Tess pinched Is's soft cheek and pulled it to the sides, and the boy continued to fall asleep unconsciously, saliva trickling from the open corners of his mouth.

"Tess!" Naria slapped her hand away, angry and wanting to laugh, even a little crying.

She could never have imagined that Iss would reappear in front of her in such a form—a sleeping, seven-year-old boy not as old as Eren had brought him home. It felt strange and sweet, as if those happy days could be repeated.

Tess giggled so hard that she couldn't stop laughing, her waist went limp, and she could only half-collapse on the edge of the bed, laugh for a while, stop to catch her breath, and then continue laughing.

When she was finally too tired to continue, she said solemnly, "I think he will eat everyone who has seen him when he wakes up." ”

"Until then I'll feed him so that he won't be able to eat anyone. Naria told her in the same serious tone.

“...... Great idea!" Tess complimented loudly, nodding desperately, and couldn't help but start laughing again, but with a pained expression on her face and stomach.

A cold wind blew in, and Scott slipped into the tent.

"Still sleeping?" he asked.

"I'm still sleeping. Naria's tone was soft and doting, causing Tess to shudder and roll over and hug her, "Who are you?!Give my sweetheart back!" My sweetheart should yell at him, 'If you don't wake up, I'll slap you on the head with a tin pot'!"

"If he doesn't wake up tomorrow, maybe we can try that. Scott sighed and crouched down on the edge of the bed.

"Oh, if that doesn't work, we've got Mo! it's good at it!" Tess triumphantly picked up her little mongoose.

Is's hand reached out from the side of the blanket. Despite knowing that he was not afraid of the cold, Scott habitually stuffed him back, but at that moment Tess saw the strange symbol of the boy's palm.

"What is this?" she asked, dragging Is's hand out again.

There was a gray-green mark on the palm of Is's left hand, like some kind of rune, not dark in color, but very clear

"I don't know. Scott frowned. He had been wrapping the boy in his arms with the elven cloak before, and he hadn't noticed it at all. He tried to wipe it, but the color seemed to seep into his skin, and he couldn't erase it at all.

Naria leaned over and took a look, "Norway probably knows." ”

When Tess runs out and drags Norway back. Scott and Naria have tried to wipe with a snowball and wash it with water...... But it's useless.

"Ahh

- His hands are clean.

"Uh......" Ed rubbed his palms in confusion, "gone?"

He only remembered that his palms were a little itchy when he was in the cave before, and his skin was swollen along the lines of the runes, probably due to allergies, and so much happened after that, he completely forgot about it.

"Norvi...... Do you know this?" asked Scott, noticing that the elf's face didn't seem to be very good.

Novi's hands clenched and loosened, but he couldn't make up his mind.

"I think I've seen this symbol," he said...... "but I don't know what it means." ”

The same symbol was carved into the stone tablet - along with the symbol of Nessus, and the elves didn't know what that meant.

"Maybe I should ask Keller Brian?" he suggested carefully.

Keller Brian stared at the tiny symbol. Clam up.

"Karen?" Scott urged uneasily.

The half-elf put his hand on Is's hand, and recited a spell longer than any Scott had ever heard, making him panic a little.

When the half-elf removed his hand, the symbol was completely gone.

"It's okay. He said lightly.

“...... That's it, can't you explain it!" Ed exclaimed.

"Next time, don't let people scribble on your own hands. The half-elf said.

"That's not an explanation!" said Ed.

The half-elf ignored him.

"Hmm...... He never explained. Scott had to explain for his friend.

This obviously didn't please Ed, but he couldn't do anything about it. I could only snort and pinch Is's face.

The boy opened his eyes without warning.

Ed's hand was still on his face, frozen there for a moment, staring at him.

“...... What are you doing?!" Iss glared at him, shaking his hand away vigorously.

"Is!" Ed laughed and pressed down with his whole body, "You're awake!"

The next moment he flew out, and the elf kindly rushed over to catch him, lest he break through the tent and fly outside into the snow in an ugly way.

"He's going to eat us all. Tess had a prophetic expression. Nodding solemnly, "Start with Ed." ”.

"What's going on!!"

Restricken, cowering in a corner of the tent, like a beast cornered, he refused to be approached by anyone with a threatening posture and angry eyes.

"What did you do...... Why can't I go back?"

He yelled.

When he found that he still had the form of a seven-year-old boy, his first reaction was to turn back into an ice dragon, no matter where it was. It doesn't matter how many people are in front of you.

