Standing in the vestibule, Norway looked up at the battered, crooked, and seemingly ready to completely collapse into ruins at any moment, and suddenly remembered how he had seen the castle for the first time a few years ago.

He vaguely remembered saying that this centuries-old castle was almost a miracle for human architecture...... At that time, he would never have imagined that Kriesburg, which had remained standing after the war and the destruction of the dragon, would be nearly destroyed by Ed.

But who would blame that unfortunate young man?

They learned what had happened from the cook, Hanrietta, and Akan, who had woken up...... But nothing is irretrievable.

Tess leaned quietly beside the elf, holding Xiao Mo tightly in her arms with her arms, and shrunk her shoulders as if she was afraid of the cold.

The May breeze blows, giving people a feeling as bleak and sad as the autumn breeze. There was almost no one in the yard...... More than half of the people in the castle were gone—both servants and guards hired by River. Whether it is for the sake of loyalty or wealth, those who have chosen to stay in the face of an enemy like the "king" would rather give up everything than leave immediately.

Norvi could hear the uneasy whispers of the people as they left, and they began to believe that the castle was cursed. The people who live here, even the Chrissus family who built it, have died too many times, like the monarch of the fallen country two hundred years ago and his mother who burned himself to death in the castle, just like Scott's parents...... and Walla.

Even those who remain are not fearless. It's just that in their hearts, there is always something more important.

Unsure if the castle was still strong enough, everyone moved to the left side of the front yard. It was originally a row of low wooden houses where the guards lived. River fell silent after being stunned and furious, and sat dumbfounded next to Ed. Scott, with the help of the housekeeper Monson, directed the others to move some necessary things out of the castle and reluctantly settled.

The outer walls remained intact and were not badly damaged. The tremors came from the ground in the middle of the main castle, and still occasionally roared, as if some long-dormant force had responded to Ed's grief in the most intense way...... And it won't fall asleep again so easily.

Outside the castle was calm, and the fog on the plains of Collins held back Ante's army. That's probably the only thing to be thankful for. But even if no one attacks...... The castle may have fallen as well.

Norway let out a long sigh and walked back to the cabin with his arms around Tess's shoulders. He had to take a breath...... But when Ed wakes up, he sees all his friends around. Maybe better.

With a muffled roar, River Singal stumbled out of the cabin, followed by Monson and Allen.

"Your Excellency. The housekeeper's voice was still soft, but inevitably tired. "I'll bring you a drink. You just have to wait a little while......"

River strode forward without hearing it, his eyes glazed out.

"Lord Singal!" Alan cried out behind him, "please don't do this...... Your son needs you. ”

River stopped suddenly, stood motionless for a few moments, and slowly turned around.

"Nope. He said, hoarse, "He needs Walla...... I need Vala. I need my wife to come back to life! and you ......," his wandering gaze swept over everyone, "humans. Elves, dragons. Priests, paladins, legendary adventurers...... No one of the great heroes could save her, and no one could bring her back. ”

That's not a question, it's not a mockery...... Just despair.

Norway looked back at Scott and Filly, who had appeared behind them—they had just returned the body of a maid who had died from a falling stone to the head, back to her home in Karnak Village.

Fili lowered his head and looked to the side, his hand unconsciously clenching the hilt of the sword at his waist. Scott closed his lips tightly, his blue and golden eyes burned, and the determination revealed in the gloom and perseverance made Norway slightly uneasy.

Scott Criess is a dangerous man...... At least a man with dangerous powers, even more dangerous than his younger brother as an ice dragon. If he makes up his mind about what he wants to do, no one can stop him. And Norway had to worry about whether he would make some unwise decisions under this series of blows.

So far, Scott has been very calm. But Norway had seen the dark fire in his eyes as he gazed at Valra's corpse...... That kind of flame can't be easily extinguished.

"Filly. Scott said calmly, "Go get some wine with him." Don't go to the wine cellar, there should still be ...... in the kitchen Maybe we all need a little. ”

Filly nodded, walked over to River, and silently put his hand on the man's shoulder, almost as gentle.

Scott stood in the shadow of the city gates, looking up at the dilapidated Fort Christus. Norway couldn't describe the look on his face...... But that made the uneasiness in his heart a little deeper.

