Chapter 1265: Chapter 1265: Words of Inner Ring Ascension
After Luviya went to the Prophet’s Society to confirm, it was finally determined that Shard’s speculation was indeed correct. However, the “Sublimation Codex” is the most secretive knowledge of the Circle Sorcerer Organization, and the Prophet’s Society has not yet negotiated terms with the “Cult of the Forgotten,” and they often delay this matter.
But with Shard as a channel, Luviya no longer needed to wait for the Prophet’s Society’s negotiations. Wanting to stay a bit longer in Randall Valley City, she didn’t inform the society that she had established a connection with the cult, and instead, that morning, she went with Shard to the Wilder Opera House to meet Miss Benanis and Miss Lathis.
Compared to last night’s near breakdown, Miss Lathis was evidently much calmer this morning. She even felt a bit embarrassed as she apologized and thanked Shard. The reason for gratitude was clear to Shard, but Miss Lathis didn’t articulate why she was apologizing; Shard thought he should have been the one to apologize instead.
The four of them sat in the already renovated office on the opera house’s top floor. Due to the opera house’s strict soundproofing needs, this “Golden Dawn Group Leader’s Office,” exclusive to Miss Benanis, had impressive soundproofing effects.
The maids delivered red tea, fruits, and snacks, then temporarily left, leaving the four to converse.
“Yes, it is indeed us coordinating with the Prophet’s Society… Oh, so it’s for Miss Annette’s Sublimation Incantation.”
Shard only mentioned this matter, and Miss Lathis caught on:
“No problem, the ‘Sublimation Codex’ is open for you to read. Are you accessing it directly or through the Prophet’s Society?”
“Directly, and the society’s negotiation will continue. Luviya needs a reason to stay locally for a while.”
Shard stated, although the “Sublimation Codex” was not currently in the opera house; such materials needed to be stored in a more secure location, so Miss Lathis had someone fetch it, and they could see it by noon. Shard was very interested in the Golden Dawn’s “Sublimation Codex” since his Inner Ring Ascension Words were still undecided.
“How was last night’s situation?”
“What else could it be? The Crazy Earth’s erosion was resolved by you and Ciris’s father together. Although the guests at the banquet were frightened, the timely handling of the issue meant no one was injured. However, the aftermath’s mental stability assessment results might trouble the church for a while.”
The witch lazily expressed as she nodded at Shard:
“I know what you want to ask. It has been confirmed that last night it was the Blood Spirit School and the cultists of the Evil God, Stone Heart Demon. In fact, the latter has been active locally for nearly a year.”
“The society also has similar reports.”
Luviya added.
“Then that gray stone man last night…”
“The church sent a message, Arcane Technique ‘Power of the Earth: Stone Avatar,’ similar to the technique you described where you turn into a swarm of butterflies. Both allow the physical body to undergo essential changes without affecting the soul. The black mud flowing from the Source of Crazy Earth minimally affects stone, so this arcane technique can indeed allow the user to withstand the black mud, but the soul is ultimately affected.”
Miss Benanis looked at Shard:
“You mentioned that the Chosen of the Earth must possess the Power of the Earth?”
“Yes, the five currently appearing targets: Me, Luviya, Mr. Thomas Granger, Mr. Lathis, and that cultist. Luviya and I are not the ones; two souls still need to be found, so the cultist has to be investigated thoroughly. If possible, capture him and let me talk to him; I can discern the Chosen One to some extent.”
This was actually Luviya’s ability, but Shard didn’t want to expose Luviya’s specialness.
“Are your special abilities a bit too many?”
The Blonde Witch laughed, though she agreed with Shard’s plan:
“Leave it to me, as a local Grand Witch. It’s time for you to witness my influence here.”
Shard had no objection to this, although he didn’t think the cultist was the Chosen One this time. There was no evidence; it was merely his intuition.
“Then, about Mr. Lathis’s father…”
Finally touching on this topic, the witch looked worriedly at her dear friend, and Miss Lathis softly spoke:
“No need to worry; in fact, several years ago, I had already questioned whether my father had… But confirming this was still hard to bear. I’ve accepted reality, and learning that he remains active in the material world after leaving, I wish to talk to him.”
She sighed deeply:
“Regarding that church, Shard, although it seems inappropriate now, I wish to reclaim it.”
After all, it was the church belonging to the cult, something Shard was prepared for:
“I need access and passage rights there at any moment.”
“No problem.”
Miss Lathis nodded:
“Now, the Circle Sorcerers of the Cult of the Forgotten who believe in our lord, the Forgotten Old Man, including myself, are reduced to just six. We merely tidy up the building and rehang the Holy Emblem, we won’t disturb your use.”
