…The Man in the Mirror?
Annan felt that his mind was still a little hazy, as if he had slept for too long.
He shook his head slightly, then walked over and asked Silver Sire in a low voice, “I remember there was also a deity whose name is ‘the Dragon in the Mirror.’ But I don’t know his clergy.”
“You read that from the Grinznuha’s book, right?” Silver Sire chuckled and exposed Annan’s more euphemistic narration.
“…Yes.” Annan nodded. He was a little confused at this response..
How could he realize what my source of information was even though I only had mentioned this name?
“[The Dragon in the Mirror] is a seldomly used alias because it can be misleading. He doesn’t have the authority of a mirror, and He isn’t exactly a dragon. It’s like how the Old Grandmother is sometimes called the [Cold-Blooded Lady] and some people will call me the [White-clothed Businessman].” Silver Sire explained.
Only the name given by the deities in the ascendancy ritual could become their proper name, and you would be heard when you call the name close to them. But even if the name “Cold-Blooded Lady” were called in Austere-Winter Dukedom, Old Grandmother would not hear it because it wasn’t a name Old Grandmother granted to herself, but a nickname.
That would be an alias.
The way to refer to a deity without being discovered.
“The reason Grinznuha used this nickname was simple.. It’s because the Elegant Elder is hunting the Venerated Skeleton. “The Dragon in the Mirror” hints at the Deity of Painting and Falsehood – the deity “Paper Princess,” the subordinate deity of the Elegant Elder.
“But I don’t think you know… She is actually a painting, a painting with life.”
“A painting?” Annan was a little surprised.
He had indeed heard the name Paper Princess before. When he was researching about Amos, he saw information about Her as well. She was a kind and silent deity.
She was the patron saint and idol of many poor painters.
If their paintings couldn’t be sold, they could be sacrificed to the Paper Princess through ritual. The Paper Princess would give them some silver coins based on the effort they spent in painting, not the value of the painting itself so that they wouldn’t starve to death. However, Annan remembered this name because the Paper Princess didn’t manifest these silver coins with divine power, nor did She ask for them from Silver Sire… but She earned it Herself.
Indeed, She was also a legendary painter herself, roaming in various countries and streets.
“Yes, it’s the Paper Princess.” Silver Sire nodded.
“But I think you may not know that The Paper Princess was the first painting the Elegant Elder painted, and it is also one of the Elegant Elder’s best works.
“The contents of the painting was a silver-white dragon, which was supposedly lifelike. Under the Elegant Elder’s power, it can even move, roar, and dance in the painting. Its power can even affect the real world.”
Having said that, Silver Sire glanced at Annan slightly before continuing, “Later, a real dragon acquired this painting.
“Unfortunately, he fell in love with the dragon in the painting. It can even be said to be obsessed…
“He completely disregarded everything in reality to spend more time with it. For hundreds of years, he only chatted with it, got along with it intimately, and watched it dance on the top of the snow-capped mountain obsessively.
“But it is just a painting after all. There is no intelligence and no soul, just responding to others according to the Elegant Elder’s pre-sets.
“In the end, the dragon got the title page of the [Book of Truth], and the book was called “Falsehood and Reality.”
“But he was deeply enraged by the power given to him from that book because the “Truth” in “Falsehood and Reality” clearly told him that the dragon in the painting cannot be real. Yes, the dragon can use his Truth and turn it into a more surreal falsehood, so real that it is almost indistinguishable, but he was not satisfied with this.
“The dragon rejected this seemingly beautiful proposal.
“He would rather believe that the dragon is real and believe a dragon soul is sealed within the painting. He feared and even loathed the Truth he had obtained and finally made a decision. He decided to abandon his Truth.
“Or, to be more accurate, he forcibly proved that there is indeed a dragon’s soul in that painting.
“He used his knowledge and resources to construct a complete ascendancy ritual, and sacrificed his own soul. It wasn’t him who was at the center of the ritual, but the painting.”
