Chapter 296
Haina’s Future (Third Update)
The old priest who witnessed his grandfather’s death firsthand over a decade ago had long since passed away. His son, who appeared to be in his late forties or early fifties, was a priest who had mastered Fire Worship Magic. His aged appearance suggested his true age could only be higher. He might have been in Eagle Cape Village for a very long time.
However, the priest could not provide Eivass with much useful information. He had only recently taken over his father’s position and was not yet familiar with many matters. What he knew might not even surpass Eivass’s current knowledge. The only information he could offer was about the village’s traditions regarding burials.
“We don’t have a cemetery in our village,” the priest replied softly, doling out pastries to Eivass and Lily. “All remains are thrown into the swamp, and there are no unified worship ceremonies. Remembering and worshiping are actions of the Twilight Path, and we are merely nameless individuals who have sold our souls—unwanted in life, unremembered in death. Those without names have no tombstones.”
“Then why do those children have names?” Eivass asked a question that had puzzled him for a long time.
The priest simply smiled. “We are all nameless remnants trapped here, shadows forgotten by the Hourglass. But they are different. They are healthy children.”
“…Exactly why did you sell your souls?” Eivass asked. “And why would Amber demand such a price?”
For ordinary Phantom Demons, human souls might be a scarce commodity. Demons would even sign contracts to gain souls and serve others. But for a Pillar God, it was utterly inconsequential. After death, souls would naturally flow into one of the nine rivers. It was as ordinary a resource as humans breathing air, for which no one would pay a price. Unless this “air” itself held some special significance.
Eivass found it most peculiar why Amber would agree to such a transaction. Judging by the persistent Twilight energy filling the village, the transaction had not yet concluded. Amber was still providing an endless stream of power, enough to affect everyone’s perception of time.
But the priest merely shook his head, placing a finger to his lips. He offered no answer. Perhaps he could not.
So, Eivass changed the subject, probing indirectly. “What about Haina? Do you know anything about her?”
Finally, Mr. Priest spoke. “Among the newborns in our village this generation, Haina is the most special. None other.”
Indeed, Eivass mused. In this village filled with Twilight energy, with both her biological and adoptive fathers having an aptitude for the Path of Devotion, she ultimately ended up with a blend of Authority and Transcendence… neither Devotion nor Twilight.
“I thought she would become a priestess or a blacksmith,” Eivass mumbled, shrugging helplessly and popping a pastry into his mouth. “But she doesn’t seem to have an aptitude for the Path of Devotion.”
“Yes, precisely because of that, Haina received education in Authority from a young age. This was also suggested by Jacob—he told Haina’s mother that little Haina had an aptitude for the Path of Authority. From then on, Haina’s mother deliberately nurtured Haina’s authoritative heart. It can be said that Mr. Jacob played an indispensable role in her becoming a Supervisor.” The priest sighed. “And now, Mr. Jacob’s grandson has become her friend and has been invited here… This is probably fate. Fate is the blood of twilight, and all future events are predetermined by Amber, engraved on the Amber Tree. Every thread is interconnected.”
“Education in Authority…” Eivass was somewhat puzzled. But he paused, then suddenly recalled their conversation on the way to the Pelican Bar, the second time he and Haina met.
“—Yes, my family is poor. But my parents always told me to be an upright person. To follow the law, be loyal to the Queen, and be sincere to my elders. Although I have no money, I have never committed even a minor offense like stealing.”
“—I won’t demand that others be like me, because not everyone agrees with the Path of Authority. But I will restrain my own actions as much as possible. Not because I am forced, but because I am willing to do so.”
“—Currently, I am wholeheartedly obeying my superiors and carrying out every command within the rules that they give me; but if one day, I am in a higher position than them, then they will have to obey me in the same way.”
Haina’s young yet confident voice from back then echoed in Eivass’s mind. He took a deep breath, gradually realizing.
“…Why didn’t I notice it then?” This was the most standard education in Authority. The aptitude for the Path of Extraordinary individuals was not fixed after birth but changed continuously. Just like Janis, and like Meg in the past, and Lixia now. Family education was the simplest way to change one’s path aptitude. Although it wasn’t effective for everyone, and one could not deviate too far… For instance, Isabel was not suited for the Path of Authority, but it was still possible to channel her towards the Path of Love through education. Similarly, Yulia was on the Path of Balance but also suited for Wisdom and Transcendence. With proper guidance when children were young, they could often be led to a designated path.
Shifting from the Path of Twilight to the Path of Authority was somewhat difficult. But shifting from the Path of Transcendence was possible. And the Path of Transcendence was an illegal path in Avalon. If Haina had a strong aptitude for the Path of Transcendence at birth, and her parents had decided from the beginning to have her leave Eagle Cape Village, they would have had to use various means to convert her Transcendence aptitude into an Authority aptitude… That was why she had received such strict education in Authority.
