- Where's Lowell?

This question came as no surprise to everyone.

“...... You're here to find Lowell?" asked Borena suspiciously, reaching out and pressing down Rosa's sword, "Isn't he supposed to be in the Temple of Water?"

He didn't feel that the other was an enemy—neither his enemy nor Lowell's.

The middle-aged man still tightened his thin face, which was already very serious, and cautiously looked at everyone in the room, not letting his guard down at all.

"Who are you?" he asked in a stiff tone.

"Uh...... Maybe I can ask that question too?" Joey, who retreated to the door, put away his panic a little and raised his hand innocently, "After all, this is my home. ”

"Joey Dirian. The middle-aged man glanced at him, "Stop acting, I know you're not an ordinary person." We have been told not to be rude to you...... But if you're involved in Lowell's disappearance, it's best not to hide it!"

Joey was silent for a moment, then lowered his hand and shrugged his shoulders: "'Don't be rude to me'...... Brooke asked you to come, Lord Reverend?"

Borena immediately remembered the name—Brooke Xiuan, now the priest of the Temple of the Water God of Stunbuch.

“...... You're from the Temple of Water?" he blurted out, surprised and delighted.

A trace of embarrassment crossed the man's face, neither admitting nor denying it.

"See, we've met Lowell and hope to get his help. Borena decided to be more friendly and cooperative, and as he spoke, he motioned for the elves to lower his swords as well. "But we were separated from him yesterday...... Didn't he return to the temple?"

“...... When did you separate?" the middle-aged pastor frowned suspiciously.

"Yesterday at noon. Borena replied without hesitation.

“...... How do you need his help?" the wrinkle between the pastor's brows deepened.

"Actually, I just need his help to bring a message to Ed...... Your Sages. Borena smiled wryly, "If you can take me back to the temple now." I would be more than happy to tell Shu'an-sama everything that happened. ”

"The temple is not a place that anyone can enter at will. The priest refused, almost without thinking, "It is impossible for the Holy One to grant the wishes of all." ”

Joey laughed out loud, "That's right. ”

The mocking tone was clearly not a mere approving. The priest glared at him in annoyance, but couldn't argue with it.

"If you're not at ease," Borena stretched out his hands calmly, "you can tie me-"

"No, I can't. Rosa spoke suddenly, "We can't even be sure if they're really from the Water Temple, who knows who they really are?"

“...... We don't need to prove anything!" was even more angry in the pastor's eyes. "If only you could explain why Lowell's ring is here...... It's probably right on one of you, and we'll leave right away!"

Borena was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but touch herself. But his ragged garment, which had neither pockets nor belts. Nothing can be hidden at all. Cethyana remained motionless, presumably quite confident that no one could have stuffed anything into him and he hadn't noticed.

After a moment, Rosa silently held up a small ring, her expression surprised and a hint of chagrin.

"Tucked into a pocket in the corner of my coat...... I don't know!"

Borena smiled wryly. I finally understood why Lowell's sentence "We will find you" can be said so confidently.

"I guess that at least proves ...... He doesn't believe you. The pastor's tone froze.

"So what?" Rosa didn't flinch. "You've seen that, anyway, Lowell wasn't here, and can't explain why he did it - there's obviously nowhere to hide a body here. What do you want? Do you want to fight, or do you want to figure things out in another place...... Or just sit down and eat a sausage together?"

"The meat sausage of the Buloh family. Joey smiled and lifted the plate he had never put down.

Rosa would also be so aggressive, which surprised Borena a little. He looked at the man who was choked and speechless, and his face was pale, and he couldn't help but feel a little sympathy.

The other is even younger. The man, who had never spoken a word, looked back at his companion hesitantly and reminded softly, "We can't stay too long......"

The priest glared at Borena. Finally, reluctantly, he said, "You can go back with us." ”

"And me and him. Rosa raised her chin at the elf, "Either go together, or no one else, and, don't expect me to put down my sword." ”

She didn't doubt the identity of the two men - Borena realized that her questioning and toughness was just trying to give them more leverage.

He couldn't help but glance at Sethana. Even a blind man could tell that the silent elf liked Rosa, but such a woman could not be conquered by his two swords.

