Chapter 1348: Chapter 1348

"Shall I have dinner served now?"

Julia seized a lull in Jenkins's tale, stepping forward at the perfect moment to ask.

The lounging cat instantly sprang to its feet and replied.

"Have you two eaten?" Dolores asked. "If you have, a late supper will be fine for us. If not, then we should all dine together."

Dolores had been waiting for them to return and hadn't yet eaten. She had even delegated an important evening meeting to her younger sister. Now, with the adventurers back, they all gathered around the dining table, eager to hear the rest of Jenkins's story:

"The tree was ancient, impervious to fire and ice," Jenkins began. "It was Alexia who came up with the solution. She had me use my new cane, transforming it into a scepter to imbue a swarm of leaf-eating insects with an overwhelming surge of life force. You can't possibly imagine what those monstrous things looked like when they swelled to the size of calves..."

"That's quite enough, Jenkins," Alexia cut in. "There's no need to make me relive that sight."

Alexia's timely interruption allowed the others to continue their dinner in peace.

While the lie wasn't entirely effective, it stripped the creature of its ability to become ethereal, to move at incredible speeds, and to teleport. That was the opening Jenkins and Alexia needed to finally claim victory.

"So did you find any useful clues?"

Dolores inquired with great curiosity, pausing as she cut a piece of her food.

"The curse had preserved the small mountain village exactly as it was a thousand years ago," Alexia explained. "We found signs of a struggle there and followed the trail up a nearby snow-capped mountain. At the summit, we discovered the remnants of a truly terrifying battle. It was outside the curse's influence, yet the scars on the landscape remained, even after a millennium. The Mad Poet and the nameless hero who fought him... they were likely more powerful than any of us. Jenkins might be able to stand against them on a good day, but certainly not in his current state."

Alexia explained, and Jenkins nodded in agreement.

"It's hard to fathom how a mortal, even one lingering in the material world, could leave such indelible marks of battle in their ordinary state. It proves that the powers granted by the original Savior's Emblems are truly miraculous. The Mad Poet drew strength from calamity itself, yet he was ultimately defeated. I'm more convinced than ever that the warrior who left no name behind was the true savior at the end of the fifteenth epoch."

As he spoke, Julia glanced at her princess, but Dolores pretended not to have heard a thing.

"Our most significant find," Jenkins continued, "was discovering the residences of both the Mad Poet and the visitor in that village. In the poet's home, we found a map he carried. Translating its markings and comparing them against a millennium of geographical changes will be difficult, but it might help us trace his path. In the nameless hero's quarters, we found a letter he left behind for future generations. It explained that after he killed the Mad Poet, the resulting curse was so potent that he had to lead the surviving villagers away, intending to return and resolve it once time had weakened its power."

"The letter stated that if he never returned, anyone who eventually lifted the curse could seek out his family to claim a reward," Alexia added.

"But that was three epochs ago. Where would you go to collect a reward?"

"Through a seance? Or perhaps divination? I'm rather fond of my tutor's numerology."

"Neither," Jenkins replied. "The hero's letter instructed us to find the Franca family on the western continent. It says that in any era, as long as the family endures, we can present the letter to claim our reward. The thing is, neither Alexia nor I have ever heard of them. Dolores, does the kingdom have any nobility by that name?"

Dolores thought for a moment before shaking her head. She then turned to Julia, who promptly responded.

"I will check the royal library tomorrow. Its archives contain the surnames of all the nobility from the three great modern kingdoms, as well as some from the lesser kingdoms."

"That's wonderful. I was going to ask Miss Stevel to look into it, but now I won't have to trouble her."

Jenkins said with a smile. It had been an exhausting day, but well worth the effort.

He carefully sliced a small piece from his steak with a silver knife and lifted it to his mouth with his fork. He was still more accustomed to chopsticks, truth be told, but with everyone else at the table, there was no reason to stand out.

A knock sounded at the dining room door. Julia went to see who it was, and a moment later, the old butler hurried inside.

"Mr. Williams, a carriage from the Sage Church is outside. It seems to be something urgent."

The old butler leaned down and whispered in Jenkins's ear.

"What could be the matter this late?"

Jenkins was puzzled. But if the Church had sent a carriage specifically for him, it had to be important. He quickly took a few more bites to sate his hunger before bidding the ladies farewell.

He changed into his traveling clothes, returned to the dining room to scoop up his cat, and then hurried out the front door into the courtyard. At the estate gates, he found Father Fernando waiting anxiously.

"My apologies, changing took longer than I expected."

He jumped into the carriage, and the priest immediately urged the coachman to speed toward the city. Content orıginally comes from NoveIＦire.net

"Has something happened in the city?"

Jenkins finally had a moment to ask. Glancing out the window, however, he saw the approaching city lights shimmering peacefully. It seemed to be a tranquil night.

"The problem isn't in Ruen," the priest clarified. "It's Nolan City. Miss Bevanna needs to speak with you urgently."

They arrived at the church shortly after. Jenkins was led to a prepared Basin of Delusions, through which he saw Miss Bevanna. She wasn't indoors, but out on a street. From the scene, Jenkins could tell she was somewhere in the slums of Nolan's lower district.

The night sky behind her was shrouded in black clouds, but these were no ordinary storm clouds. They were a bizarre phenomenon, a physical manifestation of some strange spirit that had been unleashed upon the city. In other words, Nolan, having only just recovered from a torrential storm and an earthquake, was now in the grip of another major catastrophe.