On the streets of Yadith, inside the private carriage belonging to Shadi, a translucent mummy-like wraith examined the thick book in Shadi’s hands. Ghostly flames flickered ceaselessly in its eyes, as if it were analyzing something. Seeing this, Shadi spoke up again.
“Can you tell if there’s anything unusual about this book?”
“Mm… Open it up and take a look; don’t flip too far, just go to the first page.”
Following Setut’s suggestion, Shadi opened Peter’s Story Collection to the first page after the cover, revealing an unremarkable table of contents. Nothing looked out of place.
“Don’t turn elsewhere yet—just wait a moment…”
Seeing only an ordinary contents page, Setut continued. Shadi did as told and let the page rest open before him. A few seconds passed, and suddenly the blank part of the page began to change. A line of Ufiga script appeared out of thin air.
“Hello, Mr. Shadi.”
“What the… is this a mystical item?”
Shadi muttered with a frown. The wraith floating beside him responded openly.
“More precisely… it’s a derivative of a mystical item, an offshoot of the so-called ‘Wandering Texts.’ It can communicate in writing with the Wandering Text itself and any of its sibling copies. In these lands, that type of communication was once popular among the upper class…”Setut explained softly, its tone laced with a curious note.
Hearing Setut’s words, Shadi was startled. He knew the “these lands” it referred to were from thousands of years ago, when ancient North Ufiga boasted a powerful empire—long before the Three Saints faith or the Lord’s faith entered the region, back in a primeval, homegrown civilization.
“So this is… a relic of that First Dynasty?”
Shadi asked. Setut followed up.
“Not exactly a ‘relic,’ but at least an offshoot of that dynasty’s mystical technology. Given how scarce Revelation is nowadays, most such artifacts no longer function. That nun using something like this to communicate with you means she’s gone to some expense…”
Shadi glanced at the book again, reading the newly formed text before replying.
“A nun from the Church gave me this under the guise of a gift. Seems she wants to discuss things she can’t just say out loud. So… how do I use it to talk to her?”
“It’s simple. You just take a pen and write your response on the page. But don’t write anything yet—wait until she explains how to use it. Otherwise, you’ll tip her off that you already know a bit too much about the old kingdom’s devices. Better to play dumb for the moment.”
Setut cautioned him. Heeding that advice, Shadi stayed quiet, watching the page. After a short while, new words emerged.
“Mr. Shadi, I hope to use this item to talk with you more discreetly and discuss things not easily raised during the formal sessions. If you wish to reply, simply write directly on the page. I’m reaching out to you in earnest, with vital information I wish to convey.
“This book does nothing else beyond facilitating remote communication. Feel free to inspect it thoroughly. Rest assured I won’t use it against you.”
Shadi read the text with interest. Stroking his chin in thought, he then took out his pen and wrote in the blank space.
“I’ve seen your message now, Sister Vania. Go ahead—what is it you want to discuss using this method?”
He used neat handwriting. Soon enough, fresh words appeared.
“It concerns the Savior’s Advent Sect. Mr. Shadi, do you really believe you can work with them to bring a bright future to Addus?”
Reading Vania’s question, Shadi showed no visible surprise. He lifted his pen and wrote a prompt reply.
“At the revolution’s most critical juncture, Lord Muhtar extended a helping hand. We overcame many challenges together and have built what we have today. That’s how it was in the past; why can’t that continue in the future?”
Due to his caution toward Vania, he avoided answering her question directly. New lines of text soon surfaced.
“So… you trust the Savior’s Advent Sect? But if you truly trusted them, would this negotiation have dragged on so long? If the revolutionary army and the Savior’s Advent Sect were fully in accord, it would’ve wrapped up long ago, wouldn’t it…”
Frowning slightly at the words, Shadi picked up his pen again and wrote.
“Are you trying to sow discord between me and Lord Muhtar, Sister Vania?”
“No, I’m only stating a fact. Mr. Shadi, the rift between you and the Savior’s Advent Sect is already an open secret to most people in this city. I understand the difficult position you’re in. You stay silent, hoping to maintain a fragile balance between us and the Savior’s Advent Sect, presumably because you don’t want Addus to descend into war again. Perhaps it seems the safest route.
