"I beg your pardon beforehand. Oylan dragged a chair over and sat down slowly, "If you ask a question to which I don't have an answer, it's one—after all, I'm not omniscient." ”

“...... How do I know if you really 'don't have an answer?'" Ed asked angrily.

"You don't know. Oylan replied as a matter of course, "I can only promise that I won't give you false answers." ”

So those are just three questions that Jay Oylan would like to answer. ”

Ed shook his head and gave up the tangle.

He had a myriad of questions in his mind, some of which he knew would not be answered even by Oylan, and some that he was not sure of.

Under the old man's calm gaze with a hint of mockery, the more he tried to concentrate, the more confused his thoughts became. The dark shadow of the three-storied tower, the sound of the water of the Vinez River, the outstretched wings of the dragon, the sunlight above the clouds, the dark passages of the earth, the fog of the plains of Collins, the white bones in the moonlight in the dream, the delicate and cool fingers of Vala, the snowflakes that fell on Naria's brow......

Countless images whizzed and whizzed away, and he could not find the most precious jewel on the beach, but he broke free from the shadows because of the light refracted in every fragment.

He lost a lot of ...... But he never lost everything. If he forgets to cherish and protect, he will only lose more.

Ethan Croeffler doesn't understand that he's also selfish. Everything he does, after all, is for himself.

“...... What is it going to take to get Sercio back to normal?" he finally asked.

He can give up revenge, but not hope.

"How do you make a torn tapestry whole?" Oylan sighed. "It takes time, it takes skill, it takes a lot of care and patience. ”

“...... But is that possible?" Ed's eyes lit up. "Can you do it?"

"No, I can't. Oylan replied, "After all, it's up to him." He was still alive, more or less, he still had his own consciousness, if there was a guide who could help him glue all the fragments of his memories together and make his world whole again. Of course it will be easier...... Yes, that's possible. But even if I could get into his consciousness, he wouldn't trust me. That won't be of much use. ”

Ed raised his eyebrows suddenly, remembering the elf that had entered his dreams...... He left the gravel with Sercio as some sort of fateful arrangement...... Or was it some revelation that he was not aware of?

"You can understand. Oylan looked at him with interest, "You've been there. Has any god ever whispered in your soul? What does that feel like?"

"I'm not your test subject. Ed replied with some annoyance. "Or. If a question can be exchanged for a question, I can also give you the answer. ”

Oylan was silent for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders.

"You have two questions left. He said, "Although, in fact, you have asked three of them just now—lo and behold, I am also reasonable." ”

The corners of Ed's mouth twitched.

He realized that he had just asked a useless question. Oylan didn't actually help...... But his answer did reassure him.

He unconsciously scratched his chin and fell into deep thought.

Oylan sat there in a leisurely manner, not at all in a hurry. Ed looked at him quietly, but there were ripples of doubt in his heart.

It's a deal. And Jay Oylan was not a generous man.

"I can tell you why that boy is like that, and even tell you if he can recover. —That's what he said.

Then he appeared in front of him. Tell him that you can answer any three of his questions...... He was so quick to see every thought in his head? He heard his conversation with Ethan?......

No...... He just understands too much the selfishness and greed in human nature, and ......

"What do you want to tell me?" he asked.

Oylan was silent for a moment before speaking, "Is this a problem?"

Ed nodded calmly.

"I could waste my time guessing, but in the end I won't get anything but what you want to tell me. "So, why not keep things simple, and tell me what you want me to know?" and if that's good for both of us, I don't mind being used as a pawn by you...... But don't try to stay out of it. ”

Oylan chuckled under his breath.

"Now I believe you're the son of River Singer. He said.

“...... I didn't know you knew my father. Ed responded warily.

"I didn't know each other, I just made one or two transactions indirectly. "Don't worry, he doesn't know what his fleet is bringing back, or cleverly pretends not to know - you've probably not learned enough at this point." ”

Yes, Ed admitted, he wasn't calm enough. If he was smart enough, he would pretend not to notice anything and ask one or two questions that he really wanted to know, and what Oylan wanted to tell him would sooner or later say it himself...... But he was tired of being treated like a fool, as he knew he was.

