The twilight was not over, but the streets were already crowded. The atmosphere of the celebration seems to be quietly and invisibly diffused.

Of course, this celebration of the Desert Day was far less lively and noisy than the one he had seen at the Dulun Winter Festival, and the Istanians seemed to have their own independent view of the celebration. On the dusty streets, only pedestrians in twos and threes, each holding a glowing crystal in their hands, had quietly converged in the direction of the palace—in the darkness, like a dragon of light.

The world often puts fire, dryness and heat in the same context. In the same way, fire has a special meaning in desert culture, and it seems to be in the same vein as the creation myth of the Sinsas snake people, where the world is born from flames and all things will eventually die in a fire.

Fire is a sacred thing, the emblem of Andama, and the candle flame becomes one of its symbols. In the past, the desert dwellers used to bring candlelight to participate in such celebrations, but after many fires, they gradually changed to light crystals, and fire and light complement each other like a pair of twins.

Walking in such a stream of light, you can clearly feel the difference of Ishtanian culture.

But Fang Yu walked aimlessly in the direction of the flow of people towards the palace, watching this scene without any thoughts, but only repeatedly pondering the conversation between Bishop Faris and himself before.

……

What was his specific reason for accepting the commission from Princess Rupert?

To each according to his needs, of course.

What else can the Elector mean when he completes the commission?

But in more detail, it should be for the Seven Seas Traveler, or more so - to fulfill a promise made to a lady a long time ago.

He couldn't help but think of that smiling face in his mind, and in his quiet and beautiful eyes, it seemed that a princess was sleeping, and there should be spreading roses and roses in his dreams, as well as thorny thorns. But she only smiled lightly, and everything turned into a moving afternoon sunshine, like a book spread out between the tea cups, and the words of Juanxiu were full of tenderness.

He never thought that a person could occupy such an important place in his heart.

It seems that inadvertently, they have become accustomed to each other's existence.

He stroked his neckline lightly, as if the delicate hand was still there—

Fang Yuan's heart has an uncontrollable stupidity and uneasiness, and when he is alone, his heart is more like a lonely boat that is wandering, and in these days he rises and falls—recklessness and impulsiveness, worry and anxiety coexist, but he has to calm down all the time. Because I know that this is just my own delusion—even if I lose news of other people for a while, the possibility that they are in any danger is not really great.

Or maybe this residual sanity suppressed him from doing anything out of the ordinary, but as time went on, he really didn't know how long he could pretend to be nothing.

Without realizing it, Fang Yu couldn't help but sigh softly.

After sighing, he was slightly stunned.

So I'm worried about it to this extent?

But as these thoughts had passed through his mind, he had returned to the previous question, and he understood, of course, that Bishop Faris had not intended this answer when he asked himself this question.

For adventurers, there is no particular reason to complete the mission.

"But there's always going to be some element of choice, isn't it—"

In the main hall, there was a faint light in Faris's eyes, and in those light brown old eyes, it was difficult for others to hide any real secrets. "Could it be that the adventurers have no hesitation in committing murder and arson, and hurting heaven and reason?"

"Of course," Fang Yu felt that the other party's question was purely superfluous. "The Adventurer's Guild is also ......"

"But adventurers like that do exist, right?"

Fang Yu paused for a moment, did the other party mean anything when he said this?

But the old bishop looked at him with a slight smile, and did not seem to mean to accuse.

He thought for a moment before slowly nodding his head: scum is everywhere, and adventurers are no more noble than other professions, and even better and worse.

But that's not the case with the Seven Seas Brigade.

Suddenly, Fang Yu understood what the other party meant.

The parties to the contract do choose each other, and he also has the power to accept the commission or not, and the reason why he likes this task is indeed because of the good pay. But more importantly, isn't it normal not to say that the eldest princess - even the daughter of an ordinary family is haunted by her mother's bizarre death and demands that the former murderer pay the price?

Essentially, it is precisely because of one's own identity that one accepts this task.

And after listening to Fang Yuan's answer, Faris smiled slightly:

"So you think that your choice is just, and you will agree to Her Royal Highness's request, right?"

"There can't be justice," Fang Yu replied. "But at least it's not wrong, is it?"

"Why are you so sure?"

Is there any reason for that?

It does not violate the Stargate Declaration, nor does it violate the laws of Astanya, nor does it contradict perceived universal values.

Taking what you need may not be very noble, but it can't be said to be a mistake, right?

