The “wedding banquet” refers to the wedding of Leia’s sister, Mona Cavendish, tomorrow, which is Tuesday. As for how the other party knew about this, Xia De didn't even think about it. Since the Lake Goddess knew he wanted divinity, she would naturally know about a small matter like a wedding.
At this moment, the setting sun had already dyed half the sky red. The surface of the water in Lake Heart Island reflected the setting sun, turning the small fish at the bottom of the lake red as well. The evening breeze blew, causing ripples on the lake. Being here, Xia De actually felt an inexplicable sense of peace:
“May I ask, do you know who I am?”
He had wanted to ask this question from the beginning, but he held back until now to prevent the lake from disappearing after he asked it.
“No, I don’t know who you are.”
The White-robed Lady shook her head slightly, her silvery-white hair also turning red in the setting sun:
“But when you stepped onto the lake, I understood everything.”
Xia De nodded:
“Then you are...”
He asked inquisitively.
“You may call me Lady Kirube.”
The White-robed Lady replied with a smile, but Xia De wanted to know more than just a simple name.
Since the other party was unwilling to speak, Xia De didn't dare to continue asking. He roughly had an idea: the other party was not a god, but was related to one, and after he brushed past this lake yesterday, Priest Augustus said this morning that he had a familiar scent... Xia De felt that he probably needed to consult more documents to confirm his idea.
“I will complete the task, but once I complete it, how should I see you next time?”
Although the stories of those witnesses were very interesting, he didn't want to go looking for a new “Lake Goddess” witness again and then ride his horse around, trying his luck.
“When you complete the trial, bring a clever animal, and it will guide you, leading you to Lake Cherub again.”
This also sounded like some kind of fairy tale. Xia De nodded slightly, deciding to bring his cat next time. Mia was the smartest animal he had ever seen.
“There’s one more thing.”
Xia De said again. Of course, he hadn't forgotten the people who had helped him in his pursuit of this mysterious lake:
“My two friends also came before you. One is an Old Professor of folklore, who wants to know what happened to him back then; the other is Mr. Roland the Poet, who wants you to take back the good luck he is unable to bear.”
After speaking, he quickly looked towards the setting sun. Although it was getting late, fortunately, the lake had not yet disappeared.
The White-robed Lady with the staff smiled and shook her head:
“Taking back the good luck I once bestowed is a small matter, but I will slightly increase the difficulty of the next three trials.”
Xia De hesitated for a moment:
“No problem.”
Since Mr. Roland the Poet trusted him and had paid him in advance, Xia De naturally had to keep his promise.
The White-robed Lady took a poetry collection from her robe pocket and handed it to Xia De:
“This is the payment he made. As for the limb, it cannot be recovered.”
“It’s alright, just take back his excess luck.”
Xia De shook his head indifferently and put away the poetry manuscript as proof of completing the commission.
“What exactly did Professor Drake experience here?”
Since the other party could so easily take back blessings, Xia De felt that this Lady probably wouldn't mind telling him what the Professor had forgotten.
But the White-robed Lady with the staff unexpectedly shook her head:
“This question will be answered next time. It’s not because this visit is over, but because it’s related to your next trial.”
“But...”
“You’ll have time next time, won’t you?”
The White-robed Lady asked, her golden eyes facing the setting sun, sparkling. Unlike the common dark golden eyes of Witches, her eyes were pure gold.
Looking at those golden eyes, Xia De felt his heart become even calmer. He let out a long breath:
“Alright, then this visit is over... Oh, I almost forgot, next time I come, can I bring my friends here?”
Xia De asked again, and the White-robed Lady gave an affirmative reply this time:
“No problem, but you can only bring one additional person at a time. Also, if they ask me questions, it will consume the gifts I originally intended for you after you complete the first three trials.”
The surrounding scenery was gradually becoming transparent, and Lake Cherub and Lake Heart Island seemed to be melting into the intense setting sun.
“Yes, I understand. Thank you for your help, we’ll see each other next time.”
Xia De bowed respectfully on the lake surface again.
“Please remember, Knowledge is sometimes power, and your wisdom is your greatest wealth.”
The Lady said softly.
“Can the three gifts after completing the first three tasks be replaced with information about the Chosen One of knowledge and wisdom?”
The lake had almost disappeared into the light. As the surrounding bare apple orchard gradually appeared, Xia De heard her last words, with a smile in her voice:
“Of course, Outsider, follower of the epic, may wisdom be with you.”
The scenery of Lake Cherub completely disappeared. Xia De found himself standing beside the bay horse, which was looking around boredly, as if nothing around had changed at all.
“The Lake Goddess is definitely related to the Old God 【Guardian Mentor】. Hmm... The style of the incidents I encountered in Huntington City in the South Country is truly completely different from that in the North Country.”
Not only was the scenery here pleasant, but the incidents encountered were also more like fairy tales. Compared to the evil gods in Tobesk, the ugly mermen in Coldwater Port, and the various evil spirits in Middlesburg, being able to visit the “Lake Goddess” with a horse in a comfortable winter afternoon was what Xia De imagined his experiences should be like.
