Familiar with the forest, Falbor ran fast, but when the elves tried to catch up with someone, he almost never failed.

The boy, who was not much shorter than him, writhed around in his hand like a fish again, but this time he could not escape so easily.

"Let go of me......! You ......" presumably suddenly remembered that the elf in front of him had saved him and his brother's lives, and Falbo didn't utter any unpleasant words, just jumped in frustration. The usually quite mature and steady teenager showed a bit of childishness when he was angry and helpless.

"Listen, you have to trust the others, they know the forest as well as you do, don't they? They must have patrols near every exit, don't they? Besides, Borena said that you must bring us to Balach safely, this is your mission, what would Borena say if you just left us in the forest? What would your brother say?"

Novi patiently persuaded, but Falbo didn't listen. When he tried to bite the elf's wrist, Norway twisted his backhand and threw him to the ground with ease, but the stubborn boy still didn't stop resisting.

The sound of branches snapping came from behind them, and Ed and Naria finally caught up with the elves.

"Akan! knock him out and carry him away!" Narya shouted panting, cross-legged. She knows how to be rude when dealing with disobedient children.

This sentence succeeded in causing Falbor to stop his struggle, and he raised his head and glared angrily at everyone.

"I don't want to knock you out, I don't want to tie you up. But I can't stop them, so you'd better be obedient. Norway sighed and pulled the boy to his feet.

"I can protect myself!" Falbo argued. He understood that Norway and his companions were chasing him and didn't really need him to lead the way to Balach.

Norway covered his mouth. Pressed him to the ground again.

"I hate this!" Tates complained in a very low voice and exaggerated expression as she landed on the snow.

The sound of small footsteps came from their northeast and faded away, followed by another, heavier footsteps and noise.

“...... They may be caught up. Norway said. He could tell from the sound of footsteps alone that Falbo was right, and the men who had fled with Borena could not walk quickly, no matter how familiar they were with the forest. Those who came to pursue them wisely chose to attack during the day, and those who fled in a hurry could hardly hide the traces they left behind.

Falbor turned his head. He looked at him pleadingly, and the elf couldn't refuse that look.

"Stop!" Thornhorne yelled.

"We can't stop!" shouted Gunner. "They're catching up very quickly!"

"That's right. Thornon's face was gloomy, "None of us can escape." ”

He looked around at his few remaining companions, remorseful, having believed that those who had been captured would not reveal their hiding place. But apparently, some people have not survived the forced confession. Although they spotted the soldiers coming towards the cave in time, they were not able to escape quickly. He had to disperse his small number of men to divert a few soldiers, but he still had his eyes on them and chased them closely.

In addition to the Borena who was carried on a stretcher, there were only six of them, and if they dispersed again, it would be easy for the people chasing them to find that the footprints did not match......

"Thornon!" someone urged, knowing he needed to get an idea as soon as possible. If Borena was still awake, he might have a way. But......

Thornoen glanced at the unconscious man on the stretcher. Not long after they escaped from the cave, Borena fainted, and he had to rely on his own judgment.

There was a noise behind him, and several people emerged from the forest. Appear in front of them.

-- Not an enemy.

“...... Elves?" Thornhorn exclaimed in surprise.

"Falbo!" Gunner roared as his brother rushed at him, unable to tell whether he was happy or annoyed, "why are you still here!

"We found a squad of soldiers...... Falbor would like to come back and inform you. Norway explained.

"Idiot!" Gunner scolded, "do you think we can't find those guys?!"

"Norvi ......," Thornoen decided, "I know this has nothing to do with you, but please." Please take Borena away!"

He knew that the adventurers in front of him could be trusted—they could have left Falbo alone instead of risking their lives and running back with him.

The elf looked at his companion with an inquiring gaze. No one objected.

"Where to take it, is there any safe place?" he asked.

"I don't know of any other place that is safe. Thornon smiled wryly, "That's it...... Take him away first!"

"There's a village," said Gunner, "there's—"

"Don't tell me. Thornoen interrupted him, "We didn't know it would be better. We've already met a monster that can control our souls, and who knows if there will be a second? You take Falbo with them, and I and the others stay behind to divert the pursuers. ”

"But......" Gunner hesitated, "don't we need to find a place where we can meet?"

"As long as you're alive, we'll always see each other again. Thornoen patted him on the shoulder.

