“So… it’s about time.”
At the heart of the Dreamscape, beneath the sacred cocoon faintly glowing with soft white light, Dorothy stood with a solemn expression, watching the girl before her—identical in appearance—speak in a gentle voice.
“The power of the ritual is fading. I must use what little time remains to handle some final matters. I have already completed the part of your advancement path that pertains to me. From here on, you must walk forward on your own…”
After a brief pause, Dorothy spoke again.
“Thank you for your help today… I want to ask—will I be able to use the same ritual again to summon your power?”
Mirror Moon answered softly.
“You may… but the effect will be far less than today’s. And I will need to rest for a time.”
“Rest? Was today’s intervention a great burden on you as well?”
Dorothy asked with concern. Mirror Moon nodded gently.
“If I were in my full form… such rest would not be necessary. But now, much of my power and focus is consumed by other important matters in the Nation of Night. Any power I use for interference must be accumulated carefully…”
“Important matters? That is…”
Dorothy began to ask further, but at that moment, she noticed Mirror Moon’s figure was gradually becoming transparent and faint. Her voice, too, was growing quieter.
“The destination of your search lies in the Nation of Night. When the time comes, come find me there… I will be waiting for you…”
With that final murmur, Mirror Moon’s figure faded completely—voice and form vanishing without a trace, leaving only drifting silver light floating in the air.
Dorothy reached out and gently touched the floating silver motes. As they brushed her fingertips, they flickered and disappeared.
Letting out a small sigh, Dorothy lifted her gaze upward. What she saw was the enormous, luminous white cocoon overhead. Silver patterns slowly emerged on its surface, forming complex runes and eventually weaving into a beautiful lunar motif.
At that moment, the surrounding dreamscape began to change as well. High above the forest, where the thick canopies of countless towering trees overlapped, threads of fine silver light trickled through the leaves and sprinkled over the sacred cocoon. A soft breeze stirred the grasses of the woodland floor, making the flowers and plants gently sway.
After the divine battle, peace and serenity returned to the forest. Dorothy knew that Mirror Moon was already using her divine power to begin the work of restoration. This place was the heart of the aftermath.
“Uwah… I guess… it’s about time to wake up…”
Stretching deeply, Dorothy muttered to herself. Then, her dream-form slowly closed its eyes—like Mirror Moon before her—and faded away.
After drifting through a haze of darkness, Dorothy slowly opened her eyes in a daze. She found herself seated in a comfortable chair. Once she had adjusted to the sensations of her physical body again, she looked ahead, blinking drowsily.
What she saw was the ritual hall within the magnificent Crystal Palace. The New Moon in the sky had vanished, once again hidden beneath the radiance of the sun. Brilliant sunlight filtered through the palace glass, bathing the vast space in its glow—yet even so, a faint chill lingered throughout the hall.
As her vision sharpened, Dorothy saw countless silhouettes floating before her. Looking closely, she realized they were translucent spirits, each dressed in ancient robes or armor, solemn expressions on every face.
These were the past monarchs of Pritt. They stood in formation, with Baldric at the lead and Charles IV at the end. Beside Charles knelt Princess Isabelle, still dazed and bewildered.
“We greet… the Divine Envoy of Night…”
Led by “the True Successor” Baldric, the monarchs of Pritt bowed deeply in unison. Dorothy was briefly stunned by the sight. After a moment, she exhaled softly and spoke.
“Thank you, all of you. Despenser’s secrecy has ended. Your mission is complete.”
At her words, the spectral kings began to fade one by one until only the newly deceased spirit of Charles IV remained, hovering silently beside the still-kneeling Isabelle. The confused princess murmured.
“Father… what’s going on? Where am I? What happened here…”
“My child, it’s… complicated. Get up—I’ll explain it to you…”
Charles IV replied gently. After offering a small bow toward Dorothy, he reached out to help Isabelle—only for his hand to pass right through her.
“Father… what…?”
