Sergio sat blankly in his chair wrapped in a blanket, making Ed, who pushed the door in, feel like he had regained his senses. But that beautiful illusion was quickly shattered by Rosa's gentle words.

Ryan had made him sit there, and she said it didn't do any good to lie down too long. His mind couldn't move anymore, and he couldn't lie down until he couldn't even move his body. ”

- Exactly like what Rey would say. Sharp and sharp, not very good-sounding, but unable to refute.

Rosa leaned against the window with her arms crossed, her whole body shrouded in shadows, showing a rare sense of depression.

"You...... Did you send a message to Borenna?" asked Ed hesitantly.

Rosa nodded.

"I have written a letter," she said, "and the messenger of the House of Grein will bring it to him along with the letter from the Countess." ”

"All?"

"No, I just told him we found Sergio and he ...... Got a little frightened. Rosa smiled wryly, "It's not that I mean to hide it, it's better to tell him some things in person." ”

Ed fell silent, imagining Borena's surprise and the sadness and disappointment that followed, and suddenly felt that what had happened to him was nothing. Everyone is fighting for different reasons...... Even if it's Sercio sitting there.

"Go and rest for a while, Rosa. He heard his own voice, calm and weak, "I'll watch him - I've slept all day." ”

Rosa did not refuse.

She carefully and softly closed the door. In the room that suddenly fell silent, only the firewood in the fireplace occasionally crackled softly. The firelight flickered and danced. Reflected on Sercio's pale face, it stained him with a false hint of blood.

- He was only twelve years old, and he was supposed to be the next king of Anktan. After a long life, you may only be able to live like this, without joy, anger and sorrow, you can't feel the warmth in the hug, the sadness in the smile, the slight coolness of the snowflakes when they melt in the palm, and the vigorous vitality in the strong fragrance of summer flowers...... What's the difference between that and being dead?

Ed crouched down. Bury your face in the palm of your hand.

He couldn't cry, he could only feel the deep powerlessness in his heart...... and anger with nowhere to vent.

Something small, hard was around his waist, and at first he didn't bother to pay attention to it. As time passed, the faint dull pain became more and more intense.

Somewhat irritated, he pulled out the small piece of rubble, stared at it for a moment, then got up and shoved it into Sercio's palm. But I can't tell why I did it.

He could feel the faint force on the stone. Brick by brick from the light of the far north. The soul in the grass and trees may have left something in it that allowed it to enter his dreams.

He didn't know if Sergio would still dream now...... If so, hopefully he's not alone in his dreams.

My heart moved slightly. Ed looked down at his empty palm—a faint glow lit up there.

In the middle of the night, Ryan came to replace Ed.

The old man was unapologetic to anyone, but he was always very gentle when facing Sercio, which made Ed wonder if she had also had children of her own, but he didn't dare to ask.

It was difficult and dangerous for human women to conceive barbarian children, and miscarriages and difficult births were common. Most of the mixed-race children have no mother, and many are born with a cripple. Norway had always suspected that Akan also had the blood of a savage on his body. But no one can prove it - and no one cares.

Suddenly, he missed his friends - Norvi, Tess, Akhan, Naria...... But he can't go back, at least not now. He had put them in danger more than once...... He had to learn to face it alone.

He didn't feel sleepy, and simply walked down the long corridor. The respectful salute of the heavily armed guard as he walked past him made him unconsciously embarrassed, and as he was about to go back, he was surprised to see the countess.

Selene, who probably couldn't sleep at all, was standing in front of an old tapestry, looking at the legends woven between the warp and weft in a daze, and her blank expression revealed sadness and exhaustion, as if she had suddenly aged a lot.

Ed hurriedly lowered his head, as if he saw something he shouldn't see, and tiptoed to sneak away, but heard Selene shout, "Ed...... Come here, kid. ”

There was something in her soft, deep voice that Ed couldn't refuse.

Ed turned and walked silently, unconsciously looking at the tapestry, and soon recognized the story told in the woven pattern—Grian the longhammer. The hammer, which was a little too big to be over-the-top, was hard to mistake.

I remember the last time I stayed at Limestone Castle, he used to stand here and ask Norway if the "Longhammer Green" himself was really as brave as the legend said, but the elf just smiled and replied, "I don't know everything, but I have heard a prophecy that it will take ten generations before someone can once again wield a longhammer and crisscross the battlefield - in the end, it is probably Behring's generation." ”

- But Behring is probably gone.

