Seeing Xia De's determination, Miss Feilianna chuckled and shook her head:
"Helping us is not your responsibility to begin with. Although I don't know who gave you the task, it's probably not mandatory, otherwise you wouldn't be so relaxed. Just do your best. Although you're willing to call me teacher, I'm not a very strict mentor. Do you have any thoughts on this?"
She suddenly turned to look at the Moon Witch, who was covering her mouth and laughing. The young woman with long yellow hair immediately covered her mouth and shook her head, looking startled:
"Of course not, Teacher, you are the kindest and most considerate Witch I have ever met."
The Giant Tree Witch also nodded from the side. Xia De pretty much understood Miss Felianna's personality.
The 3002 Door Key allowed Xia De to stay for half an hour each time. The conversation with Miss Felianna about the summoning ritual had taken a considerable amount of time. Afterwards, Miss Felianna finally inquired about the outcome of Xia De's confrontation with the evil god, seemingly wanting to use Xia De's experience to refine her novel, "Mana Adventure Stories," and provide future Witches with more experience on how to escape when facing evil gods.
Therefore, when Miss Felianna had no other questions, Xia De only had about five minutes left to stay.
The task of searching for lost ritual items in the forest, of course, did not require Xia De, a low-strength Ring術士, to do, so he planned to use the remaining time to ask the Witches about Ancient Gods.
He couldn't ask about things that would appear at least two thousand years later, and the Witches didn't dare to listen to modern matters, so he could only ask about this. But it was very disappointing that although Miss Felianna knew the secret of the all things are impermanent card, the Witches did not know much about the Ancient Gods. They had only heard of the special white mist space left by the Ancient Gods that Xia De mentioned.
"I don't know how you see me, but at least for now, I shouldn't be what you think. From our conversation, I always feel like you seem to think I am omniscient."
These were Miss Felianna's words when Xia De showed a regretful expression.
According to the academy's historical records and legends, Miss Felianna was still very young when Saint Byron's was founded, and she lived for many years as the first headmaster after the academy's establishment. Therefore, although Miss Felianna, whom Xia De met this time, was already at the Thirteen-Tier, in her life, she should still be in the early stages, not the almost omniscient headmaster in history and legends.
"Actually, besides witnessing more stories and completing some necessary tasks, the most important purpose of my time travel is to uncover the secrets of the Ancient Gods."
Xia De briefly explained his thoughts. Miss Feilianna nodded and did not express any opinion, probably just listening to a young man's story. But the Moon Witch, who had finished copying the materials Xia De brought and was helping him organize his suitcase, suddenly spoke.
The true ages of these Witches were definitely greater than their apparent ages, but their personalities were very close to their apparent ages. In Xia De's opinion, Miss Felianna was an intellectual and steady lady, the Giant Tree Witch was quiet and composed, while the Moon Witch's personality was more active.
This time, however, the young Witch was very melancholic:
"Is this your life?"
"No, time travel only accounts for a small part of my life. My main profession is a Detective, but my most time-consuming activity is raising cats."
Xia De explained. The Moon Witch sighed and lowered her head to sort the documents in her hands:
"Traveling through time to witness different stories, and living a full and peaceful life in your own time. Sir, the life you have is probably the best life I can imagine."
"It sounds like you're saying I'm not good to you?"
Miss Felianna asked with some dissatisfaction, but this time her student did not deny her previous words:
"Teacher, before I met you, I was just an orphaned girl selling flowers on the street. Only after following you could I have the life I have today. I am very satisfied with my current life; this is the best life in this era. But sometimes I wonder, what would my life be like if I hadn't lived in this era, but in a more peaceful world, without war, without conspiracies, and even without mystery and the extraordinary?"
Miss Felianna shook her head and said to Xia De:
"Look, this is the emotional and personality instability caused by being eroded by this forest for too long. Right now, it's just intermittent low mood, melancholic like an ordinary woman during her special time of the month. Later, the situation will become more and more serious."
"Teacher, I was just moved by what this gentleman said, that's all."
The Witch with brown long hair softly defended herself, while her companion patted her hand, telling her to say less.
"Actually, my life isn't that great either. Do you think being forced to face an evil god is a good life?"
