Scott stopped in front of the sarcophagus.

He had been delayed here for the first time, which might have been enough for him to find Charrell in time...... and Filly.

But he couldn't take his eyes off.

Even Fili could recognize the runes on the ground, and it was impossible for him to forget them...... They had been imprinted in the dilating pupils of his near-death experience, blurry and distinct.

He had thought that the anger had been extinguished, but he found that the gray that covered it was blown away, and there was still a dark red flame, flickering and dimming under the ashes, burning faintly but persistently.

The anger never went away - he couldn't be so tolerant. Even if he knew that Ante Bowell was not his real enemy...... Perhaps he was never his true friend, and the damage caused by his betrayal was still so deep that even the power of God could not heal.

Besides, his gods didn't care about that.

He smiled mockingly at himself and looked up calmly. On the other side of the sarcophagus, at the edge of the labyrinth, Lydia had appeared silently at some point.

She wears a long red dress. It was always her favorite color, which brought out her black hair, green eyes and fair skin, bright and bright, and could easily attract everyone's attention even in the dark.

But at this moment, she stood there, like a red phantom wrapped in black mist, hazy and dim, without heat or sound...... Even the pale face was blurred.

"Are you still alive?" asked Scott.

Lydia chuckled softly, her right hand pressed to her chest, slender and pale. Like dry bones.

"My blood is getting colder and colder, but my heart is still beating. She said, "So." Yes, I'm probably still alive. ”

“...... What did you do to Fili?" asked Scott.

Lydia didn't answer at all.

"Don't you wonder why it's empty?" she said, looking at the sarcophagus, "if Doren Bofford had been lying in it, where has he gone now, and if it has always been empty, why is it here?"

"What did you do to Fili?" repeated Scott calmly.

Lydia finally glanced at him.

"So you're only here for him?" she asked with a sneer, "it's really touching." ”

"He's my friend. Scott replied.

Lydia was silent for a moment.

"I used to be your friend, too. She spoke suddenly. "If not your lover, at least your 'friend' - what have you done for me, Scott Christus?"

Scott looked at her with a slight surprise. I don't understand why she's bringing it up again. She should know that he would no longer be easily impressed by those "once".

He raised his guard, but Lydia looked up leisurely over the sarcophagus.

"You just died there. She said, "Across a layer of stones, on another altar." Ante Bofford sacrificed you to ...... Your God. It's kind of ironic, isn't it. Sage?"

“...... I don't need to know what I already know. Scott's tone unconsciously stiffened.

Lydia smiled at him, "I taught him." ”

The corners of Scott's eyes twitched.

It's not that he didn't think about it...... But hearing her admit it so frankly still makes him feel angry and puzzled. He really didn't help her in her time of need—it was beyond his means. If she was holding a grudge because of it, he could understand it. But was that hatred really so strong that it would kill him in this way?

"I know what you're thinking. Lydia smiled with contempt and sarcasm, "No, Scott, you're not that important...... I do hate you, when I look in the shadows that you can't see and your 'friends' talking and laughing loudly, as if the battlefield is all around me. Tomorrow will die, and the sun will shine forever on your blonde hair...... I hated you more in that moment than you did when you refused to help me. But I told Ante that the altar existed only to see what it was for—he wasn't without a choice. But he still chose you ...... 'best friend', which is really enviable. ”

Scott unconsciously clenched the hilt of his sword, feeling a chill in her icy gaze.

"It was really easy - easier than I expected. You don't even need any magic at all, just a little temptation, a little provocation...... You know, he suspects that his innocent and lovely wife likes you, even if she is holding his son in her arms. Lydia giggled, "He suspects you're going to take away his wife, his son, and even his crown." That made it hard for him to sleep...... And you're not aware of it, are you?"

Scott frowned. It was ridiculous, and he didn't know how Ante could have such an idea...... He hadn't even spoken a word to Moira alone! And what was he going to do for the throne? He was a paladin, he didn't have a single soldier, all he had was a ruined old castle except the bloodlines of a ruined dynasty!

