"Why don't I think anything has been solved?" said Ed, crouching under the dead tree, looking up to the sky and lamenting.

After Naria said those words in a big way, she walked away, not giving him a chance to speak.

Akan crouched to the side in the same position, looking at him sympathetically and inexplicably. Although he also participated in the secret meeting, no one knew how much he understood.

"Akan ......," Ed said, still looking up at the seemingly forever gray sky, "do you want to come home with me? I have a castle at home...... Ah, if Vara knew that Scott was still alive, then the castle probably wouldn't be mine, but that's okay, my family has a big house in Visa City, and there is one in Stonebuch. Have you ever been to the South? There are many, many fountains in Stonebuch, people call it the City of Ten Thousand Springs, it's beautiful, it's warm, Tess and Norvi live there, you can go and play with Moch every day...... "His voice became quieter and quieter.

It was a peaceful and beautiful scene, an ordinary but happy life, but it didn't arouse his yearning at all.

Moreover, how could he leave Naria and go home alone.

"Akan," he couldn't help but sigh, "isn't it a shame to die once before being afraid of death?"

"Maybe you will only know what you will lose after dying once, so there is no shame in being afraid. Someone replied behind him.

Scott walked over to him and looked down at them.

"Oh, I forgot, you are the priest of Nesses, and even after death your soul will be in his holy temple, in infinite glory and revered by all. Ed said listlessly.

"yes...... But I'll never have my blood boiling again, and I'll never drink the Black Rock Dwarf's ale until I'm dizzy, and I'll never be ...... anymore I'll never have a chance to say to Is, 'Don't run barefoot in the hallways in winter!'" His laughing voice was full of nostalgia, "Ed, I'm afraid of death because there are still things in this world that are worth your nostalgia, and that's not a bad thing, you might just have to ask yourself how much you're willing to give for those things." ”

"Wouldn't it be a bad thing if I didn't want to die just because I was nostalgic for the feeling of lying on the pile of gold coins?" Ed asked sullenly.

Scott laughed, "And are you willing to die just rolling on a pile of gold coins?"

"Scott!"

Fili shouted loudly in the temple. Scott responded, leaving Ed and Akan behind, staring blankly at the sky.

"If I die just rolling on the pile, how can I still roll on the pile!" Tess pushed Ed's stupid face to the side impatiently, "Who told you to ask such a stupid question!"

It was already dark, and they all stayed in the Sun Temple except Scott, and it wasn't long before Eric touched him. It's cleaner and more comfortable here than the hall below.

But Naria's anger had obviously not subsided, and she ignored no one, as if she was the only one here, found a room for herself, lit a fire and made her own dinner, and lay down with her back to the door. So the elf had to take over the task of preparing dinner for everyone.

Ed turned his head to Filly expectantly.

"I don't have that hobby. Filly grinned, "You should ask a dragon this kind of question." ”

"I only know one dragon, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't have any interest in gold coins. Ed said sadly.

"How do you know? Maybe he's rolling on the gold coins right now. Tess smirked.

“...... Tess, he doesn't need your help, his mind is already messed up enough. Norway brought in more food, and Tess's appetite moved closer to Fili and Akan day by day, much to the elf's concern.

"Did he have a brain? I thought he had eaten it himself. ”

"Tess ......"

"Hey, Akan, don't eat that! that's Ed's brain!"

"Tess!" Norway raised his voice helplessly.

Ed looked like he wanted to bang himself against the wall.

"Ed, leave that pile of gold coins alone. Norway sighed, "I'm sure that's not the point. ”

"I know. "He wanted to ask me if I wanted to die for, but I didn't want to die at all." I'm selfish and cowardly, and I don't deserve to be your friend, nor to be Is's friend. ”

"Ed," Norway said earnestly, looking earnestly at his dejected human friend, "we are all going to die, in fact, we can die at every moment. If I could make you feel better, I can tell you that it might be the beginning of another journey, but before that, you should ask yourself, how do you want to complete your journey in this world, no matter when it ends abruptly, even if you have regrets, you will never regret it?"

“...... I want to find Is. It was a long time before Ed whispered, "I want to ride over the ice on his back...... I want to see the ice fields, make some barbarian friends, and see the ruins of the legendary giants...... I also want to go to the capital of the Elven Kingdom, to the Western Wastelands where you have been, and to meet your Bolt dwarven friends...... I want to do that with you, with Naria, with Is. ”

He sniffled vigorously: "Well, now that I'm selfish, timid and greedy, I won't blame you at all if you don't want to be my friend again." ”

The elf laughed:

"Let's do it together, my friend. ”.

Nalya hit the road alone in the early morning—at least that's what she thought.

She admits that she was angry. Just like at home before, she would put on a stinky face when she was awkward, ignore no one, and tell Alan "I can live well alone, I don't need you at all", and at the same time nervously thinking about when Alan will come to comfort her in a low voice, or slam her door with a cane and quarrel with her, and then everything will return to normal, they are still dependent on each other, affectionate father and daughter, and no one can do without anyone.

