As Anthony Stevenson's words echoed in Memorial Day Square and spread to other places, the people of Loen who participated in this restorative mass felt both moved and saddened, both warmed and melancholic.
In different squares, different choirs recited hymns, their ethereal and sacred voices seemingly resonating deep within everyone's heart.
The crimson Full Moon rose, illuminating the earth.
Everyone was lost in a sweet dream, dreaming of themselves.
"Dreaming of parents, wife (husband), and children means it will last forever..." (Note 1)
Unconsciously, everyone felt their spirits were cleansed, and their Spirituality was naturally expressed.
They seemed to have truly entered a dream, strolling through a tranquil darkness.
Here lie their children, their parents, their wives, their husbands, their friends. These dead are no longer suffering, no longer in pain, their faces serene and their expressions gentle.
We will look up at the night sky.
"Say His name tenderly:"
"' Evernight Goddess!'"
"... If He hears this, He will surely answer."
"I will surely show a pure smile to the deceased:"
"Come, rest, sleep peacefully, my children!" (Note 2)
Those wandering in the dream were overwhelmed with intense sorrow once more, as if they understood that it was truly time to say goodbye.
They recalled many beautiful moments from the past, the scene of the family enjoying food and laughter around the table, the person who looked at them with tenderness, the soul-wrenching pain of seeing them hurt and hearing about their passing, and the shadow and separation brought by the war.
They rest in peace in this tranquil land, free from worries, while the survivors suffer torment day and night, withering away.
One tear slid down, then another. The people attending the remaining Mass in Memorial Day Square could no longer suppress their emotions and silently and unreservedly released their pent-up pain.
A profound sadness permeated the air, intertwining with the choir's chanting, as if it had taken on a tangible form.
Cross your hands.
"Place it on your chest,"
"Make that silent prayer,"
"And shout from your heart:"
"The only refuge is peace!" (Note 3)
Those who wept silently with their eyes closed subconsciously followed the poem's description, making similar gestures, and then, infected by one another, cried out in their hearts:
"The only true refuge is stability!"
The grief reached its peak, and more than 10,000 people in the Memorial Day Square felt a strong resonance.
At that moment, Audrey opened her eyes, bent down, and took a bottle of Potion from the small leather bag carried by the golden retriever Susie.
The Potion was floating with countless fragments of light, like a manifestation of the Sea of Collective Subconscious.
Without hesitation, Audrey unscrewed the cap and gulped down the liquid in one go.
Unlike before, when she could still feel the Potion sliding down her throat and into her stomach, Audrey immediately showed signs of abnormality.
She felt she could no longer sense her body; her entire being seemed to condense into a mass of thoughts, merging into the surrounding illusory sea.
This was the first time she had seen the Sea of Collective Subconscious directly without passing through the "island" where dreams and the mind reside. It was as if she had returned to before she was born, returned to her mother's embrace, returned to the Original, and was being washed, disintegrated, and influenced by the imprints left by human ancestors.
There was fear, madness, and all sorts of terrible mental pollution inside. Audrey was unable to resist it for a while, her consciousness faded, her "figure" swayed, and she was about to dissolve.
However, the nearby "sea" was not calm, and some ripples appeared, spreading intense sorrow and pain to the surrounding area.
Influenced by this, Audrey, whose self-awareness was almost assimilated by the Sea of Collective Subconscious, also resonated with it and experienced an overwhelming grief.
Grief spread from one thought to another, quickly filling the "thoughts" that Audrey had "mutated" into, piercing her Spirit Body and soul.
Audrey finally regained some composure, skillfully Placate herself and constantly giving herself Psychological Suggestion to remove the pollution until she returned to her senses.
A voice grew clearer and louder in her ears, finally echoing completely in the Sea of Collective Subconscious:
"Peace is the only true refuge!"
"Peace is the only true refuge!"
"The only refuge is peace..." Audrey repeated the prayer, her figure quickly becoming clear.
With just a thought, multiple transparent and illusory selves split off, roaming the Sea of Collective Subconscious, arriving at and climbing the mental islands representing different people.
In these "places," she directly observed where the sorrow of different people came from:
From cannonballs falling from the sky, from airships in formation, from letters sent back from the front lines, from the postmen bringing bad news, from the splattering of blood and flesh before one's eyes, from the sudden collapse of a loved one, from the pile of toys without their owner, from the violent coughing in the thick smog...
"The only true refuge is peace."
The golden retriever Susie also closed her eyes during the mass, reciting the words in her heart in human language, unaware of any unusual changes around her.
Suddenly, within her soul, within her Mental Body, Audrey's voice resounded:
" Susie, I did it..."
