Gilan suddenly opened her eyes, her eyes gleaming with light.
Outside the window, the torrential rain continued unabated, only intensifying.
Boom!
Click!
Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and thunder roared.
"Hoo..." He opened his mouth and exhaled a puff of white steam, and wisps of smoke rose from his bleeding skin.
Gilan felt intensely hot all over, and waves of surging power burst forth from the powerful thumping of her heart and gathered throughout her body.
He raised his hand, clenched his fist, and his knuckles cracked.
'Physical abilities have been enhanced by several times in all aspects; this is a secret technique that temporarily provides a boost, consuming one's own blood.'
Gilan stood up, taking a step forward until her legs were shoulder-width apart.
Suddenly, a punch was thrown.
Ugh!
A terrifying gust of wind from the punch whistled through the air.
The blood droplets evaporated into red mist, swirling and merging with the hot air currents, forming a spreading ring of energy. He then turned around and delivered a powerful " Bone Crusher " kick into the air.
Boom!!
A muffled explosion suddenly erupted, sounding like thunder.
This kick was far more lethal than any other kick before.
'Through the mysterious rhythm of the heart, the body unleashes power far exceeding what it has ever possessed, but this also causes an imbalance in the four bodily fluids, which is why blood is expelled through the blood vessels as a form of consumption.'
Gilan seemed lost in thought.
'It's somewhat similar to Vivi's " Bloodthirst Curse," but the technique has no obvious side effects and is highly compatible with the third stage of Body Tempering Technique, "Blood," because after casting it, one can quickly recover lost blood thanks to their powerful blood-regenerating ability.'
This secret technique is called " Bloodbath ".
Originating from Hellman Rio, one of the four Bloodbath Knight of the Healing Knights, this is a unique secret technique he developed based on body tempering.
Like the " Bone Crusher " of Agni, the " Silver Crown Knight ".
Now, all of this has been learned by Gilan.
"Hiss..."
Gilan took a deep breath and held it.
He immediately spread his arms and his whole body trembled.
His heartbeat immediately returned to normal, no longer pounding violently, thus dispelling the blessing of the secret technique " Bloodbath ".
He then exhaled, walked to the bedside to get a towel, wiped the blood off his body, and turned to his familiar, Vivi, saying:
Come back.
"Ah... yes, Master."
Vivi snapped out of her daze, reluctantly withdrawing her gaze, and quickly stood up. Then, with a bang, she transformed from the smoke into a tiny figure and flew into her owner's sapphire ring.
*
*
*
The next day.
Eight o'clock in the morning.
Miss Sparrow, wearing an apron and humming a simple melody, was busy in the kitchen.
Before long, she brought out plates of freshly prepared breakfast and placed them on the table. Turning her head, she smiled and greeted them:
Good morning, Mr. Snowy Owl.
"Good morning." Gilan walked in, dressed neatly. "Thank you for your hard work, Miss Sparrow."
"Let's eat together. After we finish... I'll take you to the Our Lady Convent."
"Um!"
Miss Sparrow took off her apron, folded it neatly, and stuffed it into the cupboard. She then returned and sat down opposite Gilan.
Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, and for a moment neither of them spoke.
After a while.
After finishing her breakfast, Miss Sparrow whispered:
" Mr. Snowy Owl, you are now a nobleman... You'll probably be attending the ' Rudao Court Academy ' for further studies, right?"
Gilan chewed her food but shook her head.
"Then... what does Mr. Snowy Owl plan to do?" Miss Sparrow asked in surprise.
"Continue the pursuit of the mysterious path."
Gilan's eyes grew increasingly resolute as she looked at her solemnly and said:
"I promised you I would find a way to restore your appearance. One day, Mr. Stork, Mr. Oystercatcher, and Miss Seagull will be back in the world."
Miss Sparrow stared at him blankly.
A glint of light shone in his eyes.
She chuckled softly, but her nose stung with tears.
At that moment, Aurora couldn't help but think Mr. Gilan was foolish. Was it really worth him going to such lengths for a friend he'd only known for a month?
But she was also inexplicably moved.
I was moved by Mr. Gilan's strong persistence.