“It’s fine. Stand up first. Let’s talk over there…”
Watching the scene, Dorothy sighed lightly and rose from her chair, walking to the side. She, too, had matters to settle.
…
“Divine Envoy…”
“Ah—Sister Envoy!”
In a corner of the Crystal Palace, Dorothy found the black cat and the little fox again. Led by the elder black cat, young Saria clumsily bowed toward Dorothy. Seeing this, Dorothy waved it off.
“No need for the formalities. I’m not used to that. Just call me Scholar as before.”
Hearing her, the black cat gave a small nod and rose to speak.
“Earlier, when you said you followed the oracles of the Night Sky, I had my doubts. To me, the power you represented seemed tied to the long-lost domain of Revelation. But I never imagined you could summon a divine miracle of this scale today… It is truly awe-inspiring.”
“Yeah yeah! That silver dragon that Lord Paarthurnax turned into—it was so beautiful and powerful! So, Sister Scholar, is Lord Paarthurnax a messenger of Aka, or the Emissary of that Queen of the Night Sky? Or are they close, and it’s okay for apostles to swap around depending on the night?”
Saria asked boldly, full of curiosity and gossip.
But the black cat immediately snapped at her sternly.
“Silence, Saria! That is not something to inquire about!”
“Ugh…”
Silenced by her grandfather’s rebuke, Saria promptly clammed up.
Dorothy smiled at the pair. Then she extended her hand, channeling a remaining wisp of Mirror Moon’s divine power. A silver-white mote shimmered into view—taking the form of a miniature sacred cocoon.
“The Cocoon of the Butterfly has been reclaimed from the Spider Queen’s fangs by the Queen herself. It’s now hidden again in the dream realm, sealed with appropriate wards.
“The Queen has strengthened the will of the Butterfly within it, suppressing the Moth. In just a short time, the Butterfly will complete its metamorphosis. A new Dream Lord shall descend upon this Dreamscape.
“This—this is the current coordinate in the Dreamscape and the authority to unlock the seal. Take it, and prepare for the new Dream Lord’s arrival. The Butterfly's Dreamland must be rebuilt…”
Speaking gently and in Mirror Moon’s tone, Dorothy handed the gift to the pair. Upon hearing her words, both the black cat and Saria fell silent. After a pause, the black cat stepped forward eagerly—but, seeing his black feline paw, hesitated again.
Finally, after a long moment of inner struggle, he let out a sigh, turned to Saria, and barked sternly.
“What are you waiting for! Take it and give thanks!”
“Uh—O-okay! Thank you, Sister Scholar!”
Saria exclaimed, bowing clumsily and reaching out. Dorothy let the miniature cocoon float gently into her hand.
…
Daytime in Tivian, the illusory Dreamscape was gradually fading from the skies. Though the city was still shrouded in sleep, the boundary between dream and reality had begun to thicken and stabilize. Shaking off the phantasmal landscape, Tivian was slowly returning to the real world.
East Tivian, on the rooftop of a building not far from the World Plaza, stood Dorothy, dressed in her usual attire. In front of her was a travel-worn girl with black hair and a short stature—Artcheli, one of the Church's Seven Living Saints and the Secrets Cardinal.
The breeze brushed across the rooftop as Dorothy stood calmly, smiling at her recent battle companion. Artcheli, on the other hand, returned her gaze with a serious, slightly odd expression. The two of them stared at each other in silence for quite some time.
After another moment passed, Artcheli finally exhaled lightly, then offered Dorothy a silent bow.
“Ah… no need for that, Cardinal. Today’s battle was hard-fought. The Saintess saw your valor with her own eyes,” said Dorothy with a gentle smile as Artcheli slowly straightened herself again.
“I had guessed you were connected to the Saintess… but I didn’t realize your connection was this high. For my previous impolite conduct during our first meeting, I ask your forgiveness.”
Artcheli said sincerely. She then looked up at the sky, now returned to its normal form, and asked.
