Circle of Inevitability Chapter 16 - 16 Letter

16 Letter

Ryan shook his head.

The letter was just two simple sentences. It seemed like a man in deep trouble was seeking our help.

Did he not mention what kind of trouble he was in? Lumian breathed a sigh of relief.

There was no way a letter from Aurore or her pen pals could be that short.

Nothing, Ryan replied with a soft sigh.

Lumian couldnt help but mock them in his heart. Its just a letter asking for help, and youre here? Arent you afraid this is just a prank? Even the people from the Inquisition arent as enthusiastic as you. Isnt this too nice, too kind, and too missionful?

Normally, he would have voiced these thoughts aloud, but he needed to get information from them, so he held his tongue and forced himself to be patient.

Despite his reservations, Lumian knew that Ryan wouldnt reveal the entire situation to him. They must have other considerations or reasons for coming to Cordu and searching for the person who wrote the vague letter.

Uh... Lumian stroked his chin and suggested tentatively, Why dont you show me the letter? Perhaps I can identify the writer from their handwriting.

Valentine, with his powdered hair, gave Lumian a look that said: Do you think were fools?

Leah chuckled.

Do you know how to appraise handwriting?

Barely, Lumian admitted sincerely.

He then added inwardly, Being able to appraise Aurores and my own handwriting is also considered a form of appraisal.

Its useless, Ryan interjected, shaking his head. Every word in the letter came from a livre bleu, and the entire sentence was comprised of cut slips.

Lumian couldnt help but wonder why the writer was being so cautious. Why hide their identity in such a way when they were asking for help? Were they afraid of interception and retaliation, or was there something wrong with them that they didnt want to be exposed? Lumian tried to analyze the writers mentality.

Lumian put on a look of realization and said, So youve been chatting with people in the village to see if anyone else has experienced similar damage to their livre bleu?

But the person who wrote the letter could have purchased a new livre bleu without anyone knowing, or even thrown it away after using it.

Thats just one of the leads were following, Ryan explained calmly.

Lumian didnt treat himself as an outsider at all and asked, Are there any other leads?

Well, if someone is asking for help, then something must be happening, and there will always be some traces left behind, Ryan responded after some thought.

That makes sense, Lumian said, looking troubled for Ryan and the others, as if he could empathize with their situation.

He promised solemnly, My cabbages, Ill keep an eye out for you. Hopefully, well find some clues.

Thank you, Ryan replied politely.

Leah had regained her composure and asked Lumian, Since were friends, I have a question for you.

Go ahead. Lumian smiled.

Why did the villagers in the tavern laugh when you called us cabbage? Leah was rather intrigued.

Although it was embarrassing, cabbage was a common local slang term, and it shouldnt have been a cause for laughter.

Lumian explained sincerely, In slang, cabbage means darling or beloved. Its mainly used between intimate friends or between an elder and a junior. My bunny and my chicks are similar.

He emphasized the word intimate as he spoke.

Then, with an innocent expression, he added, I just wanted us to be intimate friends.

Lumians innocent expression suggested that he had no idea what intimate meant.

More like you want to be our senior... Leah finally understood why the villagers were laughing.

While Lumians explanation may not have been entirely truthful, it was logically convincing.

Ryan nodded in agreement.

Is there anything else?

Nope, Lumian replied, not wanting to appear too eager and arouse suspicion about him and Aurore.

His sister couldnt undergo an investigation!

After watching Leah and the others leave with the sound of the tinkling bells, Lumian sat at the entrance of Ol Tavern and waited for the lady with the mysterious background to wake up.

After a while, Lumians friend, Reimund Greg, approached him.

Lumian, have you decided which legend to investigate next? Reimund asked.

In the past two days, Reimund had been even more proactive than Lumian in this matter. After all, he didnt have any strange dreams or other ways of obtaining treasure.

Not yet. The owl had already come knocking on his door. He couldnt risk investigating the legend without confirming the situation first.

Ill think about it after the Lent festival, Lumian explained, trying to sound casual.

Okay, that makes sense, Reimund agreed. I dont have to be a Greenwatcher for the time being then. Ill head out after Lent. Even if there are grazers in the meantime, it wont cause much damage.

Do you mean you dont have to leave the village for the next few days? Lumian asked Reimund.

Reimund nodded in confirmation, and Lumian smiled.

What a coincidence. I cant leave the village for the next few days either.

Reimund was confused. Why not? he asked.

