The decision was still made by Shade and the witch. The brown-haired witch looked at the two cats lying together:
"We can't all keep watch, otherwise if we encounter an enemy like the one-eyed Balrog on the third day, it will be very troublesome to fight."
"You come to keep watch. If I really encounter danger at night, I won't be of much use in this state."
Xia De made a very rational judgment, so the witch nodded and looked at the other two men:
"My maid Clara will take a rest tonight. One of you two will stay with me to keep watch."
The bard and the old knight looked at each other, and the old knight said:
"My character's stamina is very low. If I don't sleep tonight, I'm worried that more things will be delayed on the third day."
The bard nodded in understanding:
"Then I'll keep watch."
"Then I'll draw the card this time."
The cat stretched out its claws, but was stopped by the god:
“This is a story that must happen when traveling on the water. There is no need to choose the events.”
The cat's paws retracted onto the cushion, and then it pushed away Xiaomia again.
"The travelers made their judgment. After dinner, the unicorn and the parrot stayed on the deck, while the old horse, the loyal dog, and the traveler under the moon returned to the cabin. It was already late at night. The surging tide was the only sound between heaven and earth. In the distance of the water that could not be illuminated by any light, it seemed as if something was waving at you. Fear, boundless fear swept over at this moment. That was the ultimate darkness, that was the light and shadow that represented the end. You all saw a ray of silver light rising from the distant end of the water, and then, the huge silver moon half-sunken under the water appeared in your eyes."
"What?"
This familiar description made the cat that Shade transformed into stand up from the cushion. At the same time, the temperature in the forest, which was already extremely cold, suddenly dropped to freezing point. What was even more serious was that the coldness that seemed to be able to freeze the bone marrow was gradually involving everyone's soul. Except for Shade and Xiaomia, the other four people froze and trembled.
Above the card pile, the cards automatically turned over, and then the silver moon half-sunken under the dark water was revealed.
"Ming Yue!"
Shade told them what they saw at the moment, and the witch, who was gritting her teeth to resist the erosion of the breath of death, also realized what Shade said:
"The legendary destiny that guides death? So... we are heading for the end? This is a journey to death?"
"No, I found out about this boatman. His role is to accept souls paid by people and lead them to where they want to go. Only under extremely low probability will he... Oh, no, it's now!"
Obviously, the probability is extremely low now. Xia De looked at Xiaomia worriedly. Fortunately, the cat emitted a soft warm yellow light to protect itself, just like in the "City of Eternal Night".
Shade said:
"The bone-chilling cold awakened the three people in the cabin. The traveler under the moon rushed out of the cabin first and saw the dark moon."
After saying this, he looked at the god, who did not object to his action this time:
"Yes, everyone came to the deck and saw the half-moon. The well-informed travelers pointed out what it was, and you were horrified to find that perhaps the seven-day journey would end here."
"I want... ... "
Xia De wanted to say that he wanted to communicate with the boatman, but the god shook his head and signaled not to rush:
"Seeing the moon that guides death, the fog that originally spread over the water surface gradually dispersed. You saw that countless transparent figures were calmly facing the moon, and together with your boat, they were walking towards the final end on the water surface."
The gods described the fog dispersing, but in reality it was the mist in the forest that invaded the small camp. At the same time, translucent white shadows appeared around the people sitting around along with the thick fog.
"You each saw some familiar souls, and travelers need to pass the judgment. If you cannot pass the judgment due to longing and emotion, then you will not be able to leave."
As the god's words fell, she and the tent disappeared into the mist. Everyone felt the ground shaking, and then realized that they were on the boat. Only the bonfire remained, guiding their souls not to set foot on the way of the dead.
This time, they did not transform into the characters corresponding to their cards, and except for Shade, they were still in human form. Fortunately, Mingyue did not really appear in the distance, so far this is really just a story.
Although the god said the word "judgment", this story was more real than the life gamble and dice story collection that Shade had experienced. The figures surrounding the ship gradually showed different appearances in the eyes of the five people.