“Earlier, I saw the Saintess’s incarnation enter the Dreamscape to face the Evil God directly. If possible, could you tell me what the result was?”
She asked seriously, clearly in urgent need of an update to prepare her report for the Cardinal Council. Dorothy responded plainly.
“The result… was largely favorable, but with lingering risks. The Spider Queen was injured, but not to the extent of being completely unable to interfere with the material world. Let’s just say… the full details are complicated. I’ll explain them to you later through a ‘letter.’
“I hope you’ll properly clarify the Tivian incident to your fellow Cardinals. Make sure their suspicions and efforts aren’t wasted on the wrong targets.”
Dorothy spoke firmly. What she feared most now was that the Church would come storming into Tivian, indiscriminately arresting people. Artcheli nodded in understanding.
“When the Saintess’s will left me, She left behind a brief divine directive—telling me to focus on preserving the Church’s presence while doing my utmost to assist you. When the Holy Mount reinforcements arrive, I’ll make sure you and your people are excluded from any investigation. You have my word.”
Hearing that, Dorothy was pleasantly surprised. She hadn’t expected Mirror Moon to send even Artcheli a divine message. This would make working with her much easier. Before, while Artcheli had cooperated, she had maintained a strong wariness toward Dorothy.
“If Mirror Moon already instructed her to support me… maybe I can rely on her help more than I thought.”
Thinking this to herself, Dorothy looked to Artcheli again and said:
“In that case, I’ve got something I need your help with—right now.”
“Immediately? But I’ll likely be quite busy in the coming days…”
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing difficult. Should be easy for you. I just need access to some mystical texts,” Dorothy said plainly.
Artcheli frowned in slight confusion.
“Mystical texts?”
“Yes, mystical texts—any kind will do. Just send a batch over. Doesn’t your Church have a whole Scripture Department? I hear it’s overflowing with manuscripts. Just send me a batch regularly. I’ll return them after reading. With your status as a Saint, this should be easy for you.”
Waving a finger lazily, Dorothy said this with a smile. Artcheli thought for a moment and replied.
“That’s not impossible… very well. When I return to Holy Mount, I’ll arrange for some mystical texts to be sent from the Scripture Department. Do you have any specific topics in mind?”
Dorothy answered immediately.
“Topics… not too picky, but yes, I’ll send you a note about it later in a ‘letter.’”
She paused, then seemed to remember something and added.
“Oh, by the way, does your Scripture Department have an efficient way to search the archive? If so, please check for any texts that mention the name ‘Hyperion’.”
“Hyperion…”
Artcheli repeated, her brows lifting with curiosity.
At that moment, an invisible colossus was slowly approaching overhead. With a rising hum that grew louder, a massive airship slowly appeared in the sky—the Court of Secrets’ Saint Steel Vessel, come to retrieve its master.
…
Time passed swiftly. In just a few days, light and shadow had shifted again.
Pritt’s East Coast. After the great disaster, Tivian stood once more in its original place. During daylight, clouds gathered thickly across the sky, and light rain was falling onto the damp streets.
In the rain, Tivian’s citizens strolled the streets with umbrellas. Carriages moved along as usual. Flags and signs for the World Expo fluttered through the drizzle. Performances related to the expo continued despite the rain, and a decent number of spectators still watched under umbrellas—cheering and applauding now and then. Even in wet weather, the exposition events across Tivian had not ceased.
Besides the performances, Tivian’s streets now hosted many priests and nuns walking through neighborhoods and exhibition halls, handing out free items while preaching sermons. Some even blended their preaching into the exposition activities. Many citizens believed the Church was using the exposition as a means to expand its influence. But since their sermons genuinely brought a sense of inner peace, people were drawn to them, gathering eagerly to listen.
“So many people… Holy Mount really went all-out to smooth things over this time.”
North Tivian, in a small park under a rain-soaked pavilion, a pale man with sharp eyes and a low-brimmed hat sat on a bench, watching the street and remarking aloud. The short-haired woman beside him, also in a trench coat, replied.
