The heavy wooden door closed slowly, blocking out the bright morning sun and cool air.

Ed couldn't help but glance back, feeling a little heavy. The halls of the limestone castle looked the same as they had been a year ago, empty, rustic, and simply decorated, but it looked much colder for no reason.

Also gloomy was Selene Grean's expression, and everyone knew why.

The mistress of the Greon family didn't even give Is, who had changed back into human form from an ice dragon. Her gaze remained firmly fixed on Sercio's face.

The dappled sunlight that fell on the ground through the skylight was broken and pale, cold and without a little temperature, and Selene just stood there, looking at Sercio quietly for a long time before turning her head and asking Ed, "Where did you find him?"

She didn't ask Sergio any questions, probably because she saw that the boy couldn't give her any answers.

"Miaz-Weiss, a city left behind by the elves between the Silver Tooth Mountains and the Kasdan Forest. ”

Ed replied softly, his heart pounding, "Behring...... Not there. ”

Selene looked at him, cold lines carved into her closed lips, silently asking for answers he couldn't answer—she wanted to know who her enemies were.

Ed swallowed hard, but before he could speak, Rosa had already spoken first.

"Sercio was taken away by a necromancer. ”

She was probably worried that he wouldn't be able to lie to Selene's face.

This is the answer they negotiated on the road. The war had not yet subsided, and the heavily armed countess was let know that the followers of Nesses might be involved. It's only going to make things more out of control.

But if the enemy is a necromancer...... Everything will be much simpler.

Selene didn't say anything, just looked at Ed in silence, as if to judge from his face whether Rosa's answer was true or false.

Ed forced himself to meet her knife-sharp gaze without evading. Full of guilt: "I'm sorry...... We couldn't find Behring, and even Sercio didn't know where he was. ”

Selene's gaze turned back to Sercio's face.

"I don't see anything else he 'knows'. She said.

She seemed to have little concern for the dumbfounded-looking boy, but Ed knew that there was no need to be harsh on a mother who was at risk of losing her son, especially since she didn't like the Dejuri family very much in the first place.

"When we first found him, he was still conscious. But we couldn't get him out of the way...... By the time we saw him again, he had already become like this. Ed explained softly, the guilt weighing on his heart that kept him breathing.

He could barely hear Sercio banging on the cell door calling his name...... But he still couldn't save him in time.

From Is's description. He could guess who had "returned" Sergio to him...... But standing here is really the quiet, well-behaved, yet honest and brave little prince? He is empty, as if he has lost his soul. I'm afraid it's not just because of O'Elan's manipulation.

Selene fell silent again. Ed could seem to see in her pale face that the force was pressed behind the mask of calm. The fear and despair that was on the verge of collapse - if it did fall into the hands of the necromancer, Behring's fate would be even more terrible than she had imagined.

For a split second he almost wanted to open his mouth to tell him that maybe it wasn't...... But what is the truth? He also has no answer.

After a long time, Selene finally spoke: "Winnie...... Arrange rooms for guests to rest for a while. ”

Her voice trembled at the first word, but it was quickly suppressed. As the ruler of the Grian family, she would not show the slightest vulnerability in front of them no matter what.

"We'll talk about that later. She told Ed.

Ed nodded heavily, suddenly thinking of something.

"Can you get a pastor here?" he asked hopefully. "For a powerful priest, it would be best if he could have the high priest of Anduhe...... He might be able to rehabilitate Sercio...... Healthy. ”

Selene looked at him with some confusion. He blurted out, "Aren't you a pastor?" I thought ......."

But she quickly realized something.

"Of course. She said, "I'll do it as soon as possible." ”

There was a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes. If Sergio can recover...... She might be able to get more news from Behring.

As he left the hall, Ed glanced back at the countess's still upright figure, his chest tightening.

He really didn't want to deceive such a mother...... But he had no other choice.

Under the care of Ryan and Rosa, Sergio quickly lay down on the bed cleanly, but his eyes were still open, staring at a certain point in the void, and he didn't know if he really saw anything.

Ed stood to the side, knowing he couldn't help now, but he didn't want to leave.

Rye glanced up at him, walked over and tore off the useless burlap bag he still had hanging on his chest, and said, "Go sleep, you look like a ghost." ”

She's not polite at all.

