Trust and understanding are mutual, and Ed has never understood this phrase more deeply than he does today.

He even realized that he was afraid that from the beginning he lacked trust in the clergy whom he should have regarded as his most loyal companions. He always remembered how Iss was imprisoned and hunted down when he turned back into an ice dragon, he remembered the dark, damp prison beneath the Temple of Collins, the cold reflections and stubborn faces on the paladin's armor that stepped into Kriessburg to ask him where Iss was going, and how Beye's face was distorted by hatred...... Even when he later became acquainted with more priests who were worthy of respect and trust, that initial impression was indelible.

The names he remembered were more of a responsibility to him, and it wasn't until he stumbled through the fog of Collins that he thought he had lost them, that they took on a different meaning...... But many of them died, their names inscribed on the sarcophagus of the Island of the Holy Sepulchre, and none of the missing were seen except Ikaberd.

He knew they were alive. When he asked about their whereabouts, Sean only answered him...... He thought they couldn't forgive him, so he never asked again.

It was he who chose to give up first.

"I'm sorry......" he bowed his head guiltily.

“...... I don't understand why you're apologizing. Paladin said.

Ed couldn't help but smile. Now he knew that every word spoken by this paladin, who was not young but still simple and simple, was his truest thoughts, without sarcasm, mockery, or extraneous meanings. He doesn't even politely call him "you" like other, more sleek...... Probably because he didn't deserve such respect in his mind.

It must be said that he prefers such frankness.

"Do you know...... he asked tentatively, "where are the priests and paladins who survived the attack in the Temple of Collins?"

The paladin shook his head.

"I've heard that they have special assignments. He said, hesitating for a moment, and then giving another answer, "I also heard that on the day they were attacked, they were affected by some kind of irreversible magic, so they could no longer act like normal people." ”

Ed's heart suddenly tightened, what does this mean?

But the paladin in front of him clearly didn't know much more. He was about the same age as Fili, but he was still placed here to protect the Temple, and the markings on his armor indicated that he was still a paladin of all kinds...... He was only a little bit taller than the young apprentices, and he couldn't possibly know more.

“...... Can you tell me that?" he had to ask, "It won't cause you any trouble, will it?"

The paladin shook his head again, calmly and calmly: "No one has said that they can't tell you this. Besides, even if you know, what's the harm?"

"Not everyone thinks like you, does it?" said Ed with a wry smile.

The reason why he retreated and chose this paladin hidden behind oleander was not because of the nearest one hidden among the surrounding guards, but because this was the only one, and there seemed to be a little more warmth in his eyes, which made him instinctively feel that this was a better person to communicate with. Others, even if they are not hostile, are likely to ignore him at all.

"Probably not. The paladin admitted, "There are people here who don't like you very much...... But you are still the Holy One recognized by the Staff of Eternity. You will not betray us, at least that, no one can deny. ”

He's simple-minded, but he's not stupid.

“...... Anyway, thank you. Ed whispered.

He couldn't ask any more, and he knew someone who could give him real answers.

A few months ago, when he asked Sean about the survivors of the Collins Temple, and got only one "they're fine" answer, if he didn't rush to blame the other party, but persisted and asked a few more questions...... Will there be a different outcome?

"Not really. Tess "comforted" him as she happily rubbed her dagger knife and dagger, "That old man has a stone head, and he will tell you, at the beginning, that he doesn't want to say it, and you can't dig it out if you knock him into pieces." ”

“...... But I should at least try to knock on it. Ed answered casually, reflecting on it until Tess looked at him with a smirk and didn't realize what he had said.

"No, no, no!" he quickly corrected, "I mean dig hard...... I'm not going to knock him into pieces!"

Tess let out a long sigh of disappointment, "I thought you finally had that guts!"

"So," Mock quickly got to the point, lest the two young humans ramble on the topic again, "you want to talk to Sean." ”

"Hmm. Ed nodded, "Although Master Balk says I should do what I do best, and only I can do...... But Sean, I could have trusted him if I could figure out what the hell he was doing...... It would be much better if we could trust and help each other than to be suspicious and wary of each other as we are now. ”

And if he wants to gain Sean's trust, he can only face it himself.

"I think he actually wants to do that......"

At least, when Sean found out that there was a rune carved by Lydia on his skull, he didn't hide it, and he didn't hide the dragon egg...... He obviously wanted Ed to know more.

Sean Freicher has never been one to take the initiative in this regard. He had shown his intentions, but Ed hadn't been able to take his chance in time, though that wasn't entirely to his fault. But by the time he returned to Stonebuch, they had managed to ease up a bit, and they were clearly estranged again.

"He's over there at Mirror Lake. Ed told the dwarves, "Maybe you can come with us? ”

They could have gone directly to meet Payne Silverleaf and inquire about the news of the Black Rock Dwarves. And it wasn't just for Mork, and though it seemed isolated, Ed believed that the Black Rock Dwarves probably knew something they didn't know.

“...... You just said, 'We'?" Tess leaned in, her expectant amber eyes sparkling.

"I, Mock, and Iss. Ed held out three fingers with a complacent, "Aren't you going to stay here and help Naria? ”

The touted Tess sat up straight silently and looked at Ed with a strange look in her eyes for a moment.

“...... It's out of breath......" She spoke slowly, but she didn't deny it.

Ed withdrew his hand and tried to hide his smugness, if he didn't even have the slightest way to deal with Tess by now, he would be too useless!