“But you must realize that our conflict with the Savior’s Advent Sect is irreconcilable. This balance cannot last; it will soon be broken, forcing you to make a decision. Right now, I want to urge you to seize this last opportunity to choose for yourself.”
Those words from Vania appeared before Shadi’s eyes. He paused in slight surprise, then promptly penned a reply.
“A last chance to choose? What do you mean—has the Holy Mount given you an ultimatum for us?”
“No, the ones planning to strike first aren’t us, but the Savior’s Advent Sect. My intelligence says they intend to attack me and all the other delegates tomorrow, here in Yadith. They want us dead, thus forcing both the Church’s and your responses. If they succeed, there’ll be no room for compromise with the Holy Mount, and you’ll be forced onto the Savior’s Advent war chariot, accelerating into armed conflict.”
Those lines shimmered into view, and Shadi felt his heart tighten. He hesitated a good while, then wrote.
“You’re saying Lord Muhtar plans to resort to violence against you? Where did you get this information?”
“The source of this intel relates to secrets we possess about the Lantern domain, so I can’t discuss the specifics. But I can assure you it’s absolutely reliable.”
“Sister Vania, if you can’t explain your source or show any proof, I have trouble believing your one-sided claim.”
Shadi’s expression was grave as he wrote those words. On the other end, Vania replied swiftly.
“I do have evidence, Mr. Shadi, but you may not be aware that Muhtar and his people have long grown tired of your ambivalence. To shackle you and the entire revolutionary army by their side, they’ve acted behind your back many times. For example, when we traveled here to Addus by train, a group of bandits ambushed us.”
Those words appeared, prompting an astonished reaction from Shadi.
“You were attacked en route? You never mentioned that before.”
“After defeating the bandits, we interrogated them and discovered they were hired by someone within the Addus revolutionary army. We didn’t openly raise the point because that would only have worked in favor of the Savior’s Advent Sect, further harming the negotiations…
“Once we uncovered that the revolutionary army was behind them, we used a divination to confirm. Unexpectedly, it was successful—without any resistance at all. Mr. Shadi, if the revolutionary army’s crucial information can be divined so easily, you must realize how serious that is…”
Those words continued to flow across the page. Shadi’s eyes widened slightly.
“The revolutionary army’s information can be divined at will? That’s impossible… Muhtar’s people have always handled our anti-divination. It worked flawlessly throughout the war against Baruch.”
“Working flawlessly doesn’t mean it’s still in use. If the Savior’s Advent Sect is in charge of your anti-divination, they can simply choose not to activate it, exposing your secrets at their discretion and letting us easily track the mastermind of that ambush. The revolutionary army is so heavily under their influence, the boundaries between you are blurred. They just have to manipulate a few switches to point suspicion your way. Under normal circumstances, the ambushed party would blame you and possibly decide not to risk coming to Yadith at all.
“But… the Savior’s Advent people underestimated our resolve and judgment. Their ambush tactic neither frightened me nor clouded my discernment. I still came to Yadith, free of prejudice, to negotiate with you.
“The Savior’s Advent Sect has already been operating behind your back, breaking the peace in Addus through clandestine force. They’ve even shut down the revolutionary army’s anti-divination, leaving your entire movement’s intel at risk of exposure. That’s undeniably treacherous. Surely, Mr. Shadi, you don’t plan to hesitate in dealing with traitors?
“If you doubt me, then try divining the revolutionary army’s key intel yourself. See if your anti-divination is functioning. Of course, I know how precious Revelation is—maybe you don’t want to waste any on such a test. That’s why we’d be willing to provide a Revelation storage item, which we can quietly hand over tomorrow morning if you agree.”
A string of messages materialized on the page, reflecting in Shadi’s eyes. After reading them, he sat in silence for a long time. Beside him, Setut commented with casual interest.
“So they turned off your anti-divination? Heh… plausible. Reactivating it would require extra resources. If they think you and your subordinates no longer need protection—no longer deserve trust—why bother shielding your intel? If they turned it on, it’d hamper their own future attempts to divine or sabotage you. That’s mighty inconvenient for them if you break ties.
