As the rain began to fall, Norvi's eyes widened involuntarily, and with admiration and awe, he stared at the glimmer of light that seemed to melt into the raindrops and shed on the forest. He had seen many strange sights in hundreds of years, and this rain with a faint glow was perhaps not the most peculiar or magnificent compared to it—it was created by a human being, and even if it borrowed the power of the gods, it was enough to be amazing.

It washed away the diseases that plagued all the living creatures in this beautiful forest, and the fear and helplessness that gripped everyone's hearts, and Noway was convinced of it—but the rain was too heavy.

Soon he had to bow his head and silently endure the rain that whipped like a whip. The rain was pouring in, the campfire had long been extinguished, the vision was blurred, the sound of the rain was faintly like the frightened and dazed cries of children, and the strong rain did not know whether to cure everything or destroy everything, and there was no intention of weakening, and it seemed as if it would go down endlessly until the forest became an ocean......

Nori began to feel uneasy.

He looked back at Scott. The blonde priest did not return to the altar to pray to the gods, nor did he have any lengthy spells or tedious rituals, but chose a more secluded place to quietly release his power.

Panasses, who was guarding not far away like Norwe, took a few steps towards Scott, then hesitantly stopped and looked at Norvi. Through the rain curtain Norvi could also feel the elven lord's pleading gaze - as a follower of Nessher, he was probably not in a good position to remind the powerful priest that he might need to control himself a little. And Norway, if not Scott's friend, at least doesn't have that concern.

Norway covered his eyes with his hands to keep the rain from flowing in, and cautiously walked towards Scott. Scott, who had been standing there motionless like a statue, suddenly covered his eyes in the same pose...... No. It was more like covering your eyes.

The rain was so heavy that the elves' keen senses were drowned out in the overwhelming curtain of water and the incessant sound of rain, but Norway could still feel the familiar sense of oppression...... Just like a few months ago, when facing the fierce fire that covered the mountains, even the breath was blocked in my chest.

He unconsciously took a step back. But that feeling was fleeting, as if it were just an illusion caused by memory...... Suddenly, the rain began to lighten.

Humans and elves with exclamations of joy and laughter gradually drowned out the sound of the rain. You don't need to confirm to know that this rain is really useful.

Norway looked at the jubilant crowd, and the elves and humans embraced each other in excitement and joy, and he couldn't help but smile at who he wanted to hug...... But Tess wasn't here.

He suddenly realized. Tess hadn't been there for a while.

As he searched the crowd for the redhead, he glanced back, only to find that Scott didn't seem to be going to accept the cheers, but slowly retreated into the darkness.

His steps were heavy and stiff. Suddenly, he raised his head as if he were aware of Norvi's gaze, and his bright eyes seemed to burn with golden flames—not like a man, but more like some kind of beast...... Like his titular brother, the ice dragon who was born human.

That gaze froze Novi in place. Hair stands on end with indescribable fear...... Even when faced with a real dragon, he was never so creepy. Shivering.

Scott lowered his eyes, turned and disappeared behind a beech.

Everything seemed to be burning.

Bright, distorted, golden-red light flickered and burned his eyeballs, and it didn't help whether he closed his eyes or covered them tightly with his hands.

Beyond the intense pain was intense fear—Scott felt like his eyes were going to explode in his sockets at any moment, like his heart was going to explode a hole in his chest at any moment.

It's been a long time since he's been so out of control. The last time I felt like his blood had turned into flames, and I was about to burn him from the inside out, it was in the Far North Wasteland. When rescuing Ish from Lydia......

Since then, little by little he has learned to accept rather than resist, to control rather than indulge...... It's just that. The force that had been forced into the human body seemed to be beyond what it could bear.

The soul seems to have been expelled from the body, fluctuating, but the senses become extremely acute. He could see himself staggering forward with his head bowed, but he could accurately avoid every tree in front of him, every vine under his feet, he could hear every drop of rain hitting the leaves and falling into the dirt, he could hear a fish suddenly leaping high and falling into the river in the swelling water, and he could hear the cheers of the people not far away...... Light footsteps could be heard following him, stepping into a puddle of water almost silently.

