. The remaining torches are getting weaker and weaker, and the dungeon is getting darker and darker.
But he felt that the dungeon was experiencing unprecedented peace and brightness.
Although Barney Jr. was still silently absent-minded behind him, Thales knew that he no longer had to worry about the condition of the former Pioneer Officer.
And the only question he has left...
Thales shook his head, enduring the pain and walked towards the last figure.
The long-faced man who had been kneeling on the ground, with scars all over his body and a look of despair on his face, as if he had lost his soul.
The outline of the punishment knight slowly emerged in the dim vision.
His left arm, which was severely injured by Barney, hung down like a hollow snake slough, hanging stiffly and feebly on his shoulder.
"So, you are the only one left." Thales said softly.
The voice fell.
The Punishment Knight seemed to be still immersed in his own world, showing no reaction to Thales' words and letting him approach slowly.
But the moment Thales came ten steps closer to him, Sak'el jumped up like a suddenly awakened cheetah, instinctively picking up the chipped ax blade next to him!
"Your Highness!"
Belletti exclaimed and subconsciously stood up and moved forward.
Others also reacted one after another. Samuel frowned and held down his weapon. Tardin, Bree, Cannon and others stood up nervously and gathered in the direction of Sak'el. Even Barney came back to his senses.
The torch was raised.
But at this moment, Thales suddenly raised a hand behind him!
"Wait a moment."
The prince's voice was hoarse and weak, but everyone stopped subconsciously.
In the ultimate silence, Thales silently observed the long-faced man in front of him.
Sak'el didn't move, he just continued to breathe in confusion and trance.
The weapon in his hand was pointed at Thales from afar.
It's like it's instinctive.
The air solidified again.
From behind, Kuaisheng inquired with an embarrassed expression.
"Hey, Huai...uh, Thales?"
Belletti glanced at Sak'el, who was in a daze but still instinctively alert, and hesitated to speak.
"Your Highness, you'd better..."
Before he could finish speaking, Taldin on the other side nervously interrupted, "We can't go any further!"
"Danger, danger." This is Cannon, who is slightly neurotic.
Everyone present had different reactions, but they all stared at Sak'el with vigilance, who seemed to have just woken up from gibbering.
But Thales smiled.
"Thank you, Belletti, and you, Tardin, Cannon," the young man endured the discomfort.
"But I need you to wait for me a little longer."
Thales turned around, showed a tired smile, and raised an index finger
"In a moment."
He turned around, took a deep breath, and continued walking towards Sak'el.
Seeing the distance between the two getting closer, Belletti's expression changed.
"Your Highness, for your sake"
But an arm stretched out from the side and held down Belletti who wanted to take action!
"He said it," Barney, who stood up at some point, said coldly to the stunned Belletti and Tardin.
"Let's wait."
He seemed to have lingering grudge against Thales, and when he said this, he seemed to deliberately lower his head and not look in the direction of the prince.
Little Barney's forceful tone awakened Sak'el, whose eyes gradually became clear and focused on Thales.
Belletti looked blankly at the Pioneer Officer, then at Thales, and hesitated several times.
But in the end he didn't say anything or do anything.
He just stopped where he was, watching the prince worriedly as he moved forward.
Just like everyone else.
Until Thales came within three steps of Sak'el.
Sak'el gasped in confusion.
He looked around at his old colleagues who wanted to rush forward immediately, but they held back their pace.
Something is different.
He thought so.
Sak'el looked around,
He saw that Barney, who was used to giving orders, looked unhappy but said nothing.
Belletti, who has always been calm, even to the point of being rigid, also let things go.
Even Samir, who didn't like to obey orders, just pursed his lips and said nothing.
And the rest, whether it's Tardin or Cannon...
These comrades whom he once knew very well...
They had been standing quietly behind Thales, except for giving Sak'el a warning look, almost watching, letting the prince walk step by step in front of him who was covered in blood.
These guys...
Sak'el turned his head stiffly, his mind was scattered and confused, but he subconsciously tightened his grip on the weapon.
"you……"
Sak'el withdrew his tired and dark eyes and looked at Thales doubtfully, as if he was getting to know this young man again.