“The focus now is tomorrow’s wedding banquet.”
Riding the bay horse, Xia De rode towards the setting sun, returning to the city from the western part of Huntington City. He visited Mr. Roland the Poet and, to the latter's astonished expression, threw the poetry manuscript to him.
Since Professor Drake’s matter had not been resolved yet, Xia De did not go to find the Old Professor, but rode his horse back to White River Valley Vineyard. After entering the hidden wall deep in the wine cellar, he first returned home to “take” Mia, and then went to Middlesburg.
He walked out of the ruined tower in the mountains and descended the mountain path, facing the last ray of the setting sun.
His first destination was the House of the Blind in Lufu Lane. After contacting Sister Devlin, he first explained that the Pantanal Evil could be used as fuel for the Original Fire, and then told the blind nun the story of the “Lake Goddess” and what had just happened:
“The Pantanal Evil is related to the Great Swamp. I currently have no more clues, so you can arrange for the Cult to investigate this.
But the Lake Goddess is key. Since the fairy tale Water of Wisdom recorded on the stone tablet in the Sacrificial Ground of the Spiritual Cultivation Order is related to the legend of the Lake Goddess, then why don’t you come with me to that mysterious lake next time? I think Lady Kirube can most likely tell us the location of the divided First Fire.”
Xia De held up three fingers:
“The three wishes after completing the first three trials must be put to their greatest use. The news of the Chosen One, the divided First Fire you are looking for, demons, angels... *cough cough*, just pretend I didn’t say the last two words.”
Although the weather had turned cold, Sister Devlin seemed to always be dressed in her black and gray nun’s habit. However, after becoming the Chosen One of death, her skin seemed to be fairer than before, even though Iluna had shown no changes at the time.
The silver crown-shaped eye patch was still so magnificent and astonishing. Sister Devlin sat on the sofa in the House of the Blind and nodded gently:
“Whether it’s for the fuel or the location of the divided First Fire, I should personally go to Huntington. Moreover, it seems a bit impolite to use a clone to meet that ‘Lake Goddess’.”
“Does the Sacrificial Ground on the Peak of the Mountains have an exit in Carson Rick? You can take a train to Huntington City. Although I can complete the trial tomorrow, I can wait for you for a few days.”
Xia De suggested. Sister Devlin clasped her hands on her lap, revealing a serene smile:
“Fire-bearer bathed in the First Fire, we have other ways.
Grandma Cassandra has been looking for a relic that allows safe space travel, and it seems there’s been a breakthrough. Xia De, let’s go to Cassandra Auction House for dinner. Grandma will be very happy with our visit.”
Just as Sister Devlin said, the Old Witch who operated a chain of auction houses was very happy about Xia De and Sister Devlin’s arrival. She asked her apprentice, Miss Rita Swift, to rearrange tonight’s dinner, and then had the servants notify Grace and Helen that Xia De had arrived.
Xia De actually came here every week to visit the twin girls, and the spatial relic Grandma Cassandra was looking for was also to allow Grace and Helen to visit Saint Delan Square Six. After all, due to their own curses and the nature of the relic, they could currently only move around in Middlesburg, Saint Delan Square Six, and Xia De’s vicinity, and the girls had always wanted to visit Xia De’s home.
Dinner was arranged in the restaurant on the top floor of the Cassandra Auction House. As the headquarters of a famous chain auction house on the entire Old Continent, it naturally would not lack a restaurant with such a function.
The streetscape of Middlesburg in early winter, viewed from the window, was still somewhat different from Tobesk. The sun had set, and above the hazy mist lay a brilliant sea of stars.
The restaurant on the top floor of the auction house was lit by maple leaf-shaped gas lamps. The Old Witch, smiling happily, Sister Devlin, with seemingly always the same expression, Xia De, who was glad he brought his cat so he could freeload a meal, Grace and Helen, sitting to Xia De’s left and right respectively, took their seats. After Miss Swift arranged for the servants to serve the dishes, Grandma Cassandra exceptionally allowed her to eat with them, which made the somewhat insecure young apprentice very happy.
At the dinner table, it was naturally not just about eating. Although Xia De didn’t know why the ladies at the table were waiting for him to speak, he still talked about seeing Miss Silvia, the Great Witch of the Thirteen Seats, last week.
Grandma Cassandra spoke highly of this young Witch, believing that her wisdom and talent were top-notch in the council, and encouraged Xia De to take advantage of Miss Silvia’s visit to Tobesk to learn about space Knowledge from her:
“Since Silvia met you, she will definitely think you are her kind of person.”
The Old Witch was very accurate in her judgment:
“Even if she invites you to be her apprentice, I wouldn’t be surprised. So, if you have the opportunity, you can learn more from her. Silvia is happy to share Knowledge with people, although sometimes she can be very stubborn, but most people suitable for scholarship are like that.”
