he excitedly prostrated himself, five parts to the ground, and saluted the king.

"Blessings of the Main God! Supreme Your Majesty, your loyal general, Grey Earth Puapu, offers you his greetings! Even at the edge of the boundless great lake, I am always ready to dedicate my life to the kingdom!"

Xolotl smiled faintly and gazed at the exiled Grey Earth noble stationed on the border, but did not speak.

"Your Highness, in discovering the divine stone this time, General Grey Earth has rendered great merit. His faith is devout, and he fears no evil god. Although