A declining cult that doesn’t even have enough personnel to permanently stay in the church.
“Regarding my father, I plan to sort through his… relics.”
She struggled to say the word, and here ‘relics’ referred to the actual belongings left after someone’s death:
“I didn’t believe he just left before, so I kept all of his things, never organizing them carefully. To find where my father’s soul rests, I need those documents and clues, which might be in his diaries or letters. Even for divination, personal items of his are needed.”
Although she claimed to have “accepted this fact,” her expression remained so sorrowful.
Both Shard and Luviya deeply understood this feeling, not expecting the young girl to further inquire:
“So, Shard, how should I thank you? You brought news of my father, told me of the church’s location, and last night, I wasted a Soil Holy Grail because of me. I can’t consider these as what you are supposed to do.”
“No need for thanks, let Luviya and me peruse the , that’s enough.”
The strong young girl shook her head:
“Even though the cult is in decline, as the High Priest of this generation of the cult, I cannot casually accept others’ kindness for nothing. We cherish some ‘good things’ left from ancient times, feel free to choose one when reviewing the Sublimation Codex at noon.”
“Shard, don’t refuse, Ciris has always been like this.”
Interjected the witch, yet Shard still shook his head:
“Just like Benanis, consider it as you owe me a favor, I will ask for something later. However, do you have a Time Key among the cherished items?”
With Luviya by his side, Shard didn’t mention that it was the Black Time Key of the dried wood.
“No, there’s no holder of the Time Spirit Rune in the cult, previously acquired Time Keys were all traded.”
It seems Shard still needs to search.
All morning, Shard and Luviya were at the Wilder Opera House. At noon, the witch and Miss Lathis had lunch with them. After lunch, everyone went to the Church of the Forgotten, along with believers of the Forgotten Old Man from the Golden Dawn.
The weather was gradually getting warmer, but the ground of the church’s main hall, with a hole in its roof, was still mostly covered with white snow. The daylight halted at the edge of the snow, and the statue in the foremost row, with its back to the sunlight, still gazed at the wall where the Holy Emblem was supposed to be, in the shadow.
The Sublimation Codex of the Cult of the Forgotten was not some fancy Alchemical Item but a simple book. However, compared to that of Saint Byrons, this one was much thinner.
The book had a faint Miracle Element attached to it, and before handing it over to Shard and Luviya, Miss Lathis added:
“The Circle Sorcerers of the cult are adept at manipulating memory, not only human memory but also that of the Earth and all things. Some of the sublimation incantations in the Sublimation Codex are derived from extracting the Earth’s memories, and thus we cannot be certain of their effects.”
“No worries, the sublimation incantation I seek is not one of those special ones, the association said there used to be someone in your cult who had it.”
Luviya eagerly opened the book and began reading, while Miss Lathis and Miss Benanis led people to check the collapsed area behind the church.
The core Spirit Runes of the purple-eyed girl were four, namely, [Noble], [Fate], [Destroyer], and [Misfortune].
Among them, her sublimation incantation in the Low Ring was “May starlight bless you, the future noble king,” composed of Enlightenment [Stars], Miracle [Blessing], Whisper [Future], Desecration [King], and her core Spirit Rune Enlightenment [Noble]. Shard had never seen Luviya use a sublimation incantation, and the effect of this incantation was to transform under the starry sky into a “noble king.” Luviya actually couldn’t explain the specific effect clearly, but overall, even the Prophet’s Society considered this sublimation incantation quite remarkable.
The Sublimation Codex of the Prophet’s Society was a special relic, selecting sublimation incantations for Circle Sorcerers, rather than Circle Sorcerers selecting sublimation incantations.
The Prophet’s Society believed that Luviya’s sublimation incantation to bridge the Low Ring and lay the foundation for the High Ring in the Inner Ring should be centered on [Fate] and should align closely with the application of “Fate Manipulation.” The association itself didn’t find a suitable sublimation incantation, so the Grand Diviners of the High Ring held a large-scale ritual to peer into fate for the association members, ultimately divining guidance that led Luviya here. Based on the association’s description of the effect, Luviya soon found her target, and excitedly pointed it out to Shard:
“Look, it’s this one—[Writing the Poem Chapter of Fate with Whispers and a Pen]. [Whispers], [Pen], [Writing], [Fate], [Poem Chapter]. Oh, it seems I’ll need to seek help from Dorothy; she had the [Writing] and [Poem Text] Spirit Runes even in the Low Ring!”