“In my opinion, you should verify it. If your revolutionary army truly can’t defend against data-scrying, it proves those zealots no longer care about you. Of course, you’d best handle the test yourself; if you rely on someone else’s storage item and it’s rigged, that could be catastrophic…”
Setut’s quiet words left Shadi with a grim expression. After a long pause, Shadi lifted his pen once more and wrote his reply.
“I’ve heard your suggestion. After I return, I will investigate it. I don’t need your storage item. If the results match what you say, I’ll contact you again.”
…
Shadi rode his carriage all the way back to his estate. At this temporary residence near the military barracks, he made his way to a personal study. After ordering his subordinates to stand guard outside, he shut the door.
Next, he took out a Revelation storage item and a Lantern storage item—both of which he’d been carefully preserving. He arranged a simple ritual and consumed the spirituality within the items to perform a divination. The subject of that divination was himself, the leader of the revolutionary army, and almost immediately the divination succeeded. The random question he tested it with received an accurate answer.
Standing at his desk, Shadi studied the outcome, his expression growing heavier. After pausing in silence for a while, he returned to the chair behind the desk, laid a storybook on its surface, and flipped open a page. He picked up a pen and wrote.
“Esteemed Sister Vania, I’ve completed my divination test. The result is just as you said—revolutionary army intelligence isn’t protected at all. Muhtar and his people have betrayed us…”
When he finished writing, Shadi waited quietly for a response to appear, and before long, it did.
“I’m glad you now have a clearer view of the situation, Mr. Shadi. Surely you see that the Savior’s Advent Sect isn’t trustworthy. Cooperating with them can’t lead to any good outcome.
“Tomorrow, they plan to force your hand by striking at us. Right now, you still have a chance to choose your own position. For the sake of what the revolutionary army has accomplished, for Addus’s future, for peace among these two million people, please make your choice.”
In the neat lines of text, Vania’s earnest tone practically shimmered through. Shadi felt as though he could see that white-clothed nun kneeling before him, speaking with devout sincerity. He let out a soft chuckle and murmured.
“Truly worthy of her reputation… She’s already this well-known at such a young age, and it’s clearly not undeserved…”
Sighing with mild admiration, Shadi lifted his pen again and wrote on the page.
“I’m willing to stand with you for Addus’s future and the fruits of this revolution. But… I doubt peace is achievable. Tomorrow’s conflict aside, my break with Muhtar will likely spark another civil war in Addus.”
Finishing, Shadi soon saw a new question from Vania.
“Another civil war? Is the impact really that big?”
“Of course it is. Through years of cooperation, the Savior’s Advent Sect has deeply influenced the entire revolutionary army. Across Addus, many Revolutionary Army battalions lean more toward the Savior’s Advent Sect than toward me.
“Looking at the whole country, over half of the revolutionary troops are under the Savior’s Advent’s sway. About a quarter are firmly controlled by Muhtar. If he can rally enough of the swing forces, this war will be vast and brutal. Still, if we want Addus to have a future, we must endure another round of sacrifice.”
Shadi wrote grimly about the unfavorable situation. Shortly, Vania replied.
“Isn’t there any way to avoid such a large-scale war? If tomorrow’s conflict ends quickly with Muhtar defeated, might it change things?”
“Defeat Muhtar swiftly? Pardon my bluntness, Sister Vania, but unless you can convince the Holy Mount to send over someone on the level of an archbishop in time for tomorrow, there’s no chance of beating Muhtar. At best, we can suffer losses and attempt to withdraw. He’s a Crimson-rank Beyonder; we can’t handle that so easily. And even if we somehow bested Muhtar, it wouldn’t prevent war.
“The moment we clash in Yadith tomorrow, the shockwaves will spread across Addus. Revolutionary forces stationed elsewhere—those loyal to the Savior’s Advent Sect—will launch attacks on any of my troops. No matter who prevails in our fight—us or Muhtar—full-blown war in Addus becomes inevitable.
“That’s precisely why I’ve hesitated to defy Muhtar and side with you. Whichever side loses, the Revolutionary Army and Addus will pay a dire price yet again.”
Seated at his desk, Shadi wrote these words, his eyes reflecting the depth of his unease.