"Yes, please tell me, is it possible for a mortal to become a god?"
Xia De, whose thoughts had been exposed, did not deny it. As he asked, he raised his head, facing the Old God directly. The golden cracks on his body were like the lingering glow of a bonfire, so similar to the bright golden hair of the God.
Miss Felianna seemed to understand something at this moment.
The God was still smiling, and He gave the Outsider an answer:
"It's not possible, at least not in this era and your era, absolutely impossible."
Xia De nodded:
"Then I..."
"That is a question that cannot be answered."
"Then you..."
"In the distant past, I once incarnated as a Saint, walking the material world with that great one, the Tree Father. My identity then was Princess Tavel of the Elf King's royal family. From how mortals refer to me, you should understand that I am merely the God of Space. 【Kiss of the Tree】 describes the story of the ancient god—the Father of Infinite Trees—who has long departed, bestowing a portion of His power upon me, granting me the divine responsibilities of Time and Nature."
His voice was like an ethereal singing voice, or the most peaceful lullaby in the quiet night, or even like ancient book pages self-reciting past stories in a silent, deserted Library.
The Moon Witch had already closed her eyes, bowed her head, and covered her ears. Miss Felianna closed her eyes and tilted her head. The golden cracks on Xia De's body had fully appeared, and he still wanted to delve deeper:
"You were originally a God. Ancient Gods are Gods that existed since the beginning of the world. So what exactly are Old Gods?"
"That also belongs to a question that cannot be answered."
The God said. Xia De knew he was being too greedy, so he nodded gently:
"Thank you for your answer. Praise be to you, ancient yaobian gate."
He still had many questions, and he would encounter more Old Gods to answer those questions about the truth of the world. This was probably also a path of sublimation, representing Xia De's closeness to the essence of the world.
The God no longer spoke, and Xia De looked at Miss Felianna:
"Do you have any other questions? If not, let's complete this ritual."
"No, please wait a moment."
The Witch said unexpectedly. She opened her dark golden eyes and looked at Xia De:
"I didn't expect you to help us in the end, but I suppose you'll be leaving after the ritual is complete, won't you?"
This question also made the young Moon Witch look at Xia De. Xia De wanted to show a smile on his face, but he couldn't:
"Yes, I think my task is complete."
He didn't know what to say. Miss Felianna took out a book, or rather, a notebook, from her robe:
"This is a gift for you."
She handed the notebook to Xia De and blinked. Although helpless, Xia De really had to leave:
"Since you call me teacher, of course, I must also teach you some Knowledge. It's just that your power system is completely different from ours, and the distant ages have caused the names of alchemy ingredients and magical potion materials to change too much. This records some Knowledge that I think might be useful to you, as well as some of my experiences. I think this will be useful."
"Did you prepare this in advance?"
Xia De took the notebook, somewhat surprised that he had such an honor to receive an item from the Academy's Founding member.
"We prepared it together."
She looked at her student, her true student. The Moon Witch smiled at Xia De, the desolate expression on her face growing stronger:
"Then farewell, future man."
Miss Felianna nodded, and then the "four people" by the bonfire stood up together.
The Moon Witch almost stumbled when she stood up, and Xia De reached out to support her. Then Miss Felianna and the Moon Witch stood behind Xia De, because with the God standing up, the oppressive feeling that almost overwhelmed everything made them unable to stand.
"But where is the Door?"
The Witches asked softly.
Xia De thought for a moment, drew out a playing card, and lightly tossed it. The card flew towards the treetop, cut off three leaves, and then flew back into Xia De's hand.
He put away the playing card, then opened his palm to catch the leaves.
Xia De distributed the leaves to the Witches, and the three of them together placed the leaves in front of their eyes. The leaves blocked their vision, but also allowed them to see a golden haloed Door frame on the thick ancient tree trunk.
"It is indeed so."
Xia De stepped forward, wanting to open the Door with 【Key of the Door】, but the power of the spell had no effect on this Door. If opening Mr. Jude's safe in Coldwater Port was like pushing a large stone, then now it was like pushing the entire world.
He summoned his Destiny Ring and illuminated the Door frame with the 【Space】 Ling Rune, but still, there was no reaction.
"What else did you prepare back then?"
Xia De turned to ask the Witches again. They leaned together and shook their heads gently, apparently having forgotten as well.
The information provided by the Guiding Light Hermitage also did not include this step. Xia De carefully recalled the fairy tale, searching his memory for different endings that Dorothy had told him.
"In the firelight, the Princess and the Tree walked towards their end."
