He couldn't see the other person's face clearly.

Maybe it's because of the backlight, or more likely, because he's forgotten what the other person looks like.

But the voice, even though it had echoed in my memory countless times, was still as warm and clear as it was when I first heard it.

It's saying—

"Take this sword, kid."

"The day I beat my mentor, he gave it to me as a reward for my efforts and growth."

"Now I pass it on to you, because I have seen with my own eyes that you have gone through a baptism of pain, won this difficult battle, and grown into a warrior who can stand on your own."

"May courage and tenacity be with you."

The still warm hilt of the sword fell gently into his hands, still stained with the blood of the monsters that belonged to his family. He looked at the other with a tear-stained face and a smile of certainty.

So he subconsciously clenched this gift, as if he had grasped the whole world.

***

Albert threw away his knife and fork, feeling his appetite run out of the lively discussions around him.

He was not preconceived to the content and attitude of the talk, and he was pleased that the afternoon trial had come to a relatively good result, regardless of the opinion—but that result did not give him solace now, but always reminded him of his partner.

Dinein, who had already made it clear that he was avoiding Light-related matters, did not hesitate to jump out and make an impassioned statement at that time, Albert knew that he would do it purely for the purpose of covering himself, and he was grateful but also deeply guilty.

They could have secretly probed the Cursed Sect's set-up. But now almost all of Stratholme's nobles and officials were impressed by Dinein, and presumably attracted the attention of the necromancers, making it more difficult to get close to them. At the same time, they also need to hide themselves from orc-hating radicals looking for trouble, and such people are definitely not a minority these days. Even if the whole conspiracy is successfully uncovered in the end, it is a question of who to turn to for help. Albert had no doubt that the vast majority of those who could afford to do so would choose to sit on the sidelines to avoid offending the high-ranking jurors, after all, being openly forced to change the verdict was undoubtedly a humiliating thing for them, and helping the culprit could lead to anger themselves. This is something that those in power who value interests will never do lightly.

One by one, Albert listed the consequences of his roar, and Albert became more and more frustrated. He stared at the barely touched bread and fish on the plate for a moment, and sighed deeply.

"Anyway, I ought to go and apologize to Dineh," the young man muttered to himself, "and remind him to eat supper by the way." ”

The latter task gave him more encouragement, so Albert picked up his plate and cautiously climbed the stairs through the noisy, dancing drinkers.

It's dinner time, and people are almost all gathered in the hall, which makes the second floor very quiet. As he reached the door, Albert heard a muffled sound, as if something had fallen to the ground. He stopped and listened for a moment, but no other sound sounded, so he stopped thinking about it and pushed the door open.

The room was unexpectedly dim. Albert fumbled with his plate on the table, lit the oil lamp, and then turned to see what the other person was doing: "Di-"

He was choked up for a moment, and after a while, he said in disbelief: "...... Did you fall out of bed while sleeping? ”

Dinein, who hung on the edge of the bed in a head-to-toe position, was indifferent to his words, seemingly completely unconcerned that he was holding his head against the floor. Albert waited for a moment, not waiting for a response, he sighed and stepped forward to pull Dinen up. The other party finally reacted - he struggled resistantly, allowing himself to completely slam himself on the floor.

Okay, now I know where that voice came from. Albert thought.

He reluctantly retracted his hand, trying to use words to regain the other party's attention: "What's going on, partner?" ”

The eyes, which were black in the dim light, turned to look at him, their eyes deep and confused, as if they were still in a dream.

"I had a dream."

Dineen didn't bother to get up, just lay on the floor, tilted his head to look at Albert, and then gave a strange, mocking smile.

"The story of a man who has been fooled by the Light."

Albert was stunned. He instantly forgot all his worries about what he was going to do, and sat down on the floor next to Dineen with a caution he had never felt before.

"Can I hear it?" He asked softly.

His attitude had been as soft as possible, but Dinen still stood up violently as if he had been provoked by some kind of provocation, and his gaze became clear and sharp, as fierce as a leopard that could pounce at any moment.

This threat is essentially a need for defense, and Albert, who saw through this, did not choose to back down as always. He has a surprisingly keen eye for when to give in and when to persevere, and that's what Dineen hates the most. After all, it's him who loses every time, not this kid who looks stupid but is actually very unconscious.

— just like this time.

So Dineen slammed it back again, and Albert's brow jumped. He pondered whether to tell the other party that the hall downstairs was full of drunkards, and that if he continued to smash it like this, there might be annoyed drunkards who would come up and smash the door with bottles...... But when Dinen spoke, he forgot all about it.

"It's not that complicated story."

Dineen said this in a tone that was completely nonchalant. He tilted his head and looked at the ceiling with interest, as if there was something there that would attract him.

"The fool first met a priest." He raised a hand and held out his index finger, "The priest said that the light can cure the plague - the fool believed." ”

"And as a result, the priest himself contracted the plague."

"Then the Fool met another paladin." Dinen added a finger, "The paladin said, I will deal with the undead and the principal of the undead." In the name of the Light, I will protect my kingdom—and the fool believed. ”

"And as a result, the paladin has fallen and become one of those things he swore to destroy."

"Later, the Fool met another paladin." The fingers turned into three," the man said to him, "Let's go and get the last paladin back, and the Light will save his lost soul—and the fool believed again." ”

"And as it turns out, the Light has chosen sanctions, not salvation."

