"Anyway, if you need my assistance recently, just come to the association and find me. When Yin Luna comes, we will discuss the plan in detail. We still don't have enough poems at the moment. We only know that a banquet will be held, but we don't know if there are any special regulations for the venue of the banquet."
Luvia continued.
"Want to try a coin?"
Shad asked.
"Keep it. It's not the most urgent moment yet."
Luvia shook her head and mentioned what happened last night:
"Your teacher, Miss Danister, came to see me around nine o'clock."
As expected, she didn't notice that Xia De had actually been here once:
"The professors from the Zaras Academy of Literature came during the incident at Lake Eldron, and the professors from Serkses will arrive this afternoon. In this way, professors from the three major academies have all arrived locally, and the church is likely to organize a large operation soon."
"What did Miss Danister say to you last night?"
Xia De asked curiously, and the purple-eyed girl smiled:
"Tell me that a gentleman in Tobesk misses me very much."
Xia De showed a reserved expression:
"I do miss you."
"Meow~"
Mia also shouted.
"In addition, Miss Danister also told me that I can't return to Tobesk until at least spring. This time it's not because of work. The situation in the Randall Valley is very complicated right now, and the local ring makers can't leave easily. The pollution of the earth will spread to faraway areas through the footsteps of travelers, and the ring makers will have a greater impact on this. So for the safety of Tobesk, I'd better wait here for things to end."
Nothing new happened all day on Saturday. At the afternoon meeting, Shad informed the doctor and others that Luvia would have to stay in the Randall Valley for at least half a month. Everyone just felt sorry that Luvia missed half of Tobesk's winter.
After the meeting, Shade stayed alone to talk to the doctor about the devil. Of course, the focus was on Stone Oxenfurt's contract with the devil.
Doctors are quite cautious about this:
"Your judgment is correct. He certainly didn't tell you the entire process of the contract, but the content he told you should be true. According to my understanding of Goethe, regarding how to obtain Oxenfurt's soul, the second half of the contract should not only include 'a force other than the devil kills the contractor with an immortal body', but should also include other very strict conditions... For example, killing by standing on the moon, or killing under the sun at night."
"What good does it bring to the devil if he signs such a harsh treaty?"
Xia De asked in confusion:
"You're disgusted with your dull life and are trying to find some excitement for yourself?"
"It wants mortals to feel that they are the ones who have gained the upper hand in the contract. Otherwise, who would sincerely sign a contract with a demon?"
The doctor asked back. He was quite familiar with the devil's tricks:
"But in reality, demons who are good at playing with clauses have plenty of ways to achieve impossible things. For example, if the clause really is 'kill the immortal Stone Oxenfurt on the moon with a power other than Goethe', then the demon will definitely lead Oxenfurt to an area with a moon pattern."
Xia De nodded and understood a little:
"So, Osenfurt didn't tell me all the terms of the contract. Maybe he'll die because of it in the end. After all, I don't know how to avoid doing that."
"But if he tells you the entire contents of the contract, then you will know how to kill him."
The doctor smiled, his face was smiling but his eyes were quite serious:
"You have the power to choose, and the Stone Mirror Demon Goethe also has the power to choose. Only Oxenfurt does not have the power to choose. That's why I said, don't make a deal with the devil easily, it will not bring any benefits."
On Saturday night, Dorothy taught Shad a fairy tale class at number six St. Teresa's Square as usual. But before this class, Shad took out the newly acquired Rhodes brand ancient fairy tale Cinderella.
While the writer was "making fun of" Xia De for not forgetting to play cards with others even when he was away from home, she was also curious about what Xia De wanted to ask.
"We have learned most of the popular versions of the story of Gray's Glass Slippers. This ancient fairy tale has been inexplicably familiar to me since I first heard you talk about it."
The two of them sat inside and outside the desk and talked. Xia De put down the cards in his hand, and the life ring slowly emerged behind him. The sound of the whistle and the bell made Mia tilt her head and look curiously:
"Inspiration - Little Match Girl, Miracle - Kiss of the Tree, Inspiration - Sleeping Princess, Inspiration - Water of Wisdom."
As he recited his spirit runes one by one, the four spirit runes glowed. The light of the four spirit runes connected together on the life ring, as if the life ring itself had an additional golden copper light band.
