Ed pulls a bubble between his hands. The bubble glowed faintly and swelled rapidly at the dark bottom of the water, enveloping him and Iss in an instant.

"There's a gem!"

Without the water in the way, Ed spoke eagerly, completely unaware that he had just cast a ...... he had never used before No one has ever taught him his spells.

"There's a jewel," he gestured......, gesturing with his fingers, "in the groove of the hilt of the Sword of Acton, transparent, tiny, like a crystal...... Like a drop of water, but with a little pearl luster...... But it doesn't look like it belongs there......"

The gem was the size of his fingertips, a glimmer of light floating in the already distorted grooves of the greatsword's hilt. The groove was too large to fit it, but somehow it blended wonderfully, like light and darkness...... Like life and death, they resist each other and depend on each other.

He remembered that he had just reached out and touched it lightly, and the water-dropped-like gem fell silently, coldly in the palm of his hand. It's too light, not like a stone, and not hard enough...... It was like a tear that had lost its temperature, trembling for a moment, and then disappearing into the water.

Ed stopped unconsciously, looked down at his empty palms in a daze, and for a moment was a little unsure whether it was a dream or a reality.

“...... That should be, Nyo's Tears. ”

Iss spoke softly, his expression complicated.

"Core...... And Sean, they all thought that the crystal ball I found from the sarcophagus of my ancestors was the Tears of Ni'o......" Ed muttered.

"That's not. Isis shook his head, "The Tears of Nio, as its name suggests...... It's actually a drop of water. ”

Clear like water, flowing like water, changing shape, disappearing once it falls into the water...... But it doesn't really melt into any kind of water in this world.

It is, after all, something that does not belong in this world—like the gods themselves.

"It is said that only a pure soul can see...... And touch it. Isis said.

“......”

Ed scratched his chin and blushed a little inexplicably.

"Don't overthink it. The corners of Is's mouth twitched, "I mean...... You entered here in a dream, right?"

Ed nodded uncertainly. Then...... It was indeed his soul that walked with Scott and Norvi in the underground, but he was stubbornly stuck in endless sorrow and despair, and all his reverence for the gods he once believed in had almost turned to anger and doubt...... In that case, can it also be considered "pure"?

He lowered his head again, faintly feeling that his palms were hot, and there was a feeling as if he was being burned by ice, which ran from his palms to the bottom of his heart, making him tremble uncontrollably.

The labyrinth beneath the castle of Crissus guards an artifact—that's not a legend.

He had ever touched such a holy relic...... But I lost it without knowing anything.

“...... So, it should still be here?" he looked around with a bit of luck, "if it 'won't melt into any kind of water in this world'......"

"Perhaps. Isis was not holding out much hope, "It is also possible that it has been swept up in the Vinez River." And, even if it's still here, it's not easy to find it. It was something that only the soul could touch, and it was in the water...... Just like water, you can't see any difference at all. ”

He looked beyond the bubbles at the glimmer of the river: "When it's everywhere...... How can we find the source?"

In the line of sight, there are still occasional glimmers of silver light, but they are more like swimming fish in the water, lightning in the clouds, negligently coming and going, flickering and flickering...... and does not point them in one direction.

Isis remembered the phantom that had appeared before his eyes, the white-haired and blue-eyed girl...... Rabea, does she know what this labyrinth is really guarding for?

She guided him to the Sword of Acton, but it was also possible that she sealed Ed's memories and made him forget the existence of Nyor's Tears.

Iss had a myriad of malicious speculations about the gods and their loyal servants...... But in front of Ed, it may be better not to say it.

"But you...... Maybe you can try. He was expressionless, "After all, you own her blood. ”

Ed smiled wryly, and stopped talking.

The brief euphoria cooled down quickly. He couldn't say that he didn't really want this bloodline, he didn't want this kind of power that he couldn't refuse...... and glory, especially when he knew that they desperately needed all strength.

He felt that he was like a gentleman who had inherited the Wanguan family property, and he did not have much respect for the person who passed on this wealth, but he still used it shamelessly, squandered it, and even tried to get more.

“...... Then give it a try. He said, trying to make himself appear less weak.

He closed his eyes. The bubbles that enveloped them trembled slightly, bursting silently. The river hugged him tightly again, and the coolness that seeped into his skin brought him indescribable calm......

He sank, into the deepest depths of consciousness, looking for the trust he once had...... Look for the bonds that have been passed down thousands of years ago.

Isis waited quietly, suppressing the unspeakable turmoil in his heart. At the bottom of the dark waters, the occasional flash of silver light was so faint that even in his eyes, Ed who was floating in the water was so faint that it looked like it would melt into the water......

Uncontrollably, he reached out to grab his friend, but forced himself to shrink back.

He had to learn to trust Ed...... It's like Ed always believed in him.

He could faintly feel the ripples of the water, like blood echoing the beating of his heart, but that was about it. The power of the gods rejected his capture, and his keen perception was useless at the moment......

The passage of time is difficult to judge in the dark. Before he lost his patience completely, Ed slowly opened his eyes.

At that moment, it was as if a silver light flowed under his eyes. He raised his hand, his open palm clearly empty, but there was something strong to attract Is's attention.

My heart moved slightly. Isis raised his hand without thinking, and the sword of Acton suddenly appeared in his hand, and the dragon's claw half-held at the end of the hilt was originally empty, but at this moment it seemed like a faint light mist was swirling...... Just like when it was first reforged.

He tried to hold the hilt close to Ed's palm. However, the greatsword, which had been quiet for a long time, began to tremble, as if the angry and powerful consciousness of the human warrior had returned to the sword, struggling to break free from his grasp.

Ed looked up blankly, as if he had finally come to his senses at this moment.

In a matter of moments, the entire bottom of the water seemed to be in turmoil as a result. The undercurrent surged, and a dull sound could be faintly heard from the bottom of the water, like a menacing roar, and a powerful force rolled over, carrying them involuntarily into the statue of the goddess.

Before being swept away by the current, Ed subconsciously reached out and grabbed the hilt of his sword.

.