Chapter 18

That owl?

That owl from the wizard legend?

Thoughts flashed through Lumian's mind like lightning, and his blood seemed to freeze in an instant.

At this moment, he was more terrified than when he saw the monster with three faces.

After all, this was reality, and the ruins were a dream.

Even if he died in the dream, he would die in reality as well, but there was still a psychological barrier.

"What should I do?

"Will it implicate Aurore?

"..."

As Lumian desperately thought of a solution, the owl made no other move, just quietly watching him, as if conducting some kind of inspection.

After a few seconds, the owl spread its wings, flew up, and headed toward the distant mountains.

On the way, it glided downward and disappeared somewhere in Cordu Village.

Only when the owl was no longer in sight did Lumian relax.

He plopped down in a chair and raised his hand to his forehead.

It was drenched in sweat.

"Is it really the owl from the wizard legend?

"Has it really lived for so many years?

"Anyway, it's different from other owls; its eyes aren't dull, more like a human's...

"If it really is that owl, why did it fly to my window? Just because I wanted to investigate the wizard legend? But we've already given up...

"It just looked at me a few times and left...

"I don't know if it will come back, or if it will affect Aurore..."

Since nothing had happened for the moment, Lumian wanted to observe for a few more days, but considering that it might implicate Aurore, he felt he couldn't hide it from his sister.

Leaving the room, he saw that Aurore was still asleep, so he went downstairs and started preparing breakfast, all dishes that his sister loved:

Soft-boiled eggs, sugar-frosted pancakes, ordinary toast with jam...

He needed to make noodles soon, this time with meat sauce... Lumian noticed that the compartment for noodles was already empty and decided to replenish it in the next few days.

This was Aurore's favorite staple food.

Aurore, wearing a nightgown and rubbing her golden hair, walked down the stairs to find the food already laid out on the kitchen table.

"Good morning," she yawned, covering her mouth.

Lumian smiled and said:

"It's not early.

"Don't you always say that the day's plan should start in the morning?"

"Yes, my plan is to sleep," Aurore sat down and started her breakfast with milk.

Lumian sat across from her at the six-person table, munching on a pancake, and casually said:

"I've been investigating the truth behind those legends in the village these past few days."

"Why?" Aurore asked.

Lumian was very honest:

"You didn't agree to help me obtain extraordinary powers, so I thought I'd try on my own. Those legends might contain clues."

"Almost impossible," Aurore commented casually. "Those legends are either heavily adapted over generations, losing their original form, or are just the delusions of some people, meaningless. Hmm, or maybe someone made up a story as an excuse, hehe, and there are contributions from people like you."

"What?" Lumian didn't understand what Aurore meant by "people like you."

It wasn't even in Intis.

"Full name is mischief lovers," Aurore explained briefly, then frowned. "You suddenly tell me this, did you get into trouble and know to come home for help?"

"It's a bit of an accident, but not to the extent of getting into trouble," Lumian said confidently.

He organized his thoughts and said:

"My first target was the wizard legend."

"What wizard legend?" Aurore looked puzzled.

"You haven't heard of it?" Lumian was quite surprised. "A long time ago, someone in the village suddenly died. When he was buried, an owl flew in and perched on his bed, staying until the body was lifted. After that, the body became very heavy, and it took nine oxen to move the coffin. Only then did the villagers realize he was a wizard."

Aurore listened carefully and said:

"I didn't notice such a legend before."

Unscientific... Lumian found it hard to believe.

Although Aurore mostly stayed at home, she still went out a few days each month, chatting with old ladies like Naroka and telling stories to children, and was very familiar with all the rumors in Cordu Village. How could she not have heard of this wizard legend that many people knew?

Moreover, their house was built on the site of the wizard's original home!

Lumian had previously suspected that Aurore chose to settle in Cordu Village to obtain the wizard's treasure and thus successfully gained extraordinary powers.

"Then what?" Aurore asked calmly.

Lumian answered truthfully:

"We asked the village elders and confirmed that this really happened, but it was several decades ago, and the wizard's house was burned down by the Church. The land is the one you bought."

"Is that so?" Aurore was clearly a bit surprised. "I thought the price they sold me this land was cheaper than normal for a reason... I thought it was because I was sweet and could make the old ladies happy..."

