The Sister Miss was mercilessly chased out.
The three-meter-wide Abbess took over the field herself.
Rode felt like his entire being was tearing apart.
The Abbess's fingers were thicker than his arm, and her strength surpassed a ten-thousand-ton hydraulic press. Rode felt like ten thousand cattle were stampeding across his back, and forty thousand iron hooves were trampling his soul.
She kept rambling while she kneaded him.
"...These wenches really give me trouble. They refuse to obey any of the bans. If I don't give them a lashing, this infirmary will lose its license in a few days."
Rode was incredulous: "Aren't you a legitimate institution? Didn't I come here to treat my amnesia?"
"Of course, we are a legitimate institution."
Abbess Yuser's hand pressure increased by two points. Rode felt his waist was about to snap, his throat emitting a groan on behalf of his bones that couldn't bear the load.
"A Level One Medical Center of the Holy Church, featured on the front page of the Healing Order's medical roster—there's no institution more legitimate than us. All our Healing Sisters are outstanding graduates of Jinwosi Academy, with full marks in Nursing and Healing classes... And I, Yuser of Red Rose Street, am a legend of Jinwosi Academy, the only medical practitioner to also get full marks in the Combat Class!"
The pain distorted Rode's mouth. "Then why don't you go fight?"
Abbess Yuser sounded slightly surprised: "I'm logistics personnel. Combat is, of course, the responsibility of combat personnel. How can I overstep my duties? Oh... are you worried I'm not professional enough? Heh heh, little one, don't worry. No one is better at treating amnesia than I am."
This was the part Rode found most incomprehensible. "Is your treatment method just massage?"
Abbess Yuser laughed, "Of course not. This is only to make contact with your Spirit and guide it into a state of deep tranquility. The true healing hasn't begun yet."
A thought suddenly struck Rode. Could this be the reason he entered that strange world earlier?
"In that case, was that my mental world in a dream?" "Was my headache caused by that obelisk? Was the Husky tearing up my brain actually that black ghost?"
Connecting this to the series of strange encounters, Rode had a bad feeling. Could this dream world be related to the migration team incident?Am I really the killer? No, no, not necessarily.
I need to think positively. Maybe I can find some clues in the dream world.Right, I still remember the characters of those few unrecognizable words. I can ask the Abbess later.
As he was thinking, he heard Abbess Yuser continue: "Young man, you are very lucky. A Level One Medical Center is not a place just anyone can come to. You should thank Mr. Vermir. If it weren't for him, you wouldn't be sitting before me."
Rode asked, "Mr. Vermir... is that White Wolf?"
"That's right. Why don't you recognize him... Oh, you have amnesia, you poor little fellow." Abbess Yuser looked at him with pity. "I, in the name of Yuser, promise you that I will cure you, so you remember even when you wet your pants as a child."
Rode was slightly embarrassed: "Thank you. You really are good people. I originally thought you were some kind of irregular organization..."
Abbess Yuser smiled faintly and said, "The Healing Order is responsible for treating the spirit and the body, as well as serving as spiritual counselors. That's why the Sisters are very easy to get along with. And cute, fair-skinned little brothers like you are their favorite. It's inevitable they might take advantage of their position to make some excessive moves... But don't worry, as long as I am here, your chastity will not fall into their clutches."
Please don't be a busybody, let them come... Rode inwardly complained, feeling the image of this kingdom blurring in his mind.
He had initially assumed this was a strict, closed, and ignorant society, like a feudal dynasty or the Middle Ages. He hadn't expected it to be much more liberal than imagined. Abbess Yuser's conversation was witty and open, completely devoid of that kind of ignorant prejudice.
Although she was just an individual, a glimpse could reveal a larger picture. Is this really the human collective that survived in this harsh, dark environment?
