"You've never even met Felicity, have you? All you know is what Sean told you......"

"Have you sought the truth but ended up in a lie? What can you gain from it? Lies can only produce evil results......

Ed could see Ante's lips open and close, but every word that came into his ears was muffled and distorted. He was dizzy and crumbling, his mind seemed to be filled with mud, and whenever he tried to think, something would churn up from under the mud, and everything would be muddy, giving him a splitting headache, his swollen eyes as if they would explode in his sockets, and he would always vomit with nausea if he struggled to clear his mind.

Even so, as Ante's expression became more and more impatient, Ed understood the king's more threatening, clumsy persuasion - if he was willing to prove that Sean Fletcher had masterminded the deception, and that he was only an ignorant victim, then it had nothing to do with him, and he had no responsibility to go back to Chrysburg, to his parents, and to continue to be his carefree rich young master...... Otherwise, he and Sean have teamed up to deceive the world and blaspheme the gods, and he will be punished by the goddess and the king, and there will be no peace in both soul and body......

Ed glared at Ante with some confusion, anger gradually overpowering panic and helplessness. In fact, with the scroll of paper written by Sean himself and the staff of eternity that continued to glow in Bloomer's hand, Ante could not prove that it was all a hoax. Who can claim to have insight into God's providence, and how Nyo chose her saints, if none of the priests know. He didn't know either...... Is this His Majesty planning to put his hopes of defeating Sean on Ed's rebellion?--who the hell did he think he had?!

Fili sat straight and stiff beside him, and Ed could almost hear his teeth rattling, but the paladin controlled himself. There was no such impulsive act as drawing a sword and slashing at the king. Brooke was silent, and never said a word.

They were unprepared for it.

Whether it's being comfortable for too long, or being protected too well by Sean...... Even after a series of crises, all the priests, including Brooke, probably still naively believed from the bottom of their hearts that the king would eventually succumb to divine power, and never expected to be questioned and attacked with such malice and preparation, and had no power to fight back.

If Sean is here. Things may be completely different...... But the enemy is clearly aware of this.

At this moment, Ed deeply realized that the "powerful" standing on one person was so fragile. Even now. He didn't dare to question Sean either. But the tough and silent old man...... At least in the way the temple is protected, it may be completely wrong.

And what can Ed Singal do about it?...... He didn't know, but he had to do his best.

His head still hurt terribly, but he finally struggled to find a glimmer of clarity. That propped him up to his feet. Speaking in a slightly trembling voice, he said, "I may not be a true Sage...... Perhaps, but it's not up to you...... Your Majesty. ”

The interrupted Ante opened his mouth in a stunned expression, and for a moment leaned back heavily in exasperation, raising his chin to look at him gloomily and haughtily.

"I gave you a chance, Ed Singh, for your mother's sake...... And are you still going to tie yourself to a ship that will sink?" he asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Ed replied, trying to keep his composure, "Same ...... It's not up to Sean either. But ......"

He turned to Bloomer. Stretching out a cold hand to the smug young man, "Please give me back the Staff of Eternity—no matter what, before the Goddess makes a final decision." I'm still the one who was ...... by humans on May Day and the Sage recognized by dwarves and elves alike. ”

He must have been dazed to hand over the Staff of Eternity...... Scott had already warned him, but he was still flustered in the face of all this. What if he wasn't unique? If he was knocked down so easily, he probably wouldn't even be eligible to be chosen.

Bloomer looked at him in a daze, looking surprised, and involuntarily glanced at Ante, obviously not expecting such a development.

"You have left me with no choice, young man. ”

Ante's voice rang out behind Ed: "I didn't want to get this far...... After all, even I don't want to admit it's true. But who knows? Maybe it's meant to be ......."

Ed heard an unexpected hesitation in his last sentence, which made his heart twitch again in uneasiness—had he done something wrong?

"I can understand your respect for Sean Fletcher, after all, I once believed in the integrity, bravery, and loyalty of that paladin as much as you did, so I was so angry and saddened when I found out that all this was just a lie. ”

Ante's tone was stiff, but there was no "anger or pain" in it, but a faint panic, as if he knew that he had a weapon in his hand...... But I also know that once I use it, everything will be out of control, and there will be no turning back.