She's never had an awkward relationship with Is. At least the well-behaved and obedient Isis who didn't know he was a dragon. And, anyway, she's also a sister, so she has to look like a sister.

At least Ed ...... Sometimes she also feels like she's a little too fierce with Ed. Fierce and impatient, scolded unceremoniously, beaten without mercy. But if she's really upset, Ed will always come and coax her, whether it's his fault or not.

But all night, Ed didn't come to apologize to her, Tess didn't pounce and say Sweetheart don't be afraid I'll be with you, Elf didn't come to comfort her gently and patiently, and even Akan poked his head out of the door without worry.

That really made her a little sad.

She walked out of the room and into the empty and deserted hall of the Temple of the Sun God, where the fire had been extinguished and a faint wisp of green smoke wafted out. She had heard their laughter at night, but she had never heard when they had left—they hadn't even come to say goodbye to her.

But who is to blame? She turned around first, facing everyone with her cold back, as if they had all betrayed her trust and were sorry for Is.

But none of them owe her anything.

- So, it's all Scott and Allen's fault!

Feeling sorry for herself and angry, she stepped out the door and walked to the edge of the platform, only to find a serious problem - she couldn't get down.

It was Ed's idea to drag everyone here yesterday. Anyway, they have to come back to get their luggage, and they can also stop by to see if Scott, the priest of Nesses, has any great power. Ed remembered Celebrian's staff with its gray gems, but Scott clearly didn't have that kind of magical thing, and they looked at each other for a while, and finally it was up to Norway to climb up first, and then pull everyone up with a rope.

But now, the stone pillar where the rope was usually tied was empty, and she didn't know where the elf had put the rope.

She was a little angry - did those guys really completely forget about her?!

But it didn't matter, she remembered the drainpipe entrance that Akan had used to take them down.

But the entrance was tightly covered by a large stone, and with her strength, it was impossible to push it.

Naria stood there for a moment, then took a deep breath and roared, "Ed Singall!

A familiar, crisp laugh erupted from the shadows on the right, and a figure was kicked out, shouting, "This is obviously not my idea!"

Naria glared at the panicked fellow, threw down her luggage, strode over, and gave him a strong hug as he turned as if trying to run away, and then turned back with a hard head...... Then there's a sharp slap on the back of the head.

"Don't do it again!" she said angrily.

Ed had to touch his head and giggle.

Tess jumped out and pounced on Naria, "Sweetheart, you don't really want to leave me, do you! Norvi's dinner is terrible, I'd be so thin that I wouldn't even want to look at me without you!"

Xiao Mo, who was tightly pressed between her two bodies, let out a cry of dissatisfaction.

No one could get angry anymore, so Naria rubbed her soft red hair with her cheek and whispered, "I'm sorry......"

"You'll find him, Naria, but you won't be alone. Norway walked over and picked up her luggage, "We'll leave together, and we'll go back together." ”

"Now the question is," said Tess with a grin, "shall we take shortcuts, shortcuts, or shortcuts?"

"Drain pipe...... Ed muttered to himself, watching Akan remove the large stone to reveal the black hole, and felt a little shadowy in his heart.

But...... All his companions are by his side, so what is there to fear?

"Shortcut!" Tess laughed and was the first to jump in.

They said goodbye to the Anktanns. Fili and Eric had left before they did, returning to Cam, hoping to hear from the two paladins who were still missing. Eric's regained power also annoyed Fili - he feared that his judgment of Baie was too reckless, and if the loss of power was not due to Baie's own fault, then his arbitrariness would probably ruin the already aggressive and irritable paladin.

He was still faintly recognizable at the gates of the city, where they found the guide that Haryat had promised to arrange for them, with blonde hair and a bright smile.

"Scott......" Ed was a little surprised, "are you going to come with us?"

Scott shook his head, "I have a race with Alan's daughter, if I stay with you, it won't be comparable, but I also have to go to Cantril, and I can always show you the way." ”

“...... Forget my stupidity, Scott, you should come with us. Naria said with some shyness, "The ice field is not a good place to travel alone. ”

"Come on, Scott. Ed graciously invited, and he wanted to know more about Is's childhood...... and the adventures of Alan Carvo and his friends.

Scott laughed noncommittally, "Let's go." It's going to take days to get to Cantril. ”

After walking some distance, Ed glanced back at the city that had shocked him at first sight, still looking elegant and magnificent, but shrouded in fog.

The elves looked in the same direction as him - his ancient homeland, the pride of the elves, would eventually disappear in the torrent of time. He only hoped that the spirits in the Tower of Atonement would rest in the resting place he had chosen for him, and that the anger that was vented in the words on the walls would not really become a curse.

For the first time in many, many years, the Shadow looked beyond the city. With joy and apprehension, the child watched as it embarked on its journey again.

He may never return, just like the elves who slowly walked out of the city gates more than a thousand years ago, looking back at their home again and again, but never returning to its embrace.

But it will still be here, waiting quietly until the end of time.