When Ed and the others arrived in Balach, both the new city and the old city were silent, and if it weren't for the thick and rough walls and the guards going back and forth, the whole city would have looked almost like a dead city.

Something was clearly going on in the city, but the guards were at ease, and the gates were wide open to welcome the guests as usual, but only occasionally people rushed out without anyone entering.

“...... Cobblestone Festival. ”

Alan, who quickly learned the news from a friend, was a little crying and laughing: "That's a good reason...... Eli Croefler apparently knew something. ”

In any case, it seems to prove that they are not wrong.

At times like these, the swagger of entering the old city is too eye-catching – even if you want to do something in the city, it will stand out in the deserted streets.

"Croeffler is not going to give up on this. "Besides, this is his city...... But we don't have anything to hide. ”

They entered the Old City with great grace in the gaze of all the guards, ignoring all snooping eyes, both overt and covert. As he stepped up the high steps in front of the temple of Andukh, Isz stopped.

"I'm going to find someone. He said.

Half because they didn't want to enter the temple, and half because they did remember someone who might be useful.

Alan breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, he was thinking about how to tell Is, "You'd better stay outside the temple" - this wasn't the temple of Nesses, and a dragon would be allowed to come and go freely.

At his signal, Ed followed Ise.

The deserted city made Ed a little nervous—he still remembered its bustling and energetic appearance, the flamingo grass he had planted in Naria's hair as if it were about to fly......

The mood was a little complicated, but he gradually forgot his nervousness, and followed Isis all the way into a small alley in the southwest of the old city.

They stopped in front of a half-old wooden door, and above it a small signboard was carved with an open book, riddled and mutilated as if it had been bitten by rats, but intact on the other.

- Bookstore?

Ed thought blankly, Iss had rudely slammed the wooden door.

There was no response for a few moments, but Ed could already feel the gaze behind him. However, when I looked back, I couldn't see half a figure.

“...... Maybe you're going to the Cobblestone Festival too?" Ed whispered.

"Nope. "He's in there, and he's just tripped over a bunch of books." ”

Instead of banging on the door, he shouted, "Travis Ives, I'll get a book...... Thaddeus's Names of the Gods. ”

This time, even Ed heard the sound of something falling to the ground in the house.

A moment later, the door opened, revealing a pale, thin, wrinkled face with frightened and desperate eyes.

"You ......," he squeezed out the word tremblingly, his eyes straightened, obviously recognizing Is.

Without saying a word, Iss reached out and pushed the door open.

The powerless master staggered to the side, making Ed feel a little guilty. However, his apologetic smile made the other party shrink into the wall even more in fear.

"Afraid of what?" Iss snorted, "I won't eat you." ”

That didn't provide much comfort.

"Do you have any news of Kormit?" asked Iss, bluntly.

Travis' eyes glazed over, and he didn't know if he hadn't heard what he was asking or why he was asking.

Iss grabbed him impatiently—the right arm in his hand was as thin as a branch that snapped off, and he involuntarily lightened his strength.

"Where's Kormit?" he repeated, his tone unconsciously gentler.

Ed stared at him dumbfounded. Is's face slowly changed under his gaze, turning into a young man with short sandy hair and a delicate face, and his eyes were so blue that they still glowed with a hint of sunshine and light gold.

Travis's eyes widened blankly.

“...... It's you. He said, his voice hoarse as if he was leaking air, the twisted lines of his lips like crying and laughing, and the fear in his eyes gradually receded.

He slid against the wall and let out a long breath.

Before Isis could lose his patience, he spoke, "He's probably still alive...... They haven't caught him yet, that's all I know. ”

.

Travis, who was dragged away by Durrou in his sleep that night, had a bad time.

He wasn't tortured. As Durroux repeated time and time again, they were "deceived." By Kormit, by the necromancer behind him.

Knowing that this is not the case, Travis shuddered, wisely playing the role of a confused and terrified deceived. And his biggest mistake was just a moment of soft-heartedness and wanting to save his old friend who he had known for many years.

It's not a capital offense.

But Travis knew full well that he survived only because he was useful.

Being watched and spied on all the time, worries and fears quickly drained his life, and in less than a year, he went from a pale and gloomy middle-aged man who was weak enough to scold people, but at least scolded loudly, to a wrinkled old man with dull eyes and trembling walking.

He couldn't even continue to tinker with the books, his trembling hands would only destroy the precious and fragile pages.

"Tell me what you know. "I'll protect you." ”

Travis sat there dumbfounded, not speaking for a moment. Ed had the delusion that perhaps in the blink of an eye, the withered body would lose its breath.

"You may be able to protect my life, but not my soul. Travis muttered, his expression dazed, "I'm going to hell...... I'm going to go to hell. ”

"Even if you fall into hell, I have a way to protect you. Iss frowned, "Do you even say it?"

Ed couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth. This pacification is not like appeasing a threat, it is not like a threat, you can really ask what is the ghost.

But before he could say anything, Travis looked up at Is, and smiled inexplicably.

"I don't need protection. He said, "I deserve it...... If my guess is correct, you're not here to find Kormit, but for the Sage. ”

Is's face stiffened with the irritation of the discomfort, but he didn't deny it.

"He's here. Travis said, "I can take you to him...... But you have to know that there are many pairs of eyes outside the door, and there are many people who will not allow us to cause any 'accidents'. ”

"No one can stop me. Isis said.

.