The Goddess's Monument

In the 31st year of the Xinshi Era, on the Northern Plateau, in the Kino Mountain Gorge.

A massive national barrier rose from the ground, majestic and magnificent, stretching endlessly and covering the entire territory of the empire.

Imperial soldiers, wearing helmets, wielding tridents, clad in armor, and draped in red cloaks, stood loyally guarding the checkpoint gate.

Frieren walked through the crowd to the soldier and requested entry into the Empire.

The soldier told Frieren that because Weise had recently returned to normal, many people had entered the Empire to apply for asylum, causing a significant drop in the Empire's security. Therefore, the Empire had increased its identity verification procedures.

Conservatively speaking, entering the Empire would require a review period of more than three weeks.

Frieren wrote down her information, along with that of Dugu Qing, Fern, and Stark, on the application form, then turned and left.

"How is it? Can you get through?"

Seeing that Frieren looked a little disappointed, Dugu Qing had a vague idea of what was going on.

Frieren told everyone the results.

"Now we'll have to find a place to rest."

Stark, Fern sighed helplessly.

Frieren suddenly remembered that there was a Goddess's Monument nearby, and she became happy again, inviting everyone to go on an adventure to the Goddess's Monument.

The group followed Frieren into the forest.

Fern explained to Dugu Qing that, according to the Holy Scripture texts, heaven and earth were created by the Goddess of Creation.

Legend has it that after the Goddess created the world, she infused her magic into ten Goddess's Monuments to guard the entire continent.

One of them is located in the forest outside the Kino Mountain Gorge.

"By the way, Frieren, why do you want to go find the Goddess's Monument?"

As he walked toward the Goddess's Monument, curiosity gleamed in Stark's eyes.

"When I was fighting the Demon King, I passed through here. I got lost in the forest for three days and three nights before I finally found the Goddess Stele. But I feel like I've lost about a week's worth of memories... So, I need to investigate this thoroughly."

Frieren, carrying her suitcase, jogged forward.

The group traveled during the day and rested at night, wandering through the forest for three days before finally finding the Goddess's Monument in a clearing.

The Goddess's Monument is inscribed with deciphered Goddess Script, broken into seven or eight pieces, piled together, retaining a trace of magic, and looks very weathered.

Frieren blinked, her finger reaching towards the stone tablet. Her body felt as if she had been electrocuted, and her consciousness floated into the air.

When she regained consciousness, Frieren was surprised to find that the Goddess's Monument in front of her had been restored to its original state.

The surrounding space and atmosphere seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.

She stared in shock at the Goddess's Monument, utterly bewildered.

"Frieren? What's wrong?"

Himmel's gentle, magnetic voice came from not far behind.

Frieren's delicate body trembled, and she turned around, only to see the familiar figures of Himmel, Heiter, and Eisen.

"Time travel? Could it be that I've traveled to a time when Himmel was still alive?"

Frieren looked at Himmel, murmuring to herself, and couldn't help but reach out to touch her.

Himmel let Frieren's little hands rub against her face, her expression one of enjoyment.

Himmel, how old are you now?

After confirming several times, Frieren finally realized this wasn't a dream, and lowered her head with a complicated expression.

"Honestly, are you still half asleep?"

Heiter was wearing a long robe, his face flushed from drinking.

Himmel looked at Frieren and said calmly, "Twenty-three years old. This is my seventh year since I embarked on this journey."

Frieren suddenly realized, "So that's how it is! So that's how it is! I've traveled back to the timeline of Himmel when she was twenty-three!"

What a pity, what a pity, what a real pity!

My understanding of Himmel mostly began after Himmel's death.

The emotions and sorrows that Himmel evoked in me were, through the passage of time, the regret of a fallen hero, the remembrance of a rare confidant, and the longing for unfinished business.

And now, Himmel still alive... the tragedy has not been born, so the regret no longer exists.

From that moment on, Frieren finally understood that the person she wanted to see was not the young hero, but Himmel, who had arranged everything without regard for the cost, and who died with regrets...

Frieren looked at Himmel, finding it hard to discern what was truly important to her.

Or perhaps, what truly matters is the unfinished journey in the "present" time and space.

That goal called Aureole, that boy named Dugu Qing, that girl named Fern.

"So, what's going on here?! This time travel thing is really uninspiring!"

Frieren stroked her chin, then returned to the Goddess's Monument, touched it with her hand, and tried to leave.

The Goddess's Monument remained unresponsive.

Frieren was greatly disappointed and had no choice but to leave with Himmel to continue their adventure.

Grausam, one of the Seven Sages of Destruction, sensed a violent spatial fluctuation rising from the Goddess's Monument and dispatched his subordinate Zart to intercept and kill Frieren.

Using space-shifting magic, they teleported Frieren into the sky, intending to kill her by dropping Frieren.

Frieren used magic from the future to kill Zart, but in doing so, she also revealed her identity as someone from the future.

Heiter and Eisen were greatly shocked.

Himmel, being well-informed, quickly accepted it.

The group embarks on a thrilling adventure to send Frieren back to her original timeline.

They infiltrated the monastery, slew the Royal Dragon, fought the final battle against Grausam, overcame the illusion, and returned to the Goddess's Monument.

Guided by Himmel, Frieren finally realized that the inscription on the Goddess's Monument was the magic spell to return to the future.

She gave Himmel one last look, without regret, and then cast the Space-Time Bird Chapter spell to return to the real world.

The 31st year of the Xinshi Era, the Goddess's Monument.

Frieren withdrew her hand and was surprised to find that the stone tablet in front of her had broken again. She smiled slightly and slowly stood up.

Seeing Frieren touching the stone tablet without speaking, Fern leaned down slightly and curiously examined her.

"Ms. Frieren, what are you daydreaming about!"

"How long have I been spacing out?"

Frieren traveled through time for the first time, spending a week in the past. She had no idea how much time had passed and desperately needed to confirm it.

"Just for a little while!"

Fern nodded with absolute certainty.

"I see. Let's go back!"

Through this time travel, Frieren was revitalized. She picked up her suitcase and strode towards the canyon.

The group chatted and laughed as they retraced their steps.

A tall, bearded warrior suddenly appeared and immediately recognized Frieren's identity.

He told Frieren that he had met the radiant white Himmel thirty years ago.

Himmel said she came for a promise, and perhaps no one will ever know how much she has done.

The soldiers were deeply shocked, never expecting that the world-renowned hero was also a devoted lover.

Now that he has met Frieren, he immediately recounts the past.

Upon hearing Frieren was deeply moved, and the lines of her face softened even more.

Yes, yes, that's it!

It was this Himmel had done so much behind the scenes, the person he most wanted to see and felt most guilty towards, that was him!

Young Himmel was resolute, brave, and decisive; neither advising him to give up nor to persevere worked.

What could Frieren do? She might as well just let things take their course!