Chapter 2297: Blood-Colored Prophecy

Although Miss Belindell seemed to have a special reaction to Luvia's purple eyes, she did not refuse to divine those letters with Luvia afterward.

Of course, she did not adopt Xia De's phrasing, "Luvia assisting you," but claimed it was a collaboration between two diviners.

Xia De didn't know much about diviner knowledge and couldn't help much, so he didn't participate in their final preparations. But at least the result of this matter was quite good; the great witch of fate and Luvia joined forces and really saw something from those letters.

Everyone discussed this at the lunch table that day. When sitting at the head of the long table in their own dining room, Miss Belindell glanced at Xia De and Luvia, only to find Xia De busy trying to control the cat, while Luvia was greeting the little unicorn.

"Relic."

The answer Luvia gave was very clear:

"Those letters originated from a fate-type relic. Bella's crystal ball showed signs before it exploded, and we confirmed that the blurred pattern represented a 'Sage-level relic'."

"Sage-level (Level 2)?"

The elf girl looked distressed:

"The relic that sent me letters when I was in Tobesk wasn't Sage-level, but it was already very tricky."

Xia De was surprised that Luvia directly addressed the witch by her name, and the Countess didn't show any surprise at all:

"Luvia and I were also surprised by this result. I have lived in Moon Bay for so many years, and the Sage-level and Angel-level relics I've encountered from childhood to adulthood combined don't add up to more than this month."

"What specific relic is it? Just the feature of sending letters, I can't think of what it specifically is."

Miss Aurora also asked, and the Countess shook her head:

"For an Angel-level or Sage-level relic related to fate power, it's impossible for the two of us combined to see what it actually is. However, Luvia really helped a lot; we obtained three hints, Xia De, you go investigate according to these hints."

She also addressed Luvia by name. Xia De looked at the purple-eyed diviner, who smiled at Xia De:

"The first one comes from the information pointed out by my obsidian pendulum pendant on the Ouija board: the monster that feeds on blood will perish in the dark night. I also saw some blurred images at the time, which Tifa drew according to my description."

"Here."

The black-haired maid unfolded the oil painting she had drawn beside the dining table. Everyone frowned at the woman whose outline was traced by blood in the picture; this was a very obvious omen of misfortune.

"Tifa, your painting skills are truly excellent. But what does that sword mean? If I'm not wrong, Luvia's Ouija board should mean that Mrs. Jude will be killed by that thing sending the letters at night?"

Xia De asked, and the Countess nodded:

"Yes, and this is something that will happen in the near future. The second clue comes from my 【Strange Painting Divination Cards】 and the standard dip pen provided by Luvia from the Divination Association: we saw a picture, a barn, blood, and dark clouds obscuring the moon."

She handed that divination card with the special scene to Xia De. It was drawn directly with that dip pen, but the colors were quite rich, and the dark tones depicted the exterior of the barn in the picture in great detail.

"Is this pointing to a real location?"

Ajelina on the side asked curiously:

"I heard that diviners can rely on photos and pictures of real locations to directly find the corresponding position."

Miss Swift corrected with a smile:

"The location divined by this kind of relic divination card is just an imagery and not real. Ajelina, remember, divination will not directly give exact information; that is not divination, that is omniscience."

Here, Ajelina was just an ordinary witch follower, or could be considered Xia De's "family member," so no one would call her "Your Highness."

"A barn... could be the murder scene."

Xia De nodded:

"What about the last piece of information?"

"The unrighteous shall surely die."

Luvia said, and Miss Belindell also nodded:

"This was the last information before the ritual base was burned down, pointing to the characteristics of that relic."

"What kind of characteristic is this?"

Miss Aurora raised an eyebrow, but Xia De thought of more things after frowning:

"Is a paranoid pursuit of justice considered stupid?"

He wasn't asking others to answer this question, but felt that he finally knew what "Desire" wanted him to solve.

Xia De still lacked other clues in his hands, so he thought about starting the investigation after meeting with Mr. Bernhardt tomorrow morning. If this matter was really related to what "Desire" asked him to do, then he would have to be more cautious in handling it.

That 【Madeleine's Love】 involved the former followers of that "mermaid," so if the relic sending the letters was related to "Madeleine," perhaps it knew some other things about "Desire" that Xia De didn't know.

Xia De spent the whole afternoon in Moon Bay, intending to go into the city for a stroll, partly to see the city's situation after the disaster, and partly to relax and consider the conversation from last night's dream.

