Although she did not plan to stay here that night, Dorothy decided to have dinner with Shade before leaving.
So during the evening trading, Dorothy was still at No. 6 Saint Teresa Square, helping Shade observe the whole square through the living room window.
Shade calculated the time and came outside with the suitcase containing the money. As the sun set, the pigeons were waiting to be fed in the square, and the vendors who had not yet left were waiting for the last batch of customers today.
When Shade walked past a group of pigeons, they suddenly flew up and flew over Shade's head when he came to the fountain.
I didn't wait long before I saw Mr. Rendall walking from the intersection on the west side of the square holding a document bag.
"I will not reveal the secrets of your organization, but I also hope that, except for those who meet me, no one else in the monastery will know my identity."
This was Shade's request before the transaction. The two men shook hands in front of the statue of a girl holding a water bottle under the setting sun. Half of their faces were illuminated by the setting sun, usually hidden in the darkness.
"Of course, please don't mention the Priory to anyone. We haven't shown up for a long time. But if you still want to trade in the future, you can go to me directly at the address on my business card. We welcome any fair transactions. If
If you can't find me, you can also go to this one, but be careful, this old gentleman's temper is not as good as mine."
Mr. Rendell handed Shade a business card, the business card of Old John's Pawn Shop.
The corners of Xia De's mouth trembled, and he actually felt that he was not surprised at all:
"Mr. John, does he know my identity?"
"I know. He asked me to write down your expression when he gave you his business card."
They exchanged the items in their hands with Mr. Rendall. Neither of them checked on the street. They both believed that there would be no problems with the transaction.
"In addition, these banknotes are not serially numbered, so you can spend them as you like."
Shade said, and the secretary of the University Association nodded with a serious look on his face:
"Okay, Mr. Hamilton, I also want to remind you that although I know you are just doing research, if you are suddenly crazy enough to try this god-summoning ritual, you must be careful. Even in the god-summoning rituals we have come into contact with,
, this is also an extremely dangerous one, the ritual is divided into two stages, and once you forget a very important thing, it will cause extremely bad results."
"Of course I won't call the gods. But forget it."
Shade narrowed his eyes, and the question he had under the giant tree was actually answered at this moment.
"Mr. Rendall, is the second stage the fairy tale you mentioned?"
The middle-aged man nodded:
"Yes, it's "The Kiss of the Tree." In some versions of the story, the entire content of the ceremony is clearly specified. For example, the "Coconut Tales" published in 1200, and "Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tale Appreciation" by Kassenlick
", as well as the "Complete Collection of Ancient Fairy Tales of Delarion", of which a few copies are now circulating."
For some reason, Xia De didn't feel surprised at all at this moment:
""The Complete Collection of Ancient Fairy Tales of Delarion"?"
"Do you have this book?"
Mr. Rendell asked in surprise.
"I see."
Everything makes sense.
When the time came to midnight, Shade, who was lying on the sofa and covering his face with a book, suddenly sat up, causing the cat that was originally lying on his stomach to jump aside.
Glancing at the documents scattered on the desktop, in addition to the information that Shade bought at a high price, there was also a reply from the librarian, the Red Moon Witch. Shade once asked Miss Danister about the first founders of the college.
She didn't give a specific answer, but gave a hint about the tradition of the librarian position.
Everything was similar to what he thought, and at the same time, many doubts in the past could also be explained.
After tidying up the clothes that were wrinkled because he had been lying down for too long, Shade picked up the cat, which had regained its energy after being woken up, and comforted it, then left the cat on the sofa while he walked to the bedroom door alone.
Take out the cracked key to Universal Calendar 3005:
"This is probably the last time I'll see Miss Feliana. May the World Tree protect me, Mia, in the infinite time. Don't scream. It's not like you haven't seen me do this before. See you in three seconds."
"Meow~"
Shade complained about his cat, yawned, opened the door in front of him, and stepped into the white mist door in front of him.
【Outlander, you have stepped into the "corridor of time".】
[Message from the ancient god "Father of the Infinite Tree":]
[Autumn of the Fifth Age, 3002, Western Continent, Forest of Thousand Trees.]
[Event: God Summoning Ceremony-Contact the Old God "Yaochangmen".]
【Duration thirty minutes (3/3).】
【You have obtained additional information.】
[The figure of the father of the infinite tree continues to watch you.]
[The test given to you by the ancient god of time will continue.]
[Assist mortals to complete the god-summoning ritual - contact the old god "Yaochang Gate". 】
[The Father of the Infinite Tree will give you rewards: a piece of historical truth (the Witch War at the end of the fifth era), thaumaturgy-space stabilizing halo. 】
The surroundings were filled with white mist, but Shade did not immediately step into the Forest of Thousand Trees.