"What did you do to them?"
He spoke foolishly, as if he was asking the other party, and also seemed to be asking himself.
Thales took a deep breath and forced a smile.
"nothing."
The young man said slowly
"It's just something you want to do but can't do."
Sak'el was stunned for a moment, feeling dizzy.
Things I want to do but can’t do…
A few seconds later, the severely injured punishment knight shook his head vigorously.
"Is it."
He sneered slightly, lowered his dim eyes, and understood something.
The Punishment Knight let his left arm swing empty, gritted his teeth and raised the weapon in his right hand.
"You know, before I came here, as the hostage of Exeter of Star Kingdom, I escaped all the way back from Longxiao City." The young man's voice sounded low.
Sak'el's ax blade froze.
Longxiao City.
Sak'el's dazed mind moved slightly, as if he had been stabbed by something.
Thin and confused memories once again filled his overwhelmed spirit.
Is it.
The hostages of the Bright Star royal family in Longxiao City.
Thacker tightened the ax blade in his hand.
So, in the years since that tragedy, the kingdom has...
"I met a lot of people on the way," Thales said in a calm tone, as if he was talking about family matters. "One of them particularly touched me deeply."
"He said that after more than ten years of disguise, when he looked in the mirror again, he no longer recognized the person inside."
Sak'el's ax blade trembled slightly.
Thales took his eyes back from the time crossbow in Quick Rope's hand and sighed.
"He has forgotten why he put on that mask in the first place. He let the mask capture him, occupy him, and control him."
Thales stared at the man in front of him seriously
"Just like a warrior forgetting his mission of protection and becoming a slave to victory."
"It's like a king forgetting the responsibility of governing and surrendering to the vanity of merit."
The punishment knight's body began to shake slightly.
Thales looked directly into Sak'el's eyes.
He has seen this look before.
More than once.
In the Manor of Manchuria, when the Ghost in the Wind was dragging his crippled body and struggling in pain.
In the Renaissance Palace, when Val Arend shook his head sadly and revealed the conspiracy.
In the Hall of Heroes, when Officer Michael picked up his daughter's body absentmindedly.
In the wasteland, when the dying Crow confessed everything with a crazy smile.
They are all equally gloomy, equally hopeless, and equally...numb.
That's the look in the eyes of someone who has lost the thing they cherish most.
And the Sak'el in front of me...
What is the thing he values most?
Thinking of this, Thales' chest sank and he sighed softly.
"But, Thacker."
"When and why did you put on this mask?"
Sacher froze.
He stood there, with complexity written all over his face.
The silence lasted for several seconds.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness," he said with difficulty after a long while.
"But we...we have to end this."
After Sak'el finished speaking, the weapon in his hand shook slightly, as if he had once again confirmed his determination.
Thales raised his eyebrows.
"Ah, I know."
"You still want to kill me."
The young man's tone was understated, but it made the guards behind him nervous again.
"And none of us can stop you."
Sak'el frowned and said nothing.
But he seems to have a talent that just by being silent can make the surrounding atmosphere cold and condensed.
But then the prince smiled
"I have to admit, when you were still that heinous traitor who chased me all the way... I at least felt at ease when facing you."
"But now..."
Thales sighed.
"You found out the truth about the stories you told, so you were dissatisfied with the late king, so you planned the palace coup alone and framed everyone. You are the traitor and culprit for the past eighteen years..."
He sneered and shook his head.
"At least half of it is fake."
The punishment knight's cheeks moved slightly.
Thales looked directly at him.
"That's the mask you wear for other people to see."
Sak'el pursed his lips tightly, his face stiff and gray.
"You made it up in order to hide the truth and protect both the dead and the living."
"So that your guards will no longer be divided by internal strife, so that the surviving people will no longer endure torture, and so that the old memories that lie underground will no longer be difficult to rest in peace."
"For this reason, are you willing to be the sinner and traitor who made things out of nothing, and bear the resentment that should not be directed at you, so that they hate you alone, better than they hate each other?"
The punishment knight closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Little Barney looked at Sak'el, his eyes mixed with hatred, complaint, confusion and bewilderment.
Others sighed.