When he appeared on the teleportation array in the depths of the Ston Butch Temple, the middle-aged priest's face was still a little ugly, but Borena breathed a sigh of relief. Either way, things are progressing a bit.

The people standing around the teleportation array looked surprised and disappointed. They were probably waiting here for their companions who had lost their voice, but they were waiting for a few strangers.

The middle-aged pastor hurried up to an old man in a white robe and whispered a few words in his ear. The old man looked at Borena calmly and asked quite directly, "Young man...... Can I know your name?"

"Borena Dejuri. Borena told him frankly.

“...... King of Anktan. The old man didn't seem surprised and nodded, with a hint of bitterness in his eyes, "I see." ”

He stretched out his hand to make a gesture of invitation: "Please follow me, Your Majesty...... I think we need to have a good talk. ”

Borena almost wanted to raise his feet in approval.

As she walked down the long hallway, Borena couldn't help but look at the building, which was completely different from the Temple of Collins. It is still made of white marble, taller and more spacious, with a rigorous structure, and looks solemn and sacred. It's just that although it has been built for less than ten years, it seems a bit old-fashioned and lifeless. Perhaps it was because they were trapped in a corner of the crowded city and could no longer be built near the lake like other water temples, and at the nearest distance, they could feel the power of the goddess.

It was still early in the morning, and the temple was so quiet that not even the guards could see a few, except for a few small fountains to break the silence. I don't know if it's because the roof is too high, the color of the painted glass windows is too dark, the light here is very dim, and the oppressive atmosphere is also not found in the Temple of Collins.

All this made Borena feel a little uneasy, but the old man who walked in front of him walked with a steady step, his back straight, and although he was not tall, he could make people feel the power hidden in it—the power that was reassuring.

Borena had heard of Blake Xiuan...... Most of it was Ethan's babbling that was forced into his head. Blake, with his short, almost white hair and strange blue-purple eyes, was the oldest of the priests of the water god today, and he was humble and easy-going, although he had no particularly illustrious feats, and was inferior to Ikabard Beria in the power of spells, but second only to Sean in prestige.

He should be able to trust him.

"The Sage would be glad to know that you are safe. In Brooke's modest reception room, the white-haired old priest smiled and told Borena, "He's been worried about you." ”

It seemed that the priests and paladins outside didn't seem to know what had happened that night at the Collins Temple, but he did.

"I guess so. Borena smiled wryly, but also worried about the simple young man, "He may not have had a good time lately." ”

During an important ceremony, he was attacked unexpectedly, and the invited guests suddenly disappeared...... In other words, he would have to be anxious.

"If I insist on figuring out what is really going on before telling the Sage, I hope you will understand. Brooke bowed to him slightly, "He's still too young...... I'm afraid I can't fully understand that now his every move is watched by countless pairs of eyes. ”

Borena nodded. He had already heard of Ed's feat of riding the ice dragon straight into the elven king's court, and he understood the old man's concerns. After a little sorting, he unabashedly told all the things he had happened from the night of the May Festival onwards, and what he did not know was supplemented by Rosa.

It doesn't take much time to tell the story of these days, which are as long as decades, and the countless questions in them are not so easy to figure out.

Brooke listened quietly, and then was silent for a long time, and before he could say anything, there was a hurried knock on the door.

The paladin who was allowed to enter had a strange look on his face—confused and sad, surprised and uneasy.

"Your Excellency......" he bowed to Brooke, "Lowell is back." ”

Borena jumped out of his chair in delight, having been worried about what would happen to Lowell—enough people had died because of him.

"Is he alright?" he asked eagerly, "why did he come back so late?

The paladin glanced at him and didn't answer directly, just vaguely told Brooke, "He'...... Didn't come back alone. My lord, you should check it out. ”

Even though he wasn't invited, Borena cheekily followed—he wasn't turned down anyway.

The paladins led them to a small courtyard at the back of the temple, where an ancient statue of Goddess N'o was surrounded by flourishing flowers and babbling water, from a dilapidated temple by the docks when the city was first built.

A familiar figure was standing in front of the idol, looking up—but it wasn't Lowell.

“...... Scott?" Borena cried out in surprise almost at the same time as Brooke.

(To be continued......)