When Shade came to Cassandra Auction House out of the rain with a bouquet of flowers, the lobby on the first floor, which was almost smashed by vampires on Wednesday night, had returned to its former bustling appearance.
Even though it is raining today, well-dressed businessmen and nobles are still happily walking around the auction house, chatting with each other about the items they like, or joking about the latest happenings in the city.
When Shade put away his umbrella and handed it to the waiter on the side, he even heard someone talking about the tree on the top of Mount Sikal.
The witch's apprentice, Miss Rita Swift with beautiful flaxen hair, happened to be on the first floor, directing people to re-hang the oil paintings and photos on the walls of the auction house. When she saw Shade coming, she enthusiastically greeted him:
"Mr. Watson, my mother-in-law told me this morning that you would definitely come today and tomorrow."
She seemed to be in a particularly good mood and led Shade to the top floor of the auction house to meet Granny Cassandra.
When the two of them walked up the stairs and there was no one else around, she blushed and told Shade excitedly:
"The teacher now wants me to try to manage the auction house. Although it is only the logistics and financial audit work at the headquarters, it is also a good start. The teacher said that I did a good job on Wednesday night, and this is my reward."
This somewhat unconfident girl was smiling happily:
"I know, this must be related to the teachers you rescued."
"No, no, it's the one who rescued them."
Shade pointed upward, referring to the gods:
"I just made some small contribution to it."
"That's amazing, you know? After I learned about what happened that night from my mother-in-law, I really felt that it was like a myth recorded in the books of the Zhengshen Church."
She lowered her voice slightly:
"Before you left the auction house that night, you knew that something great was coming, but you still rushed to Mount Sikal. It's amazing. Mr. Hamilton, you are the most amazing man I have ever met."
Shade shook his head:
"Speaking of which, is Mr. Armand Bernhard still locked up in the basement?"
"Someone paid a ransom on Saturday, and her mother-in-law erased a small part of his memory of Wednesday night, made him sign a special contract to promise not to reveal the secret, and then let him leave."
Mr. Bernhardt was seriously injured that night and his memory is not clear, so this will not hurt him.
"He only remembers meeting you, but he doesn't remember what questions you asked. In addition, he left you a letter. My mother-in-law checked it. It was roughly thanking you for your help. He wanted to invite you to his manor when you have time.
I'm a guest. Mr. Bernhardt's family runs a large winery in Kasenlik and controls many good vineyards."
Before going to see Granny Cassandra, Miss Swift went to get the letter first. Mr. Armand Bernhardt brought the divine possession, the vampire prince, to this city, but he himself
He didn't know much about the God's Descendant. Therefore, Shade didn't have any ill feelings toward him. Instead, he thought he was a good person. After all, before Shade prepared to go into the mountains on Wednesday night, Mr. Bernhardt persuaded him many times not to take risks.
.
If there is a chance to go to Carson Creek in the future, Shade will visit this gentleman. He has heard about the scenery of southern vineyards many times from Luvia and Dorothy, and it will probably be very good.
Wednesday's battle did not cause too many injuries to the two witches. Granny Cassandra was still the same, standing up to welcome Shade when she saw him arriving.
The old witch heard from Sister Devlin about what happened in the mountains that night. Shade didn't know if she believed the slightly modified and polished story, but at least Granny Cassandra seemed to believe everything.
Believed.
She warmly invited Shade to stay for lunch today, and then took Shade to see Grace and Helen. Sister Devlin brought them back to the city that night, and they have been resting in the auction house since then.
But this time they are no longer in the room with a powerful seal effect on the ground floor of the auction house. The Red Butterfly Twins now live in the room on the top floor of the auction house. That room has been transformed into a special ward, with two four-poster beds separated by
There is a wooden bedside table with two red phalaenopsis in a porcelain vase placed beside the bed.
The curtains are opened, and outside the window is the rainy sky and street. But if you look from here on a sunny day, you can probably see a good scenery.
When Shade opened the door and came in, Grace was lying on her bed, holding a newspaper and telling a story to her sister. Shade was very sure that the newspaper was "Steambird Daily", because the story Grace read was
"Hamilton Detective Stories".
Neither Granny Cassandra nor Miss Swift came in, and Shade walked into the room alone. Although it was daytime, because it was raining outside, the gas lamp was turned on in the room. The warm yellow light unexpectedly made the room a bit...
Warm.
Grace stopped reading the story and looked at Shade with Helen. The two pairs of blue eyes were so clear, and they seemed to be in good spirits.