"Don't ...... anymore Near. He gritted his teeth, and every syllable squeezed out of his teeth hit his eardrums, and the sound was indistinctly loud and grotesque.

He didn't know what the elf had found, and he didn't care, he just feared that he would uncontrollably burn anything that came before him to ashes.

Norway stopped, and moved forward again firmly, only cautiously keeping a certain distance from him.

The rain had stopped, and water droplets fell from the leaves and sprinkled on Scott's body, a purity and coolness that perhaps carried the magic of the forest itself, dispelling the magma heat in his body little by little.

The remnants of his mind finally broke free from the chaotic golden-red mist, but his body was as heavy as steel. Scott sat limply with his back against a staghorn tree.

"Scott?" After a moment, Norway exclaimed tentatively, "...... you"

He stopped, seemingly unsure of how to continue.

“...... You saw my eyes. Scott spoke wearily. Now he could remember the moment when their eyes met, the surprise and fear in the elves' eyes, which was expected, but it still made him feel a little frustrated, "I'm not another dragon...... If that's what you want to ask. ”

- In fact, he had no idea what else he could be now.

"It's ...... Rare. Novi carefully considered his words, hesitating at first, then gradually returning to his usual mildness and calm, "but it doesn't matter. ”

Scott looked back in surprise as he gradually approached. The elf's soaked blonde hair glowed dimly in the moonlight.

"I remember Ed once saying that it's not what you are that matters...... or become, but what you do. Norway whispered, "Although we were talking about your brother at that time. ”

“...... I almost burned the whole forest in one fell swoop. Scott smiled wryly.

"But you didn't. The elf looked down and smiled at him, "Iss will be proud of you." ”

Scott was stunned.

As if aware of the absurdity of this sentence, they laughed in unison.

Scott shook his head, holding on to the trunk and trying to stand up straight. Panasses will probably come back soon...... He didn't want more people to see his embarrassed appearance.

Norway reached out and helped him. Scott felt like his skin was burning like smoke, but the elf's hands seemed to be warmer.

His gaze inadvertently swept over the back of his hand, where there seemed to be a shiny red spot.

Before he could take a closer look, there was a sudden rustling sound in the bushes, and a small white shadow sprang out of the shadows and swooped down at his feet, spun around merrily.

"Xiaobai!" Tess's panting voice followed. The red-haired girl stumbled over with a few children.

“...... Tess ...... "There was helplessness in the elf's long voice.

"I didn't touch it! I didn't touch a finger!" Tess threw up her hands and bent over her knees, obviously choking with exhaustion.

"So you're chasing it until now?" Norway said sternly, "and how many kids are running around in the forest?"

“......”

Tess simply squatted on the ground with her legs in her arms, not daring to look up.

"I chased it for a while, and I didn't plan to chase it...... But it was raining so hard that we had to hide......" she mumbled.

"Xiaobai will show us the way!" the youngest boy behind her was so excited that his eyes lit up, "Otherwise, we won't be able to come back!"

"So you're still lost. Norway couldn't help but sigh.

"Not really!" Tess glared back at the mouthy little boy, and insisted stiffly, "I just found an elven ruin halfway through the way, and I just went over to take a look!

“...... Elven ruins?" Noway frowned slightly.

"I can take you!" Tess jumped up and smiled a little smugly: "Definitely not lying!"

The little leopard, who somehow got a name like "Xiaobai", which was not at all sacred, yelled at her, as if to echo it...... It's like a mockery again.

Scott stared thoughtfully at the white leopard at his feet. Even if it's not a "holy beast", it's obviously not an ordinary white leopard.

As if sensing his gaze, "Xiaobai" raised his head and called at him, the immature voice easily erased the trace of guard that had just risen in his heart, and made him involuntarily lean over and pick it up again.

The little leopard was soaked with fur, trembled slightly in his arms, sneezed twice, and then shrank into a ball and licked the water on his body, still not at all trying to struggle and escape.

Tess looked at him with envy and jealousy, and almost burned two holes in him. Scott knew it was naïve—but he couldn't help but feel a little smug.

When he lowered his head to look at Xiao Bai, his gaze fell on the back of his hand again, and there was no red spot there. The delusion just now...... Probably just because the shadow of a leaf fell on his hand.

(To be continued......)