But Bishop Faris still had the same plain look, pointing out this: "Yes, but the laws of Istania were written by the King of Sands, and you have not violated them today, but what about tomorrow?" Besides, Ed, now you are between the King of Sand and Her Highness the Princess, if they are opposed, which side will you help? ”

"The Lord of Sand is the master of Istania, an ally recognized by Kaorin-Ihurian, and naturally the sole legitimate ruler of Istania recognized by 'you'. If Her Royal Highness the Princess is unequivocally opposed to her father, and even does not hesitate to divide the kingdom, is it against your declaration that you are intervening in this situation? ”

Fang Yu opened his mouth.

He was a little speechless for a while, because he had never considered this issue from this direction.

In his opinion, the contradiction between the eldest princess and the king of sand will not rise to the level of the nation and the country, but is just a contradiction within the royal family.

But he suddenly found that he was thinking simply, how could the contradictions within the royal family be simple? How did the internal struggle of the royal family of Kaulin get to where it is now, isn't it a lesson from the past, and I remember it vividly?

He couldn't help but froze.

"But......" he said with some hesitation, "we are only in an employment relationship with Princess Celestia...... Nor will it ......"

"Wouldn't it be so deep?" The old bishop asked rhetorically.

Fang Yu nodded.

"But what about your companions?"

"They're still in the middle of it, aren't they?"

Fang Yu frowned.

The old bishop shook his head and softened: "...... I'm not saying that someone is going to force you to take sides, but aren't you already making a choice in what you're doing now? ”

"You don't want to get involved, but it's true."

Facing the old bishop's indifferent gaze, Fang Yu was a little speechless.

But the other party said slowly: "Do you think you are obviously right?" ”

"You did nothing wrong - whether you took advantage of it or not, the Sand King stepped into the forbidden zone. Her Royal Highness just wants the truth about her mother's death, and it sounds like human nature, she didn't take advantage of you, and she probably didn't even know about it at first. ”

“…… You're just getting involved in it because of a misunderstanding. ”

Fang Yuan's voice was a little dumb and asked, "Does Bishop Faris think I did something wrong?" ”

But he didn't think so in his heart.

He asked himself about his decisions, and he could pass his conscience.

Faris glanced at him and shook his head in surprise: "You already have the answer in your heart, don't you?" ”

Fang Yu looked at each other in surprise.

Faris replied slowly, "I guess there must be someone by your side, the knight of the goddess, right?" ”

"They must have told you about the definition of justice, right?"

The old bishop's eyes twinkled with an unknown meaning.

Fang Yuan's thoughts suddenly returned to a long time ago.

It was still Elpahim, and the big cat man had said something similar to him.

The righteousness pursued by the followers of Malland is nothing more than not violating their hearts. Pursue what you think is right, as long as you stick to the bottom line, you won't lose your way-

But why did Bishop Farris talk to himself about this at this moment?

He looked at the other with a little puzzled.

The old man seemed to read the confusion in his eyes, and patted him lightly on the shoulder.

"The goddess can't predict the future, and as her followers, she naturally can't, and not the parties dare to know everything about the rights and wrongs of a matter. And when you go deeper into it, it's normal to feel lost, but as long as you remember what you're thinking at this moment, at least you won't lose your ground—"

"Just remember - the Goddess is in fact a seeker of justice, not an arbiter."

"Didn't you ask you what you wanted to ask the goddess, that's it."

Fang Yu couldn't help but be stunned.

He had always doubted the intentions of the Temple, and by extension, what purpose Ms. Marran had in referring to herself as God's chosen one.

Because he has never believed that there is a free lunch in this world, how can a god who looks down on all living beings take a fancy to him and give him benefits for no reason?

But Farris's words explained all the doubts in his heart, it turned out that the other party had not deceived him from the beginning, and that Lady Marlan had chosen him only because his actions were in accordance with the definition of his teachings. If he sticks to his original intention, everything he does is also the result that Marlan wants to see.

If one day even he himself changes, the favor of the goddess will naturally leave him.

Fang Yu couldn't help but smile bitterly.

This goddess has a good plan.

But he had to accept that he couldn't oppose it for the sake of opposing it, not to mention that it was also good for him, and it could be regarded as a win-win situation.

But he knew that the goddess must have won more, and he was the only one in the world who behaved in harmony with his teachings, of course not. Far from it, the big cat man, Sir Diktor, was far more upright and capable than him, but why didn't the lady choose them?

Fang Yu knew in his heart that it was not because he was in control of Cangzhihui.

After all, the evil star is coming, and the divine war has arrived-

The gods of Orin must have been preparing for the closer they got to the line of the coming of the evil star, the more they would be favored by the gods, and then they would find out among them those who were in harmony with their teachings, and divide their own gods.

Presumably, even if things are a little worse than this, they are not too different.

However, after Fang Yu figured out the attitude of the temple, at least after knowing that there would not be a sinister force behind him, his heart was also a little relaxed, no matter what, this can barely be regarded as a 'good news'.

