Stranger, you have returned to the present time.
Xia De stumbled out of the white fog door, holding on to the wall and breathing heavily. He had never been so happy to be illuminated by the gas lamp. He even wanted to write a poem to praise the gas lamp, but then he remembered that he did not have the skill to do so.
After leaving the Evernight City, all the damage caused by the terrible night disappeared. Because he almost melted in the night just now, Shade now felt inexplicably familiar with normal nights. However, the lack of spirits was still not solved, but fortunately, it was already the sixth era.
If the girls saw him drinking the pink perfume bottle, they might think he was secretly taking medicine, and question his health. So Xia De made sure no one was here, and then took a big sip of the full perfume bottle:
"Oh, I'm finally alive again!"
He was very satisfied with it.
Sure enough, just as Shad put away the perfume bottle, Leicia and Dorothy came back with a group of maids, chatting and laughing. They didn't notice Shad's abnormality, and Dorothy smiled and said:
"Shad, we heard about your 'detective story'. I really should have followed you there. It was really fascinating and definitely worthy of being written into a long story in two parts."
"Well done, Knight."
Leicia said very reservedly, and when the two girls approached, Dorothy wanted to ask why she didn't see where Mia went, but she noticed that Shad's coat was missing. She suddenly twitched her nose suspiciously, and found a strange perfume on Shad that she had never smelled before.
It wasn't Miss Carina, it wasn't Tifa, it wasn't Ajelina, it wasn't even Queen Diana or any other woman Shad knew well.
And Leicia looked at Shade suspiciously, feeling that Shade was more... ... attractive than usual:
"Now that the damned murderer has been caught, let's continue our reading salon without wasting time. Oh, speaking of which, Dorothy, shouldn't we take turns reading aloud one sentence at a time using your... voice?"
"Your Highness Leicia, can we discuss this after we enter the room?"
Dorothy said this with a slightly red face, and the two ladies each grabbed one of Shad's arms, and pulled him into the room forcefully amid the smiles of the maids.
The night was as deep and long as the Fifth Age, but it was especially charming.
(Little Mia is running...)
"I thought I wouldn't see you all day today."
On Monday afternoon, the Randall River Valley welcomed a rare sunny day in winter. Luvia sat on the first floor of the Plenty Land Inn, holding a book in her hands and a cup of tea in front of her. Today was her day off again. After all, she came to the region on a business trip, and the association did not arrange too many tasks for her.
"Why would you think that of me? Am I that kind of person?"
Shade, who was sitting opposite the purple-eyed girl, asked. Luvia shook her head.
"Even if you have taken a shower, I can still smell the two familiar perfumes on you. I have learned magic related to smell. It was during the first ring, when I encountered a big dog that jumped out of the void."
She smiled and put down the book:
"And it's not that I miss you like that. I didn't expect that the princess and our writer friend would let you go. I thought you would..."
She even blushed a little because she suddenly thought of that hot night at the end of the year:
"Anyway, it's better to let you rest for a while, and you can't keep running around."
"The repairs are over, so today we have to do some serious work. Oh, this is for you."
Shade said as he pulled out a sapphire pendant from his pocket and handed it to Luvia.
"You forgot again to put the jewelry in a box before giving it to the girl."
The purple-eyed girl muttered, took the pendant and looked at the sunlight pouring in from the inn door:
"It's a very beautiful sapphire. Look, there's also a pendant in the shape of a lark. How did you suddenly think of giving me jewelry... What's your gift this week?"
"Yes, the task is to wipe the jewelry for female relatives or friends at least twice. I think this should be for children to wipe the jewelry for their mothers, but unfortunately..."
He shrugged. Luvia knew Shade's past, so she didn't say much and just put the gem pendant away.
"So, what kind of story did you encounter in the past this time? Do you need my help?"
The purple-eyed girl tilted her head and asked with a smile. Xia De really wanted to engrave her current appearance in his heart forever:
"I met Miss Fiona Drago."
"Oh, I remember this person, you also met him in the library. So the great person related to this is..."
"The god of the night."
If you only introduce their duties without mentioning their well-known nicknames, the influence of the old gods will not be too great.
Luvia nodded while holding the teacup:
"The night and the moon are both the purview of the ancient Moon God. Perhaps this god can be of great help to you. And speaking of which, there is some connection between Saint Byrons and this ancient god."
