A thousand years ago, the "holy city" Okhema
In the " Goldweaver " workshop, warm light, like melting honey, flowed across the jewelry shelves in the room. The curved surface of the pearl necklace reflected a few specks of gold, and the bronze utensils also gleamed with a soft halo.
"... You're back again, Sai--"
Seeing this, Aglaea stopped what she was doing. "--Ah, Cifera, your face..."
The shadow of the hood, like a semi-transparent veil, shrouded most of the girl's face. Only a small section of her pale chin and a streak of golden blood sliding down her skin could be seen.
"... I need clothes," Cipher said quickly, concealing the golden blood flowing from her cheek.
"Anything, just throw me a piece of clothing. A piece of cloth will do, anything that can cover the wound."
"I will pay you back the money you owe... I promise."
Aglaea smiled slightly, "You... have golden blood."
"... Yes, so what?"
"Yes, I am what they call the Chrysos Heirs —a hero of immense strength! A world-renowned swordsman! A scholar of unparalleled wisdom!"
" Cifera..."
"I'm so sorry, but among such a capable group of people, there's actually someone like me—a poor person, a thief, and a swindler!"
Wearing a hood, Cipher pouted, "Why don't I just cut another gash in my clothes and let all this yellow stuff dry out..."
"... Don't say anymore, Cifera." Aglaea grasped Cipher's hands. "I'll give you clothes to warm you up. And then..."
"Then... stay here, stay in my weaving workshop until your injuries heal."
"... Tch. Aren't you going to ask me? Ask me how I got these injuries?"
Aglaea did not respond, gazing tenderly at Cifera.
"Ha, that's true. What's the point of asking? I'm so good at lying, I even fooled you with your gold thread—since we can't confirm the truth, why bother asking?"
"... I don't need to question you, nor do I need to use gold to measure you. I know everything you do is for survival, regardless of the cost."
"Stay here. Here, you won't have to endure hunger and cold anymore. By my side, you can learn to mend your shattered self-esteem," Aglaea said again.
Cipher's lips were slightly parted, like a kitten stunned by a sudden treat; she even breathed very softly.
It felt as if with the slightest effort, the golden warmth before my eyes would dissipate like mist.
"Aren't you... afraid I'll bring bad reputation to this place? Aren't you afraid I'll secretly steal your valuable clothes and resell them outside?"
"If I were afraid of these things, I wouldn't have extended an invitation to you."
The fabric of the hood brushed against Cipher's furry earlobes, and her eyes, hidden in the shadows, revealed no emotion; only the unhealed golden blood gleamed blindingly in the light.
"Seamstress, you're strange. Adults often say that a child who lies frequently is hard to change..."
"... I've tried hard not to live up to their expectations. But honestly, it's too exhausting... I've wanted to give up for a long time."
What makes you think I won't let you down?
Aglaea patted Cipher's head. "Because I can feel it—not through the power of a demigod, but through the beating of my heart—that you love this place."
That's why you pass by so often, and that's why you're ashamed to linger—because you're afraid you're not worthy of the " Goldweaver " brand.
Aglaea pointed to a spot not far away, "Including that shop across the street, isn't it?"
"Since taking over the priesthood of Moneta, I've become accustomed to letting the golden thread discern sincerity from falsehood for me. But the mission I want to fulfill requires me to the Guild to trust and rely on others with my heart."
" Cifera —you are the heart I gave to this world... and also its challenge to me."
"Stay with me. You have a beautiful face; it shouldn't always be surrounded by scars and mud."
Suddenly, a gust of wind slipped in through the crack in the window, ruffling the edge of the hood.
Cipher moved.
First, he curled his fingers, then slowly, little by little, raised his head.
The shadow of the hood slid down her forehead, finally revealing her sapphire-like eyes, bright and clear.
The bloodstains on Cipher's face were still wet, and along the shallow abrasion, they slid down to her chin, her slightly open lips forming a taut line.
"... Your way of speaking is so convoluted, it's impossible to understand."
"Then it's... a deal. I'll give you one day to back out—once the ceremony is over, it'll be too late to get rid of me!"
Nowadays, the Cloud Stone Heavenly Palace
Aglaea rubbed his temples. He seemed to be regaining some Remembrance from the past. More than a thousand years ago, there really was a person named Ye Yan, but...
How did a bubble tea shop owner get associated with the term "historian of unofficial history"?
The perspective shifts back to ' Lygus ' and Dan Heng's side in Janusapolis, the " Holy City of Prophecy ".
Dan Heng stared at the group of men in black lying motionless on the ground, lost in thought:
"These men in black... initially neither responded to the provocation nor seemed to intend to use force—so what were they waiting for?"
Yes, the group of " Purgers " didn't even have time to make a move before being defeated by Fulisina's "heavenly technique".
According to the original plan, Dan Heng should have used his Cloud-Piercer Spear to repel them, but the elven priest did not play by the rules.
Dan Heng had assumed that, like Lygus, she was unable to act due to her status...
As a result, Fulisina chanted the spell at lightning speed, starting her attack in zero frames. The entire process was smooth and seamless. After dealing with the Purgers, she opened a portal and left.
"Pressure. Creating unease. Planting anxiety. It seems this is the strategy they've chosen," ' Lygus ' analyzed.
"An organization whose mission is to exterminate the Chrysos Heirs..."
Dan Heng frowned slightly. "I've read some horrifying stories that claim the ' Purgers ' use alchemy to impose fragments of Remembrance onto their successors, thus perpetuating their 'identity' and 'hatred'..."
"As far as I know, this is true. The Canis we know was, strictly speaking, the twenty-seventh ' Canis ' in history."
"Objectively speaking, the emergence of the ' Purgers ' is inevitable and necessary."
" Lygus " crossed his arms, "But their vicious and cruel methods were despised by everyone, and thus they were condemned by history."
"But they've continued as an organization to this day, and are even trying to hinder the Flame-Chase. Are they really that afraid of the Chrysos Heirs's pursuit of ' Re-Creation '?"
Even in the midst of a turbulent apocalypse, there will always be someone who benefits from the predicament.
"To persuade those who have already benefited from the status quo to abandon their worldly position, wealth, and ambition for a distant ideal—that may be no easier than creating a miracle."