A Tale of Forgotten Gods

Chapter 29: Dream of a Dreamer

The room was small, intimate, a scholar’s retreat. Books lined the shelves on the walls. Opened windows let pale light spill into the room. A tea and a plate of cookies, which had a flower-like shape and decorative petal borders, rested on the low table, steam still rising from two cups. They had expected a guest.

Expecting everyone but him.

For a long, terrible moment, no one dared to move. No one spoke either; they held their breath. Mo Fei’s heart pounded against his ribs.

Beside him, he felt Xin Yi press closer, her small hands gripping his sleeve like a lifeline. Hao Yu had gone completely still, the way prey would freeze when a predator had passed by. His hand held Mo Fei’s.

Zhuo stared frozen. His hand was on his blade, but he couldn’t feel it. Xue Lan was the person who had saved him, but seeing everyone’s reactions, he knew that person couldn’t be trusted.

Then Xue Lan’s lips curled into a smile. "Put those away." He didn’t even look at them, his eyes staring down at the table. "I could have killed you before you could even enter."

Mo Fei’s good eye searched for any type of trap. "How are you here?"

The bird chirped, its feathers drifting to the ground. Xue Lan scoffed. "I’m not here for any violence." His head tilted to look at them, at the sharp edge of Lin’s blade and Jian Yue’s parted lips. His eyes stared at Mo Fei’s covered eye.

Yi Jyuhan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Not as dramatic as what I expected."

Xue Lan sighed back with a soft, warm breath.

"Your dramatic entrance caused an armed response." Xue Lan noted, sounding more bored and annoyed than threatened.

"That’s called atmosphere making," Yi Jyuhan muttered.

"Poor timing actually." Xue Lan’s eyes flickered to Zhuo, just for a second.

"You survived," Xue Lan said with acknowledgement. "You are still wearing my brother’s outfit. That’s really expensive, so don’t make it dirty."

Zhuo said nothing. He couldn’t hate Xue Lan. Why? Was it because he owed him?

With a huff, Xue Lan stood up and looked at Mo Fei and waved his hand in a dismissive manner. He acted the same as always.

"What is with that ridiculous cloth? Hah, can you truly not afford a proper eye patch?" He didn’t question why Mo Fei was covering it. He simply didn’t think it was worthwhile.

Mo Fei cursed under his breath. ’Narcissist bitch.’ He accidentally said it loud; a second later, his brows shot up. What if the kids have heard that?

Xue Lan shrugged, hiding any hint of annoyance. "Try being quieter next time." He tapped the side of his head twice. "My ears work perfectly well; it’s your tongue that seems to be the problem here."

Yi Jyuhan looked at Xue Lan and said loudly, "He is not wrong, though."

Xue Lan stared at him flatly; his expression didn’t change. "I’m pretty aware of that." Xue Lan quietly lifted the cup of tea and took a sip.

Hao Yu pulled Mo Fei’s sleeve. "What’s a narcissist?" Mo Fei froze, knowing well what was going to be the next question.

Xin Yi, still gripping his other side of the sleeve, answered before he could. "Mei taught me about this. It’s called someone who loves themselves too much."

Xue Lan opened his one eye to look. Hao Yu considered it, his gaze sweeping from Xue Lan to Mo Fei. "Is loving yourself bad?"

Xue Lan’s smile didn’t waver, but something flickered in his eyes.

Mo Fei coughed. "Well... Now is not the time for questions." But another question was thrown at him, and he knew it was coming.

"Is a ’bitch’ also a narcissist?"

(Inhaled...) I fucking knew it.

Lin turned away, her shoulder shaking. Jian Yue closed his eyes as if praying. And Zhuo’s lip twitched.

Xue Lan coughed and choked, tea spraying from his lips before he quickly wiped his mouth with his handkerchief. He kept coughing for a few seconds. "Hahah–and you say I’m the worst here."

Then he gestured for them to sit. "I’m not here for a banter..." His voice was now clear and solemn. "Sit down; rest assured I have no reason to harm you... Not right now."

