Shard asked a question related to his own origin, thinking that the possible outcos might be "the crystal ball exploded, and I got double coins" or "the divination yielded results, revealing so details about the collapse of the Ancient Moon Tower in the Karas Mountains in the spring of 1853".
But this ti, Shard was completely mistaken. Within less than a second of waiting, a genderless voice, hissing like a snake, softly whispered in his ear:
"Mist parted, the past revealed: You appeared because of an absolutely impossible accident, you appeared due to the confusion of the collapse of ti and space, you appeared because of soone’s desperate wish, you appeared because of a series of errors. Audience beneath the stage, welco to your arrival."
A mont of astonishnt:
"What?"
Shard was entirely unprepared to actually hear anything substantive. The mont the voice fell, he couldn’t believe what he had heard. As his thoughts raced, he didn’t even pause to consider what he had heard before he imdiately tried to place the last two coins in his hand on the balance again:
"I want to continue the div... "
But this ti, the shadow sitting behind the table moved faster. It lifted the crystal ball and its base, then stood up, making a gesture indicating it was ti to leave.
Shard, shocked, held the coins and watched this scene. Miss Higgins, standing behind him, dared not ask more questions, fearing she might hear sothing she shouldn’t:
"It seems like the divination is over. Let’s go."
She gently reminded, and Shard unconsciously nodded, still mulling over the words:
"What is ant by an impossible accident? A confusion caused by the collapse of ti and space? Soone’s desperate wish? A series of errors? There must be a reason I, as an Outlander, arrived in this world!"
Originally, he had known that "crossing over" was most likely due to so absolutely impossible accident, but hearing the divination made him realize that besides the accident, there was likely another reason behind it.
The good news was, if the divination was correct, his arrival was definitely not so sche by an existence like the Ancient God, nor was it to place him as a pawn in the chaotic Sixth Era. Furthermore, this was not his ho planet Earth, just after millions of years.
However, Shard was quite puzzled, as these four sentences in the divination results seed completely unrelated to last spring’s tower.
Yet, regardless, this was the first ti he had learned so much about the reason for his being here. Just from these four sentences, this adventure in the "Black Mist Camp" was more valuable than most of his Ti Key adventures.
The face of the Demon was indeed correct; he could surely gain many pieces of information in this camp that he wouldn’t hear elsewhere.
"Wait, could this be a trap deliberately arranged by a demon to lure into spending? No, even if it were a demon, they wouldn’t be able to casually arrange an Unclassified Level Relic."
As he pondered, he had already joined Grandma Miles, who had removed her earplugs, and followed Miss Higgins out of the tent.
The Witch did not disturb his contemplation, but at this mont the "her" in his ear suddenly spoke:
[Outlander, "why I was born, why I am ’’, is the ultimate question that all life seeks answers to.]
"I know, so..."
[You are exploring your origin; you have embarked on your own Demigod Road.]
Shard paused for a mont, though it was another surprise, this ti the information was not as shocking as what he had heard earlier:
"Wait, what does this have to do with the Demigod? Besides, I’m only at Six Rings, far from the Thirteen Rings."
Moreover, Shard wasn’t particularly interested in becoming a Demigod; he aspired to beco a God.
The experiences at the Silver Snow Mountain and Chloe’s Demigod Road made Shard vaguely understand that the Demigod Road for every witch is different. And although a Demigod remains a mortal, the significance it represents is definitely not sothing mortals can compare to.
He was unsure whether he needed to beco a Demigod after the Thirteen Rings, as the "Path of the Twelve Divinities" leads directly to Godhood at the Thirteen Rings. But seeing as there is an additional possibility, he was still quite pleased.
"Her" tip stopped there without providing a detailed explanation of the so-called "Demigod Road", as if once Shard figured out his origin, he could suddenly beco a Demigod. But whether or not to achieve Demigod, Shard would surely continue to explore why he ca here.
He had originally believed that without becoming a God, he wouldn’t know the answer to this question, but unexpectedly, the Black Mist Camp had such a surprise in store. This also ant that even without becoming a God, there would be more opportunities to unravel his mysteries. And who knows, similar opportunities might exist within the Black Mist Camp.
