The dwarves and half-elves finally squeezed past the long line of people in front of the bar, and the table where Calamon sat leaned against the trunk of a tree. Robert didn't understand why the rest of the furnishings were completely unchanged, and Otick had the only one who had placed the table in this strange position.

But soon, he forgot about it completely, because it was his turn to accept the big warrior's embrace. Robert hurriedly removed the longbow and quiver he was carrying behind his back, so as not to be crushed to pieces by Calamon.

"Old friend!" Calamon's eyes looked slightly moist. He seemed too agitated to speak. Robert was equally speechless, but it was all because Calamon's arms were holding him almost suffocating.

"Where's Edward?" he asked, relieved. The twins will never be separated.

"Over there. Calamon nodded at the end of the table. Then he frowned.

"It's just that he's changed. The warrior warned Robert, with an unhappy mood in his tone.

The half-elf looked at the irregular shape of the trunk itself, which was shrouded in shadow, and for a brief moment he could not see anything because of the light of the furnace. Then, beside the warm fire, he caught a glimpse of a figure still cowering in a red robe. The cloak obscured his face.

Robert suddenly felt reluctant to speak to the young magician alone, but Wade ran to find the waitress, and Hubble was picked up from the floor by Calamon. Robert had no choice but to walk to the other end of the table.

"Rodrith?" he asked, a wave of foreboding coming over him. The robed figure looked up. "Robert?" the man replied, pushing the hood of his robe back.

Looking at the terrifying scene in front of him, the half-elf couldn't help but gasp and take a step back.

The face that turned to him from the shadows seemed to only appear in nightmares. Changed?!Calamon was too subtle! Robert shuddered. The mage's pale skin turned a sickly gold, shimmering with a dull metallic sheen in the light of the firelight, as if he were wearing a mocking mask. The muscles of the face seemed to melt, leaving behind cheekbones that were more defined in the shadows.

The lips are like closed black lines. But what really scared Robert so much that he couldn't take his eyes off it.

Because it didn't look like the eyes of any living thing, what should have been round black pupils was replaced by an hourglass-shaped object - the blue eyes that Robert had seen now shone golden!

"Looks like my appearance scares you. Edward said hoarsely. There seemed to be a faint smile on his lips.

Robert swallowed and sat across from the young man, "Oh my God, Edward, you-"

Hubble squeezed in to Robert's side. "I've been thrown into the air more today than - Leoaks!"

Hubble's eyes widened. "Which demon made you like this? Are you cursed?" the dwarf took a breath and looked at Rodrith intently.

Calamon sat down next to his brother, picked up his ale, and looked at Edward, "Do you want to tell them?" he asked in a low voice.

"It doesn't matter. Rodlis said. His hoarse voice sent a chill through Robert's voice.

The young man whispered softly and hoarsely, as if this was the only way he could squeeze his voice out. With his long, slightly neurotic fingers, he fiddled with the barely touched food on the plate in front of him.

"Do you remember when we parted five years ago?" said Edward. "My brother and I are planning to go can't even tell you, my good friends, where we're going. ”

There seemed to be a hint of sarcasm in the soft voice. Robert bit his lower lip. Rodrith has never—never in his life—any "good friends."

"I was chosen by Sarian to be tested. Rodlis continued.

"Trial!" Robert repeated with some surprise. "But you're too young. How old are you—twenty now? Trials can only be performed by a mage who has studied in this field for many years—"

"So you can imagine how proud I was at the time," Edward said coldly, a little annoyed by the sudden interruption. "My brother and I went to that secret place, the legendary Tower of the Magi. I passed the trial there. The mage's voice lowered. "But I almost lost my life!"

Calamon choked and coughed, clearly emotionally shocked. "It's terrible!" said the big man in a trembling voice, "I found him in that horrible place, lying on the ground, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth, and I picked him up..."

"Brother, that's enough!" Rodrith's soft voice seemed to whip him. Calamon winced. Robert saw the young mage's golden eyes narrow, his fists clenched. Calamon calmed down a little, took the ale in his hand and poured it violently, looking at his brother nervously.

There is clearly a new tension between the twins......

Rodris took a deep breath and continued. "When I wake up," said the Master, "my skin will be the color of this – the mark of my trauma.

My body and my health were dismantled forever. As for my eyes, my hourglass pupils allow me to see through the passage of time – and its effects. Robert, even when I look at you," the mage whispered.

"You can see you getting old bit by bit. In my eyes, all life is like this......"