【Do you have any other questions?】
she asked softly in his ear.
Shade looked at the white mist in front of him:
"I was just thinking that in front of the old gods, even a powerful mortal like Miss Feliana would make such a mistake. Mortals are too fragile in front of gods."
She chuckled in his ear, and Shade shook his head. Taking a step forward, the white mist slowly dissipated, and the dark night forest gradually became clear. Whispers came almost immediately, and at the same time, in the deep darkness, twisted growths
The branches are like the hands of corpses in horror stories, and the densely covered tree trunks seem to have terrifying eyes.
"Silver Moon!"
He whispered without panic, the moonlight at his fingertips barely illuminating the front. Like the bottom cabin of the fishbone pirate ship, this forest can also suppress Shade's moonlight. This phenomenon happened last time.
The light and shadow of the red-gold bonfire cannot be seen in the gaps between the surrounding trees. If you walk around rashly, you will get lost in the forest of thousands of trees.
Last time I met the Moon Witch unexpectedly. The silver moon has the opposite concepts of holiness and evil, while the yellow moonlight represents the opposite concepts of guidance and confusion. The Moon Witch can move in the forest, but Shade cannot.
Fortunately, the witches had told Shade what he should do last time.
Keeping the light on his fingertips, Shade pulled out the holy silver sword from the air around him. He pierced the sword into the soft soil under his feet with one hand. The feeling was very much like piercing flesh and blood.
Keeping this movement unchanged, chant in a low voice:
"The moonlight guides me, may the silver moon be with me."
After waiting for a while, the light of a bonfire appeared silently in the gap between the trees in front of him. The Moon Witch left power around the open space under the giant tree. Shade could get guidance as long as he activated similar power nearby.
Shade put away his sword, walked over and dug through the bushes, and finally came to the open space under the giant tree.
Under the tree trunks, a bonfire was swaying, and someone was singing softly. The rustling tree crown seemed to match the singing:
"The princess in the castle will not understand that the freedom to walk in the world is what we pursue."
"When you meet a witch at an intersection full of lavender, where are you going to pick that handful of herbs?"
"Hold the white snow on top of the snow and watch the sun in the depths of the desert."
"If you could meet us, dear girl"
"Please call our names softly and ask your questions."
"Where the lilies are blooming, or, where the sunflowers are to the west."
"Please put on your beautiful dress and hold up the purple thyme."
"The people who love you and the people you love are all here, this palace filled with sunshine."
This is probably a ballad popular among witches in the Fifth Age, but it's a bit sad for some reason.
Three hooded ladies were sitting around the campfire, and it was Miss Feliana who was singing.
As the singing stopped, only Miss Feliana turned to look at Shade, while the other figures just trembled. It seemed that the forest was encroaching on them more and more seriously.
It's still the same here, with powder sprinkled on the ground around the bonfire as a warning. Next to the bonfire where the witches sit are two small tents, a kettle, a small mirror, a wooden box, a basin filled with clothes and other daily necessities.
The wood was piled up into a hill on the side, but no matter how strong the bonfire was, it could not save the dull spirit.
Shade nodded to Miss Feliana under the hood, stood there hesitantly looking at the giant tree, and then walked over.
The positions of the three witches are very interesting. They are not close together, but sitting in different directions. Among them, the giant tree witch is sitting under the tree trunk. Ninety degrees counterclockwise is Miss Feliana, and the moon witch is sitting
Opposite the giant tree witch.
Xia De came quietly, not wanting to disturb the peace at this moment.
Sitting down next to the crackling campfire, Shade chose the seat opposite Miss Feliana, next to the two young witches.
"Good evening, ladies."
He spoke softly in this place where there was no daylight.
"Good evening."
Miss Feliana responded that the bonfire was not strong and the two could see each other's faces.
There was no concept of time here, so Shade didn't ask how long he had been away. He looked at the faces of the witches under the light of the campfire, and every face was full of exhaustion.
After a long time, Xia Decai sighed slightly. He put his hand into the inner pocket of his coat and took out "The Complete Collection of Ancient Fairy Tales of Delarion" from the pocket.
Putting the book on his lap, he asked softly:
"Now, can you still hear my voice?"
"Can."
Still only Miss Feliana was speaking.
"Miss Feliana, actually I have been a little curious since the first time I came here, why, why there are three of you, but there are always only two single tents here (note)? It is the same as the ritual items when entering the forest.
Lost it?"
The three faces under the hood looked at him, and two pairs of beautiful eyes were full of confusion.
Obviously, they were not aware of this problem at all before Shade raised it.