Chapter 365: Holy Light Partner

East gate of Jilan Town. Aierwen watched as the three hundred warriors strode out of the town gate. While feeling grateful, he also silently made a vow to do everything possible to ensure they returned alive.

"Aierwen, let's go!" Jiaer walked up and gave a reminder.

"Mm."

Aierwen took one last look at Priest Geleitate, who was staring fixedly at him from the gate, then turned and left without looking back.

Not long after they departed, a commotion began to break out in the ranks. Aierwen stepped forward, separated the crowd about to clash, and scolded angrily: "What time do you think it is, to be bickering over petty personal matters!"

Filled with fury, the surging Holy Power almost spilled from his eyes. All the soldiers present dared not meet his gaze; they immediately fell silent and walked forward obediently.

Aierwen knew that some of these 300 men had been forced to come by Priest Geleitate, even though he had already gathered 300 volunteers who had been blocked from joining.

The persecution against him had already begun in the open.

Regarding this, Aierwen could only endure it for the time being. The big picture was what mattered; the most important thing right now was to successfully survive this Orc Tide. But why were those Fallen Ones so indifferent to the big picture!

"Aierwen, what should we do next?" Jiaer leaned in again and asked in a low voice.

"First, go and rendezvous with Mading and the others, then set up a defensive position at the White Stone Intersection to the east."

Aierwen pulled a crumpled piece of Parchment from his bosom, handed it to Jiaer, and continued: "Look, the White Stone Intersection is neither too far nor too close to Jilan Town. If Jilan Town is not breached, the Orcs will most likely head north from there."

"Can't the Orcs just leave by skirting along Jilan Town?" Jiaer looked at the fairly detailed map in his hands, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Looking at the map, although the White Stone Intersection was not far from Jilan Town, it certainly wasn't close either. There was plenty of space in between for the Orcs to pass through, and he didn't understand why Aierwen was so certain the Orcs would pass through that spot.

"Have you never paid attention during previous Orc Tides?" Aierwen snatched the map back and stuffed it into his bosom, then began to explain, "Orcs are evil creatures born full of the desire for destruction. When have they ever appeared without first tearing down the farmland and villages blocking their path before moving on? There is farmland and a village behind the White Stone Intersection; do you think they will go there?"

Jiaer looked up toward the northeast. Behind a gray-white stone half a person's height lay a large expanse of fields, nearly a third of which was covered in green plants. Jiaer had farmed before and knew those were the oats planted in the spring.

As for the other two-thirds of the fields, half would not be planted with any crops for the entire year to let the soil rest and accumulate nutrients, while the other half waited for wheat to be sown in the autumn.

He knew that was the target they were about to protect, and to the north, there were even more fields that needed guarding.

"Sigh—" Jiaer sighed silently, wondering if this patch of oats could ultimately be saved! As the two were talking, the hundreds of people were already some distance away from Jilan Town, and they would reach the White Stone Intersection soon. Just then, a dozen fully armed, burly men suddenly burst out from the nearby bushes! The accompanying soldiers immediately grew tense, and the sound of swords being drawn rang out one after another. Aierwen hurriedly spoke up to stop them, "No need to be nervous, they are our own people!"

Having rendezvoused with the others from the Holy Light Brotherhood, Aierwen quickened their pace and arrived at the White Stone Intersection shortly after, stopping in front of the gray-white stone that stood half a person's height.

"Everyone, set up defensive positions on the spot. Jiaer, you arrange it!"

Afterward, Aierwen walked toward the edge of the formation and beckoned to Mading. Only after Mading approached did he say in a low voice, "Your speed is fast; go ahead and check the situation. If the Orcs intend to pass through the middle, lure them over here."

"Mm!" Mading nodded heavily. His comprehension of Holy Power differed from the other brothers, granting him a peculiar ability that allowed him to come and go like the wind; luring Orcs was a task best suited for him.

And what the others had to do was hold this position to the death and kill all the Orcs he lured over! "Hiss—"

A flash of golden light flickered, and a vigorous, high-spirited snow-white figure appeared on the spot, letting out an excited hiss. The large head nudged toward Mading without needing to be summoned.

"Yo, Jiaer, don't push me, I know you're strong!" Mading used one hand to forcefully push away his excited Holy Light partner, while his other hand gently stroked the smooth horse's back. His mood immediately became much more relaxed, and it seemed as if the tense atmosphere of the impending battle with the Orcs had dissipated quite a bit.

The soldiers not far away looked on in surprise as a tall, snow-white horse with a faint golden glow suddenly appeared, their eyes filled with curiosity.

The other companions of the Holy Light Brotherhood also cast envious glances, except for one—the bearded Jiaer. This horse used his name, yet it wouldn't even let him touch it.

Regarding this, he could only express his dissatisfaction with a cold snort.

Aierwen was used to this kind of scene. If they weren't extremely close, why would he use his name? If they weren't extremely close, how could he have agreed?

However, after the playful moment, Mading quickly mounted "Jiaer" and headed south; he had to see exactly where the Orcs were!

As for the others, Aierwen divided the 300 Warriors into 10 groups, led by ten brothers of the Holy Light Brotherhood, with 30 men per group. He and Jiaer, as the strongest combatants, would be the sharpest blade.

Watching his brothers, who had already quickly entered their roles and were using Holy Power to soothe the nervous soldiers, Aierwen thought of the other brothers he had just sent to Jilan Town.

Not all brothers of the Holy Light Brotherhood had perceived the Holy Power, and not all brothers were skilled in combat. Of course, those summoned this time were all brothers who had perceived the Holy Power. Besides the thirteen of them outside the town, there were four inside the town.

Thinking that the brothers summoned this time might all perish, a faint sorrow showed in Aierwen's eyes. But death was not the end; they would eventually renew their brotherhood in the glorious kingdom.

Before long, Jiaer came to Aierwen's side, "Everything is arranged. Do you want to go over and say a few words?"

Aierwen glanced at the warriors standing at the ready and shook his head, "No need. The Orcs will be here soon; let them enjoy a moment of final peace!"

As he spoke, Aierwen thrust his sword into the ground, knelt on one knee, and pressed his other hand against the Sun Emblem on his chest, silently praying to the sun overhead.

Soon, an intangible aura of peace spread out with Aierwen at its center.

The other Paladins quickly followed suit, and the ordinary soldiers, who had been whispering to each other from time to time, also stopped talking. Instead, they silently watched the south—the direction from which the Orcs were about to arrive, and the direction in which they were about to fight.

The Projection Plane is arranged in the outline as a side-story, mainly to tell some history of Netheril and the Elves, such as how the Lord of Radiance appeared, what the Elves' Crown War was about, and so on. There will be (informational) links to the Main Plane later.

Of course, another purpose is to allow the protagonist to level up quickly~~ The protagonist won't necessarily participate in the plot of the Projection Plane, though he might participate for reasons like obtaining information, Knowledge, or getting dragged into it.

The Sub-plane is a real Plane and is the main place for acquiring resources, population growth, and factional struggles.

If you have any opinions or suggestions regarding this arrangement, feel free to leave a comment and discuss.

You are also welcome to join my Penguin reading group, 966022519, to discuss at any time.

Thank you all for your support!!

(End of chapter)