After closing the door, Catalina finally took off her killer corset and put on her usual pajamas. She breathed a sigh of relief and adjusted her breathing, trying to get her ribs back into shape.
As her lungs re-expanded, she felt her ribs deforming inch by inch, gradually returning to their original shape. My breathing gradually became easier, and I no longer felt faintly dizzy.
For a long time in the past, Catalina couldn't understand why aristocratic ladies in knight novels always "fainted" easily when frightened. She didn't understand it until she wore this kind of clothes herself.
Of course, this does not mean that this fabric garment can really hug the torso. If necessary, the strength of the Extraordinary can easily burst the fatal girdle garment.
But even Catalina, who is not very interested in the reputation of being a lady, is not willing to bear the embarrassing reputation of "blowing out her clothes".
Taking off the corset made her feel "free", like a prisoner released from prison.
It's so horrible, I hope this is the last time I wear a corset...
After calming down for a moment, Catalina sat in front of the dressing table and pulled out the diary that could contact the secret keeper. The cover leather exuded an old and simple elegance, and was slightly hot to the touch. It was probably the secret keeper who had left a message for her.
Sure enough, when I opened the page, a line of hot flame text flickered faintly:
[I have a question for you, Katarina. 】
Please teach me? !
The venerable master who knows the long-lost ancient elven magic, and is suspected to be the secret keeper of Master Vanderwyk, would actually ask me questions?
Katarina didn't think so, it sounded more like some kind of test. She dipped the tip of her pen in ink and slowly wrote in the letter:
[Your Majesty, please speak. I will tell you everything you know. 】
White flame words are gradually traced on the pale yellow paper:
[You want to be a legendary hero like Silver Knight Galt, right? 】
[Yes, Silver Knight Galt has always been my role model and goal. Even just walking down the path he walked has been a huge benefit to me. 】
[Do you believe that knights are different? 】
Katarina responded quickly. She was already familiar with the seven virtues of knights:
[Yes, I believe that every knight is unique. A true knight not only needs to be brave, but also should practice the seven virtues included in the knight's oath: humility, mercy, generosity, wisdom, honor, bravery, and loyalty. 】
[But even if they are not knights, ordinary people can still show the same moral character. The oath itself does not give the knight any additional qualities. If you really think it is the knight who is different, which quality really makes him unique? 】
this……
She froze. Catalina has never seriously thought about this issue. In her mind, knights seem to be born different.
Extraordinary bloodline? No, the first priority of the knight code is to put down one's surname and origin. And even civilians can also become excellent knights, such as Sir Reed, who is about to be canonized for her.
Unparalleled combat skills? That's not right, evil people with low moral character can also be excellent in martial arts. This is not a quality unique to knights.
Like-minded friends? Companions are indeed important, but they are obviously not the decisive factor.
In the end, she could only write helplessly:
[Sorry, I can’t answer this question yet. 】
[It’s okay, young Katarina, when I was your age, the Silver Knight also encountered the same confusion. You must find out the answer to this question yourself, and then you will become a true knight. 】
A true knight...
As the flame text slowly faded, Catalina raised her head and looked at her reflection in the mirror, thoughtfully.
…
"So your plan is to make our knight lady fall into self-doubt? Do you think this will work?" Sylvie raised her eyebrows, looking noncommittal.
"It's better than trying to trick old Sir Reed," Ed said, putting down the pen in his hand.
Until the injury to his left leg heals, he must avoid frontal combat as much as possible. Rather than trying to compete with an old knight with a third-level personality crystallization, it would be better to start from his own side.
At first, he planned to directly ask her not to accept the canonization as the keeper of the secret. But considering Katarina's fanatical obsession with being a knight, doing so might be counterproductive.
Rather than doing this, it would be better to confuse her by making insinuations and lead her to voluntarily give up accepting the canonization.
Anyway, whether Sir Reed is unable to attend for some reason or Catalina actively refuses the canonization, the final effect is the same.
"Now that you are a Level 2 Extraordinary, my dear good gentleman, what are you going to do next?" Sylvie suddenly asked.
"Are you talking about the position in the Bureau of Divine Investigation? The direction of ability development? Or personal matters?"
"Aren't you curious about your past identity?"
"Well..."
Ed put his elbows on the back of the chair, twirled the coins on his fingertips, and said slowly:
"Of course, I'm curious. Why did I come back from the dead? How did you appear in my mind? Where is the murderer who killed me in the control room? What kind of person is my adoptive father Ludvik? Why would he adopt a member of the Elf Royal Family?”
"...But in the final analysis...I guess, the things involved behind this will not be very simple, and it is very likely that I will lose my life if I make a wrong step. After the leg injury is healed, I may go back to the old house to take a look. , maybe we can find some clues.”
"This is not like what you would say. Where did your courage go when you confronted Floyd, walked into the rat trail single-handedly, and risked your life with a werewolf with a bag of books?" When she said this, the corner of Sylvie's mouth disappeared. With a big smile.
"I'm afraid it's different. I don't remember anything at that time, and I don't know anyone. But if I die, I'll lose it if I lose it."
Ed slowly exhaled and looked at the empty black ceiling in his dream, as if it was the vacuum of the universe:
"But now I have started a new life and have friends of my own. The salary at the Bureau of Investigation is satisfactory enough, and I have a group of colleagues who are quite individual but are actually quite good."
"I don't know where I will end up. But if I think about it carefully, if possible, maybe it would be good to stay here forever..."
"I must warn you, this is a very dangerous idea."
He closed his eyes gently and let the darkness in front of him completely drown him:
"Yes, it is indeed dangerous. But it is also my truest thought..."
…
