Chapter 105
"But in the Cathay cultural sphere, the lunar calendar is widely used," Hebe continued, "Or it is called by a more formal name— 'Suiren Calendar'."
The Chinese lunar calendar is actually a fusion of the Lunar Calendar and solar calendars. This fusion and evolution was completed no later than the Xia Dynasty in Cathay, hence it is also called the Xia Calendar.
Just as the Gregorian calendar holds secrets of history, so too does the lunar calendar.
The people of Cathay initially used the Ganzhi Solar Calendar represented by the Suihuang Emperor, but later incorporated the Lunar Calendar based on the phases of the moon.
The latter is represented by the Mother Earth Goddess, which is also the Holy Grail.
For a long time, these two calendars coexisted, and tribes using either calendar engaged in fierce battles... In other words, at least before the Xia Dynasty, there was an ancient conflict between the Celestial Flint and the Holy Grail. However, during the Xia Dynasty, the two rulers ceased their conflict, establishing a system where the Celestial Fire Emperor represented Heaven and the Holy Grail represented Earth.
"That's right." Morgan nodded. "But don't you find it strange that, apart from these two calendars, both apprentices and ordinary people are using a third way of dividing history?"
She stretched out her delicate, fleshy hand, her five fingers spread wide.
"Nowadays, all nations are trying their best to explore their own history, but unfortunately, whether it is Albion or Gaul, they can only trace it back to the end of the Second Histories."
"Only the lands of Cathay, Egyptian lands, and the Taiga valleys can trace their history back to the First History... but the history of the Taiga valleys is closer to mythology, so it doesn't have much reference value. Apprentices mostly use the Cathay's 'Qing Shi' as a reference standard. For ease of understanding, I will use the Gregorian calendar to mark the dates simultaneously."
Morgan slowly bent his thumb.
"The beginning of the First History is traced back to the time when Suihuang invented writing by drilling wood, and ended in 1046 BC. The markers used to divide these periods are..."
King Wu's Campaign Against Zhou. Hebe silently added in his mind.
The Great Shang City, known for its human sacrifices, rituals, and witchcraft, was destroyed by the Western Zhou, which was destined to rule.
"After that, we enter the Second History. It's important to note that history is not a seamless whole," Morgan said. "From 1046 BC until we truly enter the Second History, there are several decades that are 'unknown'... These years are neither recorded nor do we know exactly what happened."
These years that have lost their records are the hidden history—the secret history.
The First History ends with King Wu's conquest of King Wu's Campaign Against Zhou, while the second history ends with the fall of the Western Han Empire and the establishment of a new dynasty.
It is worth mentioning that in later Cathay, people in China determined the year of the establishment of the Xin Dynasty to be 8 AD; however, during the period between the two Han dynasties, the year was counted from when Wang Mang, the founder of the Xin Dynasty, officially took control of the government.
That is, the Second Year of Yuanshou, which in the Gregorian calendar would be... the First Year AD.
This was in the West, in May Archon the Messiah became flesh.
Is this just a coincidence? That can't be right.
Toyokawa Shoko trembled and her teeth chattered as she listened.
She felt a chill creeping up her body, as if she were standing in front of a cave, staring at a skull with empty eyes.
In the Higashi, most of her peers weren't very interested in history. But Toyokawa Shoko was different. Whether as a descendant of the Toyokawa family or simply as a good student, her understanding of history went beyond what she read in books.
And it was precisely because of this that the fear of history gripped her heart, and everything before her eyes turned gray, as if swallowed by fog.
Fear, despair... it feels like drowning. Who will save me?
At that moment, a soft and warm touch enveloped her, and the dark colors around her vision disappeared instantly. Toyokawa Shoko realized that she was being protected by the sun. She shakily raised her head and saw that it was Hebe had wrapped her up with his tail.
"This is a course that librarians must know." Hebe tucked the tip of his tail into Toyokawa Shoko's palm. "Now you won't be scared, right? Let's continue."
161 Aquarius, gold ring
Morgan glanced at her with a hint of envy, then walked over and pinched the fox ears on Hebe's head.
"What are you doing... You don't even have any fear." Hebe twitched her ears helplessly.
"Who says I didn't?" Morgan said quietly. "Our librarians were already mentally exhausted just from hearing my retelling; I, on the other hand, personally witnessed the horrors of history."
Hebe was speechless and could only let Morgan continue to grope his ears.
The Third History ended in Cathay in 907 AD.
The Great Tang Empire, a great, vast, and civilized empire, came to an end, followed by a period of chaos that lasted for more than half a century. As the standoff between the Remnant Wolf and Scar Father stabilized on the continent, they moved eastward from Cathay to begin a second round of fighting in the Higashi.