While Ed was still hesitating, Iss grabbed him by the back and dragged him out, dragged him back to his room, and threw him into bed.

"Sleep!" he said, "your eyes are almost like skeletons...... How long has it been since you slept?"

Ed thought about it seriously.

"I don't remember. He said.

He really couldn't remember how long it had been since he had had a good night's sleep.

In Is's glare, he collapsed on the bed, his mind in a mess, without the slightest hint of sleep.

“...... Don't you ask me anything?" he asked, a little expectantly.

He had many, many friends he wanted to tell him, but he didn't know where to start.

Iss dragged a chair and sat aside, not only did he not ask anything, but he didn't seem to even bother to look at him again.

"Everybody...... Are you all right?" Ed had to change the subject.

“...... Pretty good. Iss replied.

Ed was keenly aware that he hesitated for a moment before answering, and immediately jumped to his feet.

"Is there anyone who isn't so nice?" he asked nervously.

"No one is worse than you!" Iss glared at him in exasperation. "It's been a while since I've seen Tess and Norvi, who are protecting your father in Kriessburg...... Uh, Tess is pregnant. ”

Even if there was a bolt of lightning in front of him. It wouldn't surprise Ed any more.

"Wai, Huai...... Pregnant?!"

He bounced all over, barely able to utter a sentence in its entirety.

“...... Is there anything strange about it?" Iss gave him a disdainful look, "Norway is an elf, but he's also a ......" He tilted his head, as if struggling to come up with a suitable description—"Male." ”

Ed couldn't help but grin and stood blankly for a while, finally calming down.

He couldn't imagine that petite man. The appearance of a redhead girl who is pregnant all day long...... But, Iss was right, what was so strange about that? It was even the only good news he had heard in a long time.

A smile crept from the corners of his mouth to his entire face—what gift did he have in store for them?

"Naria and Alan are both in Ston Butch. Don't worry, Scott won't let them do anything. Isis continued casually, pausing for a moment, and then added pretending to be light-hearted: "There are ...... Nia is back. ”

Ed blinked. It took a while to react.

“...... That one...... Niya?" he gestured with his hands raised. I can't believe it, "He's not...... Dead?"

"Fell into hell. Isis corrected, "I fell into it alive." ”

They looked at each other and saw the same indescribable look on each other's faces.

"I seem to ...... Missed a lot. Ed muttered.

Although he also suffered a lot. In contrast, I don't know whose experience is more exciting.

"yes, you missed the hell we closed that black door. Isis said.

That's probably another piece of good news.

Ed touched the back of his head, but his mood was a little complicated.

He remembered the monsters in the forest, the demon in the cave who wounded him...... They appeared apparently because of that door.

And that's the end of it. It always gave him a feeling that it wasn't very real.

“...... Don't you believe in God?" Iss looked at him for a moment, then suddenly asked blankly.

Ed was stunned for a moment. Realize that he must have heard his conversation with the Countess.

"Also...... Not really. He replied awkwardly, not knowing how to explain it.

"Actually, there's nothing wrong with not believing it. Iss added earnestly, "See, nothing good has happened since you said you wanted to be a priest and ran to the Temple of Collins......

He paused and glanced at Ed quickly, clearly regretful.

Ed smiled wryly - more than "nothing good happened".

Countless images swirled in his mind, distraughting him. But what has happened...... After all, it can't be changed.

He fell back onto the bed, staring at the faint pattern on the ceiling, his heart heaving.

Will he regret the decision he made today someday? He doesn't know. He seemed to have had some bit of prophetic ability, but it was obviously useless.

...... Does he really regret his decision? If he could go back to the past, would he really make a different choice?

In fact, he didn't know either.

He kept tossing and turning on the bed, but Iss just sat quietly on the side, never speaking again.

Ed stole a glance at him, clearly discerning his worry and confusion.

He certainly didn't tell him everything—he didn't tell him anything to worry about.

Everyone has their own troubles, and Iss probably didn't fly to Miaz-Vis aimlessly. But now, he's just sitting here with him.

Ed closed his eyes and suddenly calmed down.

There's always a way—he told himself.

(To be continued......)