When the group of people walked out of the secret tunnel, filled with doubts and uneasiness, Thales had a vague illusion that he had seen the light of day again.
But whenever he thought of everything that happened in Dragon Clouds City, his mood seemed to be shrouded in a shadow. The assassination, conspiracy, and betrayal became more and more tainted, and he could not get rid of it.
He was sent to put an end to the potential war between the two countries.
But …
Nuven's head, which had rolled on the ground, and Lampard's rough and cold face appeared before Thales' eyes.
He could not help but hold his breath.
The second prince raised his head and looked at the gray Northland sky, but only felt even more lost.
"What's the next step?"
Miranda was still vigilantly looking around. In a remote and narrow corner of the city, the mottled stone wall was full of traces of time and weather. She turned to the Star Killer and said, "Your plan? To find the vassals who are still loyal to the Walton Family? "
But Nicholas only stared at his weapon with a serious expression. He turned a deaf ear to her words, as though he was still immersed in the negotiation with the Red Witch.
The one who answered her was Raphael.
"Dragon Clouds City is still very dangerous, even for the Walton Family's vassals …" The young man from the Secret Intelligence Department frowned. "We can't just show up like this."
"His Highness' safety is our first priority. It concerns the stability of Constellation," Wya interrupted and sighed. "Right now, all the Northlanders in Dragon Clouds City are looking for him. In a few days, all of Eckstedt might join in. We are such a large group of people …" Thales sighed.
Ralf patted his shoulder. The latter shook his head at Wya with a stern gaze.
Wya did not continue, but he still glanced at the White Blade Guards. His face was filled with deep worry.
Thales felt many gazes on him, intentionally or unintentionally.
He understood what Wya meant. These White Blade Guards were Northlanders after all.
Maybe they had a common enemy, maybe their goals and interests were temporarily the same, but …
They were not on his side after all.
Getting out of trouble and finding a chance to part ways with them — this was the safest thing to do.
The common crisis made the Constellatiates and Northlanders temporarily work together. But after escaping danger, the tension of hostility seemed to have returned — it could be seen from their clear formation.
'And the reason the White Blade Guards are here …' Thales turned his head and met Little Rascal's gaze.
It was a pair of confused and nervous eyes that didn't know what to do.
Thales was momentarily stunned.
The silent Nicholas seemed to have finally snapped out of his daze. He raised his head, narrowed his eyes, and looked forward.
"We'll think about these things after we've settled down." The Star Killer exhaled a long breath. "The people who will receive us will be here soon. Let's go to the shelter first."
Thales frowned. "Shelter?"
"From the moment we arrived, this city has had a lot of opinions about the prince." Kohen also revealed a puzzled expression. "Not to mention, after such a major incident, who can still protect us in Dragon Clouds City?"
Raphael shook his head, his expression deep. "For some existences, no matter how big the matter is …"
"It's just a dispute between mortals."
Thales was instantly stunned.
The next moment, a sturdy figure appeared at the corner ahead.
The group immediately entered a state of alert.
But Nicholas waved his hand and asked them to remove their guard.
"We're on the same side," the Star Killer said briefly, then glanced at the newcomer with a complicated expression.
It was a burly man with a crew cut.
Thales couldn't help but narrow his eyes, trying to see who it was.
'That person seems a little familiar …
'That's …'
Thales' heart skipped a beat. Shock and astonishment surged in his heart.
"Mirk?"
The prince looked at the newcomer and could not help but call out his name in great shock and bewilderment. "Lord Mirk?"
The newcomer's expression froze slightly.
The former king's administrator of Dragon Clouds City, the criminal exiled by King Nuven himself in the Hall of Heroes — Lord Byrne Mirk walked towards them with a warrior's gait.
He looked at the Prince of Constellation, who had witnessed the tragedy in the Hall of Heroes, with a complicated expression.
"His Majesty has stripped me of my position and title. You might as well change the way you address me."
Mirk exhaled and said in a low voice, "Good day, Prince Thales."
Many images surged into Thales' mind.
Alex's twitching body and her limp hands.
Mirk's tearful confession as he knelt on the ground.
King Nuven's roar filled with hatred and pain.
Mirk held his daughter, who was no longer breathing, and staggered out of the hall absentmindedly.
"You …" Thales felt suffocated. He opened his mouth, but the words were cut off when they reached his lips.
He saw Mirk's gaze.
The former administrator's expression was calm, but his eyes were a lifeless gray.
