Lumian let go of her hand, pressed his left chest, silently praised Mr. Fool, then led Amandina towards the bottom of the slope through the grayish-white fog.
The further Amandina walked, the more uncomfortable she became with her current state. The icy coldness emanating from within made her feel as if she had already died and become a corpse, while it seemed like another version of herself inside her body was trying to tear its way out.
âShall we⊠go back?â she hesitantly said to Lumian.
âWeâre almost at our destination,â Lumian pointed in the direction where the faint, illusory sound of water could barely be heard, then added, âIf you really decide to go back now, I can fulfill your request.â
Amandina hesitated for a few seconds. âWeâre already at the edgeâŠâ
Wouldnât it be a waste to go back now?
Lumian chuckled. âDonât worry, if it really gets to the point where we canât bear it, Iâll definitely run faster than you.â
âYou saying that makes me even more worriedâŠâ Amandina replied softly.
Lumian continued forward, thinking for a moment before saying, âWhen I tell you to close your eyes, close them. When I tell you to open them, open them immediately.â
âAlright.â In such an environment, Amandina could only choose to trust Lumian.
Soon, the gray fog in front of them became very thin, revealing a spring the size of a pond.
Pale-white water flowed in the spring, surrounded by deep, dark objects of indescribable color.
Amandina saw a wet, seaweed-like black hair floating in the water, and at the bottom, there seemed to be multiple faint figures hidden, struggling as if they had just drowned and were trying to crawl out.
At the same time, she noticed a lady wandering beside the spring water, wearing a white robe, with black hair, exquisitely perfect features, and a holy aura that seemed out of place in the catacombs.
Amandina was immediately attracted, and if it werenât for the ladyâs blank and cold gaze, lacking necessary charm, and if the spring water hadnât suddenly retracted into a pitch-black hole that light couldnât penetrate, she might have been unable to pull herself away.
Lumian also saw Krismonaâs figure, and several thoughts flashed through his mind, I could bring Jenna here to meet Amandina directly, without having to wait until an advancement every timeâŠ
The Krismona here is more like a wandering ghost, bound to the area around the Samaritan Womenâs Spring. Whether she can communicate normally, whether she would indiscriminately attack approaching Demonesses, whether this would cause any abnormalities, is still unknownâŠ
I need to find a way to confirm before bringing Jenna inâŠ
Seeing that Krismonaâs shadow didnât even glance at him, Lumian turned his head to Amandina and said, âYou can close your eyes now.â
âOkay.â Amandina felt a certain fear and obediently closed her eyes.
Lumian then took two steps forward, reaching the edge of the Samaritan Womenâs Spring.
The next second, Amandina heard the sound of gushing spring water and felt a violent, frenzied aura descend upon her.
She couldnât help but tremble, her knees weakening.
At the same time, she had hallucinations, believing that multiple figures were approaching her, each extremely terrifying-the kind that would cause nightmares if seen and lead to a tragic death if encountered.
Amandina cried out in fear, âLetâs go back! I want to go back!â
As she screamed, the violent and frenzied aura subsided, and the multiple figures in her hallucination retreated.
She heard Lumianâs deep voice in her ear. âYou can open your eyes now.â
Amandina broke free from the extreme fear, relaxing a little.
She didnât hesitate and opened her eyes.
She saw that familiar figure, wearing a strange, rust-spotted iron crown, skin as crystalline as jade, with a white beard gently floating, already quite elderly.
At this moment, the old manâs figure was sitting cross-legged at the deep hole, which was violently shaking as if some unknown entity was trying to squeeze out.
Amandinaâs gaze fell on those deep eyes that seemed like the night sky.
Her thoughts suddenly became blurred, as if she saw a rotting, pus-oozing hand with strange feathers reaching out and pressing on her head.
She also heard an old, blank, cold, and hollow voice ringing in her ear.
But she couldnât understand what the voice was saying.
After an unknown amount of time, Amandina came to her senses. The old manâs figure was no longer in her sight, only the dark soil that had lost the pale-white spring water, and Lumian crouching beside the spring, holding a small golden bottle to collect the seeping water droplets.
Of course, Lumian and the others had reported Amandinaâs situation to the Major Arcana card holders before daring to bring her into the area around the Samaritan Womenâs Spring, and Madam Magician had also asked him to collect some more spring water.
âWhatâs the use of this water?â Amandina, no longer so nervous and scared, asked curiously.
âIf you make your enemy drink it, they will die instantly,â Lumian patronizingly replied.
Amandinaâs eyes lit up, but she asked in confusion, âBut how can I make my enemy drink itâŠâ
Lumian put away the small golden bottle, stood up and said, âWhat did you see just now? What did you experience?â
Amandina recalled and recounted all the details, then self-examined.
