The tiny yellow petals of the staghorn fluttered in the breeze and fell like a golden drizzle in the travelers' hair.

Norway remembered in a trance that the last time he had been here was when the staghorn was in bloom, but at that time, there were birds chirping in the woods, the low roars of wild beasts, and the vigilant peeking of the lush foliage...... Komen said that the forest looked like it was dead, and that was an exaggeration, but at least all the plants were still growing in the summer sun, showing no signs of withering or flourishing...... But the surroundings were indeed too silent, and the occasional birdsong from out of nowhere sounded lonely and frightened, and usually just a sudden call, as if it frightened itself, quieted down.

Tess kept looking left and right, as if hoping that a leopard would appear by her side silently like last time, with graceful and proud steps, and accompany her on a ...... But until they saw the gray stone tablet in the glade, there was no creature in sight other than them.

As they approached the stele, the horses began to tense, as if instinctively sensing some danger. Norway jumped off his horse and walked straight to the stele.

At first glance, the huge hourglass-shaped mark of Nesses still looks like it is not unusual, but if you look closely, you can see that the stone tablet is covered with cobweb-like cracks, making the entire stone tablet look like it will crumble into countless pieces at the slightest touch.

“...... Was it struck by lightning?"

Tess leaned over and looked at it, guessing casually.

Norway shook his head and smiled wryly. There was no mood to rebuke her for her disrespect. He remembered very well that there was no such crack on the stone tablet. This is definitely a bad omen for the altar of a god...... Maybe the elves here. What did they do to anger the gods...... Like the Sunseeker Elves of the Light of the North, they had to abandon their homeland and go to a foreign land...... But where did they go?

Ed and Nalya also gathered around, curiously looking at the overly austere altar they had never seen before.

"Maybe Scott knows something. Ed said, "If the elves here were followers of Nesses, he wouldn't leave them alone." ”

"yes...... If only he could solve the troubles around him. In addition to being anxious, there is still a little time to care about the words of the elven believers who are thousands of miles away. Naria glanced at him and said unceremoniously, "I seem to have told you." Indeed, you are not like a saint, and neither is your uncle...... When I was still with Allen in Stonebutch, every time I saw him, I thought he was so irritated that he just wanted to burn the whole city of Stonebutch with a single fire—from himself...... Start at the temple of Nesses. ”

Tess laughed.

"Oh. She said. "You say that. I kind of like him...... But he'd better not really burn my Stonebug!"

"Anyway, he hasn't set a fire yet...... at least," Ed scratched his head in embarrassment, "and when we get to Stonebuch, we can ask him directly." If he doesn't know...... Well, at least if we tell him, he'll never ignore it. ”

Novi remained silent. He certainly wanted to believe Scott...... But the man was carrying too much of a secret, and he would carefully keep his distance until he knew enough about it.

There's nothing unusual around. They were ready to go into Sandwater to see what was going on. He hadn't taken a few steps before Ed, who was at the end, suddenly let out a small exclamation.

They looked back vigilantly. Naria's hands were already on the hilt of her sword...... Only to see Ed rubbing his fingers and standing by the stone tablet in a daze, squeezing out a little embarrassed smile at them.

“...... What's wrong with you?" asked Tess, "stung by a bee?"

Ed hesitated for a moment before replying in a low voice, "This stele ...... It burned like it had just been burned by fire. ”

“...... Why are you touching it?" Norway couldn't help but sigh, "don't say it doesn't look right...... It's not right to touch the altar of a god like this, hasn't anyone told you?"

"Yes!" said Tess, puffing up her chest proudly, "why did you touch it? I didn't even touch it!"

"That's it...... I accidentally touched ......" Ed grunted and hung his head, his voice getting lower and lower.

Norway was a little suspicious that he wasn't telling the truth—he might have sensed something.

While he frowned slightly, Naria suddenly put her hand on the stone tablet.

“...... It's cold. She spoke, a little surprised.

Norway glared at her, not knowing what to say for a moment—but he might have to admit that he actually wanted to do it a little bit.

Not to be outdone, Tess rushed over and pressed both hands on the stone tablet, and touched it curiously before nodding in agreement: "Cold!"

They gathered around the stele once more, watching as Ed carefully touched the stele again after Noway nodded helplessly, and then blinked in surprise.

"It's cold again now. He said.

Everyone stared at him.

"But, it was really hot just now!" Ed argued with a bitter face, "I didn't lie!"

"If only you could lie. Tess comforted him, "I trust you...... Why don't we just knock down a rock and take it away?"

It was too bold to ignore the gods' ideas, and even Narya didn't dare to approve of them. In the end, they can only move forward with a stomach full of doubts.

The elves of Sandwater shouldn't have been gone for long. The treehouses they built among the trees have not yet been encroached upon by the plants that are thriving in the summer...... But it was impossible to tell which direction they were leaving.

As Komen said, there was no sign of a fight in all the rooms, and everything seemed to be in order, as if the owner would return at any moment. But the banner with the golden flower on a green background in front of the Panasus Gate was indeed gone, and Norway knew what that meant.

They won't come back.

He stood in a small clearing in the center of Sandwater, looking around at every empty treehouse around him, and even his heart felt like a large empty area.

What came to mind was the equally empty and deserted light of the far north under the snow...... The city was built of solid rock and stood majestically even after thousands of years of wind and rain, allowing future seekers to imagine its former glory and the elves who once lived there...... But here, in just a few decades, the traces left by the elves will disappear, and the forest will reclaim its territory, leaving everything oblivion.

For a moment he felt an irrepressible sadness...... For this abandoned homeland, for himself who does not know where to call home, and for his people who have gradually forgotten where they came from and where they should go.

(To be continued.) )