Stelle then took out her phone and asked if it was the same thing Tribbie was talking about.
"Yeah! We knew it, there are also Janusopolis priests beyond the sk - um, beyond Okhema ... like the city you're from!"
Tribbie became excited seeing the phone in Stelle's hand. She took Stelle's phone and tweaked it a bit so that it could connect to Amphoreus.
"That is... surprising." Dan Heng on the other hand, who had taken a stone tablet, looked at it in his hands.
Although many of the details didn't quite line up, and it was saturated with the aura of Amphoreus.
There was no mistake. This was a mobile phone.
It wasn't that a phone itself was particularly impressive, rather, the fact that a phone appeared in this world at all was what made it so bizarre.
Continuing that, Tribbie explained that it only worked in Okhema and only due to the golden web of Aglaea.
Tribios even exchanged contacts with the two of them and invited them into Okhema's group chat.
After doing all that, Tribios took her leave for the time being.
Before leaving, she even specifically reminded them that if they needed her, they should message her.
"...The list of inexplicable things only gets longer."
After Tribios left, Dan Heng and Stelle found a stone bench by the street and sat down.
Around them, the Okhema marketplace was still vividly spread out before their eyes.
People, events, and daily life.
Everything looked like an impeccable depiction of a classical era.
Yet Dan Heng lowered his head and glanced at the stone tablet in his hand.
The sense of dissonance it gave off was like embedding an electronic component into a mural
The correct rectangular proportions, the correct thin and lightweight feel, even its exterior, it was exactly the same as the phones they were familiar with.
Only the material had been replaced with something unique to Amphoreus.
And compared to all that, the operating logic of the stone tablet, and the logic of similar communication devices commonly found across the universe, were astonishingly alike!
It was this similarity in logic that truly made Dan Heng feel .
The evolution of civilization follows its own trajectory.
From knot records to clay tablets.
From papyrus to parchment, then onward to paper.
From beacon fires to relay horses, and then to carrier pigeons.
Every step rests on turning points in productivity, materials science, and changes in social organization.
Looking across all the planets reached by the Trailblaze.
Whether advanced or backward, Dan Heng could always clearly see the ways of civilizational evolution.
Take Jarilo, for example. Its living environment was extremely harsh, but its social organization, productivity, and technology could all be traced.
Even something like the Engine of Creation, far beyond the technology level of its time, was clearly a relic left behind by previous generations.
This was also plainly recorded in Jarilo's history.
But what Amphoreus presented was a king of mix and match. The surface of society was stuck in a classical city-state era.
Clothing, social structure, transportation, most aspects all fit that stage perfectly.
Yet architectural techniques and some outrageously advanced tech appeared at this very stage.
And now, even something similar to phones had shown up. Tribios said that phones were created by Aglaea through the Authority of Romance.
And that they only functioned within Okhema.
Meanwhile, Stelle rubbed the stone tablet phone and scratched her head.
"But there are Titans here, aren't there?"
"Maybe it's because of the Titans' power?"
Dan Heng didn't agree with Stelle's thought.
"Unless every Titan is an Aeon."
"And from what Phainon and the others have said, the Titans here can be restrained."
"I don't think that's enough to forcibly elevate an entire civilization's level."
After Dan Heng finished speaking, Stelle puffed out her cheeks and tried to think hard, but still couldn't come up with anything.
In the end, she could only look at Dan Heng.
Dan Heng didn't keep her in suspense and spoke his conjecture.
"Several possibilities."
Dan Heng placed the stone tablet on his knee, tapping it lightly with his fingertips as he organized his thoughts:
"First, Amphoreus may once have had a technological era far beyond the present, but for unknown reasons it was almost completely wiped out, leaving behind only some creations like stone-tablet phones and architectural techniques."
"Later generations could continue to use them, but lost the entire system. From a societal perspective, it actually looks like regression."
At this point, Dan Heng paused, his expression turning more solemn.
"The second possibility. Technology from outside the world of Amphoreus left technologies that don't match it's technological cycle."