The dragon used his soul, Truth, and everything in exchange for an opportunity to turn falsehood into reality forcibly.
“So, that’s how the Paper Princess became a deity?” Annan blinked.
What is this?
Is the otherworld version of a 2D complex [1]?
However, considering that the painting can move, speak, and even chat with people like an artificial intelligence, it seems understandable.
The Silver Sire didn’t know about the subtle thoughts in Annan’s heart.
Annan asked, “So, did he succeed?”
“He should have been successful. Although the original Deity of Falsehood and Reality has lost his soul, the painting does now possess a real consciousness and soul.”
The Silver Sire just smiled mildly, “As he once imagined, it was a cold, elegant, and kind-hearted little female dragon. That is the current Deity of Painting and Falsehood.”
It was just that he himself couldn’t witness this anymore.
The Silver Sire didn’t point it out, but Annan understood what He meant.
Hearing what the Silver Sire said, Annan suddenly recalled the paint given to Amos by the Venerated Skeleton.
There seemed to be some similarities between the two, but there were some differences.
In this way, “the Dragon in the Mirror” was an insulting nickname for the Paper Princess. However, it also accurately metaphorized Her.
“Why are you telling me so much about it?” Annan was keenly aware of something.
The Silver Sire nodded slowly and exhorted Annan, “The Paper Princess now lives in Noah’s capital, and she wants to see you.”
“See me?” Annan was a little surprised.
Why?
I don’t even know you…
“It’s because that painting is a portrait painted by the Elegant Elder for the Old Grandmother.”
The Silver Sire raised his eyebrows. He wasn’t embarrassed, but just smiled and said, “However, you also know the Old Grandmother’s temper. She doesn’t want to see the Paper Princess and doesn’t think the Paper Princess has anything to do with her.
“Don’t ask too much. You will find out when you get there. Just think of it as to satisfy the Paper Princess’s homesickness, Annan. It is good for you to find out more about other deities. If the Paper Princess protects you, you will be safer in the capital. It will be more convenient in many aspects too.”
Safe? Is there anything safer than the Silver Sire’s protection in the Noah Kingdom?
So, does the Paper Princess want to see me, or do you want me to meet the Paper Princess?
Annan gradually figured out the meaning behind those lines.
No, why do you want the Paper Princessto protect me?
Is the Silver Sire not planning to come forward?
“Do you want me to see the Paper Princess, or do you want me to go to the royal capital?” Annan blinked and realized what the Silver Sire’s hinting at.
He decided to ask straightforwardly rather than guessing on his own, “If you want me to return to the capital, should I visit in the name of Don Juan or Annan?”
This would be Annan’s age advantage. He would be considered sensible if he abided by the rules. Otherwise, he would only be deemed as frank, and no one would mind it.
Of course, there might also be an advantage in his good looks.
“Naturally, you should adopt the identity of ‘Don Juan Geraint.’ Come when you are free and do me a favor. It’s not a rush. You can wait until the Spring Hunting Season. It will be best though if you can make it before May.”
Silver Sire smiled as he bent down in front of Annan and said in a low voice, “You don’t have to be too scared. I will get Little Henry to capture those Rotten Man believers in these few months. In the Noah Kingdom, there shall be no more of them left.”
“Can I ask what favor you are asking for? I have to make preparations in advance so that I won’t be clumsy and add more trouble to you,” asked Annan politely.
“It’s not a big deal.” Silver Sire gently hugged Annan’s waist and whispered with the corners of his mouth raised, “I’m asking you to take the place of Don Juan to attend Little Henry’s funeral.
“While doing that, warn those with coveting ideas in the name of the Geraint family. The Noah Kingdom is in chaos. Rotten Man thought his plan was secretive, but he didn’t even know why Henry would ignore him.”
Silver Sire grinned and smiled kindly, “I have once promised them that I won’t directly interfere with the internal affairs of the royal family and the nobles.
“You know, I always keep my words.”
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Credits to MindMatrix for editing this chapter and improving the readability.