Zhuo’s eyes glanced at Jian Yue and Lin. Both of their faces showed a history only they knew. Their muscles tensed, bodies hesitating.

Mo Fei took steps ahead and sat, keeping his suspicious gaze. "Then how and why are you here?"

"Why I am here is not relevant." Xue Lan’s hand pointed at Yi Jyuhan. "We both served as the royal guards of different cults for a while now."

Royal guards? The thought echoed through their minds; a royal guard was usually at least an ordinal 7. Jian Yue’s hand tightened on his blade, his gaze locked on Yi Jyuhan. "Who do you serve?"

"The lady. There is not a specific leader of our cult; we just pray to Her."

Jian Yue focused back on Xue Lan. "What is your purpose for ascension?"

Both of the children sat down beside Mo Fei. Hao Yu reached for a cookie on the table, but Mo Fei caught his wrist and shook his head slightly. Hao Yu looked up confused.

"It’s not for us," Mo Fei whispered. Hao Yu’s gaze lowered. He put the cookie back quietly.

Yi Jyuhan, who noticed it, pushed the plate toward him. "We have plenty of them left."

Hao Yu looked at Mo Fei, who was considering. He tapped his temple. Threads were clean, so he nodded. Hao Yu, who was waiting for approval, quickly took two cookies and gave one to Xin Yi, who was still in her thoughts.

She stared for two seconds before she silently took one, and snapped it in two to eat.

Mo Fei kept scanning the room with his good eye. The books and potions were hidden behind protective seals.

Yi Jyuhan settled into a cushion, crossing his legs. "I’m just here for the show, really. But if pages happen to fall into my lap..." He shrugged. "Who am I to complain about fate?"

Xue Lan rested his left hand on the table. "We are on the same path to find the pages to complete our Descent." His eyes scanned their expression. He saw how they kept holding their blades without any sign of trust.

An unnoticeable sigh escaped his lips.

’So they think I wear the royal guard uniform for royalty.’

Mo Fei noticed the subtle change in Xue Lan’s expression. "So you are just after the pages... heh, as expected."

Lin followed. "So you just want to use us to find the pages."

"I’m not desperate to seek help." His stare hardened. He turned toward the window to look at the sky. "You might have not heard of it... Honorable Court and FleshWeaver cults are enemies." He paused to look at others’ puzzled faces.

"What does it have to do with them?" Jian Yue asked.

"In three weeks... The cursed womb will be born, and there is specifically someone who is after this."

Mo Fei’s ears perked up. "Who."

Yi Jyuhan tangled his fingers. "Curator of Flesh Authority’s member. And because He has the help of Threadbinder’s artifact..." he took a breath. "The son of God might be born this time."

Lin squinted her eyes slightly. "I don’t think a Dreamer could help without anything in return."

Xue tapped his nails on the table, and a sound of knocking echoed. "You are right... But I’m already getting something in return." When he said that, his expression turned grim.

"What?" Lin’s voice came out as more doubtful.

Yi Jyuhan’s eyes darted between both of them. Xue Lan closed his eyes and took another sip of tea. "You won’t understand. It’s something precious."

Yi Jyuhan knew. They both had discussed it... But others, of course had no clue.

"Precious, huh? A set of new clothes or some luxury perfume?" Mo Fei bluntly said. Xue Lan didn’t say anything, but his lips squeezed in irritation.

Hao Yu looked at Yi Jyuhan before taking another cookie from the plate, unaware of the situation. Yi Jyuhan cast a brief glance at him.

"And the pages you want. We don’t have any, but we have two pages for Lightless Authority, though the ordinal gap is vast." Mo Fei immediately paid attention.

"I’m listening."

"Ordinal 10 and ordinal 6 pages."

Zhuo rubbed his chin. "So you can complete your first Descent."

Mo Fei nodded.

Jian Yue thought for a second and asked. "Why do you have them?"

Xue Lan set down his cup. "We only have them, but we don’t have other pages."

"And why are you helping us exactly?" Jian Yue’s voice was flat. He questioned the same thing, trying to pursue it further.

Xue Lan’s smile returned. "They are basically useless for a me. You can take it as a... Reward perhaps."

