"I don't understand ......"

Ed finally let go of Norvie, looked at him suspiciously, and then at the Elven King standing aside, and there was a slight annoyance in addition to the infinite surprise.

"I'm sorry, Sage. Payne bowed to him slightly, "I didn't mean to deceive...... Or play with you and your friends. I did think that Norvi's death was necessary. Merely...... Now I've changed my mind. ”

“...... You mean?......" Norway said in surprise. He thought that Payne had only allowed him to come out to meet Ed, and that his "death" was still unchangeable......

"You can leave with your friends. Payne replied with a smile, "But like I once told you...... I can't stop the Shadow Dancers from hunting you down, even if Tess won't be their target anymore. ”

Ed opened his mouth, but stopped talking. As a sage, he can't control everything, as a king...... Probably no different.

Norway hung his head, clearly hesitant.

“...... You know, no one but your presence can stop Tess from avenging you. Ed whispered, "You don't want the Silver Leaf King to have a headache every day for a red-haired girl who desperately wants his life, do you?"

Payne smiled slightly, as if remembering something, and reached out to hand the knife that almost pierced him, with a handle of pure gold but like a fragment, to Norway: "I don't know where that girl got this thing...... But it doesn't seem to be an ordinary thing, and it's best not to use it casually. ”

Norway took the knife and got down on one knee solemnly.

"I owe you my life. My King...... If you have any need, my sword and life will always be yours. ”

Payne reached out and pulled him up. Sighing slightly: "You don't owe me anything...... I just didn't do what I wasn't supposed to do in the first place. Come home, Sun-Chaser...... Go on your adventure, day by day, as your last name suggests. ”.

Silence fell like starlight again. Payne stood high above the cloister and watched the strange group of friends, humans, elves, surrounded by jacarandas...... and dragons. The gloom that had been filled with sadness and anger was overwhelmed by ecstasy. Tears and smiles merge in the hug. If he had any hesitation and uneasiness about what he had done before, it had completely disappeared at this moment.

He did the right thing - not smart enough, not cautious enough...... But it's still true.

He sighed softly. It's not the first time I've been envious.

Near-silent footsteps stopped behind him, and Lance asked in a low voice, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I'm sure it's irreparable, isn't it?" Payne couldn't help but smile, "I can't even kill the Sage and his dragon together. ”

“...... The elders may not be happy. ”

Payne's smile froze. He knew that Lance didn't say anything—it wasn't as simple as going against the will of the elders. This is a provocation that they absolutely cannot bear.

"I've had enough of being careful every day to see if they're 'happy'. He replied coldly.

At least in front of Reims. He doesn't need to hide his emotions.

"I know...... But as you've said yourself, it's going to take time to change that. Lance said helplessly.

"Time...... I've spent enough time, but it turns out that there are some things you simply can't change. Payne couldn't help but feel a little amused as he watched the dragon spread its wings and fly from its neck to its back, and the anger that had sprung up in his heart fell again. The tone was firm but calm, "Maybe it's time for a different approach." ”

“...... Maybe they can help you. Lance's gaze was also drawn to the silver dragon in the night. "Sage...... And that dragon. ”

Payne pondered for a moment, but still shook his head: "Elf business...... Let the elves figure it out on their own. ”.

"I'm against it!!" Tess screamed and jumped on Norvi's back, "No against it, no against it, why can't you let those elves solve their own problems?!

"Because I'm an elf too?" Noway desperately tried to grab Tess off, but Tess insisted on holding him by the neck.

“...... You're going to strangle him, Tess. Naria couldn't help but smile and sigh.

Tess snorted and relaxed, but still refused to get off Norvi's back.

To avoid an accident, they quickly rode the ice dragon away from Grivar last night, picked up Akan and Sesyana, and stuffed them into a small temple of water gods on the shores of Lake Xi'an, not far from the forest.

There are very few clergy here. The priest who recognized the Staff of Eternity brought them food with a complicated expression and quickly contacted Stonebucci. Fili Zeri, with his messy hair, quickly appeared in front of them, his face incredulous.

"Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?!" he yelled.

"He's not dead!" Ed could only grin stupidly, "Norway isn't dead!"

"I can see it!" Filly yelled angrily, not at all polite because he was a Sage.

But he was visibly relieved, and fell into a chair to the side and began to eat wildly, and before anyone noticed, he unwittingly clutched a piece of pie and fell asleep.

