The relative safety of the environment allowed Fern to let his guard down, and the fatigue of the day's journey finally rested, and when he woke up, it was almost noon. Queai was sitting at the head of the bed looking at the mercenary, and when he suddenly opened his eyes and realized his actions, he shyly lowered his head.

"How's the rest, Queey?" said Fern yawning, if he hadn't had something to investigate, he'd have slept all day.

Queai looked up at him tenderly. "I'm well rested, Fern, and I'm so relieved to have you around. ”

Fern smiled and climbed out of the covers, put on his coat, and prepared to go out. "Let's go downstairs for lunch, if Karina's prediction is correct, we're running out of time. ”

Quiai nodded and got out of bed, her white nightdress smooth and soft, showing off the girl's white and delicate skin. Fern didn't dare to look in the direction where the girl was, fearing that he would not be able to control himself at the first glance, so he walked out of the room with his head down, leaving Queai alone in the room.

The tavern on the ground floor was unexpectedly quiet, with only a few people at the three tables except for Clayte, who was leaning against the gate, which was completely impossible in normal times, and the tavern was always full of people at lunchtime.

Hearing Fern walking down the stairs, the proprietress greeted her. "Looks like you really had a good night's sleep last night, are you satisfied with the best room in the store?" he said, smiling ill-willedly.

Fern glanced at Clayter and sat down at a nearby table. "Why is business so bad today? Where have all the people gone?"

Instead of answering right away, Clay glanced out the door, which made Fern frown. "What's wrong, what's wrong?"

"You woke up late, you must not have heard of it. Clay leaned in close to Fern. "Refugees are fleeing from the west in the early hours of this morning, claiming to be Tarun, and the Dark Tide has taken over and seems to be continuing to the east. ”

"What about them? I want to ask them personally. Fern asked solemnly, though he had already learned about the Dark Tide's movements from Karina, but was still shocked to hear that this was the case.

Clayter shook his head and said, "They all ran away, they just asked for some food and continued to flee east, I think they are tired enough, but none of them want to stay here for a minute longer, and they are still trying to persuade us to get out of here quickly." ”

"That's natural, normal people who have seen the dark tide will never want to see them again. Fern picked up the teapot on the table and drank it.

"It's not just the refugees, but a lot of people here who started to leave after hearing the news, and it was still night, so not many people left. Clay sighed. "But when the day dawned, the news got out, and people left in batches, even my two hostesses ran away, and Rina didn't forget to say goodbye to me before leaving, and Sally simply disappeared without even showing her face, I guess she must have been frightened. ”

Fern finished his water and hiccuped. "Clayte, I suggest you leave as soon as possible, just take the gold and a few clothes with you, so that you can run faster, but don't let the dark tide catch up with you. ”

"But this tavern ......," Clay looked around, his eyes full of reluctance.

"When the Dark Tide comes, you'll regret that you didn't run away, and believe me, I've fought the Dark Tide several times. Fern looked at Clayter earnestly. "Get me some lunch, and then I'll clean up and go. ”

Clayt didn't say anything more, she had already seen that Fern was not an ordinary mercenary, and she knew that he was telling the truth, and that it was the best advice now.

Soon after, Quiai also went downstairs, and after the two of them had finished their lunch, they walked along a bleak street towards the Mage Tower, and from time to time there were apprentices who had wrapped themselves tightly in the direction of the Mage Tower, and ran towards the east.

The two guards stood guard in front of the gate of the Mage Tower, and it was obvious that they did not want to stand here at all, but wanted to escape with the others.

Seeing Fern and Quiai approaching, the guards stopped them. "You are not allowed to enter the Mage Tower without permission. ”

Queai stepped out from behind Fern. "We just want to go into my room, I'm the mage here. ”

"I'm sorry, but this is Etiyèsz's order. One of the guards bowed to Quiai, but didn't get out of the way.

"You should know what's going on here, why are you staying here? I think a lot of your colleagues have already run away. Fern asked.

The other guard looked at the mercenary solemnly. "The Great Sage will defend the Mage Tower, if it can't be held here, then where else can the whole Wallis hold?"

"Then there's no need to gamble with your own life. Fern shrugged, abandoning his intention of entering the Mage's Tower, and turned to leave, with Quiai following him and turning away.

The guards behind them looked at each other, and the two were silent for dozens of seconds, and finally left their posts and disappeared.

Fern walked aimlessly around the town, observing the movements of the fleeing people, and Queai followed silently.

The streets are sparsely populated, and almost all the shops are closed, and the doors are closed. Along the way, Fern only saw a grocery store still open, and the old man who watched the store squinted and sat motionless in the corner, not knowing whether he was completely unaware of his current situation, or if he knew that he was unable to escape.

The two of them walked to the west gate of Lot, the setting sun hung low in the sky, as red as blood, and the cold wind blew across the road, raising yellow dust. Even then, there were still refugees fleeing from the west, either on horseback, in carts, or on foot, all with their belongings on their backs, all with fear in their eyes. They quickly passed by Fern as if the two men standing at the gate did not exist, and then hurried east.

As the sun had set, Fern and Quiai had returned to the cheerful whistle, and Clay had gone, the wooden door of the tavern was hidden. Fern pushed the door open, and the tavern wasn't empty, Karina was sitting with two of her bodyguards, simple food on the table.

Seeing Fern and Queai walk in, Karina smiled slightly. "Come and get some food, and get a good night's sleep, for the rest of the battle will be hard, and then you won't have a chance to rest, and it's up to you to make it out alive. ”

Fern walked over to the table and sat down. "If you can predict when the dark tide will hit here, but you can't predict if we will be able to leave safely?"

"There are some people I can't foresee, like you. Karina looked at the mercenary with interest. "The people around you are also unpredictable. ”

"Didn't you predict for yourself?" Fern glanced at the table, picked up the flask and filled the glass in front of him.

"Astrologers are not prophets. Karina leaned back in her chair. 'I need to take a break and when the big game comes, we have to give it our all. ”

Queai closed the door to the tavern, and there was no other source of light in the room except for the candles on the table, and the mage walked over to Fern and sat down. "There aren't many mages in the Mage Tower, and Lot's guards are simply vulnerable in the face of the dark tide, why are you still here, and it seems that you mean to join the battle?"

"This is the center of Wallis's magic, and the battle here will be a good experience, and I have to stay here and experience it for myself. Karina slowly closed her eyes. "As a mage, you should also fill your stomach as soon as possible, and then close your eyes and meditate to regain all your mental power when the battle begins. ”

Quiai tried to say something, but Fern held him down, so he picked up the bread on the table and ate it. The mercenary drains the wine from the glass, then fills it up again. "According to your predictions, when will the Dark Tide arrive?"

Karina's eyes were still closed, and she said slowly for a long time, "When the thickest darkness comes, that is when the dark tide comes. ”