The lady turned her head to glance out the old tavern's window.
"It's almost time. Let me give you a few final basics.
"Based on the law of Beyonder Characteristic indestructibility, we know that a person combined with a Beyonder Characteristic becomes a Beyonder, and a creature combined with a Beyonder Characteristic becomes a supernatural creature. What about an object combined with a Beyonder Characteristic?"
Without giving Lumian a chance to answer, she said, "That's called a Mystical Item.
"Objects themselves have no will, mind, or self-control. Combined with other factors, this means that after they merge with Beyonder Characteristics, they not only display the corresponding special powers but also produce strong negative effects. The major Churches tend to seal them away, then unseal them using appropriate methods when needed.
"That's also why Mystical Items are called Sealed Artifacts.
"Any Mystical Item that has been sealed by one of the major Churches has its own designation. There are four grades: 3, 2, 1, and 0. The lower the prefix number, the greater the danger. Grade 1 and Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts are limited in number and extremely dangerous. Their designations are shared across the major Churches, with no duplicates."
"Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts..." Lumian murmured.
The fact that Sequence 0 meant a true god had left a deep impression on him. Drawing a connection, he asked, "Are these Sealed Artifacts formed from gods who fell in the past, or evil gods who were destroyed?"
If all twenty-two pathways had a Sequence 0, each corresponding to a true god, then there were clearly too few gods at present.
Of course, Lumian also acknowledged that this might simply be because he knew little about evil gods and hidden beings.
"Not all of them." The lady thought for a moment. "The vast majority are angel-level. Only a few have the ability to kill gods."
Lumian nodded.
"I understand. I won't underestimate objects other people carry."
The lady added, "You mustn't underestimate the negative effects of Sealed Artifacts either. You'll inevitably have Sealed Artifacts of your own in the future.
"Now, there's another category of objects in mysticism, called Beyonder Items. Beyonders of the corresponding Sequences create them using their own abilities and spirituality, or with help from the Spirit World or gods. They contain no Beyonder Characteristics, but exhibit certain supernatural effects. Their power gradually fades with time, though, and charms, potions, and the like can only be used once.
"By comparison, Beyonder weapons are more stable. Many remain usable for years.
"As a Hunter, you lack the ability to deal with spirits and ghosts before Sequence 7. If you get the chance later, consider acquiring an appropriate Sealed Artifact or Beyonder Item."
After listening attentively, Lumian asked, "The Spirit World?"
He had seen the term in Veil of Mystery magazine, but had never found an adequate explanation.
The lady spoke a little faster. "From the perspective of mysticism, this world has three layers: the real world, the Spirit World, and the Astral World. Everything else exists as an extension of one of those three-for example, the Underworld.
"I don't need to explain the real world. You know it well enough. The Spirit World is where spirits live. Many concepts from reality don't exist there. You'll gradually learn more about it later. As for the Astral World, it originally referred to the world of gods, but now the entire starry sky must be included."
Lumian had only asked casually. Once he received a basic answer, he immediately returned to the previous topic.
"Can Hunters make Beyonder Items?"
He felt that Warlocks probably could.
The lady first shook her head, then said, "Hunters can't do it with their Sequence abilities alone. But since their spirituality has increased, they can learn Ritual Magic and pray to a god or hidden being, using Their responses to make charms, weapons, and other Beyonder Items.
"But I must warn you that the vast majority of hidden beings are extremely dangerous. It's best not to try praying to Them. Otherwise, death would count as the best outcome. And the Seven Orthodox Gods generally won't respond to you unless you join the corresponding Church and become an official Beyonder."
"So, in short, Hunters can't make Beyonder Items at all?" Lumian sounded rather disappointed.
The lady smiled. "Not quite. For one thing, you can use the blood, saliva, and so on of certain supernatural creatures to make highly poisonous weapons. In a sense, those also count as Beyonder Items. For another, once you unravel the secret of your dream, I'll tell you the honorific name of a great being. You can pray to Him."
A great being? This is the first time she's used "great" as a description. She didn't use it for the Eternal Blazing Sun or the Hidden Sage... Who could it be? Would praying to Him be safe? Lumian's gaze sharpened slightly, both startled and doubtful.
The more he learned, the more he felt how lacking his knowledge of mysticism was.
Lumian murmured an acknowledgment, then asked, figuring he had nothing to lose, "What's the Sequence 8 corresponding to Hunter? And Sequence 7?"
The lady answered casually, "Sequence 8 of the Hunter pathway is called Provocateur. Sequence 7 is Pyromaniac.
