Ed had been a heartless young man who could calmly - even triumphantly accept "I'm such a lucky guy". But now, the slightest hint of unexpected good fortune would make him full of doubts and unease, because it seemed that there would always be bad luck with him.

But the "plan" has already been carried out to this point, if he wants to retreat, he will probably be thrown into the mouth by another guy and swallowed, and he can only be vigilant and take one step at a time.

"Of course!" he raised his voice pleasantly, "it would be nice to have a few warm ales!"

The smile on the man's face was simple and almost innocent.

"We make our own wine, my lord. He said, "You'll love it." ”

His gaze quickly drifted up and then immediately retracted, as if he was not bold enough to dare to ask earnestly, "Do you want your roasted whole lamb to be medium-rare, medium-rare, or raw?"

The ice dragon let go of its tail and let Ed jump to the ground, and after a gust of wind, the young man with blond hair and blue eyes stood beside Ed with a cold face.

"Is there anything stronger than ale?" he asked, looking at the black mud on his feet with a look of disgust.

"Should...... There should be. The man stammered in surprise and replied, reaching out to make an inviting gesture, "Please follow me." ”

Ed struggled to pull his feet out of the mud and casually asked, "Was there a fire here?"

"No, it's not. The man replied proudly, "The undead have attacked this place before...... Many undead, the Sage-sages burned those monsters with divine flames. ”

Ed stole a glance at Is. The young man's face became more and more gloomy, and he didn't know if it was because of Scott. Or because of the mud that is too "fertile" under your feet.

The road to the fortress gate is unusually winding. The orc building was built like some human castle, with several fortified walls to keep the enemy at bay. They meandered through a labyrinth of crumbling walls. Burning torches cast their long shadows on the uneven gravel road.

It was so quiet that Ed felt ominous—it was dinner time. Anktan's movements as he gathered to dine were unusually loud, if not as loud as the dwarves, and everyone desperately raised their voices, trying to overpower the others......

The newly made door slowly opened, and dozens of eyes shot at him, and Ed's scalp tingled for a while, and he stopped unconsciously.

His gaze swept over the people gathered in the hall to eat, and then stopped at the window on a man alone who had occupied a square table—he finally understood why it was so quiet...... I also understood why they were so kindly invited to dinner.

Scott Criess sat there, a smile on his face. waved at him.

Ed smiled back, and his heart was filled with surprise, panic, and doubt, and a heartfelt joy that it was Valla's brother, the one who helped him through the most difficult moments of his life, without stopping or reproaching him for his wayward choices, and letting him find his own way.

For a moment, he almost felt guilty for his doubts. He has never called Scott "uncle", and he probably can't call him in his life, but Scott has always taken care of him without hesitation.

He couldn't help but look at Is.

Isis stood in the doorway. Straight and motionless like a stake nailed there, the expression on his face still cold, but the fire burning in his eyes - Ed couldn't tell if he wanted to rush over and fight Scott or turn around.

The air in the entire hall felt like it was frozen. No one spoke, and everyone's eyes were wandering apprehensively, until Iss suddenly took a few steps to the nearest table. sat down silently.

"Where's the wine?" he menacingly asked the man who had brought them in, as if he hadn't seen Scott at all...... I forgot that Ed was still here.

The man looked at Scott in confusion.

Scott nodded afar. Looks calm and helpless.

Ed hesitated, though looking back from time to time. Anyway, he walked over to Scott and sat down.

"He ......," he embarrassed to explain to Scott, opening his mouth only to realize that it was unnecessary.

“...... I know. Scott smiled wryly, "I'm satisfied that he didn't turn around and leave, or turn into a dragon with a roar and overturn this place." ”

"We really didn't expect you to be here. "Otherwise, ......"

"Or you wouldn't have come here at all?" Scott smiled and pushed him a full glass of bubbling ale, "I only come here occasionally, I didn't expect you to show up...... I heard you're looking for Lydia?"

"Lydia...... and Jay Oylan. Ed admitted.

