Chapter 972: Act 144 – The Witch’s Rebellion VII
Inside the Hall of the Valhalla Tree, an eerie silence enveloped the chamber.
Antenna slowly lowered her hand, the diamond-shaped crystal in her palm radiating a faint glow. The aide’s eyes sparkled with the same ethereal light, silent as ever. Her Highness the Princess watched her from the side, softly asking, “What’s wrong? Did the Earl of Toniger say something? How are things on the Empire’s side… How are Earl A’s group faring? Is the situation irreparable?”
Antenna’s eyes momentarily regained clarity, as if she had returned to herself, suddenly realizing: “What…? No, it’s nothing. Lord Toniger’s side is fine; there have been minor incidents, but the situation is still under control.” She fell silent, as Brendel rarely talked to her about her father. However, he had solemnly inquired about her father earlier.
“Antenna, there is something regarding your father that I want to discuss with you. Are you familiar with his life?”
“Familiar?”
“I mean, your father was passionate about exploration, but do you know the strange places he visited while he was alive?”
“Is that important, Lord Toniger?”
“It is very important—For now, Antenna, I suspect your father’s death is not as simple as it seems.”
Antenna’s heart was disturbed. She clasped the crystal tightly, oblivious to the sharp edge pricking her skin. The death of her father might not have been an accident, but a conspiracy. The word “conspiracy” leapt in her mind, as her childhood memories were simple. Back then, she lived with her family in the Orchid District—not a noble area, at most a middle-class neighborhood in Bruglas. Her childhood was relatively prosperous, a carefree time when her father was a respected gentleman whom people called “Sir.” According to her mother, their background could indeed be considered noble; they once had a glorious time when their ancestors were knights of the kingdom, achieving great deeds.
But that was about it.
Her father was indeed passionate about exploration, spending most of his time outside. He had traversed many places, with Erluin almost marking his footsteps. There were even times he traveled abroad, to places like the Empire and the Kingdom of Daco. But when it came to specifics, Antenna was unsure. She remembered her father particularly enjoyed narrating his travel stories. Yet, out of a rebellious streak, she had never made an effort to remember them, recalling only that these travelogues bore no particularly striking details; he merely described where he went, the beautiful sights he saw, and encountered dangers that were mostly ordinary.
Her father had a few friends, but they were mostly temporary acquaintances, like fellow adventurers, and it didn’t seem likely they’d get entangled in traps. If she had to note something special about her father, Antenna remembered he had a particular interest in collecting stones from various places—from agate, obsidian, and chalcedony to numerous types of raw stones. He didn’t care so much about the inherent value of these stones but rather focused on the process of how they were buried underground and then resurfaced:
“Nobody knows what breathtaking beauty hides within these ugly stones, Antenna. They may be worthless or worth fortunes, but that doesn’t matter. What’s important is that each stone is buried deep underground and eventually sees the light of day. They have borne witness to a historical period, and compared to that long history, our lives are but fleeting moments.”
She remembered that her father was a devout believer in the Gaia Monastic Order, which worshipped Martha and also the Earth Goddess Gaia. His passion for discovering gems buried in the land was driven by the desire to feel the history and emotions contained within those stones. Initially, that was the case, but later, something changed. Antenna suddenly recalled a day when her father brought forth a gemstone she had never seen before:
“Antenna, this stone is called amber. I found it in a peculiar place. Look at its beauty, but it’s not just a gem. Do you know, Antenna, that many gems in this world contain unimaginable magical power, and amber is among the best?”
“Magical power?”
“It’s the primal force of our world. With it, people can harness magic, soar in the sky, and even alter this world.”
“With it, I can become a wizard, right, Daddy?”
“No, Antenna. For wizards, magic is a privilege of the few, but this gem is different. The Nazherians invented magic-powered devices. This stone will ultimately change our world.”
“This is—amber?”
“Ha ha, this is raw amber, Antenna. It’s far from being true amber, but that’s okay. These raw ambers hold a tremendous secret; it’s like a key. One day, we will see true amber, Antenna.”
“Mm, Daddy.”
Suddenly, it seemed as if a grand door had opened in the darkness; memories flowed out like silent water.
Antenna slowly opened her palm, lowered her head, and the diamond-shaped crystal sparkled in the dim light. This was a long-distance projection crystal made from magical moonstone, a true magical gemstone, yet it was nowhere near as beautiful as the raw amber her father had shown her that afternoon many years ago. The magical gemstone was the crown among gemstones, while amber was the most dazzling star on that crown.
After that, her father became increasingly absorbed in his explorations, spending less and less time at home. Each time, he would take a substantial amount of money with him. Neighbors whispered that he had a mistress outside, and her mother grew increasingly melancholic over time. It was then that she gradually changed her impression of her father—from admiration to resentment, to indifference, until she seemed to forget that he existed until Brendel brought word of his death to her.
At that time, Antenna felt she shouldn’t feel surprised because sometimes even she doubted whether her father had another woman outside, but at least Brendel had given her a negative answer.
At least he hadn’t deceived them.
But that wasn’t a reason for her to forgive him.
“This stone is called amber.”
“It will provide endless energy for the magic-powered devices.”
“One day, it will change our world.”
Antenna stood still, a breeze wafting in through the arched windows of the Hall of the Valhalla Tree, rustling the designs on the desk. Afternoon sunlight poured into the hall at an angle, forming beams of light. Princess Grifian observed the sudden glimmer in the aide’s eyes, resembling beads, resplendent and sparkling. Moments later, Antenna took a deep breath, took a step back, wiped her eyes and said, “Sorry, I lost my composure, Your Highness.”
“I should apologize,” the Princess looked at her, somewhat puzzled. “Is something the matter?”
“It’s nothing, just reminded me of my father.”
