Tillin and Cremens light a fire and set up a stand for the grill, both packages are open and spread out on the floor, and Stan is picking up the little food left from it and placing it neatly on the stand. Rui on one side had already hung a metal kettle on the edge of the shelf, and the snow water inside had begun to boil.

A few paces away from the fire, under a large tree, Ness lay on her cloak, covered with Fern's wide cloak, and she still did not wake up, Fern sat against the trunk of the tree, indifferently watching the busy crowd.

Queai sat under a tree near Fern with a handful of thin, sharpened branches beside her, sharpening one end of the branches with a dagger, and she needed to replenish her bow and arrows.

"Fern, you don't have to worry so much, she's fine, it's just that she's overused her mental energy. Quiai skimmed the branch as he skimmed over Fern.

"When will she wake up?" Fern's voice was slightly tired and hoarse.

"Tomorrow at the latest, tonight if it's fast, depending on her body. Quiai saw that Fern promised him, and there was a hint of excitement in his tone.

"Hopefully you're right, but Ness's body is weaker than you and Rui. Ness's head moved and leaned over to Fern's side, a wisp falling off to cover the soft-curvy bridge of her nose. Fern stretched out his right hand and put the emanation back behind Ness's ear, and sighed.

Quiai pursed his lips as he watched Fern's actions, not knowing whether to look at envy or jealousy. "Fern, I'd like to say sorry to you, if I had reminded Ness in Talheim to leave some room for herself, she wouldn't have fainted. ”

Fern looked up at Quiai, his soft gaze devoid of emotion. "It's not your fault, it's not easy for you to guide her in that situation, it's impossible to think about everything. ”

Queai shifted his ass uneasily, biting his lower lip. "And what happened last night, can you forgive me too?"

"No!" Fern's gaze turned to Rui, who was making tea, and replied categorically.

Queai's lips were almost bitten out of his own teeth. "I didn't do anything at the time, I just wanted to feel your breath...... and your body temperature, do you know ......" Quiai's eyes filled with tears. "There are so many men of all kinds in Dluth, from the elegant and noble nobles of the royal palace to the strong and handsome knights of the Order, who are all chasing after me just for an afternoon tea, but for some reason, I have no feeling for them. ”

Fern frowned and didn't respond.

Queai continued. "I've been wandering among all kinds of men, and I'm full of disgust, and in Hussey's letter, I specifically mention you and Stan, but I just think you're no different from those men. A tear ran down her cheek. "Until I saw you, and you pushed Niss behind her back and stood between her and the dead body, in the firelight, your back was so tall, and at that moment, I knew that there would be no one else in my heart. ”

"Stan will not hesitate to stand in front of his companions, ready to give his life, even the knights of Derlus can do this, and I am not the only one who will do this. Fern still looked at his companion in front of him as he prepared food. "I'm just an ordinary mercenary, doing what I think is right. ”

"You've broken into my heart, Fern, just as Ness has broken into yours. ”

"Even if what you say is true, you and I will not have a result, just as Ness and I will not have a result. ”

"How do you know, with your experience as a mercenary for so many years, or your experience of dealing with the dark tide?" Queai's voice rose louder, "Fern, you don't understand anything, what the hell is the girl thinking. ”

"I really don't understand, all I have is ...... Self-knowledge. Fern glanced at Ness again, and stood up and walked to the fire.

"Self-knowledge is not the same as self-pity. Behind him came Quiai's last words.

Rui smiled and looked at Fern. "Where did you get this trouble? But she helped us a lot. ”

Fern looked at Ray in surprise. "How do you know she's a nuisance?"

"Never, Fern, never underestimate a woman's powers of observation and intuition, the way she looks at you, and the way Ness looks at her, have already explained everything to me. Rui smirked.

"She's Hessy's apprentice, remember, Hessi should have mentioned it to you in the Tower. Fern looked at the tea that had been brewed in front of him.

