"Ahem!" Lord reacted very quickly and immediately interrupted Lisa's exclamation, and at the same time used a subtle gesture to stop her from speaking next.
His meaning was obvious, which was to ask Lisa not to expose herself.
The last time I came here, I actually only saw Noen. He stayed in the basement the whole time and didn't go anywhere else.
However, Lord had heard Norn mention him before, but he didn't expect that it would be so long before they met again.
Lisa immediately understood Lord's intention.
She swallowed the words back and quickly concealed the shock on her face, but the excitement in her heart was difficult to eliminate for a while, and even her hands were shaking slightly.
She took a deep breath, turned to the captain of the guard, and her voice returned to its usual calmness.
"Captain, these two are very important guests. I will personally bring them in to see His Majesty."
Seeing her serious expression, the guards immediately lowered their guard, saluted respectfully, and made way for her: "Yes! Lady Lisa! Please!"
Lisa nodded and said nothing more. She just glanced at Lord, then turned and led the way: "Please follow me, Lady Celia, and this gentleman."
In the end, she still couldn't call out the name.
Not long after the few people left, the guards suddenly reacted.
Could the Celia that Lady Lisa mentioned be the legendary elven magician?
The guard became excited at the thought that he would be able to see the other person in person.
But amidst his excitement, he also began to wonder who the human being next to him was. Why was he so close to the legendary magician Celia, and why was Lady Lisa so respectful towards him?
The guards had no idea who the human man was.
Walking through the palace corridors, the oppressive atmosphere became increasingly heavy, almost making it hard to breathe.
Until I arrived at the door of Norn's bedroom and pushed it open, a strong smell of medicine hit me in the face.
Lisa explained softly, "His Majesty Norn has accumulated too many old injuries, and now they have all erupted. Ordinary healing magic is completely ineffective, so I have found some extremely precious potions to treat them."
Lord nodded without saying anything, but walked forward lightly and looked at the figure on the bed.
The partner who was once high-spirited and ambitious is now lying quietly.
His breathing was very weak. The former hero of humanity, under the erosion of illness and time, would become an old man with frail health.
However, when Norn looked over and saw Celia who walked in with him, especially the figure beside her, the almost extinguished fire of life was instantly ignited again.
"Lord!?"
Norn's voice was a little hoarse, but full of unspeakable surprise.
He struggled to sit up, looking at the two people with cloudy eyes: "And Miss Celia? I thought I would never see you again!"
The huge fluctuation in his mood made him cough violently, and an unhealthy redness appeared on his pale face.
"Norn!"
Lord quickly rushed to the bedside and gently pressed down his struggling shoulder. "It's us. We're back. Don't get excited. Lie down."
He looked at his comrade who had once fought side by side with him, and who was now unrecognizable due to the tortures of time and illness, and a feeling of sadness welled up in his heart.
Celia also walked to the bedside and looked at Norn, with a rare trace of compassion in her eyes.
No matter what, they are partners after all.
Lisa retreated silently, then gently closed the door of the bedroom, leaving the space to these three old friends who had been with her for a long time.
Chapter 143 Good Night, Norn
"Ahem..." Norn grabbed Lord's wrist tightly with great strength, not like a dying man. "I always thought... I would never see you again." He said intermittently.
"Sorry, I'm late."
Lord held Norn's hand with his backhand, feeling the weak vitality in the other's body, which represented that the oil lamp of life was about to burn out completely.
He was silent for a moment, and then he said tentatively, "Norn, the magic I told you about before..."
He had told Norn that he had magic that could absorb the vitality of others and prolong his own life.
As long as Norn wants to learn, he can teach him at any time.
But the cost will be high.
Because the human soul is too fragile to withstand the erosion of time.
Even Lord himself couldn't guarantee what he would become after thousands of years of reincarnation.
Moreover, absorbing the vitality of others also carries the risk of contamination. He doesn't want to see his old friend turn into an obsessed monster, but he doesn't want to see his old friend leave even more.
Two complicated emotions made him go against Norn's wishes and propose such a plan again.
And this time, the result was the same.
Although Lord hadn't finished speaking, Norn had already shaken his head firmly.
The excitement in his eyes quickly faded, replaced by a faint calmness.
"No need, Lord." Although Norn's voice was still weak, it revealed an unshakable determination. "I know you mean well, but it's not necessary."