But compared to when Shade separated from them in the early hours of Thursday morning, the girls at this time looked like they had become a size smaller. This not only refers to the figure, but also refers to the fact that they have transformed from girls in their twenties to
They looked fifteen or sixteen years old. Although they were older than when Shade first saw them at God's cocktail party, they still looked very young:
"Grace, Helen, how are you feeling?"
Shade said hello and walked in, trying to insert the flowers he was holding into the vase.
"Good morning, sir. I feel pretty good. It's like a big mountain has been lifted off my back."
Grace said, wanting to get out of bed and pour water for Shade, but was stopped by Shade:
"Just lie down on the bed."
He pulled up a chair himself and sat between the two hospital beds.
"Good morning, sir, you are finally here. We have lost a lot of power and a lot of memory, but on the contrary, we feel freer."
Helen also said, with a bright smile that Shade had never seen on their faces before:
"The blur of those memories makes the first memories clearer. Although they are still relics, at least at this moment we feel that we have become human again."
"But it's not without cost. Although my sister and I no longer have to guard the seal, nor do we have to perform the 22-year cycle ritual. But from now on, we can't leave the Sikal Mountain area at will."
Grace added.
When they were recuperating in bed, they all wore pajamas. Grace's pajamas with lace collars were mostly white, while Helen's pajamas with butterfly patterns embroidered on the collars were black and dark purple. They liked these colors very much.
Match the style.
"There is always a price to pay. After all, you are red butterflies flying out of Mount Sikal."
Shade said, then reached out and took their fair hands respectively after asking for permission. After waiting for a while, he got the answer:
[Because a quarter of their souls and bodies were taken away by the evil god, in addition to age degradation, their souls are now extremely fragile and cannot fight in a short period of time. It is best not to use strength. 】
They must have known this, but they didn't tell Shade.
[In addition, as a price for paying for the "Sleeping Princess" mystery lock, their power has declined significantly, and the concentration of their own whisper elements has become very weak, at least no longer at the level of angel-level relics. 】
"The level of the relic has been permanently downgraded?"
Shade was slightly surprised.
[Of course not, they were robbed of their power by the evil god and paid the price of the mystery lock. But unlike your [Red Moon], which must use a specific method to release the seal, with their recovery, Hongdie's power will eventually be fully restored.
return.】
"Why? Is this considered a differential treatment by the Mysterious Lock? Why are you being more harsh on me, the caster?"
"She" chuckled slightly:
[Outlander, don’t you understand? The red moon is your power, and the red butterfly is their power, but it is also a curse. This curse has long been rooted in their souls, and will never disappear as long as they still exist.
.]
"So, how fast are the whispering elements and curse resurrected?"
[Roughly estimated, it will be restored to its original state within a hundred years. But you need to get in touch with them further before I can give an answer.]
"Further engagement."
Shade glanced at Helen on his right, who looked only fifteen or sixteen years old, and asked again:
"Besides these, are there any other situations?"
[The incompleteness of their souls means that they must be close to each other to complement each other so that their souls will not continue to fragment. Therefore, they cannot be separated by more than 100 feet (about 30m) before their strength returns to its peak. Also, they
In addition to staying in this area, I can also follow you or do activities at No. 6 Saint Teresa Square.]
"Why?"
[You have been contaminated with the power of too many souls in this area and can be regarded as part of this area. No. 6 Saint Teresa Square is regarded as your residence, so it can also be regarded as part of this area.]
"She" explains it all.
Shade nodded and told the two black-haired girls these things. They were aware of these costs, but they did not mind these things. Instead, they were very happy with the last point that Shade said:
"Sir, if you have time, please take us to see your home. However, there will always be a way to move long distances in space."
"Of course, but you have to wait until your situation gets better. I can take you to the ruined tower in the mountains. Maybe you can also use the power there. After all, the old god"
He did not go on to say that the Twin Gods most likely inherited the power of the two-in-one space ancient god "Original Crack", and the red butterflies who accepted the power of the old god "Twin Gods" should also be able to use the [Space Maze]
the power of.
However, Grace and Helen have not set up a road sign in St. Teresa Square, so Shade still needs a relic like the [Traveller's Travel Gate] to allow them to go to St. Teresa Square for a short time. After verifying their conjecture, they can
Achieve the crossover between two regions.
And this will have to wait until the red butterflies are in better health. They now have a lot of time together and are waiting for the next visit. Time will not leave many marks on their bodies, although it is not complete.
Freedom, but at least, Grace and Helen, the red butterflies who came to this era from the fifth era, have realized the freedom in their hearts.
Shade is looking forward to it, hoping that they can create more stories and live freely with the memories of the people in the past and the longing for the future.