The momentary excitement and satisfaction were overwhelmed by the overwhelming rage, but Lydia laughed instead.

"Nice little trick. Can you teach me, half-elf?" she asked softly.

Scott was reaching out to pull Celebrian up, and the thin priest stroked the folds in his robes with a nonchalant expression.

"Thank you for unlocking the trap. "I really don't know what to do to separate the gems from the traps." ”

"When did a priest learn the trick of thieves?" Lydia sneered. She didn't even know how Celebrion had done it, and to get the gem out of her hand, he would have to cast a spell on the stone or in the palm of her hand. But she hadn't heard any spells, hadn't seen any gestures—no matter how powerful he was, he was only a half-elf, and he could never have done it by his will alone, like a god.

She didn't even feel the gem at all...... Where can he teleport it?

"Get out of here, Lydia. Celebryan ignored the sneering of the mage, his goal had been achieved, and there was no need to waste any more time.

"Or else?" the mage raised her eyebrows lazily.

"I'll kill you. ”

"In front of Scott and Is? I don't think you can do it. ”

"As you say - I don't care. The half-elf replied calmly, while Lydia was speechless.

Scott gave him an uneasy look and took a step forward, as if to say something to Lydia.

Lydia's eyes narrowed, and a smile crossed her lips again, "See you next time, half-elf...... Hopefully you'll live to that time. ”

Without any more nonsense, the mage disappeared into thin air, as suddenly as she had come.

It was a moment before Scott blinked, he couldn't believe it was over.

"That's ...... Done?" he said unconsciously.

"You think I should kill her?" the half-elf glanced at him, his tone flat.

"No!" Scott blurted out, "Of course not!"

The half-elf sighed slightly, finally showing a hint of exhaustion: "Maybe I really should kill her...... End everything in the easiest way. ”

“...... Killing is never the easiest way to do it. Scott said.

The half-elf didn't say anything more, and he held out his hand. A word was whispered, and the vanished gem reappeared in his hand.

Scott couldn't help but look around vigilantly.

"She's not coming back. Calebryn saw through what he was worried about, "She knew she couldn't take this from me. ”

The gem in his hand was inconspicuous at the moment, and it was hard to believe that all the lost souls were in it.

"They...... Are you still alive?" asked Scott before he realized that there was something strange about the question. But the half-elf could understand, and he knew what Scott was worried about.

They'd seen Lydia write to the necromancers about how to make soul stones. It is the complete transformation of the soul into another form, no more memories, no more emotions, no more will, just some kind of magical, pure power.

If that's the case, it's not good news for Sio. Although the souls of all the barbarians who wander the ice fields will one day turn into the same power. Seep into the sky and the earth, air and water, rocks and flowers, reindeer and butterflies...... But what the old man wanted was to be able to prove that they had not been abandoned or cursed by their ancestors. What he needs is for all barbarians to be able to unite under the same faith for their homeland, for their lives...... Fight with the soul.

"I'm not sure either. Calebryn told Scott, "But this trap doesn't look like the one that made the soul stone...... Maybe we'll have to destroy this stone to find out. But the power that erupts when it destroys is likely to leave us all with no bones. ”

Scott was stunned for a moment - it was a dilemma.

But he eventually made a decision.

"What is it going to do to destroy it?" he waved the sword in his hand, "obviously this is useless. ”

"Are you sure?" asked the half-elf.

"They may still be alive...... Even in another form. Souls are more free than life, and they should not be imprisoned in a stone like this. ”

"Fire and ice. Kellebrian put the gem in his hands. Not surprising by his choice, "It is resistant to all forces and magic...... But after all, it's just a rock. ”

Scott shook the stone in his hand, but hesitated. If it was something he could do alone, he wouldn't hesitate, but he didn't want to involve Iss in possible danger.

Maybe he could throw a hot stone into the sea......

"It's no ordinary stone. The half-elf saw through him at a glance again, "You and Is." It's going to take both of you. ”

“...... Did you just want to leave me behind?" asked Is, dissatisfied.

"Okay...... At least we can pick a place where it won't be blown down?" Scott said helplessly.

The ice dragon spreads its wings and soars into the sky, and it is greeted by a sky full of stars.

It couldn't help but make a big circle unnecessarily, enjoying the cold, clear night breeze that swept by. Coming out of the cramped ground makes it easy.

"Go to the nearest beach!" exclaimed Scott, trying to make his voice pierce the wind. In fact. It wasn't necessary, the ice dragon could hear every word he said, clearly.

It's a dragon.

