Chapter 293

Chapter Seventy-Nine On the Verge of Explosion

Late March, the year 1187 AD.

After four consecutive days of light rain, the sky cleared up this morning.

The Royal Academy continued its normal classes and was not significantly affected by the war rumors outside. However, it could be seen that the number of students attending classes in any subject had noticeably decreased. Most of the noble children were absent, with those from more prominent families leaving earlier. It was unclear whether they were sent out of the city or had hidden somewhere safe within the city.

In these past two days, when people had free time, the topics of conversation had shifted from the imminent war to things like which family’s second son left yesterday, and today the kingdom’s envoy came to pick someone up, and so on.

Those who remained here spoke about these matters with a hint of envy in their voices.

Although strictly speaking, the Royal Academy could already be considered a very safe place. It gathered many distinguished foreign nobles, many famous figures from various fields, and was a world-class educational institution, naturally receiving strong support from the Holy Church. I believe that no matter who it was, even if they could really attack, they would never dare to do anything to this place. This place was even more important than the St. Zayel Cathedral.

Even so, those with status and position still did not believe in this place. They might have countless contingencies in their hearts, driving them to send their children to what they believed to be the safest place, even if that place was not as safe as here. They would never choose to put their hopes in others.

Placing hope in others meant being at the mercy of others, especially during such critical times.

The reason why the powerful became powerful was also an important reason for understanding this point.

As for the four girls of Room 1504, including myself, none of us left in the end. Sophia stayed because she had courage. When her family came to pick her up that day, she hid in a place even we couldn’t find, causing her mother, who was leaving, to curse and shout angrily that Sophia was ignorant, arrogant, childish, and unreasonable… We didn’t know how to respond, only able to maintain an awkward but polite smile while watching her leave.

Daisy hadn’t managed to contact her family yet. Even if she did, what could her parents, who lived far away in Silgaya, do? She could only choose to stay. Sophia had mentioned letting her go with her brothers, but Daisy politely declined. Rather than leaving with strangers, she preferred staying in familiar places with familiar people.

Sarah was more relaxed. She believed it was impossible for a fight to break out, and even if it did, it would be just a lot of noise and little action.

“How many Iron Guard soldiers are there? Don’t think I don’t know. My father told me that even if you added up all the drivers and male servants at Flerusk Castle, it would be around fifty thousand, but there aren’t enough weapons and armor. Attacking other cities is terrifying, but do they really think they can capture the capital? Pfft—”

To show her disdain, Sarah said these words with a very exaggerated expression. Yet, even so, I noticed a hint of worry in her eyes.

She could say this not only because she truly didn’t believe the Iron Guard could win but also because she wanted to boost her own confidence. After all, Sarah’s father was far away in Silgaya, while her mother, grandfather, and brothers were all in the city and had nowhere to go. So when Sophia asked if she wanted to leave, Sarah firmly refused.

Thus, none of the four girls in Room 1504 left. They continued to eat, sleep, and live together as usual.

Unlike them, the headmaster’s grandmother had called me once a few days ago.

Grandma called me to her office, still looking frail and disoriented, stuttering and saying many things to me. Of course, she didn’t ask if I wanted to leave; she repeatedly urged me, if the siege began, not to act impulsively and not to take extreme actions, but to simply observe.

Because I was part of the royal family of the Valen Empire and held the identity of a Knight of the Pope, I could not rashly interfere in the wars and politics of Ethenbel. I should not casually participate in discussions. My every word and action must be cautious and impartial, not risking future problems for the Valen Empire, nor giving enemies a chance to attack under the guise of my actions. The alliance relationship had not been made public, and my father was facing war. I could not make new enemies for him, nor did I want to bring new enemies to Victoria, so I could not act unless someone massacred civilians. If I participated in the battle, I would be brought before the Church court.

I understood Grandma’s words and behaved obediently on the surface.

After all, if a Knight of the Pope could freely involve himself in wars according to his will, it would indeed be chaotic.

The Holy Church granted Knights of the Pope honor and freedom. In return, Knights of the Pope must bear the responsibilities and obligations that come with their status. Not only was I a Knight of the Pope, but I was also the daughter of Duke Skaliger. I represented both the Valen Empire and the Holy Church in this sensitive moment. I could not act recklessly due to personal emotions, nor could I have a clear political stance.

So I could only secretly provide equipment to Victoria. This was a commercial activity; being discovered wouldn’t matter much. At most, the aggrieved party would complain a bit. They dared not touch me.

Grandma said that if I truly wanted to help the capital, she hoped I could conserve my strength and focus my main efforts on the impending Abyss. She asked me to cooperate with the Church and with Saint Margaret, and once the Abyss appeared, to quickly eliminate it. It was imperative not to let the terrifying monsters attack the city again at this time; otherwise, the capital would truly be in peril.

This was also Victoria’s request to me.

I accepted it.

This was something I would do my best to accomplish without anyone reminding me.