“Well, this time the incident affected too many people. Millions in Tivian were caught up in it. If they don’t want the mystical world to leak into the public eye, they need to act fast and hard.”
Misha, the woman, glanced toward the priests and nuns on the street and continued.
“Even though this was a major mystical incident—one that touched on divinity—it didn’t cause massive casualties or urban destruction on the material level. To the average citizen, the biggest impact was… everyone just falling asleep during the day. That’s easy enough to smooth over.”
She spoke thoughtfully, and Ed, beside her, added.
“Yeah. Materially speaking, the biggest loss Tivian suffered was that the whole cathedral district vanished. I wondered how Holy Mount would handle that… and they really pulled it off.”
He turned his gaze toward the distance. There, one could see the towers of the Hymn Cathedral, seemingly still standing tall, and even hear its bells ringing—yet Ed knew it was an illusion.
After the Spider Queen’s incursion, a large force from Holy Mount had swiftly arrived in Tivian. Under orders from the Cardinal Archbishop, they split into teams and began investigating the incident and handling its mystical fallout.
To avoid mass panic or rumors, the World Expo continued as scheduled after the citizens awoke. The Church deployed many preachers, spreading special scripture designed to stir piety and faith—subtly nudging the masses to ignore certain strange memories. Like: why did the entire city suddenly fall asleep?
At first, this question spread widely. But once the Church’s agents arrived, public discussion swiftly died down.
To the Church’s cleanup teams, the mass sleep event was minor. The bigger issue was the disappearance of the entire cathedral district. But the Church had bigger tricks.
The Ritual Department, after sealing off nearby roads, used mystical artifacts to project an illusion of the cathedral district in its original spot. From afar, citizens could see the Hymn Cathedral standing tall, utterly unchanged—even with matching sound effects. Apart from not being able to enter it, there was nothing that seemed unusual.
Within the illusion, at the original site of the Hymn Cathedral, now a massive crater, members of the Ritual Department were working overtime to rebuild it. With the help of various mystical powers and artifacts, the reconstruction had progressed rapidly—within just a few days, the new cathedral was nearly complete. Soon, the illusion could be lifted and citizens allowed to enter for worship. However, this newly erected cathedral was merely a hollow shell. Its original function as a Temple of Radiance was completely absent. Reconstructing its divine functions beneath the new cathedral would require the Ritual Department to spend a long time rebuilding the foundations.
“The Church is sure busy in Tivian now—preaching, rebuilding churches, reestablishing temples, and thoroughly investigating the divine incursion while purging the remnants of the Evil God’s influence. They’re even reviewing and reshaping the entire upper structure of Pritt’s power hierarchy. Your side must be one of the busiest, most chaotic places right now.”
Ed remarked, still seated on the bench.
He was speaking to Misha, who now no longer faked her death and had formally returned to her post in Pritt’s government—specifically the Serenity Bureau—coordinating closely with Church operatives in the review and restructuring process.
“It’s not the most chaotic… but it’s one of the worst, for sure. Prince Harold is still under surveillance and house arrest, and the investigations into him and Prince Spring are far from over. For now, the entire Serenity Bureau is basically under my charge. There’s a mountain of work…”
As she spoke, Misha scratched her head and sighed softly. The Bureau was expected to maintain its original role—managing the nation’s mystical defense—while also undergoing an intense internal review and power reshuffling. These were not tasks that could be resolved in a day or two. And indeed, the current state of the Serenity Bureau reflected the wider instability of Pritt’s upper bureaucracy. On the surface, Tivian remained bathed in the cheerful atmosphere of the ongoing World Expo, but within government departments, chaos reigned. If not for the Church’s efforts to maintain order, the city would have already unraveled.
Fortunately for Dorothy, one of the central figures behind the chaos, none of this fallout was her problem.
Ed paused briefly after hearing Misha’s summary, then asked.
“So, what about the royal family? I assume they’re bearing the brunt of the investigation?”