He didn't have much friendship with Behrin, and even felt bitter about Naria's affection for him and the fact that he had killed Borena after all, but at this moment, looking at the white hair on Selene's sideburns, he felt a strong heartache.

They all lost their most important loved ones.

"I'll find Behring. He blurted out, "...... Whether he's alive or not. ”

Céline Gray doesn't need the false reassurance that he must be alive...... He could only give her such a promise.

Selene looked at him and smiled slightly.

"It's not your responsibility, kid...... I lost him. ”

“...... I've heard that they left on their own. ”

"Because I didn't allow him to take Sergio back to Blackcastle to visit Kezia. Selene smiled wryly, "If I was willing to tell him, it was because I already knew about Borenna's disappearance, and not stopped them for no reason, maybe this wouldn't have happened...... I always treat him like a child, and I feel that he simply can't cope with the ** and the struggle around the kingship......"

She stopped suddenly.

Remorse and sadness carved deep lines between her brows and the corners of her eyes. Ed knew what it was like...... But he couldn't say a word of comfort.

"Go home, Ed. Selene whispered, "I know you've lost a lot of ...... I know you've lost your mother, but you still have a father...... Don't let him worry about you. ”

Ed looked down on the ground.

I have to admit that he rarely thinks of River. They were burdened with the same pain, but he always felt that his father was strong enough to face it all, and he didn't even need his company...... After all, since he was a child, he was away from him and his mother for most of the time.

Selene let out a long breath, and when she spoke again, there was a hint of apology in her voice: "I'm sorry, you're not a child anymore...... I really shouldn't have been pointing fingers like that. ”

Ed shook his head vigorously.

"I'll go back. He said, "I'm sure I'll find Behring, too." ”

Selene sighed and reached out to touch his cheek.

"Good boy. She whispered.

Ed insisted on sending Selene back to his room.

Rosa's room was separated from Sergio's room, and he deliberately slowed down as he walked past the door, but the door suddenly opened a crack.

Rosa's half-haggard face and still alert eyes peeked through the crack in the door, and she silently hooked her fingers at him.

Ed froze for a moment, looked left and right, and entered the room suspiciously.

The room was dimly lit, and the only light was the dying fire in the fireplace. The door slammed shut, and a dark shadow broke out of the shadow in the corner and stood in front of Ed.

Ed opened his mouth, but was careful not to scream

That's Sesyana.

The black-haired elf still gave people the feeling of being cold and sharp, standing there like an unsheathed sword, but it looked a little embarrassed, there were two thin blood marks on his forehead, and there were some black marks on his face, his usually neatly tied hair was draped over his shoulders, and the faint blood smell mixed with the rancid stench of the soil in the forest made Ed slightly startled.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, lowering his voice.

"A little injury. The elf replied.

"It's not like it's a conflict with the guards at Greystone. Rosa added, "He was being pursued in a nearby forest. ”

“...... Enemy?' Ed asked nervously, "Isn't there a need to warn the Countess?"

Rosa quickly exchanged a look with Sesciana.

“...... It is not yet certain whether it is an enemy or not. She replied calmly, "We've considered whether we need to tell you, because you probably can't hide it from Is...... But now, I'm not sure if I should let him know about it. You're his best friend and Scott's nephew...... Maybe it's better for you to decide. ”

Ed's heart sank—Rosa wouldn't mention Scott unnecessarily.

For a moment he almost wanted to shout "I don't want to know!", but he swallowed the words back silently.

"Does it have anything to do with the followers of Nesses?" he asked, wearily.

The night is still so long...... He felt as if he could no longer break free from the shadows.

As Rosa feared, Ed himself knew that it would be difficult for him to hide his thoughts from his friends. In the face of Is, he will be restless and unwilling, and sooner or later he will be forced out of the truth by the impatient ice dragon's roar.

So, early the next morning, he simply knocked on Is's door and asked him cautiously, "Are you...... Is there anything else important?"

“...... What do you want to do?" Iss glared at him in exasperation.

"I need your help. Ed looked back at him eagerly and apprehensively, rubbing his hands uncomfortably, sincerely hoping that he had made the right decision, "I want to go somewhere, but I probably wouldn't be able to get in without you." ”

“...... Where to go?"

"Enshi Valley. ”.

(To be continued......)