“...... Maybe that's just a lie trying to confuse you?"

Kormit was silent for a few moments before he spoke.

"Or maybe that's a real warning. Kellian said, anger burning in his cold tone, spitting at his sudden weakness, "Also, stop calling Scott 'your brother'—he's not." I'm a dragon, and he's just a human!"

“...... Maybe you should trust your brother more. "I've not known him for long, but no matter what he's called, Scott Criess is a man to be trusted." ”

Kellian looked at it in surprise, feeling a little incredible.

"Do you believe that he will be completely innocent? After all that has happened to you, do you doubt Copas Fenton, but you still believe Scott?" he asked, "'I believe that Scott is probably the source of the crisis' - that's what you said yourself! And now you're telling me, 'Trust your brother'?"

Scott and Copass...... They are not the same. Kormit hesitated for a moment before replying, "Kopas is like a knight in full body armor, invulnerable from head to toe, invincible on the battlefield, but he never lifts his face so that people can see his face, and sometimes you feel that there is nothing under the armor...... And Scott, he is a flesh and blood body at his fingertips, frank and undisguised. When you stand in front of him, you can even feel the heat of his burning life...... Even if the flame was too bright to look at, it was still real. ”

"I hope you can appreciate his authenticity while being consumed by the flames. Kellian sneered. Annoyed to drive away the other self in his mind who involuntarily wanted to nod.

Kurmit reached out to remove the supposing smoke from the fire, and looked at him calmly.

"You're angry, I can see ......," he said. "What the hell did he do?"

He asked casually, which made Kellian lose his guard.

"He lied to me. The young ice dragon stared blankly at the flames and muttered, the overwhelming anger that had subsided the moment he learned the truth in the dark underworld of the Wind Fortress had already receded...... but it has not been extinguished.

Maybe it will never be extinguished.

"He did something I knew I couldn't forgive...... But I couldn't even give an explanation. ”

Even he didn't notice it, and there was more helplessness and grievance in that resentful tone, making this sentence sound more like a complaint.

"People lie," Kurmit sighed. But at the end of the day, no one can go completely against their own nature. You should know better than I know what kind of person Scott is - even Lydia can only tell you vaguely, 'He has to,' or you won't believe it." Isn't it?"

Kellian bowed his head silently, and listened to the priest's deep voice continue in his ear:

"When I say he's 'trustworthy,' it doesn't mean he can't do anything wrong, or that he does something wrong that is necessarily forgivable. Rather, it said. I believe he knows what's right and what's wrong, and will do everything in his power to do what's right...... If for some reason he goes in the wrong direction, you can blame him, stop him, pull him back by all means, and even let him get the punishment he deserves...... But don't give up on him. ”

A dark shadow crossed his gaze, and Kormit threw him a piece of charred on the outside. The half-cooked barbecue smiled at him.

"But maybe I don't need to tell you this......" he added. "Just think it's convincing myself, because obviously you can't give up. ”

Kellian snorted noncommittally, but without momentum.

He really didn't need to be told that—he couldn't give up. But he was inexplicably much more relaxed.

"So, you think you can dig up some news from Copas about Scott?" "Kurmit asked him, "I have to tell you, it's no easier than trying to extract an explanation from Scott." ”

"I know. "I don't want to hear anything he says...... I just need to see something. ”

He just needs to get some proof.

It was only when Travis unexpectedly mentioned the name "Anclan", which he had all but forgotten, that he suddenly realized how much he had blindly ignored for so long what should have been obvious to a dragon.

People do lie...... But the power won't.

A few days later, they made it to the edge of the Sidney Basin, hidden in a small cave in the mountains.

With two days to go before the celebration, there was still a steady stream of people rushing to the temple from all directions. The unfinished war in Anktan, the pastoral fields that were waiting to be sown, seemed to have been forgotten by the pious people.

Kormit would sometimes climb the high rocks and look out at the temple in the wilderness in a trance. Fate was so elusive that he would not have discovered that hidden village had it not been for that whim-spur hunt, and at this moment he should have been one of the most revered men in this long-awaited celebration, rather than standing here lest his former companions find out.

