Robert and Calamon immediately leapt to their feet and stood in front of the man's tortured body, both of them feeling that Scarlet Moon should not be allowed to see this horrific sight.

Stone continued the ritual, but was pulled back to reality and withdrew the sword he was about to stab. Crimson Moon stood silently, her tall, thin figure facing the golden gate of the temple. Robert was about to speak, when he felt the mage grasp him with those cold hands.

He trembled involuntarily and shook off Rodrith's hand in disgust.

"Do as she says. The mage hissed. "Bring him to her. ”

Robert couldn't help but blush angrily as he looked at Rodrith's expressionless face and his indifferent eyes.

"Bring him to her," said Rodrith coldly, "and we have no right to decide whether this man deserves to die or not. Everything is God's will. ”

The spell "Fifteen Feet Radius Darkness Spell" is cast here, which can create a dense darkness that cannot be penetrated, and the infrared vision will not work under the influence of the spell. It negates the effects of "Illumination" or "Continuous Illumination".

The materials required for this spell are some bat hair and a drop of asphalt or coal. However, most of them don't need materials to help them cast spells, and their own abilities are enough to cast spells on their own.

Dragons – Dragons are almost creatures born with Candela, so they are an entity that transcends other creatures.

Due to their great ability and large body, almost all living beings will have a feeling of despair and helplessness when facing them, and will react slowly at a slight rate, or even immobilize the enemy, or even fall into a state of madness and irrationality. Even the most valiant warriors will inevitably take a big hit in combat power when facing dragons. This natural aura can be said to be the greatest weapon of the dragon clan to surrender without a fight.

Robert looked at Rodlis, and he couldn't see the slightest emotion. The two men looked at each other, and Robert, as much as he had ever believed, that the mage could see many things he couldn't see. Suddenly, Robert knew his strong hatred for Rodres, hating him for being so indifferent, but secretly feeling envy.

"We've got to do something!" Stone said angrily. "He's not dead yet, and the dragon might come back. ”

"Good," said Robert, his voice only swirling in his throat. "Wrap him in a blanket...... But first, let me be alone with Scarlet Moon for a while. ”

The half-elf walked slowly across the square. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the darkness. He slowly walked up the marble staircase to the golden platform in front of the door where Scarlet Moon stood. Looking back quietly, Robert saw that his companions were making a stretcher out of blankets and bark from their backpacks, and in the moonlight the man's body looked like a distorted black shadow.

"Bring him here, Robert. The half-elf walked up to Crimson Moon and heard her repeat. He took her hand.

"Scarlet Moon," said Robert, "the river wind hurts badly. He's dying, and you can't help - even a crystal wand wouldn't work. ”

"Shhhhh Scarlet Moon said softly. The half-elf fell silent, and for the first time he looked closely at her face. But he was surprised to find that the plainman's expression was very quiet, serene, and even a little radiant. The look on her face was like that of a sailor who had just weathered a treacherous storm and finally returned to calm water.

"Come into the temple. My friend. Scarlet Moon said, her beautiful eyes looking directly at Robert. "Come in, bring the river breeze. ”

Scarlet Moon didn't hear the dragon's attack, let alone the river breeze's attack. As soon as they entered the plaza of the Lone Dragon's Lair, she felt a strange force draw her into the temple. She walked through the rubble and up the stairs, standing in front of the temple with only the golden glow of the temple's door.

Then she sensed the commotion behind her, and heard the river breeze calling to her, "Scarlet Moon ......" She stopped, unwilling to leave her companion, knowing in her heart that an unspeakable evil was about to rise from the well.

"Come in, my child. A soft voice called out to her.

Scarlet Moon looked up at the door with tears in her eyes. It was her mother's voice. Kikyo, the goddess of the Quesus tribe, died a long time ago, when Scarlet Moon was just a child.

"Kikyo?" asked Scarlet Moon, crying. "Mother—"

"My daughter, you have been through many years of sorrow," her mother's voice was as clear as her mind, "but I am afraid that you will not be able to let go of your burden for the time being. If you go down, you will come out of the darkness in front of you and into deeper darkness.

