The four adventurers stopped and looked at the river that cut the forest ahead.
Boris is standing by the river, with a pendulum hanging in each hand, the left hand is a clear crystal, and the right hand is an opal. The opal stands motionless vertically, while the clear crystal dances like a suspended painting pen.
"That's where you lost her?" asked Burris.
Sir Naylor nodded. He was standing obliquely behind the mage, and Boris couldn't see him at all. It was Estee who answered for him.
Originally, Naylor didn't accept other people in the operation at all. Estee talked with him for a long time before he agreed to let "Kraev, the best apprentice under Burris" follow him. He respects Esther's mentor very much. If "Kolev" can not only get the appreciation of the elder, but also get Esther's recommendation, then he should be a credible person.
But Lott couldn't, and Naylor had been vehemently refusing to let Lott go with him. He said that Lott's whole body was weird. Although he couldn't tell what was wrong, his whole body was full of ominous aura.
Estee secretly sighed that Otarot believers are indeed very sensitive, and the Lord of Skeletons does have an aura that is different from ordinary people, but it is difficult for ordinary people to detect.
Naylor said that he did not reject him without reason. In addition to the sense of uncertainty, he also felt that Lott was too bad a character to be trusted.
After arriving at Black Cliff Castle, Lott has been happily wandering around, showing no respect for the Knights, turning a blind eye to the icon of Otarot, and often spreading and inquiring about various gossip. I have never tortured a mage, and when I saw a teenage knight, I asked him if he had killed anyone...
In desperation, Esther had no choice but to tell Naylor: That Mr. Lotter must come along, because he is worried about Koref... His relationship with Koref is almost like the relationship between you and me.
Naylor suddenly realized. At the Wangdu ball, he saw Lot dancing with the little mage. At that time, he just thought it was strange and didn't think much about it. He thought it was because they were unpopular and had no partner.
In this way, Burris and Lott were finally accepted by Naylor. When Esther recounted the process of persuasion, Boris always had a mocking smile on his lips: We are helping you, but you still have the nerve to despise us, you really deserve to be a Knight of the Temple.
The four of them left the city in the morning and came to the outskirts and forests where Lisa had appeared. Ser Naylor led the way, retracing the areas he had scoured.
Not long ago, Naylor followed the figure of his mother to the small river in the forest. The person in front was wading across the river, and her calves and feet were exposed under the robe. It could be seen that she was indeed a woman. Naylor also waded across the river, getting closer and closer to the other party. Strangely, the mysterious figure disappeared instantly as soon as she crossed the river, and there was no trace of her in any direction. She seemed to be swallowed by the forest directly.
Burris asked: "Go on after crossing the river. Where is it?"
Naylor said: "Nothing special, just a large hilly forest. Continue west to Mount Yam, the southernmost part of the Luna Mountains."
"Have you brought your lights?" Burris asked.
"Lighting tools? It's not that dark in the forest."
"No, not in the forest." The mage moved his left hand, and the transparent crystal pendulum continued to vibrate according to a certain pattern, as if drawing something, "Sir Naylor, I know why you lost that man. The opposite forest There is a huge underground space below, and the part closer to us is a natural cave, continuing to the west, there may be a man-made area... I need to get closer to distinguish clearly. The person you are chasing has not disappeared, but It was through a hidden underground entrance."
"How do you know!" Naylor was quite surprised.
Boris didn't bother to explain, anyway Estee would explain to him. These two pendulums also belonged to Esther. She knew she was going to find someone for Naylor, so she made preparations in advance. Now that Boris came, she gave the pendulums to the instructor.
Opal pendulums can detect undead, and clear crystals can detect areas invisible to the naked eye: such as entrances protected by blindness, or disguised traps and secret doors. Mages can also do without tools, but temporary casting is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and it is not as convenient as using magic items that have been set in advance.
"Anyway, let's go across the river first?" Estee suggested.
Naylor nodded, walked over and hugged her directly. This action was done very naturally, and both of them took it for granted.
The river is so shallow that you can walk directly across it, but Naylor will not let the princess's feet and clothes get wet in the cold water.
Seeing the knight walking into the river with the princess in his arms, Burris secretly smiled in relief.
At this time, Lot suddenly put his arm around his waist and hooked his knees with the other. Boris struggled a bit and said in a low voice: "Wait! My lord! You can't fly!"
"Who said I'm going to fly," Lott said, "I won't fly in front of that knight! I just want to carry you there."
"No... I'm not a princess, I can go by myself."
"Tsk, don't you really understand?" Lott said, "So what if you're not a princess? Naylor wants to hug Esther, not 'princess'. Even if Esther is a village woman, Naylor is the same." will carry her across the river."
After finishing speaking, he couldn't help but hugged Boris horizontally.
Naylor and the princess had crossed the river, and together they stared blankly at Burris. Burris's face was hot, but he didn't dare to struggle. Struggle would make him look more petty...
When wading in the water, Lott deliberately looked at Boris a few more times. The mage was shy and pretended to be calm. Looking at this funny expression, Lott smiled contentedly.
It's almost noon. Naylor suggested that everyone take a break after crossing the river. There is still a considerable area to be searched, and Keneng will consume a lot of physical strength.
