WCBD CH147

Chapter 147: Capturing Inspiration

Exactly two weeks had passed since parting with Chendo on March 1.

When Siles walked out of the railway station, before he even had time to look up at his surroundings, the explorer with gray hair, brown skin, and emerald eyes lunged forward to embrace him.

Siles froze for a moment, then smiled and embraced his lover in return.

“You have finally appeared. I wanted to…” Chendo muttered under his breath, though he didn’t dare voice the rest of his thought.

Siles held him for a moment before taking his hand. Only when their fingers interlaced did Chendo, who had suffered the bitter pangs of separation, settle down a bit.

Chendo stuck closely to Siles’s side, trailing him with cloying affection, as though wishing he could plaster himself entirely onto his beloved god to soak in that reassuring and intoxicating scent.

Only then did Siles have a moment to take in his surroundings.

Kansas inherently exuded a subtle sense of distance. This detachment stemmed from the quietness among the crowds coming and going. Even familiar companions traveling together rarely conversed, seemingly maintaining a polite distance at all times.

Siles couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of this distance; he could only chalk it up to still being an outsider, rendering the inner lives of Kansas natives elusive to him.

…Well, at the very least, Chendo was hardly a typical native of Kansas.

The cityscape of Kansas presented a fresher, more bustling facade. The buildings here were taller, and the pedestrians moved with greater urgency. Compared to Lamifa City, there was an added sense of busy, quiet oppression here.

The breath of spring had already blanketed Kansas unawares. Siles noticed that the people around them were no longer bundled in heavy winter wear. In fact, Siles himself had shed his sweaters, opting for simple inner wear beneath an overcoat.

Yet this prompted Chendo to murmur when taking his hand, “Your hand is a little cold.”

Siles chuckled. “You always say that during winter.”

“Because you don’t take proper care of your health,” Chendo declared righteously. “Do you remember that time you caught a cold?”

Siles was left speechless. He never imagined that, several months later, he would still be reminded of the time his negligence had allowed him to fall ill.

It had only been a minor cold, yet the reactions of those around him made it seem as though he had contracted a grave disease.

He replied helplessly, “I understand, Chendo.”

Chendo laughed and changed the subject. “The car is ready. Shall I take you for a ride?”

“A car?” Siles asked in surprise. “You mean a vehicle fueled by Stardust?”

“Yes,” Chendo replied. “Such vehicles are relatively common in Kansas, though I haven’t seen many in Konst.”

Siles nodded. “True. I saw one at Bertram’s place, though he rarely drives it.”

“Bertram? Ah, the merchant,” Chendo recalled. “Merchants traversing the Ashless Lands certainly hear of these vehicles. However, the limited yield of Stardust still restricts automotive development.”

They walked toward the curbside.

Siles remarked, “But I also wonder just how much Stardust actually exists in this world.”

It was the ashes of a god.

Siles had previously likened it to the petroleum of this alien world, but now it seemed the two were worlds apart. He couldn’t help but wonder: if Stardust was not analogous to petroleum, did “petroleum” even exist in this world?

The question also stirred a faint unease within him. The dice had once told him that the Fisher World was far more closely related to Earth than he realized, and the matter of energy resources clearly served as one such example.

This world harbored bizarre powers that Earth lacked; yet, if both worlds utilized energy in the same manner, to what extent were the two worlds truly similar?

Siles was curious about this, yet unsure whether the answer would be what he hoped to find.

They soon reached the car parked by the curb. It was far more handsome than the one Siles had seen at Bertram’s. It featured a white, streamlined body and meticulously designed seating, looking far less clunky and bloated overall.

Chendo explained, “You could say the Praia family is spearheading the popularization of these vehicles. Though only at a gradual pace, of course, as the technology still requires considerable refinement.”

Siles gave Chendo a rather peculiar look. It seemed the Praia family had evolved into a massive corporate dynasty in this alien world, with its reach extending across all aspects of daily life.

He kept the thought to himself while praising the car’s convenience and aesthetic. The compliment was genuine, for Siles certainly missed the ease and speed of automobiles back on Earth.

They got into the car, with Chendo taking the wheel. Even if Siles claimed he knew how to drive, Chendo likely wouldn’t trust him to wrangle this unfamiliar mechanical beast.

