The slightly jerky elven language made Violeta slightly stunned, hesitated for a moment, turned her feet, and fled in another direction. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

It's an instinctive reaction. She couldn't trust humans—even though she knew that most of Norvi's friends in the city were humans...... After all, it was humans who were chasing her behind her and seemed to want to help her.

How could she tell if they were friend or foe, and how could she tell if it was another trap?

Ironically, she couldn't trust the elves either.

The Starry Night Inn is where every elf goes when they come to Stonebuch, where they can get any help they need...... Except for her.

The elves who left Grivar for the first time ran through the strange streets, dazed, trying to hide out of anyone's sight. Human cities are not like forests, where there are countless roads that can be freely navigated between the trees...... But it is more like a labyrinth that cannot be escaped. Ugly buildings crowded one after another, narrow streets stenched, and in the night there seemed to be countless unscrupulous monsters, crouching around her with grim smiles, only to fall to the ground, and then drag her into eternal darkness, no longer illuminated by the stars.

Exhausted and frightened, Viorita's steps became heavier and heavier, and her consciousness gradually became a little blurred, and she couldn't even detect if anyone was following her...... When she suddenly came to her senses, she was jumping lightly from a half-open window on the second floor into a small building that she didn't know where it was.

At the moment when Ed was awakened, even though he had recognized him, the elf, who was also frightened, subconsciously drew his sword and pressed it against Ed's neck, very angry - she was very sure that someone had taken the opportunity to control, or at least affect her consciousness, and brought her here...... Elves are usually able to resist this type of spell, but she's just too tired.

Whether it is intended for other purposes or well-intentioned, such an act is inexcusable. But no matter what you think...... The person controlling her certainly couldn't be Ed.

"I ...... Not intentionally. ”

Viorita's voice was soft and cold, still stiff.

Ed touched the thin scar on her neck, and finally reacted, as if she was apologizing.

He shook his head again and again—the same wound the cat had scratched was too small for him to pay attention to. At this moment, Viorita, who was sitting in front of him, had changed out of her blood-stained shirt, Naria's simple dress looked a little wide on her, and the sunlight that came through the gap in the window made her bloodless face even paler......

If he had known what was going on in his head, the proud elf would probably swing his sword at him again—she seemed so weak and helpless that one could not bear to be harsh.

Besides, what could he blame her? The elves he knew were all extremely powerful, whether it was Norvi or Cessiana, but he also knew very well that even Viorita, who had lived for two hundred years and had never left the forest, had a far worse experience of surviving alone in this chaotic world than Naria. It was not easy for her to escape from Grivar.

He stared blankly at Violetta, not knowing what to take to comfort her. He didn't hear from Norvi, not at all. Although according to the original plan, Norway and Tess would come and join them and return to Grival together...... Ed could not have imagined that he would fall into such a situation from which he could not get out, and in the meantime, neither Nori nor Tess would be nowhere to be found...... They were clearly not in Tonbuch.

If even Lance Sunstrider had been killed, and the situation seemed worse than they had expected, Norway and the others were probably in danger after breaking up with Ed and Naria—Ed regretted thinking about it. He had known that Norway had always wanted him to stay out of the matter, and that they really shouldn't be separated...... But the reason given by the elf was always impossible for him to refuse.

The uneasiness of the trance dream of the early morning swept over again. For a moment he just wanted to rush into the empty court without hesitation, as he had done before...... But for now, he can't leave Stonebutch, and he can't bring the trouble he has caused into Grivar.

Lack of Skill - Ed scratches his head anxiously, trying to summon Is's help for the first time when there is no imminent danger...... But he had lost even the brooch, and Iss would have slapped him into the dirt with a single claw before he could help him...... No, he had better pray that Iss would obediently stay in Enshi Valley before it was all over. But can it really all end......

A light and heavy slap on the back of his head made him lean forward, and his head almost hit the jug. Only then did Ed realize that he had been in a daze for too long, so long that the confusion and uneasiness in Viorita's eyes had gradually turned to fear.

“...... He'll be fine. He spoke awkwardly, knowing how hollow such a comfort was, "You know how good Norway is. ”

Viorita's eyes hung down in disappointment, and she didn't even have the strength to sneer or smile bitterly.

Naria sighed slightly, and without saying a word, dragged the elf to the room she had just tidied up.

"Either way, you have to rest well and regain your strength. "Rest assured, whoever brought you here...... It's safe here. ”

She is confident in that. Even if Viorita had touched Ed's room at dawn...... If it weren't for the fact that she was not in danger, the wounded elf would not have been able to enter her yard at all.

Downstairs, Ed lay on the table and continued to stare - yes, who brought her here, and what purpose?

Splitting headaches.

He somehow gained great power, but he did not become as intelligent and brave and invincible as the great heroes of the stories he heard as a child...... But I felt more and more deeply my insignificance.

What exactly went wrong with his "story"?

Naria sat down across from Ed and nudged his arm.

"What are your plans?" she asked.

Ed didn't answer—but he knew he had to have a plan.

At Stonebuch, they don't get much news from Grivar. The realm of elves is now unusually closed, there is almost no trace of elves on the streets of Stonebuch, and the Starry Night Hotel has become more deserted than ever, and even closed its doors completely two days ago, even ordinary people can sense that something is wrong...... But Tonbuch is already so chaotic that people are panicking, and there is no trouble to take care of elves.

Ed blinked slowly, his dry, aching eyes, trying to free himself from his frustration and agitation.

“...... I need to go to Lockburg. ”

He straightened up and spoke calmly.

. (To be continued.) )