He didn't even know how many of them could be trusted...... He had just witnessed eight enthusiastic young men being recognized as priests of Nesses just a few months earlier, and at least three of them would not be on his side. Before that, there were only six of Nesses' priests, including Scott, and apart from a few brief meetings, they weren't familiar with each other - to be honest, the one he knew the longest was Copas.

Deep down, he still had a glimmer of hope that Copas would be as upright and just as he had appeared, that he would really have nothing to do with the bloody sacrifice...... But he also knew how slim that hope was.

He wasn't a young man like Durrou. The early years had allowed him to face reality calmly, but it was not pleasant—at best, some of the clergy had violated their oaths and beliefs and sought greater power in evil ways, and at worst, his faith for more than ten years, everything he had spent so long fighting for, was nothing but a lie.

...... And where does his power come from? Are those so-called "God-given powers" already soaked in the blood of innocents?

In his life, even when he lost his family and lover, and lived a decadent life with a wine bottle, he never hesitated so much.

But in contrast, he would rather face the worst truth than be deceived and used in ignorance.

He won't back down.

On the day of the celebration, Kormit changed into his white robe—a new, never-worn white robe, glowing as white as snow in the dimly lit cavern.

Kellian stood at the mouth of the cave, looking at him in silence.

“...... How?" Kormit straightened his chest and clasped his hands in front of him, striking a solemn face.

“...... It's too small. Kellian commented on the white robe wrapped tightly around his strong muscles with disgust.

Kormit laughed, but there was a bit of loss in his laughter.

"I carry it with me all the time. He sighed as the laughter stopped, and looked down at the ill-fitting robe—though he was tempted to convince himself that he was muscle-grown, he was a lot thicker than he had been when he had received it five years earlier.

"I got this five years ago when I became a pastor. "But you have to hide it...... The last time I went to Valland, I took it with me, and I felt that I could finally put it on, and let everyone know, that all could see, that I was not only a blacksmith, but also a priest...... Then I thought it was a bit silly -- it was so new, so new, like ......."

"The bride's dress?" Kellian teased with his arms crossed, a subtle smile on his lips.

“...... Do you have to describe it that way?" Kurmit couldn't help but sigh, but he couldn't help but laugh unconsciously.

"This is how the dragon has made fun of the priest's white robe since a long time ago. Kerian told him, "...... Although no one remembers it now. ”

Kormit glanced up at him, once again amazed at the wonder of fate—his only companion at the moment was not even human. They carry different weights, have different fears and anxieties, and even have different goals...... The same thing is being pursued.

-- The truth.

And at what cost will they pay for it?

"Let's go. The priest took a deep breath and spoke calmly, covering his snow-white robe with a dusty cloak.

They left the cave and quietly joined a group of believers at the right time. Most of them had come from the west side of the forest, farther than Gabriel, exhausted but still excited, laughing loudly along the way, and almost no one noticed the companions who had joined halfway.

They were numerous, but they were probably the last to join the temple, for the celebration was on that night.

Two days ago, Kellian had spotted guards scattered around, patrolling back and forth, guiding the crowd. Above the wilderness, with an unobstructed view of the sight, it is impossible for them not to be discovered.

Sure enough, soon, a young man rode his horse, sitting on the horse in a posture that seemed to be a little stiff because he was not used to the shining armor on his body, but his smile was simple and enthusiastic.

He asked them where they came from, and told them that they had to give their names when they entered the square—they would be carved on the steps of the temple.

His gaze swept over the crowd, not resting on Kormit's face, but subconsciously glanced at Kellian a few more times. The ice dragon's new appearance was not very eye-catching, and most of what caught his attention was the indifferent expression...... In the excited crowd, that cold face was indeed too abrupt.

"Do you know where you're from?"

The young man rode up to Kellian and asked with his head down, still with a smile on his face but a wariness in his eyes.

(To be continued......)