For a long time, everyone was silent. The noise coming from the ground didn't seem to penetrate the stagnant air here, only floating faintly above them, distant and hollow, like a voice from another world.

"I've never ...... I've never seen a death like this. As if unable to endure the dead silence any longer, Briss Patterson began, his tight voice sounding dry and low, "like ......"

It was as if a flame had come out of his body, burning his body into an empty shell.

Ed's body shuddered slightly, remembering the scorching heat that had burned in his flesh a few days ago...... A flame in his soul. Maybe just a little bit, he'll become a corpse like this at his feet...... Or something worse.

And where did the erupting power go? did it dissipate into the night sky, or did it somehow stay in the world?

As if sensing his trembling, Naria silently grabbed his right hand and clenched it hard.

Filly turned his head to look at him, and then stopped.

They had a cursory view of the entire chamber. According to Patterson's information, this is actually nothing more than a long-abandoned storage room, known to many soldiers, and it was once a place where soldiers gambled privately for a long time, and it was completely cordoned off after some stupid dispute killed someone.

The bodies crushed under the rubble did indeed belong to two or three of the soldiers guarding the place, and until the bodies were cleared, they could not have known whether these soldiers had come in to inspect what they had found, or if they were among the people involved in the ceremony.

But their previous guess may have been correct. Such a ceremony does not require any specific location, or even those crimson robes and golden canes......

The old song rang in his ears in a trance, easily pulling Ed's consciousness into a fantasy. Dancing flames, shaking shadows, endless fury, covering the heavens and the earth, huge wings......

Ed snapped and broke free, sweat on his forehead.

A hand slapped him on the shoulder, causing him to shrink involuntarily and turn back stiffly.

“...... Let's go back. Fili frowned at him slightly, but his tone was very gentle, "It's going to be a while before it's completely cleared up, and it's useless for you to stay here all the time." If there's anything to see, I'll send someone to find you. ”

Ed forced a smile and nodded slightly.

On the way home, he was still depressed. Narya dragged him through the crowd, the bright sunlight barely opening his eyes, but his body never seemed to be able to warm the cold...... Cold from the bottom of my heart to my fingertips.

Bloomer's hollow eyes were like a nailed image in front of his eyes, which could not be erased no matter what. He couldn't help but think of the first time he saw him...... I thought of the handsome young knight, with blond hair and blue eyes, a bright smile, a blue cloak diagonally draped over his new armor, and a white tower surrounded by five white roses on a blue background, and a morning star twinkled on the top of the tower.

His smile may be fake, his clear blue eyes hide shadows that no one can see, but his young life is real, the hope he once had......

Ed stopped suddenly, and the stiff and constricted flesh in his chest throbbed heavily and violently with a certain emotion surging in his heart.

Naria looked back in surprise.

"What's wrong?" she asked him softly.

"I ...... Gotta go and see someone. Ed replied hastily and vaguely, "I have to ...... I have to go see him. ”

Naria was silent for a moment, then let go of her hand.

"Go ahead. She said, "Be careful. ”

Ed nodded hurriedly to her with wordless gratitude, turned and rushed to the west of the city.

-- It would be faster to hire a carriage.

The thought quickly slipped through his mind as he burst into the backyard of the Temple of Nesses, panting out of breath. He didn't stop, and he didn't hesitate when he rushed to Sean's room, and slammed straight into the door without even knocking.

The door was unlocked, and Sean was there—just like he had been a few days ago, sitting in the chair in front of his bed, watching him calmly, as if he had never left.

Ed glared at him, but suddenly didn't know what to say.

He was standing here a few days ago, for a "deal" with Bloomer......

"He's dead. He said abruptly, "Bloomer Criess...... He's dead. ”

Sean remained silent, the expression on his face unchanged.

Nothing could make Ed angrier than this.

"He's dead. "He once said that he was willing to tell me everything in exchange for a chance to meet you...... A chance he'll never have again, but I think I know what he wants to ask you. ”

He paused, and when he spoke again, his heart filled with resentment and anger that belonged to him and did not belong to him.

"Why?" he asked, "Sean Fletcher...... Why?"

He didn't expect to be promised - he didn't know what he was expecting.

But Sean finally spoke.

"I'll answer him. "Someday," he said, "...... Maybe it won't be long. I will answer him, if he is still clinging to an answer. ”

Ed stood stunned, his anger cooling from frustration and confusion, and he realized his ridiculousness - what did he want? endless tears of repentance and sorrow? that wasn't what Sean Fletsche would do.

Maybe it's not that it's indifferent, maybe there's a hint of guilt, but Sean knows exactly what he's doing, no matter what others think, no matter what he sacrifices, he won't regret it, and he won't look back.

Ed hung his head and silently turned away.

"I won't let his sacrifice be meaningless. ”

Meaningless, Sean whispered behind him.

-- Sacrifice.

If necessary, he could probably even "sacrifice" Ed, or Scott.

Ed smiled wryly, too exhausted to tell what he was admitting...... Or is it promising something.

He stood blankly in the hallway for a moment, until something strange brought him to his senses.

There seemed to be movement in Scott's bedroom.

When Scott wasn't there, even Philip and Nia wouldn't enter that room at will, except for Xiaobai...... And Xiaobai is not in the temple now.

Filly brought it into Lockburg to protect Moira and her daughter. The white leopard had never actually hurt or attacked anyone, but its uniqueness, and not just the aura of a "holy beast" it gained by following Scott's side, made it somewhat intimidating even when it lay there and did not move...... And the power of peace of mind.

Ed hesitated for a moment, subconsciously lightened his steps, walked over and pushed open Scott's door.

(To be continued.) )