The City of Winds
Leaving the City of Winds behind, my first destination is the vast grassland that stretches north of the city. The Wind Spirit’s seashell glows faintly, and I walk in the direction its light points. The grassland stretches on endlessly, with nothing to block my view. The wind caresses my hair, and the scent of grass tickles my nostrils. As I walk, I focus my mind on the Wind Spirit. I strain my ears, trying to hear the voice of the Wind Spirit. Then, I hear a faint whisper in the wind: “Northward, further north…” Following the Wind Spirit’s guidance, I press on relentlessly toward the north. Several days pass, and the landscape of the grasslands gradually changes. The lush green grass gives way to a barren, rugged terrain strewn with jagged rocks. The temperature drops, and the wind grows colder. Yet the light from the wind spirit’s shell still points north. Trusting the wind spirit, I do not stop walking. As I walk across the barren land, I encounter an old hunter. The old hunter is sitting there, wearing tattered clothes and looking utterly exhausted. I approach him and speak. “Are you all right? Is there anything I can help you with?” The old hunter notices me and looks up. “Ah, a traveler. Actually, I’ve lost my way. I’ve been wandering this wilderness for days now.” Feeling sympathy for the old hunter, I share the food and water I have with him. “This is only a little, but please take it. I hope it helps, even just a little.” The old hunter expressed his gratitude and took a bite of the food and a sip of the water. After a while, he regained his strength and spoke to me. “Where exactly are you headed, traveler? The path ahead grows even more treacherous.” I told the old hunter that I was heading for the Sacred Site of the Wind God. “I am being guided by the Wind Spirit and am searching for the Sacred Site of the Wind God. Do you have any clues as to where it might be?“ Hearing my words, the old hunter looked surprised. ”The sacred site of the Wind God... Are you really searching for such a legendary place? That is reckless. The sacred site of the Wind God is said to be a phantom-like place; no one is said to have ever reached it." The old hunter’s words made me feel a little uneasy. However, I believed in the guidance of the Wind Spirit and could not give up. “I believe in the Wind Spirit. I believe it will surely guide me to the Sacred Site of the Wind God.” Hearing my resolve, the old hunter spoke to me as if he had made up his mind. “All right. For the sake of a traveler’s enthusiasm, I’ll help you. Actually, when I was young, I explored every corner of this area. I might just know a clue about the Sacred Site of the Wind God.” With that, the old hunter stood up and began to lead the way. “Come, follow me. I’ll take you to an ancient ruin I know of.” I thanked the old hunter and began to walk behind him. His knowledge and experience would be a great help on my journey. Together with the old hunter, I set out further north, heading toward the sacred site of the Wind God.
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