Jian Yue’s hand, not moving away from his blade. "Aren’t you with the Overseer? Then why?"

"Overseer, huh? I serve myself; if you want to take then do. It doesn’t change my plan at all." he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Yi Jyuhan, beside him, spoke again. "It is in the inventory; you can take it and perform your ritual there. Also..." Yi Jyuhan looked at Mo Fei. "Your Authority has no God, which means. You will have no help, and ascending without a God means the danger of someone stealing your Authority is much higher."

It wasn’t just a threat but a genuine advice. ’An ’Empty God’ Authority was far more dangerous than one with the blessing of their ’God.’

Lin stood up slowly. "If it’s what you wanted to say, then we have no reason to stay here." Her tone was slightly harsher than ever.

Zhuo, who instantly noticed the tone shift, recognized it as a sign of discomfort. Jian Yue spoke. "I know, we both can’t trust Xue Lan... but we don’t have a place to stay. Your Authority is weakened currently, Lin."

Xue Lan groaned. "Trust really is a luxury, isn’t it? What are you even mad about?"

"Speaking like you aren’t self-centered and can even let people die. You know very well why I don’t trust you." She said, not even bothering to hide her frustration.

"Ahh, that... I remember now."

"Shut your insufferable mouth."

Xue Lan went quiet; Yi Jyuhan stifled out a laugh. "Every word is true... Each of them."

Zhuo shook his head, and Jian Yue and Zhuo both stood up. Jian Yue commanded, "Mo Fei, you and Zhuo go for the pages, and perform your ritual, then meet us at the gateway."

Mo Fei observed the kids who didn’t move away from him. He heaved a sigh. "They aren’t leaving me."

Yi Jyuhan stood up with them. "Also, there is another artifact of your Authority that I found. The mask of abyss. Though other Authorities have no access to use it, so it’s yours."

Everyone came out, but Xue Lan stayed there. Yi Jyuhan stepped outside after a final glance.

"It’s quite tiring, isn’t it?" With a chuckle, Yi Jyuhan came out of the room.

Xue Lan stared at the blue bird, and he put his palm on his cheek.

"Tiring..." He repeated the word, thinking. Before he ascended, he got the eye of Xul-Thal, but it was impure.

***

Few days back then, in the palace, someone was already waiting for him.

His room was filled with a soothing scent of perfume. Four crescent moon ornaments hung on the window, and a person was sitting on the chair. It was made of crafted wood and had a pillow with a supple, inviting surface.

"The elders’ execution was stopped." The man said, his voice cracking at the declaration, but managed to hold back.

Xue Lan stood there without saying anything. "It doesn’t matter to me." He gestured toward the door. "I can’t do anything about the futur–"

"It’ll happen within the next two months... Again, the Overseer had found us."

Xue Lan stared flatly, his face holding no emotions. "And what are you expecting from me?"

"Nothing." His eyes softened more. "Nothing... son."

Xue Lan’s lips squeezed slightly. "I’m a royal guard here; if you expect me to save you... I didn’t do that last time either."

The man’s voice gradually lowered. "I don’t expect anything... there is no saving." After the man said that. He stood up without any words. "But I wished that I could see you until the very last moment..."

He walked away with those final words. Xue Lan stared at the ground, his eyes sweeping to the room before a final glance toward the man.

His father, Xue Wei.

"Tch." Xue Lan’s gaze landed on the chair where his father had sat a few minutes ago. He couldn’t decide what to do from the very beginning. His father was an Ascended from world 0.

***

In his thoughts, he didn’t realize he was staring at the cooling tea. The bird that chirped, oblivious to the world.

He stood up and walked to the window. He admired the city’s view. Three weeks for the Cursed Womb to be born.

"I was never an Ascended. Is it my responsibility to save an Ascender? No... No right?" He mumbled. "I’m a royal guard of the Honorable Court, and I can’t reject the orders."

He looked at his hand... pale and fair, wearing a beautiful ring; the gem glowed faintly. His eyes stared down at his palm.

"Just one more year," he whispered. "Then I will kill each of them... every single one."

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