“I’m sorry…”
“No need to apologize, Your Highness,” Antenna smiled, her eyes shining like pear blossoms kissed by rain. “Lord Toniger has asked us to remain vigilant during this time. A magical tidal wave is approaching, and many anomalies are arising everywhere.”
“That’s true,” Grifian sighed. “But what truly unsettles me is something else; the undead have begun to stir again.”
Antenna was just about to take her leave when she heard this, and she paused, “Your Highness, it seems the royal faction is also acting strange.”
“The reforms by Earl Toniger have threatened the interests of the dukes, but our strength far exceeds theirs; there’s no need to worry—”
Antenna felt as if she was seeing this princess anew.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your Highness, the things I mentioned to you last time, I hope you will seriously consider them.”
Princess Grifian’s face flushed slightly: “I will think it over seriously.”
…
Antenna’s father was a believer in the Gaia Monastic Order? The light from the projection crystal flickered twice before fading, and Brendel silently set it down, frowning. A Gaia Monastic Order? Is there such a church in Erluin, or is it active near Bruglas? How come he had never heard of it? There are quite a few churches in Erluin that worship the Earth Goddess Gaia, among which the Silver Lily Church and the Holy Cross of Gaia are relatively well-known, but he had never heard of an organization called the Gaia Monastic Order. Could it be a cult? But it didn’t seem so; collecting stones was not an unsavory act.
Antenna’s father found that raw amber at the Swallow Fortress, but what could it have to do with this? Brendel took out the gray-brown stone fragment from another pocket. This piece seemed unrelated to any raw stone; instead, it looked like a fragment of some shale.
The raw amber holds a tremendous secret?
Brendel shook his head. It appeared that Antenna’s interest in magic-powered devices stemmed from her father. Yet, whether her father was merely interested in the endless energy provided by gemstones or was pursuing some other secret remained unknown, as did the mystery of this brown stone fragment. Only Heaven probably knows. If even Antenna was unclear, the only remaining lead likely fell onto the few friends her father had during his life, as well as that peculiar Gaia Monastic Order.
Antenna mentioned her father had few friends, and most relationships were not fixed. That didn’t sound like an issue at first glance, but on deeper thought, it seemed peculiar. If her father were merely an adventurous noble, that would be one thing, but he was also a devout believer in the Gaia Monastic Order. Then, the question arose—what about his fellow believers? Could it be that this so-called Gaia Monastic Order is similar to some strange hermitic societies in Erluin, where most members don’t know each other and never interact?
This sounded like a cult.
The unusual always signifies something abnormal; it seemed the threads were beginning to unravel.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Brendel?” Merchant Miss asked, somewhat puzzled.
Brendel returned to the present with a start, raising his head, furrowing his brow deeply and scanning the area ahead. One hand pressed against the front of the earl’s coat, while the other silently gripped the cold hilt of the Sword of the Earth. Beside him, Flour also furrowed her brows, holding a large roll of parchment in one hand, while a silver staff appeared in her other hand, steady and poised.
“Controlling dreams?”
Ahead lay an open corridor connecting to the hall ahead, brightly lit with torches blazing on the walls, yet the corridor was empty and filled with a strange silence.
“Kekeke, the Earl is quite sharp.” A delicate laugh echoed, and as she clapped her hands gently, four women in white robes seemed to materialize from thin air, blocking the path. Between two of the witches, the air rippled slightly as a remarkably enchanting witch stepped out.
She was a beautiful and mysterious woman with striking azure eyes, and a diamond-shaped crystal on her forehead shimmered with an unusual light.
She was also a witch.
“Merilietra, eldest daughter of Echis—believer of the Whispering Kehua, witch of the Twelfth Month’s Liars,” the witch smiled faintly, and that smile drained the colors from everything around. She parted her cherry lips and said, “The Witch of Deceit has come to borrow the Earl’s head.”
“Lord!”
Brendel reached to stop Flour, who was about to strike, signaling her and Romaine to retreat. He raised his head to face the five witches directly. “I’ve heard that among the twelve legacy witches of this generation, aside from the Witch Queen, the strongest is the believer of Jin Hai, the Witch of Despair, followed by the Witch of Deceit, Madame Merilietra, which would make you that person.”
“Truly deserving of the title of the Dark Dragon’s inheritor, you understand us quite well,” Merilietra smiled approvingly.
“Deserving?” Brendel shook his head. “I’ve never claimed to be anything like a Dark Dragon; I’ve seen Odin, but that doesn’t mean I agree with his views.”
“You’ve seen my king?” Merilietra raised an eyebrow slightly before realizing, “Indeed, you carry my king’s legacy within you. However, whether you agree with my king’s path is irrelevant; the Supreme One does not require the validation of mortals.”
“Then I take it you are the ones stirring trouble behind the scenes?”
“Ha ha,” Merilietra laughed. “It is Anwei who moved first. The Witch of the Cup Moon is adept at changing hearts. Besides, those nobles already harbor ill intentions. My power derives from integrity and wisdom, and I disdain engaging in such trivial matters. Playing with hearts is ultimately a minor skill; yet, the order of this world and its fate can be changed. Do you understand, Lord?”
“In that case, you really are accomplices.”
Merilietra slightly frowned, her voice turning cold. “Do you truly understand the situation, Lord? You are merely at the threshold of the elemental realm; within my domain, no one can save you.” She shifted her gaze to Romaine and Flour, chuckling softly. “Surely, you are not relying on those outside? Don’t worry, in this dream I’ve woven for you, you will not disturb anyone. I will let you die peacefully.”
“I see now, I roughly understand—”
Brendel drew the Sword of the Earth, transferring it from his left hand to his right, the blade pointing downward, gently touching the ground. Wielding the sword in one hand, he revealed a smile, “My head is here; you are welcome to try.”
