Chapter 291
Viviane and Merlin
“Giants are digging graves here?”
After listening to Yeats’ report, Viviane frowned deeply. “What an annoying bunch of fools. They just cause trouble without understanding anything.”
“Do you need me to drive them away for you?”
Yeats bowed slightly, his voice filled with a touch of excitement. “If you wish, I will drive all those giants out of here—”
“Enjoy your vacation and don’t cause me trouble.”
Little Viviane looked weary. The silver-haired, silver-eyed girl, who appeared to be only seven or eight years old, reached out and pushed Yeats aside, walking towards an empty alley. It was a gentle push, barely enough to open a door. Yet, Yeats was easily pushed away—not because Little Viviane possessed any special strength, but because he dared not resist his former master with force.
“Even if there’s a Fifth Tier among those giants, I can do it…”
Yeats, having been pushed aside, did not leave. Instead, he turned and followed behind Viviane, bowing his head and speaking in a hushed voice. “I have completely absorbed the drop of blood you left me, and I have now successfully reached the Fifth Tier…”
“And then what?”
Viviane retorted without looking back. “You drive them away, or you can kill them. Then you’ll attract Wolfram, or expose me. Frankly, I’m not that interested in the ‘Sacred Entity’—or rather, it’s been on Glass Island for so long, Arthur must have found it by now. Even if Arthur hasn’t, that scoundrel Merlin should have. I’m begging you, please stop causing trouble for me. Do you know how many Pillar Gods and how many Discs are watching Avalon? Your visit to me might have already exposed me.”
“Master, I also met someone on the way…”
Yeats continued to follow Viviane like a large black dog, disregarding her weariness and resistance. “She’s carrying Meg’s wine jug and might know Meg. She’s also come into contact with Lancelot’s descendants and carries the auras of people like Alexander, Hermes, and Heracles…”
“I know who she is, and you don’t need to concern yourself with it.”
Viviane said coldly. “That’s Haina, Meg’s last disciple.” Her footsteps quickened slightly. Yeats matched her pace, adding, “Also, she carries the aura of that Mathers…”
At this point, Viviane stopped. She turned back to look at Yeats, saying coldly, “I told you, I have my own plan. I am now Viviane Mathers—do you understand what I mean?”
“Yes, Master.”
Yeats stood respectfully, blocking the way behind her. He was large, and it was a tight fit in the alley, his clothes even picking up white dust, but he paid it no mind. “Then, is there anything I can do to help you now?”
Viviane sighed deeply, her hand going to her forehead, her expression exceedingly complex. She knew she was unlikely to shake him off. She had to assign this foolish dog some task, otherwise, his constant presence around her would be too much of a hindrance.
“Let me think, let me think…”
Viviane murmured to herself, lost in thought. After a moment of contemplation, she snapped her fingers. Yeats’ eyes widened, his chest puffed out, and he looked up attentively.
“Go and monitor those giants,” Viviane commanded. “If they find a way into Eagle Cape Village, you must stop them. Your primary mission is to protect that ‘Alexander’—if possible, become their friend. At least make yourself known to them. Then, prevent the giants from approaching the swamp. If possible, stop everyone from approaching the swamp.”
“…The person I met on the road is from Eagle Cape Village.”
Yeats added. “But I’ve searched all around, and there’s no village called Eagle Cape Village here.”
“It was once Beheading Valley, the place where giants executed rebels and slaves. Later, Helchin and the Great Philosopher signed a Contract, and then Amber performed a ‘Ritual’ on that region. Finally, it was the Fey… three forces happened to choose the same place, which, strictly speaking, was a coincidence—Alexander told me about this decades ago.” Little Viviane said coldly. “That Haina should be a result of Alexander’s research… her Birth is somewhat related to me as well, after all, I provided him with that Ritual. So, you go and protect that Ritual. The way to enter Eagle Cape Village is to enter the forest next to Windpipe Town after noon. Find any small path and keep moving forward in the forest, but try to go slowly. Keep walking in the direction where there is no light. When you reach Twilight, you will enter.”
“I understand.”
Yeats nodded solemnly, accepting the mission. But then he asked, “Then why are you here? Are you looking for something?”
“Yes, but you don’t need to look for it. I’ll tell you if I need it.”
“My sense of smell is very keen, Master. I can already smell the scent of causality.”
“You still have a long way to go, my little dumb dog,” Little Viviane said with a sarcastic laugh. “This is just the beginning… it will be more relevant when that plan is in place. A Fifth Tier can’t do anything.”