Although he always felt that there was something in Bishop Farris's last words with himself.

Therefore, these religious people are always talking in a godly way, and sometimes it is really a headache.

With a chaotic thought, when Fang Ou reacted, he realized that he had arrived at the palace area with the flow of people—of course, as Alepf said, the outer area of the palace. After passing through the three guarded inner gates, there is a rather empty square behind it.

Surrounded by palm groves and low shrubs, and a gleaming stream in the distance, a royal garden, an open meadow, in the middle of which a huge bonfire had been erected, but it had not yet been lit.

Farther afield, above the mound behind the palm trees, is the forbidden palace of Istania, where a high white platform has been erected, where it is said that the King of Sand and his concubines and children will appear. Fang Yu subconsciously looked left and right, and he didn't know if Alepf was in this place, but he thought that the other party should be very busy today, so he wouldn't show up, right?

When he was just beginning to think like this, the other party appeared from the crowd in a flash and waved his hand:

"Ed, this way."

Today, Alepf was dressed in a wide robe, and it was obvious that he knew that he was in this place, and that no one else could recognize him. Fang Yu looked at His Royal Highness the prince a little speechlessly, and the two knights behind him—the same two as before.

The two knights looked like they were dressed normally, after all, in addition to the royal family, many of the great nobles would also go out with their retinue.

The other man walked over, and without saying a word, he shoved something into his hand and said, "This is the food I brought out of the palace, and the people will bring their own food to eat around the campfire until the middle of the night—I'm sure you don't know that if you're not a local." I'm sure I won't be able to make it after the celebration starts, so I'll send these things over first. ”

He smiled slightly, but there was a melancholy look in his brown eyes.

"Actually, this is specially prepared by my mother, she heard about you, let me thank you well, this is also what she reminded me, otherwise I would not remember this." He gestured to his two squires. "Originally, I was going to have them send it, but my mother told me it was better to come in person."

Fang Yu looked at the delicate pastry in his hand, and then realized that it was made by a princess herself, and couldn't help but be a little flattered for a while.

He actually brought food and pastries with him, because Bishop Ariss didn't care about these trivial matters, but not everyone in the temple in Marland was a puppeteer, so naturally someone had already mentioned this to him.

But this was the other party's mother's heart, and he couldn't refuse, so he only nodded.

But he looked at the other party, it stands to reason that His Royal Highness the prince has been preparing for this day for many days, and he should be a little excited, but Alepf has a tense face at the moment, a very nervous look, and there is a slight hint of uneasiness in his eyes.

He couldn't help but wonder a little, could the King of Sands, Babartan, be so serious and terrifying, just to celebrate his birthday, to put so much pressure on his children?

Although he felt that the other party's tradition of being a desert citizen was sometimes too enthusiastic, Fang Yu recognized this new friend he had made in Cuestac, and he asked about the other party's condition.

And Alepf shook his head slightly, saying that he was fine, maybe he was just a little too tired these days.

How tiring can you be to prepare a gift? Fang Yu was slightly stunned, but he hadn't spoken yet, and Alepf had already laughed and said:

"Eddard, my brother, you don't really have to mind too much—my mother actually only heard about you from Master Burrard, and wants to help me find some help. But I know you're not here and you'll be leaving Cuestac soon, so don't mind, take this celebration as an opportunity to relax. ”

Fang Yu then understood what the other party meant, and it seemed that the princess wanted him to stay in Questak - or more specifically, to recruit him as a court alchemist.

If it is an aborigine, Fang Yu may also consider that some guild alchemists will also serve as court alchemists, or act as advisors, staying in a certain place for a while. After all, alchemists also want to live, make money, and have a good meal. And the royal families and nobles everywhere are undoubtedly their best service objects.

However, he is the one who chooses it, so naturally he has no intention of doing so.

He nodded again, indicating that he understood.

"You're here, then," Alepf reassured. "I'll have to go back right away, and when the celebration is over, we'll see each other again."

"No need." Fang Yu hurriedly shook his head, he still had his own affairs tonight, I wish no one noticed him, how could he wait for the celebration to be over? "I'll go straight back to the temple when that's over, and I'll stay here for a while, so let's talk about it when I have a chance."

Then he added in his heart, if there was a chance.

Because if things go well tonight, he might have to escape from Questak with the others, how could he still stay in this place.

However, Alepf obviously didn't notice it, and nodded. "That'll do fine." Then he disappeared into the crowd with two retinues, as silently as he had come, apparently unaware that there was a prince among the commoners.

There was a fire in front of us.

The bonfire in the square was finally lit.

The celebration began—

……

Wonderful Book House