After saying this, Dan Heng thought of the Titans.
Oronyx, Janus, Nikador.
The powers of these three Titans differed greatly.
And Amphoreus, built upon the Authorities of Titans, was even more contradictory.
Some of its power seemed to rely heavily on symbols, rituals, and acts of prayer.
Another part displayed unreasonable, concept-level power similar to the Trailblaze.
They were mixed together. And like the phone, an even bigger problem emerged.
Known powers in the universe have limits, essentially revolving around Paths and Aeons.
So where did the Titans' power come from? Before arriving, Black Swan had already mentioned that this place contained three Paths.
But from Dan Heng's observations, the people here did not know anything about Aeons or paths or anything.
At present, there were no clear clues to be found at all.
Dan Heng shook his head.
If he kept thinking like this, he'd fall into an endless spiral of questions. But his words had already drawn the audience into contemplation.
...
: Indeed, judging from the information so far, Amphoreus really does seem like a mix and match world that has everything.
: When I previously listened to Tribios talk about the twelve Titans of Amphoreus, I was already thinking, the Titans of Amphoreus seem excessive.
: It feels like it contains every kind of concept, even some special ones. In the Honkai: Star Rail universe, a world like this would probably be suppressed.
: The key point is that it connects so many concepts, yet there's no clear manifestation of Path power. That's even stranger.
: Even the Emanators haven't shown their faces.
: Three Paths, three Emanators, but honestly, right now there's no way to tell which Path the power of Amphoreus actually belongs to.
: It feels somewhat out of place with the universe?
: Exactly.
: But the greater the strangeness, the more complex the truth hidden behind it, right?
...
The audience discussed among themselves.
And on the screen, Dan Heng and Stelle had already set the direction for what came next.
Exploration.
At present, they had established contact with Okhema.
Using this as a foothold, they would continue to deepen their connections with everyone, while taking the opportunity to investigate the history of the holy city.
Perhaps all the answers were hidden within history.
Stelle and Dan Heng began wandering aimlessly through the marketplace.
Casually chatting with people along the way. During that time, a not-too-big, not-too-small incident occurred.
They encountered an Okhema resident who was obsessively fixated on the world beyond the skies.
At first, they thought this person might know some special information.
But after deeper contact, they realized he was merely a delusional fanatic.
He even wanted to give up his own life just to make contact with the outside world.
In the end, unable to bear it, Stelle and Dan Heng told him about the world beyond the skies.
From the perspective of the Astral Express crew, this was nothing more than a trivial matter.
The two of them did not know, they had broke promise they had made to Aglaea.
When night fell upon Okhema, the two returned to the room prepared for them as guests.
A fountain, an exterior view, a balcony, and comfortable lounge chairs.
Everything was arranged with extreme luxury.
Just as Stelle and Dan Heng were about to finally rest and recover, Aglaea suddenly paid them a visit.
"Stelle, Dan Heng, Tribbie has already figured out the destination of the deserters."
"With a little more time, we'll be able to track down the location of Castrum Kremnos."
Aglaea walked into the room. Her gaze slowly swept over the surroundings.
"Is there anything you need our help with?" Dan Heng asked.
"No, not for now."
"Compared to the Titan, I'm more curious about the two of you exploring Okhema."
"How has it been? Has everything gone smoothly?" Aglaea spoke gently. Though her tone was calm, there was a hint of concern within it.
"Very smoothly!" Stelle showed a confident smile and said, "I even grasped some of Okhema's past."
"Oh? That truly is a remarkable talent." Aglaea let out a soft chuckle, then continued,
"By the way, are you satisfied with the surprise I prepared on behalf of Okhema?"
The "surprise" referred to where Stelle and Dan Heng were staying, the luxurious private rooms.
"Very satisfied. One could even say we're overwhelmed by the hospitality." Dan Heng nodded in thanks.
"Hehe, that's good." Aglaea strolled leisurely to the big basin in the center of the room.
The object standing at the center of the pool, filled with clear water, resembling a large basin.
"I forgot to tell you earlier. I still have one last special gift for you.."