Shad, who was pressed against Mia, also looked around. In the place where "real death" existed, the concept of time and space did not exist. That was to say, even though it was only the early Fifth Era, he could still see the souls that would die in the future.
He was curious about who he could see, and the face of the figure in front of him gradually became clear, taking off his hat and looking at him helplessly, was indeed that gentleman:
"Detective Sparrow Hamilton, I swear, at least this time, I didn't mean to disturb you! This time it was an accident!"
Shad hastily assured, before realizing that speaking in cat form, Detective Sparrow might not be able to recognize him.
But the former detective did not show any doubt. He pressed his hat against his translucent chest and nodded helplessly:
"I know. I know."
Although he stood still, he looked vague because of the swirling fog around him:
"I really don't know what you've been doing since I died... I don't understand what's going on, but just tell me something, otherwise neither you nor I can leave."
Xia De nodded, and then Mia rubbed him again. It was because of this action that he suddenly had an idea, and he widened his eyes and asked:
"Have you ever seen Miss Mia San Gold in her lifetime? In person?"
"What? Oh, yes, of course."
Detective Sparrow said this as he put his tall black silk hat back on, pulling the front down slightly to cover the upper half of his face.
"Could you describe that lady to me, then?"
Shade asked hurriedly, and Detective Sparrow's figure was getting fainter and fainter. The stranger didn't miss the deceased "uncle" very much, and Detective Sparrow didn't miss Shade who disturbed him repeatedly. The longing and bond between the two was very weak:
"I want to think about how to describe it: as warm as the sun, as gentle as the earth, as quiet as the silver moon, and as holy as the statues in the church."
As the words fell, Detective Sparrow also disappeared in the fog. Shade quickly wrote down the detective's description, feeling that it was extremely strange:
"Wait, is this really a description of a human being? Sparrow Hamilton is the ace agent of the Gray Gloves, his description should be very rigorous."
Thinking in his mind, he pushed Xiaomia, who was leaning too close to him, with his paw, and then went to check on the others.
As expected, Shade finished the fastest, and the second fastest was the bard. He was waving at the figure with a cane in the distance, then wiped his tears and nodded slightly to Shade.
The middle-aged man showed a vicissitudes of life on his face:
"We always have to face death. Life and death are the farthest distance."
Afterwards, the witch and the maid in black dress, Clara, also said goodbye to the departing souls. Neither of them chose to stay because of their attachment to the dead.
But the last old knight was different. Under everyone's gaze, the fog that had deliberately avoided the boat deck invaded the deck. As two souls whose faces no one else could see walked to the deck and stood with the old knight, the fog also entangled the old knight.
He was not surprised, but laughed in relief. He hugged the two souls for a long time before turning around and looking at the others apologetically:
"I'm sorry, but I probably can't go on with you guys."
Everyone here knows what this means.
"Have you really thought about it? You know what this means."
The bard advised:
"I know you lost your wife and children, but there is more to life than just..."
But the old knight smiled and shook his head:
"I wanted to return home after years of war. Since my wife and daughter are long dead, there is no need for me to go back. I know there is more to life, but I am too old and I can't walk anymore."
He took a step back and truly stood with the two souls:
"Now that they are by my side, I think it's time for me to leave. This life has been so tiring."
Xia De looked at him and said nothing. As long as it did not harm others, he respected everyone's choice. The witch sighed softly, and she only gave a final warning:
"It's not just about leaving for a trip, it means you're really leaving."
"I see."
The old knight nodded slightly, then bowed to the place where the god originally existed:
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity to see them again. I have indeed found what I wanted during this journey. Thank you, praise the God of Journey, and may you protect us who are lost."
He held the hands of the two figures with his own hands, nodded to everyone for the last time, and then followed the two white figures off the boat, walking along the dark water surface, and into the distance of the fog.
A silver light appeared in the distance of the fog. Fortunately, before the dark moon really rose, the fog gradually dissipated, the light of the campfire enveloped the small camp, and the figure of the god appeared again.
No one spoke, because the old knight was no longer among the people sitting around. The bard beside him stared at the empty cushion in a daze, sighed, and reluctantly accepted the fact that his companion had disappeared.