From the day he received the mission, Lance knew that this journey north would not be as simple as the orders he had received.

- "Find Norway as soon as possible and bring him back." ”

No reason, no way...... That's not usually the Elven King Payne's style of doing things. The young Silver Leaf King had ruled Grivar for less than a hundred years, and initially seemed unstable to many of the younger elves. He was fickle, impatient and aggressive, and had hoped to bring the elves out of the jungle and restore them to their former glory, but had lost his enthusiasm in a long and fruitless entanglement with the Council of Elders.

Lance watched him get closer and closer to the king that most elves wanted to have—elegant, unhurried, but silent, like a silver tree that seemed to be forever luxuriant, dimming day by day under the sunlight that spilled over the dense forest, and was no longer so bright and aggressive...... But it has also lost its original dazzling light.

But Payne is still frank and direct. He hated the elves' habit of making a simple matter mysterious and tortuous, and if he gave an order, he would usually simply tell the executor why they were going.

"This is not the way to be king. ”

Lance had heard Penn's uncle remind him so unpleasantly, and the Silver Leaf King raised his eyebrows and smiled, ignoring them.

Lance didn't know what the other elves would think—perhaps they would feel like they didn't know anything, and it would be easier to simply carry out the command. But it's always good for him to know what he's doing.

Only this time. Payne stopped talking, leaving him full of doubts.

By now, he finally knew that all this had something to do with a long-forgotten elven city, but he still didn't understand what secrets were hidden in that city that had disappeared for thousands of years. It can attract the pursuit of the shadow dancers...... It can make his familiar and trusted companions turn against each other.

He would probably never forget the chilling scene in his long life—a flash of lightning outside the half-open hatch, rain and waves crashing on the deck like the beating drums of the enemy, and Theodore Anjie, the sword dancer, one of the best warriors among the elves, stared blankly at him with his eyes wide and out of focus.

When he fell, Lance saw the young, cold eyes in the darkness.

A chill hit. In shock, he didn't even notice that someone was approaching behind him, until he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head......

When you fall in fear. He vaguely heard Lind Star's panicked voice, "Wait...... You said you wouldn't hurt the other elves!"

- He knows them...... Lance suspected that someone among his companions was helping the killer hiding in the shadows, but he never expected it to be Linde, who seemed the most innocent and friendly!

The anger ignited in an instant, overpowering everything...... But there was nothing he could do.

He didn't know what had happened after that. When he awoke, he was slowly sinking to the bottom of the dark water, and in a trance he seemed to see a silver ray of light gently wrapping around his long flowing hair...... When you regain your sanity again. But it was Norway and Tess who were trying to drag him to the shore on the beach.

They jumped ship to escape. He grabbed his ankle as he swam to the shore - that's what Tess said. Lance doesn't remember what he's caught...... He didn't even remember seeing their shadows in the water.

All he remembered was Theodore's dilated pupils, his slowly falling figure, the emotionless eyes of the shadow dancer in the darkness, Linde's words......

"But you're probably survived because he stopped the Shadow Dancer......" Norway was still trying to convince him, "and if you want to find out the truth, shouldn't you take him back to Grivar?"

"What's in the way of cutting off his hands?" Lance asked coldly, "There's a paladin here, and he can't die." ”

"I think he's right. That guy had killed his own companion. There's going to be some punishment, right?" Tess added fuel to the fire - she didn't want to let go of anyone who had nearly killed her and Norvi.

"Tess!" Norway shouted, his tone unusually stern.

Tess pouted unhappily. Holding the lost Xiao Mo and running away.

Lind remained silent, neither explaining anything for himself nor telling them a word about the Shadow Dancer - it seemed that he would rather die by Lance's sword.

Lance does not deny what Norway says...... But he could not forgive such a betrayal!

"If you want to show your tolerance and kindness so much, I'd be happy to tell the Silverleaf King how hard you tried to stop me, and I'll bear the consequences!" Anger and anger made Lance finally sneer.

But that didn't seem to work much for Novi. The elven warrior, who also escaped death, looked at him helplessly and shook his head: "...... You don't really want to. ”

"I don't need you to tell me what I 'want' to do!" Rence retorted angrily.