“Exactly. Pretty much every notable royal is under house arrest, and even noble families with royal blood haven’t been spared. The focus of the investigation is squarely on them… To be honest, I think the Church investigators are going overboard. The Evil God’s influence has already receded, but they’re treating these people like cultists. Fortunately, even though His Majesty passed away, his spirit remains, and he’s been organizing, mediating, and coordinating. That’s the only reason no major conflict has erupted so far.”
Despite Charles IV’s death, his spirit lingered to help manage the aftermath. With the support of various Silence-affiliated mystical methods, his soul could remain for a while without distorting or decaying—just long enough to wrap up unfinished matters. But once that time was up, he would have to depart with the other spirits for the Netherworld, to return to the Great Soul, as per shamanic beliefs. If a soul delayed its return for too long, it risked dissolution or corruption—even without resentment, it could turn into a vengeful ghost.
Given the fragile state of Pritt, Charles IV’s death had not yet been publicly announced. It would be quite some time before his state funeral could be held.
“Dying, and still having to work for your country… must be rough. So what about succession? Did Charles IV name an heir?”
Ed asked, his voice tinged with sympathy.
“As for succession… It’s still unclear. We don’t know whether His Majesty intended to follow the Royal Succession Law, or had something else in mind. I imagine he’ll settle everything before he rests.”
Misha gave a straightforward answer. After a few more exchanges and updates on Pritt’s political situation, she finally stood up.
“Well, I should go. I’ve got a mountain of work waiting for me. Unless something unexpected happens, this should be the last time I meet with you like this… bringing you intel.
“All of this… finally has a conclusion. Though I might not be qualified to say so… I still want to thank you, sincerely—on behalf of this country. It was your people who saved everything. That’s the real reason I came to see you today…”
She bowed deeply. Ed, seeing her gesture, smiled and tipped his hat.
“I accept your thanks—on behalf of my organization. I should get going too. Oh, and since you’re so busy… why not find yourself some help? You must have someone in mind.”
Dusting off his trench coat as he stood, Ed made the suggestion. Misha replied honestly.
“I did plan to ask for help—specifically that agent of yours embedded in the Bureau, Gregorius. But lately, he suddenly announced he’s going on extended leave… said he wants to travel. So I gave up on him. You’re not planning to call him back, are you?”
Hearing that, Ed fell silent for a moment before slowly answering.
“No… His departure from the Serenity Bureau was his own decision.”
“What?”
…
Daytime, East Tivian.
Beneath the overcast sky, fine rain fell upon the streets of the eastern district. Although the weather had thinned the usual crowds, many people still braved the rain to take part in the various public events held for the World Expo.
By the street in East Tivian, inside a certain restaurant, a silver-haired girl in casual clothes sat by the window, watching the young man seated across from her with an amused expression.
“So, Gregor… you’re saying you’re leaving Tivian for a while?”
Dorothy asked curiously, gazing at her relative. Gregor, chewing a piece of cheese bread, replied casually.
“Yeah… something came up at the company. I’ll probably need to travel for work, and I won’t be in Tivian for quite a while. You’ll be here on your own, so take care of yourself, alright?”
He said it with an unusually serious tone. Dorothy gave a small nod, took a sip of her tea, and asked.
“A long trip, huh? So where are you headed?”
“That’s still being decided internally. There are a few possible assignments abroad, but it’s definitely going to be far—and probably for quite a while. That’s why I wanted to sit down and explain everything clearly.”
Gregor pulled a sealed envelope from his jacket and handed it to Dorothy.
“There’s a check in here—more than enough to cover your living expenses for quite a while. It’s more than I’ve ever given you before, so use it wisely. There are also a few contact details for colleagues I trust at Tivian HQ. If you run into trouble, reach out to them—they’ll help.”
Dorothy took the envelope silently. Then, Gregor paused again, took a deep breath like someone making up his mind, and produced a small, ornate locket case.
