Wrapped in Stan's cloak and wrapped himself tightly, Fern sat on a stump with only half of the tree remaining, paying attention to his surroundings. It was late at night, the temperature continued to drop, and there were no stars in the sky. "It's getting cloudy. Fern thought to himself, then moved his frozen limbs and rubbed his hands together.

At this moment, the door of the room opened, and in the faint light of the fire came a cloaked figure, the size of which was Ness. Fern beckoned at her, and by the faint light leaking from the room, Ness saw Fern, and she closed the door to reveal only a small crack so that nothing could be seen.

"Did you come out and see if I'm frozen?" said Fern with a smile, "I'm fine, you can go into the house quickly." ”

"No, I can't sleep, I want to talk to you. Ness jumped on the stump and sat behind Ferne.

Fern shifted to the side, giving up more space for Ness, then took off Stan's cloak and draped it over Ness. "Tell me, I know that the experience along the way may be too much for you, and it will be better to hold it in your heart. ”

"Fern, I was hiding something from you, but I had to. Ness thought about it for a moment and said slowly.

"I know, it's normal, everyone has their own secrets. "And, I know more than you might expect. ”

"Really?" asked Ness, a little incredulous, "I've heard of good mercenaries with extremely keen observations, and you must be an example of that. ”

Fern laughed, "You're exalting me too much, I've just experienced something you haven't experienced." ”

"Can you tell me some of your secrets, then?" asked Ness, shaking her feet, with interest.

"My Secret...... I have no secrets. Fern's voice lowered, "My life should have disappeared a few years ago, I only lived in this world for the sake of an agreement with a person, and now I am just to fulfill this agreement." ”

"What kind of person is it? is it your relative, what's wrong with him?" asked Ness, curious.

"She's a companion of the mercenary group I used to be in, named Kaya......" Fern cleared his throat, his voice hoarse for some reason. 2.8.中·文.网 "She died, in order to save me." ”

"I'm sorry. Ness pursed her lips apologetically, though Fern couldn't see it.

Fern straightened up. "After that, I didn't join any mercenary groups anymore, and I did it all by myself, because I didn't want to see my companions die in front of me again. ”

"I think I now understand why you're taking such a risk in the Black Swamp to lure the wolves away for us. Ness said with a sudden realization.

"Yes, like I said, I don't care what happens to me, as long as I can save my companions......" Fern continued.

"No, Fern, what if there is anyone in this world who doesn't want you dead?" Ness turned to look at Fern's back.

"It's not on my radar. "The mercenary's back is like a stone tablet, hard and without a single gap.

"You're wrong, Fern, Kaya saved you for nothing!" Ness was a little angry, she didn't expect the man in front of her, who usually made people feel very dependent, to be so decadent in his heart.

Fern didn't speak, and Ness, seeing that he was silent, couldn't say anything more. The two of them were silent for a long time, and then snowflakes began to fall from the sky and fell silently on the ground. The white and pure snowflakes fell softly on the two of them, as if their state of mind had also been washed away.

"By the way, what happened on the White River, it may not be the Mage Tower behind the scenes. Fern broke the silence abruptly, and the conversation turned to Ness.

"Really, why do you say that?" Ness's tone raised considerably, the same question that had been bothering her for the past few days, and Fern's words were like a lifesaver.

"They could send two or more mages, and we'll never be able to escape. Fern expressed his speculation, "And according to Rui and you, there is only one person on the other side, so I guess it is the personal behavior of this evil mage, and it has nothing to do with the mage tower." ”

"Yes, that's right!" Ness turned around happily and looked gratefully at the mercenary's back. "Thank you, Ferne. ”

Fern turned to the side and glanced at Ness. "Well, don't you feel better now? ”

Ness jumped off the stump, took off her cloak and threw it to Fern. "I'm really a little sleepy, so I'll go to the house and rest. ”

Fern watched Ness take a few steps and suddenly stopped her, "Ness." ”

Ness stopped and turned to look at Fern, "Huh?"

Fern paused for a few seconds. "You're much stronger than I thought you were. ”

Ness smiled, "So you can't lose to me, Fern." ”

Fern smiled too, realizing that he had to look at the girl in front of him again.

"Everything will be fine. Ness whispered.

"Yes, everything will be fine. Fern repeated.

The door was closed again, and the silence came like a tidal wave again. Fern looked up, letting the snowflakes fall on his face, as if Kaya's hand touched his face.

Fern awoke from his sleep, and there was no one in the room but him, and some firewood had been added to the fireplace, and it was burning brightly. Fern struggled to his feet, sat in a chair next to him for a few moments before feeling refreshed, and was about to go out to see where the others were, when Ray pushed the door open and entered.

"You're finally awake, I wanted to drag you up, but Ness wouldn't let me. Rui closed the door and leaned against the door to look at Fern.

Fern blinked vigorously. "Do you have anything to say to me?"

"Is your mind always so clear, even when you wake up. The corners of Rui's mouth curved into a graceful arc.

"No matter how sober you are, I'm afraid you won't be sober. Fern snorted and looked up at the mage. "Say whatever you want. ”

"I'm not sure if we should go to Wolfsburg. Rui's voice was even colder in the cold north. "What Ness said on the boat may be true. ”

"You're saying Doyle watched Sara fall to the Dark Tide and sit idly by?" Fern's eyebrows raised, as if he didn't expect Rui to take the matter to heart.

"Yes, if that's true, then we're going to Wolfsburg to get caught in the net. Rui's expression was cold.

"I don't think so, Doyle didn't save Sara for his own reasons, maybe just driven by rights and interests. Fern stood up, walked to the window, and pushed open a gap to make sure there was no one outside before continuing, "You think the king of Doyle is controlled by the Dark Tide?"

"No, the king of the border country can't be so weak, my fear is that he and the dark tide are taking advantage of each other, and Sara is only a victim of it. Rui was still leaning against the door, his hands folded and crossed over his chest.

"I have to admit that there is a possibility. Fern narrowed his eyes and looked out the window, then back at Ray. "But it has nothing to do with us, on the contrary, if King Doyle knew that our goal was Darktide, he would be happy to help us, after all, he no longer needs to cooperate with Darktide. ”

"Why is it okay!?" Rui's emotions suddenly became excited, and he changed his usual cold and calm attitude. "Do you mercenaries only care about your own interests, don't you even have the least of shame?Sarah, she is innocent, everyone is innocent......" A line of tears actually flowed from the corners of Rui's eyes.

Fern didn't expect Rui to react like this, looked at her at a loss, and asked puzzled, "What's wrong with you, Rui?"

"No, nothing, I'm sorry. Rui wiped the tears from his face with his hands, opened the door and ran out.

Fern chased out of the house, looked at Rui's running back, and guessed something.

The snow was still falling, much smaller than it had been at night, the earth was covered in a layer of white, and tears flowed from Fern's eyes. In the distance, on the edge of a lake that has just frozen, Stan and Ness are catching fish with a net they found in an unknown house, and laughter can be heard in the distance.

The four of them ate the cooked fish around the fireplace, Fern tried not to talk about Doyle and Sarah, and Rui was as unsmiling as ever, as if nothing had happened.

After tidying up the house briefly, the group set out on their journey again. Stan and Ness rode in front, chatting about Doyle's customs and customs, while Ray and Fern followed, each thinking about their own concerns. In this way, it is getting closer and closer to Wolf Castle.