Carol Houseman’s pocket was like a treasure trove.
At the last gathering, he’d pulled a knowledge box from his pocket. This time, it was a small leaf.
…A leaf?
Siles had considered many possible chronological traces that could create a breeze—like a fan or a piece of paper—but when Carol produced this ordinary, still-fresh green leaf that looked as if it had been casually picked up from the street, Siles was momentarily stunned.
Carol indeed said: “This is a leaf I randomly picked up from the street before coming here.” He then pulled out a handful of leaves from his pocket and said, “You can use these for practice shortly.”
He glanced at the expressions of these newly initiated Revelators and laughed: “Do you think such chronological traces are too ordinary and commonplace?”
Angela looked at that ordinary green leaf and said: “I thought the ritual would seem more… mysterious?”
“Of course. There are certainly very mysterious—or rather, high-end—rituals. However, you’ve just started. This is your first time attempting a Revelator’s methods, so you must be careful.” Carol’s tone was quite tolerant.
Everyone present nodded.
Then Carol pulled a small glass bottle from his pocket. He focused on examining the markings on this dark brown glass bottle, then took six teacups from the side and poured an equal small amount into each cup.
The six novice Revelators each took their portion and drank it down in one gulp.
That small mouthful of potion looked like clear, slightly blue liquid, but once it entered the mouth, it became slippery like gel, carrying a faint mint-like coolness, and swiftly slid down the throat.
In that instant, Siles felt his spirits lift. Then, the entire world seemed to become somewhat different. Clearly, it was still the same as before, but… but…
It was like a person accustomed to nearsightedness suddenly putting on glasses. The whole world became clear and visible—even the dust in the air was minutely discernible, as if one could reach out and touch it.
The next second, Siles discovered this feeling didn’t seem to stop at mere sensation.
At this moment, the people around him also emanated a faint blue glow. For novice Revelators like Siles, the blue light on their bodies was extremely weak. If not for their proximity at this time, Siles probably wouldn’t have noticed this faint radiance at all.
However, on Carol’s body, this light appeared soft, rich, and stable. Such radiance was like a thin film of light covering Carol’s body.
When Siles’s gaze moved to Carol, he detected a peculiar feeling, as if…
The dice in his mind made a soft rolling sound.
Siles snapped back to attention, his face showing no ripples while his heart was filled with doubt and uncertainty.
…Could he now designate someone present for a check?
After drinking the potion, this feeling he’d already experienced in the book vendor’s market became stronger and more assured—as if in this state, he could obtain more information.
That premonition of being a Keeper became more intense and full of temptation. Siles forced himself to look away from Carol. After a moment, once his emotions stabilized, he looked at Carol again.
Carol hadn’t noticed Siles’s abnormality at all. He continued smiling as he told them: “This small mouthful of potion you drank can maintain two hours of ritual time.
“Generally speaking, a qualified Revelator will carry sufficient amounts of potion, constantly replenishing to ensure they’re always in ritual time—though of course, they occasionally rest.
“As beginners, you can try serving yourself potion during a fixed period each day to experience the feeling of ritual time. You’ll feel the world has become clearer, won’t you?”
After receiving everyone’s agreement, Carol nodded with satisfaction: “This is precisely due to the potion’s effect. The potion makes it easier for you to trigger the ritual’s power.”
“Easier?” The young man who always seemed impatient suddenly asked. His name was Brewer Darrow, apparently a young noble who treated Miss Clayton far better than others. “Pardon me, but does that mean even after taking the potion, the ritual might still fail?”
“Of course.” Carol nodded. “The success of every ritual requires hundreds or thousands of practices, and a bit of luck.”
“…Luck?”
Carol said: “Because no one can guarantee that what you know is necessarily true and correct, can they?”
Brewer Darrow seemed somewhat surprised. He instinctively wanted to pursue the question but ultimately restrained himself, only nodding: “Thank you for the explanation.”
Carol said: “Alright, we can discuss questions about ritual time later. Now, we must continue attempting the initiation ritual.”
The other Revelators also nodded.
Only in the heart of Siles Noel did towering waves surge.
Why hadn’t Carol mentioned anything about that layer of blue aura covering their bodies? Could it be that only he could see this scene? Why…?
Because he was a Keeper? Because of that dice?
Was that dice his golden finger?
Siles couldn’t help but take a deep breath to calm his slightly agitated emotions.
Mrs. Fuller beside him said: “Truly profound knowledge, isn’t it?”
Siles replied quietly: “Yes, Mrs. Fuller.” He added: “I really hope to master such power soon.”
Mrs. Fuller, with the kind of kindness unique to the elderly, looked at Siles peacefully.