“Also, take this. Inside is a slip of paper. Open it when you’re alone and memorize what’s written. Don’t worry about what it means—just remember it. If you ever find yourself in an emergency where you can’t contact anyone, recite the contents silently in your mind.”
His tone was solemn as he handed the item over. Dorothy accepted the locket, gave it a curious glance, then said:
“Memorize it? Alright, got it… But Gregor, you’re handing me all these things and saying all these farewells… is the place you’re going to dangerous? If it is, maybe don’t go…”
Gregor quickly shook his head and reassured her.
“No, no… you don’t need to worry. Your big brother knows how to handle trouble. The company has my back. I’ll be fine. You’re the one staying behind—make sure you take good care of yourself.”
Hearing this, Dorothy’s expression softened into a slight frown of concern.
“Alright… just be extra careful, okay?”
She resumed eating her dessert while Gregor watched her for a moment, then hesitated before speaking again.
“By the way, Dorothy—there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask. Lately… have you dreamed about Mom?”
“Mom?”
Dorothy’s eyes narrowed slightly. After pondering for a moment, she replied.
“Now that you mention it, something strange did happen. I mean, I’ve never actually seen Mom before, right? But last time, during the opening ceremony, I dozed off and had this dream… it felt really warm and familiar, almost like I knew her. I was asleep in the stands, but I remember feeling incredibly safe and comfortable. I’m not sure if that counts as dreaming of Mom or not… Why are you asking all of a sudden?”
Resting her chin on one finger, Dorothy thought aloud. Gregor gave a soft sigh of relief, then replied.
“No reason. Just curious. Come on, let’s eat. Still lots of food left.”
He resumed eating seriously. Dorothy, seeing his focus, let it go and quietly joined him.
After finishing their meal and with Gregor settling the bill, the two stepped out of the restaurant and walked to the roadside. After a brief goodbye, Gregor helped Dorothy into a carriage and watched her leave.
Inside the carriage, Dorothy mused over their conversation. Under normal circumstances, she might’ve been confused by Gregor’s cryptic words. But then again, her relationship with Gregor had never followed normal rules.
While thinking, she took out her copy of the Literary Sea Logbook and opened it across her lap. Flipping to the page containing her conversation with Gregor, she activated it with a thought. Words from their exchange the previous day reappeared on the page, most of it in Gregor’s handwriting.
“Scholar… at the end of the incident two days ago, exhausted from battle, I fell asleep as the divine miracle of the moon unfolded.
“You may not believe this, but in that dream… I felt something strange—something warm and familiar, almost like a mother’s embrace. Though my mother disappeared when I was young and my memories of her are hazy, the dream somehow evoked childhood moments I thought I'd forgotten.
“In that dream, this presence—this familiar warmth—not only comforted me but seemed to guide me. It directed me away from Pritt… somewhere else. When I awoke, I remembered the general direction, but not the destination.
“It’s bizarre—irrational, even. But I feel compelled to follow that pull, to travel and search for something. Maybe if I go in that direction, I’ll remember something more.
“My mother was always mysterious… and aside from you, she might be the only family I have left. I have a feeling this journey may lead me to something about her. So I plan to leave Tivian for a while. Along the way, I might encounter danger again, and I hope you’ll be able to help me if the time comes.
“Also, once I’m gone, my sister will be alone in Tivian. With remnants of the Eight-Spired Nest still active, I worry she might face risks. I’d like you all to keep an eye on her...”
After reading to the end, Dorothy paused. She then pulled out the locket Gregor had given her, opened it, and—just as expected—found a small folded note inside. She unfolded it and scanned the lines of text. One line in particular caught her eye.
“…The Gate and Key of Infinite Truths, The Great Aka, Recorder of All Things…”
Seeing the familiar phrase, Dorothy pressed her lips together and carefully folded the paper back into the locket and stowed it safely.
“…You really thought of everything, big brother,” she whispered.
Sitting upright, she began to reflect deeply on everything strange about Gregor’s situation.