Rui picked up one of the cups and handed it to Fern. "Remember, I didn't expect Hessy's apprentice to be so charming, and it was your luck that she could take a fancy to you. ”

"Yes, with a steel dagger, I'm willing to trade that luck with Stan. Fern took a sip of hot tea.

Stan glances at Fern disdainfully. "I'm not interested, Fern, you know, where my heart is. ”

Rui put down the teacup in his hand and stared sternly into Ferne's eyes. "Remember, Fern, don't measure a girl's affection for you by anything of value, don't even try, don't even once. The mage picked up the teacup again. "Forget it just now, don't take it as an example. Also, I think Stan, like Fern, need to hit your heads properly with a hard walnut cane. ”

Tillin laughed from the side. "Come, let me, a married man, teach you some tips on how to deal with women. And you, Cremens, come and listen, and you'll thank me in a short time. ”

The four men drove Rui to Ness and Quiai, and laughed by the fire. Rui shook her head and sat down next to Ness, checking on her.

"You're Rui, Fern told me about you, Moses' apprentice, the sober Shadow Mage. Queai put down the branch in his hand.

"That's right, Shadow...... Thank you, Mage, for your help in escaping Talheim. Rui smiled slightly.

Queai shrugged. "It was Hessey's orders, and I just did what he said. ”

Rui looked at Ness again. "Her mana has suddenly increased a lot, did she get some magic weapon?"

"Yes, the ring, you got it in the source of magic. Quiai quietly looked at Rui's finger, but found that there was no ring.

"I see, so you also taught her how to channel the magic in the ring?"

"Yes, although there are always some problems with the first use, like she is now, but she is doing pretty well. Quiai squeezed out a smile.

"The ring is such a good thing. Rui subconsciously touched his finger, and there was nothing on it.

"A ring is just a magic weapon, not a must, and some mages can cast powerful magic without a ring. ”

"Thank you. Rui gave Quiai a smile again.

"By the way, is that Ness's wand? Fern and I mentioned that you exchanged wands. Quiai caught a glimpse of the wand on Rui's belt and remembered something.

"Yes. Rui hesitated, but took his wand off his belt.

"Fern said it seemed to attract the Dark Tide, or that the Demon could sense it, which was a big threat to us. Quiai looked at the green gem. "I can put an enchantment on it that blocks anything that might attract demons. ”

"Enchantment, do you have enchantment magic?" Rui looked at the mage in front of him in surprise.

"Of course, I'm a student of Hessey, the recognized authority on enchantment magic in the Mage Tower. Quiai curled the corners of his mouth triumphantly, took the wand from Rui's hand, and thrust the end into the dirt. She then took off the pouch from her belt, carefully poured some sand-like dust out of it, and grabbed it in her other hand. "It's magic dust, and the enchantment mage always carries it with him. ”

Rui had never seen the process of casting enchantment magic with his own eyes, and he watched it curiously. I saw Quiai clench the magic dust in his hand, pull his hand into a fist, and then slowly scatter it around the erected wand until the wand is completely surrounded by dust in the middle, without a single gap.

Then the mage began to chant the incantation, and with the sound of the incantation, the dust on the ground began to glow blue, reflecting the gems on the wand. Finally, when Quiai finished the incantation, and all the dust lost its light at the same moment, she pulled her wand from the ground and returned it to Rui's hand. "It's done, no one can feel it anymore unless they can crack my barrier. Kuiai said, winking at Rui triumphantly.

Ray held his wand incredulously, but didn't feel any difference. "Thanks, Quiai, this has helped us a lot, otherwise I don't know when the dark tide would have popped up again. ”

Queai continued to sharpen his bow and arrows. "I can imagine that you are like a bright star in the dark night sky, and it is really difficult for you. ”

Rui smiled self-deprecatingly. "But we still survived, albeit with some sacrifices. She thought of the three Sara soldiers who had died, and a bitterness welled in her heart.