Scott nodded, "I just learned that you escaped from him and appeared in the temple near that ruined city...... Just as you know you've left there, flying over the Castle Forest. There weren't many priests in Nesses, and sometimes the only ones they could rely on to deliver the news were pigeons. ”

Ed nodded silently, unsure if the news, which had apparently been delayed for too long, was really just due to the inconvenience of delivery.

"If they're not mistaken about anything...... Scott looked at him with concern, "Risek's message says you've lost the power of the Sage?"

Ed involuntarily touched the back of his head and nodded silently again.

“...... Maybe I can help you. Scott said.

Ed was stunned and began to shake his head vigorously.

"You don't want to regain your strength?" said Scott, slightly surprised.

"No......," Ed replied a little dazed, "I just thought it might be better to go with the flow." If one day it recovers on its own......, that's fine; Probably nothing bad about it. I just got it out of the blue, losing it that way...... Perhaps not without reason. ”

Scott looked at him for a long moment and chuckled softly.

"It doesn't seem like a bad idea to let you go at that point. He said, "Although Narya almost struck me on the head with a sword...... But Vala would probably prefer to see you like this now, calmer and stronger...... More like a man. ”

Ed smiled, "I can run around without washing my hair for half a month now - I doubt she won't like this." ”

They looked at each other and smiled. Ed suddenly realized that this was the first time he had mentioned his mother since her death...... When I think of her for the first time, there is no longer only sadness and anger in my chest.

"Tell me, Ed. Scott took half a glass of wine in one gulp, looking excited, "Tell me where you've been—Iss says he's found you on the icefield." ”

"Yes...... You won't believe who I met after that. Ed replied.

He describes to Scott how he spent the last days of his life with Sio, the old priestess of the barbarians, the night he was surrounded by monsters from hell and struck down by demons, the strange relationship between Oylan and Joan, the mysterious mirror, and the powerful "elf" he suddenly encountered in the ruined city......

He was hiding something, anxiously hoping that he wouldn't be seen through by Scott. Then he soon realized that he probably didn't need to be so nervous—Scott was clearly absent-minded.

His gaze drifted to Iss from time to time, making Ed wonder a little wistfully how much he had listened—honestly, he thought it was quite a good experience.

He glanced back. The people who had been forced to sit around Isis had moved silently, leaving him with a long table that could hold seven or eight people, and the table was full of empty plates and wine glasses, and he continued to eat and drink with a cold face.

“...... Don't worry. Ed said, "He's a dragon, he won't get drunk." ”

“...... Have you ever seen him drink?" Scott asked.

Ed thought for a moment and could only shake his head.

"So how can you be sure he won't get drunk?" Scott smiled wryly and began pouring another glass of wine.

Ed couldn't be sure. He wasn't even sure if Is's was now desperately drinking because he was in a bad mood, or if he was faithfully carrying out his "plan" - but it was Ed who needed to get drunk in order to have an excuse to stay. After all, a drunken dragon...... It's always a little hard to believe.

"Have you ever wondered...... Maybe we shouldn't have gotten him back?" asked Scott suddenly and softly.

Ed was stunned for a moment, looking at him puzzled.

Scott was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"Forget that," he forced a smile, "I don't know what I'm talking about...... Maybe I just don't know how to get along with him. After all, when I left him, he was just a quiet, well-behaved little boy who was no bigger than my chest. Then, it felt like waking up, and the little boy became a dragon - no, I already knew that...... But he grew up so suddenly, and I was unprepared. He no longer believed everything I said, self-righteous and angry, wanting everything he shouldn't know, and thinking he could figure it out...... And it's impossible for me to throw him into a small room in the tower and shut it up for an afternoon to solve the problem. ”

"Oh. Ed nodded sympathetically, suspecting that Scott was a little drunk, "I know that Alan calls this 'Father's Troubles,' a permanent, irresolvable spell - I've heard him complain to Lady Grean about it...... And you'll probably have to double the effect of your spells. ”

Scott cupped his forehead and laughed unconsciously.

"Thank you for your comfort. He sighed and said, "I'm glad I'm not the only one who fell for the spell...... Well, I think he was really drunk. ”

Ed followed his gaze to Is—the young ice dragon was completely on the table.

(To be continued......)