Guard

Caelan finally made his way to the gates of Greystone Town, only to find them tightly shut.

There was no intention of letting him, a traveler with nowhere to go, inside.

He stepped back a few paces and looked up.

Above the gate, there was a person who didn't look very old, wearing a crooked helmet on his head, dressed like a guard.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" the guard shouted.

Caelan stated his prepared excuse: "I'm just passing through, saw a Town here, and wanted to find a place to rest!"

"Turn back!" the guard replied, waving his hand.

He clearly had no intention of opening the gate.

"Are there any other Towns nearby?" Caelan shouted again, straining his voice.

The guard pointed into the distance: "If you go that way, along the main road, for about two days, there's a Town called Rulna. You can go there..."

"I'll be dead on the road in two days!" Caelan interrupted the guard, then pointed to the sky: "Look now, the sun is about to set. Can't you just let me in first? When the monsters come out, it won't look good if I die at your doorstep!"

"The sun is about to set?" The guard looked up at the sun hanging directly overhead.

"That's not important!"

Caelan stepped back another two paces so he didn't have to crane his neck so much, making it less tiring.

Then he continued to shout, straining his voice.

"I'm not a bad person, it's fine to let me in!"

"Who would believe that!"

The guard pointed at Caelan.

"What kind of good person covers their face? Who knows what's under your hat!"

"The sun is strong, can't I even block the sun?"

Caelan pulled off his hat, showed his face to him, and then pointed to his head.

"Look, what am I?"

The guard actually squinted, stretched his neck to look over, and then shouted: "Damn it, you're so handsome, you must be human! Get lost, get lost, humans get lost!"

"I am handsome... Are you sick?!"

Caelan couldn't take it anymore. He pointed his staff at the guard.

"Hurry up, get down, let someone else come up!"

The guard directly made a face: "Blech!"

"Hey! You little..."

Caelan rolled up his sleeves, ready to call Stone to directly dismantle the gate, when he saw an old man appear next to the guard, who hit the guard's helmet with a 'thud': "Stop messing around!"

"Which bastard... Town Elder?!" The young guard immediately stood at attention.

"You little beast, I'll deal with you later!"

The old man cursed softly, then peered out from the edge of the wooden wall, a forced smile on his face.

"Traveler below, don't worry, I'll open the gate for you now!"

Then he turned back, mumbling something to the people below.

Caelan cupped his hand over his eyes to block the sun, squinting as he waited for a while, and then the large wooden gate below was slowly pushed open.

The Town Elder also came forward with a beaming smile: "Welcome, traveler, please come in! Feel free to look around!"

The vast difference in attitude compared to the young guard earlier left Caelan a bit confused.

He didn't know what trick this old man was up to.

As for the Town Elder, his thoughts were simple—this young man, not a local, could traverse the very dangerous mountain path and arrive here, so his strength must be extraordinary.

And he was holding a staff... Although he didn't recognize it as a staff, he had heard that staffs looked like wooden sticks!

What kind of person uses a staff... Of course, it's a great Mage!

The Town was currently short on manpower and combat strength. They should try every means to keep people. What kind of sense did it make to block a great Mage outside the gate?

What if he got angry and burned down the gate with a single fire? Who would they complain to then?

It had to be said that the Town Elder was a shrewd man. He had just heard the news and rushed over, assessed the situation, and immediately figured out what to do.

Once the gate was fully open, the Town Elder led Caelan inside, then pulled the guard next to him, apologizing with a smile: "My apologies, traveler, this boy is a bit thick-headed, I'm sorry! I haven't even asked your name yet..."

"Caelan."

"Oh! Hello, hello, your name is like thunder in my ears!"

Caelan: "?"

Something abnormal was definitely afoot. This old man was so obsequious, there must be some conspiracy.

He had to be wary.

The Town Elder didn't say much more to Caelan, just that he had to go attend to his own matters, and told the guard from earlier to continue leading Caelan, as both an apology and a gesture of hospitality.

After receiving the "Town Elder's approval," the young guard's attitude did a complete 180-degree turn, becoming utterly respectful.

During their conversation, Caelan learned that this guard was named Gregg, and he was not old, only eighteen.

In places like theirs, it was naturally impossible to have proper Soldier; they were all Militia spontaneously formed by the local young and strong, with some combat ability, but not much.

And from Gregg's mouth, Caelan also learned the reason for their current tension.

According to some traveling merchants' legends...

The Rat Tide was coming.