Only the truth can illuminate your path, though you may feel that its light is so faint in the endless night ahead...... But without the guidance of the truth, everything will be reduced to nothingness. Daughter, come into the temple with me, and you'll find what you've been looking for. ”

"But my friends, and the river bree......ze," Scarlet Moon looked back at the river breeze staggering across the cracked ground. "They are powerless against such evil. Without me, they would have died. The Crystal Staff can help! I can't leave them!" She began to turn away as the darkness created by the spell descended.

"I can't see them anymore...... River Breeze ...... Mother, help me," she cried helplessly.

No one answered. It's not fair!, Scarlet Moon clenched her fists and screamed silently. We never wanted to be like this! We just wanted to love each other, and now -- we may lose it now! We have sacrificed so much and yet nothing has changed.

I'm thirty years old, mother, thirty years old and no children. They have deprived me of my youth and exterminated my people. But I was powerless to retaliate. I have nothing - except it!, she shook her crystal staff. Now I have to pay even more!

Her anger subsided. Has River Breeze been angry for so many years in the process of searching for answers?

He had to find the crystal staff, but it only caused more problems. No, he wouldn't, she thought. His faith is very strong, and I am really weak-willed. River Breeze is willing to sacrifice for his beliefs. It seems that I must be strong to survive - even without the love of him.

Crimson Moon leaned against the golden door, the cold metal making her more sober. She made a painful decision with reluctance. I will go forward, Mother—though the river wind dies, my heart will die with it. But I only ask for one thing: if he dies, no matter what method is used, let him know that I will continue to fulfill his mission.

Leaning on the crystal staff, the chief of the Quesus tribe opened the golden door and entered the temple. When the dragon leaped out of the well, the door behind her was shut.

Scarlet Moon stepped into complete darkness. At first, she couldn't see anything, but the warm embrace of her mother reappeared in her mind. A pale light gradually lit up around her. Scarlet Moon saw that she was beneath a massive dome, with carefully paved tiles on the floor.

Under the dome, in the center of the room, stands a noble and beautiful marble statue. The light in the room was released from her.

Scarlet Moon walked towards her in a daze. The statue is a woman in a flowing robe, and her face has an expression that shone with hope but with endless sadness. She had a strange amulet around her neck.

"This is Mishakai, the goddess of medicine I believe in," her mother's voice said. "My daughter, listen to what she says!"

Scarlet Moon stood in front of the statue in a daze, intoxicated by her beauty. But she seems to have a flawed flaw and is not finished. Part of the statue is missing, and Scarlet finally discovers that her marble arm is bent.

Originally, she seemed to be holding a slender pole, but now her hands were empty. Involuntarily, she put the crystal staff back in her hand.

It starts emitting a soft blue light. Scarlet Moon took a step back in surprise. The scepter's glow grew stronger. Scarlet Moon covered her eyes and involuntarily knelt down. A flood of love welled up in her heart, and she was ashamed of her anger.

"Don't be ashamed of your doubts, dear believer. It is your doubts that have led you to us, and your anger that will sustain you on the bumpy road ahead. You have come for the truth, and you will find the truth. ”

"The gods have never given up on their people—it is the world that has turned their backs on the true God. Candela will face the most severe test, and humanity will need the truth more than ever. You, my believer, must bring back to earth the power and knowledge of the true God.

It's also time to restore the balance of the universe. Evil has gone over one end of the scale. For when the good God returns, evil also descends on the earth—devouring the soul of man with hunger and thirst. Darkness has descended, looking for a way to ravage the world once again. The dragon, banished to the underworld, will also return to the earth. ”

Dragon, Scarlet Moon thought in a daze. It was difficult for her to understand the meaning of the word. It was only later that she fully understood the content of these words. She would remember those words forever in the days to come.

