Chapter 66: Chapter 23: Journey 1
The history of the Chessboard Realm is shrouded in mist.
Even the long-lived dwarves find it unclear. York is a bit younger than Pick, only eighty-two this year. They can live to around 350 years on average, with some elderly demons reaching up to 500 years. This lifespan astonished and envied Su Ziyu. Compared to this, the lifespan of humans is just too short, even in this high energy level world, where the average human life span is around sixty to seventy years.
In York’s words, Su Ziyu learned that the existence of Witches in this world is very special.
They almost never age, and no one knows how long they can live.
The Witches once sheltered humans during the dark ages, an era belonging to dragons and giants.
York doesn’t know much about this era either, just saying that celestial fire consumed everything, demon dragon progeny crawled out of the abyss, and terrifying giant snakes ravaged the land, treating dragons, giants, and humans as food.
York had a knack for storytelling.
His mouth was almost never shut along the way, and as long as Su Ziyu showed interest in something, he would chatter on endlessly.
Su Ziyu tentatively asked about the ’Dragon Witch.’
York’s expression became noticeably apprehensive upon hearing this, lowering his voice he said, "I’m not too sure. Some say she’s a fallen witch. Others say she’s a progeny of a demon dragon."
"Some even say she’s the incarnation of a giant snake."
"Anyway, she’s dead now."
"Best not to mention her name, it’s said to bring bad luck."
The journey was long.
By evening, the two found a place sheltered from the wind to settle down. Su Ziyu took out flying dragon meat to make a roast with, having never eaten dragon meat before, he wondered what it would taste like.
"Huh? Is that also a witch’s item?" York asked curiously as he looked at Su Ziyu’s lighter.
"Hmm." Su Ziyu casually asked, "Did Pick ever mention why he was going to find the White Queen?"
The dwarf in front of him looked curiously at the lighter, after thinking for a moment, he said, "Not too sure. He didn’t really say."
"But one day I heard him talking in his sleep."
"He mentioned a legendary item—the Golden Apple!"
Golden Apple?
Upon hearing this, Su Ziyu immediately perked up, asking, "What else?"
"I don’t know either." York shrugged, shaking his head. "A legendary thing like the Golden Apple, how would I know where it is."
"Maybe they went to find the White Queen for that reason."
Su Ziyu harbored some speculations, softly saying, "Tell me more about the Golden Apple. What is it used for?"
"You don’t know about this?" York’s expression was quite surprised, asking, "The Golden Apple, the legendary item said to preserve eternal youth and bring aging back to youth! Haven’t you heard stories about it when you were a kid?"
Isn’t that something from mythology?
Su Ziyu wasn’t extremely knowledgeable, but he had learned some Western mythology for the sake of creating a game background before. The Golden Apple featured in both Greek mythology and Nordic mythology.
In Greek mythology, the Golden Apple is a very famous treasure.
The Golden Apple first appeared at the wedding of Zeus and Hera. Gaia, the Earth Goddess, brought back a lush tree full of golden apples from the western coast as a wedding gift for Zeus and Hera. Zeus appointed the three daughters of the Night God, known as Hesperides, to guard the sacred garden where the golden apples grew, along with a hundred-headed dragon Ladon to help them.
Apart from that, the Trojan War erupted because of the Golden Apple.
At the wedding of the human hero Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis, the goddess Eris offered a golden apple with the inscription ’For the fairest goddess’. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all claimed it, resulting in a dispute. Zeus asked a man named Paris to judge. Each goddess offered enticing conditions to win him over—Hera promised supreme power, making him a ruler above all, Athena promised wisdom and strength, encouraging him to become a hero, and Aphrodite promised to make the most beautiful woman in the world fall in love with him, becoming his wife.
In the end, this man ended up eloping with the queen of Sparta, the historically renowned beauty Helen, which directly led to the outbreak of the Trojan War.
Compared to Greek mythology, the Golden Apple in Nordic mythology is much simpler.
It is a magical item capable of restoring youth, said to be the key to the gods’ immortality, as the gods simply tasted a Golden Apple whenever they aged to rejuvenate.
In this sense, the Golden Apple is rather similar to the Peach of Immortality in Eastern mythology.
"Golden Apple..."
Su Ziyu pondered with a frown, suddenly recalling the Dream Forest, the eerie and creepy mud doll. If he remembered correctly, the mud doll was holding a black apple made of soil.
At the time, he found it quite strange.
Looking back now, could there be a connection to the Golden Apple?
"The meat’s cooked. It’ll burn if you wait any longer." York’s voice snapped Su Ziyu out of his contemplation.
He picked up a piece of roasted flying dragon meat and handed it to York, then took a bite from another piece himself.
What can be said?
The meat was a bit tough, very chewy, and the texture wasn’t great, but as it went down to his stomach it felt warm, with an urge to release some energy.
It was probably quite a nourishing food.
The night passed without words.
The next day, the two continued their journey, with York sharing northern stories and legends along the way, occasionally mentioning heroic figures from the tales of minstrel poets. Time passed day by day. With York guiding the way, Su Ziyu avoided many troubles along the way, even bypassing a mountain giant’s lair.
On the morning of the fourth day, they reached the northern frontier. York stood by a river, looking a bit regretful, and said, "I can only take you this far."
"Due to certain reasons, I can’t set foot in the south."
"Good luck to you!"
Su Ziyu smiled, then tossed a ruby over.
York caught it and his face lit up with a smile, saying, "Next time you come over, I’ll help you reforge that short blade."
"Dwarves are masters of craftsmanship."
Su Ziyu agreed with a smile, as this time out, his schedule was tight and he had no time to linger in the north. Besides, he was currently using an anti-material sniper rifle the most. York was just too fond of bragging, and Su Ziyu really didn’t believe in his craftsmanship.
"Really." As if guessing Su Ziyu’s thoughts, York straightened his neck and shouted, "My ancestors once forged a divine artifact!"
"Next time you’re here."
"I’ll show you the craftsmanship of the dwarves!"
Look at that.
Talking too much and he’s bragging again.
Seated on horseback, Su Ziyu didn’t even look back, just waved his hand, and continued ahead as he still needed to find a boat to cross the river.
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