This was the content of Saturday evening's class this week, and Xia De remembered it very clearly. And thinking of this, Xia De looked at the crimson-gold flame:
"Was this flame summoned by your Witch's abilities? I remember you said this flame protected you from being swallowed by the darkness of the Thousand Tree Forest."
Xia De pointed to the bonfire, and Miss Felianna gave the answer:
"The flame was brought in by us in a small jar. I only remember that it can repel darkness."
"Which means, it might have another purpose."
Xia De concluded, looking at the silent God standing by. He smiled at him.
So he selected a longer branch from the pile of firewood. After igniting it with the bonfire, Xia De took the branch to the tree and looked up at the giant tree.
He lowered his head, holding a leaf in one hand to his eye, and extending the branch with the other, wanting to touch the tree trunk. But after thinking about it, he stopped, and said with some regret to the nervous Witches behind him:
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Teacher Mana Feilianna. I wish you to always continue on your path."
After speaking, he looked at the Moon Witch, only then realizing that he didn't know her true name.
"My name is Blainey Oranode. This is an Elven surname. I have one-eighth Elven blood."
The young Witch said softly.
"Miss Olanorde, I also wish you to always accompany Miss Felianna."
Xia De said softly, hesitating whether he should speak. The God saw his intention:
"After they leave this forest, most of their memories, except for the Knowledge they sought from me regarding the establishment of large-scale independent spaces, will be lost during this period. The Thousand Tree Forest will not allow mortals to take memories away."
"My name is Xia De · Su Lun · Han Mi Er Dun."
He finally spoke his name. Miss Jialinna and the Moon Witch both nodded. Even if they might forget, at least at this moment, they intended to remember him.
Listening to the rustling sound above his head, Xia De seemed to suddenly think of something and said to the Moon Witch again:
"Miss Olanorde, may I make a request? If you become a Library administrator in the future, please set a small rule: the position of administrator should try to find those favored by the Moon to inherit it. Because the ancient god—the Silver Moon Sage—also possesses the power of Knowledge."
Xia De's request was not considered a disruption of history, because Miss Daniste did say that Saint Byron's had such a rule. Xia De's action was actually to seek benefits for himself, as it was known that besides the current administrator, Xia De was the purest Moon in Saint Byron's.
"No problem."
Xia De took a deep breath, took one last look at the Witches behind him, and then brought the burning crimson-gold flame from the branch closer to the golden Door frame on the tree trunk. The flame ignited the Door frame, and then all the flames from the bonfire burning behind them actually flew over.
A long stream of fire illuminated the four people under the giant tree, until all the flames converged, creating a visible crimson-gold Door on the tree trunk.
The bonfire had extinguished, and there were no other light sources under the tree. In the dim, oppressive space under the tree, the Witches and Xia De bowed slightly to the God together.
He nodded in response, then walked towards the Door. With a gentle push, the Door on the tree trunk opened, and the God walked inside.
That Door automatically closed, and the swirling crimson-gold flames gradually extinguished. Without the protection of that strange flame, the eerie and oppressive darkness of the Thousand Tree Forest enveloped them. whispers appeared in their ears, and open eyes floated in the air. It seemed even the area of the clearing was shrinking, as the forest was encroaching upon it.
Xia De and the Witches stood together. The God's temporary departure made the golden marks on Xia De's body disappear, and they also became a bit more energetic:
"Xia De, are you afraid now?"
Miss Felianna asked. Xia De shook his head:
"Actually, I have the ability to glow in complete darkness."
Although Luvia didn't think much of this special ability, Xia De still wanted to emphasize it.
"That's good. That means you will never be swallowed by darkness."
The Moon Witch said softly.
The treetop above was descending, and the surrounding branches, like strange tentacles, reached out towards the three in the darkness.
"Xia De, now I will teach you the last lesson: no matter what darkness you face in the future, you must always believe in your own light. That is the purest power we possess as not-so-ordinary humans."
Miss Felianna shouted loudly in the darkness:
"Get ready, my students, I'll count...
One, two, three!"
The darkness finally completely enveloped them. The strange light from Xia De's body illuminated their movements.
The three simultaneously raised their right hands:
"Silver Moon!"
"Amber Moon!"
"Felianna's Witch Light!"
The three on the ground leaned together, and the fingertips of their three fingers simultaneously erupted with dazzling light. Dark gold, amber, holy silver—that ultimate light illuminated the dense branches around them, illuminated the intertwined vines like monsters, and illuminated the boundless darkness.
The shadows of the three spread outwards, overlapping, and the light also illuminated each person's face.