Edward's thin hands grabbed Robert's arm. The half-elf was startled by the cold touch and was about to withdraw his hand. The golden eyes and hands grabbed him quickly.

The mage's body leaned forward, his eyes shining with a frenzied light. "But I have power now," he said hoarsely, "Pa-Salian says that one day my power can change the world! ”

Robert turned his head and saw a wooden staff leaning against the trunk of a tree, within Edward's easy reach. It looks much the same as a normal wooden staff, with a golden dragon claw at the top, clutching a shiny crystal ball.

"Is it worth it?" Robert asked softly.

Rodrith glared at him, barely squeezing a smile out of his mouth. He removed his hands from Robert's arms and put them back in his sleeves. "Of course it's worth it!" said the mage, in a hoarse voice.

"Strength is what I've always wanted – and never stop looking for. He leaned back against the trunk of the tree, and the shadow cast over him again, until Robert could only see the other's golden eyes shining in the firelight.

"Have a glass of ale. Hubble said. He licked his lips, as if trying to dilute the bitterness. "Where's the Kander? Didn't he just steal the waitress—"

"Come on!" shouted Wade's cheerful voice. A tall redhead woman came up to them with a plate full of wine glasses in her hand.

Calamon smiled. "Robert," he said loudly. "Guess who this is. Hubble, you too. If you guess right, I'm in for a treat to this glass of wine!"

Finally seized the opportunity to forget about Rodrith's unhappy past, Robert carefully looked at the smiling girl. Red hair envelops her face, green eyes glow mischievously, and there are faint freckles on her cheeks and the tip of her nose. Robert remembered those eyes, but the rest of the eyes were completely unremarkable.

"I give up. "But, for us elves, human appearance changes so quickly that it is difficult for us to remember what they were." I'm one hundred and two years old, and I look like a human in my thirties. To me, it's like only 30 years have passed. When we left, the woman was a little girl. ”

"I was fourteen years old. The girl smiled and put her glass in front of them. "Calamon always said that I was ugly, and that my father would have to pay someone else to marry me off. ”

"You're Lena!" Hubble slammed his fist on the table. "You big buffalo!" he said, pointing to Calamon.

"It's not fair!" said with a smile, "She's got you covered!"

"Well, it seems that time has proven him wrong. Robert laughed, "Of all the places I've traveled, you're the most beautiful girl I've ever met." ”

Lena blushed. But then his face darkened, "and one more thing, Robert"—she pulled a cylindrical item out of her pocket—"and it's going to be given to you." A little off. ”

Robert took it with a frown. It's a black wooden scroll box with a polished finish. He pulled a document out of it and read it slowly. Seeing the familiar black handwriting, his heart began to cramp.

"This is Chitila's letter," he said softly, clearly aware that his voice no longer sounded natural.

"She can't come. ”

A period of silence followed. "This sucks," Hubble said. "The oath is broken, and it brings bad luck," he shook his head. "It's bad luck. ”

Fisdal Staff: This mahogany staff has a crystal ball on top of it held by a dragon's claw. Its actual capabilities are limited only by the holder's own abilities. When the wielding mage learns the true power of the staff, he will be able to summon great power.

Legend has it that when Shuma was traveling around, a mage named Shiloh Fisdar was by his side to help him. He also lost his life in that final battle. Legend has it that the spirit of the Mage still haunts the Fisdal Staff. Many famous mages have used this staff and have increased its abilities.

..........

Edward leaned forward. They exchanged glances with Calamon, thoughts as if they were communicating between them wordlessly. This is rare, because it is only in extremely dangerous situations that the twins between the two will be closely linked. Because Chitila is their half-sister.

Unless she was bound by other vows, Ella wouldn't break her promise casually. Rodlis spoke out loud what the two men shared.

"What did she say?" asked Calamon.

Robert hesitated and licked his dry lips. The job of ministering to her new master left her with no time to separate. She expressed her regrets and blessed everyone. Especially the ones she loved—" Robert felt a little tightness in his throat as he coughed, "her beloved brothers and—" He paused and rolled up the paper.

"That's all. ”

"Who's in love?" Wade asked excitedly. "Ouch!" he glared at Hubble, who had just stepped on him. At the same time, I noticed that Robert's face was flushing. "Oh. That's when he realized he was stupid, he said.

"Do you understand what she's saying?" Robert asked the brothers, "what's the matter with the so-called new master?"

