The long street was deserted and a cold wind blew. Helen walked through the quiet city and heard footsteps echoing on the stone steps. The stone steps are wide and flat, requiring an adult to take five or six steps before continuing upward. Compared with the road, the houses on both sides are mottled, old and out of place. This place is like a dream, but it is a corner of the real world. How did I get here? She thought as she walked.
A few minutes ago, Helen was waiting for dinner in her room. Sky Island Huoklin is remote, sparsely populated, and even the food is strange. The Sky Island olives she wanted Roma to bring had a strange flavor, but they were not easy to come by. For this reason, she specially prepared Windrunner's career information as a reward.
Usie was not as clever as her batch brethren, and Helen had to spend her time sorting through the documents as they came to her. But when the little lion came knocking on the door, Helen was thankful that her ring responded in time.
Otherwise, if I am exposed in the "gap", even I will die on the spot. thought the witch. The pendant in front of her eyes shook slightly and was full of cracks. Compared with the worst possible situation, the current situation is not intolerable.
She found herself in a stepped city with no human beings around and no direction. Whenever the wind blew from top to bottom, Helen would feel a strange and scary feeling in her heart.
In my memory, Brumnot, the city of floating clouds, is a typical example of a stepped city. She is located at the foot of the island mountains, connected to the shoals washed out by the Yeyu River. The Port of Far Light is the hub of the Star Gap, and is vertically connected to the "Immortal Gate" base station on the ground, the rectangular ladder shuttle station. It is jokingly called "the sewer mouth of the whole Brumnot" by Ronald the Lion. He was inspired by the funnel-shaped topography of the city.
There are no hills on the empty island. Although the scenery of this place is unique, it cannot be judged based on this. Am I still in Hokolin? In other words, entered a mysterious place? In a completely unfamiliar environment, Helen could only move forward. No matter what, the building above gave her a sense of familiarity.
A red door stands at the end. "Jerem." She called while knocking on the door, "Is that you?"
With a creak, the door opened.
Someone was leaning against the stone steps with his back to her, holding a shovel in his hand. Roses, hyacinths and silver lilies were planted in front of him. The flowers were in bud and the branches and leaves were fresh and lovely. Hearing the noise, he turned his head.
The man's face was older than she remembered, but it reassured her. When she was at the headquarters, Helen called the Tower Prophet "Grandpa Mentor", Professor Larson of the Astronomy Room was her classmate and senior brother, and "Lion", the envoy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarded her as the daughter of an old friend. Even the Destiny Assembly acquiesced in her coming to Novo. You can enjoy the tour without having to guard the observation deck. But in Helen's heart, "gatekeeper" Jerome and his garden will always miss her more than the City of Floating Clouds. Here is her entire childhood.
Member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, owner of the empty seat at the Destiny Assembly, "gatekeeper" Jerome Oskelman, Helen's caregiver. He got up as usual and welcomed his adopted daughter home.
He was very old, lame, and had difficulty moving his fingers. But these hands not only fried beef for Helen, cooked lotus root soup, and sewed pillows, but also took care of the garden every day when she was away from home, and they had been working diligently for a hundred years. He had a cane that she had broken and the edges had been worn smooth. He had no shoes on his feet, revealing blue and wrinkled skin, which only relaxed when he took a step. But these feet can not only kick the ball, step on the stirrups, and jump on the grid, but can also carry the eleven-year-old girl from Abroz to Marandino without falling for a hundred years.
"Helen."
"Uncle Jerome." She had even called him brother when she was young, because he was young, strong, and her mother's apprentice. However, now, he has become older, far frailer than the prophet who was thousands of years old. The only person in the Destiny Assembly who looked older than him was Osvid "Silver Cross" Sidney, but when the latter was angry, he was so angry that the prophet had to retreat.
"Your ring sent a warning." Jerem looked at her reproachfully: "Did you hear it?"