“Where are we heading now?” Siles couldn’t help but ask.

Cronin City was the current capital of the Duchy of Kansas. The roads here were wider than in Lamifa City, with horse-drawn carriages and the occasional automobile keeping to their respective lanes, creating an impression of high efficiency.

Chendo replied, “To eat, first. I imagine you must be hungry. I’ve reserved some local Kansas dishes for you; I hope you’ll like them. By the way, Madame Heidi arrives this evening. I’ve already arranged for someone to pick her up.

“So, we can meet with her tonight.”

He hesitated before adding, “I’m going to put her up in the guest room at the Praia family estate. Do you think that’s alright?”

Siles froze for a second, then said, “Of course, Chendo. You are completely free to arrange that.”

Chendo let out a breath of relief, then said affectionately, “I just felt that it is no longer merely my residence, but yours as well. So, if we are to host a guest, I felt I had to consult you.”

Siles finally understood. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Then it is I who am being too formal. What I mean is, Chendo, we are on the same page regarding this matter. After all, Madame Heidi is a guest.”

They both sensed an unfamiliar, slightly awkward newness. Looking out the window, Siles abruptly realized that they were about to integrate into each other’s lives far more deeply than before.

When discussing hosting a guest, they were both masters of the house—at least in terms of their relationship. That was why Chendo naturally sought his opinion. Siles simply hadn’t recognized the implication.

When it came to their relationship, Chendo always seemed a bit more perceptive than Siles.

It was a novel, delicate sensation—as if those soft, fuzzy emotions had brushed against unexpected corners of their lives and inner selves, bringing a tingling, numbing thrill.

Siles had to admit the feeling was strange, yet he didn’t resist it.

His response also put Chendo at ease. Since he was driving and couldn’t make any overt gestures, he simply murmured, “I understand what you mean. I mean… I love you.”

“I love you too,” Siles replied softly.

They soon arrived at a restaurant. Siles was fond of the stir-fried dishes there; they evoked a deeply nostalgic feeling of Earth. The flavors might have differed somewhat, but they hit the mark well enough.

This lifted his mood considerably. Chendo felt the same; his eyes remained fixed on Siles, radiating an intoxicating joy even without having touched a drop of alcohol.

The feeling was perhaps best described as… “the more I look at him, the more I like him”?

After the meal, they returned to the ancient estate of the Praia family.

It was virtually identical to the mansion in Chendo’s dream, save for looking a bit older and more archaic. It was a house that inherently gave off a faintly eerie vibe; even bathed in sunlight, that subtle sensation was hard to dispel.

Situated in the suburbs of Cronin City, the surroundings were remarkably open, imparting a sense of isolation from the world. Behind the estate to one side lay the cemetery Chendo had mentioned.

However, cemeteries in the Fisher World were less conspicuous than those on Earth. Looking out, Siles felt it resembled an open park meadow, simply lined with countless neatly arranged tombstones. Only then did he understand why Chendo needed to return here once every year.

Looking at the cemetery as well, Chendo belatedly realized something and couldn’t help asking, “Does the sight of this cemetery affect your mood?”

Siles paused, thought for a moment, and shook his head. “Whenever I think of how these are people who died in foreign lands, I feel…”

He trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished.

He simply felt a deep empathy. Perhaps one day, he too would die in a foreign land, never able to return to his homeland.

So he paused, then said instead, “It’s nothing, Chendo. Don’t worry.”

Chendo nodded, half in doubt.

He had merely realized that an ordinary person might not wish to rest beside a graveyard. However, neither he nor his beloved god could truly be considered ordinary; they both accepted the reality of it well enough.

So he breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless, this was still a place he had lived for a long time. He hoped Siles could spend a few comfortable days here before they returned to Lamifa City.

Chendo then led Siles to his own room. In the dream, the boundless cemetery lay just outside his room, but in reality, his windows didn’t face the cemetery to the rear flank; instead, they offered a view of the lush woods at the front of the estate and the wilderness beyond.

It felt as though one could catch a hint of spring in the air. All in all, the view was quite refreshing.

Just as Chendo had mentioned, the room held two beds. It looked somewhat comical, but considering the risks of two adult men sharing a room… it was honestly somewhat necessary, especially since Chendo was finding it increasingly difficult to restrain himself.

