Erwin rubbed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he found himself in a world he had never seen before. He stood on a rugged stone path, with lush forests swaying in the breeze by the road. In the distance, a squad of soldiers, clad in gleaming armor and wielding weapons, seemed busy with some task. Their gaze was vigilant and anxious, as if looking for something important.
Erwin's appearance immediately caught their attention. The soldiers quickly went on guard, and a leading soldier stepped forward, scrutinizing him with a stern gaze, "Who are you? Where are you from?" His tone was cold, and the authority behind it was unquestionable.
Although he felt a bit frightened inside, Erwin did not show too much panic. He did his best to stay calm, firmly meeting the gaze of the soldier, and replied, "My name is Erwin, I don't know how I got here." His voice was firm, showcasing his courage and tenacity.
A soldier by the side crouched down and picked up the small bronze box that had fallen on the ground, looking at Erwin and asked, "What is this?" Erwin looked at the box in his hand, a moment of hesitation flashed in his eyes, but then he steeled himself and answered resolutely, "This is a box, I'm not exactly sure what it is." He tried to keep his cool.
The soldiers were obviously not satisfied with Erwin's answer, and they fired off a series of questions, trying to coax more information out of him.
"Answer me again, who are you, where are you from?" the leading soldier roared again.
Erwin took a deep breath, despite their threats, he still tried to stay calm, "My name is Erwin, I am from Breyne Town, I am innocent, just a common man, I am running away from a horned monster." He replied in a brave and resolute tone.
"Breyne Town, never heard of such a place. And running away from a horned monster. Sounds like nonsense, maybe he's a spy from an enemy country, we'll take him back first."
The soldiers were clearly not satisfied with his answer, but they didn't have a better choice. In the end, they decided to take him back to their fortress. Although Erwin was being led by them, he did not show any fear. He knew that he had to stay calm and tenacious now, this was his only chance to find a way out.
After being led by the soldiers across desolate grasslands and rushing rivers, Erwin saw a large, impregnable fortress, standing like an ancient temple between steep peaks.
"Where is this?" Erwin muttered under his breath, his eyes still glued to the fortress, the majestic view that engulfed his sight was overwhelming.
The fortress was a massive structure, nestled between two steep peaks. Two tall watchtowers stood on either side of the fortress, standing high atop the mountains, overlooking the surrounding valleys and plains. Between the two towers was a broad road, flanked by towering walls adorned with fluttering banners, these banners rippled in the wind like waves.
The majestic walls encircled the entire fortress, the height of the walls alone was enough to inspire awe. The walls had many beautifully carved sculptures and reliefs, displaying the grandeur and power of the fortress. The walls also had many arrow slits and watchtowers, these provided great convenience for the fortress's guards. The fortress walls appeared invincible, like a massive barrier, protecting the fortress and the surrounding mountains.
At the city gate, two soldiers clad in splendid armor stood solemnly, their gaze cold and firm. They held spears and shields, seeming ready to confront any attack. The city gate was the main entrance to the fortress, its tall archway and thick wooden door made it impossible to see into the fortress. Only after undergoing strict checks could one enter the fortress.
The interior of the fortress was spacious and solemn, the square was filled with training posts and targets, many soldiers were conducting various types of training. The main building of the fortress was large and imposing, furnished with various luxurious furniture and ornaments, which showcased the wealth and power of the fortress. There was also a large barracks area in the fortress, equipped with various weapons and equipment, as well as the residences of many soldiers.
The soldiers brought Erwin into a room filled with various strange instruments, in the room was a man wearing a white robe, who came up to Erwin, holding a peculiar crystal stone. He suspended the crystal around Erwin, and the crystal began to rotate slowly, emitting a faint blue light that reflected on Erwin's face.
"What are you doing?" Erwin decided to break the silence, trying to hide his nervousness, his voice filled with determination.
The man in the white robe didn't answer, just brought the crystal closer to Erwin. His eyes were shimmering with profound light, as if reading information from the crystal.
As the crystal moved around Erwin, a mysterious energy permeated the room. Erwin felt his body enveloped by a strange power, and his anxiety grew.
The man in the white robe meticulously observed the information displayed by the crystal. His eyes were glued to the stone as if he were reading from a mysterious book. Under his guidance, the crystal continued to rotate around Erwin, emitting a faint blue light.
Erwin had no idea what this person was doing, but he felt as though he was entirely exposed under his gaze. He felt as if his body was like an open book, ready to be read and studied by anyone.
Finally, the man in the white robe stopped the inspection, returning the crystal to its original position. He cast a deep glance at Erwin, then turned and left the room.
Erwin felt as though both his body and soul had been touched by this man. His mind was filled with unease and confusion. He didn't know who this person was or what he had just done, but he knew that his life was about to be filled with many more mysteries. This process made Erwin uneasy, but he knew that staying calm was his only chance of finding a way out. He took a deep breath, defiantly meeting the man in the white robe's gaze, as if challenging his scrutiny.
However, when the crystal stopped rotating around Erwin, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense. All eyes were on the shimmering blue crystal; their faces filled with astonishment.
"What is...?" Erwin's voice echoed through the room as a bead of cold sweat trickled down his palm.
The man in the white robe turned to him and gave a small smile, "Are you from Evend or Isrand? The crystal has told us everything about you. It reflects the unique energy you possess. In the Kingdom of Reik, no one has such energy. Your blue glow is truly rare to see."
"I... I'm just an ordinary young man, I don't know why I'm here..." Erwin responded, his voice filled with confusion and his expression that of a lonely traveller.
They didn't pay attention to Erwin's response, instead continuing their detailed inspection, as if searching for some important clue on his body. At that moment, Erwin felt deeply lonely and powerless.
However, just then, the blue light in the crystal suddenly disappeared, as if it had been sucked away by an invisible force. The soldiers looked at each other, clearly surprised by this change. They put away the crystal and led Erwin away with cold iron chains.
"Wait... I..." Erwin's furrowed brows and anxious eyes revealed his confusion, but he did not resist. He just silently awaited their decision.
"You're a special child, Erwin," said the man in the white robe in a deep voice, "There are many things we want to understand, and you are the key to our exploration of these unknowns."
"Young man, where exactly are you from? If you confess now, perhaps we can spare you unnecessary hardship," a burly soldier sternly questioned.
But Erwin merely shook his head slightly. He didn't even know how to answer this question. He knew nothing about this world. He was just a newcomer, how could he possibly understand these complex matters?
The soldiers led Erwin into the depths of the fortress, to a dungeon made of cold stone bricks. The light struggled to penetrate the hard stone walls, the air in the cell was damp and cold, evoking a spreading sense of dread. They thrust Erwin into the cell, then shut the heavy iron door.
"You think about it, young man. We will figure out your true identity." The leading soldier sneered. That indifference made Erwin realize he was about to face a new and difficult challenge.