But the problem was, now I seemed to be able to do nothing but wait. Because the Church… or rather, Margaret, had her own ideas. She temporarily did not allow me to go over there, and besides, the Abyss had not yet appeared. Even if I went, it would be useless.

Better to stay in the city and prepare for battle, just in case.

Thus, during this period, whenever I had free time, I would immerse myself in the library.

I tried to find legends and records about dreams or illusions, hoping to discover some useful clues to understand the strange things happening to me recently, or to verify my absurd speculation — whether I was being targeted by some strange creature.

Indeed, I found quite a few legends.

A destitute drunkard dreamed of digging up a bucket of gold under a bridge, and the next day he went to dig and found it; a kind king dreamed that traitorous generals were plotting to assassinate him and divide his country. The king therefore became more vigilant and successfully thwarted the sinister plot… Most of these stories were clearly fabricated by human imagination — but were they really of any use? They weren’t.

There was only one interesting point.

Legends about dreams or illusions abounded, with stories from every era. These tales were diverse, covering all sorts of subjects. The times and places differed greatly between countries and cultures, but there was one common thread — people ultimately attributed such miraculous powers to the “gift of the God of Wisdom.”

People believed that “dreams” or “illusions” were abilities only gods possessed. We could only passively accept them; if the God of Wisdom noticed you, then whether your dream was good or bad depended on your virtue and piety.

But this might just be human fantasy.

In short, I didn’t find anything particularly useful in this regard. However, I ate well these past two days, so I wasn’t very sleepy. Every night in bed, I thought a lot, which gradually helped me sort out some matters.

That bizarre dream. If we don’t consider the cause and only seek information within… I think those at least are memories of mine.

Or experiences.

The dark and damp ward, the rusted and bloody operating table. The incessant drip of the IV tube, the fluid in it resembling diluted blood.

This was not just a nightmare.

I think… before. Before I disappeared, after falling off a cliff, before becoming an Abyss dweller, my body might have been tampered with by those who saved me.

That might be why I became Sylvia.

Someone did something to me, leading to my current state. Or rather, causing Peylo to become like me now.

Just maybe.

I don’t know the truth, but I smelled a conspiracy.

The Abyss… might not be what people imagine.

As for the specifics, who those who tampered with me were, the female doctor named… what, the black cloak hanging in the damp office, who they were, what they wanted, and what they did to me, I still don’t know.

But I will find out.

Because I realized that the lost memories might be a ruthless harm I haven’t understood yet, and a deep-seated, unforgettable hatred buried in my heart.

If that’s the case, I must remember.

One day.

…………

This day passed as calmly as usual.

In the large classroom, a few students sat scattered.

“…Unlike creatures that rely solely on wings and hurricanes but are weak in essence, the fairy clan is not only skilled in brewing. They are the kings of the forest. Robust, brave, and close to nature. They were once the favorites of the fertile Mother Goddess until they became bloodthirsty invaders…”

An old man with a grizzled beard lectured at the front. I hid in a corner, listlessly biting my fingers.

“I heard that last night, the Clive family had a brief meeting with Her Majesty the Queen,” Sophia said to me, also lowering her head, looking solemn.

“The result was not friendly. Her Majesty’s scorched earth policy did not succeed, and the other side had already seized most of the supplies. They came to demand people, but Her Majesty decided not to release them, so it might come to a fight… But there’s some good news. There seems to be discord within the Iron Guard. The reinforcements that were expected to arrive long ago have not shown up, and they now only have a little over ten thousand people, not much different from us. To take the royal city would be like a joke…”

I tilted my head and thought.

“Sophia.”

“What?”

“Don’t jinx it.”

Sophia looked confused. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“It means—”

I was about to explain when suddenly a distant rumbling sound echoed.

The sound was like thunder, carrying reverberations that reached our ears, faintly hearing the crowd shouting loudly. Beside me, Sophia shuddered and fell silent.

“Whoosh—”

The classroom erupted in chaos. The old man stopped lecturing, and many students stood up, craning their necks to look out the arched windows. I followed their gaze.

The view from the classroom was excellent. This particular classroom was located on the ninth floor, the highest level, and the academy was situated in the most bustling part of the royal city. With just a glance out the window, one could see the entire prosperous city.

To the south, elegant buildings rose layer upon layer, streets and alleys crisscrossing in all directions. People thronged below, looking far beyond — toward the towering southern wall.

From here, the wall appeared shrouded in mist. It seemed there were many people, but I couldn’t make out the details. At this moment, only the enormous fireballs launched from outside the city, streaking through the sky like meteors, burning red, ascending and descending, casting brilliant flames into the sightline.

Then they smashed into the wall.

Instantly, flames shot up, dust exploded, as if the world had gone silent.

Boom… boom… boom…

After a long while, the distant thunder finally rolled in, shaking the ground and eardrums.

I stood dumbfounded in the classroom, gazing at the indistinct wall in the distance, my heart slowly sinking.

They’re fighting again…

Ding-ding-ding—

The distant bell tower began to roar.