"There's always been war up there! You're so curious, my dear.

There are times when I think you're going to leave me and go back to the world above, especially after talking to people who don't know why. ”

Robert heard the woman's voice with genuine concern, though she was still splashing water.

The man in the red robe bent down to kiss her damp hair, which shone green under the torch.

"No, Apollita. Let them kill each other, and let the brothers betray each other.

Let them take care of the grumpy half-elf and the stupid captain.

As long as my magic doesn't fade, I'll continue to dwell under these waves—"

"Speaking of grumpy half-elves. Robert hurried down the stairs, interrupting in Elven language.

Although Riverwind, Scarlet Moon, and Belclere didn't know what he said, they followed along.

The man turned his head alarmingly, and the elf quickly sank into the water, making Robert think that it was nothing more than his own delusion.

There weren't even bubbles on the dark water, and it was impossible to see where the elves were.

Robert ran to the bottom of the stairs, just in time to grab onto the red-robed mage who jumped into the water.

"Wait! I didn't want to eat you!" Robert pleaded. "I'm sorry for being so rude over there.

I know it looks bad, and it's sneaky stalking you.

But we don't have a choice! I know there's no way I'm going to stop you if you're going to cast a spell.

I know you can envelop me in flames, hide me in cobwebs, or hundreds of other horrible things.

I used to hang out with magicians.

But please listen to us, please help us. I heard you mention two of our friends: a strong man and a pretty red-haired girl.

You say the man almost died, and his brother betrayed him. We want to find them.

Can you tell us where they are now?"

The man hesitated for a moment.

Robert hurriedly continued to try to keep it, the only person who could help them, and in his hurry said a lot of words.

"I saw the woman, and I heard her talking to you. I know what she is.

A sea elf, yes! You're right.

I'm half-elf, but I grew up in the realm of elves, and I've heard their legends.

I always thought they were just legends, just as I also thought dragons were legends. ”

There is indeed a war up there, and you're right, there's always a war up there.

But this war will not be fought only on the ground. If Darkness conquers the ground after that, you'll know she'll continue to find the sea elves below.

I don't know if there's a dragon down there, but—"

"There's a dragon in the sea, half-elf," a voice said, and the elven woman reappeared on the water's surface, reflecting silver and green radiance.

She swam to the stairs, her hand on her chin, and looked at them with her big green eyes. "We've also heard that they've suddenly reappeared.

But we don't believe it. We didn't know the dragon had woken up yet. Whose fault is this?"

"Is this important?" asked Robert, tiredly. "They have destroyed the elves' ancient homeland.

Sivanasti, now a forest of nightmares.

Wellington has been evicted from his homeland. The dragons burned and slaughtered without restraint.

Nowhere is no place and no one is safe. After darkness, there is only one goal: to rule all creatures.

Will you be safe? Even below the surface? I'm assuming this is the bottom of the sea. ”

"You're not wrong, half-elf," the red-robed man sighed.

"You are under the sea, in the ruins of Ista.

The sea elves have rescued you and brought you here, just as they have dealt with all the shipwrecked people.

I know where your friends are, and I can take you there. Other than that, I don't see anything I can do to help. ”

"Get us out of here," River Breeze said, understanding the conversation between the two for the first time.

Sebra just spoke the lingua franca. "Who is this woman, Robert?

She looks like she has elven blood. ”

"She's a sea elf. Her name is ......" Robert paused.

"Apollita," said the elven woman with a smile. "Forgive me for not being able to greet you officially, but we don't cover ourselves with clothes like you human elves.

Even after all these years, I still can't convince my husband not to put on that strange robe when he sets foot on land. He called this dignity.

So I have to be rude and not come out of the water to greet you, so as not to embarrass everyone. “

With a red face, Robert translated the elf's words to his friend. Scarlet Moon's eyes widened.

Berclere didn't seem to hear, he seemed to be lost in his dreams again, barely aware of what was going on around him.

River Breeze's expression did not change, and the customs of the elves could no longer scare him.

