“...... Is?" Someone in the crowd repeated his name, whispers of surprise rising and falling like a tide.

- That's not what you can call it!

Isis wanted to roar like this, but he reluctantly swallowed it back.

"It's it, the dragon......"

- That's right, so stay away from me!

"...... Raised by the Sage"

- I'm his brother, not his pet!

...... But it didn't work.

He suppressed the roar back to his heart, and shouted at Lydia again in a rage, "Let go of that fool!"

He didn't know how these two men could have come into such a strange stalemate, the scene before him seemed to him to be a farce, and it felt like two good knights who had suddenly forgotten all their fighting skills, and would only roll into the mire and fight each other in the most rude and clumsy way.

Ed stared at Sercio blankly, his eyes constantly changing, not knowing what he was thinking, as if he had completely forgotten his current situation.

For a moment, Isse felt that Lydia cared more about the boy standing next to him. She couldn't hide her surprise as she glanced over Sercio's face before raising an eyebrow at him.

"What about your brother?" she asked with a smile, "are you finally willing to leave him?"

“...... It's your business!" Iss blurted out, the anger that had been holding down in his heart all these days ignited.

Lydia's face sank.

"I said, I don't like it when you talk to me like that. Her tone was full of reproach, as if she took herself for granted. Iss could almost hear the words she didn't utter - "Have you forgotten that I hugged you when you were a kid?"

He was furious, but he knew he couldn't dwell on Lydia on the subject. He gritted his teeth and asked coldly, "Do you want to leave?" It seems that you enjoy being surrounded by a group of people who want to burn you to death on the fire?"

He almost wanted to get out of here more than Lydia - he hated the stares of those around him. They know who he is, and they don't point their weapons at him like most people do...... But they looked at him with surprise, fear, and disgust. It's like watching a monster they have to endure.

Lydia shrugged, not looking at all in a hurry.

"Do you think they'll listen to you and let me go?" she casually lifted her chin at the crowd around her, "and if you show up a little bit more at night, they might have already shot your dear friend into a hedgehog with me, and tell your brother that my only nephew was killed by me." ”

Ise involuntarily looked up at the embarrassed, nervous, and annoyed faces. Realize that Lydia may not be lying.

“...... Of course we wouldn't hurt Ed, but if he hadn't rushed over recklessly, we would have caught her!" A leader-looking man in the crowd spoke with a stolen rage.

"'Reckless'...... You mean to say 'stupid,' right?" Lydia narrowed her eyes. Unceremoniously sneered, "With all due respect, if five or six of you were like him 'stupidly' crashed over and crushed me to the ground, instead of standing far away in horror and shooting arrows." I've probably been caught by you. ”

The man kept his mouth shut. He glared at him with a grim face, but he obviously couldn't deny it.

"Be careful, Is. Lydia peeked her dark green eyes out of Ed's shoulder and blinked meaningfully, "I don't think they would mind sacrificing you—get out of here while there's still time, Is, and go find Scott!" before he comes. I'll probably be able to protect Ed for a while. ”

She said it so carefully that Isis couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

Ed finally came to his senses. His expression was entangled, and he looked like he wanted to laugh but couldn't.

Iss couldn't take it anymore - this farce was getting more and more ridiculous!

The white wings spread out with the sound of the wind, obscuring the people's vision, and the dragon's roar shook the entire hall, and the people who were caught off guard by fear threw down their weapons and fled in all directions.

The ice dragon impatiently slapped away the frightened crowd at the door with its long tail, bowed its head at Lydia, and roared angrily, "Do you want me to give you a ride?!"

Lydia looked at the cleared path and smiled widely. She dragged Ed out the door, descending the steps with grace like a queen escorted by guards, until she reached the outside of the plaza before she smiled back at the ice dragon and let Ed go.

"Goodbye, Is. She said, "Tell Scott that I had a birthday present for him...... He's going to love it. ”

The ice dragon looked at her suspiciously, and there was a faint uneasiness in his heart.

Of course, it had to save Ed's fool anyway - and letting Lydia go was a huge mistake.

But it's too late to regret it. Lydia waved at it, took a step back, and disappeared into the darkness.

Finally freed, Ed did not rush over to thank it with grateful, but touched the wound on his neck in a daze, and suddenly pulled his legs and ran towards the temple.

