By the time Xia De had changed his clothes and returned to the living room with the cat, who looked like she was dozing off, Luvia had already brought out the teapot.
Over three months, the high-grade black tea left by Sparrow Detective had been completely consumed, but Xia De, to commemorate the Detective, had specifically found a shop in the city selling the same tea leaves and purchased more.
Thus, the black tea they were drinking was still of the same kind.
“All in all, from the people I’ve met, I suspect Priest Augustus and Sister Devlin of the Spiritual Cultivation Order are Chosen Ones.
This suspicion is baseless and of little value.”
Xia De stated his findings, placing the last remaining blood money on the table.
Luvia, toying with the 【Upright Coin】 in her hand, quietly listened to Xia De recount his experiences before and after rescuing Priest Augustus:
“The only thing that can be confirmed now is that the third Chosen One is the Chosen One of ‘death’.”
She summarized, looking at the coin in her hand:
“I already tried it during the day; this coin has a very poor compatibility with my Diviner abilities.
I can’t divine much with it.”
After all, the main characteristic of the 【Upright Coin】 lay in its upright state, not its tradability.
The current situation was different from when the Chosen One of “Darkness” appeared over a month ago.
Back then, Xia De had obtained a whole pouch of special coins from the Fishbone Pirate Ship, but now they only had two coins in their hands, and all three of them believed that the blood money should not be used casually.
“I applied to the Church for money-related relics some time ago.
I think there should be a result this week.”
Iluna reminded them, but if there were only one or two, it would still be impossible to accurately find the Chosen One as they did last time.
“Then the recent arrangements are: I’ll try my luck in Middlesburg, learn about the local customs and legends, and monitor the Between Life and Death to prepare for what happens next.
You two are responsible for finding coins or inquiring about news from the Prophet Association and the Church.”
Xia De said:
“Currently, it seems that the whispering chapters containing information about the Chosen One of death are at least partially held by the Five Gods Church, while the College likely knows very little.”
He looked at Iluna, who nodded:
“No problem, I’ll try my best to get information this week.
If the Church confirms the matter of the Chosen One, they will also send me to Middlesburg.
Also, Xia De, here’s something for you.”
She pulled out a familiar brooch with a sun emblem from her handbag:
“The commotion in Middlesburg should be even greater than Darkness’s commotion last month.
The matter of the whispering chapters will become increasingly important in the material world, Xia De.
You must be careful in your actions in Middlesburg.”
“I understand, I have some friends there who can help me.”
Xia De nodded and took the brooch.
Mia immediately widened her eyes and looked at it.
Aside from the two rings on her tail, this cat had always been very interested in items related to the power of the sun, for example, she liked to sunbathe and take afternoon naps.
Xia De then looked at Luvia:
“Also, can you find some information about the Spiritual Cultivation Order at the Prophet Association?
I want to know if the emergence of the Order is related to the local traditions of worshipping death, worshipping the Moonlight, and worshipping the mountains.”
Not asking Iluna for help was to prevent the Church from focusing on the blind nuns and monks.
Luvia nodded:
“Speaking of which, that reminds me.
The Spiritual Cultivation Order does worship death, and perhaps besides Sister Devlin whom you mentioned, there are others within the Order related to 【death】.”
“I’ll pay attention, but I don’t think it will be very smooth since I don’t have much reason to focus on the talents of every member within the Order.
Oh, also, does anyone know about the Phoenix?”
Xia De suddenly asked, briefly recounting his afternoon experience, then taking out the red stone of unknown material.
There was no sunlight now, but Iluna could simulate the sun’s light, allowing the three of them to see the flying bird within the red stone.
“There is some basic Knowledge about exotic species in Miss Felianna’s residual thoughts.
I only know that this creature can revive in fire.”
“I don’t know much about this creature, but I remember a Phoenix appeared when I drew Diviner cards at the beginning of the month.”
Luvia reminded him, and Xia De nodded.
Xia De was the 【Phoenix】, Luvia was the 【Broken Fate】, the doctor was the 【Lucky One】, Priest Augustus was 【death】, and Dorothy was the 【Red Butterfly】.
“I know!”
