Although Brandon's proposal caught the black-haired wizard off guard, and he seriously suspected that he was planning to carry the black cauldron himself, he also knew that it was indeed the only option.

Because the attitude of the dragon is crucial to this war.

According to a certain prince, the number of "dragon riders" in the royal family of de Salion is decreasing if you go by generation - from the most glorious second generation, all the sons of Queen Brunhilde are dragon riders, to the fourteenth generation, he is the only one, and even the emperor cannot get the "favor" of the dragon.

Obviously, the dragons on Jufeng Mountain are no longer as willing to carry out the agreement between the two sides as they were back then. 、

But on the other hand, they are a threat to the empire - such a group of desolate beasts at the top of the food chain, once they lose their last control and shackles, no one knows if they will become a disaster.

Even to make sure they don't go against the Empire, it's important to understand the fundamental attitude of the dragons - even without their help, to make sure they don't ally with the elves.

This is somewhat similar to the elves of the Ancient Wood Forest, but there are also big differences... No matter how powerful those fierce war dancers are, they are at most a "trouble" that threatens a principality of Lothair.

But if the dragon turns against the water, it will be a disaster!

For Loren, he also wanted to take this opportunity to communicate with the dragons, about how the dragon kingdom was destroyed back then - the plan of the "Black Cross" Serol, the conspiracy of the four evil gods, the origin of the Holy Cross... He had so much to know.

"So... You've already agreed to this?"

In a room in the Floating City, Count Eckert, who had just finished listening to the explanation, was desperately suppressing his shock and looking at the black-haired wizard with an indifferent expression as calmly as possible.

"You don't agree?"

"No! not disagree, it's just ......" Eckert frowned, as if thinking about how to express himself, "It's just... Well, if it were in your vassal, I would strongly disagree with your actions of putting yourself in danger again, especially if you are not completely healed!"

"You are too important to Byrne, to the House of Turin - no matter how glorious and victorious, Byrne can no longer afford to lose a duke!"

"Especially after the era of the 'Black Duke', I believe that not only me, but any of the Thirteenth Earls would rather go in your place than let the leader of Byrne take such a big risk for the sake of the royal family's orders. ”

"But as a Byrne Knight... I fully support you in doing so!"

Sighing, Ackert changed his words: "The Duke of Byrne... Even the Knight King had never had the privilege of going to Torch Peak Mountain to confront the dragon, which was undoubtedly a challenge to the royal 'privilege' of de Salion. ”

"In particular, you also have the special ability to communicate with dragons, and if one day – of course, this is only a hypothesis – you or your descendants will be able to bond with the dragons, 'Dragon Riders'... will no longer be the prerogative of the royal family de Salion. ”

"Such glory is not comparable to the fourteen generations of the Lord of Byrne combined, not to mention that all the people of the empire know that the royal family of de Salion has the authority to rule the empire by virtue of the dragon. ”

"If the Lord of Byrne could do the same, it would be the same as making the House of Turin... And with the jurisprudence of ruling the empire!"

Speaking of this, even Count Eckert himself was a little excited.

"So... Do you agree or disagree?"

Isaac, who was sitting on the black-haired wizard's side, spread his hands and looked at him inexplicably.

The Count of Fort Fury, who looked excited, froze, and a complicated expression appeared in his pupils.

"What does Eckert mean ......" Loren smiled slightly and said softly, "He supports this trip to Torch Peak Mountain, because the benefits are obvious, and on the contrary, the dangers are equally obvious." ”

"But on the flip side, if I don't go... Isn't there no danger?"

With a light snort, the black-haired wizard's gaze turned to the Earl of Fort Fury: "In addition to us, there are two other dragons - Grum and Mirasis who witnessed the death of Iollet, and even if we don't go, the dragons of Torch Peak Mountain will still know about it at that time." ”

"We who did not go to explain it in person were, at least reasonably, very passive, as if we were very weak and intended to pretend that nothing had happened. ”

His expression tightened, and Count Eckert frowned.

"In any case, the initiative in this matter is still in our hands, and whatever their final attitude is, at least there is room for mediation. Speaking of this, Loren couldn't help but smile bitterly:

"You can't... Wait until the dragon descends on the Red Blood Castle and rains down dragon flames over Byrne, and then think about 'what to do'?"

"Even if it can solve the problem, the dead people, the destroyed farmland, the estates, the houses, the cities... There will be no return, and if there are any major casualties on both sides, it will be tantamount to finding a mortal enemy for Byrne. ”

The Earl of Fort Fury's face finally became solemn.

After a moment, he finally nodded.

"So, what's your plan?" Sighing, Eckert asked, "Now that you've made up your mind, you must have a rough plan, right?"

"Not yet... If anything, it's probably just improvisation. Shrugging his shoulders, Loren said softly, "There is only one thing, and that is that we must not explain to them in the name of 'plea'. ”

"Brandon will also go with me, and instead of thinking about it, I'd wait for him to tell me what his plan is—after all, he's more experienced with this kind of thing that makes people angry and deliberately seeks death. ”

Sighing deeply, Eckert, who didn't ask too much, slowly got up: "I'll go outside and make a notice, so that the team can get ready, and arrange the team to escort you to Jufeng Mountain." ”

Loren, who was pleased to know, bowed slightly at the Count of Fury Castle.

Just before leaving the room, his heavy, determined footsteps suddenly stopped in front of the door.

"Duke, there's one more thing I'd like to ask. Eckert, who suddenly spoke, attracted the attention of everyone in the room: "You should have written to inform the Countess of the Red Blood Castle, Charlotte Turin, about this trip to Torch Mountain... Right?"