Then again, perhaps a lengthy wait could brew an even sweeter fruit.

Upon settling into the room, Siles took a hearty hot shower and changed his clothes. Chendo took his previous clothes to wash. There were very few people in this ancient mansion, and no servants at all.

According to Chendo, since he might only spend a few days here year-round, there was no need to keep staff on hand. Whenever he planned to return, he would simply have the Praia family send someone over to clean up.

As a result, they had to handle chores like washing clothes and changing bedsheets themselves. Fortunately, there was a chef in the kitchen, so they didn’t need to cook their own meals normally.

They hung the washed clothes out on the side utility balcony.

Siles remarked, “Perhaps after returning to Lamifa City, I should buy some new clothes to get through this spring and summer.”

“Then I want to buy the same ones as you,” Chendo said. “I still remember how that old man in the underground passage mistook me for you. Misunderstandings like that can be quite useful sometimes.”

Siles gave him a skeptical look and chuckled. “Chendo, you can be a bit more honest sometimes.”

Chendo glanced at the sky outside the window, then admitted frankly, “I just want to wear the same clothes as you. It makes us look more… matched.”

He enunciated the last word with profound earnestness.

Siles froze, thinking that the concept of “couple’s outfits” likely didn’t exist in this world. Yet Chendo had managed to invent an equivalent approach entirely on his own.

It made him feel a mix of endearing warmth and exasperated amusement.

Naturally, he was happy to indulge Chendo’s childishness in such trivial matters. It was part of the joy between lovers.

So they silently agreed on the matter of buying clothes. Come dinnertime, they cooked together, leaving the chef out of it. Chendo seemed rather proud of cooking personally, while Siles pondered the feasibility of hot pot and milk tea.

Well… hot pot was roughly equivalent to tossing everything into a stew, and milk tea was roughly steeping tea in milk.

No problem at all; a perfectly accurate summary. The Earth novelist, once spoiled by industrial production, thought calmly.

Chendo was quite baffled by Siles boiling tea leaves in milk, but the final product proved to taste quite good to him. Of course, he was liable to praise whatever Siles concocted.

Except, perhaps, for the tomato and egg pancake, where his praises might have missed the mark entirely.

After eating, they cleaned the kitchen and waited for Madame Heidi’s arrival. At eight o’clock, the astrologer arrived at the ancient Praia family estate by carriage under the cover of night.

Heidi was once again wearing her long gown embroidered with stars.

This attire seemed to signal that she had reclaimed her identity as an astrologer. However, the moment Siles noticed her expression, he knew that the situation had drastically changed.

There was a palpable panic in Heidi’s eyes, coupled with indignation. The faint anger was so pronounced that her pale complexion and trembling hands seemed to be the toll it exacted from her.

She sat silently across from Siles and Chendo, not speaking right away.

They were seated in the parlor of the ancient estate. The decor was understated yet elegant, with flickering candlelight casting their shadows against the walls. It felt as though they were holding a clandestine meeting.

Siles broke the silence first, saying, “Madame, it suddenly occurs to me that during our past few conversations, it has always been the three of us. Sitting face-to-face, discussing our pasts.”

Heidi froze for a moment, then offered a faint smile, as if feeling slightly relieved. She murmured softly, “Indeed.” After a pause, she took a deep breath and said, “Where should I begin?”

“Wherever you wish,” Siles said with a remarkably gentle demeanor. He could tell Heidi had learned something shocking, leaving her in a rather fragile mental state—certainly much worse than when they last met.

He even considered whether he should immediately perform a Will check on Heidi. But uncertain of what exact troubles the star map handkerchief had caused, he decided against acting rashly.

Heidi gradually calmed down. Perhaps the dim, quiet space offered her a measure of security.

She withdrew the star map handkerchief from her handbag.

Siles glanced at it, noticing that the originally golden threads on the star map handkerchief had been dyed dark red with blood. Set against the blue fabric, the smattering of bright red was exceptionally glaring.

He narrowed his eyes slightly as a flash of inspiration crossed his mind.

But Heidi chose that exact moment to speak.

“This has caused numerous bloodbaths,” Heidi said, her voice trembling.

Siles froze.

Chendo reflexively asked, “Numerous?”

