The light that illuminated the entire flower hall as if it were day finally dissipated, and the little black-haired girl seemed to have her soul drained and fell limply to the ground.

Arria, who ran in at some point, hugged her, looked at York, and said in a panic: "I'm sorry, I should have stopped her, but somehow I didn't stop her." I ......"

She was suddenly stuck somewhere, and finally reacted, she didn't need to apologize at all.

Her gaze turned to York's sword, and the depths of her pupils seemed to be lit up by the light on the sword that pierced any darkness. With awe, joy, and loss, she looked up at the pastor's still confused face, and asked softly, "So, now, you...... Are you our Sage?"

York's lips moved. He subconsciously wanted to deny it—what qualifications did he have to become a saint? and then he realized that he couldn't and shouldn't deny it...... This miracle in plain sight is a more conclusive proof than the heavy rain that fell from the sky on the May Day.

He still had doubts in his mind, but he had to bear the weight of the title

Aria was answered with a disdainful chuckle.

"In fact," he said, "the true Sage should be the girl in your bosom, who was fortunate enough to be chosen by her gods to carry her soul and represent her...... It's just that she'll probably never wake up again, or, if she does, she'll become demented, like the one—"

He had more vicious sarcasm, but swallowed it anyway when Ed tugged at his sleeve and pulled it down.

“...... It doesn't matter what you call it. Bornser spoke, bowing slightly to York, "We know what we're seeing. ”

He was the first to acknowledge York's authority, and the sincerity in his eyes was still too perfect to be questioned.

The priest's fingers moved. No more spells, the Sword of Light turned back into a silver pendant as he pleased. He tied it back around his neck and turned to bow deeply to Is.

"Thank you for your help. He said, "As long as the Sword of Light exists, as long as there is a believer in the Goddess of Dawn alive...... We will never forget this – we will never be your enemy. ”

“...... Even if I use you as food?" Ise scoffed, choked in the stuffy air that he couldn't spit out in his chest.

"You won't. York replied firmly.

Ed had to jerk his friend's sleeve again. He could feel the anger he couldn't put into his breath boiling.

Iss shook off his hand and strode out with a dark face.

Ed hurriedly apologized, and hurried to follow—he didn't dare let a dragon that was about to breathe fire run away.

Fili rubbed his beard, a little helpless. The corners of Mondstadt's mouth turned upward, the night was second to none in his many experiences...... Wonderful in every sense of the word.

The priests were silent, and no one expressed dissatisfaction with the dragon's arrogance. After all, they had seen a god use ...... What could they do if they sought his help in that way? Moreover, as York said, he deserved the gratitude of all of them.

And, he probably wouldn't care about their dissatisfaction.

York leaned over to look at the unconscious girl. The girl's pale face regained its former softness, and he suddenly realized that he couldn't be sure who he was up against these days...... Is it the apprentice priest Lori Garrett, whom he has seen often, but has no impression of, or another soul who dwells in it.

He also didn't know if the real Lori would ever wake up.

Is's sarcasm, though harsh, is irrefutable. In fact, they all know such sacrifices, and no one will find them unacceptable. What is the glory of being filled with the Holy Spirit? Their lives were originally given by the gods.

However, such a sacrifice falls on the head of someone who knows each other, and it is inevitable that there will be some sadness.

He turned to face the crowd. He knew that from now on, every word he said would have a different weight, but it wasn't what he expected – he was still a little overwhelmed.

"Everyone," he said, contemplating, "the night is still long......

He stopped.

- It's too bright outside the window, so people seem to feel a little abnormal, but this night ...... Isn't it a little too long?

.

On the deserted streets, Ed had to trot all the way to keep up with Is's angry footsteps, but he only followed silently.

Speaking of Is's "help" was his own decision, but in that case, he didn't really have any other choice...... When he sat in the temple with Ed, he had already made his choice.

And the deliberate weakness of the "god" seemed to make Is's concession more excusable, but it inexplicably made Ed feel uncomfortable in his heart...... If even he felt this way, Is's mood was even worse than even more conceivable.

And, he couldn't say anything in the Temple of Dawn - he was a little skeptical that the one who had borrowed Lori Garrett's body was really the one they thought it was.

I wonder if he was the only one who noticed the way York looked at her...... It's not like looking at the goddess you believe in.

The huge full moon was still dizzyingly bright, but it did move a little westward. And the little crescent moon may have been hidden behind it, and it has completely disappeared. The whole city seemed to be silent only for their footsteps, and when Iss suddenly stopped, Ed ran to his side in a few steps, and smiled wryly, "Tonight...... It's long enough. ”

He just didn't have anything to say. Iss gave him a roll of his eyes as a matter of course, wanting to curse something, but he couldn't - he couldn't always bully Ed.

His mind was in a mess of extreme unhappiness, and his white wings spread out almost uncontrollably behind his back. He felt like he had to fly to ......

Far away, in the highest place in the city, except for the three-storied tower, on the bell tower of Lockburg, the familiar bell rang.

Ed's heart sank with the bell: "That's ...... Morning bell?"

He looked back and made sure he hadn't heard the music coming from the Temple of Dawn, where they had just left—the day it was built, the harps that stood on either side of the statue would play automatically the moment the sun of dawn began to shine over the horizon. And after that, when the sun is fully rising, the morning bell of Lockburg will be struck, of course, by human rather than magic.

And now...... Perhaps the latter is more believable.

They glanced at each other, then turned to look at the temple that had disappeared into the darkness, and finally understood what York's last words meant.

The night, I'm afraid, will be really long.