"All right, that's enough for today."
She stood and headed toward the stairs to the second floor.
After only a few steps, she stopped and looked back. "I forgot to remind you.
"Remember, you're only acting."
Only acting... Lumian mulled over those words, then asked thoughtfully, "What if I take the role I'm acting as seriously?"
"You'll become less and less like yourself, until one day..." The lady smiled and said no more.
She turned, walked to the stairs, and disappeared.
Leaving things unfinished again... Lumian grumbled silently.
He could sense that the consequences would probably be severe if he failed to remember that he was only acting.
Rather than leave the old tavern right away, Lumian sat quietly in the corner and recalled everything the lady had told him several times over, making sure he wouldn't forget anything.
The more he pondered, the more he appreciated the importance of those two laws and that one method.
They're like the main framework of the building that is mysticism. Everything else is built upon them...
I wonder if Aurora knows about them...
Once we leave Cordu, I'll discuss this with her...
Uh, I don't even know whether that lady would allow me to tell Aurora directly...
After leaving the old tavern, Lumian glanced back and muttered silently, Why haven't those three outsiders done anything yet? The Lent Festival is already here...
He headed to the Village Square as he thought.
After asking whether a telegram had arrived in reply, he came out and saw Ava, Raymond, and the others arriving.
Ava had changed into a pure white dress, with a circular headdress woven from branches and flowers on her head and a similar, enormous necklace around her neck. Brown branches and green leaves adorned her back, arms, waist, and legs, making her look like a fairy from the woods.
This was the central figure of the Lent Festival, the Spring Spirit.
Raymond and the other young people gathered around Ava, each carrying a basket woven from branches and filled with grass, soil, stones, leaves, and similar things.
"Lumian, the Blessing Procession is about to start!" Ava's aqua-blue eyes shifted, spotting him.
Her face was full of joy.
Raymond and the others looked equally delighted.
"Come on, let's collect the offerings together!"
Since Novel Weekly had yet to send a telegram in reply, Lumian had nothing to do for the moment and simply joined the Blessing Procession.
The young people began singing loudly, surrounding Ava as they left the square.
They stopped before the first building, only a dozen meters or so away.
Lumian walked up to the entrance and banged on the door.
"The Spring Spirit is here!"
The door creaked open, revealing Naa La Yiza.
She was the village's other female head of household who bore the title "Naa." In her forties, she wore her black hair up, and her blue eyes held a smile.
Seeing the door open, Ava took two steps forward, spread her hands, and sang.
"I am the spirit of spring,
"With a lovely, friendly face,
"...
"Sing and dance,
"Only then will a bountiful harvest come..."
After singing a verse, Ava took a clod of soil from Raymond's basket and handed it to Naa La Yiza.
"Thank you, Spring Spirit." Naa La Yiza accepted it with a smile and handed Ava the piece of cloth she was holding.
"A bountiful harvest! A bountiful harvest!" Lumian and the other young people responded in unison.
This was a blessing ritual. The Spring Spirit blessed the villagers with a bountiful harvest for the year by singing and giving them natural objects such as soil, grass, and stones. In return, the villagers had to give something back-an offering-or the blessing would become a curse.
Once Raymond, standing beside her, had taken the cloth, Ava enthusiastically sang another verse.
Only then did they bid Naa La Yiza farewell and head to the next household.
Some of the offerings received during the Blessing Procession would be thrown into the river during the Riverside Ritual, while the rest would be displayed at the final ritual. After the Lent Festival, the girl serving as the Spring Spirit's incarnation had the right to choose some to take home.
This was quite a substantial reward.
And if Cordou Village truly enjoyed a bountiful harvest that year, Ava, as the Spring Spirit's incarnation, would be widely regarded as having received the spirit's favor and spring's blessing. Any family she married into would be considered assured of bountiful harvests for years to come.
Then she would truly have a chance of marrying into a well-off family.
The Blessing Procession sang as it went, eventually arriving at Lumian's home.
Naturally, Aurora opened the door. She, too, had changed into something more formal-a light-colored, high-collared dress with ruffles, complemented by her pinned-up golden hair.
Ava stepped forward and sang the same song again.
"I am the spirit of spring..."
Aurora listened with a smile, then accepted a leaf while taking out a small earthenware jar and handing it to Ava.
"Thank you, Spring Spirit."
Animal fat portioned out from the big jar? Lumian glanced at it and felt his sister was being far too generous.
Apart from a tiny vegetable patch behind the house, their family had no fields at all. They had no need to care whether the harvest was bountiful.
Before you continue