Siles didn’t know what meaning that glance contained. He turned to look at Carol.
Carol was already explaining the ritual process: “Wind brushes past leaves, leaves stir up tiny winds—air currents. This is common knowledge. To recreate this process, we must first create that initial breeze.”
As he spoke, he casually waved his hand in front of the leaf he was holding.
The next second, something marvelous happened. Everyone could feel a weak breeze coming from nowhere, gently brushing past their cheeks.
“Oh! There really is wind!” Angela exclaimed. “But that leaf didn’t move at all!”
“Yes, of course, Miss Clayton.” Carol explained gently. “Because this is merely a chronological trace, an anchoring point for positioning. It’s not this leaf creating the wind, but the power of the past manifesting in the present.”
“But… but…” Angela stammered. “How did this happen? Why is it just…”
“The potion pried open time’s door, the chronological trace positioned time’s node, and the ritual recreated the event’s process.” Carol said. “This is a complete stage, and the final stage is—the Revelator guides time’s power.”
Carol turned to Angela: “Miss Clayton, please pick up a leaf.”
Angela complied, picked up the leaf, then looked at Carol impatiently.
Carol said: “Try using your hand, slowly, slowly, wave it in front of the leaf.”
Angela cautiously placed her palm before the leaf and carefully moved her fingers… Suddenly, she cried out.
“What happened?” The young boy, Darrell Hobbs, couldn’t help asking. “What’s going on?”
“It’s, it’s… there’s a kind of…” Angela couldn’t quite articulate it. “Try it yourselves, and you’ll know!”
After speaking, she ignored everyone, extremely delighted to hold that small leaf, turned halfway around, and tirelessly waved her hand back and forth in front of the leaf.
Carol smiled tolerantly and said: “Alright, everyone, take a leaf and try. Be careful not to attempt it near others to avoid accidents.”
The six novice Revelators each took a leaf and retreated to various corners of the room to secretly practice.
Siles was somewhat distracted. While others were still desperately waving their leaves, he only lightly waved his palm in front of his leaf, felt a gentle breeze brush his cheek, then stopped.
He could detect that sensation.
He could sense… that certain power dormant within his body, carrying a cool quality—that blue radiance, when he made the waving motion, followed his action and flowed into his palm, then entered the leaf.
He could even sense that the blue radiance seemed to subtly change direction. Although when he waved, he faced the leaf’s tip, the blue radiance ultimately flowed into the leaf’s stem.
Then, a softer blue glow accompanied by a breeze flashed before him.
Siles immediately stopped, feeling bored.
…What was this blue radiance? Beginner protection? A tutorial?
Before attempting this ritual, he’d thought this blue film symbolized their respective powers. But now it seemed this was probably the potion they’d taken—or rather, the power of time.
Because these few novice Revelators had taken less potion, the glow on their bodies was relatively faint. But Carol, this Revelator, having probably been in ritual time for a relatively long period, had rich blue radiance on his body.
Siles felt his yearning for being a Revelator, his curiosity about power, had been affected by this damned blue radiance.
He sighed softly.
“Mr. Noel, what’s wrong? Did you fail?” Carol happened to come to Siles’s side at this moment. Hearing Siles’s sigh, he couldn’t help asking.
Siles shook his head and said: “No, I succeeded.”
“Then why…”
Carol asked why he was sighing, but when he looked up at Siles, he couldn’t help being puzzled by the faint regret in those dark eyes.
Siles hesitated, naturally unable to speak his true thoughts. He only asked: “I was wondering, why can’t the wind’s direction be changed?”
Carol looked at him strangely and said something similar to what Grenfield had said when evaluating Siles. He said: “Mr. Noel, I think the people in the Research Department would welcome you.”
Siles fell into subtle silence.
Carol answered Siles’s question: “Mr. Noel, the other day you also said the prerequisite for ritual success is knowing exactly what happened at that time.” He reached out and flicked the leaf in Siles’s hand. “And this leaf can only do so much.”
Siles thought for a moment and said: “Then if I used a leaf from when a storm struck, couldn’t that create a strong wind?”
Carol: “…”
He was silent for a moment, finally patting Siles’s shoulder: “Believe me, the Research Department really is a good place.”
Siles remained silent, feeling he’d paid quite a price to conceal the existence of this blue radiance.
Then Carol said in a joking tone: “However, your suggestion is indeed worth trying. You can attempt more in the future—regarding leaves and wind.”
Siles nodded.
He realized that within the Historical Society, research and exploration by Revelators seemed relatively open. However, why would Carol describe some of those outside Revelators as “speculators”?
Siles couldn’t help feeling puzzled.
