"This isn't something that needs to be kept secret." Hermit Cattleya nodded in response, then recounted the fairy tale she had deciphered:
"In the rich Black Forest lived many magical animals. Some were cunning and vicious wolves, some were tall wildmen, some were beautiful bats, and some were lizards good at hiding themselves."
"One day, a silent strange bird discovered a great river flowing past the edge of the forest. The strange bird had never seen a river in the forest before, and it found it very novel. So, it used all its strength to dig a shallow ditch in the forest, connecting it to the river outside the forest, allowing the river water to flow into the forest. From then on, there was also river water in the forest, which would carry away fallen leaves and water the trees."
"This story is very short, an inconspicuous page in a magazine. I didn't pay attention to it at first, but I accidentally got a flash of inspiration from a conversation between crew members, which reminded me of an ancient legend I heard from an elder. I deciphered it and drew strength from the mysticism contained in the story to create peculiar magic."
It was a somewhat strange story, with a sense of absurdity and oddity, a bit illogical, but upon careful thought, it felt like an ingenious metaphor. Magician Fors placed her hands on the edge of the table, listening intently.
As a best-selling Author, she was very interested in this style of story, which differed from the mainstream. After listening to The Hermit's narration, she became curious about the Author of this story. She wondered if the person who wrote this story was still a naive child, or a wise elder with extensive knowledge and experience.
A short story, with a straightforward style, sounded like a children's book. Was it to reduce the difficulty of reading? Justice Audrey's thoughts wandered curiously. This was the first time she had heard a story in this style.
"A strange story, like describing an absurd dream." Star Leonard directly stated his feelings, then he looked at Hermit Cattleya and asked curiously:
"What is the legend or ancient history corresponding to this story?"
"It's related to Phoenix Ancestor Gregrace." After a slight pause, Cattleya's gaze swept over the members of the Tarot Club before she continued:
"In some ancient legends, this ancient god opened up the Underworld somewhere in the Spirit World, but according to my elder's description, the Underworld was merely a byproduct of one of Gregrace's actions. What she truly wanted to do was open up a peculiar river."
She had heard this from Queen Mystic when she was on the Dawn before. It was said to be a discovery made by Emperor Roselle in an ancient ruin on the Southern Continent.
"Ancient God Gregrace?" The Tarot Club members' gazes subconsciously turned to Sun Derrick, who was sitting on the right side of the mottled long table.
Noticing everyone's gaze, Derrick shook his head after a brief thought:
"I don't know. The City of Silver doesn't have many records of ancient gods; it only mentions that this Phoenix Ancestor opened up the Underworld."
Justice Audrey shifted her gaze to Leyton, who was sitting next to Derrick, and asked with some certainty in her tone:
"Mr. Tower, you should know, right?"
"I know." Leyton nodded lightly, without explaining further.
Just knows, but unwilling to share. No, he hopes we will interpret the hidden content ourselves, just like The Hermit.
After a simple analysis, Audrey looked at Leyton and smiled:
"Mr. Tower, can I order some newspapers and magazines from Clock Tower Publishing House?"
Leyton nodded and said:
"Yes, actually, you'll be able to buy these in Backlund soon enough. With the support of the Church of the Evernight Goddess, books from the Southern Continent will quickly spread to Loen."
"I thought the relationship between the Southern Continent and the Kingdom would be quite strained right now."
Audrey was slightly surprised, but quickly realized that the Kingdom and the Church were not equivalent.
As the discussion topic ended, Sun Derrick finally found an opportunity to ask:
"Everyone... To advance to Priest of Light, I need to bury my entire body in ice that normally doesn't melt, in pure darkness. However, in the City of Silver, exposing oneself to darkness is extremely dangerous. One might disappear directly or encounter an attack from a Monster."
Leonard opened his mouth, intending to say that pure darkness was easy to create, but Sun's subsequent words made him decisively stop what he was about to blurt out. Is the darkness in the Forsaken Land of the Gods so dangerous?
After two seconds of silence, seeing no one answer Sun Derrick's question, Leyton raised his hand and tapped the table, extending two fingers:
"There are two methods. One is to actively accept the corruption in the darkness and transform yourself into a Monster of darkness. Protected by the authority of Fallen, you will not disappear in the darkness, nor will you be attacked by other Monsters. This way, all darkness will become pure darkness."