“The feeling Gregor experienced during the opening ceremony… it definitely came from Mirror Moon. While I can’t confirm the exact circumstances yet, there’s no doubt that ‘I’ and Gregor’s mother are deeply entangled with Mirror Moon’s power. The sensation Gregor felt under her divine light isn’t surprising…
“But what’s curious is the guidance he received. Was it truly Mirror Moon giving him that nudge? Is this what compelled him to travel? Could it be a divine revelation meant for him personally? Looks like I’m not the only one Mirror Moon touched...”
Dorothy thought all this to herself. Due to the time constraints during the incident, Mirror Moon hadn’t had time to explain everything. Now it seemed She had given different revelations to both Artcheli and Gregor.
It was easy to understand why Artcheli would receive a divine revelation—she was a Saint of the Church, after all, and needed clear instructions. But for Gregor to receive such guidance… that was far more thought-provoking. Was he being sent somewhere specific to accomplish something? Did it have to be Gregor? What was it that lay at the destination he had been pointed toward?
Such questions arose in Dorothy’s heart, but after pondering for a while, she chose not to dwell on them too deeply. She figured that whatever Mirror Moon’s intentions were, they would become clear in due time, alongside Gregor’s journey.
Given Mirror Moon’s nature, Dorothy didn’t believe She would lead Gregor into harm. And besides, she would remain in close communication with Gregor throughout his travels in her capacity as “Scholar,” ready to provide assistance at any time. Dorothy wasn’t too worried about the dangers Gregor might face.
The river finds its way when it reaches the bridge —once Gregor reached his destination, she would likely be able to understand Mirror Moon’s intentions more clearly.
With that, Dorothy let out a yawn and was about to put her Literary Sea Logbook away—when it suddenly gave off a pulse of spirituality. Someone was trying to contact her through the logbook. Dorothy paused, then flipped to the page with active messages—and saw that the sender was none other than Artcheli.
“The first batch of mystical texts has arrived in Tivian…”
“So fast already?” Dorothy thought to herself, surprised at the speed. Without delay, she activated a corpse marionette disguised as a carriage driver and directed it toward the previously agreed-upon drop-off location.
Soon, she arrived at the destination: the Craftsmen’s Guild outpost in East Tivian. There, her marionette received the shipment from Holy Mount—a full travel trunk packed to the brim with mystical texts.
“Heh… that’s a lot. With Artcheli as a channel, I don’t think I’ll ever have to worry about spirituality again,” she mused, smiling as she viewed the bulging suitcase through the marionette’s eyes. With such an abundant and sustainable supply, her days of stressing over spiritual depletion were officially over.
Having secured the first batch, Dorothy returned by carriage to her home in Green Shade Town, on the northern outskirts of Tivian. There, she pulled ten or so mystical texts from the suitcase and happily locked herself in her study to read, one volume at a time.
Dorothy carefully examined the content of each book. Most of them, while not offering much practical value to her current research, could still be used to supply spirituality. It was only after finishing several that she finally found one that caught her interest.
It was a handwritten manuscript from the Third Epoch Empire, penned by an imperial scholar of archaeological studies. Since Dorothy had previously been unfamiliar with the Imperial tongue, this time she had asked Artcheli to include a guide among the texts—compiled over the years by old scholars from the Scripture Department—detailing a side-by-side translation and learning course for Imperial and modern script. Dorothy had made it her first priority to read that guide, and she’d now grasped the language fairly well.
Finally, she could read Imperial mystical texts with relative ease. The first Imperial document she read after gaining proficiency was this historical research manuscript.
The manuscript recorded the efforts of an imperial archaeological team during an excavation deep underground. There, beneath countless strata of relics from the early Third Epoch and even the Second Epoch, they discovered something beyond known ancient civilizations—ruins from the truly primordial age.
They had uncovered the majestic remnants of a giant civilization that existed during the First Epoch’s barbaric era, along with fragmentary evidence of their belief system and culture.
And within those remnants… they had faintly discovered traces of three primordial deities worshiped by that ancient race.