He turned his head with difficulty and looked out the window of the room. There was the garden of the palace, and he could vaguely see the splendid scene outside.
"I, El Norn, was born in this world, grew up in this world, fought in this world, and shall return to this world.
My life is already wonderful and rich enough, I lack nothing."
His eyes swept across Lord and Celiai, and finally fell on the horizon, as if he saw the figure of another old friend.
He did not inform anyone of his critical illness, not even Som.
Norn originally wanted to leave quietly and then pass on his last words to Lord, but he did not expect to see him at the last moment of his life.
He is already very satisfied with this.
It is enough to be able to tell the other person your choice in person and to ask the questions that you have never dared to ask.
"Enough...really enough." Norn smiled with relief, "Lord, as I said before, the reason why humans are great is that they cherish every day because their lifespan is short.
I have already burned through this short life. Although it was not intense enough, it was enough. Now, it is time to rest."
"Really? I understand."
Since this old friend has made his choice, Lord has no choice but to see him off.
But there is still one thing that needs the other party's answer.
"Noen, about Eric"
Norn's breathing became a little rapid. He held Lord's hand tightly and stared at him.
This is exactly what he is going to say to Lord next.
"I know, I know everything! If only I had noticed something was wrong with him earlier, if only I had pulled him back in time..." Noen's voice was filled with regret.
"This isn't your problem, Norn," Lord hastened to offer his comfort. "No one expected Eric to be targeted by the goddess. All we can do is send him on his final journey."
"You're right, Lord." Tears streamed down Norn's eyes. "Help him, Lord, please." Norn's voice was almost pleading, carrying the final obsession of a dying man. "End his suffering, let him rest in peace as Eric, instead of being imprisoned in the body of the Demon King forever."
Norn finally made this choice, or perhaps he should have done so earlier, but he just hadn't made up his mind.
Perhaps he had been expecting a miracle to happen, but now, Norn has reached the end of his life, and the so-called miracle still has not appeared.
All he could do was to bear the sin of killing his friend at the end of his life.
At least, it was he himself who made the choice and begged Lord to kill Eric.
The room was dead silent, with only Norn's heavy breathing as the sound.
Lord looked at the pain and pleading on Norn's face and felt the strength coming from his fingertips.
He was silent for a long time, so long that Celie thought he would not answer.
Finally, Lord nodded slowly. "I promise you, Norn. I assure you that Eric will finally rest in peace."
Hearing Lord's promise, Norn's tense body relaxed instantly.
He took a long breath and said, "I'm sorry for making you do this, but at least I can take the blame for this."
The expression on Norn's face gradually calmed down, and even the hand that was tightly holding Lord loosened and fell down weakly.
He turned his head and looked out the window again, a trace of nostalgia flashing across his eyes.
"Lord..." Norn asked with a hint of childlike uncertainty, "Have I, as a king, done my job well? Have I lived up to everyone's expectations? Have I not let down the future of humanity?"
This question is like a child waiting for the final judgment, who wants others to recognize him but at the same time feels a little uneasy.
It has nothing to do with power or strength. It only concerns whether a human being has fulfilled his or her responsibilities and illuminated the path that belongs to him or her in his or her limited life.
Lord looked at Norn's eyes which were gradually losing focus but still looking at him persistently.
Without the slightest hesitation, he reached out and grasped Norn's hand again, speaking with unwavering determination: "El Norn." He called out the other's full name, "You did very well, very well! Now, you can rest."
The next step forward will be for you to walk on your own.
It will be a long journey, but fortunately, I am not alone.
After hearing Lord's approval, the last bit of uneasiness and insecurity on Norn's face disappeared, replaced by an extremely satisfied smile.
"Really? That's good. That's... great."
Norn's voice became softer and softer, and his pupils began to slowly dilate.
"Thank you, Lord. Thank you, everyone!"
The last few words were almost inaudible.
The hand that Lord held completely lost the last bit of warmth.
In the 11th year of the El calendar, Norn, the first king of mankind, passed away.
Lord still held Norn's hand, looking at the satisfied smile on his old friend's face, and did not let go for a long time.
The room was silent, and finally, Celie let out a very light sigh.
Chapter 144 The Long-Awaited Priest
A few days later, in the royal capital.
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