When Fern and Barred came out of the castle, it was already early afternoon, and the two were wandering around the castle boringly, and the mercenary was not happy that the warrior had forced him to stay for dinner. "I need to go to Ogden and meet up with my companions as soon as possible, Barre...... I'm still used to calling you Rod, Rod, and I don't want them to worry. ”

Barred glanced at him and continued on his leisurely walk. "You're thinking about that chick, what's her name?"

"Who? You mean Quiai? She's a mage. Fern followed Barred helplessly, but his mind was no longer there.

"She's a beauty, more beautiful than Morena, and even more beautiful than Adeline was when she was younger. Barred looked at the soldiers in the distance who were cleaning up the battlefield with a little wistfulness. "I saved her life, and you owe me a favor, Ferne. ”

"How do you want me to repay you?" Fern snorted.

"Attend dinner, stop complaining, you can leave tomorrow, that's all. Barred continued to walk forward, and several soldiers in front of him were cautiously trying to set fire to the corpse of a demon, but they did not dare to move him, so they had to burn it in place.

"How did you overcome your fears when facing the demons?" said Fern as he looked at the flames that were gradually rising, and asked Barred for advice, "I've faced the demons three times, but each time I haven't made much progress. ”

"It's normal, Fern, and you don't get scared anymore if you take the first step, but it's just too hard. The warrior looked at the soldiers who were afraid to approach even in the face of the demon's corpse. "Your chances against the demons are still too few, but they will soon increase, and you better pray that you don't get killed by them until you overcome your fears. ”

Fern heard two doubts from Barrede's words, but he was only interested in one of them. "Listen to you, have you had many opportunities to face demons? The last time the Darktide War was decades ago, and you weren't even born at that time. ”

Barrede's ability to get through the trick has come into play again. "I'm just casually saying that you still need to hone a little more, Fern. ”

"Rod, one day I will dig out all your secrets, until then, you don't want to die, who knows what dangerous things you will do next. Fern gave up and continued to ask, he had already figured out the character of this guy.

Barred smiled meaningfully. "Enjoy this afternoon, there won't be many opportunities like this. ”

In the lavish dining room, there is only a long table in the middle of the room that can seat ten people, and on the table are several silver containers, each containing exquisite dishes, such as roast lamb chops, braised chicken breast, curry potatoes, and some food that Fern has never seen before. Underneath the dinner plate, there was a pale yellow tablecloth embroidered with gold ornamentation, and in front of each seat was a complete set of cutlery, so much so that Fern didn't know which ones to use, but fortunately there was only one cup for drinking, Fern thought to himself. Above the table hangs a chandelier lit with ten thick candles, and on the dining table, there is a tall candlestick every two plates.

It was the first time that Fern had eaten on such a formal occasion, and he felt so uncomfortable that even when he was seated, the attendants pulled out chairs for them, and after everyone had stood at the table, the attendants pushed the chairs under everyone's buttocks at the same time, and then everyone sat down together.

Lucius sat in the center, Queen Leopold sat closest to him on the left side of the king, and the two princesses sat on the left side of the queen in order of age. Barreid's seat was to the right of the king, followed by Jarena, and Fern was seated on the far right. Such a seat brought him and Olivina face to face, and the princess looked up at him with every bite of food, and the mercenary had to look at the king as he spoke.

"Welcome our old friend, Barrede, and our new friend, Ferne, to have dinner with us, and of course, thank you to the ** teacher who has been helping Dayton, Molena. Lucius raised his glass and made a symbolic toast with everyone.

Then, it was time for Barred and Lucius's family to chat, and the warrior met with the queen and the princess, and they talked about the past, and Fern noticed that the queen mentioned Adeline.

In this restrained place, Fern really couldn't eat to the fullest, so he ate hastily and placed the utensils neatly on both sides, which was the only table manners he knew. Seeing this, Olivina quickly finished the food on the plate in a few bites, then carefully wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and folded it neatly and put it aside. The princess smiled and looked at Lucius. "Father, I'd like to ask Fern to take a tour of our garden and let him see the flowers I planted."

The king subconsciously glanced at the queen. "I don't have any opinion, but you should ask your queen mother first. ”

The princess looked at the queen nervously, only to see that the queen's brow was slightly furrowed. "Your father will need to discuss more important matters with them later, so you should not disturb this mercenary. ”

Olivina pursed her lips and snorted disapprerovitously. "I knew you wouldn't say yes, you just wanted me to be with those stupid boys of powerful families who couldn't even lift their swords. ”

The queen's face was extremely pale, and she hurriedly stood up and said goodbye, pulling the two princesses to leave quickly, leaving behind an embarrassed Fern and a ** teacher snickering on the side.