âBut I couldnât understand what was being said, the pronunciation was %„âŠ
âIt seems like Iâve gained a new ability, I can placate souls, calm emotions and desiresâŠâ
Lumian carefully remembered the few pronunciations Amandina had relayed, walked back to the young ladyâs side and said, âYouâve received a new boon, Soul Assurer.â
âYes.â Amandina smiled, âI feel like my body has even changed a littleâŠâ
Lumian chuckled.
âMaybe youâll slowly grow a white beard, develop wrinkles. Iâve heard that boons gradually make the blessed ones resemble the high-level beings who granted them power, both mentally and physically.â
Amandina was startled. âCan I⊠not have that?â
âTry consuming corresponding pathway potions to see if it can counteract it,â Lumian said as he passed by Amandina and walked up the slope leading to the tomb chamber.
Amandina followed closely behind, lost in thought.
âŠ
Even until Lumian and Amandina left the underground catacombs, Franca, Jenna, and Anthony had not encountered Harrison, the visitor from Resurrection Island.
âHe didnât show up?â Franca frowned and said, âWas my deduction wrong? Is relying on the traits of characteristics alone not enough to achieve such powerful convergence? Or is it that only Angel-level high-sequence Beyonders can actively utilize the law of convergence?â
Jennaâs eyes shifted slightly as she thought for a moment before saying, âMaybe Harrison can sense this deliberate convergence and actively avoided itâŠ
Maybe, maybe heâs not from the Death, Darkness, or Twilight pathways. He has a deep understanding of death and is pursuing corresponding things and scenes, but that doesnât mean heâs a Beyonder of these pathways. What if heâs a scholar studying death?â
âItâs possible.â Franca sighed, âLetâs wait five more minutes, then weâll go after Lumian and Amandina.â
âŠ
Even until they all gathered at 9 Rue Orosai Apartment 702, Harrison from Resurrection Island still hadnât appeared.
âThank you all, I can provide help for you now,â Amandina said, looking at Franca.
Franca looked at the young girl who appeared somewhat tired from her terrifying experience and smiled, saying, âThereâs no rush. You should go back first. Once youâve adapted to your newly gained power and regained your bodyâs balance, weâll come again.
âBesides, itâs quite convenient to travel from Port Pylos to Trier.â
How is it convenient? Without using the mirror world or teleportation, it might take two or three months to arrive⊠Amandina grumbled silently, but accepted Francaâs suggestion.
Then, she was sent back by Lumian and the others using Black Tear to the mirror Franca had given her, and she emerged from it.
At this moment, it was still night outside, with servants occasionally passing by in the corridor.
Looking at her familiar bedroom, at the fountain pen on the desk and the pile of books, Amandina suddenly felt as if she had been away for many days and experienced too many things.
But it had only been half a night.
In this half night, she had completed a round trip using the mirror world, toured the prosperous Trier that was farther than any distant place, explored the underground catacombs featured in magazines, and witnessed the terrifying area around the Samaritan Womenâs Spring.
After savoring the experience for a while, Amandina sincerely sighed.
âHow amazing⊠A marvelous journeyâŠâ
âŠ
Inside Apartment 702 at 9 Rue Orosai.
Lumian tried to repeat the sounds Amandina had heard.
Franca listened intently, hesitating before saying, âIt seems to be⊠âBe careful, PenglaiââŠâ
âBe careful of Penglai? The Penglai divine mountain mentioned by the Armored Shadow? This doesnât have much practical meaning for usâŠâ Lumian said thoughtfully.
Jenna and Anthony both nodded.
âIndeed.â Franca quickly adjusted her mindset, âBut weâve at least achieved one of our goals. In a few days, we can bring Amandina to summon Armored Shadow!â
At that time, she planned to first try asking if it could understand the meaning of the text on Mr. Starâs information.
Just thinking about it was quite exciting!
After chatting idly for a while, Anthony, seeing that it was getting late, bid farewell and left to return to his own home.
Jenna looked at Franca pacing back and forth, then turned to Lumian and quietly pointed at herself.
Lumian slowly shook his head and pointed at himself.
After exchanging glances several times, Jenna, wearing her Vampire makeup, pursed her lips and said to Franca, âIâll make a move first.â
âMm.â Franca didnât say much, as she wanted to talk to Lumian alone about those ancient texts and the Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society.
After Jenna left, she sat down in the armchair and comfortably stretched her limbs.
She glanced at Lumian and asked curiously, âWhy donât you sit down?â
Lumian looked at Franca, unable to hold back another sigh. âI have something to tell you.â
Franca scrutinized Lumianâs expression suspiciously.
âAre you playing a prank? Youâre the type of person who would warn everyone in a joking tone even if a disaster was about to happen. No, youâre⊠youâre serious? Is it something very serious?â
Lumian had already used Black Tear to sense the various mirrors in the room, roughly confirming that the Demoness of Black wasnât watching.
He looked at Franca, instinctively wanting to force a smile to make himself seem a bit more relaxed, but he couldnât manage it.
Franca unconsciously sat up straight.
Lumian spoke in a low voice, âJenna asked me to help her digest the Pleasure potion.â