Amantha Mountains, south of Winter County, Cathedral of Serenity.
The cathedral under the night sky was exceptionally beautiful, complementing the full moon that hung high, casting its crimson moonlight.
In the spacious prayer hall, soft cotton cloths were spread over makeshift beds, cobbled together from prayer benches. Soldiers and Nighthawks, survivors of the raging war, lay with their eyes closed, their expressions of pain gradually fading.
Invisible to the naked eye, in the gray, misty world constructed by Spirit Bodies, continuous 'bubbles' shimmered faintly, and beneath each 'bubble' often corresponded an 'island of consciousness'.
Traversing independently through this dream world with Dreamwalking, Audrey gazed somewhat numbly at the dim dreams, diligently repairing the painfully distorted islands of consciousness. Even though this greatly aided her in digesting the Dreamwalker potion, she felt no joy in her heart.
Although the angel-level battle, due to mutual restraint, did not truly affect the ground war, the two-headed giant legions created through divinity and forbidden experiments brought not only physical wounds but also spiritual corruption.
Audrey gazed at this dream world, then felt her Spirit Body rise further, breaking through the edge of the gray, misty world.
There, silent ripples of light and shadow, densely overlapping, formed a shimmering, bottomless illusory ocean of 'ripples'.
Layers of grayish-white steps abruptly appeared on the surface of the sea, extending from the hazy 'sea surface' to Audrey's front.
This was more like an invitation!
Audrey was not unfamiliar with this ocean, formed by the collective subconscious, though she couldn't say she was completely familiar with it. It seemed different from the subconscious ocean she usually perceived, but she couldn't pinpoint the exact difference, only a vague sense of detachment.
Suppressing the emotions in her heart, Audrey pursed her lips but did not panic. This was the Holy Cathedral of the Church of Evernight; even if the Church's high-ranking members didn't possess authority in the spiritual domain, no one would dare to act overtly.
Gazing deeply at the end of the steps, restraining her curiosity, Audrey silently turned her head, her Spirit Body rapidly sinking, leaving this dream world and appearing in the prayer hall.
Suspended beside her were seven crystal-clear droplets of water, which were the tears she had collected during this period through dreams, from seven different humans due to intense emotions. These were also the supplementary ingredients for a Sequence 4 Manipulator.
Melissa, clad in a bishop's robe, emerged from the Darkness. Noticing Audrey's furrowed brow, after instructing the priests and other Nighthawks to properly settle their comrades who had received treatment, she walked straight over and whispered:
"Miss Audrey, is there a problem with the treatment?"
Pulled back to her thoughts by Melissa's voice, Audrey showed a faint smile on her face and shook her head:
"The treatment went smoothly, with no unexpected issues, but for their safety, they should not attempt any further advancement in the short term."
Looking at the bishop's robe on the "Priestess" whose height was almost catching up to her own, Audrey put the hard-earned supplementary ingredients into her spatial pouch, joked and continued:
"I haven't had a chance to congratulate you on your advancement to Bishop yet, but with your contributions, you might have a chance to become the next Senior Deacon of the Nighthawks."
Although much more mature, Melissa, still with a bit of childishness, had a slightly flushed face and waved her hands repeatedly, then muttered somewhat dispiritedly:
"It's just a pity I didn't get the chance to personally kill Ince Zangwill…"
As Melissa's exclusive Psychiatrist, Audrey clearly knew her knot. After some thought, she still did not reveal the news that Klein was actually alive.
On one hand, it was due to Aaron's instructions; on the other hand, it was the acting principle she had summarized from her Dreamwalking during this period: "Been there, seen that, record but do not interfere, merely a Spectator!"
If there truly came a day for them to recognize each other, Audrey hoped that Mr. World could say it himself.
As she was thinking this, Audrey's spirituality stirred slightly, and she subconsciously looked at the Holy Emblem of Evernight not far from her side. Standing there, at some unknown point, was a man dressed in luxurious attire, his eyes as brilliant as gold.
"Aaron~" Audrey exclaimed with a hint of surprise, quickly lowering her voice, considering the soldiers and Nighthawks who were still asleep.
Aaron waved his hand, stopping Melissa, who was about to bow, and looked at Audrey with a faint smile, saying:
"I have already communicated with Madam Arianna. After some time, the Church of Evernight will take the lead in holding a grand mass at the Amantha Line to appease the spirits of the deceased. This will also be the best time for your advancement."
Then, slightly tilting his head, looking at Klein's sister, Aaron's lips curled into a smile, and he immediately pointed a finger at her glabella.
"Sequence 5 Astronomer…" Melissa was stunned for a moment, a flood of knowledge pouring into her mind. It was a long time before she murmured, and only then did she realize that Duke Aaron and Miss Audrey had both disappeared.
Above the gray, seemingly calm 'sea surface', Aaron and Audrey's figures reappeared.
At this moment, he also saw the grayish-white steps Audrey had mentioned.
"To appear in the Sea of Collective Subconscious near Cathedral of Serenity…"
Aaron raised an eyebrow, as if he had guessed something. He motioned for Audrey to stay put and quietly mobilized the Nation of Disorder, walking along the steps into the depths of the ocean.
Ignoring the murmurs spreading through the Sea of Collective Subconscious, Aaron paused his steps, looking at the end of the steps, at that familiar island of consciousness.
The outline of a figure slowly emerged, with countless tiny specks of light continuously pouring out of the void, making the figure increasingly clear, converging into an ordinary-looking old man.
His hair was completely white but sufficiently thick, with few wrinkles on his face, and no distinctive features. It was Hermes, with whom he had previously made an agreement. This ancient angel calmly looked at Aaron and sighed, speaking in ancient Feysac:
"Although I had some expectations, your growth rate still exceeded my imagination. I didn't expect you to become a complete Mythical Creature in such a short time."
Confirming it was an old acquaintance and not a certain Mind Dragon hidden in East Chester County, Aaron's expression relaxed. He walked onto this island of consciousness, surveying the deep, invisible seabed below, and softly spoke:
"I wonder if Mr. Hermes is planning to have me fulfill my previous promise this time?"
As he spoke, the surrounding illusory, layered ocean rippled in all directions, yet it did not affect Hermes in the slightest. But it was enough for Aaron to discern that what appeared here was merely a virtual personality.
Tacitly allowing Aaron's probing, Hermes nodded slightly, then shook his head:
"That travelogue containing Liveseyd has long fallen into his hands. In that case, your previous promise seems impossible to fulfill. However, fortunately, I have already grasped the whereabouts of that Mind Dragon."