“The incident on the Light of First Snow train that you told me about was only the first,” Heidi whispered. “Since then, this handkerchief has caused several more bloodbaths, one after another.

“The train conductor who obtained it, an explorer who heard the tale and grew curious, a merchant who mistook it for a treasure, a vagrant who believed it was a curse and tried to rid himself of it…

“They died in succession. The Biedel City railway station caught wind of this, which is why they searched for me everywhere until they finally made contact and returned the item to its rightful owner… They said they dared not keep it on their premises.”

Siles frowned and said, “But, Madame, is this object safe when kept with you?”

Heidi remained silent for a moment before replying, “Perhaps it is.”

Siles was rather surprised to hear this. To be precise, he had never heard of such a phenomenon before. Could a Time Trace actually recognize its master?

Recalling the powers of the circus and Heidi’s identity as an astrologer, he fell into thoughtful contemplation.

Perhaps this was a Time Trace exclusive to astrologers? If acquired by anyone else, it would become an out-of-control Time Trace; but once returned to an astrologer’s hands, the object functioned normally.

This seemed plausible.

A comparable example would be Siles’s dolls. He commanded Akamara’s power, allowing him to manipulate those dolls; if an unrelated person acquired them, they would undoubtedly suffer the dolls’ backlash.

Or take the dice of destiny, for instance. Aside from Siles, there was likely no one else in this world who could use the dice.

Because they were derivatives of a specific power.

…This would certainly explain the entire sequence of events. However, for Heidi, who wished to cast off the destiny of an astrologer, this was far from good news.

Unaware that Siles had already thought so far ahead, Heidi merely said, “I feel… this object, I mean… after returning to me, it has become… become… ‘docile’.”

As she spoke, her voice began to tremble.

She said, “Can you imagine that feeling? Something everyone treats like a plague. It feels as though it slaughtered all those people solely to draw my attention… It is horrifying, so horrifying it makes one…”

Furious.

She did not voice the word, but she clasped her trembling hands tightly together. The ordeal clearly left her overwhelmed with shock, lingering terror, unease, and a profound indignation stemming from empathy for her fellow mortals.

“So what do you plan to do with this thing?” Chendo asked with striking bluntness. “Keep it by your side forever? Or…”

Heidi pondered. After a moment, she said, “I wish to destroy it.”

The moment she spoke those words, a hush seemed to fall over the entire room. Siles almost instinctively glanced at the star map handkerchief. He thought to himself: Thank goodness this thing doesn’t possess sentience… Does it?

Heidi said, “The destiny of the circus folk is to become a part of the circus, and then die in the circus. Due to various circumstances, we managed to evade that destiny. Yet now, that destiny seems to have caught up with us.

“I do not wish for others to bear this toll as well. Therefore, I want everything to end with me. I want to try and destroy this object; if it cannot be destroyed, I will take it to the grave with me.

“Before that, I need to contact the others from the circus—the clown, the beast tamer, and the magician. They might not yet realize the severity of the situation. They each possess their own… ‘items.’ I must warn them of this.

“…So, after much thought, I realized the only people I should inform are you, as you have also been involved in matters concerning this star map. I believe you have a right to know. Furthermore, you have some understanding of the circus.

“We have been trapped—by this identity, this profession, this destiny. But we cannot remain trapped forever. Even if it means death… even if it means death…”

Her voice trailed off, but her expression gradually smoothed into calm resolve. She said, “Yes. Even if it means death, I will ensure everything ends with me.”

Her gaze fixed upon the star map, as though locked in a standoff with the object. Then, she snatched up the handkerchief and shoved it into her handbag. She took a deep breath.

The room fell silent for a time.

Siles gathered his thoughts and said, “Madame, I believe you might consider contacting the Church of the Past. To my knowledge, they possess specialized methods for handling out-of-control Time Traces.

“This star map may harbor certain peculiarities, but seeking the Church of the Past to ascertain its true nature is also a viable approach. There is no need for you to view death as a… tactic. Life is always the most precious thing.”

Heidi offered a strained smile and said thoughtfully, “The Church of the Past? Indeed. Having lived in the Ashless Lands my entire life, I know remarkably little of Antinam. I will contact them… The Church of the Past in Lamifa City?”

Siles nodded, adding, “That is likely the church closest to Antinam.”