"After all these years, Mulina's prejudice against me is still the same. Barred let out a rare sigh and drank the wine from his glass in one gulp.

"Don't care, old friend, and Fern, I have to say sorry. The king nodded to the mercenary. "In that case, let's get down to business. Seeing that everyone sat up straight, Lucius continued, "According to the soldiers' reports, we are sure that Natalei brought in the Faceless. ”

"What!?, the steward?" Fern remembered the slightly fat, elegant woman.

"Yes, she may have been threatened, or was it ...... Having turned her back on the light, she has already been punished. Lucius said slowly, "The soldiers said that from what she said before she died, it seems that the demons are targeting you and your companions. ”

"We don't have anything in us that is worth them to do, unless they just want to kill us. Fern guessed. "But why would they do it?"

"Probably trying to prevent you from going to Artuna to meet Adeline, who they see as a threat to them. Jasmina suddenly expressed her opinion.

"I don't know what I'm going to see Adeline for, but they do?" said Fern with a wry smile.

"Don't forget, Fern, you didn't know anything when you were at Dagger Mountain, and there were many people who knew more than you did. Barred smirked, as if he was one of those people himself.

"Okay, so what do you guys suggest?" the mercenary shrugged, he was used to the situation.

"Fern, you must take up your responsibilities, protect Wallis, you have become the master of Oberon, and the swordsman with the sword in the stone will be the last line of defense against the mage, and the strongest line of defense. Lucius looked at the mercenary with anticipation in his eyes.

"But I accepted it without even knowing it was a sword in the stone, and besides, I'm just a mercenary, and I don't think I can do as well as you. The mercenary glanced at the hilt of the sword at his waist, the insignia on it was blurred.

Lucius glanced at Barred in annoyance. "None of this matters anymore, you've picked up Oberon, then, you have to fight for it. ”

"Of course, you could throw it into the Endless Sea and run away to a place where no one can find it, but will you, Ferne?" said Bared, looking into the mercenary's eyes.

Even Jamina put down her glass and waited for the mercenary's answer.

"I don't know, I've been forced to go all the way, I don't want to be pulled in at all. Fern unsheathed his sword and placed it on the table, its unpretentious scabbard reflecting the light of the candlestick. "If I could, I'd like to drop it now and go back to Deville. ”

"But you can't, your companion is waiting for you in Ogden, and Ness is waiting for you in the Mage Tower. Jasmine said lightly with no expression on her face.

"Yes, I've always fought for others. Fern lowered his head and stared at the sword in the stone.

"You're wrong, Fern, fighting for the people you love is for yourself, and it will give you even more power than just for yourself. Lucius walked up behind the mercenary, took his sword, and placed it with Oberyn.

Fern was surprised to find that the two swords were so similar, except for a slight difference in the insignia on the hilt and the style of the grip. "What is this?"

"One of the three swords in stone, Triton. "Lucius's voice is full of power, the ancient kingdom of Triton is in the territory of what is now Dayton, so Dayton will keep it for generations, and it will guide me to the front line against the dark tide, at that time, may Oberon fight side by side with me, and together we will bring hope to Wallis. ”

The emblems of the two swords on the table shimmered faintly, and Fern didn't know if it was the reflection of the candles or if they resonated.

Jasmine sat on the side, looking at the two legendary swords, and chanted them in a low voice, as if she were reciting a poem.

The sword in the stone that has been handed down from ancient times to the present day,

They have a will of their own, they even have a temperament of their own,

Just like their owners,

Ever since they appeared in Wallis, they have been fighting to protect Wallis.

First the mage, then the dark tide,

As long as there is a presence that threatens Wallis's survival,

Three brave swordsmen will lift them up and fight bloodily for Wallis,

They represent the will of the sword in the stone,

It also represents the will of the seven gods.

The teacher's recitation made the other three people's blood boil, and even the solemn and majestic Lucius silently closed his eyes, put his right palm on his heart, and read something softly in his mouth.

Fern vaguely felt a sense of mission, remembering what Lucius had said before that the war was approaching, and the mercenary had guessed something, but he was worried that he was not up to such an important mission, and not long ago, he was thinking about how to get rid of this whole thing, but now fate has pushed him to the forefront.