[Narration: "In the torrential rain of dragon's blood, she delivered a speech, saying: 'Let my subjects be free, unbound by ancient laws.'"]
The readers' suspenseful hearts finally settled. The interrupted content was revealed—it was the password they'd already known!
[The narration continued: "Our resplendent kingdom is a narrow and forbidden paradise."]
["Her subjects knelt before her, and she said: 'Offer me a festival, perform dramas in the wilderness. Kneel before me, offer me pure dreams in exchange for the glory of eternal night.'"]
If the story ended here, it'd be a decent conclusion: defeating the evil dragon and establishing a paradise.
But the story went on, suggesting the ending wasn't so simple.
The group in the book pressed forward and once again encountered the Night Raven named Leon.
How are you?
How old are you?
He'd made yet another encore, trapped once more and awaiting rescue. Why was it always him?
No surprise—he was probably the Immernachtreich's Bennett.
Though he always found himself in danger, he still loved his "job."
For Night Ravens, finding the role they were meant to play was their destiny.
Leon told the group that Hymns of the Holy Land was actually a prophecy book, not a biography.
In other words, the events within either hadn't happened yet or hadn't concluded.
The readers were shocked. They were reading a prophecy book within a prophecy book!?
Mona was stunned. A real prophecy? Were modern seers so competitive that they not only had to predict but also write books?
Recalling her novel, which Fischl had called "a mess," Mona fell silent.
Could it be that Lucian wasn't tricking her? Was he actually trying to teach her how to write through his example? Was he secretly well-intentioned?
But this prophecy book wasn't exactly written by Fischl—it was more like Oz's creation.
When the Immernachtreich faced a grave crisis, shrouded in gloom, the Prinzessin of Condemnation seemed to lose her drive, taking no action.
Mona understood: this was likely during the second volume, when Fischl, under her parents' urging, began considering abandoning the Immernachtreich.
But then a turning point came. Oz suddenly appeared in the Immernachtreich, bringing this book with him.
This was probably when Fischl received her Vision, and Oz was born.
Oz's prophecy foretold that the Night Ravens would overcome the gloom, and the ravens wholeheartedly believed it.
[Leon: "So I stepped forward, playing the hero. I'd brave a thousand perils, cross mountains of blades and seas of fire… to offer her my sincerity."]
So, as written in the book, they offered dramas to the Prinzessin!
The Night Ravens believed that by doing so, one day the Prinzessin would defeat the evil dragon, dispel the gloom, and deliver her speech in the rain of dragon's blood, proclaiming victory!
Though Leon was unlucky and clumsy, always falling into crises, he tirelessly pressed forward, driven by this conviction.
This made readers who'd been annoyed by him change their minds. The guy was kind of cool…
In the book, Fischl lingered silently behind the group. Only after Leon recognized her did she speak:
["My subject, thy will is enough to sever the evil dragon's limbs. Now, I shall accept thy blessing. Go, take your place, and await the curtain's rise."]
From this moment, Little Amy was truly ready to face "her."
Paimon in the story didn't get it. What performance? What curtain? What was going on?
[Fischl: "Is there not a single soul among you who can comprehend my aphorisms? Foolish."]
[Oz: "Milady means you're all quite dim."]
Oz was dutiful, translating everything.
At this, the readers and Mona thought in sync: "You don't need to translate that!"
Being called dim triggered an immediate reaction in Mona. She was a genius! Her genius was unquestionable!
She promptly declared she'd understood everything from the start. Let's go!
Everyone seemed to get it—except Paimon.
Some readers realized they didn't get it either. Oh no, they were on Paimon's level.
In the story, the group reached the book and closed it, this time being transported to a library.
This library was outrageously huge, practically a maze. If this was how Fischl pictured her home's library, did she… always feel trapped within it?
The Fischl in the book didn't focus on the library, instead casting her gaze upward.
[Fischl said: "…Hmph, my long-sought nemesis, the so-called Prinzessin, idle and cowardly—is that you?"]
In the illustration, atop a high platform, there was another Fischl.
Now they understood where the two guard ravens got their boldness—there was another Prinzessin here.
This must be the Little Amy who told the guards not to let the Traveler and others in.
No wonder Little Amy didn't want to face this. How many could truly overcome "themselves"? In the end, it's just about reconciling with "oneself."
In the illustration, "Fischl" wore a different outfit from Little Amy. Little Amy had deep purple and black stockings; this Fischl had blue-purple and white stockings. Each had its own charm.
Fischl's fan readers were thrilled. Buy one, get one free?
Black stockings, white stockings—two wishes fulfilled at once. Would barefoot be next?
Barefoot aside, White-Stockings Fischl spoke up.
[Immernacht Fischl: "Laughable. Why do you think you can defeat me? You know, I saw your fear and hesitation clearly."]
["Are you here to surrender, Little Amy?"]
When White-Stockings Fischl said this, the illustration zoomed in on her face, making her features clearer.
Not only were her clothes and stockings different from Little Amy's, but her eyepatch was white, and her pupils were red. She was truly striking.
This was a dream, so different pupil colors were normal—no need for colored contacts.
In reality, Little Amy read intently. Indeed, the nightmare in her heart was the version of herself she'd imagined.
Little Amy had created a dream paradise, a dream version of herself, but in the end, she'd denied it all.
Now, having rediscovered this dream, she wasn't sure how to face it.
It was her "weakness" that abandoned this dream. Now, picking it up again, was she still worthy of the title "Prinzessin of Condemnation"?
Could she still be praised and revered by them?
These doubts made Little Amy reluctant to face this island when she learned it would reflect everyone's dreams.
Now, the Fischl in the story was confronting her inner demon. Inner demons vanish once you work through them, so Little Amy was silently cheering herself on.
Under the table, her little feet fidgeted anxiously, her big toe curling with effort. Come on, me!