"Oh, yes, one more time." The fingers turned into four, "After a long time, the Fool met a second paladin. The man said to him, "The Light will protect me from harm." ”

"And as a result, the paladin was devoured by the demon."

"—Later, the fool no longer believed in the Light."

Dineng put down his hand, still looking lazy. He turned his face and smiled at Albert.

"What a wonderful coincidence of fate, isn't it?"

Albert didn't laugh.

He didn't even give any reaction, and looked stiffer, colder, more silent, motionless, and lifeless than the rock. Only the eyes that stared at Dineen were filled with extreme sadness.

“…… Do you want to cry again? Dineen said with sincere concern. He sat up from the floor and tentatively looked at his partner's face.

"It's not a story."

Albert finally spoke. His voice was hoarse, almost losing its original timbre. It was as if it was not the voice that made the sound, but two pieces of sandpaper rubbing against each other.

"Oh no, of course it's a story." Dinen had a smile on his face, "No matter who it belongs to, it's a story after all." ”

Albert stared at him without saying a word.

Dineen's smile faded into the stubborn silence. There was silence in the room. It was as if the air had been frozen.

"—So, why believe in the Light?"

The stalemate was finally broken.

"You too, and so do they...... Convinced that the Light is always right, and even willing to change the outcome of the judgment for this. Believe that the Light is omnipotent, even though you have witnessed many failures and despairs. Believing that the Light knows everything, you will also fall into confusion and doubt. ”

"Bandages heal wounds, weapons punish evil, shields protect themselves, and potions purify corruption."

Calmly, even with a little curiosity, Dineen asked him, "Why do you believe in the Light?" ”

***

It's not a story, Albert said.

But it's a story, but it belongs to Dinen himself—the priest is his father Randall, and the two paladins are Arthas Minecil and Tirio Fordin.

He killed his undead family with his own hands and burned his past, fled in the death brought by the prince who promised to end death, went to the frozen land to save himself only to witness the judgment of the Holy Light, and finally witnessed a light sacrifice in his bloody battle with demons. Time and time again, the Light brought him hope, and then destroyed all his efforts with the most ironic ending.

The Light will save nothing.

So he stopped believing, no longer praying, no longer humbling, no longer expecting anything from faith. No matter what fear and despair he faced, he would only clench the sword in his hand.

But Dineen has found his way, and he is long past the age when he was hurt and screamed at the whole world. He was willing to express his preferences, sometimes in a competitive way, sometimes in a nasty way of affirming his dislike of the Light, so that the people would restrain themselves and stop pointing fingers at him according to their own rules. But he does not confide in others his pain and seek solace. What's more, it was no longer pain, but a scar that would no longer bleed despite being so hideous that it shaped his whole person.

So now he looked at the young man in front of him who seemed to be about to cry, and he only felt regret in his heart. He didn't expect Albert to believe it—it might not be appropriate, as it was Dineen's experience. But at this point in time, demons only exist in literature, and the fallen paladins are even more likely than bards dare to imagine in their dreams. No one with the slightest sense of reason would believe that these things are true.

But Albert believed.

As a member of the Knights of the Silver Hand, he knew best if a paladin had fallen or been attacked by demons. As a stalker of the Cult of the Damned, he could understand that the timing of Dinein's loss did not match the time when the plague began to spread—but he believed it anyway.

The level of trust was a bit too much, and it was heavier than he had imagined. So Dinin asked his own questions.

Why believe in the Light?

He wasn't expecting an answer, because he'd seen enough. The Archbishop of the Light is actually a servant of the Old Gods, the devout Draenei Prophet collapses when confronted with his son who has been transformed into a demon, and Naru, the aggregate of the Light, can transform into the source of the Shadows. Even these beings can't give an answer, so what can a young paladin do?

He didn't get an answer. Albert lowered his gaze, more silent than an ice sculpture.

Dineen was no surprise to him. He clapped his hands and stood up, trying to ease the stagnant atmosphere by changing the subject: "Forget it. Let's go eat. ”

"—The Light is not omnipotent."

Albert said this suddenly, in a voice that was almost whispering. But Dineen heard it anyway. He paused and stared at his partner, wondering if the other had shifted from questioning his actions to questioning the Light itself. Dinen hated paladins, but he would never want to destroy any of them.

But the truth is exactly what he imagined. The somber atmosphere dissipated, and the curved back gradually straightened. The eyes lifted up to meet him, and the confusion was fading at a visible rate.

"The Light is not omniscient."

Albert whispered something that would never have been taught to him, and there was a tremor of timidity in his voice. It always takes unimaginable courage to question the dogma you once believed in.

"What the Light can do," he took a light breath, "it can be replaced by other means. ”

"But there's only one thing—"

The young man put his palm to his heart and looked at Dinein's eyes full of earnestness.

"The light guides my heart."

"The strength she gave me was not to solve difficulties, but to equip me with the courage and tenacity to face them."

"She told me what was the right choice, encouraged me to accept all the gains and losses, and let me face my true self."

"Of course, the Light cannot solve all problems, nor can it respond to all expectations. Maybe she can't do anything in the face of a strong enemy, and she will be temporarily extinguished in the shadows. But, my brother—"

"She never gave up on leading us to be better people."

Specks of white spilled from under his palms, and a light fainter than the fluff of a chick was clearly visible in the dim light. Albert looked down in surprise. Dinen turned her head sideways, avoiding the growing light. He looked at the wall and smiled helplessly but heartily.