Chapter 87 - 87 Catharsis

87 Catharsis

Aurore carried the plate of lamb chops to the table and said, Im not sure if ordering them under those circ.u.mstances will work. After all, Im not a Dancer, and I dont have any relevant mysticism knowledge. However, you wont lose anything by trying.

Thats true. Lumian took over at the stove and said with a grin, Itll just be another wound while I bleed a little. Ill recover after a nap. What do you think the three-headed giant at the top of the mountain is? What does it have to do with the hidden existence and the corruption in my body?

Aurore set the plates down and turned around.

Dont you think youre overestimating me? Ive never encountered or heard of such strange things.

!!

Without waiting for Lumians response, she added thoughtfully, However, there are many similar concepts in the myths and legends of my hometown. They have three heads and six arms, G.o.ds or demons

She continued, And according to our guesses, the dream ruins are closely related to the corruption in your body. Theres a high chance that the giants image reflects some aspects of the hidden existence.

You said that the honorific name or description of that person is different from the usual ones. Every segment contains three aspects and three forms that symbolize a certain authority. Therefore, its very normal to correspond to three heads, just like how the three-faced monster has faces that represent the three stages of humanity.

As for why it has six arms and why it sits atop the blood-colored mountain, theres too little information. I cant guess.

Hmm Focus on the circle of walls for the time being. I feel that we can find many useful clues.

Alright. Lumian followed his sisters instructions and placed the sliced shredded potatoes into the pot, stir-frying them with oil.

Aurore ended the topic regarding the dream ruins and said to Lumian, When you went to bed in the afternoon, I thought about it seriously and decided to invite the three foreigners to stay with us.

Why? Lumian was puzzled.

Aurore watched her brother bustling around and sighed.

We a.s.sumed the padre would react like a normal person, but we cant forget that some of his followers have already accepted a boon. In a way, theyre corrupted.

According to the mysterious lady, the boons effects concentrate on the body and mind. So, besides gaining abilities, ones personality will s.h.i.+ft. The more boons a person takes, the more severe the change will be, especially if they cant handle it.

Right. Lumian recalled the mysterious ladys words.

She warned that if the body couldnt endure such a ma.s.sive boon, the recipient would either turn into a monster, become a puppet of an unknown ent.i.ty, or transform into someone else whod treat things they cherished in the past with indifference.

Aurore concluded, Thus, Shepherd Pierre Berry and his followers, whove received the boons long ago, might disregard the padres plan and seek greater vengeance.

If the five of us stick together and support each other, we can effectively improve our chances of survival until the twelfth night.

Lumian pondered her proposal and agreed.

But he raised a logistical issue.

So, where do they stay? In the living room downstairs?

It wont work as well if were on separate floors. Aurore glanced at her brother, who approached with a plate of stir-fried shredded potatoes. You can move into my room, and well let the three foreigners use your bedroom and the study upstairs. They can divide the rooms among themselves.

Huh? Lumian didnt expect such an arrangement. Ill share a bed with you?

Aurore couldnt help but laugh.

No big deal. Strong, independent women dont sweat the small stuff!

Huh? Lumian didnt grasp his sisters last remark.

Aurore chuckled, explaining, Im saying that given our situation, lets not get hung up on trivial matters.

Do you want to share a bed with Ryan and Valentine, or should I sleep with Leah?

True, I cant fully trust them. Lumian nodded.

The three official investigators only cooperated with the siblings because they were trapped in a loop. Who knew if theyd secretly manipulate the situation while they slept together, planning to capture the two wild Beyonders once the loop ended?

Aurore chuckled and suggested, If theyre concerned about us and decide to share a room, you can sleep in the other one.

Better to stay in the same room. Lumian felt the walls offered little protection.

Aurore said no more, only adding, Remind me to restock our food supply tomorrow. After Lent, the villagers will grow stranger. We might need to defend this place or hide in the nearest high mountain pasture.

Then, she urged her brother to eat dinner.

Before sunset, Lumian left the semi-subterranean two-story building, ready to invite Ryan and the others to move into his home.

Upon seeing Ol Tavern in sight, Lumian spotted a few familiar faces.

Pons Bnet was strolling down the villages main road with his three thugs.

Almost instantly, the black-haired, blue-eyed, musclebound villain noticed Lumian.

He couldnt help but clamp his legs together, as if recalling some excruciating agony.