"What connection?"
Shade asked curiously.
"That's not the content of the school's general education history of St. Byron's. It's the content of the fifth-grade course 'Original Power: Darkest Night'. It is rumored that the original principal, Miss Mana Felena, once borrowed the power of the God of Night when she built St. Byron's."
She coughed to clear her throat and began to recite the original text:
"On that vast snowy plain, the monarch who controls the night gave his territory to the lady who longed to become a sage. In that territory, Saint Byron took root and the duty of teaching and educating people was inherited and developed."
"So, the incident I encountered this time will directly lead to the current state of Saint Byrons?"
"Who knows? You'd better ask your teacher, Miss Danister, the Red Moon Witch."
"This morning... well, after I got home at noon, I sent a message to Miss Danister. But she's been busy lately, so she can't see me until the morning of tomorrow, which is Wednesday."
As he spoke, Shade yawned slightly, and Luvia curled her lips:
"You should also pay attention to your body... What did you do last night?"
Although she tried to restrain herself from asking, she still asked. On the surface, she pretended to be indifferent, but she was actually a little envious of the princess's boldness.
As for the Secret Keeper-level relic "Sand of Time", before coming to see Luvia, Shade had already entrusted Old John and Granny Cassandra to purchase it on his behalf. The Light Guiding Order was the best at purchasing such strange things, and Granny Cassandra had a wide network of contacts. Even if both parties bought it, it would not be a waste. This special time relic was also very useful to Shade.
As for how to be "eroded by the night", Shad still needs to investigate it himself. At least Old John and Grandma Cassandra can't explain it clearly for the time being.
Shade and Luvia soon went to the Wilde Opera House and met the witch and Miss Lathers. A week had passed since the four of them began to investigate the clues left by Miss Lathers's father. During this period, not only did Shade and Luvia gain something, but the witch and Miss Lathers also retook Mr. Lathers's exploration path and gained something.
After the four people met, they first talked about the suppression of the Stone Heart Demon Cult by the Orthodox Church last weekend. Except for Shade, the other three ladies were all local, so they knew much more than Shade knew from Miss Carina.
Then Miss Benanis gave Shad a file bag, which contained the whereabouts of three items sold by Cassandra Auction House before Mr. Lathers disappeared that might be related to the "Heart of the Earth":
"The statue is now in the hands of Stone Oxenfurt? What a coincidence, I just wanted to find him to return a medal. And the key to the antique mechanical lock is in the hands of Earl Granger? They are all acquaintances, I can just pay him a visit. And the last one is the ceramic vase, is this item in... ... the Randall Valley City Statue Museum?"
Randall Valley is famous for its stone sculptures, so there is a special stone sculpture exhibition hall in the city, namely the "Randall Valley City Sculpture Hall". This is a semi-official exhibition hall, which collects admission fees to maintain the daily expenses of the exhibition hall. The city hall will also allocate funds every year depending on the situation. Generally speaking, it is similar to Sister Defulin's "Snake Heart Hospital", but the latter is more independent.
"No problem. Today is Monday. I will try to investigate the three items this week, or at least get them."
Xia De assured him. As for how he would get it, the ladies did not ask because they believed in Xia De's ability.
The four of them chatted for the whole afternoon. When it was almost evening, Miss Benanis wanted to keep Shade and Luvia for dinner. She had already booked a table in the restaurant. Shade did not refuse, but he and Luvia had to leave for about half an hour before dinner.
The two of them were going to the Fertile Land Inn to wait for the elf girl Emilia - the two parties agreed to meet once a week, and Shad was looking forward to what surprises the elf lady could bring him this time.
When the sunset shines on the city, it means that at least most of the middle class has officially ended their tiring day. When the last rays of sunset disappear below the horizon, the elegant gas lamps at the entrance of the Land of Plenty Hotel, the Prophet's Association and the City Hall on the same street light up, Shade and Luvia, who were chatting on the first floor of the Land of Plenty Hotel, finally greeted the Miss Emilia Sienord who was waiting for them.
She walked into the hotel lobby alone, and seemed to be quite familiar with the place. Because she was going into the city, she did not bring the little beast with her this time. The elf girl's overall appearance did not change, but her original pointed ears became human-like, so Shade and Luvia saw her at a glance.