"It's this basin."
Aglaea stepped into the water, approached it, and gently traced the rim with her hand.
"It's not your average washbasin. This ceremonial vessel belonged to the Chrysos Heirs and is now my gift to the both of you."
A ritual vessel? Stelle and Dan Heng both looked over with curiosity.
"You have learned, to some extent, about the history of Amphoreus and of the holy city Okhema. Now... I wish for both of you to witness the journey of the Chrysos Heirs for yourselves."
"In ancient times, Phagousa, the Chalice of Plenty, concealed the beginning of the world amidst billowing waves."
"When the ancient Ocean Priests discovered that place, they used spirit water to build a barrier. However, they also left behind a passageway."
"That passageway is none other than the ceremonial basin in front of you. Clear yourselves of all distracting thoughts and wash your faces with the spirit water inside the basin. When you next open your eyes, you shall witness for yourselves..."
"The Vortex of Genesis: A great sanctuary that houses the original divinity of the twelve Titans. It's also the place where the prophesized Miracle of Genesis will occur."
"For your first time, I shall personally guide you into the depths."
The Chalice of Plenty? Phagousa? The Vortex of Genesis?
The two carefully processed the information in Aglaea's words.
For a moment, they couldn't tell whether this was myth or true history.
But regardless, it felt as though they were about to touch the very core of something.
Under Aglaea's guidance, Stelle and Dan Heng proceeded to wash their face.
Amid an experience similar to falling asleep in Penacony, when the two opened their eyes once more, everything before them had completely changed.
Appearing before them, was a massive hall with staircases on both sides..
The furnishings in the hall were extremely alluring: another huge basin in front of them, surrounding the basin was a big pool of spirit water.
On the other side of the huge basin was a dazzling, illusory mural of stars, formed by countless points of light, all the stars looking like they were converging to a point.
Twelve symbols were distributed in a semicircle across the mural.
Both of them were deeply captivated by the breathtaking sight and couldn't help but gasp in awe.
Meanwhile, Aglaea gave Stelle a look and walked past them speaking
"You now stand at the heart of this world."
"Now, I require your "honesty.""
As she finished speaking, Aglaea gently waved her hand.
In an instant, a series of golden threads shot out like lightning, binding Stelle and Dan Heng hands without even giving them a chance to react.
"?!" Still immersed in the scenery, the two looked at Aglaea in shock and anger.
They couldn't understand why she would suddenly attack.
The audience was also stunned.
...
: Huh?! What is she doing?!
: Damn it, don't do this!
: What does Aglaea mean?!
: Why did she suddenly turn on the two? Weren't things fine before?!
: Damn it! This is betrayal!
...
At that moment, feeling as if someone else was behind them, the two turned behind them.
A familiar purple beauty was slowly walking towards them.
Castorice.
Under their gazes, she slightly lifted the sides of her long dress and bent her knees in a greeting.
"...What is the meaning of this?" Dan Heng looked at Aglaea and asked.
"Why is this happening again?" Stelle tried to make some small talk.
"This is no laughing matter. It's an interrogation." Aglaea gave Stelle a look and stepped closer as she spoke.
"While the both of you were roaming the city, someone was paying attention to your every move. Unfortunately... you have broken your promises."
Only then did everyone realize, was it because of the matter of them speaking that they were from beyond the skies?
Because of that?
Various thoughts began to link together unconsciously.
Amphoreus' being hidden in the universe, and now Aglaea's extreme sensitivity toward anything beyond the skies.
The audience felt as though they had grasped something, yet it still wasn't entirely clear.
------------------------
T/N: Not sure why but the author was trying to paint Aglaea in a very wrong way. I don't know if the author doesn't like Aglaea or not, but it was the same in this and the last chapter.
But no need to worry, I have modified all the scenes where Aglaea was shown as the bad guy. Some places may be left as changing them would change the entire chapter.
I just wanted to let you guys know about such a deep wrongdoing, after all how can anyone think of depicting Aglaea, such a pure soul, as a villain.