In his remaining memories, the world was dark most of the time. People lived and worked cautiously under the protection of firelight. Mighty warriors fought the monsters in the dark, sometimes winning, sometimes suffering heavy defeats. Here, death was common. The black fog was an absolutely terrifying and untouchable presence. Life was monotonous, boring, and repetitive: eating, sleeping, checking the lamps, working in factories, workshops, mines, or fields, with nothing else. Only when the fire was burning bright were there moments of relaxation and smiling gatherings. Fortunately, the existence called the Holy White Tree purified the land and water, giving them a reasonably abundant harvest. Thus, starvation was not a frequent occurrence.
Apart from food and drink, their greatest wish was to pass some kind of test to become a warrior and then move to the Upper City of the King's City.
However, everything in his memory seemed somewhat inconsistent with what he was experiencing here. Rode fell into contemplation.
After an unknown duration, the hellish massage finally ended.
Abbess Yuser smiled, "Alright, now your Spirit has entered a state of deep tranquility. You must feel very comfortable, which is perfect for my upcoming Spirit Return Ritual."
All of Rode's bones ached. He weakly muttered a response.
Abbess Yuser stood up and placed her large palm on the back of his head. Accompanied by a strange sound of wind chimes, she chanted.
"Scattered Spirit, I ask you to return from the Spirit Realm." "Like an infant clinging to its mother, like a ghost returning to the grave!" "This is your origin!"
A sudden, strange sensation swept over Rode's body, like stepping into a cool room on a hot summer day, with a draft passing through his pants and over his entire body. But it quickly vanished. Abbess Yuser's voice came from above his head, filled with surprise. "Why did it fail?"
Rode's heart sank. He tried hard to recall, and indeed, there was no new information in his memory.
Abbess Yuser was silent for a moment, then repeated the ritual, but it still didn't succeed.
"This is truly strange..."
She fell into prolonged silence.
Rode hesitated for a long time before cautiously saying, "Um, maybe I wasn't completely relaxed? Should we try another Sister..."
Abbess Yuser raised her eyes and smiled gently, "Little one, it has nothing to do with you. The appearance of the Summoning Spirit means the preliminary work was fine. Your situation is very complex; there are difficulties beyond my expectation. Hmm... I must make a trip to the Great Library. This might take a while. But don't worry, I always keep my word."
But Rode wasn't confident. According to Murphy's Law, once an unfavorable sign appears, things always trend in the worst direction.
"No, I can't just wait here for disaster. I must find another way."
With this thought, Rode quickly said, "Abbess Yuser... Sister, can I ask you for a favor?"
Abbess Yuser smiled, "Go ahead, little one. I'll agree, considering your honest nature."
Rode spoke softly, "I would like to ask you to chat with me. You know, I have amnesia. I don't remember anything—my parents, family, friends. Everything I knew is gone. I'm illiterate, I don't understand anything, and I have no money. This city is utterly foreign to me, and yet I have to survive here alone. I feel so lonely, as if I'm the only person left in the world. So, I just want to talk with you, maybe gain a friend, maybe help bring back those familiar things."
His tone was sincere and full of emotion. Combined with his small, helpless appearance, Abbess Yuser's eyes immediately watered.
"Oh, what a poor little fellow. How could I possibly refuse such a small request?"
Rode's acting was performing at 120% efficiency, and amnesia was the perfect excuse. He could ask any question without hindrance. And Abbess Yuser was more approachable and easier to talk to than imagined. Rode easily elicited a large amount of information from her, even subtly asking about the characters he had seen in his dream.
Unfortunately, Abbess Yuser didn't recognize the script.
"That is neither Nalaka nor Sasolania. It looks somewhat like Mazisian, but it has no phonetics... It seems to be a very ancient language. Perhaps you could find someone at Jinwosi Academy who knows it."
Rode was about to ask what Jinwosi Academy was when he saw Abbess Yuser jump up as if her butt were on fire.
"Wh—"
Before he could finish the word, Abbess Yuser suddenly grabbed his hand.
"You can!" Her plump face bloomed like a Queen of the Night flower. "You can do it!"
Rode asked blankly, "I can do what?"
But Abbess Yuser didn't answer. She dragged him, crashed open the door, and rushed out of the Yuser Infirmary.