After experiencing the unexpected event in the Divination House, the subsequent journey turned out to be particularly smooth. The absent-minded Shard even felt that it only took a few steps for Miss Higgins to lead all three of them to their final destination, the location where the demon had guided Grandma Miles to the rchant.
Although Shard was still thinking about whether what had just happened was a "consumption trap" set by the demon, he still looked at the goods in front of this rchant.
There were a total of five items on the stall. Two visible ones were a fist-sized heart soaking in liquid and a constantly rotating golden Demon Eye.
The other three items were shrouded in black mist, and only after Grandma Miles proposed a transaction did they reveal their appearances. This ti, there was no need for a choice of three or two, as Shard and Miss Higgins each recognized an item:
"Demon Hunting Seal?"
Sure enough, where there’s involvent with demons, you’re likely to encounter such relics.
"Oh! Infant Fruit!"
The item Miss Higgins recognized was a pink fruit on a tray. Its appearance was that of a curled-up infant, except there was a green stem at the top of its bald head.
Shard had never heard of this thing. Miss Higgins explained excitedly:
"Though it’s a relic derivative, it’s a good item. Infant Fruit, nad after its appearance, can only be produced in small quantities after a relic tree species called ’Tree of Immortality’ successfully crosses an Era.
When consud fully, there’s a 2% chance of pregnancy, regardless of gender, and ineffective on witches;
A 12% chance for the body and soul to return to the age of 18, without erasing soul mory and muscle mory, remaining forever at age 18 until death. If consud when under 18, it takes effect after growing to 18;
There’s a 19% chance of gaining the ability to manipulate plants, and the person can convert sunlight into spirit, similar to the Witch’s Secret Arts [Photosynthesis] and the secret technique of Ancient Druids, which needs no further explanation;
A 33% chance to extend life by 300 years, and the recovery speed of spirit approaches infinite, which is tempting to everyone;
There’s another 33% chance that the body will acquire the following trait: after mating with the opposite sex, both sides will gain a small power boost, though this increase has a limit and can’t exceed racial limitations. If the offspring are female, they will surely awaken as a witch with remarkable talent;
The last 1% chance results in imdiate death. Regardless of the traits exhibited by the Infant Fruit, the consur’s body will turn into a seedling of the ’Tree of Immortality’ after death, probably how this relic tree species propagates."
She explained in one breath, then hesitantly looked at the fruit, unable to resist contemplating whether she should buy it, even knowing she shouldn’t spend more.
Although Shard brought news and danger of coins to his companions, this camp had ways to make visiting guests voluntarily surrender their entire "existence." Shard himself had encountered this "consumption trap" just now.
Miss Higgins initially had 23 coins, and with 17 spent last ti and 2 this ti, only 4 are left, casting doubt on whether she can buy the fruit before her.
As for Grandma Higgins, she focused on the third item that neither Shard nor the witch could recognize, which was evidently her target this ti.
It was a tattered notebook. Sohow, Shard thought of the Angel-Level Relic [Puppeteer’s Notes], but this was clearly not it. The notebook had a blue cover, with curled edges, and the blue had faded into patchy spots.
Because it’s a notebook, there was no title on the cover, making it impossible to understand what it was.
Before Shard and gan could make a move, Old Lady Miles eagerly placed the balance on the table:
"I want this."
She actually placed all six of her coins on it, tilting the balance towards her. The witch hurriedly removed two coins for her, and the balance returned to equilibrium.
The old woman reached for the notebook on the table, then, in a daze, followed Shard and Miss Higgins, who steadfastly decided not to be tempted, back to the campfire site.
The camp was empty, and the boy who previously returned early was nowhere to be seen. As for the giant demon face constructed from coins, it was also missing, likely hiding in the bonfire. Given how swiftly they acted, their torches were still bright, sparing them from hastily running back like last ti.
After the three sat by the fire, Mrs. Miles ward herself by the flas, while Shard and the witch examined the notebook she had bought. As they quickly flipped through, they found only blank pages, except on the last page, written in calligraphy Shard could recognize—
"If my mory cannot hold onto her, please record her story."
"mories will always fade. But by writing them down on paper, if you’re lucky, perhaps past mories can last longer."
After hearing Shard’s translation, Miss Higgins sighed and then revealed to Shard what it was.
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