Hoyt Laval, the high priest of Anduhe, appeared at the Limestone Fort in the evening.

Ed, who was woken up by Is, jumped up and rushed to Sercio's room, unable to believe that he had slept all day.

He hesitated again as he rushed to the door, realizing how embarrassed he looked—messy and smelly hair, unwashed face, rough coat, ripped boots...... It would be too rude to just go to meet a respected old man.

The door opened, and Ryan nodded to him and walked away, and he had to bite the bullet and enter the room.

The room was very quiet. Sergio was half-lying on the bed, looking like he hadn't woken up, but he seemed to be a little more angry than before. Hoyt sat on the edge of the bed and put a hand on Sergio's head, while Celine and Rosa stood silently on one side, separated by considerable distance from each other.

After a moment, Hoyt withdrew his hand and shook his head at the Countess.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do." The soul is much more delicate and mysterious than the body, and once it is damaged, it cannot be easily healed by magic. ”

A hint of disappointment crossed Selene's face, but she didn't say much, just politely bowed to the high priest and thanked her.

After bowing his head in return, Hoyt turned his gaze to Ed and smiled slightly: "...... Sage. ”

Ed was stunned for a moment. It seems like no one has called him that for a long time...... And he couldn't afford to be called, but he didn't know how to respond to the old man in front of him who hadn't changed in the slightest.

"Please come with me, sir. Selene spoke.

Her name was, of course, Hoyt. But at the same time, he glanced at Ed. Ed understood at once, and silently followed them out of the room, feeling apprehensive - the countess had said, "We'll talk later." It is unlikely that he will tolerate a full day's sleep, and perhaps someone sent to look for him only to be chased away by Is......

Selene stopped by the door and looked back at Rosa.

"Rosa-Latus. "If you think you can represent Borena De Juri, there are some things you should probably hear about as well." ”

Rosa smiled slightly, whispered a few words to Rey, and walked over to her.

Isis is no longer out of the door. This made Ed even more uneasy. He remembered what he had just heard as the dragon spread its wings and a burst of exclamation...... Is he just gone?

But now is not the time to worry about this. If Selene called Rosa...... Then what she is going to make is bound to be a decision that can change the tide of the battle.

The ice dragon landed on the evergreen grass of the Enshi Valley.

The creek surrounding the meadow shimmers golden in the setting sun, and the faint scent of flowers fills the cool air. No matter how things change. This laid-back valley still maintains that tranquility that slows down even your heartbeat.

A shadow staggered out of the old mage's garden. The ice dragon lowered its head and looked curiously at the tiny white flowers that bloomed above Mulder's head.

"Will you still bear fruit and give birth to a little golem?" it asked, making it want to laugh a little.

"No, it won't. Someone dragged out the voice and replied on behalf of the golem.

Inglis paced out of the garden. Looking up and squinting at the ice dragon.

"You can't come into my house like that. He said. "You're going to trample on my flowers. ”

“...... I didn't want to go in either!" the ice dragon roared low.

"Really?" asked Inglis, nonchalantly, "Mulder had just made a good pot of tea. ”

The ice dragon was silent for a moment, then turned back into a young man with an unhappy face.

When he walked into the cabin, he couldn't help but look around, but he didn't see any more people.

"She was reading in there. Inglis, holding a cup of tea, sat down tremblingly, "If you're here to find her." ”

“...... Of course not!" Iss said exasperatedly. He didn't have any friendship with that woman, so it was best not to meet.

Mulder graciously handed him a cup of hot tea with the fragrance of flowers and herbs, and tilted his head at him. There was a hint of anticipation on the expressionless wooden face.

"Pretty ...... Fragrant. Ise involuntarily complimented, and then felt as stupid as Ed in his chagrin.

Inglis chuckled. The wrinkles on his face crumpled into a flower.

"I thought I'd never see you again...... Are you in such a hurry to owe me a few more favors?" his meaningful smile made Iss start to think it was a stupid idea to come here - but he didn't think that the high priest of Anduch could help Sercio.

Inglis wasn't a necromancer, but Iss believed he knew a lot more about necromancers than Hoyt, not to mention the fact that the female mage who had a close relationship with Lydia was also here...... He might be able to do something.

"I need your help. He said.