"Someone attacked me," she confided. "I went to Hokolin to expel the Bansi Banshee, and someone leaked my whereabouts."
"There is no such thing, Helen. The other party does not know your whereabouts...he has been watching you."
"This is even more impossible."
"Because you are a great astrologer?"
"I have said many times that I am a witch of the constellation Harp, not a great astrologer. No wonder you are a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You can never tell the difference between us."
Jerem snorted. "You who spy on destiny. What's the difference? You are on a dangerous and endless enterprise."
"You also know?" Helen stepped forward, "The Destiny Assembly is preparing for war."
She was supposed to discuss the assassins, the undead on the island, and her own situation, but when she saw Jerim, she started talking about the war. I was praying for comfort, Helen thought, maybe I had wanted to see him a long time ago instead of insisting on staying at the headquarters to wait for arrangements. I'm angry with myself.
Her caregivers can relate to her. "I know full well, and I also know that you don't want to get involved. But Lord Demosis is right, there are some storms that we cannot escape."
"The Tower has intervened in many wars. Most of them were intervened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Helen still felt chilly when recalling the battle at Tielong Port. "The Commander-in-Chief is never afraid of war and does not leave room for anyone. He always likes to take risks."
"Then come back intact. Is this strange? He has been like this for two hundred years. Why are you suddenly interested in him?"
He avenged my father's death, and the Destiny Gathering was planning to unite with my enemies. Maybe my assassin is our new ally. "The prophet said he was the First People."
"That's right." Jerem indeed knew the origin of the leader, "You can't tell, right?"
The youngest ones in the Destiny Gathering should have been her and Larson, but they have also passed their centuries. Judging from his appearance, Bai Zhizhi, the leader of the tower, seems to have only recently reached adulthood. "He is a demi-human." Helen asked, "What kind of alien blood can do this?"
"A kind of goblin." Jerem inserted the shovel into the flower pot, "but there is no record in the tower. This mysterious race is already rare in number, and the one who leads the inherited bloodline is probably almost extinct in the age of the gods. We are All that is known about it is gained by observing the white one." He took off his gardener's broad hat. "In a sense, he is a great invention of biology."
Helen frowned: "Invention?"
"Yes. Invention. I won't say that there is no such thing. Before the current order in the mysterious field, people's methods of exploring various things were not rigid... In short, I think it was his birth that helped Demosis become prophet."
"The Prophet 'created' the White Envoy? A living person?"
"He was not the White Envoy then. 'Create' is not accurate. We are not wizards after all, Helen. The creation of humans does not belong to the domain of the Tower."
The witch paused. "A wizard created humans? Is that what you mean?"
"They have done more outrageous things. Obviously, gods are more popular with them than mortals. Isn't there a theological sect among wizards nowadays? This is not surprising."
"Harp witchcraft is different from school witchcraft." She said flatly.
"Indeed. You belong to the Tower, a category of astrologers."
Helen turned away and sighed: "I really don't know how to correct you. Maybe insects with wings are also birds in your eyes, Jerem."
"The sky is your domain."
what is this? She didn't want to discuss birds and bugs, and fairies and bloodlines were just incidental. What Helen really wanted to know was the origin of the leader and the role the tower played in it. "Gatekeeper" Jerem introduced the leader, explaining that he was either the link between the two parties, or knew the secrets... She suddenly realized something: "Destiny is the domain of astrologers."
Jerem didn't answer. He looked quietly at the silver lilies.
"That's it." She understood completely. "The tower guided his birth, so you call it an invention. Gods above, it's us... no. It's the prophet. But how can it be done...?"
"You know very well. You said 'guide'. There is no doubt that the fate of mortals can be manipulated." He said softly. She couldn't help but tremble.
Jerem changed the subject. "However, this is just my guess. You all have characteristics inherited from your parents, Helen. Maybe the commander's father took advantage of the situation back then."
