Chapter 74: Fate Grey (Two-in-One)
Consciousness floated like a series of flickering bubbles, rising and falling in the ocean of the void.
At a certain moment, the bubble burst.
Rast felt himself immersed in warm water.
A continuous warm current flowed through his entire body, nourishing him.
Darkness was dispelled by light, and cold was removed by warmth.
In the next instant, his consciousness returned to his body.
The sharp smell of disinfectant filled the air, along with the sweet scent of a fruit basket.
Rast instinctively wanted to open his eyes, but what greeted him was still an endless pitch-black.
It felt as if he were still in a state of blindness.
Moreover, a pain akin to being burned by intense flames came from his limbs and bones.
“I know you’re awake, but don’t move yet,”
a somewhat tired voice came from his ear.
Rast recognized the source of the voice; it was Mr. Silver.
In other words… he was currently at the Starry University in the present world, and not in Frozen Water Town, shrouded by bl**d Mist.
In other words, the sniper b*llet he fired before losing consciousness had successfully penetrated the source of pollution in Frozen Water Town and ended that Calamity Echo.
However,
for some reason, it seemed his body had not fully recovered.
Clearly, according to the rules of the Night World, including Rast’s own personal experience—
as long as the historical echo was cleared, the Night World’s retracing ability should fully restore him.
Moreover, theoretically, there should be a gap of time before the historical echo world ended and he truly departed from the Night World.
He had originally wanted to take this interval to return to Canaan using mental suggestion.
By the way, he wanted to meet Little Ai…
Yet, at this moment, Rast did not recall any memory of that interval; it seemed he had remained in a coma throughout this period.
“I don’t know why… the retracing after each clear in the Night World hasn’t taken effect on you.”
“Or it might have, but not significantly, merely barely keeping your life hanging on.”
Mr. Silver’s voice carried a hint of confusion.
“Your condition after escaping the Calamity Echo… was not much better than that of a skeleton.”
“Not only had a large portion of your flesh and bl**d collapsed, but even your mental strength was barely discernible; you were literally just a skeleton clinging onto its last breath.”
“If it weren’t for your name still shimmering on the Stellar Obelisk, not yet completely dimmed to join the stars, we might have thought you were already dead.”
“You were in a coma for half a month, and the academy tried countless treatment-type Night Blades and restorative extraordinary items and potions before they managed to regrow flesh and bl**d on your skeleton, giving you a basic human form.”
While speaking, it seemed as if a weight had finally been lifted, and Mr. Silver let out a long sigh.
“Now your injuries have mostly recovered, but there remains a curse in your flesh…”
“It seems related to an ancient Evil God; this curse has continued to burn deep within your flesh, hindering your final injuries and vision from being completely healed.”
“However, this isn’t a major problem; that ‘doctor’ should have returned to the academy recently.”
“Now that Rast has woken up…”
Mr. Silver’s words paused, as if he turned to another side, addressing others in the hospital room.
“Little Tina, go call that doctor over.”
“And afterward… you should return to your dorm to rest.”
“You’ve been keeping vigil by the bedside for half a month without sleep; even with the physical condition of a Fourth Tier ‘Chariot,’ you must have reached your limit.”
…
“Yes, Mr. Silver.”
The familiar voice of Hiltina echoed in Rast’s ears.
Her light footsteps moved a few steps toward the door.
But soon, those footsteps turned back and paused beside Rast.
He felt someone quickly draw close to him.
The air was filled with the fragrance of violet flowers, and silky chestnut hair fell beside Rast’s hand.
Warm breath landed on Rast’s neck, making him feel warm and moist, causing a slight tickle.
“Sorry, Rast… for making you look this way.”
Hiltina’s originally stern voice now carried deep fatigue and unmistakable regret.
“During the days I kept vigil at your bedside, I watched your limbs burned to a state devoid of flesh, leaving only pale bones, countless times asking myself—”
“If you were to sleep deeply like this, never to wake up, what would I do…”
Her words carried an indescribable sense of relief.
“Fortunately… you’re okay, Rast.”
“Anyway, just rest well.”
As if wanting to quickly call the doctor mentioned by Mr. Silver, Hiltina did not linger long at the bedside and soon got up to walk out of the room.
Those light footsteps gradually faded towards the end of the corridor.
Rast listened as the sound of her footsteps disappeared.
Then, he finally sensed the sharp smell of disinfectant in the air and softly spoke.
“Mr. Silver, so I’m in the hospital now?”
“Mm.”
Mr. Silver seemed to shake his tail, his voice grew weary and lazy: “To be more precise, this is the inpatient department of the Starry University’s campus hospital.”
“Even so, because the Night World allows each injured Night Traveler to receive injury retracing after clearing echoes, there are generally not many people in the inpatient department.”
“Occasionally, there might be a few cases, but those are mostly due to injuries from on-campus training or battles with secret organizations in the present world.”
“Injured in the Night World, you’d likely be the first case in the academy’s history.”
“Rast, just what kind of secrets are hidden within you?”
Mr. Silver’s tone became slightly lower.
As one of the few magical creatures at Starry University who knew Rast’s background, Mr. Silver was well aware of how many potential secrets lay within this seemingly weak individual.
Each secret could potentially involve the fundamental laws of the Night World.
Rast couldn’t help but weakly smile: “So, Mr. Silver is curious about these secrets of mine?”
“Let’s just say that. You just cleared the Calamity Echo as a main force and achieved such great merit. If I dared to interrogate you about anything, Little Tina would definitely skin me alive.”
Mr. Silver shook his head.
He understood well that trying to dig any secrets from this guy was undoubtedly a fantasy… the unfortunate fate of Isda served as clear evidence; it was a sure loss.