"Regardless, these sea elves saved us," Robert continued.

"Like all elves, they respect life and will help anyone who is shipwrecked.

This man, her husband—"

"Sebra," he held out his hand.

"I'm Robert, the half-elf, and these two are Riverwind and Crimson Moon of the Quissu Clan, and Belcleral, uh-" Robert stammered, unsure how to continue.

Apollita smiled politely, but her smile quickly faded. "Sebra,"

She said, "Find those two friends mentioned by the half-elves and bring them back here." ”

"We can go with you," Robert said kindly. "If you think I'm going to swallow you, then Calamon is more-"

"No," Apollita said, shaking her head. Moisture shone in her hair and blushing skin.

"Let those two barbarians go, half-elves, you stay here. I'm going to talk to you and know a little bit more about the war that could endanger us.

It makes me sad to hear that the dragons have woken up. If this is true, I'm afraid you're right.

We're not safe here anymore. ”

"I'll be back soon, dear," Sebra said.

Apollita reached out to her husband. He took her hand and gently brought it to his lips.

Then he left. Robert quickly translates their conversation to Riverbreeze and Scarlet Moon, and the two immediately agree to go together to find Lena and Calamon.

As they follow Sebra down the ruined streets of Istta, he tells them the story of the fall of Ishtar, pointing to different buildings along the way.

"You see—" he explained, "when the gods threw the burning mountain towards Klaith, it hit Ista right now, forming a great cavity in the ground.

The sea water quickly poured in, creating what would become known as the Sea of Blood. Many of the buildings on Ishtar were destroyed, but some remained.

Some places still have some air. The sea elves found that this was the perfect place for drowning people to live, and many of the victims gradually got used to the place. ”

The pride in the mage's tone made Scarlet Moon feel amused, and she politely didn't express it.

That tone was exclusive pride, as if he owned the whole ruin, and he arranged it to be displayed in front of the public.

"But you're human, you're not a sea elf. How did you end up living here?" asked Scarlet Moon.

The magician smiled, his eyes going back to years ago. "I was young and greedy!"

"I always want to find a way to develop quickly," he said softly.

My magic has led me to the bottom of the ocean in search of Ishtar's lost treasure.

I did find treasure, but not gold or silver. ”

"One evening I saw Apollita, swimming freely in the sea.

I saw her before she noticed me, before she could change form. I fell in love with her...... And pursue her.

She couldn't live on the sea, and I knew I couldn't get any more comfortable on it after all the years I had lived here peacefully.

But I still like to talk to you once in a while, so I'll often wander through the ruins to see who the sea elves have saved. ”

Scarlet Moon looked at her surroundings, and Sebra took the opportunity to catch her breath. "Where is the legendary temple of the Pope?" she asked.

A shadow crossed the mage's face. The old joy is now replaced by anger and regret, and endless sadness.

"I'm sorry," Scarlet Moon said quickly. "I didn't mean to bring back your memories......"

"No, it's okay," Sebra smiled briefly, sadly.

"In fact, it's good to be able to reminisce about that horrible time.

In my daily wanderings, I try to forget that this was once a city of laughter, crying, and living.

Children frolicked in the streets, still playing when the burning mountains landed. ”

He paused for a moment, then sighed and continued.

"You ask me where the temple is. It's no longer there. Where the Pope stood, where he yelled unjustifiably at the gods, now only a pitch-black cavern remained.

Although it is now full of seawater, there is still no living creature that dares to live there.

No one knew how deep it was, as the sea elves were reluctant to go near that place.

I had looked at the cave with fear, and I found that the place seemed to have no bottom, as if it were an outlet for darkness and evil. ”

The endless dark abyss has once again descended on this originally peaceful land. The sea elves were clearly very worried about what was happening on the ground now, and their lips were cold.

Therefore, if you want the sea elves at the bottom of the sea to be free from the disruption of war, you must completely crush the evil plan after the darkness.

"If you really want to get back to the surface, there's no way to do it. The red-robed mage looked at them with a serious face, thinking inwardly what to do next.