Chapter 1984: Chapter 1984

Miss Brionyons had come to the Evergreen Forest specifically to observe Jenkins forging the King Soul, but in the end, she, like everyone else, saw nothing at all. As was his custom, Jenkins first inquired about her train journey. He then brought up the recent incident in the eastern suburbs, remarking how fortunate it was that Miss Brionyons's divination had revealed the seal beneath the ancient temple in the central desert. Without it, the Church might never have had the chance to reseal the Cloud Whale Beast.

The monster was already being transported back to the central continental desert. The Church had been worried the Difference Engine might try to interfere, but their adversary had apparently been grievously wounded by the God of Lies and showed no further interest in the Cloud Whale Beast.

Once these pleasantries and greetings were concluded, he finally posed his question:

"Do you know of an ability called Four Seasons? It's a basic ability, evolved from Cycle."

Miss Audrey was the first to shake her head. Miss Brionyons paused to think for a moment before shaking her head as well.

"That sounds like an ability used by followers of Nature," she suggested. "You might try asking the Nature Church."

She offered the piece of advice.

Jenkins decided he would ask Sigrid about it later. But before he could inquire about the preparations for the ritual to divine the black tower, Miss Brionyons spoke up with a smile.

"You weren't being entirely truthful just now," she said. "Savior abilities cannot be obtained through active pursuit. The fact that you're not the least bit anxious suggests your original plan was already sufficient to achieve your goal."

"The Millstone of Fate prophesied that nine Saviors would be born in this Epoch," he began. "Now that the Uncrowned King is more or less secured, has the Millstone of Fate indicated the final qualification—the one that symbolizes destiny? Oh, I don't mean anything by it. I'm just curious."

Miss Audrey glanced at her teacher. They had discussed this very topic before, but the ninth-level diviner had no intention of telling Jenkins directly. She believed it was most fitting for all things to begin and end with fate.

"Actually," she said, "the very first Savior ability the Millstone of Fate pointed to was the one representing destiny."

He immediately recalled what Miss Windsor had told him. In the possibility she came from, most of the Savior abilities had found their wielders, but the one representing the purple of fate remained a mystery. Perhaps this, too, was a part of destiny's design, preventing him from "cheating" by using the Mysterious Realms to gain information about the Saviors.

"Fate really leaves no loopholes," he lamented, then asked, "So, are there any clues about this ability?" Get full chapters from NoveIＦire.net

Miss Audrey looked to Miss Brionyons. Seeing that her teacher had no intention of speaking, she answered hesitantly.

"According to the Millstone of Fate, where destiny falls, all powers will gather. They will appear in a way no one could ever imagine. It is fate playing a joke on the world."

The words were utterly baffling, so Jenkins decided not to dwell on them. After all he had been through, he understood one thing very clearly: the more you tried to grasp something, the more it slipped through your fingers. He was certain the Savior ability would appear by his side naturally, when the time was right.

Although time was running short, if the Difference Engine could raise its tower by two levels in a single day, perhaps he could obtain two abilities in a day as well. Besides, even if the final ability didn't belong to him, it wouldn't matter. He had done almost everything he possibly could. If eight Savior abilities weren't enough to defeat a single foe, the notion itself would be laughable.

Miss Brionyons was still setting up the divination ritual for the black tower. Today was Tuesday, and she wouldn't be finished with her preparations until Thursday at the earliest.

Meanwhile, the Church's arrangements for the negotiation conference were progressing rapidly. The three great kingdoms had all agreed to join the final talks, and the Twelve Churches Joint Conference had essentially drafted the terms for negotiating with the Believers of Lies.

The conference was tentatively scheduled for Friday. This was a recent development, which was why the Believers of Lies hadn't had a chance to tell him before they departed at sunrise.

But that was of no consequence. Invitations to the conference would be sent to every pseudo-god cult present in Nolan, asking them to attend as observers; their combined strength would be invaluable. The Believers of Lies were remarkably well-informed, and the Church was confident the news would reach them.

Aside from finalizing the negotiations, it seemed the Church also intended to use that day to round up as many of the city's malevolent cultists as possible. This, however, was still in the planning stages, and Jenkins had heard few details.

"By the way, Jenkins, what day is your one-year anniversary of becoming an Enchanter?" Miss Brionyons suddenly asked just as Jenkins was about to bid the two diviners farewell. He had always remembered the date, considering it his true birthday in this world.

"This Sunday," he replied. "I remember it clearly. Why do you ask?"

He thought for a moment that they might be planning to give him a gift, but then dismissed the idea. It hardly seemed like an anniversary worth celebrating with presents.

"It is a day of special significance for an Enchanter," she said cryptically. "You must be prepared."

Miss Brionyons blinked.

"I don't know either," she confessed, "but it will certainly be meaningful."

Diviners always seemed to enjoy speaking in riddles. Even with her own student's student, she felt the need to offer hints in the form of a puzzle. Jenkins didn't understand, but seeing that neither of them would elaborate, he assumed it probably wasn't of critical importance.

So he said his goodbyes and then found Sigrid, who had not yet left, to ask her about the Four Seasons ability. She, of course, had no idea either, but she thought that her church's Saint, Miss Bennett, would probably know.

Miss Bennett was not on duty in the Evergreen Forest on Tuesdays, nor had she come to watch the spectacle of the King Soul's forging. The woman was currently in the city. The Nature Church had given her no specific assignments, only requesting that she remain in Nolan, free to do as she pleased, but always ready in case an incident required a demigod's combat prowess.

If not for the constant stream of calamities in Nolan, it would have been the perfect job.

Jenkins and Sigrid took a carriage into the city together, chatting idly about all sorts of things. During their conversation, Jenkins mentioned that his family planned to move to Bel Diran once everything was over, and he asked Sigrid about her plans for the future.

"I heard you rarely discuss the future," she said with a smile. "You believe it's bad luck." She had likely heard that from Dolores; Sigrid was responsible for most of the communications between the princess and the Nature Church.

"So," she asked Jenkins, "what do you hope I'll do?"

Jenkins returned her smile.

"Why not come to Bel Diran as well?" he suggested. "Robert and Mary will be there. Newman will find a new post at the university in Bel Diran, and John will surely follow them to continue his studies. I think if you settled in Bel Diran and visited our home often, they would be overjoyed."