"The wooden figure we carved in class was hidden here all along; it's a secret I didn't even know."
"Don't even mention you, I've completely forgotten about you..."
"Let me think... Ah, there's still one place I haven't looked for."
The Aedes Elysiae, the Court of Repose
Phainon recalled, "When we were kids, we always agreed to meet at one of two places: the statue in the middle of the village, and here."
"Yes! I remember... when you guys called me out to play, you never used the main gate, you always liked to climb over the wall, you were so naughty!"
"Like someone else, you can't quite pinpoint when you'll appear, right?"
"Who are you talking to? Me?" Xing pointed to herself first, then put her hands on her hips. "I'm just so unpredictable."
"Hehe! I bet she gave a mischievous answer."
"Well, anyway, I learned that from storybooks—heroes don't take the usual path."
Cyrene smiled. "However, I've been living here alone lately, and it's been so long since I've taken good care of it. It's embarrassing. With so many corners, where am I even supposed to start?"
Looking at the vast courtyard, Xing suggested, "In the courtyard."
The yard was covered in fallen leaves...
Phainon nodded in agreement. "I know, it wouldn't be good if the clothes got dirty. Let me do it."
"That's not the reason," Cyrene waved her hand.
"Hmm... it's been a while since I've been to the rooftop. Maybe we can find something there? Let's go up and look."
"Then let's split up. I'll search the yard, and you can keep the attic," Phainon suggested.
Xing stroked her chin. "I've never seen the view from upstairs before... Let's go up and take a look!"
Xing looked at Phainon, who had already begun to act; Bai E was talking to himself.
"I wonder what pomegranate juice with milk tastes like... It might be in the top jar... Ah, my friend, I'll leave this one to you. Let's see who finds the Oracle Card first."
The scene shifts to the pavilion in the Court of Repose.
Xing looked at the girl before him, who seemed to hold an unfathomable secret, yet her attitude towards him was extremely friendly...
The next second, Cyrene turned around, looking at Xing with a smile. Galactic Baseballer couldn't help but wonder: Could that telepathy really exist?
"Hmm~ Looking into the distance, it's still the familiar scenery."
"If you ask what the most memorable place in the Aedes Elysiae, besides the swing set under the big tree, it's this place."
Xing Diantou chimed in, "Standing on high ground certainly brings a pleasant feeling."
"It makes me want to hum a childhood song..." Cyrene hummed softly.
Xing turned her gaze elsewhere, "The sea in the distance, it stretches to the horizon..."
" The Aedes Elysiae, surrounded by continuous mountains, rivers, and seas, I even drew pictures of this place on paper when I was a child."
"Every time I draw to the edge of the sea, I put down my brush. I can't even imagine what the world beyond is like..."
Faced with this beautiful scenery, Xing suddenly had a bold and abstract idea: if not now, when?
"Three, two, one... Jump!"
Cyrene was startled by the noise, her eyes widening. "Hey! What's that? Be careful..."
"Although I'm just a little fortune teller in the village, I haven't yet mastered the ability to turn back time."
"Because I could hear vague Prophecy from a young age, the villagers all said I was destined to be the priestess of Years."
"However, the more often one consults the oracle, the more confused one becomes about fate. One may claim to have unwavering faith in Prophecy, but if it comes to actually leaving the Aedes Elysiae..."
"Where will that anchored ship take us?"
Before the words were finished, Phainon's shouts rang out from the courtyard, " The Oracle Card has been found, it's here—"
"They're faster than us! We haven't even had enough of the scenery yet."
Cyrene seemed lost in thought, "Does reminiscing about the past always delay our departure?"
"However, as for the scenery... I've already imprinted it in my eyes. I'll cherish it wherever I go, including... my childhood friends!"
"They've arrived! Indeed, the divine is listening to the voice of our hearts."
In the blink of an eye, Cyrene and Xing returned to the center of the courtyard.
"Found it! Look, this is the box that contained the Oracle Card."
"But the card is missing... was it taken away by someone?" Xi Lian asked doubtfully.
Xing made another discovery. "Hey? What's this under the box?"
A strange string of text automatically appeared before the three of them. "One two three four five six seven, do re mi fa so la hee!"
Strangely, there was a conspicuous paw print beneath the text.
"What animal's paw prints are these?" Phainon asked Curiosity.
"One, two, three, four, five, Dan Heng strikes the Voidranger..."
Phainon coughed lightly, "... I know the original text, don't change the words without permission!"
"I know, those mysterious little guys... I didn't realize they were the ones causing trouble."
"You mean, in the ' Lost in the Maze '...?"
"Yes, come with me to the back of the courtyard."