"I'm sorry. Pen %Fun %Pavilion www.biquge.info"

Under the laurel tree in the yard, Brooke apologizes again to Ed for "not being able to help......

His expression was heavy, his strange purple eyes were dull in the sunlight, and although his white hair was still as meticulous as before, his whole person looked much older. Exhaustion was hidden in his deep wrinkles, and his commendable, calm and modest demeanor did not change much...... But Ed could see the shadows in his eyes that couldn't be dissipated.

And that's not just because of Tess.

Ed shook his head repeatedly, guilty.

He didn't have much hope at first. He respected Brooke Thuan, but he knew very well that Brooke was not Icabird.

"Sean...... Is he okay?"

He spoke hurriedly, as if he just wanted to change the subject.

No one knows for sure where Sean Freyche has gone. He was seen heading west, away from Stonebutch, but Scott was convinced that he would return to the Temple of Water anyway.

Brooke's eyes darkened, and he didn't answer.

"I don't know if he wants to see me......" Ed muttered, pretending not to notice the old man's hesitation, "I want to talk to him...... Although it may not be of much use. ”

"I thought maybe it would be better to let him calm himself down for a while. Brooke replied in a low voice.

“...... Do you know why he got into a fight with Scott?", Eder asked hesitantly.

"Didn't Scott tell you?" asked Brooke calmly.

Ed shook his head in frustration.

"All I know is because of Felicity. He said, his voice lowering unconsciously, "for them...... She'll always be irreplaceable, won't she?"

Brooke was slightly stunned, unable to answer.

He silently stared at the listless young man in front of him, his expression was complicated, and a faint trace of vigilance in his heart turned into unspeakable bitterness.

They owe him much, and he knows it...... The young man, who had endured so many hardships for no reason, did not complain about anything, and did not even blame Brooke for choosing to stand by and watch when he needed help most.

He had a last resort, but that didn't undo the damage done. Fortunately, he probably still has a chance to make amends......

"I never wanted to replace her. Ed whispered, "But...... What the hell am I?"

The sentence was so light that it was almost inaudible, as if it had endured for a long time, and even if he knew that he could not be answered, he finally blurted out uncontrollably, with a little childish grievance...... But it hit Brooke hard in the heart.

He could give him a definitive answer, as Sean believed, but ......

"You're a ...... Good boy. "Don't think too much about the titles that others have put on you, it's you who can determine what you are." ”

It's always easy to say that—the old priest smiled bitterly in his heart, laughing at himself.

But how many people were able to do it? There was only one Felicity he had ever seen in his long life.

Ed wasn't a young man who could be appeased so easily, but his smile at Brooke was still genuine.

"I'll try. He said, "Even if the result of your efforts is to become a merchant who knows how to spell and sail like my father...... Probably nothing bad about it. ”

It might have been a joke, but Brooke was too sad for a moment to echo it. He could hear the faint hope in it—the hope of breaking free from the intertwined threads of fate in front of him and freely pursuing the life he wanted.

But on the chessboard that Sean has laid out for a long time, he can't have such freedom. And what they thought was incomparably precious, he probably didn't want at all.

What the hell are they doing?...... Who gave them the power to dictate the fate of others?

Pent-up doubts and uneasiness poured out, and the elderly pastor felt a wave of dizziness in the dazzling sunlight.

“...... There are several books in the temple. He spoke in a hurry, originally just trying to hide his gaffe, but suddenly realized that he was not without a choice.

As if a cool stream of water had soaked into the hot, dry earth, he quickly regained his composure.

"I'll send someone to you as soon as possible. "There's something in there," he said...... Maybe it will help you wake up the red-haired girl. ”

Before dark, a middle-aged priest hurried over with three books in his arms and handed them to Ed.

It was a strange face that Ed had never seen before. The priest told him that he was from a small temple near Pansaric on the east bank, and that the temple in Stonebutch had just been drawn because of the lack of staff. He was calm and silent, and left without saying a few words, without even entering the door.

Ed looked at the background as he faded away in the twilight, and then looked down at the heavy book in his arms, thoughtful.

He had hoped to find out something from Brooke...... But he wasn't sure what he had gained.

At least, Brooke seemed to know where Sean was. So...... He also knew what Sean was secretly doing, and what purpose was there? After all, if Sean had used the power of the temple, Brooke couldn't have known nothing. The only consolation was that the old priest didn't look as determined as Sean...... or stubbornness.

He had never seen Brooke show his hesitation so obviously.

To this day, he still finds Scott's conclusive speculation extremely ridiculous, but he is not too shocked - perhaps because he has experienced too many "absolutely impossible" things, and gradually become a little numb.

Solve one thing at a time—he told himself, and went back to his room with the book in his hand. If Tess could really wake up, there would be a fog in front of her, and it would always dissipate somewhat.

Brooke thoughtfully marked important places. Bookmarks were specimens of various plants, a little hobby unknown to the old priest. But he never makes specimens of plants that are still alive, and the dry leaves or petals are mostly broken. Ed looked at every marked place, and came to the same conclusion - the only way to break free from the dream was to rely on Tess herself, except to use external force to disarm the spell.

No illusion is perfect. As long as you can find the loopholes and have a strong enough awareness, you can break free from them. A long time ago, some priests and mages were able to infiltrate such a dream, forcibly destroy it, or trace the origin of the spell, but because this type of spell has so much in common with necromancy, after a long ban, not many people have such abilities......

The book was an ancient manuscript, and Ed turned it carefully lest he would damage the fragile pages if he was not careful. He couldn't understand why Brooke would give him such a precious book, there was so little useful content in it, and it wouldn't take much time for someone to copy it down and give it to him......

He closed the book, stared at the intricate pattern on the cover for a long time, and then opened it again.

. (To be continued.) )