…Yes, naturally. For Antinam was born in the town of Merlyn in Lamifa City.

“I understand,” Heidi said softly. “Thank you. Regardless, that is indeed a solution.”

Siles remained silent.

He hoped Heidi would not treat her own death so lightly, as though it were merely a means of resistance. Yet he felt a strange inability to voice such thoughts, as if doing so would be an act of cowardice.

He understood Heidi’s sentiment. This star map handkerchief had caused so much bloodshed, simply because it had been separated from her.

Was she supposed to track down an heir to the astrologer’s mantle before her death, or pass this handkerchief on to an astrologer in some Ashless Lands circus?

Perhaps she would have gladly done so in the past; after all, that was how she had come into it herself. But now, she realized that doing so merely passed the burden onto someone else.

This was the destiny of the circus, and the destiny of the astrologer. But why must such a destiny be passed on? Why couldn’t the chain of destiny end with her?

She had once chosen to turn a blind eye to sin, yet now she would rather use her own death to halt its perpetuation.

…Heidi closed her eyes briefly, finally murmuring as if making a dark jest, “Countless people have sought me out, hoping I could observe the trajectory of their destinies for them. Yet in the end, I cannot even see my own destiny clearly, let alone the destinies of thousands of others in this world.”

Siles looked at her deeply. He said, “But there is no need to see all of the future clearly.”

Heidi froze.

“In whose hands do you believe destiny should rest?” Siles asked.

Gazing at his beloved god, Chendo silently chanted an answer in his heart.

Yet he knew Siles would not appreciate such an answer, just as he knew what answer Siles hoped to hear. So, he could only sigh inwardly and bury his true answer deep within his heart.

Heidi pondered for a long time before offering hesitantly, “The gods?”

Siles smiled briefly and said, “But are the gods truly guaranteed to determine your destiny according to your wishes?”

Heidi stared at him blankly. At last, she said slowly, “Oneself?”

“Yes,” Siles said softly. “To me, rather than believing in gods, it is better to believe in oneself. Holding destiny in one’s own hands is the most reassuring and worthy path.”

Heidi thought for a moment, then let out a wry smile. “Your thoughts are even bolder than mine. I merely wish to alter the destiny of myself and the circus folk, while you… you wish for this world to break free from the gods’ control.”

“Why not?” Siles asked.

He had witnessed the developmental trajectory of another world. Humanity in that world might hold religious beliefs, but those beliefs were merely products of humanity itself. There, mortals determined the gods, not the other way around.

In the Fisher World, the situation was slightly different, but not to an exaggerated degree.

Most of the Old Gods had already fallen, leaving only Antinam and the unknown “Shadow.” True, this world remained shrouded in shadow and mist, but what of the future?

The past guides the future, but it never dictates it. Only the present decides the future.

Siles’s matter-of-fact rhetorical question left Heidi stunned. She lowered her eyes in thought for a moment before saying helplessly, “You have convinced me. Regardless, to achieve anything, one must at least possess such a mindset to begin with.”

On this point, both Siles and Chendo nodded in agreement.

The topic concluded for the time being. Heidi mentioned she planned to first locate the other circus members, then travel to Lamifa City to seek out the Church of the Past, to see if they had a way to resolve the matter of the star map handkerchief.

Following that, they shifted the conversation to the mysterious Mr. Dryson.

Heidi said, “After the House of Hales collapsed, many of the original explorers, merchants, and shopkeepers left the House of Hales in succession to make a living elsewhere. However, some remained at what is now the Firebird Waystation.

“There are such people in Biedel City as well, along with some former administrators of the House of Hales. I contacted them and gleaned some information from them.

“…This mysterious Mr. Dryson truly does exist.”

Here, Heidi paused.

“But?” Siles prompted.

A flicker of a peculiar emotion crossed Heidi’s eyes as she said, “But… hardly anyone has any impression of him.”

Both Siles and Chendo froze.

Chendo asked in confusion, “You mean everyone knows he exists, but… he’s like a shadow, completely escaping notice?”

“Yes,” Heidi said. “It is the same for me. When you asked me about the surname ‘Dryson’ before, I had a vague impression, but couldn’t quite remember what sort of person he was or what he did at the House of Hales.