It's a big deal to wait for you to die, and help you look after the house - he was so justified that he instinctively refused to admit that he didn't want to be a man who had nothing to do with this quiet little valley...... Dragon.

Inglis sipped his tea with a smile and said nothing.

"There's a boy ......," said Is, who said to himself, having no doubt that Inglis would never refuse his pleas.

After all, where else could he go to find such a perfect guardian as him?.

As Iss jumped into the hallway, Ed walked to Sercio's room.

He watched as the huge ice dragon began to change in mid-air, and when it rolled over and jumped to the ground, it had already changed back into a human form, but the wings behind it had not completely disappeared.

There was a low exclamation of exclamation from the walls and in the courtyard, and the people here were apparently not as accustomed to the unceremonious entry and exit of a dragon as the people of Christenburg, and had not instinctively fired a few arrows in panic, and were quite well trained.

"This is Grean's house. Ed had to remind his friends of the necessary etiquette, "You're scaring them." ”

“...... So what?" Iss glared at him, "Do you want me to apologize to them?"

Ed had to smile wryly - that would probably only be more terrifying.

"Where have you been?" he asked, a little listlessly.

"Enshi Valley. "I would like to ask the old man if he can help the half-dead little fellow, but he says that no one can help him......"

"It's just him. Ed took it softly, smiling reluctantly at Is's quizzing gaze, "Mistress Laval said the same. ”

- "I don't want to disappoint Lady Greon or His Majesty the King because of hope—the soul has the same ability to heal itself, but no one can say how much time it will take. ”

Hoyt Laval told Ed this when he was leaving. By then, Selene and Rosa had already left, and Hoyt had Ed go out of town with him, but he didn't say much.

Ed could only nod silently.

All that had to be said had already been said - after Hoyt said that the necromancers had taken Belin and Sergio away, perhaps what they wanted was the current situation of slaughter and death for years or more, Selene remained silent for a long time

"What are you waiting for?" Rosa asked, sighing, "Wait for the necromancer to come to the door and tell you that your son is in their hands, and if you want him to live, you have to continue to stand by and watch the war scorch the whole of Anktane?" Are you sure that Behring, the descendant of the Hammer Greans, can really accept the life that was paid in this way and continue to have the respect of the lords and knights?"

This sentence is harsh. Selene's face immediately sank, but she endured it and didn't have a seizure.

"You can see that the King's army will win this war - why not use the power of Greon's house to end it as soon as possible, so that we can concentrate all our forces against the real enemy?" Hoyt suggested gently.

Eventually, Selene made the decision to let the Grean army's army join the king's side.

It was something to celebrate, but Ed wasn't happy at all.

Rosa's eyes clearly told him that it was necessary and the right decision.

But this kind of alliance, built on lies, will be easy to destroy...... But he could not tell anyone about his worries.

When they broke up, Hoyt suddenly looked like an elder...... Instead of a high priest facing another god, the Holy One, reached out and gently touched Ed's head.

"Cheer up, kid. ”

He calmly looked Ed in the eye, and didn't call him "Sage" again.

"I know you've been through a lot of hardships, and sometimes it's hard to get suspicious. I can't tell you that all this is a test given to you by the Goddess, after all, what do I know about God's will? I don't have the ability to foresee the future, but I believe ...... I'm sure Felicity won't choose you for no reason, kid, you should believe in yourself. ”

Ed looked at him in amazement.

"Believe in Yourself" ...... He hadn't heard anything like that in a long time, but honestly, it didn't mean much to him anymore. It's just that he always felt that there was something strange in Hoyt's words.

Now, looking at Is's blonde hair, which looked almost silver-white in the moonlight, he suddenly remembered.

He was speaking of "Felicity's choice" - Felicity, not the goddess.

For a high priest, he should not have made such a mistake. There have always been gods who can choose saints, and Felicity is not a god.

It might just be a slip of the tongue - Ed was distraught trying to find a simpler explanation.

But the elder, who had always been calm and cautious, made such a slip of the tongue when he talked to him so solemnly?...... That seems impossible.

"Hey!" Is, who was ignored, pressed his head down hard and unhappily, "What are you doing in a daze?"

Ed raised his face dumbfounded, looking at his friend.

He seemed to have thought of a possibility just now, but he didn't know where he flew because of Is's press.

“...... I'm going to see Sersio. He sighed and spoke.

(To be continued......)