“This is such a surprising gift.”
As Shade spoke, he took out the tie. The red-haired witch smiled faintly:
"There is one more thing - after the end of the year, Tifa and I will go back to Saradir County."
Xia De raised his head and looked at her in surprise. Miss Carina explained:
"After all, I have been staying in Tobesk for the past six months. Although there are female officials in Saradir County who I trust and who are in charge of affairs, and documents have been delivered to me, I have not been able to show up in person. In fact, if it weren't for the Pantanal incident, I would have planned to go back to celebrate the New Year..."
"How long will it take you to be back?"
Shade asked, trying not to look too regretful.
"About one or two months."
She talked about a long period of time, but Shade could understand it. Although Saradir County was still part of the kingdom in name and not an independent duchy, in fact, due to Miss Carina's methods and the history of Saradir County, the taxation and military management there had basically achieved semi-independence.
Therefore, when addressing Miss Carina, it is more common to address her as "Grand Duchess". If it were not for the steam age that strengthened economic exchanges within the entire kingdom, Saradir County would have most likely become an independent principality.
The current king has no objection to this, of course not only because Miss Carina is his aunt, but also because this is something that the previous king had already promised a long time ago.
The reason why Lecia was unfriendly to Miss Carina was because Miss Carina tried to "split the kingdom".
"Come back soon... I'll miss you."
Shade said, putting down the tie, holding down the dishonest cat, pursing his lips and asking:
"When will we set off?"
"Tomorrow night I will attend a royal banquet at Yodel Palace. On Wednesday, the first day of the year, I will accompany Queen Diana to an event. On Thursday and Friday, I will pack my luggage. On Saturday, we will take a steam train. The journey time is not long."
Miss Carina looked at Shade:
"While I'm away from Tobesk, you are the only legal owner of the manor in the local area. You've also met the housekeeper, so if you have anything to ask, just go to her. In addition, if you need to find me urgently, in addition to going to Middleburg to find Grandma Cassandra, I'll leave you an alchemical item so you can contact me at any time..."
It was a pair of red-covered notebooks. If letters were written on one of them, the other would also show signs of writing. Of course, this was only an alchemical item, not a relic, so when using it, not only did both parties need to be in a relatively stable environment, but they could only transmit simple information, not matter.
"By the time we get back, it will probably be spring."
Miss Carina sighed softly, and then asked Xiang Xiade:
"Do you know what my dream is?"
"Become the Witch Emperor of the Sixth Epoch."
Xia De said without thinking, and the red-haired witch was a little surprised:
"I never mentioned this to you."
"But I can feel it. The power of my own territory and demigod. I think you even want to make Saladir County the public seat of the Witch Council, so that the Council can truly become an important group of extraordinary people in the Sixth Epoch, and let the followers of the witches unite together."
Xia De said, Carina Cavendish looked at him blankly, and said after a long time:
"Interesting ambition, isn't it?"
"Not only is it interesting, but it is also worthy of awe and admiration. I probably understand why Leicia hates you... But the Sixth Epoch Material World, a brand new Witch Kingdom... This is difficult. If you wish to do this, I will help you in places other than splitting Dlarion."
"Look, Hamilton of Rejade really has the power of 'Enchantress'."
She deliberately avoided Shade's eyes and turned her head slightly to Tifa who was standing beside her. Then she stood up and sat next to Shade:
"Anything else today?"
"Yin Luna will come back tonight and will probably come to see me."
"Then come with me around town this afternoon, and then have dinner together."
Looking at Miss Carina up close, her absolutely beautiful face is truly breathtaking.
"Just consider it a farewell for Tifa and me... By the way, do you know who did something bad in my bed while I was 'resting'? I heard some interesting rumors from the young maids."
She suddenly asked, and Tifa immediately turned and walked towards the kitchen to see why the other two maids hadn't brought the hot tea yet. Shade blushed, and Miss Carina smiled with satisfaction, leaning towards Shade and resting her head on Shade's shoulder.
It was already seven o'clock on Monday evening when the carriage brought Shad back. He spent the afternoon accompanying Miss Carina and fully experienced the enthusiasm of the city for the upcoming festival.
After Shade got off the carriage, the Duchess kissed her goodbye through the window and agreed to see her off on Saturday.
Xia De took out the key and opened the door, only to find that the lights were on in the house. He walked up the stairs and saw Luvia holding Mia standing by the window:
"I just saw you two kissing."
She said with a smile, and then motioned for Xia De to go to the study and take a look:
"Half an hour ago, something glowed in your study drawer, but I didn't move it."