Eyeing Lumian, Pons Bnet faced a dilemma.

He craved revenge, but feared history would repeat itself with him and his men beaten to a pulp.

As Pons Bnet wavered, Lumian flashed a brilliant grin.

Hey, isnt this my rebellious son?

He strode towards the villain and his three thugs who had drowned Reimund, poised to pummel them.

Pons Bnet saw this and didnt hesitate. With his eyes, he signaled to the three brutes beside him, ordering them to charge.

The three thugs immediately rushed at Lumian and pulled out short sticks, iron rods, and other weapons.

Lumian sped up too.

Just as he was about to collide with the three thugs, he abruptly leapt at one of the enemies.

This unorthodox move caused the three thugs attacks to miss.

Lumian grabbed the targets shoulder and did a somersault.

His back seemed to flex like a spring, helping him grab the enemy and build up enough force for the roll.

In an agile, exaggerated forward somersault, Lumian hurled the enemy and smashed him into the ground.

Bang! The thugs vision darkened. His whole body ached, and he couldnt rise for a moment.

...

At that instant, Lumian landed behind the other two, only seven or eight steps from Pons Bnet.

He crouched slightly and charged at the villain. As Pons Bnet frantically dodged, he shouted, Quick, quick! Stop him!

The remaining two thugs hastily turned and chased after Lumian. Pons Bnet composed himself and brazenly charged at the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, preparing to stall him before they surrounded him.

Just as the two thugs were about to catch up to Lumian, who had deliberately not run at full speed, suddenly stopped and squatted.

Amid grinding sounds, not only did the two thugs fail to hit their targets back, but because they couldnt halt in time, they lost their balance and collided with Pons Bnet.

Lumian pounced like a tiger and grabbed the two thugs necks. He lifted their bodies and smashed their heads together.

Bang!

The two thugs foreheads instantly swelled and they fainted on the spot.

Immediately after, Lumian tossed away the burden and exerted strength with his feet. He twisted his body and slid behind Pons, who had just risen.

He grabbed the other partys arms and bent them backward.

With a cracking sound, Pons Bnet let out an extremely pained scream.

...

How is it? Does it feel good? Lumian asked Pons Bnet with a smile as he hoisted him and marched out of the village.

Before long, he arrived beside the river, grabbed the back of Pons Bnets head, and forced him underwater.

As bubbles surfaced, Lumian lifted Pons Bnets head, turned his face, and asked with a smile, Does it feel good to bully others?

Pons Bnets face was soaked, and he looked to be in extreme agony. Snot and saliva flowed out, making it impossible for him to answer.

Doesnt it feel great? Lumians voice suddenly intensified. He grabbed the villains head and smashed his forehead into the water, hitting the cobblestones.

Bright crimson liquid seeped out of the water. Pons Bnet struggled uselessly with his legs, unable to lift his head.

Gulp. Gulp. As time dragged on, his struggles weakened.

Only then did Lumian haul him up. He thrust out his left hand and smacked Pons across the face.

Im asking you, does it feel good to bully others?

Pure terror filled Ponss eyes. He didnt know how to respond.

Just then, a figure ambled over to the riverside. It was the hooded Shepherd Pierre Berry.

He glanced at the pathetic Pons and gently told Lumian, Were all from the same village. Enough. You want to kill him?

Lumian immediately released Ponss head and stood up. He grinned at Pierre Berry, replying,

Ill listen to you. Make sure this jerk doesnt bully others again.

Without waiting for Pierres response, Lumian strode past the shepherd into the village.

On the second floor of Ol Tavern, in Ryans room, Lumian relayed his sisters thoughts to the three official investigators.

Ryan exchanged a look with Leah and Valentine and nodded.

Smart thinking. In a situation like this, spreading ourselves too thin just makes us an easy target. We can move into your house now.

As they headed to Lumian and Aurores house with her luggage, Leah asked Lumian amidst her tinkling sounds, So whats the plan for the tomb?

The plan? Lumian snorted. You think we can just waltz in there?

Leah smiled, relieved. Good, youre still being cautious.

Ryan chimed in, What we mean is if whatevers in that tomb really leads to the cycles key, itll show up during the twelfth night ritual. And if its got nothing to do with the source of the cycle, why take the risk going in?

In short, Lumian said, catching on, we just wait patiently for the twelfth night?