Starting with the Third History, various nations around the world began to have their own verifiable histories. Countries such as Albion and Gaul, relying on the once-prosperous Roman Empire, traced their history further back.
Next up is the Fourth History.
All countries have recorded the Fourth History in great detail, and Morgan does not intend to elaborate on it here. The focus is on the conclusion of the Fourth History.
"It's not even that far from us," Morgan said. "Yes, only half a century has passed since the end of the Fourth History."
The two world wars, or the twilight wars, or perhaps named after an ancient prophecy— Twilight of the Gods.
The priests of the Normans prophesied at the end of the myth that their chief god Odin would lead his army from Valhalla to the battlefield to fight a desperate battle against the beasts and non-humans led by the wolf.
Even Odin will die by his own fate in this war.
February Archon and Scar Father are Odin; while the Iron Hook Cross that swept across the entire world is the embodiment of the will of the Broken Wolf.
All the Lord who wield the Relics of Authority are the Heroic Spirit of Scar Father, and they fight each other in this world-sweeping war, which only strengthens Scar Father's power.
At the very end of Twilight of the Gods, a transformation occurred on the continent of Cathay that was "neither the Remnant Wolf nor the Scar Father," followed by the roar of the Celestial Flint.
After Twilight of the Gods, the wretch lost his powers, the Scar Father fell silent, and the August Archon had been inactive for half a century... And after the war came great progress and leaps in technology.
So much so that Hebe didn't feel out of place at all when she traveled through time. It was clearly the 1990s, but the technology was already half a century ahead of its time.
"The First History of ignorance, the second history of order, the Third History of civilization, and the fourth history of war."
Morgan put his four fingers together. "The Fourth History is now established, but the Fifth History has not yet arrived. History is like a chain of interlocking links, and the longer the gaps in between, the easier it is for those in power and those walking in the twilight of the world to manipulate it."
Toyokawa Shoko finally raised her hand. "But... what does this have to do with those the Knower?"
Morgan glanced at her. "I'm glad to see that our librarian is good at asking questions, but I would be even happier if you hadn't interrupted me."
Although Royal Sister's attitude towards children is not always good, she is a very qualified teacher.
"We were just talking about the 'gap period'... That's right, that's the 'Secret History'." Morgan frowned. "Even at the end of time, apart from achievements, there are no direct means to interfere with the Secret History."
"What about above Crimson Dawn?"
Morgan was quite tolerant of Hebe's questions, and even hoped that Hebe would ask more.
"The Eternals?" Morgan shook his head. "Their limitations are even greater than those of the Twilight. The Regents will not allow them to do so, and after their Ascension through the forging of merit, they also lose their only means of influencing the Secret History—unless they become Regents themselves."
"But there are exceptions. Those are the Knower," Morgan said. "You and Arthur are unaware of this, because it comes from my bloodline memories, from the Ys City Beneath the Waves."
Ys again... Hebe frowned.
"For those the Knower, history is not unpredictable, nor is secret history uncontrollable. In other words, secret history is born from those the Knower, and those the Knower know all possible directions of history—do you remember what I said before about the blank space between the two ends of history?"
Morgan gestured with his hand. "Is it possible that history could have unfolded differently? Perhaps in one version of history, Arthur didn't pull the Sword in the Stone, and I ruled the entire territory of Albion instead; or perhaps Mordred didn't betray me, but instead successfully assassinated Arthur at Camlann..."
Hebe thought to himself that it was all thanks to her; otherwise, these historical events would most likely have happened.
No, these secret histories are Lostbelt have already unfolded, but have been corrected by themselves.
"And these histories that take different paths are the real 'secret histories'," Morgan said. "There is a prophecy in Ys City: 'A the Knower will be born, and the histories may be many and many, or they may be united as one.'"
Morgan said, "To the Knower, all knowledge is harmless, and all secrets are useless to them. No matter how complex the knowledge, there is no barrier to it in the eyes of the Knower ... but not only that."
The Ys City feared most of all the Knower, who believed that they would, to some extent, control their fate.
Hebe nodded without changing his expression.
That makes everything match up.
If we consider the "The Knower" as the ruling class of the Secret History Principle, then Eris wields the "power" that should rightfully belong to the Secret History Code.
"Therefore, our librarians should understand that since they are not the Knower, they should not dream of instant success." Morgan changed the subject and seamlessly continued the process of interrogating Xiao Xiang, "Today, finish these five test papers, and then choose a classic book to make a handwritten copy... In the afternoon, according to the previous plan, clean up one area of Silent Bookstore."
After learning about Hebe's previous arrangements, Morgan not only did not reduce Toyokawa Shoko's workload, but instead increased it even more.
In her words, all librarians throughout history were at least talented apprentices, and none had started from humble beginnings like Toyokawa Shoko.