Xia De retorted. He understood the Moon Witch's thoughts. When he was in his hometown, Xia De would occasionally wonder what life would be like if he lived in a world with extraordinary powers. But now that he was actually here, he really missed his past peaceful days:
"You only see the good side of my life, but you probably can't imagine that a few weeks ago, when I was walking on the road, I was almost shot dead by some inexplicable person."
"Was your era also chaotic?"
Miss Felianna said softly, then motioned for Xia De not to explain.
"As for a world without the extraordinary..."
Xia De looked at the bonfire in front of him:
"The burdens of life will crush people like us who have no home."
The giant tree canopy above obscured the night sky, and the reddish-gold bonfire cast the shadows of the four people in four directions. Xia De looked at the crackling bonfire and thought of his two lives:
"When you don't have it, you envy others. When you have it, you think the original was the best. So, cherish your current life. I am the one who envies you, madam, I envy that you have such a good teacher."
Miss Felianna, who was praised by Xia De, smiled at him, and the Moon Witch also looked up and smiled:
"You're very good at praising people. Teacher likes to hear such words. All right, Teacher, I won't say anymore. But, sir, would you like to accept a gift?"
"A gift?"
Xia De was puzzled and looked at the Witches in the light of the bonfire. All three smiled at him:
"We discussed it after you left last time. Your power is too weak, and no matter what, we should give you some power. But the barrier of time makes many things difficult to do, not to mention that our mystic power systems are different. Fortunately, Teacher knows some things about the Ring術士 system and understands that for you, the stories of the gods are also power."
"But gaining power isn't as simple as just listening to a story."
Xia De wanted to explain the matter of elements in detail, but Miss Felianna interrupted him:
"Repeatedly understanding and listening, capturing the traces left by the gods in the world at the moment the light of the soul blossoms—this is how a so-called Miracle is obtained. The stories we tell you are of course useless, but stories recorded on divine artifacts might be useful. By great coincidence, to prepare for the ritual of contacting the gods, we do have some similar items that record the story of the god 'yaobian gate.' Please listen carefully."
The two young Witches each went into their single tents to retrieve items. Miss Feilianna was given an exquisite seven-string lyre, the Moon Witch held a wooden spindle, and the Giant Tree Witch held a branch with green sprouts.
All three items were filled with rich Miracle elements, and their surfaces were covered with intricate writings that told stories.
Miss Felianna's hand caressed the strings. Whether it was the power of the lyre itself or the power of the Witch, the sound of the zither was like water drops falling into one's heart, spreading through the forest with the wind.
"In that distant era, even before myths were recorded, Ancient Gods walked the earth."
Her singing voice was soft but exceptionally beautiful. Her fingers plucked the strings, perfectly blending with the Witch's singing:
"On the first day, He met a fawn and gained a loyal servant."
Miss Felianna stood up from the bonfire and came before Xia De, allowing Xia De to reach out and touch the lyre on which the story was written.
She continued to pluck the strings. In the sound of the zither, the Moon Witch, holding the spindle, opened her mouth, her singing voice deep and ancient:
"On the second day, He picked a fresh flower, adding brilliant color to Himself."
The Moon Witch stood up from the bonfire and came before Xia De, allowing Xia De to reach out and touch the spindle on which the story was written.
Miss Felianna continued to pluck the strings. The Giant Tree Witch spoke amidst the zither's melody, her voice seeming to come from a distant place, long and serene:
"On the third day, He encountered the wisdom of the great tree, gaining ancient mysteries."
The Giant Tree Witch stood up from the bonfire and came before Xia De, allowing Xia De to reach out and touch the branch on which the story was written.
The firelight flickered. Xia De sat by the bonfire, and the three Witches stood before him, softly singing together:
"At the end of time and space, He transformed into a gate, guarding the fawn, favoring the flowers, and watching over the great tree. When all things come to their end, He will return with all that has departed."
The final sound was so low it was almost silent. The tree canopy above swayed in the wind, making a rustling sound. The fire on the ground flickered with the zither's melody, creating light and shadow.
The Witches all closed their eyes, letting the lingering notes tremble. Xia De felt a pull from behind him; it was time for him to go home.
【God once walked here, God once lingered here. He once had servants, He once had color. At the end of time and space, He has always watched over this place.】
【You have listened to the story of the Old God "yaobian gate." You have learned the Miracle of the Old God "yaobian gate."】
"Spell or Ling Rune?"
【Outsider, you have obtained the spell - Door Key. When you encounter a lock, you can open it.】