“And when I asked others, their reactions were largely identical. It seemed such a person existed, that there truly was a ‘Dryson,’ but no one remembered his role or identity at the House of Hales.”

“…An invisible man,” Siles murmured.

Heidi took a deep breath, her tone trembling with a hint of fear. “Yes. Exactly that. Like… an unknown shadow.”

“At least you all retain some residual impression of him,” Siles said consolingly.

Heidi smiled bitterly. “Sir, do you not find that even more terrifying?”

Siles considered this and found himself at a loss for words.

Indeed, compared to an unknown invisible man, a universally acknowledged mystery man who left absolutely no impression on anyone seemed far more dangerous. Because that meant there truly was someone observing this world from the dark.

Yet everyone could only realize it in hindsight.

However, this description also gave Siles a slight sense of surprise.

He meant, this fit perfectly with the concept of the “Shadow,” did it not?

Unknown gods and Their unknown believers, all concealed in shadows. They might be faintly noticed, but they always remained hidden in the dark.

Heidi added, “However, although people retained no impression of him, I did receive one piece of information: he vanished right after the House of Hales fell.

“Some say he died in that great fire; others say they saw Dryson leave alone… Accounts vary. You mentioned he might have passed away, and that is certainly a possibility.”

Siles nodded, then asked, “Do any of these rumors contain personal information about him?”

Heidi thought for a moment before answering uncertainly, “Perhaps… perhaps he was an elderly man? I cannot be sure either. But some said it was normal for a man his age to die… However, that phrasing seems rather vague as well.”

Siles was not surprised by this. That was Herd Dryson’s granduncle; going by age, he would be around sixty.

“…Oh, right, there is one more thing,” Heidi suddenly remembered. “The person who saw Dryson leave alone said he headed north, because…

“Because he was wearing heavy clothing. The weather wasn’t that cold yet, so the person wondered why he was bundled up so warmly, thinking perhaps he was heading north. This thought left a slight impression, so he casually mentioned it to me.”

Siles nodded in sudden realization.

North. That was indeed a possibility. If the Dryson family truly was connected to the “Shadow,” then the Fuliou Sea to the north was very likely Dryson’s ultimate destination.

Moreover, the letter he wrote to his family also instructed Herd to head for a lighthouse by the sea in the north.

Perhaps during this entire sequence of events, something that occurred near the northern sea was the true reason that drove this mysterious Dryson to send that letter?

Chendo interjected timely, “In that case, it seems necessary for us to investigate whether any major events occurred in the northern reaches of the Ashless Lands over the past period.”

Both Siles and Heidi nodded in agreement.

Afterward, Heidi showed signs of fatigue. She had been traveling for days, her nerves constantly taut. Thus, she bade farewell to Siles and Chendo, retiring alone to the guest room to rest.

Siles remained with Chendo to continue discussing the matter.

“So, the most likely sequence of events is: the incident at the House of Hales occurred, Dryson decided to head to the northern sea to investigate, encountered other matters there, and ultimately sent that letter?” Chendo analyzed.

Siles said, “The question then is, does the incident at the House of Hales have any definitive connection to the Fuliou Sea and the ‘Shadow’?”

“Perhaps because of the ‘Shadow’?” Chendo guessed. “Hoodoka’s domain is the ‘Shadow Side of the World’. Perhaps He has some connection to this ‘Shadow’ deity.”

Siles pondered for a moment, but couldn’t help shaking his head.

Hoodoka’s divine domain, Lusmi’s tenet that “beneath the light, there must be a shadow,” and the speculation that the “Island Whale” was highly likely Timiafa’s paradise—all these details linked these Old Gods to the “Shadow.”

But the question remained: why would such connections exist?

The “Shadow” was a later god. Aldous Gershwin had once said, “The later gods could never defeat the earliest gods.” The “Shadow” was only able to achieve this through some specific method.

Given Aldous’s family origins, his information ought to be accurate. Yet the information itself was like a puzzle; the underlying answer was vastly complex and difficult to unravel.

Siles said, “Perhaps we still need more information.” He paused, then changed the subject. “What is the situation in the Tauohetia Cemetery?”

“I still haven’t found the oar.” Chendo frowned in confusion. “I’m even beginning to suspect the oar might be something else entirely, not an actual oar like in reality.”