To help Toyokawa Shoko quickly grow into a qualified "enlightened" apprentice, either a lot of time needs to be spent, or intensive training can be carried out in a short period of time.
Shoko's emotions, which had just stabilized, were once again overwhelmed by the enormous amount of homework, making him feel shaky.
Her current mood is somewhat like that of a senior high school student: while running laps, she thinks it would be better to do a test in the classroom; while doing a test, she thinks it would be better to run laps on the track.
However, the difference is that writing a test in the lobby will not be life-threatening, but engaging in a fierce battle with Gawain's gauntlet in the Martial Practice Garden will really result in being hit by the flaming straight sword and being scattered in all directions.
Thinking of this, the resistance that had been welling up in Toyokawa Shoko's heart slowly subsided.
Moreover, the ten or eight test papers you do at school may not be very effective; but the test papers you do here are the keys to unlocking hidden knowledge.
Toyokawa Shoko thought to herself with a wry smile: At least if I can do these tests, I really can unleash a fireball.
Meanwhile, Hebe returned from the reading room.
She was holding two rings in her hand, one silver and one gold.
"The one for the Communications Director was prepared in advance and has already been sent to Mostima."
As Hebe explained, she handed the silver Power Ring to Morgan: "This is the Pearl Ring that represents the Continuance Director."
This silver Power Ring is set with a rare Rose-colored Pearl.
Morgan looked at the ring and fell silent for a moment.
This is a sacred object associated with the June Archon.
For the first time ever, she didn't say anything, but carefully accepted it and put it on her ring finger.
Hebe then turned around and pushed the Gold Ring, which represented the librarian, toward Toyokawa Shoko.
"This is yours, Xiao Xiang."
Hebe cleared his throat and looked at the incredulous Toyokawa Shoko: "Normally, the Power Ring by librarians and directors are different, not only in terms of material, but also in terms of symbolism."
In the past, since there was no higher authority, librarians would make their own Power Ring and then distribute them to the board members.
Therefore, librarians' Power Ring are always varied, and apart from being made of gold, they come in all shapes and sizes.
The one that Hebe gave to Toyokawa Shoko is inlaid with amber carved in the shape of Water Bottle.
"Aquarius is your birth sign, and amber is the color of your eyes," Hebe explained. "As your elder and employer, I have prepared this 'Librarian's Ring' for you, which also has a constant anti-curse effect."
"Thank you so much..."
Toyokawa Shoko felt like crying, but her heart was filled with joy at being recognized.
For the first time, a pure and innocent smile bloomed on the girl's face.
162. Plotting Subversion (Two-in-One)
After Hebe gave him that gold ring, Toyokawa Shoko's learning and work efficiency improved significantly.
Morgan was a very strict instructor, but he was not unreasonable.
Since Toyokawa Shoko has shown that she is indeed a rough gem, then she has the value to be polished.
After seven days of intensive training, Morgan officially announced that Toyokawa Shoko was now capable of handling things independently and had become the librarian of the Silent Bookstore.
In other words, the long-silent Silent Bookstore will now open its doors to the entire hidden world.
Silent Bookstore will once again welcome visitors from all over the world to explore the current state of affairs in the hidden world under Blanckug's influence.
Although four seats on the Island Council —the Treasurer, the Nursing Director, the Secret Councilor, and the Vigilant Director—are still undecided, Hebe believes this is not a problem; what matters is taking control of the entire secret world's order.
The bells of Blanckug echoed loudly, and three kinds of bird messengers that had been circling the island flapped their wings and took flight, heading to all parts of the world.
They will use the border shortcuts to spread the news of the reopening of the Silent Bookstore to the nations.
Soon, those hidden forces that wield significant influence across Europe will send people to visit Blanckug... This process won't take long; Hebe expects the first visitor to arrive in a maximum of two days.
But before that, she was more concerned about what was happening in Sicily.
Sicily changed hands among several countries and rulers. The Romans ruled it for centuries, then the Normans came, and the Arabs visited several times, but in the end it belonged to Siracusa.
These Lord of Years, who peddle longevity, are entrenched in Sicily as families, swearing oaths of brotherhood and sisterhood by surname, bloodline, and ritual.
They prefer to call themselves Sicilians.
Long ago, the Island Council had dealings with the Lord of Years.
The scholars of the Island Council needed a harmless way to prolong life, while the Lord of Years desired more knowledge and secrets... but the bloody and violent world war destroyed the connection between them.
Now Hebe needs to know the attitude of the Lord of Years.
Sicily is located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea. It is rich and vast, with a warm climate and beautiful scenery.
This region is abundant in citrus fruits, lemons, and olives. Both the east and west coasts are dotted with groves of oranges, lemons, and vast olive groves laden with fruit.
A distinguished guest secretly visited the Saluzzo Family a few days ago.