The joy of defeating the Flame Demon and obtaining the Demon Hunter's longsword brought a perfect end to the first week of withered leaf month. However, on the very next day, Monday, Xia De had to face the troubles he had on hand once more.
The doctor arrived very early, and Xia De directed him straight behind the Dark Gate in the basement. Before breakfast, Xia De sent a letter to Administrator, "Red Moon Witch" Daniste, via the pages of the poetry manuscript in his hand, explaining that he had obtained the 【yellow moon】 Ling Rune.
The reply was sent back just after Xia De finished breakfast. So, after simple preparations, Xia De performed the four-chair undead ritual, once again projecting himself from Saint Delan Square to the Academy Library in the far north.
When Xia De appeared, the two Saint Byron's students assisting the ritual immediately left. Xia De turned to look at their retreating figures; one of them even had a small bat symbol floating above his head, indicating he was also a Vampire.
"The Academy actually recruits Vampires as students?"
He curiously asked the Thirteenth-Ring Female Sorcerer sitting on the long sofa. The two were now in the quiet, spacious clearing in the center of the Library, surrounded by bookshelves of varying heights extending beyond Xia De's sight. Above them, a star map was drawn, and a metallic spherical astrolabe hung from the ceiling.
The astrolabe, which Xia De couldn't understand at all, slowly rotated, leaving traces of twinkling light on the ceiling.
Perhaps because it was still early, there weren't too many footsteps in the Library. Even diligent Ring術士 probably wouldn't come to the Academy Library to study at around seven in the morning.
"Yes, there is a Vampire clan residing in Saint Byron's."
The red-haired Sorceress was still the same. On the tea table in front of her lay a stack of untidily piled books, which, judging by their appearance, all seemed to be copies of the textbook "Basic Potionology" that Xia De had received.
"I'm glad you took the initiative to contact me about the Silver Moon Library, Mr. Hamilton. I've already read your letter. You said you obtained the yellow moon Ling Rune?"
"Yes."
Saying this, Xia De, in his projected state, summoned his Destiny Ring from behind him.
"Oh, Three-Ring Arcanist? And at Three-Ring Arcanist, you already have two Ling Runes?"
Administrator Daniste asked in surprise, but after a moment's thought, she didn't say much more:
"In that case, you can consider advancing to third year after the exams at the end of the year. This progress is truly fast."
Miracle could still be used in a projected state; the professors who came to Xia De's house had demonstrated this. So, after confirming that it was indeed the yellow moon Ling Rune, Administrator Daniste once again took out the black-covered book that helped her find the "Silver Moon Library."
She laid the book flat on her lap. The core Ling Rune "Red Moon" in the center of the Thirteen Ring Sorcerer's Destiny Ring projected spiritual light. On Xia De's Destiny Ring behind him, the core Ling Rune "Silver Moon" and the Three-Ring Arcanist Ling Rune "yellow moon" also projected spiritual light together.
On the originally blank pages, as the brass and golden spiritual light shone upon them, faint traces gradually appeared. But just like last time, the content of the book still did not fully manifest.
"It seems that mere Ling Runes are not enough; it still requires core Ling Runes."
The Administrator shook her head with some regret:
"The traces are indeed clearer than last time, but they are still unidentifiable."
"By the way, when will Cerces's Guiding Moon finally arrive in Tobesk?"
Xia De couldn't help but ask.
"Soon, by the end of this month or early next month. At that time, I'll have to trouble you to collect his spiritual light traces."
Administrator Daniste closed the black-covered book, then looked up at Xia De's Destiny Ring behind him, which was gradually fading into the steam mist:
"Silver Moon and yellow moon, how interesting. If you can obtain the 【Red Moon】 Ling Rune as well, then you will be qualified to learn that Thirteenth Ring Miracle, evolved from the fifth epoch Witch's spell, when you reach Thirteenth Ring."
"What Miracle?"
"【Forgiveness of the Moon Goddess】. It requires three months' worth of Ling Runes, and they can only be 【yellow moon】, 【Red Moon】, and 【Silver Moon】; similar concepts are not allowed. Also, at least one of the three moons must be a core Ling Rune. This is a Thirteenth Ring Miracle exclusive to Saint Byron's, left by the Academy's first Librarian. It is said that its prototype is a power from the fourth epoch or even earlier."
"The first Administrator..."
The image of Olanorde instantly flashed into Xia De's mind. Embracing her in the past seemed to have just happened yesterday... Yesterday was Sunday, so it really did happen yesterday morning.
To stop himself from overthinking, Xia De quickly ended the topic:
"Oh, is there any progress in investigating the appearance of Ms. Mana Feilianna in Tobesk? Everyone in our group is very curious."
"Ring術士 all over the world would be curious, but unfortunately, no traces were left there. Currently, the most valuable clue is actually the memories of the eyewitnesses at the time."
Speaking of this, Administrator Daniste also had a bit of a headache:
"Recently, I've been searching through the previous epoch's materials in the Library, hoping to find some clues. But Mr. Hamilton, this Library is piled with old parchment scrolls, probably enough to pave the road from here to your home. Librarians all have this 'good habit'; no matter what kind of document, once it enters the Library, even if it has no value, it will not be thrown away."
"Is that so? This reminds me of the Old God who has already fallen, the Guardian of the Library, 【Grey-Robed Sage】."
Xia De said casually, as if by accident;
"I remember this deity's divine arts all seemed to be related to the Library."
"Yes, and also, the Old God's divine arts are now called spells; do not mistake this point."
Administrator Daniste said very rigorously. She also knew what Xia De meant:
"But there are not many remaining statues or powerful items of this deity. It is not easy to learn the spells corresponding to this deity. By the way, this great one also helped Saint Byron's. In the early days of the Academy Library's establishment, his followers, following divine oracle, completed the initial framework of the Library. The power I now wield, to retrieve the correct book from any bookshelf with a wave of my hand, is related to this Library and the power granted to me by the Administrator position, and this power originates from the underlying ritual framework of the Library."
"The founders of the Academy were very familiar with that great one's cult?"
"I don't know about that, but it is said to be because the first generation Administrator once completed a task for the great one 【Grey-Robed Sage】. This is recorded in Zaras's documents."
It seemed that the task Xia De was currently experiencing in the fifth epoch year 3024 directly determined the appearance of the Library he was currently in. Past and present were once again linked. In the era when the 【Father of Infinite Trees】 had already departed, Xia De would continue to connect those orderly but disjointed times through His power.
"The Father of Infinite Trees is with you," "She" whispered in Xia De's ear, praising him.
In the quiet Library, Xia De narrowed his eyes, while Administrator Daniste picked up her teacup, lost in thought. There was no wind here, only just the right amount of light from an unknown source, illuminating every inch of the runic floor and every old bookshelf filled with books.
Inspiration surged, and Xia De suddenly thought that perhaps thousands of years ago in the previous epoch, Ms. Felianna, Olanorde, and the girl Fiona with the Red Dragon tail, had also stood here, and had also recalled Xia De here, just as Xia De now recalled them.
The same space, different times. Xia De even wanted to reach out at this moment to touch the air in front of him, because the people who had passed away had truly existed here.
"Perhaps they also, at the other end of time, imagined me appearing here a thousand years later, sitting on the sofa and looking back at their position."
Xia De thought to himself.
"Time and space intersect here."
"So what?"
"So, go continue those stories that have already happened."
