A thousand years ago, the bedroom of the priest Kephale...
The light, like sifted gold dust, slanted through the heavy curtains of the palace, falling on the rumpled wooden chests in the deep chamber.
The air was filled with the scent of old wood and spices, like an old dream that hadn't quite faded away.
"Hmm... where exactly is that valuable stuff hidden...?"
Cipher rummaged around and around, but still couldn't find what she was looking for.
She pulled the hood of her cat-ear hood low, revealing strands of silver-blue hair that trembled slightly with her rapid breathing.
"Junk, still junk... What is this? Never mind, I'll keep it for now..."
Before the words were even finished, those star-like eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like a hunter who had finally caught his prey, or a child who had discovered hidden candy.
Her Tail was held high, and a bunch of keys hanging from the tip swayed gently in the light, making a barely audible sound.
"Hey, I finally found it!"
Cipher's voice was very low, but the triumphant joy could not be hidden in the last syllable.
The small red lacquered box was carefully held in black gloves; the patterns on the box shimmered in the sunlight.
That was exactly what she had searched half the house, even at the risk of being discovered by the guards.
"It must be this! The ' All-World Gem,' a secret heirloom of the High Priest, said to be a piece that fell from the Dawn Machine..."
Her fingertips were slightly sweaty with nervousness, yet she gripped the box firmly, as if afraid that this hard-won 'prey' would slip through her fingers.
The wooden box was open, and the scrolls and fabrics inside were scattered and messy, just like Cipher's chaotic yet excitedly pounding heart.
Cipher rested her other hand on the edge of the box, her sharp claws digging slightly into the wooden board. Her feline alertness made her subconsciously watch for any movement outside the door, but her gaze was fixed on the box in her palm, and she even held her breath for a second.
This was no ordinary stolen goods. A sly smile crept across Cipher's lips beneath her hood, like a perfect lie quietly taking shape in her hands.
"Hehe... I can smell the sweet fragrance of these top-quality treasures even through this little box. All that talk about a high priest dedicating everything to his faith, hasn't it just filled his private coffers after all..."
"I spent half a year lying low in the priesthood for this little thing! Listening to those rigid priest apprentices chanting scriptures every day almost drove me crazy..."
"Thankfully, 'hard work pays off'," hehe...
Cipher pursed her lips, just as she was about to continue speaking, when a very weak voice came from the side.
"Atticas... Atticus... Is that you?" the dying high priest asked.
" Atticus? That name sounds familiar... Oh, isn't it his favorite priest apprentice? The one everyone's chosen to be the next High Priest..." Cipher thought to herself.
"It wouldn't be good to remain silent... Shall we use Zagreus's power to hold out for now?"
Cipher put away the " All-World Gem," cleared her throat, and switched her voice to that of the ' Atticus ' mentioned by the High Priest.
"Now... 'I am Atticus '."
"Atticas? Why... are you not responding..." The high priest's voice was still weak.
"Old... cough, High Priest, it's me. I'm here to change your dressing."
"Ah... thank you. Without your care, I would have breathed my last and been taken to the River of Souls by Thanatos long ago..."
"Oh, you don't need to be so polite, my dear teacher. Taking care of you while you're sick is my duty."
Cipher said this, but she clearly didn't think so in her heart:
"This old man is more seriously ill than we thought... It seems the priests were deliberately concealing his condition."
" Atticus... I can feel my life slipping away rapidly, and I don't know when I'll fall into eternal slumber..."
"So... there's one last thing... I have to tell you..."
Upon detecting the keyword, Cipher instantly perked up her cat ears and moved a few steps closer to Da Siming's location.
"One more thing? Wait a minute, could it be... that the old man has hidden some treasure somewhere else?!"
Cipher secretly rejoiced, "Oh my Flipping Coin, my lucky day has arrived!"
"Cough, calm down, Cifera... you must stay calm." She composed herself and continued speaking to the High Priest:
"You will be alright, High Priest, please stay optimistic and don't be discouraged."
Cipher emphasized again, "But, but! If you have something important to entrust to me... I will listen attentively and wholeheartedly."
"Ah... this matter... is extremely disgraceful, and shameful to me. But I must speak out... because it concerns the very survival of this holy city beneath our feet."
Upon hearing this, Cipher immediately became interested. "It concerns the life and death of the entire city? Is it really necessary to make such a fuss? I want to hear what's going on..."
"Our all-knowing Heavenly Father Kephale, in the moment before it fell silent... I heard its last words at the Dawncloud Cliff..."
It said, " The Prophecy has been delivered; my mission is nearing its end, and I shall now fall into silence."
"Ah, right, right— the Creation Prophecy, the Titan who turned into a dead stone..." Cipher muttered dismissively, "It's the same old story, what's new about it?"
"Eternal night is coming, but for the next three hundred years... the Dawn Machine will illuminate the Holy City, awaiting the golden-blooded Son of Man to create miracles..."
"Hmm, Dawn Machine, Miracle of Creation, Clichés--"
Cipher froze, "Wait, wait a minute, didn't that old man just say... the next three hundred years??"
"I... hid the time limit given by God the Father from everyone..."
"I simply don't have the courage... to cruelly etch the countdown to the dawn of the Holy City into the hearts of its citizens..."
" Atticus, you... are a hundred times braver than I. Can you accomplish... what I have failed to do?"
With his last ounce of strength, the high priest inquired in the direction of Cipher.
Will you convey that bitter truth... to all the citizens of Okhema?
Cipher remained silent and did not respond for a long time.
Atticus...?
Finally, Cipher gave a helpless hum, switching back to Atticus's tone. "Heh... Rest assured, my mentor."
"I will complete this arduous task for you... I will remedy the consequences of your cowardice."
Cipher recalled Aglaea's famous quote to her, "Is that so, seamstress? Everyone is a unique being in this world..."
The cat-eared girl's lips curled into a slight smile, "The chance to become a hero... is finally here."