Chapter 1341: Chapter 1341
So much had happened today. The ritual, "The Story within a Story," had unexpectedly connected to the abandoned hospital outside the city and the Corpse Gentleman within, sparking a cascade of unforeseen events.
Jenkins had never imagined he would one day find himself pitted against an ancient Titan. Thankfully, it was all over now, but he couldn't rest just yet.
Having vanquished the last of the curse, Jenkins rode the unicorn back to the building where "The Story within a Story" had taken place, his cat perched with him. Just as he'd expected, his friends were all still there, waiting for him.
Magic Miss, who had been gravely injured, already looked much better. At the very least, she could stand without Hathaway's support. Jenkins later learned from the others that she had attempted to perform some kind of ritual, only for it to fail at the first step. Fortunately, her injuries were curable; she would just need time to recover.
The others showed no signs of injury, and Jenkins let out a genuine sigh of relief.
Jenkins announced that everything was over, and the other four filled him in on what had happened after he left. Yet, when it came to crucial details—like how they had managed to stop the Corpse Gentleman or protect the explorers who had fallen under his control—their explanations grew vague.
Jenkins figured it must involve their secrets—that the four of them had likely used some forbidden ability or ritual—so he didn't press the matter. The others, on the other hand, felt a little embarrassed to admit they had genuinely been protected by the cat Mr. Candle had left behind, so they skimmed over the details, assuming he already knew what had transpired...
In any case, despite the many surprises, the most unexpected outcome was that no one's secrets had been exposed by the day's events.
His friends were clearly curious about how he had defeated the ancient Titan, and Jenkins knew his own "heroics" had been a bit over the top. He subtly alluded to his identity as a Believer of Lies, while also hinting that in the final moments, an "unseen presence" had intervened to slay the Titan, which explained the massive stone statue left on the city's outskirts.
But the rain continued to fall over the city, and the casualties and damage from the earthquake were irreversible. Even with the mastermind defeated, time wouldn't rewind. That was the cruelest reality of all.
Everyone was exhausted after the long morning. Hooded Man invited them all to lunch, but no one was in the mood. The others explained to Jenkins that they had concluded "The Story within a Story" by actively escaping, which had rewarded each of them with two blank bubbles and a new ability. They insisted on compensating Mr. Candle for the sacrifice he had made for them.
Jenkins shook his head, declining their offer. The Titan's Power he had gained was far more valuable than all their rewards combined. Besides, with incidents plaguing Nolan so frequently in recent months, everyone was having a hard time. He had no reason to take anything more from his friends.
After a brief farewell, the five went their separate ways. Jenkins first returned to Ruen to let the anxiously waiting Alexia know he was safe. After a tender moment with the petite woman, he took his cat and returned to the rain-drenched streets of Nolan.
He didn't bother with an umbrella, stepping directly out onto the slick pavement. As he walked, feeling the cold rain on his skin, he surveyed the city in the aftermath of the disaster. His mood soured. While he couldn't say what happened was entirely his fault, it had ultimately been triggered by his decision to report the Corpse Gentleman's gathering.
He knew it had been the right thing to do, the best course of action for the city's future. Yet, seeing the weeping and hearing the cries of anguish all around him, he couldn't help but feel a storm of complicated emotions.
He walked all the way from the east side of the city to the west, near Pops Antique Shop, before he finally managed to compose himself, mentally chiding himself for being overly sentimental. With his spirits restored and after a brief moment of self-praise for his decisiveness, he tried to check on Papa Oliver from afar, only to find the old man wasn't in the shop.
"He's probably at the church."
He guessed, stepping under the eaves to take shelter from the downpour. He used Psychography to manifest an umbrella, preparing to head back out onto the street. A sudden feeling made him pause. Standing there under the eaves, he gazed out at the city, understanding that while this disaster was painful, recovery would eventually follow. Everything would be alright.
One of his ability bubbles was now filled with a swirling, indistinct chaotic color. Jenkins summoned the Misfortune Poem from it and saw that two of its five indentations were now filled with smooth, white gemstones.
The first gemstone was from the riots in Ruen two nights ago; the second was naturally from today's disaster.
He heaved a long sigh. After watching the street for another moment, he finally began walking toward the Mikhail estate.
Marquis Mikhail was, after all, one of Nolan's most prominent nobles, and his residence was like a small manor nestled within the city. Jenkins waited in a nearby café for half an hour, watching as Hathaway went inside and then re-emerged. He discreetly followed her carriage, and then, with a message relayed by Chocolate, smoothly slipped aboard.
"Oh, Jenkins, it's so wonderful to see you! You can't imagine what this morning was like. Are you alright? Oh, and Chocolate, he's safe too? I'm so relieved... But what are you doing here?"
The moment he was aboard, the red-haired woman threw her arms around him in a passionate embrace, her words tumbling out in a rush. Then she kissed him, and it was a long moment before they finally parted.
She had been terribly worried about Jenkins and his cat. The writer, after all, was burdened by a curse, and Chocolate had been pulled into the sky by Vanilla to block a bolt of lightning. If Jenkins hadn't been out of Nolan, she would have gone to see him first, before visiting Briny. Dıscover more novels at novel✦fire.net
"Why did you think something might have happened to me and Chocolate?"
Jenkins held the red-haired young woman, comforting her softly before explaining why he had come:
"I had a terrible nightmare while I was napping. My dreams are often... unusual, so I grew worried something had happened to you and Briny and came to check. What's going on? Why are there so many people in the streets? I noticed the tallest tower near St. George Avenue has partially collapsed."
This was the excuse Jenkins had concocted.
Hathaway didn't doubt his explanation for a moment; she was still reeling from the morning's terror. She recounted the events in detail, though she omitted the part about being protected by the cat. She knew Jenkins must be acquainted with Mr. Candle and probably understood how formidable the white cat, Vanilla, truly was. Since that embarrassing fact wasn't central to the story, there was no need to dwell on it. More importantly, it was Mr. Candle's private matter. If Jenkins didn't already know, it would be wrong to betray their savior's secret. That would be unethical.