The joyous atmosphere instantly turned into a dead silence as Norway calmly announced that he was going back to Grival.

No one agreed—even Viorita, who had been silent and alone, had a rare opening and asked him succinctly, "Are you crazy?"

That would probably represent everyone's voice, though Tess must not have been very willing to be represented by Violetta.

"You don't understand. Norway sighed, "The one who wants my life has never been the Silver Leaf King...... And letting me go like this could cause him a lot of trouble. It was my fault - it was my curiosity that I knew that the place should not be brought up again, and I insisted on looking for it...... I can't just leave on my own. ”

"But what can you do when you go back?" asked Rosa, "I don't know who it is and why I want you to die, and I don't want to know." But not only are you not dead and you're dangling under their noses all day, it only makes them angrier, right?"

Ed nodded desperately in agreement, but Norway just bowed his head and said nothing.

“...... Don't tell me you want to die again. Iss blurted out.

Tess muffled and bit down on Norvi's shoulder.

“...... I don't have any plans to do that!" Novi exclaimed with a wry smile. "I haven't thought about what to do yet...... I just don't think I can just leave!"

He looked earnestly at his friends: "I have lived for hundreds of years...... Most of the time is just to satisfy one's own desires and go around venturing around, which is freedom, but it can also be called selfishness...... Maybe it's time to do something for my people. ”

"Perhaps...... But definitely not now. "Now, you're far away from your Silver Leaf King, and if you don't exist—it's better to have the other elves as if you don't exist, that's probably the greatest help to him." ”

Ed nodded desperately again, "You can come back to Collins with me!" even the Shadow Dancer wouldn't be bold enough to kill people there...... I've heard that elves are very religious, haven't they?"

Norway looked at him. The decision has been delayed. He usually acted very sensibly, but now, indescribable guilt and gratitude seemed to have somewhat affected his judgment.

"And. I need your help!" Ed changed his ways, "I'm in big trouble—big, big trouble, and no one can help me but you!"

He looked at the elf pleadingly, and the pitiful look in his eyes was probably not much for anyone to resist.

Norway hesitated. Finally nodded.

Behind his back. Tess gave Ed a thumbs up in satisfaction.

Most of the temples of the water gods were built by lakes or rivers. Although Xi'an Lake is not as beautiful as Starnestle, it is also a peaceful and beautiful lake.

Violita sat quietly under a chestnut tree by the lake, unable to take her eyes off the white dragon lying asleep on the edge of the lake, or its reflection in the lake.

She never imagined that she would ever see a living dragon even riding on its back...... Legend has it that there is an ancient spotted leaf dragon hidden in the forests of Grivar, but it certainly wouldn't be stupid enough to appear in front of the elves.

She had always felt that Norway had chosen a life that she couldn't understand, that was turbulent and meaningless...... But now it seems that it may not be as bad as she thought.

“...... Do you want me to be non-existent?" asked someone not far behind him, sighing.

"Do you ever care what I think?" asked Viorita, without looking back.

Norvi sat down beside her. Reluctantly replied: "You know it's not like this......"

"I just know what I say and do. It never stopped you from doing what you wanted...... What can I do? Bite you like your little Tess? That doesn't seem to work. ”

Viorita tilted her head to the side. She knew she was angry, and she was eating the vinegar of a human who was only a tenth of her age...... But she just couldn't help it.

She couldn't remember the last time she spoke to Norvi...... She thought she had forgotten that she had an older brother, as she had hoped, but when Lance had put Norvi's weapon in her hands, when she saw the light crossbow that her father had made for Norvi...... The world collapsed before your eyes in an instant.

She's done so much since then that she never knew she could do...... She could only admit with dismay, that the "wild and untamed" blood of the Sunstrider probably flowed through her body as well.

- But that doesn't mean she forgave Norvi.

"Maybe you can come with us to Collins?" Noway spoke to her in a tone that was always overly cautious and clumsy to barely look like he was, "I know it's my fault...... But your situation in Grivar may be ...... in the future Not so good......"

Vioritta finally glared back at him, "But it's my home, so I won't run away just because I have a brother who doesn't exist." ”

She got up and walked away, leaving Norway there in a daze.

His sword and crossbow were left in the meadow - she had them with her all the time.

(To be continued......)