It was as if there was nothing else in the world that could pique his interest.
Thales suddenly thought of another pair of eyes, Black Sword's eyes. It was strange, but Thales had this feeling.
The former king's administrator looked at Little Rascal behind Thales with a complicated gaze.
Little Rascal did not seem to expect to see the former administrator here. She seemed to have remembered something and lowered her head subconsciously.
Mirk shut his mouth. His expression was gloomy, and he did not say a word.
"Nothing unexpected happened?" Nicholas walked forward and clasped Mirk's hand tightly before he released it.
Mirk shook his head but did not say a word.
"Please come with me." Mirk looked at the group of people with a calm expression, turned around and walked back. "Try to be quiet and respectful."
Kohen looked at his surroundings, and doubts arose in his mind. There was no one around. The dilapidated walls and floor tiles, the unswept snow and withered branches looked like the backyard of a noble's house that had not been cleaned for many years.
"Respectful?"
The police officer exhaled and raised his head to look at a majestic stone house with only a small door. "Speaking of which, what is this place?"
Miranda seemed to have noticed something. She raised her index finger to her lips and gestured for him to keep quiet. "Just do as I say."
Kohen raised his eyebrows and followed the group forward.
Thales turned his head and looked at Nicholas anxiously. "Why —"
The Star Killer's words were stuck in his throat.
"I know what you're thinking."
Nicholas lowered his head. He looked at Mirk's back with a subtle expression. "Yes, King Nuven exiled him, and …"
The Star Killer immediately raised his head. His gaze slowly became firm.
"But Byrne Mirk, he was … or at least was a White Blade Guard."
Thales frowned.
"He's still loyal to Walton?"
Nicholas shook his head.
"He's loyal to his creed." The Star Killer sighed. No one knew what he was thinking about. "No matter what happens, this has never changed.
This is also the reason why we, the White Blade Guards, are here. "
Thales was slightly stunned.
He remembered the scene when the four White Blade Guards hugged each other's arms and surrounded him and Little Rascal under the crossbows of Black Sand Region.
He sighed softly.
"Thank you, Lord Nicholas." There was a barely discernible emotion in Thales' tone. "And thank you, White Blade Guards."
Nicholas raised his eyebrows slightly.
"If you really want to thank me, strange boy, then return the favor.
The Star Killer and Thales' gazes met in the air. "One day, when you sit on the throne, then return the favor."
Thales did not speak.
He only smiled faintly and followed the group into the small door of the stone house.
"Be careful." Thales heard Wya whisper to Ralf from behind him. "God knows what this place is, and God knows what's waiting for us in front."
Ralf let out a muffled snort that was hard to decipher.
It seemed to be a little disdainful.
The stone house was very spacious. It seemed to be a large back hall, but the lights in the hall were dim. The lighting was not from the chandelier, but from the layers of portable Everlasting Lamps hanging on the wall.
Thales could not adapt to the sudden darkness for a while. He widened his eyes and tried to see his surroundings clearly.
There was a thick smell of lamp oil in the air. Thales thought, 'With this thick smell of Eternal Oil, it seems that the owner of this stone house is either rich or of high status.'
Raphael seemed to be very familiar with this place. He walked into the darkness ahead, and when he came out again, his hands were already covered with bandages and medicine.
He casually tossed one of the rolls of bandages to the puzzled Kohen, and carefully handed a bottle of medicine to the stunned Miranda.
"Treat your wounds and recover as soon as possible." Raphael pointed at the wound on Kohen's body, which was tightened with his Power of Eradication. His expression was solemn. "Our battle is not over yet."
"This is the 'sanctuary'? What is this place? "
Wya narrowed his eyes and looked at the stone walls and floor tiles around him. His hand was still firmly on the hilt of his sword. "Wait, I think I've seen buildings of this style before …"
At this moment, two figures appeared in the darkness ahead.
"Your Highness!" A younger figure walked forward quickly. There was a smile on his face, and his voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement. "Thank you, Gods, for your safe return!"
Thales was stunned. "You are … Willow?"
It was the new recruit they brought with them at Broken Dragon Fortress.
The one who was almost hanged as a deserter.
"Your Highness, you …" The other figure, who was slightly more mature, sighed in relief. "I knew it …"
The veteran Genard stared at Thales with a complicated gaze. "I knew it …"
Thales looked at the two familiar people in the Constellation Diplomat Group and felt as if a shackle had been lifted from his heart.
"You …" Thales looked at the group and thought of something. "Where are the others?"