The nearest seashore needs to climb over the Giant's Spine, which is impossible for a human, and it couldn't be easier for a dragon.

Scott had told Sio everything, but he couldn't convince Celebrion to stay in a safer place with the old shaman.

"The safest place is by my side - for him as much as for you. The half-elf's answer choked him speechless. And he had to admit that he was right, if something really exploded, the spell of the half-elf could save their lives to the greatest extent. And he, though he was a priest by word, didn't dare tell Keller Brian that he hadn't learned any spells at all, and that everything he knew was more like instinct.

He suspected that if the half-elf knew what he had done to make himself like this, he would not hesitate to throw the explosive gem in his face, not even bothering to scold the "idiot" again.

It didn't take long for them to fly to sea. Beyond the frozen sea, to the ocean, where the wind was not strong, and the black waves were swaying with endless starlight. The crescent moon is as shallow as an eyebrow, casting a faint touch on the sea.

It was a great night. It was so beautiful that Scott suddenly had unwarranted confidence that everything would work out.

"Far enough, Ish! Stop!" he shouted.

"Really, I can fly farther!" the ice dragon's untense voice was as jovial as a child out playing, like some mysterious power hidden in this starry night, which could dispel all uneasiness.

"I know. Scott laughed, "Next time!"

The ice dragon circled again before finally suppressing the excitement that came from nowhere in his heart, waving his wings and hovering in mid-air.

"Let's get started. Keller Brian said.

The old shaman stroked the gem in Scott's hand and nodded. He looked calm, like he was ready for either outcome.

The clear voice of the half-elf priest sounded in the night sky, in the sound of small waves, and the jewel slowly rose into the air. Bathed in the distant but eternal light of the stars, once again the brilliance flows.

Scott's voice joins in, syllables sonorous, short and powerful, getting faster and faster as it repeats. As the colorless gem almost turned blood-red in the firelight, Scott's voice suddenly disappeared, and the ice dragon took a deep breath and exhaled it vigorously.

It should have risen immediately, and retreated far away as soon as possible. But it just stopped there, curiously watching as the gem that was beginning to crumble fell like a meteor.

Perhaps some instinct told it that there was no danger in it.

There was no violent explosion as imagined. Blinding white light, or huge fluctuations that shake the air. Only a little glimmer of light flew all the way, as if countless fireflies - or countless stars flew out of the gem - and scattered silently into the sky. Just like what Iss saw from afar when he was a child, fireworks rose over Karnak.

But they don't fall to the ground.

They fly in all directions, or hover around the ice dragon. Scott was gradually able to see some shadows that were vague - ghosts. Shouldn't stay in this worldly thing, at a certain moment, the urge to dispel them rose from the bottom of his heart, but he immediately suppressed it again.

Not now, not here. The souls of the barbarians belong to their homeland. It was a freedom that even the gods acquiesced.

"Nice result. Even Calebryne's voice had a hint of a smile.

"The best result. Scott corrected.

The old shaman's song resounded behind him, and that song would show the way home for all wandering souls.

-- Maybe not all.

"I have to go. The half-elf spoke suddenly.

“...... What?" Scott asked blankly.

"I had to go. The half-elf sighed, and its emaciated body was wrapped in a ball of light, floating gently as if it were a ghost, "Lydia is at least right...... I have to pay the price. ”

"No...... Wait!Karen!" Scott tried to reach for him, calling for help as he nearly slipped off the ice dragon's neck, "Grab him!"

"Don't be stupid, Scott. Celebrian's tone was half amused and half helpless, drifting farther away as the ice dragon curiously and obediently stretched out its claws at him.

"Where I'm going, you can't follow...... Nor should it be followed. He whispered.

“...... Are you going to die?" the ice dragon asked. It still couldn't say it liked the priest, but it didn't want him to die.

"Is!" Scott rebuked in a panic.

"Not yet, at least not now. The half-elf was not angry, on the contrary, he smiled slightly, "Maybe we can meet again...... I don't know when it is, though. ”

"Don't say 'maybe'!" exclaimed Scott, "Hell! you've got to tell me where the hell you're going! If I let you go without figuring this out, Alan will skin me!"

But the half-elf ignored it. His last words were addressed to the Ice Dragon.

"Take an eye on your brother, Is. ”

No head, no brain, of course, no explanation. Before the aftermath had dissipated, he had disappeared into thin air.

“...... Karen!!" Scott cried out, feeling like a large chunk had suddenly fallen out of his mind.

He hadn't expected a response from him—but the voice that suddenly sounded like it sounded directly in his head didn't belong to the half-elves.