“What plan?”
“I told you, it has nothing to do with you.” Viviane commanded. “Alright, go and complete your mission.”
“If I complete your mission…”
Yeats’ eyes were full of anticipation and affection. “Can I come back again?”
Seeing this, Little Viviane sighed again. “As you wish, but I have nothing to give you now—my blood, my love, my flesh. I cannot reward you with anything. I am not Viviane now; I am Viviane Mathers… this body of mine has only been born for a little over seven years, my dog. That means I’m only eight years old.” Viviane retorted. “Do you know what being eight years old means? Should I write a book to teach you? Huh?”
“But you will eventually return to the Sky.”
Yeats said respectfully. “You are the Eternal Star of the Sky.”
Viviane merely replied casually. “No, I don’t plan to go back. At least not anytime soon. You don’t know, the Dream Realm is not as safe as the Material Realm—alright, you can go. Execute your mission.”
“Your will, Master.”
Yeats knelt respectfully on the ground and then vanished without a trace. Viviane, however, gazed at the sky for a long time. After a while, she shook her head.
“…These days, the Sky is really not as safe as the ground. At least on the ground, you won’t be inexplicably pulled down. The Sacred Entity and all that… heh, foolish giants. Is that something you can touch? Such inherited foolishness.” Viviane muttered to herself.
“Viviane!”
A child’s tender voice came from behind her. “Don’t wander into alleyways, you’ll get your clothes dirty!”
“Because I’m curious where the other end leads—”
Viviane’s face instantly lit up with a childlike smile, and she let out a crisp voice, turning to run back, rejoining the other children. Soon, laughter and cheers echoed from the crowd.
And in that alley, unnoticed, another person had suddenly appeared. It was a young man in his early twenties. He wore a dark blue robe, held a staff in his right hand, and a short sword was sheathed at his right hip. The youth had messy black short hair and wore a circular monocle over his left eye. He narrowed his eyes, a gentle smile on his lips, his androgynous features remarkably delicate.
“—Who were you talking to, Viviane? Did you sense my presence?”
Gazing in the direction Little Viviane had left, Merlin stroked his chin thoughtfully. “But it doesn’t seem like it… If she had realized it was me, she wouldn’t have said anything at all. That’s strange… Who do you think was eavesdropping here? Is there anyone else?”
However, being pulled down… Merlin narrowed his eyes and adjusted his monocle. He recalled what Eivass had told him about something.
—The Shadow of Avalon Ritual had gone wrong.
Although confident in his abilities, Merlin had checked it as a precaution. And indeed, something was wrong. He had to quickly inform Queen Sophia from the Dream Realm, telling her not to use the Ritual for now and to wait for him to adjust it. But the problem was, that issue wasn’t something Viviane could possibly have fixed. Resurrection was a relatively simple function, while pulling down a Heavenly Envoy was a more complex function. A simple ritual couldn’t possibly have been modified just by a few tweaks to stably perform a more complex function. In other words, it wasn’t a bug. It was another ritual hidden beneath the “Shadow of Avalon” ritual he had set up.
The problem was this: His ex-girlfriend Viviane wasn’t capable of complex rituals. As for a ritual that could pull down a Heavenly Envoy, Merlin had never even heard of such a thing. Who had she contacted?
A calamity requiring transmigration into a mortal to escape… The Shadow of Avalon Ritual that could pull down a Shadow Heavenly Envoy… Not being pulled down inexplicably… Alexander’s Ritual… And the legend of the “Sacred Entity”—a Heavenly Envoy Fragment from the Transcendent Path had fallen into the Material Realm and gained self-awareness.
“Could these things… be connected?” Merlin pondered. But he was at least certain of one thing—this was at least a Heavenly Envoy-level conspiracy. Merlin mused for a long time and raised his staff. A cerulean blue portal emerged from the staff, enveloping him. When he reappeared, he was already in the Fey Kingdom. A fairy about a dozen centimeters tall spotted him and fluttered over. “Merlin, is that Merlin!” Soon, a swarm of fairies gathered upon hearing the sound, making a great racket.
“Merlin, you’re back to play!”
“Don’t leave again, Merlin!”
“If you dare run off and leave us, we’ll stew you with apples!”
“Merlin stewed with apples! Merlin stewed with strawberries!”
“I want Merlin stewed with oranges!”
“Quiet, quiet, my little darlings.”
Merlin tugged at his wide-brimmed hat, and beneath the shadow-obscured face, his characteristic fake smile appeared. “Take me to the Queen. I have something to ask her.”
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