There was another roar from the ground, and a slight tremor could be felt under his feet, and even small stones jumped up, but the castle still stood there silently, not collapsing, like a wounded warrior, stubbornly unwilling to fall.

Scott withdrew his gaze, hesitated for a moment, and suddenly walked towards Nori and Tess.

"Can you take a step and say a few words?" he asked.

"Of course. The elf replied, letting go of Tess and was about to let her go back to the cabin first, when Scott spoke again, "Actually, I need to talk to you two. ”

Tess tilted her head, her eyes wide in curiosity.

Christasburg no longer has the warmth that Tess remembers.

In the dim light of the torches, the ruined and silent castle had a cold ghostly aura, as if it had been abandoned for thousands of years. The little white leopard they had brought to Criesburg from the Temple of Collins ran around in front of and behind them, somewhat dispelling some of the chill, but the huge cracks in the walls looked as if they were going to eat at people, making Tess's steps involuntarily lighter, lest the slightest jolt cause the stone bricks above her head and around her to collapse and fall on her head.

"Don't worry. Scott seemed to see the fear she didn't want to admit, "No matter what happens, I'll be able to protect you." ”

Tess stiffened her mouth unhappily: "I'm not afraid!"

Norway smiled and didn't speak. If he hadn't believed that Scott had such abilities, he wouldn't have agreed to let Tess go with him into such a dangerous place - and possibly even more dangerous places.

They walked through the hallway and stopped in front of the door of the South Tower. The dark wooden door hung crookedly to one side, revealing a narrow gap between the loose stone slabs on the base floor of the tower. Scott bent down to drag aside the not-so-thick slate, and the staircase to the basement was revealed again after more than a decade of hiding.

The air is not turbid, but has a hint of coolness, which makes people feel refreshed. Scott nodded to them and was the first to go down.

The stone steps underfoot were untidy, but still solid, and curiosity quickly dispelled the faint uneasiness in Tess's heart. She desperately wanted to squeeze past Scott and see the mysterious labyrinth beneath the legendary Chrysersburg, but Norway reached out and grabbed her, giving her a warning look.

The door to the basement was still tightly closed, seemingly undamaged by the vibration, and the iron ornament on the door was the most common arabesque pattern in the north, brushing away the thin layer of dust, and a faint glimmer of freshly cast could be seen, without the slightest trace of rust...... Norway noticed that there wasn't even a single spider silk here, which was somewhat eerie.

Scott held out his hand, hesitated for a moment, but stepped aside.

"The original mechanism on the door has been destroyed...... But Nia may well have set up another one. He told Tess, "I lost the key a long time ago, and it's probably best not to use magic now." ”

That's why he needed Tess - he couldn't use magic, let alone brute force, and he had to use the skills of a thief to get underground.

Tess jumped over, rubbed her hands together, and bent over to squint her eyes.

“...... This Nia is quite powerful. She complimented her rarely.

"Nia ...... It's a bit like you. There was a hint of nostalgia in the smile on Scott's lips, "He is small, he loves to talk and laugh, he can't stop for a moment, he always causes a lot of trouble, but no one can bear to blame him...... We kept calling him 'kid'. ”

"Oh, it's different. Tell you, I'm often scolded! like this: 'Tess!', 'Tess ......', 'Tess...... Silk ......' Tess mimicked how the elves called her name in a variety of reproachful and helpless tones, and pulled out her delicate gadgets and went about their work.

Ordinary people usually keep quiet when they are engrossed in doing something that is likely to be a little dangerous. Not even a little sound is allowed on the side, but Tess is different. Her mouth was constantly muttering, either talking to herself or asking questions that didn't need to be answered at all, and sometimes it even sounded like she was singing.

“...... This will allow her to concentrate. Norway explained to Scott with some embarrassment—and he suddenly realized that the excitement and cheerfulness to which he had been accustomed seemed inappropriate at the moment.

Scott smiled slightly, seemingly unimpressed.

"Nia too. "He would make up jokes when he was solving the trap......

Before the voice fell, there was a soft click on the door, and it opened inward silently.

"Da Da!" Tess shouted happily with her hands raised.

(To be continued......)