The next morning, Abel told all the soldiers that they could leave the mountain forest by today.
The Elven soldiers did not feel anything special, while the Caradia soldiers were overjoyed.
After breakfast, everyone set off in groups.
As expected, before noon, the mountains were forgotten behind them. In front of everyone was a wide plain.
Perhaps because of the geographical environment, compared to the plain at the entrance of the dwarf town, at this time, the grass that everyone stepped on was yellow and withered. When the soldiers passed by, there was a crisp sound of “swish swish”.
“Now that I look at it, it really looks like autumn,” Abel said.
“The plants in the desert are always evergreen all year round. This is the first time I’ve seen such a wide autumn plain. I can really feel the changes in the seasons,” Devitt sighed.
It seemed that there would always be only summer and winter in the desert.
In order to balance such a climate, even in an oasis, there would not be any trees that would wither with the seasons.
“It’s a pity that we won’t be able to see the sun in the sky today,” Claremont said as he glanced at the sky that was covered by clouds and fog.
Everyone continued to move forward on the plains. The withered grass on the plains had already covered the soldiers’ calves.
Seeing this situation, Devitt suggested that everyone move forward slowly and pay attention to the movements of the grass at all times.
The Elven soldiers naturally flew in midair with their feet off the ground to avoid threats. However, in order to maintain their stamina, they only flew about 50 centimeters above the ground.
The Caradia soldiers used their scabbards to pull the grass as they moved forward.
Austin stood in the middle of the group. When he was pulling the grass with everyone, he felt that his backpack was being pulled by someone. When he thought of who was behind him, he turned his head impatiently and said in a low voice, “Macleay, stop playing.”
Macleay, who was standing behind him and crouching on the grass to check the situation, looked up with a confused expression. He raised his eyebrows. Wasn’t he checking the situation on the road? When did this person see that he was playing.
However, due to the quiet atmosphere around him, Macleay did not make a sound. Instead, he continued to rummage through the grass.
After a while, Austin felt the backpack on his back suddenly drop down. Instantly, anger surged in his heart. I’m so busy here that I’m getting dizzy. What are you playing here for?
“Bang!” Austin threw the backpack on the ground and shouted at Macleay behind him, “You don’t understand human language, do you?”
The soldiers around them were shocked to the point that they stopped moving.
“Are you crazy? !” Macleay stood up and raised his head.
“You…”Austin was about to grab the other party’s collar and question him properly.
However, out of the corner of his eye, he saw that his backpack had actually ‘run’ away.
“Wait!” Austin panicked and rushed toward his ‘moving’ backpack. As a result, when his backpack was firmly held in his arms, he heard the wail of a living creature.
Not only him, but the surrounding onlookers also heard this voice.
“Austin, come back quickly!” Macleay shouted.
Although he didn’t know what kind of creature it was, it was still very dangerous for the unarmed Austin to keep such a close distance from a strange creature.
Devitt and the other two also walked over. They gestured for Austin to step back.
Austin did feel that there was not only a backpack in his arms, but also a living creature with a beating heart.
Austin slowly let go of his arms, but the creature under the backpack did not move. Then he carefully moved the backpack away.
“So ugly,” Austin could not help but say.
He had yellowish-brown skin, pointy ears, and fur all over his body. The first time they met eyes made Austin feel a chill.
After seeing that Austin was safe and sound, Claremont walked forward to observe. “Gnomes?”
After hearing Claremont’s words, Devitt and Abel also hurried forward.
After observing carefully for a while, Abel asked in puzzlement, “This is a gnome?”
Claremont squatted down in front of the fainted gnome and rolled his eyes. After seeing the dark red pupils, he confirmed, “Yes.”
“How did the gnomes appear here? Didn’t they live in groups near the volcano?” Devitt asked.
The three of them looked very serious. After all, they had come to investigate the disappearance of the gnomes. In the initial evidence, the suspicion of the disappearance of the gnomes was all focused on the Gnome Tribe.
They had never thought that they would meet them halfway.
“Did they run out alone, or have we already walked into another gnome stronghold?” Abel voiced out the possibility that he had guessed.
“We won’t know for the time being.” Claremont looked around and said, “The gnomes are cunning and greedy by nature. Even if they see their companions injured, they won’t come to rescue them.”
“Okay.” Devitt thought for a while, then squatted down in front of the gnome with Claremont and touched the pulse on the gnome’s neck, “It’s still alive. Take it with you. Maybe we can get information about the gnomes from its mouth.”
Abel and Claremont nodded. It was best for them to have more realistic information.
The three of them looked at Austin, who was lying on the ground.
Austin noticed the gaze and smiled awkwardly. “May I ask what you need me to do?”
“Your name is Austin, right? I remember you,” Claremont said with a smile, he still had a deep impression of Austin. After all, when he was in Durandal, he had even sent him to the restroom when he was carsick. “I’ll leave this gnome in your care. You have to take good care of it.”
“Me? ! How can I…”Austin was about to deny it, but after thinking for a while, he agreed. “Then I’ll take care of it.”
“Sorry to trouble you.”
After explaining this matter, Devitt and the other two returned to their positions and commanded the team to move forward.
Austin pulled out the fainted goblin from the bushes and carried it on his back.
“It’s so heavy,” Austin shouted.
Just as he was agonizing over how to carry such a thing and move forward with the team…
Claremont’s voice came from the end of the team. “Austin, come, come with me.”
“Okay.” Austin bowed respectfully and nodded. He hurriedly walked over.
Over the past few months, the leadership positions of Devitt, Claremont, and Abel had been deeply ingrained in the hearts of every scout team soldier. Thus, everyone could not help but treat these three people respectfully. They had completely forgotten the time when they had participated in training as colleagues in the same team.