Shade narrowed his eyes slightly, and then the bright light in the study suddenly became dim. Dorothy put down the book in her hand, reached out to catch the falling snow, and then looked up at the ceiling that seemed to be "melting". Half of the ceiling had disappeared, revealing the brilliant starry sky and the holy silver moon.
The furnishings in the study did not disappear, but merged with the snowy night street scene of Mohu. Since Xia De's four mazes formed an extremely large composite maze, the requirements for casting spells were further increased. Therefore, even though he was already a fifth-ring, Xia De still could not use the full power of any maze under normal circumstances:
"I doubt it. Cinderella is also the story I brought to the Fifth Age."
He expressed his judgment, then picked up the Rhodes card again. With a gentle throw, the red butterflies flew to the far end of the street with the card. The dancing red butterflies brought out streams of light in the snowy night. The scarlet streams of light accompanied the red butterflies, and at the far end of the street, they constructed the pumpkin carriage that Shade had imagined.
Dorothy tilted her head and watched the scene:
"Very interesting, the area of Shade's fairy tale kingdom is going to expand again?"
She joked:
"Don't discuss the mystery of time with me. After all, I don't know as much as you do. Xia De, what do you want to discuss with me?"
"If I really get the maze lock, what kind of power will this maze lock have?"
As the illusion and the puzzle faded away into dust, Dorothy fell into deep thought again:
"My middle ring sublimation words, 'In the castle of night, only time can stop the blessed princess', is based on this story. In addition to calling the princess who can transform, the effect of sublimation words can also create a time barrier. That is, during the duration of sublimation words, the closer you are to me, the slower the flow of time will be, until it touches my body, and then time will be completely stopped."
This is not an offensive sublime word, but it is definitely a perfect defense.
"Time paused?"
Shad seemed to be thinking about something, and Dorothy reminded him:
"This is just a way of thinking. You should pay attention to the fact that the most important thing about fairy tales is not the content, but the connotation. For you, compassion, courage, sacrifice and wisdom constitute the first four puzzles. Compassion gives rise to wishes, courage seals evil, sacrifices lead to the exchange of lives, and wisdom helps you learn from your opponents. Shade, in your opinion, what do Cinderella/Gray's crystal shoes/the princess on the pumpkin carriage represent?"
Xia De did not answer, and the writer gave a hint:
"Frugality, saving time? Humility, not being too ostentatious? Hope, never getting discouraged in the face of adversity? Or maybe love, pursuing the entire kingdom for the sake of the one you love?"
Xia De shook his head slightly, it seemed that these were not what he understood.
Dorothy consoled him:
"Since you haven't been able to tell this story in the past, you don't have to think too much about it now. Just follow me and learn. When you really get the maze, you can save the process of understanding the story. I will find time this week to copy the story in full for you so that you can use it as a spell material."
The first time you open the maze of Shade, you need to burn the parchment with the story on it. The subsequent openings will be more effective with the parchment, but less effective without it.
"Okay."
"Also, maybe touching the related objects can help you understand the story better. This was originally the content of next week's study, but Leicia was too shy to let me tell you in advance. Now I'll tell you - we have prepared a pair of crystal shoes for you."
Dorothy said with a smile, and Shad suddenly looked up at her in horror:
"Me? Crystal slippers? No, I will never wear them! No matter what you say, even if I can't learn the maze, I will never wear them!"
Under the light of the gas lamp, the blonde girl smiled brightly:
"Shad, what are you thinking about? These are Resia's crystal shoes, her ninth birthday present. Tsk, the princess is treated really well."
"Nine?"
"Yes, so even she couldn't wear them anymore, let alone you? But don't expect me to tell you how big Leicia's feet are now."
"Don't I know that?"
Xia De said curiously:
"The size of your feet and Lecia's feet, I..."
“Ahem.”
The writer's face turned red:
"Mr. Hamilton, I am your governess. What are you talking about?"
Although she was scolding Shade, she herself had more expectations for the night after the course ended:
"Let's get back to the topic. I heard about this when I was just exchanging with Resia and she told me stories about the past. Actually, two weeks ago, I suggested that she take out the shoes and use them as learning props, but she refused. She was really shy."
Girls' feet are their most private parts after their indescribable parts and private parts, so taking out shoes, especially those from childhood, is like taking out fabrics from private parts as learning materials.
Xia De also laughed when he heard this.