Siles looked thoughtful. After a moment, he said, “Why don’t you peruse the Praia family archives?”

Chendo froze.

“Since the divine texts mention the ‘Dark Sea’, they might also mention corresponding ‘boats,’ ‘oars,’ and so on. It’s just that before you discovered the Tauohetia Cemetery, you didn’t realize the importance of this information,” Siles said calmly.

Chendo’s eyes lit up in realization, and he immediately said, “You make a fair point.” He checked the time; their conversation with Heidi had lasted nearly an hour and a half, and it was now approaching ten o’clock. He suggested, “It’s too late today; let’s rest first.

“Shall we visit the Praia family library together tomorrow?”

“Of course,” Siles laughed. “I can hardly wait.”

Seeing his smile, Chendo felt delighted as well. Yet at the same time, he sighed inwardly. When, he wondered, would his beloved god ever be “hardly able to wait” for him?

…Still, he was self-aware enough not to voice such thoughts, knowing full well he already presented a rather childish image in Siles’s eyes.

Of course, from another perspective, his beloved god embraced his imperfections. This realization filled him with smug satisfaction and deep contentment.

Fingers intertwined with Siles’s, they returned to the bedroom—separate beds, of course.

__

Early the next morning, they headed to the dining room for breakfast and happened to run into Heidi.

“Good morning to you both.” Heidi’s expression looked much brighter, and she greeted them with a smile. “I was just planning to bid you farewell.”

Siles was taken aback and said, “You have been traveling for days; why not rest here for a while?”

Heidi shook her head, saying, “I must return to the Ashless Lands as soon as possible to find the clown and the others. I believe it’s highly likely they haven’t realized the severity of the situation. If anything goes wrong, it would be disastrous.”

Siles had no choice but to agree reluctantly.

However, Heidi did stay to share breakfast with them. She spoke of matters in the Ashless Lands and conversed more casually about her past.

Siles was somewhat curious about the identity of an astrologer. He chose his words carefully, asking, “Madame, if you don’t mind my asking, yesterday you mentioned that many people once came to you for help divining their destinies?”

“Yes,” Heidi said. “Sounds utterly absurd, doesn’t it? This world has no god governing destiny; if there truly were one, then perhaps that god, their believers, proxies, and those they bless could divine someone’s destiny.

“But I am none of those. I can merely observe the trajectories of the stars, and even that relies on this star map handkerchief. People hear of the stars’ trajectories and then map their own destinies onto them; that is simply their customary practice.”

Siles nodded, asking with some confusion, “The trajectories of the stars—does this concept relate to Lusmi?”

The question gave Heidi pause. She thought for a moment before answering, “Yes, of course. However… I mean, people’s faith in Lusmi seems confined more to concepts like ‘light’ and ‘hope’, rather than… the vast external universe.”

“That is true,” Siles murmured softly.

Lusmi’s former divine kingdom, the “Empire of Radiant Light” during the Age of Empire, had once sought to explore the universe in that era. But that exploration was more akin to… them believing the stars in the sky were Lusmi’s dwelling place, so they sought to draw closer to the god.

As for the trajectories of the stars, they might have studied such things, but only as a minor aspect of Lusmi’s power—an aspect that was largely overlooked.

Heidi once again brought out the star map handkerchief. The specks of blood looked somewhat unsettling, but thankfully they had already finished their breakfast.

Heidi pointed out the name of each star on the star map for them. Both Siles and Chendo listened with keen interest, as this was a field they had never explored.

It should be noted that the development of physics in this world was stagnant, and the disparity with ordinary people was vast. For ordinary people, the most accessible profession related to the cosmos was actually that of an astrologer like Heidi.

Heidi explained, “Believers of Lusmi focus more on the sun, because the sun brings us light. But astrologers like me observe the movements of all the stars, treating them equally.”

Her fingers moved across the handkerchief’s fabric, rattling off the names of the stars embroidered with golden threads above as if listing family treasures.

Gradually, Siles’s mind began to wander.

He gazed at the golden threads stained red with blood, connected together to form the radiance and trajectories of the stars. The universe was vast and empty, and the starlight filled the silent, dark space.

The golden threads intricately intertwined, forming a massive, complex star map, much like…

A spiderweb.

…A spiderweb?