Thales didn't feel good.

very bad.

The aches and pains that arise one after another throughout the body, the cold that stimulates the trembling of the joints, the hunger that seems to burn through the stomach, the itching and numbness after the old and new wounds have healed, and the dizziness and fatigue that are all-consuming mentally...

All kinds of negative feelings come in like a flood.

The sobs and gasps of the guard members seemed to have a faint echo in their ears.

This stimulated Thales' vision to fluctuate slightly.

And the sin of Hell River, which has always been ready to move and be unruly, is now dormant and lifeless, like a seriously ill beast, refusing to give him any more help.

Thales knew that this might be a side effect of the restorative power of the Hell River, or the sequelae of the abuse of magic energy, or even the result of the flash explosion of the alchemy ball.

I have tortured this young body too hard.

But he had no choice.

No.

Amid the worried sound of the fast rope and Belletti's nervous gaze, the boy tried his best to stand firm.

But he can't fall.

In a daze, Thales, who was equally heavy both physically and mentally, said this to himself, waving his hand to reject the help from others.

Not yet.

He bit the tip of his tongue hard several times, stimulating himself to the point of trembling.

It seems like this can draw enough strength from the almost numb pain to concentrate.

In a different kind of silence, Thales, who was holding a torch, turned around with difficulty.

He looked at the man who was sitting against the wall, covering his injured arm, with a lonely and slumped look on his face.

Following Thales's gaze, others also turned to the poor man who said nothing and just stared blankly at the two bodies.

Belletti's red eyes were fixed on that person, as if expecting something.

Cannon and Tardin's expressions were full of shame that they dared not face, and Samir's eyes held unspeakable meaning.

But the closer the torch in Thales's hand came, the more the opponent shrank back, even turned his head to avoid it, as if he was afraid of the light.

"Quil Barney."

"Chief Vanguard Officer."

Thales sighed tiredly:

"I know you've been through a lot today."

The indifferent figure seemed to feel something and subconsciously shrank back.

Thales stopped.

In the boy's blurred vision, Barney's figure gradually became clearer.

Not long ago, it was this man who extended his rough, calloused palm to him.

But at this moment, the radiant look in the other person's eyes no longer existed.

Instead, there is darkness.

Full of despair and self-blame, pain and confusion.

"No, Your Highness," Little Barney's head was pressed against his shoulder and the wall, half of his face was immersed in darkness, and he couldn't see clearly:

"No."

His words were full of hatred, and the mark on his face became more apparent.

"Don't use those sensational tricks against me..."

"Don't comfort me, and don't forgive me..."

Little Barney said nothing.

He held his injured arm and huddled in the corner, dying, avoiding the light.

Like a trapped animal that has lost its life.

no way no money.

Only the walking dead remain.

What took him away?

What took away this man?

That warrior who wields his sword and shield fiercely and fiercely, charging into the enemy's formation with great force?

That extremely powerful man who was in a desperate situation, dripping with blood, and never changed his color?

Thales took a deep breath and gently threw away the torch in his hand.

The dim and blurry light and shadow flickered.

Without the stimulation of the torch, Barney finally turned his head slightly.

"of course not."

The young man gave a peaceful smile:

"And I'm not prepared to do that."

Thales stared at Barney and his tone became calm:

"Because you did nothing wrong."

The trembling little Barney was stunned for a while.

The dungeon fell silent.

Until Thales' words continued to ring:

"Since eighteen years ago, as a loyal and loyal vanguard of the Royal Guard, Barney, your path has always been clear, straight, one-way and only."

"You live in the purest world. You only need to stick to yourself and protect your companions. You never need to choose between dilemmas."

Little Barney's eyes slowly solidified, but he remained motionless.

The young man turned to the other people in the dungeon and spoke in a deep voice, as if he was sighing:

"Not like them."

Sak'erkong looked at the two bodies on the ground, his eyes unclear, and Samir lowered his head deeply, seemingly unhappy.

"Unlike Naji, who is full of regret and guilt, he longs for peace of mind but cannot get it."

Cannon, Bree and Tardin each have their own difficulties.

"It's not like Nai, who feels like a lump in his throat when he knows the truth, suffering in the hesitation of opening his mouth."

Thales stared closely at Barney's unchanged expression, and finally sighed:

"It's not like..."

"Not like your father."

Father.

As soon as the word came out of his mouth, Thales saw little Barney trembling violently.

The prince sighed secretly in his heart.

"So, you think your father should have told you the truth back then, right?"

Thales looked at Barney's struggling and changing expression and said softly:

"The question is, if he really confesses to you, what will you do and how will you choose?"

If he told me the truth...

Little Barney's outline was distorted in the firelight on the ground.

But in the end, the vanguard officer turned his head angrily and stubbornly, facing the wall, avoiding the light, without saying a word.

Only the ugliest mark is exposed in the firelight.

Thales looked at the other party's reaction calmly and continued:

"I guess……"

"Will you listen to his difficulties, stand with him, and then, like him, fight and die in front of the palace gate without ever returning, and be buried with your own choices and sins?"

"Carrying the blood debt of regicide, will you sleep forever?"

Little Barney still turned his head and said nothing, but the mark on the side of his face twitched inexplicably.

Thales' tone began to worsen:

"Or are you loyal to the late king, standing on the opposite side of him, facing him with disappointment, sadness, confusion, anger and pain, fighting him with swords and annihilating your relatives for justice?"

"Carrying my father's stigma will lead to a lifetime of nightmares?"

Little Barney's outline moved, and visible veins bulged on his fists.

Thales chuckled:

"Or will you be like now, losing yourself in confusion and hesitation, refusing to accept reality, walking away alone, and escaping everything that is coming?"

"Live in chaos with a coward's guilt?"
To be continued...