Chapter 3199: Guardian of Destiny

"Last night's incident was basically like this, ha~ By the time I got home it was almost three o'clock. As expected, staying home at night is the most comfortable."

Early Wednesday morning, not only Vanessa and Sylvia appeared by the dining table, but Miss Jia Lin Na and Luvia were also there.

Miss Jia Lin Na had originally said she would come over for breakfast this morning, while Luvia was brought here by Xia De from her apartment early in the morning.

The Duchess and the fortune-teller Miss listened carefully to Xia De's account. After he finished, Luvia propped up her pretty face and asked Xia De:

"So, after you returned from Fatmonster Island to Saint Delan Square, did you go straight to sleep, or did you continue the second half?"

"Luvia, is this the point we need to focus on right now?"

Xia De complained softly, while Miss Jia Lin Na answered with great interest:

"Of course it's the point, hurry and tell us."

Vanessa wore a smile, while Sylvia was thanking Miss Miss Difa who was bringing breakfast to the table.

"Fine, it was the second half. Sylvia said it was her turn, but I said the last time before leaving was too rushed, so that one doesn't count."

The Great Witch of Space smiled sweetly:

"In the end Xia De was fair, he chose me. But I'm not a petty Miss, so I used the delicate space-manipulation wonder 'Ether Aperture' invented by Dorothy and Princess Lei Lei Qianya to share a small piece with Vanessa."

Luvia and Miss Jia Lin Na both looked at Xia De. Xia De lowered his head and cut the sausage on his plate, pretending he hadn't heard what they were saying. The portion of sausage was generous, so cutting off a small piece was still enough to temporarily fill his stomach.

"Ahem, the point is, Miss Reinhardt was attacked, and no one figured out exactly what attacked her."

Xia De put down his dinner knife, completely unwilling to continue the previous topic:

"The 【Heartless Demon】 is only the surface. According to Miss Reinhardt's own account, the attack from destiny was the true cause of everything last night. Of course, figuring out how that 【Heartless Worm】 ended up on Fatmonster Snow Mountain is also very important—that thing isn't common."

He recalled what he knew about this kind of Pantanal Pantanal Xiewu. The green dragon maid Miss Wierd who was skilled at brewing tea had once said—

【Legend has it that in the Great Ice Sheet of the far north of the Northern Continent, countless terrifying plague sources and parasites from the ancient era are sealed in ice. The Pantanal Pantanal Xiewu known as the 'Heartless Worm' is one of them. (Chapter 2855)】

"The Great Ice Sheet of the far north...... hmm......"

The Great Ice Sheet of the far north during the Fifth Era was the area north of Winterhold City, the largest city in the northernmost part of Delarion in the current era. The academy city of Saint Byronnes and the activity area of the 【Winter Hymn Order】 were both located there.

Of course, the weapon-demon that had escaped from its seal had also spent long years there. So although there was no connection yet between the demon and the 【Heartless Worm】, Xia De immediately thought of that demon when the 【Heartless Worm】 came to mind.

"Last night after Claire reported she was safe in the Parliament, the Speaker had Bella prepare some means to defend against destiny attacks for her. But Claire didn't mention Sylvia and Vanessa. She only said she was found by Sister Sister Daifulin."

Miss Jia Lin Na added that at the time Vanessa and Sylvia weren't in the Parliament. They had excused themselves saying they had just left their own city and needed to return, so they couldn't continue the meeting. But now Miss Jia Lin Na knew they had simply been off fooling around with Xia De.

"How did Claire explain her going to Fatmonster Island?"

Vanessa asked again, but Miss Jia Lin Na shook her head:

"She explained it to the Speaker privately. The Parliament doesn't require everyone to share their private matters. But last night's incident also served as a warning to everyone—even an eleventh-tier Great Witch finds it hard to actively detect the invisible disturbance from destiny. Without that amethyst Bella gave her, Claire probably wouldn't have held on until Xia De and the two of you came to rescue her.

I can't imagine what would have happened if Xia De had been a step slower (note). So, the fact that you two were here fooling around with Xia De last night actually saved Claire. Sylvia was in charge of spatial search, Vanessa had to sense that cave. From this perspective, Claire's luck really wasn't bad.

If we put it that way, Luvia, how should Xia De's safety be ensured?"

Currently the best fortune-tellers around Xia De were Luvia and Bella, but everyone subconsciously assumed that Luvia, whose level was lower, had higher skill—even Bella herself thought so.

The purple-eyed fortune-teller Miss looked Xia De up and down:

"His own destiny is already very peculiar, and combined with that die, I even believe that unless it's a full-power strike from a top-tier destiny-type angel-grade relic, ordinary destiny power can hardly shake Xia De anymore. But to be safe, we do need to prepare some safety measures for Xia De."

Xia De certainly didn't object to this:

"Do I need to wear more talismans? Or learn some wonder-arts that counter destiny?"