Norway asked Akan to pick up Borena as gently as he could. More may die for the sake of a dying man, but the elves understand that there are many things that cannot be weighed so simply.

"Please take good care of him. Thornon whispered, with heartfelt gratitude, "We owe you a favor. ”

Norway smiled, "Let's talk about it next time we meet." ”.

Before you know it, night falls. Behind the flowing clouds, the moonlight shines bleakly on the forest.

"I think they succeeded. Norway jumped down from the tree, "No one is chasing after him." ”

"Can we rest for a while, then?" asked Naria, "Borena doesn't look good. ”

He probably won't get better—Noway looked down at the man's face, blue in the moonlight. The shadow of death hung over him.

"I don't want to say that...... the elf hesitated, "but he probably won't make it...... No matter where it is. ”

Gunnar couldn't say a word for a long time.

Borena once refused to leave the cave. He said he was dying, and that he might well have died on the way out. And many more people will die because of him. But as long as he still has a breath, they can't give up, let alone leave him.

"He can't die......" he muttered, repeating over and over again, "he can't die ......"

"That's not something we can control. Norway sighed softly, "Maybe the gods have something else to do with him." ”

"Gods?" Gunner's face twisted slightly, "where were the gods when the barbarians burned down most of the town, where were the gods when those adventurers didn't hesitate to blast down the shops of the Carey house with their magic? There is even a place with a little dignity, and what the gods have done is to let a barbarian whom he saved kill him?!"

He spat the ground. Covered his face.

Falbo looked at his brother and then at Borena and squeezed out an ugly smile at Norway apologetically.

Ed, who had been sitting dumbfounded, suddenly stood up and crouched down beside Borena, who was still held in Acan's arms. The expression on his face kept changing, one moment dazed, one moment firm, one moment hesitant, one moment frustrated......

"Ed," Narya cried softly, "nothing to worry about, you can't make things worse, can you?"

Tess squatted down next to Ed with a smile, and she had already guessed what Ed was trying to do: "That's right. Don't worry, dead horses are considered live horse doctors, but if you hesitate to do so. He's going to die, and even Calebryn can't save him. ”

“...... What is he going to do?" asked Gunner, confused, instinctively trying to pull the unreliable young man away.

Norway stopped him.

"Let him try. ”

"What to try?" Gunner remained uneasy.

Ed took a deep breath—another breath, holding the crystal ball that was already in his palm with one hand, almost starting to get hot, and resting the other on Borena's chest.

He didn't know how to pray. He had never learned any mysterious and difficult spells, but he remembered someone who had said to him, "As long as you call with all your heart." I can hear it. ”

He closed his eyes, tried to get all his distractions, his hesitations and uneasiness out of his mind, and let himself sink to the cool bottom of the dream, praying for a glimmer of mercy from the power that nourishes all things, destroys all things, and makes all things reborn.

Ancient words flowed silently into his soul like a stream of water, and spat out of his mouth again. The almost pure white ice blue light unfolded from his palm, gradually enveloping Borenna's whole body, and slowly receded.

Ed opened his eyes, withdrew his hand apprehensively, and rubbed his not-so-ventilated nose.

Everyone stared at Borena with bated breath, but he didn't miraculously wake up immediately.

Ed's toes writhed uneasily in his boots, and he wanted to pull his legs out and run away, or bury his head in the snow, or—or maybe he could try again. He was sure he had felt something.

He gritted his teeth, inhaled, closed his eyes, and put his hand on Borena's chest once more.

"Ed. Naria exclaimed suddenly, her voice filled with surprise and delight.

Ed could already feel the stronger and steader pulsation in his palm. Opening his eyes, his gaze was met in the blue-gray eyes of the upper Borenna, and the man blinked, breaking free from the trance he had just woken up from, and looked curiously at Ed's hand that was still on his chest.

“...... Are you a pastor?" he asked.

"Uh......" Ed didn't know how to answer.

"Borena!" Gunner, who lunged over, almost knocked Ed to the side, and hurriedly apologized, his eyes full of surprise and gratitude.

"How does it feel?" asked Norwe, unable to control the deeper smile on his face.

"Much better. Borena struggled to break free from Acan's arms, and he was probably a little uncomfortable being held like a child by a big man.

But he quickly stopped struggling and obediently lay still.

"It still hurts a little. "But...... I don't think I'm going to die, at least not now. ”

He finally grinned and loudly proclaimed, with incredible joy, "I'm not going to die!".

(To be continued)