But before he could leave the manor, Miss Bernice arrived in a carriage in a hurry. She pulled Xia De's sleeve and dragged him to a secluded spot in the second-floor corridor:

"Before you left yesterday, I also saw the pattern you asked us to investigate. Xia De, are you sure that pattern is exactly as you showed it?"

She was referring to the pattern on the "door" of the giant human head's mouth that Xia De and Grandma Siamnod were going to at the end of the "Gravel Sand Sea" adventure.

Xia De nodded in surprise:

"At least that's what others told me; why, is there a problem?"

"I am the Witch of Earth; what I inherited is not just power, but also some secret knowledge unique to this seat that no one else knows. Yes, the 'Keepers' of the Council, Megan and Audrey, don't know either."

The blonde opera singer frowned slightly, as if thinking about how to express it:

"If possible, Xia De, I don't want you to go behind that door."

"But Miss Bernice, you know, I can't not go; this is a time adventure, a task given to me by the Tree Father. Although the Tree Father won't have mission failure penalties like 'erasure,' I can't really think that the Tree Father's favoritism toward me is without reason. Moreover, there are three ladies who need my help, and I promised them I would help them."

Xia De leaned against the corridor wall and saw the witch pouting slightly, her golden eyes also showing dissatisfaction:

"Xia De, change how you address me."

"Alright, Vanessa, you know, I can't not go."

Only then did she nod:

"Address me like this from now on; both of us... you actually still address me by my surname."

She leaned a little closer to Xia De, her golden eyes carrying a very gentle expression:

"I knew you wouldn't give up; you are always like this, so listen to me—

The Witch of Earth cannot purify all filth. Long before the Sixth Era, there were many areas in the material world considered permanently unable to return to normal. It's not just the land changes caused by the earth distortion like in the Randall Valley, but also changes in the earth caused by evil objects, relics, and even gods.

The Witches of Earth had the responsibility of monitoring the earth in the Fifth Era. If they encountered similar dangerous areas, they needed to use the Council's power to seal them or strip them from the material world as a whole. According to records, this didn't require the assistance of other witches; it seemed very convenient to operate."

She paused for a moment:

"Of course, I, in the Sixth Era, don't have such powerful abilities yet."

After all, the 【Witch Council】 of the Sixth Era was also declining, and the great witches lacked power, leading to some functions of the Council not being open to them.

"So you mean, behind the pattern I drew, is actually a polluted area sealed by some former Witch of Earth?"

Xia De asked. None of the ladies he encountered in this adventure were great witches of the Council, so it was normal that he didn't know. Of course, Miss Mest must have known, but she just wouldn't say.

"Yes, being considered dangerous by those Witches of Earth who were at least thirteenth-tier, I can't imagine the situation behind that. But since stopping you is useless, I'll tell you how to open that seal."

She pulled her small notebook from her pocket and opened the page with the abstract pattern drawn on it:

"Although it is a seal, because it might be necessary to enter and exit in the future, this seal is definitely not impossible to open. The Witches of Earth themselves can open the seal, but I cannot follow you."

As she spoke, she pursed her lips:

"As for other methods, different methods need to be adopted for different seals. Generally speaking, it requires the power of an Ancient God as a key to unlock this kind of seal; don't think this is exaggerated; places that can be sealed are definitely extraordinary. As for the seal you drew, judging from the shape, the corresponding key requires four parts to take effect: Sun, Light, Moon, Earth."

"Divine items containing the power of these four Ancient Gods, right?"

"Not necessarily divine items; symbols can also work."

As she spoke, she fished a cat-shaped clay figurine from her pocket and stuffed it into Xia De's hand:

"Take this; I made it with my own power, and it can be used to represent Earth. This way you don't have to waste the Holy Grail, and you don't have to go ask the 'Guardians' for fragments of the Heart of Earth."

Xia De looked at her, and the witch also looked at him:

"What, what do you mean by looking at me with that look?"

She hooked a strand of hair by her ear with a red-nailed little finger, then slowly brought her face close to Xia De:

"If you dare to say thank you, I will definitely make you pay, Xia De."

"Yes, Berni... Vanessa, then can I use a kiss to express my gratitude?"

She heard Xia De call her name with satisfaction, then smiled and reached out to wrap her arms around Xia De's neck, pressing him against the wall:

"Yes, of course you can." ===== CHAPTER 2298 =====