Xia De and the Witches were now at Loranta Manor in the north of the City. The dining room was adorned with antique oil paintings and metal armor, with red and blue tapestries alternating on the walls between the slender French windows. Old gas lamps quietly illuminated the dining room in the misty afternoon.
Xia De's right index finger rested in front of his earlobe, and he tilted his head, unconsciously looking at the gold and silver utensils on the table:
"This sounds like an urban legend, but since even ordinary people can feel the Gap, the 'Holy Tree Mark' ritual probably can't be delayed."
"Tomorrow or the day after, which is Monday or Tuesday."
Grandma Cassandra gave the specific dates:
"Sicar Mountain is now completely sealed off, with local garrisons and police ensuring no one breaks in from the periphery.
The devout clergy from various parts of the Old Continent, gathered by the Five Gods Church, have already entered the mountainous area in batches this morning. According to the Speaker's estimation, the best time for this ritual is at dusk. That is, when the sun is about to set but not yet, and the moon is about to rise but not yet. In mysticism, dusk holds important meaning, and the alternation of the sun and moon can also represent the cycle of life and death."
"The ritual will be held tomorrow evening or the evening after tomorrow?"
Xia De summarized, nodding slowly.
"If you read this morning's Middsburg newspaper, you would have seen news of another earthquake occurring in the City in the past two days. The City Hall is reassuring the public not to leave the City because of this and to simply take protective measures at home. In addition, the City Hall is also planning to issue a City-wide curfew, but the specific details are still being discussed."
Grandma Cassandra added.
The Balance of the Between Life and Death is also maintained by the civilization of Middsburg. Therefore, even knowing what would happen if the ritual failed, the Church could not evacuate everyone in the City in advance, otherwise, without even waiting for the "Holy Tree Mark" to proceed, the Gap would immediately collapse.
"The worst-case scenario is a volcanic eruption."
Miss Aurora said softly:
"Accumulated death spews from the top of Sicar Mountain, and countless evil spirits return to the real world. Hopefully, this won't happen."
Someone knocked on the door, and then the dining room door opened. Miss Rita Swift, the Old Witch's apprentice, entered with maids, pushing a dining cart to deliver the main course after the pre-dinner dessert. Miss Swift was not the Old Witch's maid, but an apprentice had an obligation to perform duties for her teacher, including but not limited to labor, attendance, etc., and even in the Middle Ages, warming the bed was required, which is why Miss Swift led the maids in.
"Xia De, try Mi Fort's specialty. The meat of this Sicar Wild Ox is very good."
The Old Witch said with a chuckle, and on the silver plate in front of Xia De was a steak garnished with broccoli and tomatoes.
Xia De wanted to ask if he could see Grace and Helen, but Miss Aurora spoke at this moment:
"Xia De, there's a dangerous task we'd like to entrust to you."
Her voice was very soft. When Xia De looked at her, this Witch with long brown wavy hair actually shook her head slightly.
"What is it?"
"Excessive longing can allow the living to meet the dead in dreams. Based on this, the Great Witches of the Council have developed a ritual that can precisely locate targets within the Gap."
Grandma Cassandra said, and Xia De raised an eyebrow:
"So, you wouldn't be..."
"Yes, the Council hopes to use this method to find Joey Barton one step ahead of the Church. Of course, this method is certainly ineffective against a Chosen One, but we can locate that clown."
Miss Aurora said hesitantly, giving Xia De ample time to consider:
"The ritual can only send Middle-Ring or Low-Ring Ring術士 into the Gap, and the Gap is more dangerous now than ever before. You are the Ring術士 we currently know with the strongest resistance to the death power and whisper element of the Gap. So we hope you can enter the Gap and confirm Joey Barton's movements."
They didn't expect Xia De to kill Joey Barton. Although Xia De's performance was miraculous, he was only a Third-Ring, while the other party was a Chosen One who profoundly understood the meaning of death.
"Of course, you can refuse."
Miss Aurora added, emphasizing this sentence.
Xia De thought for a moment:
"Should I refuse?"
This was the question from his heart.
【What reason do you have to refuse?】
"She" chuckled in response.
"That's right."
Xia De sighed, a barely suppressed smile on his face. He had been worried this morning about not being able to find Joey Barton:
"When do we depart? Can I bring relics when entering the Gap in a dream? Also, can the ritual provide me with assistance for acting in the Gap?"
Miss Aurora sighed, while Grandma Cassandra seemed to have anticipated Xia De's agreement. The Old Witch said kindly:
"We need to prepare some ritual materials. You can depart anytime from midnight tonight until sunrise tomorrow.
