Audrey withdrew her gaze from the gradually clearer city outline outside the train window, then turned her head to look at Melissa, who was sitting opposite her, staring blankly into the distance.
Noticing that the depths of her friend's emotional colors, whom she had met at the East Tucker Charitable Foundation, had become much darker, Audrey softened her voice and spoke gently:
"The train will stop in Tingen City for half a day for rest. Go do what you want to do. I will explain to Bishop for you."
The soothing voice awakened Melissa from her memories. A hint of hesitation flashed across her still somewhat youthful face, but she nodded heavily.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Melissa lowered her head shyly and whispered:
"Miss Audrey, the payment required for the 'Artisan' potion formula, I will exchange for merit points and pay as soon as possible after arriving at Amantha Mountains."
Looking at the young girl who was a few years younger than herself, and feeling the stubbornness hidden in her words, Audrey smiled and patted her shoulder, hinting:
"You are already an Artisan now. I think some gentlemen would be very willing to pay for you to craft some Mystical Items."
Mr. Sun and Mr. Hanged Man? Hmm, and perhaps also that always gloomy Mr. World… Melissa's eyes brightened, and she immediately understood Audrey's hint.
As early as the beginning of the year, her identity as the High Priestess of the Tarot Club had been discovered by Audrey.
After all, for a mid-sequence Beyonder in the mind domain, a Loen woman craving the Savant Pathway potion formula, with a standard Awwa accent, and frequently "disappearing" on Wednesday afternoons—these clues were enough for Audrey to draw a conclusion.
The melodious whistle sounded again. Melissa felt the train's speed gradually slow down. After excusing herself, she walked towards the rear carriage of the train, which belonged to the Church of the Evernight.
After walking for a while, Melissa stopped and looked at an elderly man with white hair and a classical black robe not far away. She politely called out:
"Grandpa Neil, Tingen is here."
Hearing the call from behind him, the old man, who was standing by the window with a hunched figure, slightly turned his head. His somewhat cloudy dark red eyes still held a hint of sparkle, and tears had not yet dried on his wrinkled face, which resembled withered tree bark.
It was Old Neil, whom Aaron had rescued from the brink of losing control and then sent to Backlund for subsequent treatment and diagnosis a year ago.
Although the corruption problem had been resolved, Old Neil's physical condition had suffered irreversible damage. After consulting his personal wishes, the Church of the Evernight approved his request to return to his roots.
Looking at Melissa, who was already taller than him, Old Neil stretched out his dry hand and pointed to the city outside the window, muttering in a complex tone:
"Yes, this is the place I once guarded! And it is also the end of my journey..."
-----------------
Tingen City, Raphael Cemetery.
The sky, which had been clear, was now covered by dark clouds. A simple carriage stopped outside the cemetery.
After paying the carriage fare, Melissa helped Old Neil to two gravestones not far apart, deep within the cemetery.
Even though she had experienced this scene countless times in her dreams before coming, an uncontrollable sadness still surged in Melissa's heart, but she was no longer the little girl she used to be.
Helping Old Neil, who was sitting on the ground silently weeping, Melissa took a deep breath, facing the pain in her heart, and whispered with a slight choke:
"They saved Tingen, they are true Guardians!"
-----------------
Southern Continent, Abyss of Transcendence.
Reinette Tinekerr, dressed in a somber and elaborate black gown, stood at the very top of the pyramid mausoleum of the "City of the Dead," holding four identical beautiful heads.
Invisible fluctuations spread from Her body, encompassing several figures not far away. These were the current core members of the Temperance Faction, each at a mid-sequence level.
Maric, who was leading them, disintegrated. His essence as a Wraith allowed his consciousness to quickly merge into the already prepared demigod mummy. Manuel's corresponding unique Spirit World area accelerated this process.
The altar lit up, and the demigod mummy, exuding a strong aura of Death, suddenly trembled slightly. A unique divine pressure began to awaken.
The pale-faced Sharron emerged from the void. Looking at Maric, who had successfully advanced to a demigod, her words were brief but sincere with blessings:
"Congratulations!"
Able to sense Sharron's suppressed and restrained emotions, Maric, who had detached from the mummy's body, nodded heavily and immediately bowed to Reinette Tinekerr.
"No need..."
"Be so polite..."
"As soon as possible..."
The four heads in Reinette Tinekerr's hands spoke in a very regular alternation, but before the third head could finish, all four heads simultaneously looked towards the endless black mist above.
A blood-red light, like a guiding firefly, was accompanied by a terrifying aura that caused the dense black mist to voluntarily disperse, revealing Astolfo and Alvin Gallows, who had just arrived from the Northern Continent.
"Salinger probably never imagined that the former headquarters of the Numinous Episcopate would turn out like this today!"
Astolfo glanced around, paused for a moment on the Styx River at the bottom of the black mausoleum, then muttered with some emotion, before looking at Reinette Tinekerr and the Temperance Faction members behind Her.
"I have taken the first step to break free from my shackles. The chaos and betrayals of these past few centuries shall be Judgement!"
The low voice, powerful enough to cause an ordinary demigod to lose control, was controlled by Astolfo. It brushed past Reinette Tinekerr and merged into the suddenly appearing historical fog.
The segment of history where Suah advanced to an Abomination and besieged Reinette Tinekerr was enveloped by an invisible force. The materialized curse retracted, submerging this history cursed by Suah, preventing it from exerting further influence.
The four heads held by Reinette Tinekerr in the outside world simultaneously began to tremble, finally merging into one. Her body also expanded, transforming into a giant doll wrapped in eerie vines, with a complete, unblemished body.
This sudden change made Sharron, who was standing beside Her, unable to help but whisper:
"Teacher?"
Twisting Her neck somewhat unskillfully, Reinette Tinekerr looked at Her body and said with a slightly ethereal voice:
"Thank you for your help. It is an honor to see you escape the Prison!"
Astolfo nodded slightly, glanced at the Temperance Faction members not far away who still didn't know what had happened, and the thorns covering His entire body surged, causing clusters of spiritual light to fly out.
These were the excess Beyonder characteristics from His body, of the Prisoner Pathway, at mid-to-high Sequences, and even included a Sequence 3 Disciple of Silence characteristic.
With His current status, He could actively expel these characteristics which no longer offered Him much assistance, but they could greatly aid the growth of the Temperance Faction.
He needed enough anchors to accommodate the second Abomination characteristic.