“Moreover, you don’t need to see your own weight as too important.”
“At Starry University—”
“Those bearing secrets are never just you alone.”
Mr. Silver’s tone relaxed.
The reason Starry University appeared unique across the entire continent and even had an equal status with an independent nation… was precisely because it could accommodate all sorts of secrets.
Most of the students here had their own secrets and opportunities.
While Rast certainly had his own hidden secrets, Hiltina’s unwillingness to admit her identity as a princess of the Empire was not any different.
In fact, this included Mr. Silver himself.
The sequence held by Mr. Silver was a unique existence across the entire continent; even previous ancient books had no records or descriptions… it was rarer than Rast’s ‘Tower’ sequence, which was already lost, but still had some records preserved.
Not to mention, as a magical creature, Mr. Silver could speak human language and harbored human-like emotions.
If it fell into the hands of another country, Mr. Silver would surely be dissected for research… then it would be unavoidable to face battle, exile, and even wanted notices.
However, no matter how many secrets were hidden within, as long as they recognized the philosophy of Starry University and were willing to fight to conquer the Night World and prevent the disaster of dusk from descending into the present world, the academy would accept them as members.
This was also the reason Mr. Silver was willing to remain at Starry University, to become a professor and the head of the Magical Creatures Research Institute.
He discreetly glanced at the boy on the hospital bed, who remained motionless like a vegetative person, his eyes tightly shut.
In a certain sense, Rast, who had been trapped in the Night World for hundreds of years and could hardly find his homeland… was actually of the same kind as Mr. Silver.
They both had lost their past for some reasons, forgotten their histories, and strayed from their homelands… once reduced to wandering outsiders without a home.
But in the end—
They found a new place to belong within Starry University.
…
Meanwhile, Rast was momentarily taken aback.
[You have forged a brand new “Fate,” the Library of Fools · Moon long tier has been unlocked.]
[You have unlocked a new card—“Moon” · Mr. Silver.]
Unexpectedly, the bond with Mr. Silver, which he had spent so long trying to activate without success, had completed a breakthrough from “0” to “1” at this moment.
It can only be said that a certain silver weasel headmaster still perfectly matched his character of being verbal yet straight-laced.
Though he spoke of “not putting too much weight on oneself,” the feedback from the bond level was very honest.
“By the way, Mr. Silver.”
“You mentioned before… that doctor?”
After a moment of silence, Rast spoke again.
According to Rast’s understanding of Starry University, doctors as logistical staff were not supposed to participate in the conquest of the Night World.
But obviously, the doctor Mr. Silver mentioned, who even needed Hiltina to specifically call, was no ordinary one.
“Though referred to as a doctor, to be more precise, that person is actually a student studying at Starry University, just like you and Little Tina.”
“However, her Night Blade has considerable effectiveness in the medical field, and thus she holds a doctor position at the campus hospital.”
Suddenly, Mr. Silver’s tone became a bit brighter.
“Akshia, have you heard of her?”
Rast fell into a moment of silence.
Of course, he had heard this name.
Or to be more precise, any student currently enrolled at Starry University would have heard of it.
Akshia.
Starry University, fourth-year student.
“God of d*ath” long sequence.
Night Blade—“d*ath’s Messenger.”
Furthermore, she was also the current top-ranked student on the Stellar Obelisk.
Because Akshia was responsible for overseeing a vast Night World without tier restrictions and had been in a prolonged state of absence from school.
Thus, even the ever-inquisitive News Agency had extremely limited information about this top-ranked student in the academy.
However, the snippets that remained had enough shocking content.
Not only did she occupy the first rank in terms of contribution to the Night World conquest on the Obelisk rankings.
Even in sheer combat power, Akshia was recognized as the strongest in the entire Starry University.
In her third year, she surpassed then fourth-year students at the Fourth Tier and even surpassed the predecessor chief who had broken through to the Fifth Tier, firmly occupying the top position on the Obelisk rankings.
Now Akshia had reached the Fifth Tier… almost all students acknowledged that she was the strongest in Starry University.
The only likely challenger to Akshia’s position would be Hiltina… but after all, Hiltina was only in her second year and had just recently broken through to the Fourth Tier.
By the time Hiltina broke through to the Fifth Tier, once occupying the same position as Akshia, she might have already graduated from Starry University, losing her chance to compete.
But—
No matter what.
From the various pieces of information Rast had gathered, this current top-ranked student on the Obelisk and the strongest among the students of Starry University should be a purely combat-oriented Night Traveler.
Even without collecting intelligence.
The “God of d*ath” long sequence, along with the Night Blade named “d*ath’s Messenger,” spoke for itself.
In every sense, it had nothing to do with the term “doctor” that symbolizes healing.
A sense of strange dissonance rose within Rast’s heart, wanting to ask Mr. Silver for more details, but that silver weasel skillfully avoided all questions.
Helplessly, while waiting for the arrival of the doctor Mr. Silver mentioned, and finding himself with little to do, Rast…
Had no choice but to sink his mind into his consciousness.
He planned to organize the gains he had made during this Night World excursion—
And to seek out the real reason why the Night World retracing had no effect on him.
…
[The Night World mission—“Calamity Echo · Mist Guardian” has been cleared.]
[Current mission score level: A++]
[Mission rewards have been distributed.]
[Sequence experience points have been distributed; specific progress can be checked by yourself.]
[You have gained the inherent skill: “Desperate Plea.”]
…
[You have forged a brand new “Fate,” the Library of Fools · Fate long tier has been unlocked.]
[You have unlocked a new card—“Fate” · Grey.]
(End of Chapter)