"Sersio!"

He screamed and rushed past the ice dragon, his voice filled with incomprehensible horror and anxiety.

It also doesn't like the followers of Nessah...... But they don't always hurt a teenage boy?.

Ed rushed into the temple, slightly relieved.

The chaos caused by fear has subsided. Rosa Latus stood beside Sercio, smiling on her face, with one hand on Sercio's shoulder and the other on the hilt of her sword.

In front of him, Risek stood silent, looking thoughtfully at Sersio, who was still in a trance.

"His Majesty the King has been looking for his brother and did not expect him to appear here. Rosa spoke, her soft voice sincere, "This must be the blessing of the god Nesses, and once the war is over, His Majesty will personally come here to give his thanks to the gods." ”

Risek smiled, half-crouched down, and asked gently, "Are you alright, Your Highness?"

Sergio stared at him blankly—or not at all—with empty eyes and blank expressions, unresponsive.

“...... I think he was scared and I would arrange a quiet room for him to have a good night's rest. Risek suggested, in a sincere tone, and without appearing overly enthusiastic.

"No need!" Ed blurted out.

Risek turned her gaze to him, her eyes darkening.

"I know there was some accident tonight," he said, "but we can definitely guarantee the safety of His Royal Highness." ”

"Of course, of course!" Ed struggled to calm himself down, "I just think the most reassuring place for him is with his loved ones - we should send him home as soon as possible." ”

He looked back at the ice dragon who had just entered the temple and asked eagerly, "Isis can take us to Llewellyn, we can get there before dawn...... Isn't it?"

He didn't want Sergio to stay here any longer. Too many accidents left him overwhelmed and exhausted, and he just wanted to leave as soon as possible, find a place where he could calm down, and clear the mess in his head.

The ice dragon glared at him, obviously not very happy, but he didn't refuse.

Risek was silent for a while, then stood up calmly.

"In that case," he said, "I wish you all a good journey." ”

He didn't force it to stay—and he probably knew he couldn't. His calmness always made Ed feel a little uneasy.

If Sercio knew something...... They wouldn't let him go so easily. Or had his suspicions been misdirected all along, and that it wasn't him who was imprisoning Sersio at all, but the necromancer?

He knew he should say goodbye to Risek, and even thank him...... But he couldn't say a word, just squeezed out a little smile, nodded hurriedly, and then took Sersio's arm and walked towards the ice dragon.

He stopped as his gaze swept over a figure standing silently in the corner.

“...... Rey!" he held out his hand to the old man, "Come with us!"

He couldn't let Caroline stay here either—Risek would probably be suspicious of her.

Ryan looked at him in surprise and didn't move.

Ed licked his dry lips, realizing that he had to have a plausible reason to take the only physician here.

"Perhaps...... Maybe Sercio will need your care on the road. He said in a panic.

“...... Go ahead, Rey. Risek began.

Ryan frowned, seemingly reluctant, but walked over slowly, hesitantly looking at the giant ice dragon.

Of course, there are people in this world who are as impatient as Tess to climb on the back of a dragon...... But more than that, people who are terrified of such a behemoth with countless terrible legends.

"Don't worry, Isis won't hurt you. Ed comforted softly, and suddenly felt a tightness around his waist, which had been impatiently curled up by the ice dragon with his long tail and thrown on his back.

Ed wisely didn't say anything when it threw everyone else up in the same rude way—he knew that the ice dragon didn't like people riding on it, and he unceremoniously brought in one person after another it didn't even know, without asking it if it agreed...... It didn't hold them all in its claws, hanging in the air and listening to the cold wind howling, which was already very gentle.

There is a familiar temperature under the palm. The dragon's scales were cold and smooth, calming his churning blood little by little.

He had almost forgotten the feeling...... Calm, reassuring and fearless.

The body suddenly lightened, and the ice dragon spread its wings and flew into the sky. In front of him, thin clouds dispersed, and the cold light of the twinkling stars seemed to rush towards him. Ed couldn't help but fall on the ice dragon's back, wanting to cry and laugh for a moment.

He was finally no longer alone.

"Is. He sniffled and muttered, "I miss you so much." ”.

(To be continued......)