Helen calmed down. She looked at him displeased until he corrected himself: "It was just a joke. Not directed at anyone. The Gray One loves your mother, child. I swear they love each other."
"You don't need to swear about their feelings."
"Sometimes, things may not be what you imagine." Jerem told her: "Back then, your mother was engaged to a Bures man."
Helen had never heard of it: "Man from Bures?"
"His ancestors made great contributions during the alliance period, and he is quite wealthy and well-positioned, so he came into the eyes of your grandfather."
"But that's just a mortal!"
"No. This person lit the fire and was a low-level mysterious creature. But what does it matter? To the tower, there is no difference between mortals and low-level people. In the end, your mother did not obey the arrangement and married your father." Jerem said sadly. "It was the prophet who gave her support."
"These episodes do not harm their relationship," Helen declared.
Jerem stared at her for a long time. "You're right." He turned away, "In this life, they are each other's only one. Love is intoxicating. Sakshiton must also want to protect you when you grow up, Helen. But he has responsibilities. You shouldn't Blame him, let alone Demosis. I really want to say that the prophet selflessly favors us juniors, but he also has responsibilities and cannot violate them. He shoulders the future of the world."
"I don't blame Grandpa Tutor." At least I didn't say it out loud.
"Don't lie to me, Helen. I know you very well. The person who assassinated you was not the Nightingale of the Society. The prophet would not arrange such a thing to force you to submit. To be honest? Your attitude cannot affect the overall situation. It can only affect Larson and give him cause trouble."
The witch bit her lip. In front of Jerem, she felt like a child, like Roma. She is no longer a child! Don't adults suffer from hatred? This is ridiculous. "Someone is staring at me. Who is it? How do you know?"
"It's all because of your origin. Your mother Dorothea was also assassinated, and it was the Gray Messenger Saxhidon who saved her life." Jerem told her, "Someone is hunting for the blood of the 'Victor' successor."
Shocking. "Hunting us?"
"It's absolutely true. When you were two years old, a nightingale touched your cradle. The news of your birth had been kept secret for more than two years. We all thought it was okay, but the nightingale still came to our door! Thanks to the prophet in advance Gave us an early warning... Later, your father sent you to me to avoid an unprepared attack."
"I don't know... I don't... Oh, gods..." Helen was speechless. "Why have I never seen... never noticed this?"
"After you ignited the fire, Nightingale never appeared again. Later, you were gifted and became a mystic in the Sky Realm, so no one else had to worry. The previous assassins only used mortal methods. The poison in the cup is in the cabinet. Ji Kuo, the dead soldier's dagger...you can detect it yourself."
I did suffer quite a few assassinations. Helen recalled carefully. But most of them come from hostile forces or fools who don't know the heights of the world. If someone has been targeting me since I was born... "Who is that person?"
"That's exactly our problem." Jerem said seriously, "I don't know their identities. Even Demosis can't see clearly. Otherwise, the tower astrologers would have uprooted each other long ago. He We can only infer from the results to prevent your death, but we cannot get to the bottom of it and eliminate the disaster."
She reluctantly believed this. "What's the reason? A mysterious object?" A mysterious object that blocks the prophet's power? It's ridiculous. Dead objects cannot block the power of the saint, not even divine relics. "Besides, even so, are there no clues at all? No faces of the assassins, no relatives or friends?"
"All you can find are dead men, Helen. A truly threatening assassin, you can't even realize his existence. This is the only one who has repeatedly created fatal crises and almost succeeded."
"Fatal crisis, in Croita?" It sounds like a fantasy.
"Sometimes we ignore assassinations happening."
She didn't understand: "Ignore?"
"When you were assassinated, I felt like everything was normal, even though you were right in front of me."
incredible. Helen didn't answer, but her expression said so.
"This is true. Both Ronald and Osvid can prove it. To be honest, when the prophet told me, I couldn't understand it at all." "Gatekeeper" frowned, "I didn't believe it at first, until I took you there one time Go out and watch the celebration in Bloomnott..."
celebration. Suddenly, a memory became vivid. This is a mysterious feeling, as if the past came to your door and took up residence in your head.