The black-haired wizard's expression froze.

The little wizard with his head down couldn't help but secretly turn his eyes sideways and look at him cautiously.

“...... I understand. Seeing Loren's reaction, Ackert immediately understood: "I will arrange for the messenger, please be sure to write the letter within today and send it to the Red Blood Fort immediately." ”

After saying that, he didn't wait for Loren to answer before he bowed and turned his head to leave the room.

Only the dark-haired wizard with a slightly embarrassed expression was left in front of the round table, Isaac who was holding the back of his head and still hadn't figured out the situation, and a small wizard with his head down and not saying a word.

No one spoke in a quiet room.

Until a certain "megalomaniac" preemptively stepped forward.

"So, we're going to Torch Mountain?" Isaac raised an eyebrow, his gaze glancing over Loren and Ain, intentionally or unintentionally:

"Hmm... I don't know if you've heard of it, but when I was looking for information on Ebolden, I found a lot of interesting facts and scenery about Jufeng Mountain - for example, it is actually an 'extinct volcano', so there are many excellent hot springs around, and it is said that a soak is especially good for the body. ”

"In addition, although this mountain is located in the middle of East Sackland, it has been locked down for many years - and given the existence of dragons, it cannot be left unblocked, so there are also a lot of precious potion ingredients there, which may bring us a lot of surprises!"

Isaac's voice echoed through the room, making it lively and quiet.

"Of course, the most important thing is that we get to meet the dragon... Dragons, that's dragons... Not the occasional one, but a few or even a dozen, some of them may be older than the Empire, and they have existed since the time of the Dragon Kingdom!"

"Maybe they know a lot of things we don't know, maybe they can tell us the truth about what happened back then—how the Dragon Kingdom was destroyed, how the Battle of the Valley of Bones was won, how Roland, the Black Duke, was the same, or maybe ......"

"What the hell are you trying to say?!"

The little wizard with his head bowed interrupted.

"I would say that this could be a great opportunity. For the first time, Isaac was not in the least dissatisfied with Ain's attitude: "Think about it, the superb scenery, the hot springs, the mountains surrounded by smoke and clouds... What a great place, think of how many times you two will leave Brandon and me behind and run away to be alone!"

"The smoky woods, the hot springs surrounded by water vapor, the edges of the cliffs... Oh, especially the last one, I read a book by Master Bandelker, which says that the more dangerous the environment, the more it stimulates the physiological response of the human being, and raises the level of inner need for a certain desire. ”

"Of course, in my opinion, this may be the key reason why he has not found a wife in his life - after all, you can't expect any danger from a wizard who stays in the wizard's tower, and when he is generous, his unflattering appearance will not attract any woman who can bear him children......"

"Get out!"

The little wizard with his head bowed interrupted a second time.

"Understood, let's go. Isaac looked at Loren with a look of understanding, "By the way, did you notice that Lusen is missing......?"

"Bang!"

A wand struck Isaac in the head, choking the rest of his sentence in his throat and running out of the room, not forgetting to close the door.

Now, there were only two people left in the room.

The black-haired wizard glanced at the wand on the ground, and then at the small wizard who had carefully withdrawn his right hand, and was embarrassed to speak.

"Al Ain......

"No!Loren, don't speak!" Raising his head suddenly, the little wizard snapped up with a frightened expression, his blue eyes gleaming with a complex luster staring at his face:

"At least for now, don't say anything. ”

The black-haired wizard who wanted to say nothing could only silently watch her expression.

Three years... No, it's been more than three years, and her expression is still the same as when she was in Vimpal.

Grievances, worries, fears, determinations, and overwhelms...... Countless contradictions and emotions are so clearly displayed in the sapphire eyes.

It's been a few years since I left Wimpal Academy, and Isaac has changed, and Mentor Dalton has changed.

Only Ain, still the little wizard of the past—only her, always knowing who she was, where she came from, where she was going, and what she was doing.

The hesitation and confusion of the little wizard is always a contradiction between compromise and self-insistence, and he is always making a choice between hurting himself or others.

Friend or foe.

She bit her lower lip tightly, trying her best not to let the crystals in the corners of her eyes fall, and her motionless delicate body trembled slightly.

"Loren Turin, I know you too well... If I force you to say yes now, even if you don't think so in your heart, you will still agree to me. ”

"I also know that Isaac's megalomaniac must have said things like 'make amends' or 'ask for forgiveness' with you, because that's the kind of person he is—unaware of hurting others, and often more anxious than anyone else when he thinks about making amends. ”

"But that's... Not the result I wanted. ”

"I don't want to be compensated, and I don't want to be biased because of my status as 'vulnerable' in your eyes - the day I decided to become a wizard, I wanted to be treated fairly by others and use my abilities to fight for what I wanted. ”

The little wizard who tried his best to squeeze his sobs became more and more excited: "I... Don't want to be pitied for it, you understand?"

Sighing, the silent black-haired wizard nodded.

"Now... At least now, I don't know exactly what I really want - not that I can't feel it, but that I can't tell it, I can't see it, I... I don't know if it's really what I thought it would be. ”

"So please don't open your mouth anyway, and wait for me for a while... It won't be long, it won't be short, I'll tell you myself when the time comes. ”

Clenching his fists, Ain's words seemed to be squeezed out of his teeth: "Until then, I hope you can still treat me with the same attitude as before, even if we can't go back to the past!"

"Promise me, Loren, okay?"

In front of the silent round table, looking at her expressions that were almost begging.

Aside from "good", Loren really couldn't think of a second word he could say.

"Thank you. The little wizard said lightly, but his expression was very solemn:

"Really, thank you. ”