In that instant, a thousand words were condensed into just two:
"Thanks."
*
*
*
After breakfast, Miss Sparrow changed into her elegant orange-red outfit, and Gilan gentlemanly carried her suitcase for her.
The two went downstairs together, hailed a horse-drawn carriage, and headed straight for the South Muse.
The carriage traveled from the North Muse across the eleventh bridge, through the Central Triumph District, and then across the sixteenth bridge to the South Muse.
The surrounding streetscape changed, from towering buildings to solemn mansions, and then to old-fashioned neighborhoods. During the two-hour carriage ride, the two chatted idly.
Miss Sparrow seemed to have forgotten her worries and whispered her dreams to Gilan. She said that she had actually dreamed of becoming a nun since she was very young, but she never dared to say it because of her status and her father's authority.
Even her joining the " Record Society " to explore the secrets of film was so that one day she could use her mysterious powers to break free from these constraints and help more people in need.
"Your ideals are great, Aurora."
While in the carriage, Gilan solemnly addressed Miss Sparrow by her name.
Miss Sparrow simply shook her head shyly at this.
She turned her gaze away and replied softly:
"It's nothing grand; I just want to contribute a little bit of my strength to this world and give a hug to those who are suffering."
"My mother passed away peacefully in the arms of a nun... I can never forget the smile on her face, nor can I forget the sight of people struggling to survive in their suffering lives, starving and freezing."
Gilan thought for a moment, then took out two 100-dollar Gold Caesar from her wallet and put them in her hand.
" Mr. Snowy Owl?"
Miss Sparrow looked up at him, stunned.
"Take it. You're penniless right now and you'll need the money."
Gilan smiled.
"But you have to promise me you won't donate it all, okay?"
Miss Sparrow bit her lip and clenched the banknotes in her hand.
This amount of money wasn't much for her, who had once been a wealthy young lady, but at this moment, it seemed incredibly precious.
It felt heavy, giving her a sense of peace and warmth.
"Okay, I promise you."
She turned her head away, refusing to look at Gilan.
Gilan seemed not to notice her secretly raising her hand to wipe the corner of her eye. After pondering for a long time, she said in a deep voice:
" Aurora, once you've mastered meditation to a certain level... I will teach you how to become a ' Spirit Mystic '."
Miss Sparrow froze.
She turned her head and looked at Gilan again. Her tear-reddened eyes flashed with indescribable shock.
Miss Sparrow stared at Gilan for a long time without asking a single question. Her reddened eyes suddenly hardened, and she hummed in agreement.
"I will not slack off, Mr. Gilan."
*
*
*
The Our Lady Convent is located in the northern part of the South Muse, near the Sixteenth Bridge. Surrounded by dense, old residential areas, at first glance, Gilan might even think he has returned to the poor neighborhood of Black City.
No, it's even more crowded and chaotic here.
Many unemployed men from the lower classes were leaning listlessly against the sides of the street, chatting or staring blankly. Some were groping for half-smoked cigarette butts on the ground, as if Game a treasure hunt.
Some people, while walking down the street, will pick up any fruit pits they see, pop them into their mouths, slurp them a couple of times, and then reluctantly put them in their pockets.
Food scraps, fruit pits, paper scraps, and cigarette butts are scattered everywhere, leaving behind stubborn black grime on the stone and cement streets.
The people here seem to be filled with an indescribable sense of despondency.
The carriage stopped in front of a solemn and majestic grey stone cathedral.
Gilan, carrying a suitcase in one hand and holding Miss Sparrow's small hand in the other, got off the carriage and paid the middle-aged coachman 15 Pfennig for the fare, as well as a tip of 1 Pfennig and 6 Melang.
After the carriage had left, Miss Sparrow whispered:
"So expensive. A carriage rental in Muse City costs 3 Melang per kilometer."
In the Black City, the cost of renting a horse-drawn carriage is generally only 2 Melang per kilometer.
"After all, it's the capital city, so prices are high."
Gilan shook her head.
He glanced at the street number "8 Saint Maud Street " on the side of the monastery, and then said to Miss Sparrow:
"Let's go in."