"...The musician at the celebration!" Helen blurted out, "He complimented my hair, and then wanted to stab my eyes." She couldn't help but reach out and fiddle with the gems hanging in front of her eyes.
Memories came flooding back. The tip of the knife was so close to her pupils that she could almost feel the coldness of the steel. But she found that she had no memory at all about the knife wielder, only remembering the other party's ceremonial costumes.
It was after that incident that Helen wore the tiara. Damn it, how could I forget? I don't remember it at all. "God, there's something wrong with my memory."
"Yes. I watched you talking to him at the time... He almost succeeded, but I didn't feel that you were in danger at all." Jerem said heavily, coughing a few times. "Your gem originally hung on your chest. It was a subconscious sense of crisis that allowed you to protect yourself. But when you look in the mirror every day, you don't think about the reason. The impression left by the assassin on you and everything he did to you are... Disappeared."
That’s it, Helen understood. That's why I didn't notice the danger. Under the astrology and destiny, there is no shadow of this person. He could easily find me, follow me, and assassinate me. His behavior was perfectly normal in my eyes and not worthy of attention at all.
If I weren't in Croita, I might not be noticed until I die. When she was attacked just now, Helen used witchcraft to sweep the room, but found nothing. If Roma and her companions hadn’t come to visit, if Roma’s friend hadn’t been an elemental being, and if it hadn’t been during the period when the order was being reduced, a slight disturbance would have caused the unskilled elementalist to make mistakes…
A chill came over my heart. "what happened?"
"Someone can distort people's perceptions, Helen. I think that's why we ignore assassinations."
I ignored the assassin and his dagger, but I didn't ignore the result that he bumped into York, causing the latter to suddenly lose control. Helen composed herself.
"Is it a 'cognitive barrier'?" she guessed, "I know this kind of witchcraft, it can..."
"No matter how good it is, it can't deceive the prophet." Jerem denied, "It can't be witchcraft."
"I don't understand." The witch said doubtfully, "Is there any method in the world that can accomplish such a thing? Besides, now that I'm aware of the problem, does the mystery have been solved?"
"No. Your awareness is actually related to the environment. In this garden, you and I will not be affected."
"Where is this?" she wondered. "Why am I normal only here?"
Jerem lowered his head and stepped on the stone slab. "Abrouz," he said, "Abrouz, the Stairway to Heaven. This is the door I have guarded all my life. They say this is the break in order."
Helen's eyes widened. She was no stranger to this place. I'm home. In an instant. The Star Gap is nothing more than that. However, she was pretty sure she had no use and no key.
"It's me." The gatekeeper confessed. "I begged the prophet to leave a guarantee on your ring. If your life is in danger, you will be sent back here. Listen to me, Helen, it will be very dangerous for ordinary people here. Threatened by hell and wandering spirits, but I can’t think of a safer place for you.”
Safety. She stared at him: "The assassin. He doesn't dare to come?"
"His magic doesn't work on the edge of order."
"But he can get in."
"We just want him to come." Jerem's voice was filled with chill. "We must find him and kill him. I have been waiting for him for a long time. Helen. Demosis and I have been waiting for this day, waiting for him to surrender. .”
trap. she thought. I am the bait and the nightingale's target. "He...will he come?"
"I didn't ask anyway." Jerem hunched over and walked up to her. As he moved, the green plants in the garden swayed and released their fragrance. Dark clouds gradually accumulated in the sky, and the air was moist and heavy. "As long as he attacks you, he will come to the stairs together. This is a mysterious method. But if you ask me, this is the call of fate."
Just then, Helen heard footsteps.
The retest has passed, read this chapter for good luck~
I wish readers that all their wishes will come true₍ᐢ•⌄•ᐢ₎
