Chapter 1712: Chapter 1712

"Something's not right about the heir's murder?"

Jenkins voiced his suspicion as they strolled through the forest. His divination teacher acknowledged it.

"At the very least, I can confirm someone performed an anti-divination. Otherwise, our ritual couldn't have failed."

In truth, the failure was mainly due to the Millstone of Fate and the mysterious figure who appeared at the end.

Miss Audrey couldn't read Jenkins's thoughts. She looked up again, her gaze passing through the gaps in the lush branches to the moon in the sky.

"You probably know that neither of the material world's twin moons is its original one. It's said the original moon was yellow, but it was devoured by a cataclysm during a past epochal change."

The cat narrowed its eyes and nodded, looking quite pleased with itself.

"Now, there are three moons in the material world's sky. The colorless Unlit Moon represents the power of the Righteous Gods. The red moon is a calamity, said to seal a terrifying creature within it, but its presence in the sky also serves to anchor time and stabilize the propagation of species in the material world. But the blue moon... do you know what purpose it serves?" ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novel·fire·net

Miss Audrey asked. Jenkins looked up at the sky. Tonight's lunar phase was a waning red moon and a full blue moon. According to this world's lunar calendar, this alignment occurred only twice a year: once in the dead of winter and once in the middle of summer.

This answer came from the "grand gift of astronomical knowledge" bestowed upon him by the Star Spirits. Although moons weren't strictly defined as stars in this world—after all, they weren't projections from the astral plane—they were at least part of the starry sky.

"Yes, the blue moon is time. It symbolizes time—stable, orderly time. The few existing rituals related to time, such as the highly esoteric 'Contacting a Time Paradoxer,' require the blue moon as a core symbolic component."

"The blue moon was the symbol of the Lord of the 'Closed Loop' back when it was still a god."

Jenkins automatically translated, then summarized Miss Audrey's previous words.

"So, tonight's events were partly because the hydromancy ritual was disrupted by anti-divination, and partly because we inadvertently communed with the blue moon?"

"Correct. If we hadn't mistakenly initiated the subsequent ritual, I might have been severely injured by the divination failure. The anti-divination method the other party used wasn't any common technique. In a moment of unconsciousness, I think I saw something... something indescribable, vast, chaotic, and metallic..."

As for her ascension to demigod, that was a reward from her journey into the past. By treading the path of witnessing the essence in both past and present and subsequently completing the missing memories of her youth, when she stood before that shining silver mirror once more, she saw the answer she had long sought.

"What did you see? Oh, forgive me, I shouldn't have asked."

He shook his head with a smile, knowing Miss Audrey wouldn't mind.

"It's alright, it's not really a secret. I saw the path I am on. Though I may not have Alexia's talent or luck, at least I know my choice was the right one."

Her tone became much lighter as she said this, and she seemed to be in high spirits. Walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Jenkins, she turned slightly to look at his profile, a little surprised that she had actually managed to guide the Child of Destiny this far.

It had started as a mere attempt, but she never imagined they would come so far.

"Then what about you, Jenkins? What did you encounter at the summit's end?"

He hesitated for a moment but decided not to hide what had happened. He told her not only about the book he suspected was the Millstone of Fate but also about the stranger who had covered his eyes.

Miss Audrey listened quietly, occasionally frowning, but she never interrupted him. Only after he had finished did she ask in a soft voice,

"Do not tell anyone else about this, not even the Legacy Sage Church. It's better that way. I mean about the stranger. You can mention the Millstone of Fate—and it likely is the book you suspect. I once saw it with my teacher and the prophecies about the Savior written within. Remember, absolutely do not let a third person know you met someone else at the sacrificial altar on the summit."

"Then do you know who it was?"

Jenkins asked his teacher curiously.

Miss Audrey's reply came with almost no hesitation, and it was the truth.

"In the centuries since this ritual began, no one has ever encountered another person on the summit. Whoever that was, they are beyond mortal comprehension. Since they meant you no harm and only said they would be waiting for you at the end, then just wait patiently, Jenkins. There are no meaningless coincidences in this world; in fact, there's no such thing as coincidence at all.

If fate is tied to this supposed chance meeting, you will surely meet again."

He stayed late in the Evergreen Forest that night, arriving home close to midnight. The young women of the house were already asleep, so Jenkins tiptoed through his evening routine and went to his bedroom.

He maintained a disciplined schedule, his eyes opening punctually at six the next morning, a Saturday. At the exact moment Jenkins awoke, the cat, roused by the impending breakfast time, also opened its eyes. Still sleepy, it stood up on the pillow, stretched its front paws against the bedsheet, dipped its back while raising its rear, and let out a long, drawn-out "Meeeow~."

He had many things to do today, but they were not related to the Tri-King Summit or helping the church prepare for the joint conference next month. Today, he planned to personally investigate the truth behind the heir's death.

At the breakfast table, he informed the ladies of his plans for the day. They were all aware of his abilities and thus weren't worried he would run into trouble. However, all three reminded Jenkins that tomorrow was the last day of the month, which also happened to be his twenty-first birthday. As per their agreement, Jenkins had promised to bring Alexia and Dolores home for a family birthday dinner.

"What? Is it tomorrow?"

Jenkins, who had been engrossed in the newspaper, poked his head out from behind the page in surprise.

"Don't tell me you haven't prepared anything?"

The blonde young woman grumbled, then added, "For your birthday dinner tomorrow, Hathaway and I spent a long time preparing our outfits and gifts."

"Her Highness and Miss Miller have also prepared with great care. No matter what happens tomorrow, they will come here."

The maid chimed in from the side, smiling as she awaited Jenkins's response.