"To find the power to defeat them, you will need the knowledge of the gods—the 'most precious gift' you know. Beneath this temple, in the ruins of the glory of the past, there are discs made of white gold, the Disc of Mishakai, and if you find these white gold discs, you can call upon my power, the power of the goddess of medicine, Mishakai. ”

"Your future is fraught with danger. Wicked gods fear the truth. An ancient one named Gisaith, known as Black Onyx, guards the platinum plate. Her lair is in the lair city of the Lone Earth Dragon beneath our feet. If you choose to take the Ash Platinum Dish, your future will be full of danger. So I will bless this crystal staff with divine power. Hold it carefully, don't doubt that you will overcome all obstacles. ”

The voice was gone, and Scarlet Moon heard the screams of the river wind dying at this time.

Robert walked into the temple and felt as if he had stepped into a memory. The sun shone on the trees of Quilenos, and he lay on the riverbank with Lolana and her brother Gilthenus, sharing their dreams after the game.

A happy childhood was short-lived for Robert - the half-elf knew early on that he was different from everyone else. But it was an afternoon of warm sunshine and camaraderie. The serenity of his memory washed away his sorrow.

He turned to Scarlet Moon, who was standing quietly behind him. "Where is this?"

"I'll tell you later," Scarlet replied. She gently took Robert's hand and walked across the gleaming floor until they stood in front of the glorious statue of Mishachai. The light of the blue crystal staff shone on them.

When Robert opened his mouth and looked in surprise, a shadow suddenly cast over the room.

He and Crimson turned to the door. Calamon and Stone walked through the door, and between them was a makeshift stretcher lying in the river breeze. Hubble and Wade—the dwarves looked old and sad, while the kanders hid their faces with unusually sad expressions, their hands crossed in their robes—as if they were a grim reaper.

They crossed the marble floor, their steps heavy with their hearts, and the group stopped in front of Scarlet Moon and Robert. Robert looked at the body at Scarlet Moon's feet and closed his eyes. Blood soaked the blanket and stained the fabric in large black stains.

"Open the blanket," Scarlet Moon ordered. Calamon looked at Robert pleadingly.

"Scarlet Moon—" Robert said softly.

Suddenly, before anyone could stop him, Rodrith bent down and lifted the blood-stained blanket.

Seeing River Wind's tortured body, Scarlet Moon couldn't help but let out a low cry, her face turned pale, and her whole body was shaky, and Robert reached out to support her. But Scarlet Moon, a woman born into a strong, proud people, barely swallowed her saliva and continued to breathe deeply. Then she turned to the marble statue, carefully picked up the crystal staff from the goddess's hand, and knelt beside River Breeze.

"River breeze," she whispered. "My love. Holding out a trembling hand, she gently stroked her dying lover's forehead. The miserable face turned to her, as if to hear her call.

A charred hand twitched weakly, as if trying to touch her. Then he let out a long breath and stood still. Crimson Moon placed the crystal staff on River Wind's body, and tears poured out like a spring.

A soft blue light illuminates the entire hall. Those who were exposed to the blue light all felt refreshed, and the torture and pain of the days were far away from their bodies, like the sun piercing through the fog. Then the scepter's glow faded and slowly extinguished. Night reigned over the hall, leaving only the light from the statue.

Robert blinked, trying to adjust the focus of his eyes in the dark. He heard a deep voice.

"Crimson Moon ......"

He heard Scarlet Moon screaming excitedly. Robert found the place where the corpse should have been lying on the ground, but a plainman sat up and stretched out his hands to Scarlet Moon. She threw herself at him, crying and laughing.

The magic brings the river breeze back to life, and although Rodrith is cold by nature, he will also use his compassion when it comes to life-and-death situations.

"That's it," Scarlet Moon told them, at the end of the story. "We must find our way to the ruined city beneath the temple, and we must also retrieve the Platinum Disc from the dragon's lair. ”

They were sitting on the floor of the temple hall, eating a simple dinner.

Soon they found the entire building empty, and nothing they had learned except for the footprints of some dragonmen that Calamon had found near the staircase, and the footprints of some other creatures.