Hate me, Miss Witch!

The specks of light shattered one by one, and the magical guidance screen reverted to emptiness. This meant that the two Mechanical Messengers had completely lost contact.

Shiayar looked at the blank magical guidance screen and shook his head slightly.

After confirming the timing and specific details of the uprising from Norton, the first solution that came to Shiayar's mind was to report it. Although this solution might seem a bit cowardly, it was undoubtedly the best option to break the deadlock, and it required no risk on his part.

On one hand, if Grand Duke Brunestadt, located at the border, could receive accurate intelligence about the three high-ranking members of the secret organization attempting to kill him, he would have the upper hand and could secretly strategize to break the stalemate. On the other hand, for the Holy Creed Kingdom, which prided itself as the legitimate authority, a resurrected false god was, without a doubt, a heresy that needed to be eradicated. To strengthen his persuasiveness, Shiayar added many verifiable details in his report, and in the letter sent to the Holy See, he specifically included a trace of twilight's tainted aura as a medium.

But as it turned out, it was all in vain.

Shiayar recalled the times and coordinates when the two specks of light lost contact, sketching out an image in his mind.

The scope of the Echo of History is roughly half the size of Azure Garden Dukedom, it seems. And the reason the Mechanical Messengers lost contact must be because they went beyond the area of the Echo of History... Otherwise, if they were intercepted or had crashed and been damaged, there would have been accurate feedback on the terminal. This means the plan to report them is unworkable.

Shiayar reached this conclusion and wasn't very disappointed.

After all, the world I find myself in now is just an Echo of History located in the ruins of the capital of Azure Garden Dukedom. If this Echo of History could truly manifest the world outside Azure Garden Dukedom, that would be incredible. From the beginning, I hadn't held much hope. It's just that—

Shiayar looked out at the peaceful scene of the Royal Capital outside his window and sighed softly in his heart.

Though I've only lived in this Echo of History for a few months, my impression of Azure Garden Dukedom is fairly good. Moreover, I benefited from the Brunestadt family's coming-of-age ceremony, contracting Crimson, an extremely rare main battle Pet Beast. If possible, I wouldn't mind changing the outcome of the Ancient Dukedom Azure Garden's downfall. Incidentally, I also want to see what kind of changes would occur in reality if I altered the original world line within this rather special Echo of History. Would the world line within the Echo of History have nothing to do with the real-world line, or would changes made within the Echo of History be updated in real-time into reality? If it's the latter, that would be somewhat terrifying to think about in detail.

However, I also have a clear understanding of my own strength. If I can't report to the outside world and thereby bring High Order powerhouses from outside Azure Garden Dukedom to intervene—then I might be able to save a few people, or change certain key events... But with the Grand Duke of Azure Garden Dukedom's death in battle, this small country, standing at the forefront against the desolate beast tide, the Abyss, and the Lost Kingdom, is bound to inevitably decline. This is a historical tide that cannot be reversed by the power of one person, and it is what one might call fate.

These divergent thoughts merely flashed through Shiayar's mind and were gone.

Shiayar took a deep breath and quickly composed himself.

Then, following the plan he had already formulated, he proceeded to the next step.

By candlelight in his room, Shiayar took out prepared pen and paper and wrote a few lines.

After finishing this, Shiayar finally summoned an Attendant in the mansion.

"Take this letter to Miss Silvia," he said.

...

In a small, elegant courtyard, Silvia leaned against the stone steps, her hand cupping her delicate chin, silently gazing at the azure sky. Her gaze, however, seemed to waver, as if it drifted beyond the boundless firmament to a distant other end.

For the past few months, Silvia had not gone out much, instead staying within the estate. Combined with the earlier rumors of her sudden loss of speech, many new rumors had spread within the Brunestadt family, suggesting that Silvia had contracted a strange illness—that her condition was worsening, and her life was even in danger.

If this had been the Silvia of the past, she would undoubtedly have been inwardly wounded by these harsh remarks, perhaps even to the point of despair. But now, she found that these malicious voices, once so unbearable to her, had become insignificant. When a person's heart is filled with a dream worth striving for, the idle gossip of others can no longer cause any harm.

And Silvia's dream stemmed from that cold, bone-chilling winter's night when the dark-haired, dark-eyed youth had told her:

That being named Silvia was not a sin in itself.

That one day, she, too, could become a Beastmaster.

That she also had the right to embrace a vibrant, colorful life that belonged only to her, just like everyone else.

So, for these past months, Silvia had endured pain and mental torment that most people couldn't understand. Every sleepless, pitch-black night, she would immerse her spirit into the deepest depths of her ocean of consciousness, confronting the terrifying phantom on the Bronze Crucifix.

It had started with her losing herself the moment she made contact, needing Shiayar to watch over her constantly, using his Illusion Techniques to calm her when she lost control. Now, however, Silvia could not only suppress the Bronze Crucifix's rampages by her own will but could even harness some of its power for her own use.

At this rate, perhaps it won't be long... I'll be able, as Brother Shiayar said, to gain complete control over my spiritual power. By then, I'll be able to contract a Pet Beast and become a true Beastmaster. Maybe I'll even be allowed to leave the Royal Capital and see the world beyond the Grant Sea...

As she thought about this, Silvia suddenly felt a pang of disappointment.

For some reason, as I've progressively gained deeper control over my power and no longer need Brother Shiayar's Illusion Techniques to restrain myself, he hasn't come to see me as often these days. The anticipation and excitement of nearly fulfilling my dream now feel somewhat dull.

"Miss Silvia, this is a letter Young Master Shiayar entrusted to me for you."

An Attendant's voice, respectful yet distant, came from the doorway. He left without waiting for Silvia's reply.

A letter from Brother Shiayar?

Silvia's previously dejected mood instantly brightened.

She walked briskly to the doorway, picked up the envelope, and eagerly tore it open to read the letter inside.

The next moment, Silvia's dark violet eyes widened.

There were only two short lines of text on the paper:

[Month of Summer Flowers, thirteenth day, at dusk, Morningstar Hills]

[I have something very important to tell you.]