She thought for a moment and said:

"The wizard's body was burned by the Church?"

"Yes, the ashes are buried in the cemetery next to the church," Lumian nodded.

He continued:

"Since all the clues were cut off, we had given up on this matter. Who knew, when I woke up this morning, I saw an owl outside my window, very similar to the one in the legend."

"Are you sure?" Aurore became a bit serious.

"Not entirely, but it was really different from ordinary owls," Lumian answered objectively.

Aurore thought for a while and said slowly:

"For the time being, don't leave the village, and don't go out after dark until I investigate the situation."

At this point, she said with a somewhat annoyed smile:

"I told you, pursuing extraordinary powers is a dangerous thing. See, trouble has come!

"But fortunately, it doesn't seem like the other party has any ill intentions, so the problem should be resolved well."

I'm relieved that you're prepared... Lumian lowered his head and said straightforwardly:

"Sister, I was wrong."

He then changed the subject:

"Have your pen pals replied?"

"How fast do you think? It's not like sending a telegram, uh, email!" Aurore chuckled.

Email means letters and packages sent through the post office, right? Lumian didn't quite understand.

He wasn't too concerned, after all, Aurore often came up with strange words.

...

...

At the old tavern's entrance.

Lumian stood there and looked around.

He knew the lady who gave him the tarot card was probably still asleep, so he was looking for the three outsiders: Lain, Lia, and Valentine.

As expected, the three outsiders occupied a table in the tavern, having breakfast.

Trout rolls, wine, egg yolk bread... They were eating pretty well... Lumian observed for a few seconds, then left the old tavern without disturbing Lia and the others.

After a while, Lain and the others came out, preparing to continue their stroll in Cordu Village and chat with people.

Lumian approached, spreading his arms and greeting with a bright smile:

"Good morning, my cabbages."

He saw Valentine's facial muscles twitch, Lain looked a bit awkward, and Lia had a slightly amused expression.

Uh, they're wearing the same clothes as the other day... Did they not bring many changes of clothes? Lumian noticed that Lia was still wearing the smooth wool tight skirt, white jacket, and Marselle boots, with silver bells on the veil and boots. Lain was still in the brown tweed coat and light yellow pants, with a simple dark round hat on his head.

Similarly, Valentine still had powdered hair and makeup on his face.

"Good morning, Lumian, is there something you need?" Lain asked calmly.

"You're my friends, I'd come to see you even if I had nothing to do," Lumian said with a look of being wronged.

He then asked:

"I see you've been chatting with people in the village these past few days. Are you looking for something?

"You can come to me, my cabbages. I'm your friend, and you can ask me anything!"

"We can't trust your answers," Valentine couldn't help but say.

Lain glanced at him, signaling him to calm down.

Lumian laughed:

"Then can you trust others' answers completely?"

Lia was momentarily speechless, and Lain thought for a moment and said:

"Actually, we can't trust them completely either. We make a comprehensive judgment based on different people's answers and our own observations."

"Exactly," Lumian spread his hands. "So, hearing my answer isn't a bad thing, at least as a reference."

Lain was silent for a moment, instinctively looking around.

In the early morning, many people were heading to the fields, but almost no one was near the old tavern.

"It's like this," Lain carefully chose his words. "We came here to find someone."

"The parish priest?" Lumian asked with a smile.

Lain shook his head:

"No.

"We visited the parish priest to find that person."

"Who?" Lumian asked with interest. "I know everyone in the village, I should be able to help."

Lain wasn't happy about this:

"In fact, we don't know who that person is, how old they are, or what they look like.

"Recently, we received a letter from Cordu Village, unsigned. We're now trying to find the person who wrote it."

An informant? Lumian instinctively thought.

He feigned confusion:

"Since you came to the village because of that letter, hasn't that person found you?"

"No," Lia answered for Lain.

"Maybe they still lack a sense of security and don't fully trust you?" Lumian speculated enthusiastically. "Can't you judge based on the content of the letter?"

He was more curious about what the letter said.

If it was about the parish priest and his group, he would be happy to see it, but if it involved Aurore, he would have to urge his sister to move quickly. After all, Aurore often corresponded with "pen pals," and if one of them was caught, she might be implicated, and the clue would be those letters.