"Not really. Ed frowned. He couldn't imagine "living" like that, and he wouldn't allow the Is, the unique soul in front of him, to disappear.

"Anyway," he had to keep his overly proud friend in mind before finding a solution: "Didn't we say it a long time ago? If you keep it secretive like this, you won't say anything......"

He was stuck. He couldn't think of anything he could threaten Is—especially the ones he couldn't possibly say.

"I—I'll tell Naria. In the end, he had to say so.

Is's eyes widened slowly, and when he realized that this was really a "threat" and not a joke, he laughed unceremoniously, even if he couldn't stop hiccuping because he didn't dare to laugh too loudly, leaving Ed red-faced.

"I'm serious!" he emphasized.

Isis laughed so hard that he almost toppled over his chair, but he was serious when he nodded.

"Good. He said.

As proof, he allowed Ed to once again find the imprint deep in his soul through the vague symbols in his palm—they were connected in some way, and if Ed concentrated, he could follow the staccato and shimmering thread without getting lost in his vast sea of memories...... Still can't stay in it for long, though.

“...... Why are they connected?" muttered Ed.

They glanced at each other, and they both sensed something ominous in them.

In the second half of the night, even lying in bed, Ed's mind was full of those simple but mysterious symbols, stretching, twisting, and connecting as if they had life...... In the end, it turned into a bunch of snakes that were entangled and slowly wriggling, the thin scales were glowing with greasy and cold light, twisted into various strange shapes, and the snake letters that hissed and spit out were full of wisps of blood, intertwined into an unavoidable huge net, overwhelmingly attacked, and he woke up in a cold sweat.

The sky was already slightly shining, the door was open, and the smell of omelette was faintly faint at the end of his nose, which instantly drove away the coldness brought out of the nightmare and made him let out a long breath.

That's nice.

He thought contentedly, then leaped to his feet.

.

The day hadn't gone as Ed had planned, but he had gotten used to it.

He had wanted to go to the Temple of Water to study the phantom demon who didn't know if he was really crazy or pretending to be crazy, but before he could get out, he was blocked by Mondstadt.

"I know you must be busy. The mage smiled, but his words and deeds were still as strong as last night, "I promise it won't take up too much of your time...... Have you read that letter?"

Ed nodded. The letter was simple, just telling him what he had learned from the men they had captured in the mountains, half of whom were followers of Nesses, and half of whom were mere hired warriors. Amusing...... Sadly, the devout believers don't even know as much as the cautious mercenaries.

Believers are nothing more than following their appointed leader and obeying all his commands. Their fanatical beliefs give them no reason to act, and the best mercenaries are probably not reckless outlaws. While it wasn't easy for them to reveal their employer's secrets, the Archmage Tower, which had just suffered a near-annihilation disaster, had the determination to do whatever it takes. The clergy may have a lot of concerns when they dig up the news from the mouth of the enemy, but the methods of the mages are comparable to those of demons.

Stormbell didn't say much about it, but he didn't hide it, and Mondstadt didn't mince words, even commenting unceremoniously: "Nick is a soft-hearted guy, but he is not so soft that he can't see the situation clearly, and he can't tell the pros and cons." ”

In fact, when the news of the attack on the Archmage's Tower broke, many of the mages who had been wandering around returned to Neo, many of whom were more qualified and talented than Stobel, and the situation quickly stabilized after a brief period of chaos...... There is no one to compete for the position of the highest tower.

Nick Stobel, who has not even recovered his ability to cast spells, has delicately balanced the forces of all sides, and has unexpectedly received strong support, although there are various complex reasons behind this support, but when all the forces are concentrated, in a sense, the more daring mages can do many unimaginable things.

"Do you know why I left the Archmage Tower?" Mondstadt asked Ed suddenly.

“...... I've only heard a few rumors. Ed replied.

Mondstadt laughed meaninglessly.

"You don't have to be so careful. "Whether you've heard of it or not, and probably already know, I've studied necromancy, and the reason why I haven't become infamous and haven't been publicly expelled from the Archmage Tower is simply because I'm not so unscrupulous—I have my own bottom line, and I'm smart and powerful enough...... And of course, you also know that necromancy is far from being as simple as controlling the undead that those idiots like to use to scare people the most. ”

Ed smiled wryly, not denying it.

He figured he should probably thank Mondstadt for explaining the meaning of the symbol before he could open his mouth. "Rumors" and "facts" are two different things after all, and Mondstadt almost openly stated his knowledge of necromancy last night, once the immediate crisis is resolved...... Or, if necessary, that will inevitably be a reason to attack him.

Do what you think. He thanked him, and Mondstadt accepted it, but his eyes seemed to twinkle again...... It makes people's scalp tingle, and the interest is too strong.

"You're funny. As if aware of something, he frankly spoke out of his "interest", "Gifted, but innocent and harmless, and without much desire...... At least there is no attachment to the 'power' itself. Someone like you, I once knew a ......"

He paused, was silent for a long time, shook his head and smiled.

"He's dead. He said, "I'd love to tell you not to be like that, but we don't seem to be that acquainted yet." ”

Ed didn't know what to say - the man himself had said everything.

And the mage obviously didn't need him to say anything.

"Anyway, we used necromancy to dig up something useful from those people's brains - and not just the ones Nick wrote in his letters. He said, "I know your original suspicions...... A dragon and its fanatical followers who want to return to this world and make themselves the only gods are certainly a great threat, but our enemies are not the only one. After all, gods or false gods...... None of them can manipulate demons. ”