Only Samir shook his head in disdain.
Thales raised the corners of his lips and continued
"It wasn't until I saw what you just did that I finally understood that this is the real Sak'el."
Sak'el's brows twitched sharply.
But Taylor is still going on
"Eighteen years ago, as a watchman guarding the inheritance, you couldn't bear to choose sides. You could only witness your colleagues turning against each other, fighting each other, and blood flowing in rivers."
"After the tragedy, for the sake of the reputation and dignity of the royal family, you cannot tell the truth. You can only sit back and watch innocent members of the guard being imprisoned unjustly."
"But in the face of their suffering and tragedy, you can't forgive yourself for your inaction and silence. You voluntarily isolated yourself from the outside world and buried yourself deep underground as a punishment for yourself."
Thales looked at Sak'el sadly.
Every time he finished speaking, the pain and confusion on the knight's face deepened, and the rise and fall of his chest became more intense.
The complexity and contradiction in the eyes of the guards also deepened.
Their gazes focused on Sak'el were already chaotic and changeable, but now they were a little more obscure and hesitant.
"So, Lord Thacker," Thales sighed
"Whether you wear a mask or not, you never forget what you believe in."
Sacher suddenly opened his eyes!
"Are you done?"
His right hand holding the weapon was shaking just like his voice. "This won't help you..."
Thales interrupted him.
"Soon."
"But until then."
Thales exhaled softly.
"Before you do anything, I want you to know and I want them to know,"
He turned around and looked at the confused, bewildered, nervous and doubtful former royal guards.
"Sak'el, you are neither a traitor nor a villain."
"On the contrary, you did not hesitate to bear unwarranted grievances and undue stigma, but you also wanted to guard the reputation of the deceased and protect the reputation of the royal family."
"You would rather remain silent and bear all the misunderstanding and hatred behind the tragedy than see brothers turning against each other and killing each other."
Thales looked at him indifferently
"You are even willing to sacrifice their trust, friendship, respect, and admiration for you. These are the only things you once cherished, as long as this can protect and save them."
The dungeon became quiet again, and the only sounds that could be heard were the breathing of people, which was fast or slow, but not even and steady.
At this moment, the royal guards looked at Sak'el with extremely complicated and difficult to understand eyes.
Sak'el stared at Thales, the bloodshot eyes clearly visible in the firelight.
"You can't shake me."
The punishment knight's voice was very deep, with a hint of bitterness in his words.
"Of course," Thales chuckled, "because no matter eighteen years ago or eighteen years later, from beginning to end, you are the noble knight who is selfless and fearless, regardless of reputation or reputation, and can be called a model."
"The watchman who protects the heritage of the Guard."
Thales sighed softly
"You are just unfortunate enough to be involved in the torrent of the times, lose your way, and be unable to wake up."
The torrent of the times...
Sak'el's trembling became more violent.
Terrible memories came over him like a surging tide.
Sak'el gritted his teeth and tried not to look at other people's expressions.
Because he is afraid.
Fear……
But while Sak'el's thoughts were still agitated,
"Everyone present..."
Thales turned around and glanced at the people around him. He took a deep breath and sighed.
It's like he has made a decision.
He knows what to do.
Everyone looked at the prince.
"You know," Thales lowered his eyes and said softly
"Why did Sak'el want to kill me?"
At that moment, Sacher's erratic thoughts were momentarily interrupted.
What?
He was completely stunned.
He was not the only one with this expression, everyone present was also startled.
From the still awkward little Barney, to the worried Belletti, to the wary-looking Samuel, as well as Tardin, Cannon, and Bree, who were confused, puzzled, and suspicious, all kinds of emotions filled everyone's hearts.
Only Kuaisheng’s face changed drastically when he realized something!
Just listen to Thales calmly adjust his breathing and raise the corners of his mouth
"Because he knows."
"Because Sak'el knows what I am."
What exactly am I.
The prince was very calm and at ease, as if this was an ordinary answer.
The silence in the dungeon lasted for several seconds.
etc.
Sak'el's expression slowly melted away, and he looked at the ordinary Thales with indescribable surprise.
he……
he wants……
"I don't understand," Samir narrowed his eyes as he watched.