Iluna gave an answer Xia De hadn't expected, and seeing the other two look at her, the seventeen-year-old girl felt a bit embarrassed:
“The image of the Phoenix is related to the sun, so our Church has a lot of Knowledge about the Phoenix.
However, the Phoenix is an extinct exotic creature.
It’s unknown whether they all left the material world or are hidden somewhere.
The Church believes that Cerces Higher Medical College, one of the Three Great Arcane Academies, should have relevant information and perhaps know where the Phoenixes went.”
“Do you think the Ancient One who sealed the mountain top passage in the Gap is the Phoenix?”
Luvia asked Xia De, who nodded:
“Just a guess.”
The three discussed the third Chosen One until late at night.
The 【Upright Coin】 was returned to Xia De by Luvia, as it was useless for her to keep it.
Iluna left at ten o’clock in the evening; she had another task the next day.
Luvia, however, did not leave.
Her pile of stargazing instruments had finally been installed after two days of busy work, so before the best stargazing period in autumn ended, which was about the next half-month, she would spend many nights at Xia De’s place every few days.
Today was the first day of stargazing, and since she started working at ten o’clock, she would probably be busy until around one in the morning.
The first floor of Saint Delan Square Six had already been prepared with a bed, which Luvia could use at any time.
So, after greeting the female Diviner, Xia De returned to his bedroom after washing up.
First, he copied the story of “sleeping princess” given by Leia, then he flipped through “The Book of Wild Thunder,” the textbook for the next Ling Rune guided by the College.
He left his desk and went to bed at eleven o’clock.
Hot tea was placed on the bedside table, and Xia De, holding the cat under the gas lamp above his bed, read his second-year textbook, “The Departed great one: Old God,” for a while.
This book was twice as thick as an ordinary red brick, and he didn’t turn off the light until around midnight.
He planned to depart for Middlesburg at nine o’clock tomorrow morning because the Priest had agreed to meet at ten.
Afterward, he could wander around the mountain city, whether to visit local folklorists or to search for that relic sword.
After closing his eyes, the Outsider, who had excellent sleep quality, quickly fell into a dream, and silence descended upon the bedroom.
After an unknown period, Mia, curled up beside the pillow, suddenly opened her eyes, her large amber eyes seemingly glowing in the Darkness.
She stood up instantly, first meticulously sharpening her claws on Xia De’s pillow, and then let out a sharp meow towards the door:
“Meow~”
“What’s wrong?”
Xia De, who was very alert, suddenly sat up.
The Moonlight from his right hand illuminated the bedroom door, while his left hand directly drew the Moonlight Greatsword and held it in front of him.
And in that light, was the purple-eyed girl in pajamas.
The white garment was very thin, somewhat unsuitable for the season, but the small white flower tucked behind her ear was quite pretty:
“Young Knight, I am a poor girl passing by.
It’s a bit cold tonight, do you mind if I warm myself here?”
Luvia said, tilting her head.
“Hmm.”
The Moonlight from Xia De’s right hand was still bright, but the sword in his left hand dissolved into twinkling silver light points and disappeared.
He also noticed that Luvia was barefoot.
“Oh, handsome Knight, please grant my request.
It’s really cold outside.”
She said with a smile, her purple eyes reflecting the light from Xia De’s fingertips, the purple glow diffused in the Darkness was very pretty.
Although her actual age was a bit older than the Outsider’s current body, Luvia truly had a girlish charm.
Speaking of which, among the girls Xia De currently knew, only seventeen-year-old Iluna and sixteen-year-old Angelina were younger than him.
“Is this a dream or reality?”
Xia De asked in his mind.
“Reality, the kind of reality you wish for.”
“She” chuckled softly.
The purple-eyed girl walked inside the door, her hands behind her back, her back against the door, slowly closing the bedroom door, her fair feet treading the floor, making a very interesting sound:
“Knight, tonight, are you willing to touch my Darkness?”
Xia De had heard this metaphor before; it was mentioned in “The Queen and Her Lovers,” the book left by Sparrow Detective.
He had thoroughly studied that book.
Dispelling the Moonlight from his fingertips, he looked at the cat beside him, then at the tightly closed bedroom door, and finally at the wardrobe by the wall.
Thus, Mia spent the remainder of that night in the wardrobe.