"So...... At least another occasion?" Normi sighed, "You don't really want to cut off your own hands in front of a group of human girls, do you?"

Lance's hand holding the sword stiffened, and finally slowly let it go.

"That's it. Naria waved her hand unhappily, "It seems that elves are no different from humans, they will betray each other, and they will kill each other...... I wonder if Ed will be a little disappointed. ”

"He won't. "He always sees the best and always accepts the worst." ”

Even if the elves are not as perfect as Ed envisioned, it does not stop him from continuing to fall in love with the mystery, elegance, and harmony with nature of this race.

“...... So, aren't you mad at him?" Narya teased, with an uncontrollable smile in her eyes.

Iss blushed in embarrassment, guessing that Naria didn't know why he was arguing with Ed and went away in a rage - she didn't need to know.

Maybe everything will end well...... At the moment, he could only hope for so.

"Sweetheart!"

Tess screamed, ran over with a look of dismay, and burrowed into Naria's arms aggrievedly.

"That stupid elf...... The next time he's hunted down, remember to remind me to stay away, he's best at finding death on his own!" she snorted with resentment.

"Are you saying that next time we won't need to tie you up like a worm entangled in a cobweb, lest you go to your own death?" Rosa smiled and seized the opportunity to fight back.

“...... Watch out!" Tess grimaced at her.

Naria smiled and hugged the petite red-haired girl, her heart almost overflowing with joy - nothing beats exhausting disasters, traps, rescues, escapes, worries and fears...... After that, it was even happier to be able to reunite with friends who were safe and sound.

"Will you come with us to Grivar?" she asked Is, hopefully.

"Can I ride on your neck again?" asked Tess with the same hope, "the gods are above, and I don't want to ride a boat again in my life!"

Naria was tempted to nod in agreement. While she was a little sorry for the captain and sailors of the Mouthy Jayne, she hadn't really wanted to set foot on that shaky deck again lately.

But after a moment's hesitation, she gently patted Tess on the shoulder and reminded her, "Iss is not a mount...... Besides, the elves might have taken it as some kind of demonstration, and they were so proud...... That didn't do Novic any good. ”

"Who's going to care about him!" Tess cried out with a grunt, "I'm going to ride a dragon!"

"Really, then we don't have to go to Grival, how about going back to Chrissus?" Naria shrugged as if she didn't care, "maybe we'll be able to catch up with the ceremony of the Collins Temple officially recognizing Ed as a saint." ”

Tess opened her mouth and closed it shut.

"You've gone bad, sweetheart. She said sadly.

"If you're going to Chrisses, can you take me with you?" another hopeful voice interjected.

"No, I can't. Isis refused without thinking.

“...... Why!" Filly cried, "you were going to say yes to them! you heard what Scott said...... I've got to get these things he stuffed me back to the temple as soon as possible!"

"What 'thing'?" Tess' eyes lit up.

Instinctively, Filly hugged the dark box a little tighter.

"Cursed thing. He told the quick-eyed and daring little girl solemnly, "You don't want to touch anything." ”

Tess didn't look frightened at all, but was more excited anyway: "Can you at least show me a look?"

Show that little knife with a handle of pure gold in front of a thief who would dare to steal anything?

"Why don't you let Iss show you the great gem he found in Madame Erow's room, it's much better than the contents of this box. "The paladin did not hesitate to betray the ice dragon.

Iss glared at him with a dark face.

"Gems!" Tess's beautiful amber eyes almost flashed with gems, "How big?"

"It's so big. Fili stretched out his fist-clenched left hand and shook it in front of her.

At this time, even Naria's face showed curiosity and longing.

Tess raised her little face and looked at Is, her face full of "simple" anticipation that people couldn't bear to refuse: "Just take a look?"

Speechless, Iss ripped off his fanny pack and poured out the gem.

Under the transparent sunlight of the early morning, the huge blue gem is no longer as dark as a clear night, but more like the sparkling deep sea, but it still seems to circulate the entire starry sky, and the mysterious and brilliant light attracts all eyes.

In a low exclamation, Rosa's voice sounded in surprise: "Heart of the Deep...... Is that the heart of the deep?".

(To be continued......)