“...... But that might be a good thing to do. Oylan sighed slightly and leaned back, "After all, we are facing a common enemy, and he seems to be stronger than I expected. If we continue to be suspicious of each other, we may all end up losing...... But, Ed, think clearly, I'm a necromancer. You could have explained to everyone that you were only threatened and deceived by me to save an innocent boy, but now ......"

He spread his hands, and Ed understood what he meant.

He wavered for a moment, but finally shook his head firmly.

"I'd rather join forces with an honest enemy than be driven by lies and walk through the fog. He said.

He had thought more than once that if Sean had told him everything at the beginning, and if Scott had told Isse everything at the beginning, they could face it together. Maybe it won't turn out like this...... Those deceptions in the name of love and protection will sooner or later turn into harm to each other.

His choice may have been wrong, but at least it was a choice he made on his own with the knowledge of the truth. Regardless of the outcome. He doesn't resent anyone for that.

A vague smile faded from O'Ilan's face. He looked at Ed quietly and shook his head.

"One day you'll regret it. He said.

"Even if I regret it, that's my business. Ed replied, "Now, tell me, who is that enemy who is more powerful than you expected?" you say, 'him'...... So it shouldn't be Lydia Bell. ”

"Lydia is a wise woman. But after all, it's just a human being. "If the enemy is just her, I don't need to ask for help...... I know you're a friend of Norvi Sunstrider. I also know that you once broke into the realm of the elves for him, standing in front of Payne Silverleaf. So you should know that in the legends of the forgotten elves, there is an ancient, cursed city......"

He looked directly at Ed. "I heard your elven friend found that place. That made him nearly die at the hands of his own people...... It was there more than a dozen years ago, and it was there, that Lydia ...... Became the present Lydia. ”

Ed was slightly stunned, as if he had gone back to a few years ago, as he stood in Tess's shop, a dark-haired, green-eyed woman poked the small silver coin on his chest with her pale fingers, tilting her head and smiling at him.

"I'm guessing you don't know what it's worth. She said.

"Ankeland ......"

He whispered the cursed name, and endless shadows seemed to follow.

"It's not there...... It's not there. Travis' bloodless face was as sallow as damp paper. Muttered over and over again.

"Have you lost your brain?" asked Kellian, impatiently, "it does look like it's gone." ”

Even knowing is useless. Kormit glared at him hard. The young man seemed to gradually unguard himself in front of them, becoming more and more casual...... That's probably a good thing.

It was already dark, and the lights were lit in the side hall. Homelessness is tacitly tolerated here...... Or wanderers who can't find a place to return for a short stay, and they're not the only ones still here.

"What were you looking for?" asked Kormit patiently, "does that have anything to do with our current situation?"

Travis stared at him blankly for a few moments before replying, "Sometimes I think it has to do with everything." ”

“...... What the hell is that?" asked Kurmit.

"I moved it to a more secluded location with my own hands...... A location that no one will notice, but it's not there. Travis, still with straight eyes, gestured blankly, "Someone's looking for it...... Someone found it. It's bad, Kormit, it's worse than I expected...... Maybe I should ruin it......"

“...... So what the hell is that?" Kormit finally darkened his face unconsciously.

"A record. Travis looked gloomy, "About a city of cursed elves." ”

“...... The one next to the temple in the Sidney Basin?" Cormit guessed, "What's that...... What light?"

"Miaz Weiss, the Light of the Far North. Kellian said coldly, "The home of the 'Sunstriders' among the elves. ”

Duru glanced at him curiously, obviously surprised—not many people could pronounce the name of the city accurately, let alone the rapping Elven pronunciation.

Travis kept shaking his head.

"No, not there...... The Light of the North, as its name suggests, the elves have abandoned the city, but they remember it and miss it, it is the light of their dreams, even if it has been eroded by darkness and covered in blood, it is still brilliant and beautiful......"

“...... Maybe now isn't the time to read poetry?" Comit interrupted him reluctantly, and every time he heard Travis say that, he unconsciously began to have a headache.

"It's a city that's been forgotten for millennia. Travis whispered, "No one knows where it is, no one even knows its name, like the name itself is a curse......"

“...... Ankland?" Kellian blurted out.

(To be continued......)