Gawain could essentially confirm that those figures shrouded in black mist who appeared in the fragnts of the eting, those who once sailed with Gawain Cecil, were likely a group of Storm Child cultists who hadn’t been completely consud by madness and obsession.
Of course, at that ti, they could still be called "Storm Clerics."
This aligns with his previous reasoning: seven hundred years ago, when all kinds of advanced human magic skills were failing, the only ones who could help Gawain Cecil complete that mysterious voyage were the Storm Clerics, who mastered various oceanic Divine Arts.
And based on the tiline calculation, when Gawain began that mysterious voyage, the three major religions should have already completed the ritual on Ancestral Peak and fallen into chaos.
So who was it at the ti that protected the rationality of so Storm Children, enabling them to complete Gawain Cecil’s mysterious voyage?
Portable lamp...
Gawain could only think of one na: Selena Gerfen.
The mory of that portable lamp was very vague, yet it evoked a strong sense of familiarity and intimacy, a feeling stemming from Gawain Cecil, indicating that the image of the "portable lamp" had left a deep impression in the latter’s mory. Although Selena Gerfen’s figure was not seen on the small boat at the ti, since that portable lamp hung at the front of the boat... perhaps it symbolized that Selena Gerfen’s "power" was accompanying Gawain Cecil during that ti in so supernatural form.
Gawain rubbed his temples, recalling a piece of intelligence previously sent to him by Daniel—
Although the specific ti and details of Selena Gerfen’s death were unclear, it was basically confird from the materials that could be accessed by Archbishops-level priests that the "Maiden of the Church of Dreams" died shortly after the Ancestral Peak ritual. The cause of death was martyrdom, protecting a large number of Church of Dreams priests and followers with her life.
If not for her martyrdom, the later remnants of the "Eternal Sleepers" cult might not have survived: specializing in ntal powers due to the nature of Divine Arts, the Church of Dreams mbers’ link with the gods was much closer and more direct. With Bishop gal III being the first to enter the kingdom of God and face the divine directly, the impact on Church of Dreams mbers was also far more severe than the other two churches.
Since Selena protected most of the Church of Dreams mbers at the ti, then... if she still had extra strength, it’s possible she "incidentally" sheltered so Storm Clerics temporarily.
The tifra for Gawain Cecil’s voyage is not precise but it certainly occurred after the establishnt of the Anzu Kingdom, when the defenses of the southern borders were basically stable, and the rear could be entrusted with peace of mind.
From the tiline deduction, Selena Gerfen should have already died as a martyr by then. In the mory, only the portable lamp appeared, but not Selena Gerfen’s figure, and perhaps this is the reason—Selena "herself" did not appear in front of Gawain Cecil at that ti.
She protected that exploration team in the form of a soul, and the so-called portable lamp was probably just a symbolic impression left in Gawain Cecil’s subconscious mind.
Gawain’s eyes grew somber: if this were true, then this matter becos interesting.
He had always been searching for the clues from that mysterious voyage, trying to find records left by those who sailed with Gawain Cecil or traces of their descendants, yet has yielded no results. He thought those companions had been thoroughly erased over those seven hundred years, cutting off succession, but now it seems there is still a biggest firsthand witness "alive," living in the ntal network.
Could Selena Gerfen know the secrets of that year? If she knew... did she know the connection between Gawain Cecil and Gawain? Know the possible "soul transaction" that might exist?
Gawain Cecil made a deal with his soul, completed during that mysterious voyage. If Selena was indeed following along in so form on the ship at the ti, then she must have known sothing.
She probably knew for a long ti that Gawain Cecil’s soul had already been replaced, well before the notion of a "Wanderer from Outer Realm" appeared, well before Gawain rose from the coffin.
Yet from the intelligence feedback within the Eternal Sleepers cult, she seed to have never shown this, acting like soone completely uninford, also referring to Gawain as a "Wanderer from Outer Realm" along with other followers... Was this intentional? To cover sothing? Or waiting for sothing?
And based on the final part of the mory, a Storm Cleric said, "after a while everyone will forget anyway," Gawain speculated that this voyage’s mory might also have been sealed by Selena Gerfen: as the most powerful Transcendent in the field of soul and dreams besides Bishop gal III at that ti, she was fully capable of doing this.
What was her reason for sealing this mory? And judging by the situation, she also sealed the mories of every mber of that team at the ti—would retaining this mory have any hidden dangers? Leak secrets? Leak to whom? Who could pry these secrets from a legendary powerhouse’s mory?
Gawain had hazy conjectures but dared not take them seriously due to the lack of evidence.
Victoria just patiently waited across from him, knowing Gawain was pondering very important matters and that interrupting at this ti was inappropriate.
Finally, it was Gawain who broke the silence.
"Is that seaway located at the junction of the Sacred Dragon Kingdom and the northeastern Empire under our control currently?"
Though the mory of the journey was sealed, now part of the fragnts erged from the darkness, and the opportunity to break the seal seed triggered precisely because Victoria Wilder ntioned that seaway. In order to continue exploring this mysterious past and to et the practical needs of exploring the ocean, Gawain found it necessary to learn more about the current situation of that place.
After all, seven hundred years had passed, this nation endured two civil wars, experiencing enormous changes. A small remote seaway on the distant border... after so many years of tumultuous changes, it may not still be in its original state.
"In na... it’s still Empire territory," Victoria nodded in response, "but it’s been neglected for years. By the last year of the Anzu calendar, there were only a few rundown villages there, and that seaway was nominally under the jurisdiction of a shabby Viscount land, which has now been incorporated into Basur Province."