"In the drawer? Oh, it's the page of the poem!"
He hurried to the study and found the message on the page. Miss Danister returned directly to St. Byrons after the Pantanal War. Originally, I wanted to talk to Shade about the "Yellow Moon Relic" tonight, but seeing that he seemed not to be at home, I asked him to contact again after the end of the year.
Miss Danister is probably very busy recently. Although the Pantanal War did not become the "starting point of the end of the world" as predicted, the aftermath of what Shade did is still spreading. Not to mention, as the most important librarian besides the principal of St. Byrons Comprehensive College, this lady must also attend the college's year-end celebrations.
So Shade wrote a reply letter very respectfully, revealing in it that he had found the source of the chaos in the relics and could try to open the black book again at any time.
He was not afraid of the source of chaos being recognized. The round, bright yellow gem had only appeared publicly in the Pantanal region, but it was made larger than the moon by Miss Orlanod. The elemental fluctuations at that time were completely different from those of the real relic.
Luvia was watching while Shade was writing the letter. When he finished, she asked:
"Do you think you can find the Silver Moon Library? That library is said to have all the records of the past. If we can enter it at will, it will definitely be of great help to our cause."
"Maybe I can find it this time, but I bet that searching for information in a library will definitely cost you a lot."
It was not until nine o'clock that evening that Yin Luna, exhausted from the journey, knocked on the door of number six of Saint Teresa's Square. Although she had experienced a long journey and had to report her itinerary to the Church of the Sun first, the seventeen-year-old girl was still very happy to see Shade and Luvia again that night.
Luvia brushed the snow off her shoulders, and Xia De handed her some hot tea. After taking a few sips from the teacup, Yin Luna's red face finally regained some color:
"I couldn't find the carriage at first. I walked two blocks from the church before I saw one. It's the end of the year, and the drivers need to rest."
Yin Luna explained in a low voice, and Luvia said softly:
"Thank you for your hard work, Yin Luna."
Yin Luna's face immediately turned red, and she muttered softly, "Xia De works harder than me," "How can you say such things?", and then secretly glanced at Xia De.
She thought again of the short time she and Shade spent alone by the campfire at the end of the Pantanal War after the five demigod witches left. Thinking about it now, that kiss was really a bit bold.
After the long journey, they came to Xia De's house immediately, naturally to inquire about the follow-up of the fourth chosen one. Aikenola-the arrow of the chosen one had been taken out by Xia De, and Yin Luna checked it while listening to Xia De's introduction of the specific situation.
The arrow contains the qualification of being chosen. Anyone shot by Shadra's bow will become the chosen one of "knowledge and wisdom". Of course, not everyone can become one. At least one must have a certain level of wisdom or the determination to pursue knowledge.
From this perspective, most of the ring sorcerers that Shade knew met the requirements. In addition to granting the chosen one an identity, the person stabbed by Shade with the arrow can also gain extra power.
Luvia had already experienced being pierced by an arrow and thus gained magical powers, while Yin Luna was probably unable to gain any other powers from this arrow because she had already received enlightenment from the chosen one on the island in the middle of Lake Pantanal.
"The question now is whether the elect status should be given to someone, or whether it should be given now?"
The arrow returned to Luvia's hand again, and she and Yin Luna looked at Xia De together.
Xia De has made up his mind:
"The first thing that needs to be made clear is that the qualifications for being a chosen one must not remain in this arrow permanently, otherwise it will not meet the condition of 'all the chosen ones appear'."
He paused.
"If Luvia is right, that final door will definitely appear, and then fate will not allow us to remain the chosen one for long."
The purple-eyed fortune teller nodded, and Shade told her his plan:
“But I’m not going to give that qualification to anyone else right away either.”
He took the arrow from Luvia:
"Being the chosen one means being forced into the vortex of fate, and we can't guarantee that even our friends will always stand by our side... This is just preparing for the worst, not distrusting others. Therefore, granting the qualification to someone immediately actually only adds a new combat power to us, and there is no other benefit."
He looked at the two girls:
"My idea is to keep this arrow until the twelfth chosen one appears, and then I will shoot it... I am currently thinking about asking Priest Augustus for help. An old man like the priest has his own unique wisdom, and he has a peaceful personality and is willing to help me."
What Shad did not say was that the priest's body was fused with the body of the immortal angel, the "King of Angels". No matter what happened after the last door opened, the participation of this old priest would increase the probability of things developing in a positive direction.
Of course, he still strictly abided by the agreement with Priest Augustus at this time, so he would not share the priest's secrets with others.