Chapter 795: Chapter 795: Trial
The ship was silent, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Priest Augustus suddenly lifted his head, turned to look towards the stern of the ship, gazing into the depths of the water, and at the Nether Moon slowly sinking below the surface.
The Old Cleric’s hoarse voice reminded them:
“Look back now, rember those who have passed; we can still see them… give it a try…”
The ship moved forward, Shard, Priest Augustus, Iluna, and Sister Delphine all turned to look back.
The Priest’s lips curled into a smile, as he gently nodded to the young nun watching from afar:
“You are still so beautiful, but I have grown old.”
Iluna slightly opened her mouth, her eyes reflecting the glimr of the Nether Moon, and beneath that moon stood the captain and comrades she had trained with during her ti at the Papacy, who had been killed by the Silver-Eyed One and the Tomb Raider Hawthorn. They stood together, waving goodbye to her.
“I am doing very well now!”
Iluna’s face showed no sadness; she stood up and waved her right hand towards the depths of death.
Sister Delphine’s silver eye patch reflected the moonlight, her hands folded on her lap as she nodded slightly in respect:
“The fla and mission you have passed on to , I will continue to carry forward.”
Shard, anwhile, stared blankly at the spirit standing on the water, looking at Sparrow Hamilton under the moon.
The middle-aged detective, nickna Grey-Headed Eagle, one of Carsonrick’s top spies, supported himself with a cane in his right hand while his left hand gently pulled down the brim of his black deerstalker hat. He was no longer in the terrifying state he was in before death but rather had the deanor of a high-class gentleman. He tilted his head slightly, shaking it with so regret towards Shard under the moonlight, then turned and continued walking towards the depths of the water.
Shard stared wide-eyed at the retreating figure, seeing Detective Sparrow pass by another equally colorful spirit. That spirit then stopped and turned to look at Shard.
With short, withered yellow hair, noticeable outward-turned eyelids, a thin figure, and a red glove on the right hand.
It was Ivan Daknis:
“I’ll be waiting for you when this is all over.”
His right eye glead with a crimson light, then he turned and walked towards the Nether Moon as well.
Shard felt dazed, suddenly frozen in thought as he realized sothing very important, urgently calling softly in his heart:
“Shard…”
No spirit turned back; the outlander did not see the forr, real, blindly foolish Shard.
He stared wide-eyed at the departing spirits and, like Iluna, raised his hand to wave into the distance. Priest Augustus put down his pipe and also waved regretfully, and even Sister Delphine mimicked the gesture.
Silent and still, everyone saw those they missed, but no one tried to bring them back. Just being able to see them again was enough, making them different from Joey Barton.
As they cut through the silver silk-like surface of the water, only the Balance in Iluna’s hand emitted a faint glow. The surroundings were extrely quiet; no matter what, the distance between the mudflats and the small boat remained the sa. They seed unable to return to the distant shore.
“What’s going on?”
Iluna was the first to notice this, asking softly.
Priest Augustus turned to look toward the front of the boat with no answer, and Sister Delphine shook her head slightly. Joey Barton and the resurrected Miss Marilyn Handel didn’t care, while Shard moved from near the stern to the bow, gazing far away at the faint bonfires on the mudflats.
After so contemplation, the answer naturally appeared in his mind, even without needing her reminder:
“For our own desires, we have given the dead a chance to co back to life. Although soone paid the price, this still breaks the rules, so we cannot reach the shore… Yes, I understand, one final step is needed.”
Shard turned to Iluna:
“Judge, now please judge them, confirm whether this resurrection adheres to the rules.”
Iluna hesitated and then nodded as Shard sat down. She stood up with the dark golden Balance in her hands.
Everyone’s eyes turned to her, making the seventeen-year-old feel a bit uneasy, but she still looked at Joey Barton and Marilyn Handel, speaking clearly:
“In the na of the Ancient God, The Upside-Down Judge, I will judge you.”
The small boat slid forward in silence, the pale golden light and the silver glow of the Nether Moon so serene:
“Joey Barton, for your own desires and obsessions, you attempted to disrupt the balance of life and death. By aiding the Interstice of Life and Death, you brought more death, disaster, and sacrifices to Midshire Fort, even potentially causing greater catastrophes. Now, the elder has taken your bones, the nun has burned your flesh, the victor has taken your soul, granting you the possibility to resurrect the dead…”
Iluna took a deep breath:
“Offering up bones, abandoning flesh, and forsaking the soul can only atone for so of your sins. Henceforth, you and this lady will carry the curse of death and walk this world. The True God Church will be your enemy, and the righteous will abhor your existence. Do good to and your wrongs, and constantly repent, praying for the innocent souls. You bear the blood debt of Midshire Fort, which will be the sin that haunts you for a lifeti.”
Joey Barton’s transparent spirit lowered his head:
“I accept your judgnt. I will be cursed and despised by the living before I return again. I will do good to make ands for all my sins.”
“All living things must die; what you seek is the process, but it will not change the outco, instead, it will add a lifelong curse upon you.”
Mr. Barton paused:
“Yes, that is… the aning of my life. Since I cannot grow normally, experiencing a lifeti like the living, this way is also fine. Having reached the end once, bearing the curse and experiencing a second life with her, even if we will return again. But I still have her, and a mory, and that’s the aning.”
“What is this lady’s na?”
Iluna nodded and then suddenly asked softly, as she hadn’t heard clearly when Joey Barton called out on the water.