"Who knows what Ella is thinking?" Edward shrugged his thin shoulders. "It's been five years since we last saw her in this hotel. Stone went north with her, and we haven't heard anything from her since. As for the so-called new master, I think I can probably understand why she can't keep her agreement with us: she's a mercenary after all, and she's sworn allegiance to the so-called new master. ”

"I think so. Robert admitted. He put the paper in the box and looked up at Lena, "You say something isn't right? ”

"Someone brought the letter late this morning. At least I think he's supposed to be a person. Lena shivered slightly. "He was dressed in all sorts of clothes. You can't even see your face. He spoke in a strange tone, mixed with a strange hissing sound.

He said, 'Give this to a half-elf named Robert.' I told him you hadn't been here for years. The man said, 'He will come.' And then he left. Lena shrugged.

"That's all I know. The old man sitting there saw it too. She pointed to an old man sitting by the fire, "You can ask him if he has noticed anything else peculiar." ”

Robert looked back to see an old man telling a story to a child staring blankly at the fire. Hubble patted his arm.

"This guy is new and can tell you more. The dwarf said.

"Stone!" Robert said enthusiastically, turning to face the door.

Everyone was facing the door, and he was once again cowering into the shadows, except for Rodrith.

——

As soon as the words fell, the magician tightened his black robe and began to walk in the direction of the lonely land, and when he walked a hundred meters away, he turned around and shouted, "What are you still stunned?!"

Brandon just woke up from a dream, and hurriedly urged the fighting spirit, and the silver battle aura flashed, and in an instant, he appeared beside Merlin.

The swordsman looked apologetic and said, "Merlin, which direction should we go now?"

The two stepped onto the soft ground of the desert and slowly walked towards the depths of the lonely earth.

"To be honest, I don't know exactly where it is. Merlin's answer made him unable to believe his ears, and he simply stopped.

Brandon rolled his eyes angrily and said, "Diana is still in a coma, and the scent of wind grass is the only way to wake her up. Merlin, now is not the time to joke!"

"I didn't lie to you, the Pope told me before that the Wind Whispering Grass can only be found in the dragon's lair. Merlin spread his hands and looked helpless, "Do you think I might know where the dragon is?"

"Forehead......" Brandon was speechless for a moment, and he couldn't even think of a word that could be used to refute the other party.

Merlin couldn't help but laugh when he saw the other party's reaction.

Brandon felt even more puzzled at this time, he couldn't see Merlin's true thoughts, and said angrily: "If you continue to talk like this, I'm going back to Grande." ”

"Okay, okay, I'm not going to make trouble. Merlin put away his playful gesture and his expression became serious, and said, "This is where we are going." ”

Before the words fell, a milky white light flashed in the magician's hand, and the air in front of them trembled slightly, and then a scroll of paper similar to a map appeared out of thin air.

Merlin flicked his finger and a bright spot of light appeared on the map, shining against the dark brown background.

Brandon looked in the direction Merlin was pointing, and he saw a magic mark of a pentagram around the point of light.

"This is the topographical map that His Holiness gave me, and you see, where we are. The magician looked up, his slender fingers slowly moving across the map, finally stopping at the southernmost center.

Brandon nodded, and began to look at the details of the map. The southernmost strip symbolizes the ancient Great Wall, but most of the patterns are obscure, and even Merlin himself does not know what they represent.

"How far is the dragon's lair from us?" Brandon rubbed his swollen eyes, as if he was not used to it.

Merlin sneered, and Brandon's reaction couldn't have been more normal. As soon as he saw the book, he was sleepy.

"About 1,200 miles. The magician said lightly, and with a wave of his right hand, the magic map disappeared in front of him.

"Without further ado, get there as fast as you can!" Brandon clenched his spear and gestured to Merlin.

——

At noon on the second day, the sun hung high in the sky as red as a flame, and the scorching sun scorched the endless golden desert.

Merlin and Brandon reached their destination as fast as they could, and at this moment they were less than a kilometer away from the dragon's lair.

The dragon lives in an oasis in the desert, and the two of them are sitting in the shadow of a giant tree, discussing plans to enter the dragon's lair.

Brandon was amazed by the scene in front of him, he didn't expect such a place to exist in the deserted lonely land, and he couldn't help but feel much more relaxed. Before they arrived, the road was a constant golden yellow, and lizards could occasionally be seen crawling.

In the endless desert, dotted with a striking green. And the legendary dragon inhabits this fertile hill.

"Merlin, what are we going to do next" Brandon's eyes began to blur as he looked at the waterfall rushing down the mountain in the distance.