Outside the infirmary was an empty street. The blue flagstones were damp with mist, giving off a strange scent. Both sides of the street were lined with detached buildings built of bluestone. A lamp hung in front of every building. The hazy light dispelled the darkness, but if one looked up, they could see the pervasive black fog shrouding the city sky.
Rode shivered slightly. This was the King's City, the one with the strongest Holy Fire, yet it still looked so oppressive. If one were outside the city, surrounded by the black fog day and night, what would that feel like?
Suddenly, Rode understood what Abbess Yuser meant when she said they also served as spiritual counselors. His heart felt slightly dim. He looked left and right. The street was quiet, with no one around, but in this midnight-like environment, it didn't seem out of place.
"Damn it, it's already a quarter past noon! I wonder if we'll make it in time." Abbess Yuser glanced at her pocket watch and sprinted, pulling Rode along.
Noon?
The strong wind hit Rode's face. He finally found a gap to shout, "Where are we going?"
"To the Grand Sacrificial Plaza of the King's City! This year's Fire Trial has only two hours left. The Holy Chalice of Fire shouldn't have been extinguished yet. Maybe you can make it."
"What?" Rode was stunned.
The Abbess explained quickly: "Little one, I just tested you. Your soul's resilience is good, your waveform is clear, the Fa pattern is distinct, and your spiritual pressure is flashing. Perhaps you can pass the Fire Trial, receive the blessing of the Fire, and ignite your Fire Seed." "If so, you will enter Jinwosi Academy and become an honorable Fire Wielder Trainee. The Academy has countless companions, teachers, and an ancient, immortal Headmaster. You won't be lonely, and you won't have to worry about knowing nothing. They will teach you everything. You also won't have to worry about a livelihood. Every trainee receives a minimum weekly stipend of 42 Silver Sol and 90 Silver Sol worth of personal issued supplies. If you are outstanding enough, there are various scholarships and additional supplies." "This is your best option."
Rode was bewildered and shouted, "What does Jinwosi Academy do?"
At this moment, the benefit of his amnesia showed itself again. The Abbess gave him a very detailed explanation. "Only the Fire ignites our souls, giving us the strength to protect our home and fight the monsters in the dark. Those who ignite their Soul Fire are called Fire Wielders, meaning those who can wield the power of the Fire." "And Jinwosi Academy is the academy that cultivates and trains Fire Wielders. It is one of the most crucial pillars of the King's City, all our future hope." "Once you become a trainee, you will receive the most abundant resources, the best treatment, the most meticulous protection, and the most esteemed status. Because you are the 'Fire Seeds,' the future. The King's City exists because of you, and the last human kingdom continues because of you."
Rode was completely amazed but asked incredulously at the last statement: "The last? Is there no one left besides us?"
The Abbess's voice became slightly subdued: "I believe so. The world has long been enveloped in darkness. The all-consuming black fog permeates every corner of it. Humanity has long perished. Countless powerful kingdoms have become nests for dark monsters. We are the sole survivors. We have listened to the world for a long time, but in this dark desert, there is no comprehensible sound other than meaningless noise. Although some scholars still believe there must be other King's Cities like ours in the deep darkness, I remain pessimistic."
Rode's heart sank. He had just been planning to pack up and run to another human faction for survival if his secret was exposed. But now, a major variable had appeared. Everything in his future needed to be re-planned.
Rode's mind raced, seizing this last opportunity to ask the most important question. "Are there any untouchable taboos within the King's City and Jinwosi Academy?"
The Abbess thought for a moment and replied: "Do not pray to any entity other than the Fire. Any unknown symbols or rituals are forbidden." "Do not ignite or extinguish natural fire without authorization in public places. This is subject to heavy punishment."
Rode memorized every word and asked, "Anything else?"
The Abbess pondered again and answered. "The rest concerns the nature of the soul characteristics and Fire Seed abilities that appear after igniting the Soul Fire. It's much more lenient now than before, but only one category is unforgivable."
Rode quickly asked, "What is it?"
The Abbess replied.
"Soul Devouring."