Ed didn't dare to be disturbed, so he could only stand quietly to the side. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 As Payne wakes up from his momentary distraction, Ed can't help but think of the strange "elf" beside Lydia...... He had some uncertain speculations, but now that things seemed to be getting more and more complicated, and with no evidence, it might be better for him to remain silent for the time being.

Instead of going back the way they came, they followed a more winding road that zigzagged to another gate at the base of the tower. Ed didn't know how the elves could communicate with each other, but the scattered guards regrouped behind Payne at about the same time, without a single word or movement, as if everything was clear to him with just one look.

Payne was unusually silent. It wasn't until he entered the secret passage where he was separated from Finvi and the other "Ed" that he smiled apologetically at Ed.

"I'm sorry. He said, "I owe you many explanations...... But maybe you can only owe it first. ”

"A friend once told me that there is not so much 'sorry' and 'explanation' between real friends. Ed replied with a smile, remembering with mixed feelings that it was Norway who told him this.

He actually had more to say. He wanted to remind Payne that perhaps it would be better to be wary of the "friend" who told him what secrets were hidden in the Tower of Silence, that he always found the intentions of the other party to be suspicious, and that another group of elves from the Antler Forest might be hiding outside Grivar, believing in a god who was not worth believing in, and whose purpose even Scott had never heard of......

But looking into Payne's calm green eyes, he suspected that there was nothing he didn't know or couldn't control. If he still doesn't want anyone other than the elves to interfere......

“...... Your eyes are full of worries that are about to overflow. Payne couldn't help but smile, but he wasn't displeased, "Am I really such a reassuring friend?"

Ed shook his head repeatedly.

"I just want to say......" he stumbled, "if you need any help...... And if I can help......"

"I will not hesitate to ask you for help as I did today. Payne assured him, "But for now, I'm afraid I'd better get you off as soon as possible." ”

"Are you worried about what Firi will do?" Ed asked.

"......No," Payne smiled wryly, "as you can see, he hates me, and I hate him, but of all the elders, he's probably the one I trust the most." And not just because of blood...... He is stubborn and arrogant, but at least he will not stop at anything for an end that he thinks is right. ”

- So the other elders are more hateful than Philee?

Ed sneered, nodding silently.

"One more thing......" Payne beckoned softly. When Fenway suddenly emerged from the shadows like a ghost, Ed couldn't help but be startled. He asked himself if he wasn't particularly sluggish...... How did a person like Finway do it, who didn't deliberately hide it and didn't have a sense of existence?

"I want you to take him away. Payne looked at him sincerely, "His skills don't have much use here, and I don't want to stab him in the dagger of my former companion on the spot...... What he seeks, it may be hard to find here. But by your side, he can see more, and it will be easier for us to connect with each other...... He is quiet, will carry out all your orders, and will keep it a secret, and I will not hand him over to you if I can't confirm that - and of course, I will not force it if you find it inconvenient. ”

Ed couldn't help but hesitate. It's not a matter of trust, it's ...... He wasn't used to such a shadowy existence.

But before the vague longing in Finnway's eyes dimmed, he nodded.

"No problem. He said briskly, "I have a friend...... They might be able to talk. ”

He's talking about Nia - no one he knows is more elusive than the little man, and no one is more easily unguarded...... They might be able to talk.

"What are your plans?"

Before leaving, he couldn't help but ask.

"Perhaps, starting from not hiding so many secrets in the dark anymore. Payne smiled wryly, "While the elders are convinced that this is the best protection, look at what we have become now?...... I almost couldn't save Lance because I believed it would be better for him to hide some facts from him...... I'll tell all the elves of Grivar what kind of enemy we're facing, they should know...... They also have the right to know. ”

"That's not going to ...... Does it cause chaos?" Ed asked hesitantly, "Maybe now is not the right time?"

He admits that concealing the truth is definitely not a good solution, and he is only worried about who will take advantage of it.

"Perhaps. Payne replied, "I'll try to be as prepared as possible." But if the elves are already fragile enough that a single truth can be easily destroyed...... Perhaps, then, that we are hopeless, and even if we do, we are to blame. ”

The glimmer of determination hidden beneath the calm made Ed secretly frightened, but the hope that flickered in Payne's eyes was like the flowers of the fire feather trees that bloomed in the night, not as burning as in the sun, but as passionate and persistent.

Resurrection and Rebirth ...... Perhaps it must begin with destruction.

The wind that swept over Lake Xi'an brought a cool scent of water. Ed was almost moved to tears when he saw the temple still intact in the twilight - all the way he feared that what awaited him would be a scuffle-fighting ruin, black smoke and a thick layer of ice...... Maybe Iss has really matured a lot, maybe...... Maybe Scott didn't wake up at all.

He shuddered, and hurried through the door of the temple. The old priest who was guarding the door mentioned by Brooke was dozing off by the idol with a broomstick, and he slipped over on tiptoe a little weakly, and it didn't take long for him to bump into Filly.

The paladin clutched the roasted meat without an image, gnawed blankly with his eyes, and his beard was oily with scraps of meat, decadent and sloppy to look at...... But it still made Ed breathe a sigh of relief.

"Yo. Fili lazily greeted him, "You're still alive." ”

His gaze quickly flickered behind Ed, and Ed realized that he was still carrying an elf...... An elf with a striking tattoo on his face, but he can easily make people ignore him.

“...... It's a long story. Ed smiled bitterly and asked apprehensively, "Here...... How's it going?"

The paladin grinned with a complicated expression: "...... It's hard to put into words. ”

. (To be continued.) )