“Marilyn Handel.”
Shard softly reminded, so Iluna cleared her throat and began again:
“Marilyn Handel, the deceased should not have been resurrected. But soone paid the price of bone, flesh, and soul, allowing you to walk the world again. Because of this, you bear the curse of death, entwined with a sinful soul, never to be freed until you ca here again. Mortals must all die eventually; this is the cost of your resurrection.”
“I will stay with him. He committed a grave mistake for my sake. I have the responsibility to walk the path with him again.”
She held onto Mr. Barton’s soul hand. The two of them looked at each other, speechless.
Iluna shook her head slightly, her tone very serious:
“Bearing the curse of death, and a soul of sin, but because of this, you have touched the transcendent. Your soul is unique. Death is watching you closely, Madam. Redeem the souls wandering the world; this is your path to atonent.”
“Yes.”
“I understand.”
The living and the dead spoke simultaneously. At the sa ti, Shard saw a golden chain extend from the dark golden balance, binding Joey Barton and Marilyn Handel tightly together.
Priest Augustus, Sister Delphine, and Iluna also saw it:
“This is…”
“A contract. From now on, they are sinners burdened with the sins of death, redeeming the lingering souls to alleviate their curses. This is the judgnt I, as the Chosen One who inherited ‘Balance,’ bestow upon them… Oh, I have such power?”
Iluna seed to just realize it as well.
Everyone’s story seed remarkable. Joey Barton and the resurrected Marilyn Handel had many stories ahead of them. But those stories probably had nothing to do with Shard anymore. Yet perhaps many years later, he might find the aged pair, forever inseparable, to listen to their stories that will ultimately end in death.
“Is this enough?”
Iluna whispered to Shard. Before Shard could respond, the ship gently rocked as if it had hit sothing.
Everyone looked toward the bow. Unknowingly, they had reached the shore.
“I think I’ve understood so things.”
Iluna patted her head:
“It’s such a strange feeling. I can use more of the power of balance now. So, the Chosen One’s power unfolds this way.”
“Miss Beyas, this was a fair judgnt. I am truly impressed.”
Priest Augustus praised. Iluna smiled bashfully, lowering her head.
The group disembarked from the small boat. Except for Shard, the others went back to the Kiss of the Tree bonfire, sitting by the fire. Shard gazed at the double stone gate; his ti was running out:
“The problem now is, the Church’s ‘Holy Tree Scar’ ritual has sealed three passages. How do we get back?”
He frowned and said.
Last ti, he used the ‘Key of the Door’ to unlock, but this ti, there was a seal outside, and he couldn’t contend with the door again:
“Priest, can you…”
“No, if we push open the door, it will break the Church’s seal. But don’t worry, once this wave of resistance in the Interstice ends and it stabilizes temporarily, we can forcibly open the door again. Though it would break the seal, it won’t lead to irreparable consequences… It seems we’ll disappear for a few days.”
The priest said. The firelight illuminated his face. The old cleric wasn’t very concerned:
“If you’re worried about soone worrying about you, my Arcane Technique ‘Last Words’ can help send so ssages out. Just like how I broke into your dreams.”
“I must return to Midshire Fort now. There’s sothing only I can do…”
Shard held the broken Red Butterfly Pendant, looking at Sister Delphine. She shook her head slightly. Looking at Joey Barton again, he didn’t pay attention to Shard.
Shard thought it over and asked again:
“Priest, you an, if we forcibly open the door from the inside to the ‘outside,’ it will damage the ritual. What about opening it from outside?”
“Still no, the three passages can’t afford any more losses.”
The priest hastily declined, but Shard ant sothing else:
“I an, if soone outside Midshire Fort opened the door leading here?”
Priest Augustus hesitated, then slowly nodded:
“That would be fine. After all, it’s only the Interstice in Midstone that’s problematic. Other regions are very safe. However, aside from the three passages in Midshire Fort in the material world, is there an easy way here? Never heard of it…”
“Of course there is. On the other end of ti, I heard a librarian ntion it once. Oh, Priest, quickly use your Arcane Technique. I need to send ssages to two people!”
Shard said with a laugh, finally feeling relieved. He also sat by the bonfire, warming himself with the others. Iluna carefully moved closer to Shard, happily gazing at the flas in front of her.
“The original effect of Arcane Technique ‘Last Words’ is to fulfill the wishes of lingering souls, allowing them to safely enter the dreams of those who miss them or use surfaces like water or mirrors to bid a final farewell. Now, we’re all like dead people, entering dreams is easy. But it can’t be dreams in the Milestone area; the Interstice-covered Midshire Fort can’t be considered a normal world.”
“It’s alright. The people I wish to send ‘Last Words’ to are all in Tobesk City. I hope I didn’t disturb their night rest; it’s already very late.”
Shard said, then looked at the others around the fire:
“Before soone cos to rescue us, we have so ti. Let’s discuss the details of what happened here tonight.”
He sighed deeply, looking at each face in the firelight one by one:
“But most importantly, the topic of the Chosen by Death. Completing the ritual by committing suicide in the Interstice resus resurrection. Everyone here has willingly stepped into death, so the first candidate to leave here is the true one…”
The firelight shone on the living dead. The Nether Moon’s glow sprinkled on the ground and water. The epic of the Sixth Era had reached another critical juncture, and this ti, Shard could finally control the situation himself.
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