Since it's entering a dream, you cannot bring any items, no spellcasting materials or relics. However, the ritual can guarantee you material-free spellcasting in your dream. You possess the power of a Witch, so the ritual will enhance your physical strength and the recovery speed of your spirit. Additionally, Aurora and I will provide you with assistance in the real world."
"Sounds pretty good."
Xia De nodded, calculating the time:
"I need to go home and prepare this afternoon, from 3 AM to..."
"Cassandra Auction House, the ritual will be held there. If you encounter a problem in the Gap that we cannot solve, the teachers can at least ensure your safe return."
Grandma Cassandra added.
"Okay, then I'll see you at 3 AM on Tuesday."
Xia De looked at the steak in front of him, realizing this would be his last chance to see Joey Barton before the Church's ritual.
Entering the Gap through a dream meant he couldn't carry any spellcasting materials, alchemical items, or relics, so Xia De didn't actually need to return to Tobesk for any preparations.
But since he was embarking on a dangerous adventure, he still went to the Prophet Association that afternoon to tell Luvia about the adventure that would happen in a dozen hours.
Luvia was very worried. Even though Xia De had entered the Gap many times, she was still uneasy:
"The matter of the death Chosen One is nearing its end. I also wanted to persuade Joey Barton not to do anything irrational, but it has already happened. Xia De, I don't think you meeting him again will persuade him to give up his ideas."
"What if I can kill him in the Gap?"
Xia De asked, holding the cat:
"Sister Devlin already knows the content of the Chosen One Ritual. Although I admire Joey Barton as a person, if he truly remains deluded, I will send him away."
He gently stroked the cat's back; Mia's body was very soft:
"We have already completed a quarter of the journey to find the thirteen Chosen Ones. I've done things more dangerous than this before."
The purple-eyed girl hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly:
"In the end, you still bear the greatest risk. I can only wait for news in Tobesk."
"We have different divisions of labor, which is normal. Besides, aren't you busy observing the Star Sea Whale recently? Those big guys should appear this week or next, right?"
"The diviner's silver coin helped me divine the exact time. It should be Wednesday night or Thursday night."
Luvia nodded:
"It's a pity our location isn't the best observation point. The Star Sea Whale's point of penetrating the spatial wall of the material world should be in the central-eastern part of the Old Continent."
Xia De stood up:
"Then I wish you a successful observation. If you can get a good ranking in the Astronomical Academy's event, your score for this winter's year-end evaluation should be very high. So, I'll take my leave now. I want to go see Doctor Schneider; he might give me some advice on entering dreams. Wish me luck, Luvia."
He said, holding Mia in his left arm and lifting the reluctant cat's paw with his right hand, shaking it at Luvia:
"If things go smoothly, you'll see me tomorrow afternoon."
He walked out of the room, leaving only Luvia resting her face on her right hand, looking at the glass on the other side of the room:
"Although we have different divisions of labor, every time you say goodbye to me and go on an adventure alone..."
At one moment, the worried purple-eyed girl actually saw her own reflection in the window glass. But the light inside and outside the room should not have been enough to form a reflection on the glass.
"Who?"
She immediately stood up and rummaged through her pocket for dust that could track evil spirits. She cautiously went to the window and sprinkled it onto the glass, but nothing happened.
Luvia was very sure that it was absolutely not an illusion just now. She frowned and looked around the room, wanting to directly find the Association President, Mr. Stan, a high-ranking Prophet, to have him inspect the room.
But at this moment, a sigh suddenly came from her ear. Luvia finally relaxed slightly; she had heard this voice many times before.
【Do you crave power?】
The whisper in her ear sounded, "her" tone always so sad.
"Of course I crave it, but what just happened? You must have seen it too, that wasn't my hallucination... Wait, this feeling is..."
Luvia frowned slightly, finally grasping the strange feeling from just now:
"I captured a fragment of fate? Because I divined the ritual needed by the third Chosen One, my divination ability has improved again? But, I don't understand what that meant just now."
The voice in her ear sounded again, and Luvia tilted her head to listen:
【Look closely.】
So she continued to stare at the glass, and then she saw a blood-stained parchment scroll:
"Is this a relic?"
She pursed her lips, watching the phantom of the blood-stained parchment on the glass gradually disappear. And in the position where the parchment had been, Xia De's figure appeared.
The young Detective left the Prophet Association with an orange cat on his shoulder. Luvia even noticed that he paused to look in the direction of Yodel Palace before merging into the crowd on Silver Cross Avenue and turning towards Saint Delan Square:
"The relic just now, it seems to be what Xia De mentioned... contained in the Sun Church... Why would this appear...?"
The purple-eyed girl's brows were tightly furrowed.
---End of Side Note---
PS: The previous chapter added details. The Chosen One Ritual suicide will not lead to suicide reversal.
