After the imperial upheaval, for some reason, the scholar’s heart reignited with hope.
However, her soul had completely dissipated, burned away by the backlash of meditation. Before the Silver Fox and the vice president arrived with others, Rowena had attempted to use a spell to communicate with the dead, seeking to extract crucial information from the deceased scholar, but the spell failed.
The person who murdered the scholar wanted her to remain silent forever, turning these manuscripts filled with unknown symbols into indecipherable texts.
Ethan spread the manuscript flat on the desk and studied it carefully for a long time.
Regrettably, he was not a master of language symbolism and could not deduce the meaning from the strokes of the symbols.
He felt that the truth behind the scholar’s death was hidden within these symbols.
Perhaps, in addition to the truth, there was something else that encompassed the purpose of his and Rowena’s initial visit to the mage tower.
Ethan closed his eyes, recalling his last meeting with the scholar.
She was an elderly woman full of vigor and spirit.
Seemingly unaffected by the imperial upheaval and the dissolution of the Seven Council, after he accompanied the Queen to inform the remaining council members of the impending dissolution, the old lady gracefully relinquished all her powers. She looked very excited that day, pulling him aside eagerly after the meeting to invite him to visit the guild.
Yes, the scholar was very interested in the three questions he raised.
First, the possibility that the upper and middle-level gods had already fallen; Ethan gave her a definite answer.
The second was about Saint Mary. As the leader of the followers of the God of Trickery, she showed a strong interest in the Saint of the Life Church. Ethan learned through communication that the scholar was genuinely interested in the title "Chosen Ones," consciously distinguishing their relation from the Saint.
The scholar was eager to understand what higher powers the Chosen Ones, recognized by the true gods, possessed, surpassing the Saint.
This topic ultimately did not find a definitive answer.
At that time, Ethan had not been to Ophira, nor did he understand the entangled grievances between Anapolis and the Master of Tides. Therefore, the scholar invited him to discuss the matter at the mage tower later.
If she were still alive, she would certainly be willing to meet Anapolis.
The third emerged as a new question while discussing the other two. When the scholar heard Ethan mention using the rules set by the Knight Lord, she almost stood up from her chair in excitement.
The ruins, trials, and the one who obtained the sacred sword—this was the promotion path left by the Knight Lord.
As long as the rules left by the God of Trickery could be found, she might be able to break the centuries-long standstill with no one advancing to Saint.
The old lady wrote down all the theories mentioned by Ethan; she needed to return to the mage tower to consult more documents.
If she were still alive...
Before setting off, Ethan was prepared to further discuss these three questions with the scholar. His trip to Ophira had brought him many insights, and he believed the scholar had also searched for many of the God of Trickery’s materials upon returning to the mage tower.
Ethan held a certain fondness for this knowledge-seeking elder.
However, it now seemed that perhaps these three topics led to her death.
"... ’Thoughts on the Fall of the God of Trickery and the Theory of the Little Forest Rules’. "
The voice coming from across the desk made Ethan open his eyes somewhat in surprise; it was a very soft voice.
Ethan looked towards the source, finding that at some point, a green-haired girl had appeared across from him, her bangs concealing her beautiful golden eyes.
The literary girl avoided eye contact with him, explaining in a quieter voice, "That’s what’s written on the manuscript."