It was still pitch black outside, and if it weren't for Ray's familiarity with the Nassus neighborhood, Fern even suspected that they wouldn't even be able to leave the village. Ray got the right direction, left the village with the group, and walked the path that led from Doyle to here, and continued east.

After running for a long time without pause, Fern gradually felt that it became difficult to breathe. My body hasn't fully recovered yet, and I'm tired after running for so much. The mercenary was a little anxious.

"Fern, you're alright. Ness heard Fern's breathing getting heavier.

"I'm fine, don't worry. Fern didn't want to worry his companions anymore and kept running. "Rui, can you still feel the gloomy tide?"

"Yes, and it came with us, otherwise I wouldn't have been running for so long. "Rui didn't slow down. "Luckily they're not fast, they're getting farther and farther away from us, but I can't understand why they're following us, they seem to know where we are. ”

"Can they feel us, just as you can feel them?" Ness guessed.

"Ghouls don't have the ability to do this, not even demons, only mages can sense us. Rui deftly navigated the potholes and puddles in the ground, leading his companions to run forward.

"Could it be an evil mage?" Ness's tone changed nervously.

Rui glanced back at Ness. "There is this possibility, and I hope what you say does not become the truth. The mage glanced at the mercenary who was still holding on. "There's a grove up ahead, let's rest there, they're far away from us. Rui said, pointing to the dark background in front of him.

As soon as he stopped, Fern leaned against the tree and gasped for breath, his heart pounding violently and the sweat on his head made him know that if he ran any longer, he would have to drag his companion back again, and he couldn't help but feel anxious. After his breathing was no longer heavy, Fern sat down on the ground and rested against the trunk of the tree with his eyes closed.

Ness quietly walked over to Fern and slowly crouched down, her hands on either side of the mercenary's temples, her lips slightly open and closed.

But the scent of Ness's body revealed his actions, and Fern opened his eyes to see Ness in front of him, and what his companions didn't expect was that Fern didn't stop Nice, but quietly accepted the mage's healing. "Ness, thank you. ”

Ness smiled and nodded, and just then, Rui suddenly panicked. "They're picking up speed, they're coming after us, and ......," the mage couldn't hide the fear in his tone, "I can feel two demons. ”

"Holy!" Stan cursed, slamming his fist into the trunk. "Is there anything else we can do but keep running?"

"I can't think of any other way for the time being, we have no chance of winning against two demons, even if it's one, don't try to fight it until it's cornered. Rui looked worriedly at the way he came.

Ness stood up, she felt a little tired from the treatment just now, and coupled with her own physical strength, she was already showing a trace of fatigue. "Why are they stalking us? If we can figure out why, we might be able to get away safely. ”

"We shouldn't have anything special on us...... Rui thought as he propped his chin on his left hand. "Is it your wand?" Ray looked at the wand on Niss's belt, unable to make out the color of the gem in the darkness.

"How? This wand is too important to us to risk throwing it away. Ness tugged at her wand tightly, as if she was afraid that Rui would throw it away right away.

"Don't worry, I know the importance of the wand, but we'll have to figure it out. Rui looked at Fern who was slowly standing up, and Ness, who was slightly tired. "I came up with an idea that, while a bit risky, was worth a try. ”

"Tell me about it. Fern walked over to Rui's side, wanting to see Rui's expression.

"I know there's a frozen swamp not far ahead, where I can shake off the demons and even get rid of them. Rui's expression didn't change.

"What's the difference between you and me in the Black Swamp?" Fern objected.

"Of course there's a difference, you're just lucky in the Black Swamp, I know you didn't tell us the truth, but right now, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get rid of the demon in the Ice Swamp. Ryan looked at Fern with a face. "And I'm not done yet, we're going to split into two ways from now on, you and Ness, me and Stan, and, most importantly. Ray paused for a moment, looked at Ness, and said seriously, "Ness, we need to exchange wands. ”

"No, Rui, you're taking too much risk. Fern tried to convince Ray to abandon his risky plans.

Rui took out his wand and handed it to Niss, his eyes full of determination. "I grew up in Sarah, who is too small to compare to your kingdom, so I'm very familiar with everything here, and believe me, I can use the treacherous environment here to get rid of the demons. ”

Stan also walks over and pats Fern on the shoulder. "Leave it to us, I'll protect Haorui, we both grew up in the border country, and we are very adapted to the environment here, you and Ness are not suitable for long-distance travel, staying will only drag us back." ”

Ness thought for a moment and took Ray's wand while placing her own in Ray's hands. "But what if the wand wasn't the reason they were tracking us?"

"Now this is the only way we can go, there is still some way to the ice swamp, I see that you and Fern will not be able to easily follow me over there even if they barely make it to the ice swamp, why don't you separate here, you go north until you see the first river, which is the Jodon River, and then follow the river all the way east, and Stan and I continue to the east to divert the dark tide. Rui took the wand and carefully hung it on his belt.

"I'll make some more traces and lead the dark tides east after us, making sure they follow our plan. Stan's hand clenched the hilt of the sword at his waist, and the knight could be seen to be nervous.

"Alright, there's no time, you guys go first, Stan and I are about to leave after cleaning up the traces. "Five days later, we will meet at Talheim, and you will find it on the map, on the northeast side of here. Rui was still a little uneasy, and reminded Fern, "Sarah's territory is full of dangerous terrain and environment, and even extreme weather can kill you, you must be careful, for people outside of Sarah, these places are not much safer than the dark tide, if it weren't for the demons, I wouldn't let you venture deep into Sara alone." ”

"We'll be careful, it's you and Stan who are going to be in real danger. Fern raised his hands and made a gesture of embrace, and Ray did not refuse and stretched out his hands. "May the god of warriors protect you. Fern said softly.

"May the god of magic bless us all. Ruiya prayed softly.

Fern then hugs Stan as well, and the two cheer each other on, like brothers about to separate.

Ness also hugged Ray and Stan sadly, she had been used to four people traveling together, facing dangers and challenges together, and now they were about to separate, although it was only temporary, but the danger ahead still made her feel a lot of uncertainty, and Ness was not sure if she could go on the next journey with her companions.

Fern and Ness run north, Stan cleaning up the footprints they left behind, and Ray looks at Stan's tall back and feels apologetic. "I'm sorry, Stan, to bring you in, but I'm afraid I won't be able to deal with the unexpected situation if I'm alone, so the two of us have a better chance of surviving together. ”

Stan doesn't stop. "No, Rui, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to atone for the crimes I committed against Sara, and I die without regret. ”

"No, you're not going to die, neither are we. Rui looked at the northeastern sky and smiled confidently. "Now, let's deal with those dark tides. ”