"The second method is to create darkness with a temporary dream world, allowing your Spirit Body to accept the protection of 'Dream'. This can effectively slow down the erosion of darkness, and the duration should be enough for you to complete an advancement."
"As for how to complete the advancement while dreaming, your the City of Silver should have a way to do it."
Klein, his figure shrouded in thick Gray Fog, frowned slightly, thoughts floating through his mind one after another. Darkness with a temporary dream world, this is a bit like the ocean evolved from the Sea of Ruins. At night there, if one cannot enter the dream world, they will disappear directly. Is there any connection between the two?
Hermit Cattleya and Chariot Anderson, who had also been to that ocean evolved from the Sea of Ruins, also thought of it.
The former pondered and glanced at Leyton, while the latter decisively asked:
"Is this why people disappear at night in the ocean evolved from that Sea of Ruins if they can't enter in time? What is the relationship between that place and the Forsaken Land of the Gods?"
"They all originate from the residual divine power of the Evernight Goddess." Leyton replied calmly.
"What about the Monsters that derive from the darkness in the Forsaken Land of the Gods?" Hermit Cattleya pressed on.
Leyton glanced at Sun Derrick, who was sitting to his right, and then said:
"That comes from the lingering influence of the Creator worshiped by the City of Silver. He himself controls authorities related to shadow, Fallen, darkness, and defilement, representing the dangers in darkness, and can cause darkness to give birth to Monsters."
Sun Derrick's expression was momentarily blank, but he quickly composed himself and asked sincerely:
"Mr. Tower, do you know how to create darkness with a temporary dream world?"
Leyton and The World simultaneously looked at Star Leonard. The latter was startled for a moment, then lightly coughed and spoke calmly:
"It's very simple. I can make you a charm, but I can't guarantee it can resist the darkness there. Your description just now sounds very dangerous."
Star is from the Church of the Evernight Goddess, or rather, used to be... Justice Audrey, Hermit Cattleya, Hanged Man Alger, and Chariot Anderson all had this thought simultaneously.
Sun Derrick subconsciously turned his head to look at the top of the mottled long table. If Mr. Fool responded, then it should be fine, right? Thinking this, he looked at Star Leonard and sincerely thanked him:
"I understand, Mr. Star, thank you very much for your help."
Being thanked so formally made Leonard a little uncomfortable. He raised his hand and responded with a light laugh:
"This isn't too much trouble."
After solving Little Sun's problem, the Tarot Club members continued to share other content.
Time passed bit by bit, until The Fool Klein announced the end of today's Tarot Club. After everyone stood up and saluted, streaks of Red Light rose, carrying everyone away from the space above the Gray Fog.
After the Tarot Club ended, Klein prepared the ritual to communicate with the Seven Lights of the Spirit World in his room. He intended to seek some help from Red Light Aiur Moria, who possessed knowledge related to Spirit World creatures and locations.
The arranged candles were lit, and then herbal powder and hydrosol were sprinkled into them, a faint herbal scent permeating the room.
"Red Light shouldn't mind that these ritual materials are just something I casually put together."
He muttered to himself in a low voice, then took a step back, clasped his hands together, and chanted softly in ancient hermes:
"The never-fading Light of the Spirit World, the embodiment of endless knowledge, the Red of authority and will."
Just as he finished chanting the honorific name, before he could even state his needs, Klein felt a grand will project itself through the ritual connection, seemingly preparing to break through the Spirit World and descend into reality.
Noticing Red Light Aiur Moria's action, Klein unhurriedly pulled out a paper figure from his pocket and flicked it out.
A cold, wailing wind suddenly swept through the candlelight at the center of the ritual. The paper figure circled in mid-air for a while, and then a deep Red Light burst forth from the candlelight, landing on the paper figure, draping it in a deep red robe, and then slowly descending to the ground.
Klein slightly bowed to the paper figure, which had suddenly donned a deep red robe and become extremely majestic:
"Good afternoon, Mr. Aiur Moria."
Red Light Aiur Moria, possessing the paper figure, returned a very solemn bow:
"Good afternoon, Your Highness. Congratulations, you have taken a big step towards returning to that supreme position."
Klein nodded lightly: "No need to be so polite."
"Understood, Your Highness." After a pause, as if discerning Klein's continued confusion, Aiur Moria added:
"We Seven Lights are very close to that Gray Fog, and therefore, we have also seen some changes above the Gray Fog, and seen the aura on you gradually recovering."
"Your Highness, do you have any questions you wish to ask me?"