"Ideally both, and if there's a suitable relic Xia De should carry it too."

Sylvia pointed out, while Luvia spread orange marmalade on her toast:

"Ever since I learned that the Ninth Chosen One is destiny, I've been preparing for this. Xia De, don't go to Fatmonster Island this morning. Go have a chat with Sister Sister Daifulin.

Sylvia, Vanessa, can you stay to help? And Miss Jia Lin Na, if you're free please stay too. If the talisman I prepared for him incorporates your power, it should be even safer."

The three Great Witches all nodded, and Xia De asked Miss Jia Lin Na:

"By the way, you must have also checked Miss Reinhardt's health in the Parliament. How is she now?"

The Duchess showed a teasing expression:

"Knew you'd ask that. She's fine. The Parliament isn't short of healing potions and relics, and the Speaker said Sister Sister Daifulin did a good job suppressing the elemental anomaly in her soul for her—that was you, wasn't it?

But listening to the story you just told, after last night your relationship with Claire should have officially reached the 'friends' stage. I guess she already has a very good impression of you. Not bad, Xia De—only knowing each other for a day and you've already made this much progress."

She greatly underestimated the progress.

"This is what they call destiny!"

Before Xia De could speak, Vanessa pointed out with a smile:

"This was destined to happen."

In any case, after breakfast Xia De took little Mia to Midhill Fort, then together with the cat passed through 【Snake Heart Hospital】 and ascended to the ritual site on the mountaintop.

Today was a bright, clear day here. The winter sun lit up the silver-white snow-covered Shanfeng everywhere, which also put Xia De in a good mood.

The nuns at the ritual site all knew Xia De, so they didn't stop him when they saw him arrive. But after Xia De entered the ritual site, he actually felt the badge on his chest warming slightly, and then a blind nun of the eleventh ring softly explained to him:

"Bearer of the Fire, the Speaker of the 【Witches' Parliament】 arrived half an hour ago to visit Sister Sister Daifulin. They are currently talking in the ritual site underground."

"Miss Isabella has come?"

Xia De was somewhat surprised, but didn't leave because of it. Instead he went to the library in the ritual site to kill time. And Miss Isabella didn't stay here long either—she took her leave around ten in the morning.

When Sister Sister Daifulin saw Xia De in the library lined with rows of old stone bookshelves, Xia De was reading a book titled "Flame and War."

The nun walked almost silently, and Xia De was very focused when reading, so he didn't notice her until she came to his side:

"Good morning, Sister Sister Daifulin."

The nun wearing the silver eye-mask didn't speak. She "looked" at him closely for a moment, then turned and left. Xia De tucked the book back into the bookshelf, then followed the nun onto the elevator and arrived at the true First Fire ritual site at the bottom of the ritual site.

The flame burned quietly in the brazier, and the 【Ashen Greatsword】 was thrust directly into the brazier, but even the vigorous flames couldn't burn away the gray stone shell on the surface of the greatsword.

Sister Sister Daifulin only finally spoke after standing beside the brazier, still in that cool, detached tone:

"Adele Isabella came to confirm last night's events with me. Like Claire Reinhardt, I didn't mention any of you."

Xia De knew this wasn't the focus of this conversation—it could only count as small talk before the formal topic:

"Lucia and I both believe that what happened last night was some kind of omen before the appearance of the ninth Chosen One. But my side of things has only just begun, Sister. I came this time to tell you about my experiences in the Fifth Epoch."

He stood beside Sister Sister Daifulin. The Sister, hearing this, turned her head slightly, but quickly resumed her posture of looking down at the flames. She said nothing, but Xia De knew she was waiting to listen to the story seriously.

The story of the Graveyard Plains was not complicated, and Xia De also knew that what the Sister cared about was certainly not the styles of those gravestones, so he focused on explaining the matters related to that Sister Beren.

He did not conceal any details, including the strange art named "Ember's Return Path" that Sister Beren mentioned, as well the secret method of sensing the First Fire that the Sister said she had created—Xia De told all of it to Sister Sister Daifulin.

During Xia De's account, Sister Sister Daifulin did not interrupt. Only when he reached the part about trading with the mummified dog-head on the "Corpse Tree" and transforming into a silver wolf to leave the plains did the Sister say softly:

"Regarding the 'God of Graves · King of Bones,' there are some relevant records within the inherited knowledge of the deceased Chosen Ones."

Xia De was somewhat surprised that she was the first to bring up this matter. Originally, he had been planning to find time to ask Priest Augustus about this evil god:

"That god existed back in the era when the ancient gods had not yet departed?"

"Yes. In the First Epoch, when the ancient gods had not yet departed, there were indeed many gods besides Them. The King of Bones you mentioned is one of them. He is the guardian of graves, the warden within eternal silence."

?? PS: Let me explain—as mentioned earlier, if Xia De had not appeared, the power of the Holy Mountain would have protected her. So nothing truly bad would have happened.

? (End of this chapter)