Footsteps sounded like heartbeats in the darkness, slow and heavy. It pounded on the ground, bounced between the narrow walls, blurred in the humid air, and then faded away.

That's the only sound. There was no rapid or steady heartbeat, no breath that condensed into a white mist in the air, no blood flowing—not even the upsetting tinnitus of a long, elongated scream in the ear.

The noises that he hated in the past were so nostalgic.

The man stretched out his hand, his nails scratching against the wall, and the sound of fine, continuous rubbing sounded like a giant centipede crawling. He wasn't worried that anyone would hear ...... He even wished someone could hear it.

Torches were lit in many places in the secret passages. He could hear the guard in charge of the patrol walking on the other side, nervousness in the sound of stiff footsteps. Fear was in their blood, and if he roared here, most of the "brave" knights would just flee.

An eerie sneer twisted into the man's blue-gray lips - they should have feared him. Those who betrayed him will soon pay the price.

He continued on his way, stopping as an elongated shadow landed at his feet.

There was a short staircase ahead, and a woman stood on top of it, her slender figure stretched by the firelight and eerie.

"You have to stop doing this. She spoke, taking a step forward, the firelight streaming through her thick black curls and jeweled green eyes.

The man glared at her, his gaze as cold as a ghost.

"Are you trying to make yourself a joke again?" Lydia sneered and said unceremoniously, "Our purpose has been achieved. But 'fear' is not a weapon that works for anyone...... You show up so often. Sooner or later, you'll get caught. That's not what we want. ”

The man let out a resentful, hoarse growl from deep within his chest.

"You know I can stop you in other ways. Lydia began to lose patience, "I just don't want things to be too ugly - or is that what you need." Your Majesty?"

Her mocking tone made the man even angrier. He took a step closer, but Lydia simply held out a hand, pointing to a bright red gemstone ring that looked more like a red-burned coal, with a soul-burning heat.

The man froze in place, his pupils constricting with the deepest fear.

"Go back, Your Majesty. Lydia's voice softened unexpectedly at this point, "I assure you. It will all end soon. You'll get back what was once yours...... You will get everything you want, this is the promise that God has given you, and you have paid for it...... Isn't it?"

The man stared straight at her. Obviously, he was unwilling, but he still slowly retreated backwards.

A gust of wind passed through the passage, and suddenly a bright flame shone on the face that belonged to Ante Bofford, gray and stiff. With the resentment and madness that solidified on it at the time of death.

A slurred word squeezed out of his swollen throat. Lydia smiled and nodded.

"Of course, Your Majesty. She said, "He's yours." ”.

After the man staggered into the darkness, Lydia couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

She really didn't like dealing with such stupid guys - disgustingly stupid, dead or alive. But she had to rejoice that she had made this nasty joke on a whim.

From Scott's Death...... to Ante's "rebirth".

He's not just an ordinary undead. She saw it as some kind of unexpected success...... And this may not be an accident. She couldn't fully explain what she found in Ankeland yet, but Ante's presence was perhaps essential.

There are too many coincidences in this, and sometimes she feels with fear that her every move, all her struggles and willfulness, is in fact still under the manipulation of some force.

Fearful ...... and resentment.

But it will all end soon. And she will have enough strength to break free from all restraints.

Like the short sentence engraved on the silver coin of Ankland-

"Freedom at last".

Kellian walked into the night.

The night sky in the north seems clearer and higher than in the south, and the spring stars twinkle above it. It is unusually gentle in this wonderful season. Their cold glow was like some kind of silent soothing...... But it's so far away.

The ethereal glow brought certain ancient memories back into Kellian's mind. He was in a trance for a moment, then came back to his senses, shook his head, pulled the longbow behind him, and stepped forward.

The library was quiet at this time, and he listened to his footsteps rustling on the grass...... and some of the extra voices, frowning slightly, and turning back sharply, the arrow already on the full bowstring.

"Hey......" Kurmit raised his hands behind him, "Don't you want the rest of your pay?"

"You're out of money. Kellian lowered his longbow and scoffed.

"So, is that why you left without a word?" Kormit asked him with a smile, "If I told you that I had a bag of beautiful gems with some dwarven friend in Cam City, would you be willing to remain my bodyguard?"

Kellian was silent.

"Or are you already getting what you want, anxious to get rid of us and find the answers you really want?" asked Kurmit softly, staring at him.

Kellian glared back at him warily and said stiffly, "I don't know what you're talking about. ”

Kormit scratched his head, a little crying and laughing.

"Let's just make it clear. He said, "You know something I don't know, I know something you don't, and we seem to have the same purpose, so why can't we help each other? ”

The right eyebrow of Kerian raised a subtle angle, like suspicion, like contempt.

“...... All right. "What was I thinking, of course my strength and wealth are not enough to impress a dragon...... But I thought we were friends. ”

Kellian froze for a moment, blinking at a loss, as if unable to determine which part of the sentence surprised him more.

"Why are you ......" he unconsciously touched his hair, and suddenly closed his mouth halfway through the question, glaring angrily at the smiling blacksmith in front of him.

"Your transfiguration is impeccable. Kormit smirked at him...... He also gave himself a thumbs up, "But I've dealt with all kinds of people, you see...... There's always a little bit of a person who doesn't look like a person. It was weird, I thought about it, and I just remembered feeling the same way about a person who wasn't human. If you were him, a lot of things would be much easier to understand. For example, why did you not hesitate to save Ed Singel...... I heard he was your friend. ”

Kailian opened his mouth, as if he wanted to refute, the expression on his face changed and changed, but in the end he just asked angrily, "So what?!"

"Not really. "That makes me believe that whatever you're looking for, whatever you're looking for, it's not for any evil purpose...... It's because of the ...... Sage, right? I guess. ”

Kellian closed his lips in exasperation.

"I don't know where my answer is, and I'm not even sure if I really want to know the answer. Kurmit's tone grew heavier, "But I believe S...... Sage ......"

"Scott. Kellian interrupted him with a look of displeasure.

"I believe that Scott is either the source of the crisis or equally ignorant of the danger. Kormit looked at him calmly, "If we have the same purpose, why can't we act together?"

“...... I prefer to be alone. ”

"What are you really looking for?" Kourmit remained patient, "an ancient curse or a shadow over Scott?, even if you found Ankeland and knew what happened thousands of years ago, you wouldn't be sure why...... And in what way does it affect everything that happens today? And you won't find another follower who knows about Nesses and is willing to help you—with all due respect, didn't you go to Estuary to find me because you wanted some news from me? I don't think you were there just by chance. ”

“...... Aren't you worried that doing so will anger your God?"

"I do all this for the sake of my faith. "I want to know if I have chosen the wrong faith or if it is being tarnished." I'm a priest and a blacksmith, but at the end of the day...... I'm human...... And human beings have their own dignity and persistence. In any case, I cannot accept such a trampling on life as the sacrifice of the living. ”

He was so honest that Kellian had nothing to say anymore.

“...... If you expect me to fly you to Ankland, I'm not going to do that. He said with a cold face, "That's not my plan. ”

Kurmit smiled.

"And what's your plan?" he asked.

(To be continued......)