Lumian lowered his voice and spoke with a serious expression.

This morning, I met the owl from the Warlock legend. It said that if it werent for the cathedral and the gaze of God in the village, it would have taken my soul and thrown it into the abyss...

Reimund was shocked and frightened, and his entire body trembled.

Is that for real? I told you not to provoke such an evil creature...

Reimund suddenly saw a smile appear on Lumians face.

... Only then did Reimund remember his good friends nature.

Youre pulling a prank on me, its a lie, isnt it? he asked, feeling both angry and anxious.

He was angry at himself for falling for Lumians deception yet again. He knew what kind of person Lumian was and had been fooled by him many times before.

You believe such a ridiculous thing? Lumian chuckled.

Quietly, Lumian added to himself that he had made up the story to prevent Reimund from going straight to the cathedral to repent when he couldnt withstand the pressure.

Reimund relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief. Phew...

Lumian offered some advice to Reimund.

Although I made up that story just now, its true that pursuing the truth of a legend can be dangerous. Try not to leave the village or the cathedrals protection if you can.

Silently, Lumian added to himself, And thats the truth. Although most of the story was fabricated, half of it was true. I wouldnt have reminded you and shared Aurores advice in a different way if I didnt need your help with many things in the future. Whether someone lives or dies has nothing to do with me...

Reimund recalled the feeling of fear and nodded in understanding.

Alright!

He changed the subject and asked, Who are you going to vote for to be the Spring Elf?

The Spring Elf was the symbol of spring and the start of many celebrations during Lent. In the Dariege area, the whole village usually voted for an unwed, beautiful girl to play the role.

Ava, Lumian replied nonchalantly. Hasnt she always wanted to be the Spring Elf?

Ill choose her too, Reimund said, secretly relieved.

Yesterday, Ava had hinted to him that she wanted him to vote for her, so he felt the need to help her canvas for votes.

Outside a house not far from Ol Tavern.

Ryan, Leah, and Valentine werent in a hurry to find someone to chat.

Valentine raised his hand to cover his mouth and nose. Is it really okay to say so much to that guy just now? he asked.

The air around them was filled with the faint smell of poultry feces.

Leah fiddled with a silver bell above her head. I dont know if theres a problem. All I can confirm is that my divination results tell me hes of help.

Ryan explained his intention. If we cant turn the situation around, leaking some information and instilling fear in the relevant people could be effective. Next, well observe him more closely and see what hell do or who hell find.

After Reimund left, Lumian entered Ol Tavern and saw the lady who had given him the tarot card in her usual spot.

She was wearing a white blouse and a pair of baggy light-colored pants, and beside her hand was a round straw hat adorned with a few yellow flowers.

She really has a lot of clothes in her suitcase. She changes them every day, unlike Leah and the others who look so shabby, Lumian thought to himself as he moved closer and sat opposite her.

During this process, he casually glanced at her breakfast, which consisted of a plump mince pie with a thinned sauce, a few darioles, cubed seasonal fruit, and a light-colored transparent drink with some impurities.

This isnt something Ol Tavern can provide... Lumian pointed at the drink on the table and asked the lady, as though they were close friends, What is this? It doesnt look like wine.

Its called Venus Sacred Oil,’ the lady replied casually. Its made from sugar and cinnamon water soaked in vanilla and mixed with poppies. It was invented by a bar in Trier.

The word Venus came from Emperor Roselle. He mentioned in a story that she was a woman comparable to a Goddess of Beauty.

Lumian was intrigued. Where did you get it? Did you concoct it yourself? he asked, suspecting that the nearest city, Dariege, couldnt provide something similar.

The lady smiled.

As a traveler, its my professional instinct to obtain suitable things at the right time.

Lumian was honest. I dont understand.

He then said, Ive finished the previous monster. This time, Ive encountered two even more dangerous ones...

He went on to describe the monster with three faces and the one with a shotgun on its back.

I feel that they all have powers that surpass ordinary humans. Theyre not something I can deal with. Is there any way to deal with them?

The lady took a bite of the dariole and rolled her eyes. She smiled and said, Im not sure about the three-faced monster, but you are more than capable of dealing with the one with the shotgun, as long as you use whats special about yourself.

Lumian was both surprised and confused. A special trait... Whats so special about me?

I dont even know myself!

The lady smiled at him and said, Thats your dream. As the owner of the dream, you naturally enjoy special treatment. Its just that you havent realized it yet.