As soon as he finished speaking, another familiar voice came from the darkness ahead.
"Looks like everything went smoothly?"
Thales' heart trembled. He immediately blurted out,
"Putray!"
Under everyone's gazes, the experienced and knowledgeable vice diplomat of the Constellation Diplomat Group, Lord Nemain Putray, came before them. The thin man still held his pipe in his hand. He seemed very calm, but even though his pipe was filled with tobacco, it was not lit.
"Your Highness." Putray flashed a faint smile, but there was a hint of gratification in his tone. "I'm very happy to see you return safely."
Thales stared at his vice diplomat quietly. A few seconds later, he flashed a smile and exhaled.
"I'm also very happy to see you safe and sound." The prince let down his guard and said with a smile, "Your Excellency."
Putray nodded and turned to look at the young man from the Secret Intelligence Department.
"Were there any accidents in the gatehouse?" the vice diplomat asked faintly.
"There were some accidents." Raphael's expression changed slightly. "But … it's settled."
Thales thought of something. 'Putray and the people from the Secret Intelligence Department …
They seem to be very close? '
"That's good." Putray looked at Nicholas and Mirk and nodded slowly. "Thank you for your hard work."
Nicholas snorted coldly and turned to leave. Mirk, on the other hand, nodded emotionlessly in response.
Thales frowned. 'He's also very close to the White Blade Guards?'
"Try to rest for a while." Putray did not care about the White Blade Guards' indifference. He forced himself to give the prince a meaningful smile.
"We still have a long journey ahead of us."
Thales gave him a deep look and raised his eyebrows.
At that moment, he had a lot of things to say and many questions to ask.
The calamities, the Dragon, Black Sword, Nuven's death, Lampard's conspiracy, Shadow Shield, the Secret Room's schemes, the strangeness of the Secret Intelligence Department, the secrets of the White Blade Guards …
But when these words reached the tip of his tongue, they stopped abruptly and turned into an empty sigh.
Thales' expression darkened.
Along with nervousness and apprehension, fatigue and drowsiness attacked him again.
"It's not over yet, right?" The prince turned his head with a complicated expression and looked at Little Rascal, who was surrounded by the White Blade Guards. He said dejectedly, "This nightmare."
Putray looked at him quietly and did not say a word.
He could only sigh silently in his heart.
"It will end," the vice diplomat said flatly. "A nightmare is also a dream."
At this moment, a young girl dressed in a silver-white robe walked forward slowly.
Her expression was solemn and respectful as she bowed slightly to the people of Constellation.
Thales was slightly stunned. He saw the pattern on the girl's robe clearly: a crescent moon.
"The High Priestess wants to see him," the girl said softly. Her voice was hollow and seemingly emotionless.
Raphael raised his eyebrows. "Who?"
The girl did not speak. She only quietly cast her gaze at the crowd.
After a full three seconds, Thales realized that she was looking at him.
"Why?"
Putray frowned. "His Highness, he …"
"The High Priestess' request is God's will." The young girl turned to the side and raised her hand behind her in an inviting manner.
Thales was immediately stunned.
"Huh?" Perplexed, he asked the people around him, "What will it be?"
Putray pursed his lips. He wanted to say something, but stopped. He seemed a little worried.
But even without his explanation, Thales recognized this place.
His eyes had already adapted to the dim light. He could barely see the walls on both sides — they were full of murals and reliefs.
The direction the girl was pointing at was a huge stone statue surrounded by Everlasting Lamps. On the stone statue, there was a woman with an indifferent expression. She held her left shoulder with her right hand and pressed her right hip bone with her left hand.
Behind the stone statue was a huge full moon, but there were arcs carved out of the moon's surface. It looked like it was expressing the layers of changes in the moon's phase.
Thales was stunned.
He recognized the stone statue.
'That's …'
Thales knew what kind of place the 'sanctuary' he was in was.
In the next second, Thales' gaze was suddenly attracted by a slim figure under the stone statue.
In front of the stone statue, a masked female figure stood quietly. She wore a silver robe, and the robe was embroidered with a crescent moon and a full moon.
Just like the Bright Moon Goddess statue, Thales also recognized the woman.
It was the woman Thales had met once in the Hall of Heroes.
The woman who had witnessed the duel between King Nuven and Poffret.
The High Priestess of Bright Moon Temple — Juwle Holme.
She was quietly looking at Thales with a pair of beautiful, emotionless eyes behind her veil.
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