“What does ‘what exactly’ mean?”
Soon, amidst everyone's questions, the incredible Kuai Rope was the first to open his mouth in surprise and subconsciously stretched out his arms!
"Hey, um, you mean Thales when you conceive me?"
But Kuaisheng quickly noticed that under the suspicious eyes of the people around him, he couldn't even say Thales' name in full, so he retracted his hand in embarrassment and his voice weakened.
Thales just looked indifferent and didn't care.
"you……"
Sak'el looked at Thales in surprise and could no longer restrain his reaction.
"You can't...are you crazy!"
Samuel, Tardin... many people didn't understand. They exchanged questioning glances back and forth during the conversation between Sak'el and Thales.
Little Barney stared at Sak'el's expression and Thales' back, and felt something different.
Something is wrong...
Prince...what other secrets do you have?
Thales raised the corners of his mouth slightly, shook his head, and smiled at the punishment knight.
"I already know you, Watcher."
Thales smiled
"But you don't understand me."
"You don't know what I have experienced since I came to this world."
Thales raised his right hand, slowly opened his palm, and looked at the blood mark in the center of his palm that had been scratched by the dagger and had not yet healed.
Just like he did before coming to the Prison of Bones.
Sak'el looked at Thales at this moment and was so surprised that he was speechless.
In front of him, the young man's expression was very calm and relaxed, even...
Very happy.
Quick Rope frowned as he observed Thales.
No.
He suddenly realized that this was not Thales's plan or method.
No.
He really wants to...
Kuai Rope suddenly felt an unparalleled panic.
"Death may make me unhappy, but it no longer scares me," Thales said with a rare sense of relief in his tone.
"And what really scares me..."
As Thales spoke, his eyes became confused.
Asheida's proud face and Giza's crazy expression flashed before his eyes.
Thales, in this world, they don’t hate us.
They are afraid of us.
What they refuse to forgive and find difficult to accept is not our behavior, but our existence
And...the mysterious figure of Toros.
Thales sighed softly.
"What scares me is that when I carry that secret, I can't get rid of the fear, anxiety, and nervousness. Even my nightmares are its shadow, and I can't escape."
"I am afraid of the moment when this secret will be known to others. I am worried about the fate and unknown I will face. I am nervous about how the world will treat me. I am worried and uneasy all day long because everything I am familiar with may leave me."
Thales slowly raised his head and his eyes slowly focused.
"Today, that moment has arrived."
Thales turned around and found Quick Rope staring at him blankly.
The young man smiled back at him and then let out a sigh of relief.
Thank you.
"And that's not that bad."
Looking at Kuai Sheng's stunned expression, Thales held his palm hard and felt the pain in his palm.
"On the contrary, the moment you really face it and face the consequences..."
"That's when I really understood."
Thales turned around and raised his gaze calmly.
"The only thing that is pestering me, torturing me, punishing me, and refusing to let me go is not the secret, not my upcoming fate, not the unknown that I cannot grasp, or anything else."
"And it's just me."
"What I need is not to be trapped in shackles," Thales clenched his fists and pressed hard on the spot on his heart that was burned by silver coins, "but to let go of the past me."
"Rise from the ashes."
Sak'el was completely stunned.
"Your Highness... Your Highness?" Belletti seemed to realize that something was wrong. With a face full of worry and doubt, he said in a half-reminding, half-warning voice.
Faced with a group of people who were almost bursting with doubts, Thales just smiled in relief.
"That's right, everyone."
He closed his eyes and tried not to look at the reactions of the people around him.
The prince's voice echoed in the dungeon, accompanied by Sak'el's almost stagnant expression and Quick Rope's uncontrollable breathing.
"I, Thales Bright Star, am one of the biggest taboos in this world that has been passed down orally from generation to generation."
"They are the same kind that Sak'el believed were the main culprits who disrupted the kingdom back then."
The next moment, Thales took a deep breath and opened his eyes in the dead silence.
"I am a magician."
In the calmest, most indifferent, and most indifferent tone of his life, the boy said the answer that made Sak'el, Quick Rope, Barney, and everyone gasp.
"A disaster."
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