"I was always worried that as my Sequence advanced, I would be increasingly affected by Potion, becoming more and more indifferent, more and more like a Mythical Creature than a human."
Susie looked up, slightly bewildered, and saw that the blonde girl beside her, though her eyes were tightly closed, had her face covered in tears.
Then, she heard Audrey say in her mind:
"Fortunately, I can still feel their sadness."
"Very nice..."
In Susie's eyes, another tear slid down the corner of the blonde girl's eye, glistening and clear.
Then, the Sun withdrew its last rays, and the Evernight brought tranquility.
Everyone opened their eyes at the same time and said in a calm voice:
"Peace is the only true refuge!"
After crying uncontrollably, the usually sunny Audrey became somber, appearing more fragile and tinged with sadness, evoking genuine pity in everyone who saw her.
Under various forms of protection, she returned to Queens Borough and to her room.
Only then did she have the opportunity to seriously examine herself and digest the knowledge and experiences gained from the Potion and from the Sea of Collective Subconscious.
Others might not be able to tell, but Audrey knew very well that the tall, beautiful blonde girl in the mirror possessed extraordinary strength and an exaggerated dragon-scale defense, the kind that could shatter a piece of steel with a single punch.
"Well, I can also ' Dragonification,' which is equivalent to using an incomplete Mythical Creature Form. However, this can only be done after I've adapted to the Potion and continuously accumulated the correct Psychological Suggestion, otherwise I'll lose control... Each ' Dragonification ' cannot exceed a certain time, otherwise even with treatments targeting the mind and spirit, I'll be deeply infected by madness and chaos, leading to loss of control... My current limit is about one minute..."
"The core ability of a ' Manipulator ' is called ' Manipulation.' I can make Mental Body enter the island of another person's mind through the Sea of Collective Subconscious, directly Tampering their subconscious, read their thoughts, and silently drive them to do all sorts of things..."
"Paired with ' Manipulation ' is ' Virtual Persona.' I can create many virtual personalities, giving them corresponding Mental Body. This can counteract many influences in the mental realm, and it also allows me to silently infiltrate the target's consciousness island while I'm talking to others, without any outward signs..."
"I currently only have thirteen virtual personalities..."
"The ' Manipulator ' can also create a terrible ' Mental Plague,' spreading various psychological illnesses and extreme madness through the Sea of Collective Subconscious..."
"Yes, ' Awe ' has become a widespread ' Mind Deprivation,' no longer just having a single effect of Awe..."
"I can also transform my own designated thoughts into a ' Mind Storm,' sweeping across the surroundings and affecting all enemies..."
"Hehe, as a ' Manipulator,' the ability to navigate the Sea of Collective Subconscious is also essential. This is called ' Consciousness Traversal.' Otherwise, by the time I slowly arrive at the designated place through complex Manipulation like before, the target will have already left..." Audrey looked at herself in the mirror and suddenly revealed a faint smile.
Then, she puffed out her cheeks and opened her mouth as if to spit something out.
Since her Mythical Creature Form is Mind Dragon, she must possess the ability to breathe fire.
This can directly stimulate and harm the target's Mental Body and Spirit Body; it is a range-based, enhanced version of " Spirit Piercing."
Audrey quickly shifted her blue eyes, averting her gaze, and sighed inwardly:
"This is what Demigod and humans are like. These abilities terrify even me... And how powerful must Mr. 'The World' be, who could kill Herabergen Rambis..."
Above the Gray Fog, inside the ancient palace.
As the participants in the hunt completed their preparations, they decided to hold a private meeting to discuss the specific details.
"' Manipulator ' are that scary?" " Magician " Fors looked at " Justice " beside her and blurted out in astonishment.
Just now, " Justice " Audrey briefly mentioned the changes she underwent after becoming Demigod. Although she didn't go into much detail to protect her trump card, it still sent a chill down the spines of " Magician," " The Hermit," " Judgement," and " The Star."
"It's not that scary, Mr. 'World' knows very well." Audrey turned her gaze to the bottom of the mottled long table.
"World," Gehrman Sparrow didn't nod, but simply grunted in response.
"I also have powerful allies who were able to kill Herabergen Rambis."
He paused, then continued:
"Before discussing the hunting trip, I'd like to know how to make the Abraham Family feel my friendliness?"
Note 1: Adapted from Tennyson, " The Lotos-Eaters "
Note 2: Adapted from E. B. Browning, * the Cry of the Children *.
Note 3: Adapted from Thomas Hood, * the Bridge of Sighs * and Tennyson, * the Lotos-Eaters *.
P. S.: Updated first, revised later.