Eivass then thought of the stories his grandfather Jacob had told the young Haina… The story of “The White King,” where carnivorous animals led by red giant bears and golden lions ruled the world, and herbivorous animals like white horses and green deer outsmarted them to become the new kings. The golden lion, after swallowing black moles, was dug out from the moles’ bellies. This story metaphorically depicted Arthur’s feat of defeating Supreme Heaven and becoming the Silver Crown Dragon. The story itself was filled with traces of “transcendence,” and even recording it carried a rebellious undertone. Yet, among the many stories Jacob told, Haina remembered this one very clearly. This indicated that Haina’s initial path aptitude was precisely the Path of Transcendence!
Then, did Haina’s biological father also have an aptitude for the Path of Transcendence? If so, perhaps Haina’s path impulse was inherited from her father! Perhaps his disappearance was closely related to Jacob or Noble Red… Their commonality was that both could leave Eagle Cape Village for extended periods. If his departure was not an act of abandonment but an endeavor only he could achieve, could that explain why only sufficient “transcendent” power could break through the stagnation and seal of the Twilight power in their bloodline, allowing them to live normally in the outside world?
Eivass suddenly understood why he hadn’t encountered Haina in the original game. Haina would only serve as an apprentice Supervisor for six months. After her graduation, she would return to Eagle Cape Village as she was now. From then on, she would never return to Glass Island—because she could never go back. She would either awaken an aptitude for the Path of Twilight or awaken her transcendent nature. Either possibility would drastically change her personality, making her dislike the work of the Inspection Bureau.
So, were there any similar BOSSes or forces in the game? Yes, there were. And this time, it wasn’t a BOSS. In the game, there was a separatist demon uprising in Avalon called the “Hyena Gang,” rebelling against the colonial rule of the Star Antimony Kingdom. They were a group of demonized former Supervisors who, with a large pack of undead hounds, swept through and attacked mines, bridges, and railways controlled by the Star Antimony people. They plundered merchant caravans and assassinated “new nobles” who had pledged allegiance to the Star Antimony. The dead were then transformed into undead. Avalon, controlled by the Star Antimony, lost control of the Gryphon Brigade and Avalon’s Eye, making it difficult to precisely control local information as it was now. The Hyena Gang hid in the most desolate areas, with the help of Avalon’s populace in concealing their tracks. Despite repeated blows, they were difficult to eradicate completely.
The leader of the Hyena Gang was a tall, well-built beautiful woman known as “Nameless.” She was spirited and carried herself with confidence, though her body was covered in numerous scars—not from battles that were left untreated. The scars, as marks of wounds, were potent symbols of Twilight. “Nameless” wore her hair in a waist-length high ponytail and had dim yellow pupils. Her clothes were tattered, revealing her arms and one leg, and she had a bright, handsome smile. She possessed the powers of the Path of Authority, Transcendence, and Twilight, and was highly popular among players and the people of Avalon. They were considered semi-allied units. The Hyena Gang had a factional reputation that could be increased, and the Hyena set purchased from their faction store was a top-tier set usable by Fiend and Necromancer players. It wasn’t until the founding of Camelot in the final chapter that Nameless died from a direct attack by Shadow Heavenly Envoy while serving as a vanguard to conquer him. The Hyena Gang eventually dissolved, with some familiar NPCs becoming the Camelot police force.
…Recalling it now, this should have been Haina from another world line. It wasn’t Eivass’s fault for not recognizing her—her name, hairstyle, eye color, temperament, and profession were all different. Aside from her physique, nothing else matched… How was he supposed to recognize her! Moreover, Haina, perhaps due to her good figure, was always stared at and was somewhat self-conscious. She usually hunched slightly. She was nothing like that confident, spirited, and aggressive older sister—
Eivass shook his head, dispelling his belated, overthinking thoughts. Her father’s matters… he needed to tell Haina about it first. Thinking this, he bid farewell to Mr. Priest.
As Eivass stepped outside, he realized it had already turned to twilight. The moment he exited, his face changed—
Should I just retreat back in? But at that moment, Eivass’s footsteps suddenly halted. Because the priest was responsible for receiving outsiders, his house was located near the village entrance, close to the path leading into the village. And now, from the village entrance, Eivass heard a group of people shouting excitedly and rudely. He frowned slightly, pulling Lily back half a step to hide in the priest’s house.
As expected, not long after. A group of people in red robes rushed in—
Today’s update is 8,000 characters! (Puff chest) Sudden burst of diligence, writing from waking up until now—normal update tomorrow though (exhausted to the point of sticking out my tongue)