"Eric Vaughn. In a low voice, he pronounced names that no one expected.

Ed's body shuddered slightly, and a heavy muffled thud came from behind him—Eric, who had been standing behind him, slammed into the back of his chair.

He looked back in astonishment, and the young paladin's face was as white as a ghost, and his gaze was straight at what point he didn't know where to go, as if he didn't dare to look at him.

"Stand before me, paladin. ”

Ante didn't look at Eric either, just stared at the ground in front of him, and spat out every word stiffly: "You ...... to me I have sworn to your goddess, and now, here, with your life and soul, repeat your vows...... Repeat everything you swear to see with your own eyes, that there is no falsehood, and accept proof in either way. I don't think I need to tell you any more lies...... What a disaster any kind of lie will bring to you, and to what you have sworn to guard. ”

Eric froze for a moment, then finally spun out from behind Ed's chair, his steps hasty. He knelt half-before the king, but he kept his head bowed, and for a long time he could not make a sound.

There was silence in the tent, except for the gentle breeze beating the curtains. All eyes fell on Eric's with different expressions, surprised, confused, uneasy, excited, and gloating......

Ed stared blankly at the familiar figure, but his mind was blank, and he didn't want to think about anything. He had just suspected that there would be a mole in the temple...... But it shouldn't be Eric!

“...... If you don't know where to start, I can warn you, knight. Ante's voice was cold and dry, and there was not a hint of smugness, "I know it hurts you, but you should remember what made you make this decision - it was the life of an innocent woman. Helena Crissus...... If you haven't forgotten the name. I have searched for her, but her family claims she disappeared three years ago, leaving behind only a five-year-old daughter. If it weren't for this young paladin, probably no one would ever know...... She died at the hands of Sean Fletcher. ”

Even the well-bred aristocrats couldn't suppress that involuntary exclamation. A thunderous sound rolled in Ed's ears, and his eyes widened, but there seemed to be only a piercing white light in front of him—the light that seemed to reflect off the Staff of Eternity, making him unable to see anything.

Is everything he believes doomed to be ruined in this day?......

"Eric, Vaughn!" Filly's roar rang out in uncontrollable whispers, "Do you know what you're doing?!"

Brooke's voice was faint and old in comparison: "Eric...... Paladins obey the gods, not the king. Before you accuse Lord Flace like that...... Think about what that means. ”

“...... I've thought about it, sir. Eric's whispers were almost drowned out in a cacophony, but when he spoke, the surroundings quickly fell silent.

"I've thought about it a million times...... I've prayed countless times...... You don't know how hopeless it can be to be at peace all the time...... But I can't get an answer from the goddess. If I could, I'd rather let this secret rot in my heart, but someone ...... The gods heard my prayers, and I couldn't hide them any longer. I can only believe that this was a fateful arrangement, a response from the goddess...... But adults...... This is not what I was hoping for...... I never thought of betraying the Temple......"

The paladin's last voice was as low as a sob.

"Have you lost your strength, as Bye Jan ...... What about a fallen paladin?" asked Ante.

“...... No, Your Majesty. Eric replied with some hesitation, "Not yet." ”

It was a vague and slightly bizarre answer, but no one seemed to care. Ed's confused gaze met Fili's, but they looked away after a brief transition.

Eric had lost his powers...... But, as he said, "not now" - he wasn't lying.

As for whether it was wise to rashly mention another nameless god, Ed and Filly were not sure in the current situation, so they could only choose to remain silent.

Then maybe you're not wrong about what you believe. Ante continued in a low voice, suddenly looking tired, "Maybe this is really fate...... You may have rebelled against the temple, but you have not rebelled against your God. Go on, knight, go on...... Let's put an end to this as soon as possible. ”

-- But it won't end there.

Ed stood there in a daze, with only more and more despair and powerlessness in his heart, as if floating on the vast sea, with only a small piece of gradually melting ice floes under him, cold and biting, lonely and helpless, unable to see the direction. All his efforts were in vain, and he could only resign himself to waiting for the next great wave to swallow him completely......

And even that is a lucky relief.

(To be continued......)