Burris kept sneaking glances at Naylor and Estee as they sat and ate under the tree. He didn't know what to see, but he couldn't help but pay attention to them.
Ser Naylor had always been serious and rigid, and Estee was too poisoned to smile. The two expressionless men sat side by side, one looking down at a book, the other studying a map, Esther elbowing Naylor, who held the water bottle to her mouth; Naylor yawned Leaning back, Estee took out a blindfold and handed it to him while reading a book...
Boris sighed secretly, feeling very complicated.
Lot suddenly put his arms around his shoulders, and whispered in his ear: "Seeing young people loving each other, are you envious? Don't be envious, we can be more sensual than them!"
"No..." Before Burris finished speaking, Lott pulled him over forcefully, letting him lie half-lying and lean on his shoulder.
Burris struggled to sit up straight: "No need!"
"Don't be shy, none of your students are shy, what are you afraid of? Part of the essence of the outdoors is snuggling up during breaks."
The mage frowned: "No... It's not a question of shyness. Actually, lying like that is not comfortable, but makes the body tense and uncomfortable, which is meaningless... Can you read less romantic novels that don't fit real life?"
Lott did not refute further, but began to think seriously. After thinking, he went to sit behind Burris, wrapped the mage in his arms, and let him lean back against his chest.
"You're right, I understand," Lott said, "Is it okay now? I used to rest with my arms around you like this. At that time, you were afraid of the cold and couldn't lean directly on cold stones or tree trunks. I Just like this as your cushion. You never refused, it should be quite comfortable to lie on like this, right?"
He said more than sixty years ago.
At that time Burris did not refuse. He yearns for warmth and for dependence. Although he doesn't know the identity of the "Black-robed God of Death", he relies on this person inexplicably.
=================
While on the road, the "Black Robe Death" always interrupted Burris' sleep. Whenever he slept for too long, the man in black would try to wake him up, probably because he was afraid that he would not be able to wake up if he fell asleep.
They had no medicines and no shelter to adequately keep them warm. Once, Boris woke up in the early morning and found his cheek against his bare skin. The black-robed man unbuttoned his skirt and wrapped him in his arms, wrapping the two of them with his coat and robe.
Seeing that he woke up, the man in black robe pointed him in the direction: "Look, the direction of the sunrise is Sandonia, and we are almost there."
"So fast?" Burris rubbed his eyes. At that time, he hadn't thought that this abnormal speed should be achieved by the maharaja with magic.
Boris was very weak, but he didn't want to eat. The man in black chatted with him casually, and if he said he was tired, he continued to hug him to sleep.
Probably because he had a good rest before, Boris is not dizzy now, and his mind is clearer. He finally couldn't help asking: "My lord... who are you? I know, you are not a god of death."
The man in black was not angry, but smiled instead.
He stroked the mage's hair with his warm palm, and slowly described his origin and identity.
Burris listened quietly, without interrupting to ask questions.
When the black-robed man had finished speaking and remained silent for a while, the mage asked, "You are imprisoned in the Swamp of the Dead... Is this permanent? Or is there a time limit?"
"It should be permanent," said the Maharaja.
"What would it take to get you out of there?"
Maharaja stroked his hair again: "What? You want to help me, little mage? Can you do it?"
Burris smiled weakly: "I'm sure I can't do it now. If you know the method, you tell me, I will..."
The Lord of Bones said: "I don't know what to do. Maybe I don't know how to escape at all, or I knew it, but the memory was lost in the long years... Little mage, if you really want to help Me, you have to live a good life first. After I leave, you have to live a good life too. "
"I will," Burris said, "I've got a lot to do... I won't just die..."
Maharaja hugged him tighter again: "You have a lot to do? Like what?"
"I promised Asha and Willa that I would bring gifts back to see them," Boris thought he was sober, but he was still a little confused when he spoke, "The Khiva River...the mirror ice lake has palm pythons...not now, but in the future I will Get rid of them...”
Lord Skeleton snickered: "That thing is really disgusting, but luckily I've already cleaned up a large part of it for you."
"I'm going to continue my education," Burris said, "to learn more and become a very good mage...much better than Yriel..."
"Then what?"
"Build your own mage tower, go to the south to build it...it's too cold here, I don't like it..."
Hearing this sentence, the Maharaja wrapped the thin blanket and cold clothes tightly, put his arms around the mage with one arm, and clasped those slender hands together with the other.
"Go to a place where the seasons are like spring," the Maharaja suggested, "If you really succeed in releasing me, I will live there with you. You must choose a good place!
Boris closed his eyes half-closed, and nodded confusedly and seriously.
The soft hair rubbed against the neck of the Maharaja of the Skeleton, and the Maharaja couldn't help but secretly kissed the top of the mage's hair.
"I also want...a very big room..." the little mage continued to murmur, "There must be a large curved window that opens to the ceiling, I can sit by the window and read a book, and the temperature in the room is always suitable... This is the guest room... or the bedroom. There is also a special library... "
While talking, Burris fell asleep again.
Back then, he didn't know that Lord Skeleton kept looking at his sleeping face with a smile, and said to him softly: "I also want to see your tower and your room. You must remember to come and pick me up."