"I watched you bleed to death...... Lydia's voice lowered, "but she didn't expect that to be the end. The damn altar did work, but I knew it too late. ”

Scott looked at the exasperated look on her face, and suddenly realized that she didn't mean him when she said "useful" - his resurrection was probably an accident.

"It's not you...... Make Ante what he is now?" he asked.

"I guess I can only help him. Lydia lazily curbed her hair, "Otherwise he'll probably take a little longer...... and so on. Either way, he's completely out of my control, if he's done anything good...... You should know who to count it on. ”

Scott was silent for a moment before speaking again: "At least the mark on Philip Zeri's neck can be counted on your head." ”

"Ah...... That one. Lydia looked abruptly realised, as if she was just now remembering the question she hadn't answered, "You want to know what I did to your friend?"

She slowly held out a hand.

Scott subconsciously tensed, but Lydia didn't cast the spell - she simply reached out her hand, palm outward, so that Scott could see the little light that flickered in her palm.

She had a red gem in her palm...... It wasn't held in the palm of her hand, but embedded there, half in the flesh, and it looked like there was a weird blood-red eye in the palm of her hand.

"Actually. The mage sighed faintly, "I'd be grateful if you could tell me what was going on. ”

Scott frowned again.

"It would have been a perfect colorless gemstone. Lydia patiently explained to him, "as pure and immaculate as the morning dewdrops, or as the tears of the goddess." After dealing with it with your blood and your strength......"

She shrugged at the deepening lines between Scott's eyebrows, "Yes, your blood and your strength—given that you've squandered them to 'save' the plague-stricken city, it's not hard to get hold of them. ”

Scott's lips opened slightly, and then closed weakly.

He was not cautious enough...... But it's useless to regret it now.

"Anyway," Lydia retracted, "it turned red...... It's exactly the color I like. I set it in a ring, and it allows me to cast spells at Lockburg somewhat, and even protect me from the flames - that's really useful, especially against you. But I should probably always remember that you are far better at swords than with spells. ”

Scott's fingers unconsciously traced the lines on the hilt of his sword—the last time he found her hiding place in the Mariette Mountains, he had knocked her down with a sword, not a spell.

That's when he noticed that Lydia had a stronger defense against his best spells...... But why did she tell him this?

"It wasn't long ago that I got ...... Another kind of power. Lydia sighed at the gem in her palm, "I was too greedy to make it stronger...... It wasn't a failed attempt, but it was somewhat unexpected. ”

"You never have to worry about losing it...... Wouldn't that be nice?" said Scott, not without sarcasm.

"It's good—if it doesn't suck the life and power of others and my life and power at the same time. Lydia tugged at the corners of her mouth, "If I can't make it satisfied, it will kill me...... To be honest, I would have liked to see if a 'sacrifice' like yours would be able to satisfy it. ”

“...... What made you change your mind?" asked Scott in a low voice.

Lydia smiled and narrowed her eyes.

"Who said I changed my mind?" she replied in an almost gentle voice, "maybe you can finally do something for me...... Scott. ”

Heavy footsteps rang out behind Scott. He didn't have to look back to know who the enemy would be who he couldn't hide.

"I thought you couldn't control him. He said calmly.

"Oh, I didn't control him. Lydia innocently pulled her brunette back, "We just made an amicable agreement, and he came to my aid out of his own volition - you know he has his own will, right? He's not some undead who only obeys orders and instincts. He hates me, but he hates you even more, Scott...... Maybe you should reflect on why your friends always end up being your enemies, even Allen...... and the children you raised have abandoned you. Did you come here alone because you were too confident, or because you didn't have anyone you could trust to help you?"

Even though he knew it wasn't true, this sentence still stabbed Scott's heart hard.

When the footsteps behind him stopped, he drew his sword with a gloomy face.

He came to them, and they were all here - wouldn't it be great?.

(To be continued.) )