Peering

One agenda item after another was written in the center of the darkness. The white text stood out starkly against the black background, yet it couldn't help but induce a hint of drowsiness in those watching.

Clo had no interest in the proceedings to begin with, but due to her status, she was forced to sit in the front row. Li Yue, on the other hand, found a random seat in the back. She gave Clo a wink that lacked any real emotional surge, appearing to be a simple greeting.

Li Yue's status was quite awkward. In terms of standing, as a deity, everyone should have been sitting behind her wherever she chose to sit—even if she was a god who had not yet fully recovered her strength and was once listed as an enemy by their side. However, she seemed to prefer identifying as a proxy professor at times like this, choosing to sit in the corner.

A parchment map slowly began to unfurl across the black board. The long map, resembling a scroll, displayed several strange buildings, but only those near the academy were marked. The more distant regions were left blank, as no personnel had been dispatched to explore them yet.

These were buildings that appeared to have been constructed with ancient techniques, yet they were incredibly whimsical. Judging from the illustrations, many of the structures were in ruins, yet they exuded a strange and sacred aura, as if telling the story of their once-glorious history.

“Civilization flourished here very early on, but for some unknown reason, it vanished without a trace in a very short period of time.” Pricek rested his chin on his hand. “I want to send out more advance teams, but our current relationship with the magic beasts makes such actions somewhat awkward.”

“Unnecessary friction might become the fuse for war,” Leonardo said, spreading one hand. “But by the time peace returns after a war, the likelihood of these buildings being preserved is slim to none.”

“I believe it is necessary. Perhaps the secrets excavated from them can truly unveil the mysterious veil of the Western Continent for us.” Pricek seemed to be sticking to his view. Leonardo looked back at Li Yue; her expression remained unchanged, and she even let out a bored yawn.

Li Yue watched the slowly rolling parchment scroll. For some reason, she wondered if there would be a surprise at the end of this scroll—perhaps a hidden sword or a magic wand—but there seemed to be nothing.

As for the secrets of those buildings or the truth of the Western Continent, Li Yue was too lazy to get involved. She might know everything, yet she seemed to know nothing at all.

“A bit tired... What is this... Now that autumn is here and the temperature is dropping, do I want to hibernate?” Li Yue let out another yawn. She touched the blood-red blood crystal at her chest, her expression normal, though she seemed to have fallen back into her own thoughts.

“The geography of this continent, those buildings... Forget it, they will find out sooner or later.” Li Yue propped up her head, feeling a slight, faint irritation. “Two more pieces... Two more authorities, and I’ll be just a step away from ascension. But before that, I need to settle all affairs.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. At some point, Clo had quietly sat down beside her. It seemed to be an intermission; currently, not a single one of the agenda items presented had been resolved with a clear answer.

“Recently... have you been in a bad mood?” Clo looked into Li Yue’s eyes and asked somewhat cautiously.

“No, I was just thinking... thinking about you.” Li Yue glanced at a corner, finding a direction for her explanation.

“About me? Have I done anything recently?”

“No, I was just thinking about our future.” Li Yue gave a faint smile. “I was wondering what I should do to let you live easily—or rather, to live a bit more freely.”

“I don't understand.”

“Uh... I also thought about where we should hold our wedding.” Li Yue looked at Clo, her eyes showing a trace of tenderness and warmth.

“Didn't you tell me before not to be in such a hurry?”

“It’s something I have to think about eventually, isn't it?” Li Yue propped up her face, smiling gently. “In a few days, I want to go and visit those ruins and villages. Those places might help me remember a more distant past.”

“Do you... do you need me to come with you?” Clo took Li Yue’s hand. Li Yue’s hand was cold as always, but Clo could inexplicably feel a slight tremor.

“I’ll be fine on my own. I’ll be back soon, really.” Li Yue smiled and reached out to pinch Clo’s cheek. Seeing the other girl’s slightly shy yet worried expression, she felt her suppressed emotions trembling.

...

In a forest under the moonlight, a key was perfectly sealed within a cluster of vines at the very center, emitting a faint, ethereal blue glow.

Three magic dragons with blood-red scales flew beneath the moon. Not far away, a withered old man sat by a spring. He reached out a “hand” to touch the moon reflected in the pool. That ring of moonlight slowly spread out, as if melting into the ethereal blue water.

Only upon closer inspection could one see that his body seemed tightly bound to the earth. His arms were not simply muscle-wasted due to old age; they were truly withered.

They were like dry tree branches.

“Use the lives of those three stupid dragons to divine the owner of this key.” His voice was slow and low. It did not sound like a human language, but rather a tongue that was much more awkward to pronounce yet carried an abnormal magical power, similar to the strange pronunciation magic users used for certain special incantations.

“I do not ask for much, for this is an equivalent exchange...” The old man coughed, his voice growing even lower. “If she is still alive, please tell me her current location and the number of authorities she holds...”

The moon reappeared on the water's surface, but it was not a full moon; most of it remained in a dim state. He dipped his withered hand into the water and gave it a gentle stir. The surface rippled, and the profile of a white-haired, red-eyed girl appeared in the reflection.

She was wearing an apron, her hair neatly tied back. She seemed to be frying something in a flat iron pan. Different fruits and vegetables were quickly sliced by her, then mashed into a paste, and finally dotted onto the fried food with a spoon as a garnish.

In the next instant, the girl, who had been carefully garnishing the dish, seemed to sense something. She glanced toward the perspective of the water's reflection. After a violent tremor, the water quickly began to boil, soon turning blood-red.

“Is that some kind of mysterious ritual she is performing?” the old man muttered to himself. “But by the look of it, she should be in that human settlement to the north. Interesting.”