"Nominally is good enough then," Gawain let out a sigh of relief, feeling a slight sense of urgency and pressure as well.
The Empire’s overall situation has just begun to stabilize, but the repercussions from the conflict still need to be gradually resolved.
The border situation change, disputed areas being opportunistically annexed by neighboring countries, or disputes arising during the re-asuring of borders and strengthening of defenses with neighbors could very well occur.
If situations arise in this aspect, then it could only be handled as "since ancient tis."
"Set up a seaway at Dragon Summoning Gulf, to serve as a footing for future ocean exploration," Gawain looked at Victoria and said slowly, "anwhile, keep the plan for opening a port along the extre northern coastline unchanged, establishing ’Northport’ to restart the northern circum-continental navigation route."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Gawain thought for a while and then added, "At Dragon Summoning Gulf, build the port’s foundation well, following the standards of a military port, as facilities for testing ocean-type warships are to be added there in the future..."
Victoria lifted her eyes: "Warships... magic warships used for naval warfare?"
"Yes," Gawain nodded, his tone carrying a hint of emotion, "we aren’t the only ones thinking about the ocean... Typhon has a much longer and superior coastline than Cecil, with nurous natural harbors and offshore resources—eventually, they too will turn their eyes to the ocean. They might have already begun taking action."
The expressionless face of Victoria Wilder changed slightly, her eyes revealing a hint of transformation.
A sense of urgency arose spontaneously.
Gawain then instructed and allowed his thoughts to wander slightly:
Dragon Summoning Gulf is still the territory of the Cecil Empire, but its geographical location inherently makes it sensitive between the Sacred Dragon Kingdom and the Cecil Empire.
Setting up a military port there, establishing large-scale military research facilities, and even stationing troops and permanent warships will not be a small movent.
It seems necessary to take this opportunity to establish good relations with the Sacred Dragon Kingdom during this diplomatic activity.
The good news Victoria brought... is indeed tily.
...
Chaos shrouded the world in darkness, and a woman in a white dress stood quietly in mid-air over the flat, colorless plains, gazing at the deserted town lurking in the night.
Here lies the "Imaginary Number District," located outside the dream city, an area unmarked by the ntal network and inaccessible for direct addressing. Ordinary dream city residents (Eternal Sleepers) cannot perceive its existence without authorization—this remains true even if they stand where Selena Gerfen is now; they would see only void and darkness.
The unique characteristics of the "Imaginary Number District" effectively prevent the spread of contamination.
Yet the town’s eeriness exceeds imagination, seeming to possess mind and reason, actively seeking ways to breach the blockade, trying to access the main structure of the ntal network.
After a long, silent gaze, Selena suddenly turned her head toward the dim sky beside her.
A gentleman in a white robe, with a refined deanor, erged from the void, shaping his presence.
"Archbishop Selena, are you still personally monitoring this area?"
"No one is more suitable for this task than I—the ghosts in the network do not require rest," Selena nodded slightly at Yuri, "Has sothing happened?"
"Preparations for the second exploration are complete. I am here to inquire about the timing of the next operation."
"Next week on the ninth," Selena stated.
"Understood," Archbishop Yuri nodded, then his gaze followed Selena’s, falling upon the distant deserted town, "Has there been any change in this Illusion Town?"
"As always, quiet and deserted, as if ti has frozen," Selena replied indifferently, "No church has reappeared, nor has any bell sounded within the town—according to the priest’s information from that church, yesterday was supposed to be the day for bell-ringing."
Archbishop Yuri speculated: "Perhaps... it will only ’co to life’ when we enter the town."
Selena paused in silent contemplation without affirmation, then inquired: "Has anything changed with Sandbox One?"
"There’s been no change in the sandbox, and we haven’t made any progress."
"...No news is the best news."
"Indeed, as you said," Archbishop Yuri sighed, then stepped back slightly, his figure gradually fading, "I’ll take my leave first; there’s work waiting with the sandbox control group."
"Safe travels."
After Archbishop Yuri vanished, Selena lowered her head and quietly gazed at the portable lamp she held, looking at it for a long ti.
As if a significant amount of ti had passed, she softly murmured, breaking the silence as if speaking to herself:
"Could you be a ray of hope..."
...
Cold winds swept over the southeastern hills of Winterwolf Fortress, the end-of-winter chill instilling fear. Even the soldiers stationed at this northern fortress year-round shivered involuntarily when the wind blew.
Nonetheless, the sentinel towers inside and outside the main fortress stood upright against the biting cold, striving to uphold the dignity and presence expected of Imperial soldiers.
Because distinguished guests were visiting this border stronghold.
Inside the main hall of the castle, Andresha Wendell, with silver-grey long hair, dressed in ladies’ armor and a family heirloom sword at her waist, straights stood before the steps, her silver-grey eyes matching her hair filled with solemnity.
In front of her were the people from the Imperial Capital Aldernon.
Leading the group was a beautiful lady in a complicated and luxurious black court gown. Her skin was fair, her figure tall, and black straight hair draped to her waist, with a fine chain inlaid with tiny red rubies descending between her hair locks. Those deep, serene eyes reflected the face of Andresha Wendell.
This lady, wearing the black court gown, wore a faint smile, yet exuded a calm and noble aura, inspiring respect from those around her while simultaneously adding a subtle sense of distance.
"Princess Matilda," Andresha Wendell bowed before the Empire’s flower of Highmountain, "Welco to Winterwolf Fortress.
"Beyond here lies the land of the Cecil Clan."
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