Chapter 145: The Birth of a Baynder

  Spsh!

  The water, mixed with white foam, rushed down as hands grabbed linen clothes, sprinkled soap powder, and rubbed them vigorously.

  Shaking off all the foam, El wrung out the water with ford pced the clothes into a wooden tub, letting out a long sigh.

  She forced a smile and o the busy women around her before turning towards the wooden area.

  "Let's go, school's out!"

  "Wait for me, I still don't uand one of the questions..."

  "Huh? The teacher just expi!"

  "Hehe, teach me then!"

  "Fine, let's go to my house. My mom bought dried cod today..."

  "Really? I love dried cod!"

  "Ah... 't say no to you."

  "..."

  Two children ran past her with smiles of happiness on their faces.

  Seeing their i py, she couldn't help but let the ers of her mouth curve slightly upward.

  Then, as if reminded of something, she instinctively reined in her smile and walked into the house.

  As soon as she ehe rich st of meat filled her nose, and her mouth watered involuntarily.

  She swallowed and tried to distract herself from the thought of food, walking over to the window to hang up the washed clothes.

  "Little girl, e a."

  "Hehe, it seems my cooking isn't so bad after all. Lady Tana approved of me."

  "Starting this month, the farm supervisor will pay me 1 silver . I've never earned so much before..."

  "I bought extra food today, so e a with me!"

  She froze for a moment, meeting the wrinkled face of an old woman aving her over, no longer as stern as when she first arrived.

  She hesitated for a while, but uhose peing eyes, she slowly walked over and sat down.

  The old woman didn't seem to notice the wariness in her eyes and cheerfully dled out a rge bowl of meat soup, sighing:

  "ing to Bay Territory is like truly living for the first time. What kind of life was I living before..."

  The old woman took a happy sip, her wrinkles smoothing out.

  Her cloudy eyes filled with endless satisfa, and with her few remaining yellow teeth, she chewed carefully, sav the taste, letting out a long breath before speaking early:

  "I've lived over 80 years now, so I've lived enough."

  "Heh, I was lucky enough to e to Bay Territory. Before I die, I enjoy a few more years of peace..."

  "Hmm... look at this bck bread, so solid. No wood chips, no ash. I haven't tasted this in over 20 years..."

  "You're still young. You’ve got many good years ahead of you!"

  "Oh, and this dried cod—so delicious, and only 50 copper s per fish... today is the day to buy it."

  "The Lord even worries we might not be eating well—su iing man..."

  The old woman dipped her bck bread into the soup, ing it around the dried fish, eating one mouthful after another.

  Catg sight of her pig up the bck bread, the old woman chuckled slyly and pushed over a jar of pickled radish strips:

  "Try this. Not sure if it's to your taste."

  She nodded silently and clumsily picked up a few strips with chopsticks, stuffing them into the bread aing it in big bites.

  The seemingly pin radish strips were far more fvorful than she had expected—tangy, sweet, and chy.

  "If you ask me, there's er pce than here."

  "To find a Lord who cares for his people... we’ve got at least a few good decades left here. Your people should feel the same..."

  "Steward Ralph has already agreed. You report to the Lord at noon!"

  "..."

  Her hands froze in mid-motion, staring in disbelief at the old woman.

  She had never imagihat this seemingly dull, even senile old woman she had once secretly mocked, actually knew everything!

  Her first instinct was to silence her—kill her and run!

  But as she met the old woman’s calm, knowing eyes and recalled the formidable strength and swift methods of the territory’s soldiers...

  She suppressed the urge.

  If she acted, she would surely die!

  She couldn’t die—not yet!

  Yet, after waiting a long time, there was no capture, only the old woman’s crafty smile.

  The old woman finished her st bite of bread, calmly wiped her mouth, and said:

  "There’s o be on guard. The Lord knows everything. He told me about you."

  "And if you’re smart enough, you’ll uand why the Lord does what he does."

  "Ah, getting old... I ’t eve all the good things anymore..."

  With that, the old woman took her bowl and slowly walked into the kit to wash it.

  It took her a while to move again. She finished all her food, ed the table, washed her dishes, and quietly returo her room.

  Sitting at her dressing table, she gazed at her refle—a fao longer as thin and gaunt as it once was. The old woman’s words echoed in her mind.

  Silently, she opehe drawer of the dressing table and took out a broken piece of armor.

  She gently stroked its jagged edges, her emerald green eyes filled with hesitation.

  ath should she take for the future?

  Just then, urgent cries came from outside—familiar voices.

  "Careful! Lots of murlocs are crossing the river!"

  "Ah! The patrol has souhe arm. Everyone is to stay inside!"

  "Those who passed the reserve soldiers' exam, gather at the walls! I o warhers!"

  "Sound the arm throughout the city! I’m heading to the Lord’s Manor to report!"

  "..."

  It was Jifan?

  And Tom!

  She reized Jifan’s voice—she had passed the reserve soldiers’ test and had been assigned under Jifan’s and.

  Now was an emergency. If she truly wao escape, she would have a better ce than usual.

  But as a deep, resonant horn echoed from the dire of the city gates...

  She suddenly realized that, without even knowing when, she had already dohe reserve soldier's unifiven by the Lord, along with her armor and ons.

  Wheepped out the door and saw the figures rushing to the walls, the fusion aation in her mind vanished, and she followed without hesitation.

  As she passed her neighbor’s house, she saw two nervous yet envious faces excitedly waving at her:

  "Good luck, Sister Elio! Stay safe!"

  "That’s right, Sister Elio! When you get back, I’ll treat you to some grilled fish!"

  A strange feeling surged in her heart, and the icy facade she had been wearied away. She smiled brightly at them, replying cheerfully:

  "Alright! Stay safe inside and wait for me to tell you some stories when I get back."

  Amid their excited g and cheers, Elio spriowards the walls, greeted with warm smiles from familiar rades along the way.

  The old woman stood at the door, watg her leave, her face breaking into a deep smile.

  "You’ve already begun to see yourself as one of Bay Territory’s own..."

  AnnouA big thank you to [jan] for joining my Patreon! Your support means a lot to me.

  FAL