It's not that he can't hear the warnings, and it's not that he doesn't know what kind of disaster a failed magic can cause, but now, it's impossible to "do nothing" - Ed thinks he can at least take a look. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

The door to the chamber is deep inside the tower. The elves communicated silently with gestures, and soon dispersed, and in the end, it was only Payne who followed Ed.

Despite the same glittering white floor, the interior of the Tower of Silence has a very different feel from the Temple of Collins. The Temple of Collins, built with the help of the Black Rock Dwarves, has the freedom and kindness that Felicity insisted on, as well as the regularity and majesty created by the dwarves' unchangeable nature. While the corridors, rooms, and even doors and windows of the temple were mostly symmetrical, the corridors of the Silent Tower were like free-growing vines, hovering back and forth between the intricately carved legends of the gods and the vivid flora and fauna, making Ed dizzy.

He was not in the mood to admire the carving, but he still involuntarily stopped in front of the statue of Ni'o. The goddess rightfully had the pointed ears of an elf, a slender figure, gentle eyes, and long hair that flowed down from the sky, turning into oceans and rivers...... The snow-white stone sculpture was more beautiful than any statue of a goddess Ed had ever seen, but it was not as impressive as the rough stone statue of the old temple on the island of the Holy Sepulchre, which was so grim that it was almost cold.

What is what she really is? Can anyone really find out?

Payne stood quietly a few steps away, patiently waiting, and did not speak.

There was naturally no contempt in his eyes, but there was no sympathy either...... For this, Ed is also grateful.

They walked on, each door they walked through differently, just as there would be no two identical flowers on a rose. The creative nature of the elves is on full display, but it also makes Ed feel a faint sadness. The passions that burned in the middle of nowhere, were breathtakingly beautiful, but they could not help this once-glorious race out of its present predicament.

When it finally stopped, the closed wooden door in front of me retained its original color, and the fine notches traced feathered branches and flaming flowers along the texture of the wood itself.

The fire feather wood symbolizes resurrection and rebirth.

However, if you look closely, each flower is a rune, and the ancient elven language has sealed off this place with great force, and you can feel the danger without touching Ed...... and a strong sense of warning.

"The only thing I know is that drawing a specific symbol along these flowers with the power of magic will open the door. Payne whispered to Ed, "But I don't know what that symbol is." ”

Ed nodded. He didn't do much research on this spell, but Ikabard once said that a single symbol has a meaning, but when multiple symbols appear at the same time, it is more important to have a connection...... So the latter is easier to decipher than the former, because no connection can be irregular—especially in magic.

Ed unconsciously stretched out his fingers and scratched between the flowers.

-- Just by saying the words in his mouth, he can vividly play a trick trick.

Realizing this, Ed silently withdrew his fingers in embarrassment, and wiped the sweat from his palms as if nothing had happened.

There were so many runes on the door that even he could come up with many different combinations, but he couldn't tell them apart.

-- Fire feather wood.

He thought blankly, putting on a serious face in deep thought.

- Resurrection and rebirth.

An incredible thought came out of a corner of his mind...... Maybe it's from the nightmares he's been in for a long time these days.

He licked his lips and looked at Payne hesitantly.

"I said that if you don't have absolute certainty, you don't have to do anything. Payne's low voice seemed to comfort him, a little frustrated but not agitated.

"No......," Ed began, snorting, "I want to ask, if that fails...... Will it cause a lot of damage?"

"I don't think so. Payne replied, "This is the Tower of Silence, and the elders don't want any damage to it...... But the elves who try to open this door in the wrong way may not end well. ”

"Oh, that's what I thought. Ed said, "...... But I'm not an elf. ”

His pretended brisk tone could not hide the uneasiness.

He wasn't sure, but he couldn't help but want to give it a try. The panic mixed with intense excitement turned into an irresistible temptation.

Payne looked at him thoughtfully, and didn't seem to have any intention of stopping it.

Strength is infused in the cane. The gray gem shimmered reservedly, giving him the protection he wanted. Ed took a deep breath and rubbed his fingers swiftly, the power of magic drawing familiar signs between the flowers in the opposite direction.

Like an hourglass without two ends.

In the silence, nothing seemed to happen. Ed stood dumbfounded, his heart almost halting, but Payne jerked his hand towards the door.

The wooden door opened silently, and Ed finally spat out the breath he was holding.

Payne smiled back at him, but didn't say a compliment—his smile was the best compliment.

But there was an indispelable shadow in the elf's smile, and he hesitated to stop at the door, unable to take the last step for a long time, as if stepping into the darkness behind this door required more courage than sneaking into the elf's forbidden place with a human.

“...... Maybe we'd better be quicker. Ed could only remind, "I suspect someone will find out soon." ”

He felt a faint fluctuation as the door opened...... The elf who closed this door probably set up another kind of warning.

Out of respect and caution, he did not follow Payne into the room until Payne invited him.

"You have the right to know this. "And I want to...... You know better than I know what this is. ”

The room was dimly lit, and it took a moment for the human eye to adjust. Ed looked up in amazement at the starry sky—above his head, countless glittering gems, large and small, set a brilliant starry sky.

Ed's face turned pale. He had seen the same decoration...... In the wilderness beyond the Light of the North, in the temple of Nesses in the Basin of Sidney, which belonged to Nesses.

He looked down and saw something on the floor that was equally familiar to him. Although he didn't even recognize the runes hidden among the intricate patterns when he first saw them...... It wasn't much better now, but with Scott's affirmative answers and modest explanations, he was at least sure that the same altar was stretched out beneath his feet as on the massive disc of the Temple of Nethers.

And those ancient runes have a unique and unique purpose.

. (To be continued.) )