But he couldn't go back, and that made him angry and horrified. The only reason he could think of was that the people who claimed to be his friends and relatives didn't want him to change back - no matter how high-sounding and swearing, they still wanted him to be a human being. And not a dragon.

Everyone couldn't help but look at Keller Brian. If anyone could do anything, it would be him.

"It has nothing to do with me. The half-elf said.

Is's angry gaze turned to Scott.

"I'm not going to do that. Scott sighed, "I swear. ”

Isis gritted his teeth and glared at everyone without saying a word, then suddenly rushed forward.

He had to leave - he couldn't stay here, he couldn't be like this.

Naria hugged him.

"Is, where are you going?" she cried out in a panic.

Isis struggled hard. Even when confined to this small body, his strength was far greater than that of a normal human, but when he looked up and saw Naria's panicked expression and the tears in his eyes, he stiffened his movements.

He didn't want her to have such an expression.

A pair of larger, stronger hands snatched him away from Naria's arms. Nalya resisted a little before reluctantly letting go.

"I took him out for a walk. Scott said. Isis remained stiff in his arms.

"No!" Narya immediately tried to snatch Isis back, "we finally found him!"

"Naria...... Scott dodging her hands, "I know you don't want him to leave, but it can't be this way." Do you want to put a chain around his neck?"

Naria paused.

"How is that possible!" she said exasperatedly.

"If he's going to stay. That had to be his own will, no matter what he was now, he wasn't a kid anymore. Scott patiently comforted him, "And I'm just taking him out." So that he can calm down...... We'll be back, okay?"

Naria was silent for a few moments before reluctantly moving out of the way.

"At least don't leave quietly?" she pleaded softly.

Iss avoided her gaze and nodded in confusion.

Scott carried Isse out of the tent, and the boy immediately began to struggle.

"Let me go!" he growled, feeling uncomfortable.

Scott put him on the ground, crouched down and looked him seriously in the eyes, "I promised Naria, so...... You're not going to just run away, are you?"

Isis glared at him for a moment, then nodded again.

When Scott naturally stretched out a hand to him, he subconsciously grabbed it and hurriedly let go. With an angry face, he clasped his hands behind his back.

Scott sighed a little amusedly and slowly walked him out of the camp. The snow began to melt after several days of sunshine, and black earth could already be seen in some places. Isis didn't lift his head, and walked awkwardly in the mud, he wasn't used to this small body at all. Even though that's what he used to be.

Many people cast curious glances at them, but no one disturbed their walk.

"I took him for a walk around the neighborhood - he had slept so long that he needed to wake up. ”

Scott smiled and told the guards at the camp gate.

The guard nodded, letting them pass without any doubt.

“...... How do you tell those barbarians?"

After leaving the camp for some distance, Isis couldn't help but ask.

"Tell them the truth, you're my brother. ”

"I'm guessing you didn't tell them the whole truth? For example, 'your brother' is a vicious ice dragon. Iss said angrily.

"I really don't want to cause any confusion. But I can tell them if you want. Scott stared into his eyes.

It is likely that someone has already guessed who Isis is...... Like Nutka, but she didn't tell anyone. In fact, he told Dutton and Seo that even though they looked at him like he was a madman, they either accepted it or tried to act as if they had never heard of it.

“...... Don't!" Iss said. He also doesn't want people to know that he is a dragon "like this".

Scott crouched down. They can look each other in the eye: "If Celebryan says it has nothing to do with him, it certainly won't be what he did, but he might be able to find out...... But whatever the reason, Is, you don't need to be afraid. ”

"I'm not afraid!" retorted Is, angrily. But he knew Scott was right—he was scared. He didn't like to be trapped in this weak body, he had to be strong enough to be able to protect himself......

"We'll find the reason so you can change back to who you really are, and until then, I'll be there for you – your friends will be there for you. Scott looked at him earnestly, not caring at all about his insincere rebuttal.

"And after that?" said Is, lowering his gaze.

"After that...... You are free. Scott said, "You can leave if you want." But you have to know that Naria won't give up taking you home, and Ed won't give up on convincing people that a dragon doesn't necessarily mean evil......"

“...... What about you?"

Scott was silent for a long time.

As anger and insecurity appeared in Is's eyes, Scott reached out and hugged him tightly: "You will always be my brother, and I love you." I'm sorry, but for now, that's the only promise I can give you. His voice was tired and sad, "I know it's not enough ......"

To his surprise, Iss wrapped his hands around his neck, just like he had done when he was a child.

"That's enough. "At least...... If I tried to do something bad, you'd stop me, you swore it, didn't you?"

Scott could only nod silently.