For Lex, traveling in a world higher than reality was not a first.
But no matter how many times he experienced it, in this world where bright light flashed overhead, countless bizarre and indescribable figures flickered in and out of existence, sometimes a half-collapsed ancient castle, sometimes an indiscernible city... In this kaleidoscopic world, no matter how many times he traversed it, Lex could never get used to it.
The Spirit Realm was like a space where the real world had been shattered into pieces, and then, without logic or order, those fragments were haphazardly pieced back together.
It was a strange world.
Miss Fors had already given me a chapter from 'spiritual world anecdotes' through Mr. The Fool, perhaps tonight I can take it out and read it, along with the half-finished 'the great sea travels'.
Lex pondered, and at that moment, he passed through an area that resembled an ocean. Lex vaguely heard a beautiful song, which reminded him of a Mermaid's song.
But how could there be a Mermaid in the Spirit Realm?
Lex looked in the direction of the sound and saw a thick mist rising from the 'sea' below. Within that mist, a pair of scaly hands reached out.
These hands had elegant lines, clearly belonging to a lady, but they were covered in shimmering bronze-gold scales with a metallic luster.
Lex instinctively turned his head away, not daring to look further, fearing he might see something terrifying.
Terrifying, why did that word come to mind? If those hands weren't covered in scales, I could have imagined a beautiful Miss.
Lex didn't delve deeper, no longer thinking about it.
He didn't know.
If he had looked for another moment, he would have seen a woman vaguely appearing from the swirling sea mist. The thick fog obscured most of her body, but it was still possible to see that she had thick gray hair, her body was covered in scales, and she wore an extraordinarily luxurious court gown, as if prepared for a banquet.
In the surging mist, she seemed to merely pass by; with a turn, the dreamlike, ethereal song gradually faded into the distance.
When things regained their tangibility, Lex stood beneath a coconut tree, with the gentle sea breeze caressing his ears. He felt the warmth of the sun, noticed the softness of the fine sand beneath his feet, heard the shouts of laborers from the distant dock, and smelled the faint scent of the sea carried on the wind.
He had returned to Yedgar.
Opening his pocket watch, it was already late; it was almost dusk.
Lex closed the lid and left the beach, seeing a small market selling various island specialties nearby, and a simple inspection hut built of wood.
He still remembered coming out of that wooden hut that day and being surrounded by a group of children. If it hadn't been for the Adventurer named Gabriel, he would have foolishly given them money.
Speaking of which, I wonder if that Adventurer got the job?
Lex also remembered that Yedgar was recruiting people, though he didn't know for what purpose.
However, that has nothing to do with me.
Lex, still dressed in formal attire and sporting a Loen face, began searching for an inn amidst the strange looks of passersby.
As he passed a street, he noticed that the number of Soldiers on the street seemed to have increased significantly. Each one had fierce eyes, staring at passersby like wolves.
When they saw Lex, four or five dark-skinned, short but agile and strong Soldiers rushed over, and one of them pointed a rifle wrapped in burlap at Lex's chest.
"You, show your identification."
The other party spoke in a not-so-fluent Loen language with a local accent, making one wonder if that was the only sentence he knew.
Lex raised his hands. Fortunately, he was prepared when he Teleported over; he took out the temporary pass issued that day.
"Officer, don't be agitated. I'm not a suspicious person."
"My pass is in my left pocket."
A Soldier took out a pass from Lex's pocket. After a detailed comparison, they allowed Lex to pass.
"Has something happened here?" Lex took the pass the Soldier threw to him and asked casually.
"Don't ask!" the Soldier responded fiercely. Then they heard a whistle from ahead, and the squad of Soldiers rushed off in that direction.
Lex looked at the street; it was a mess, with all kinds of debris, daily necessities, and fruits scattered everywhere. A house not far away seemed to have just been burned, with over half of it affected by the fire, and the wooden materials of the walls had collapsed.
On the ground, by the doors, and on the walls, bullet holes could be seen from time to time. No matter how he looked at it, Yedgar seemed to have gone through a street battle.
As Lex passed a dark, narrow alley, he heard a weak voice from inside: "Save me."
Lex stopped because the voice sounded very familiar. He cautiously entered the alley and, behind some debris, he saw a man.
The Adventurer, Gabriel!
The Adventurer from that day, with light yellow hair and a healthy wheat complexion. Now his hair was messy, covered in mud and sand, and his face and hands were stained, like someone who had just crawled out of a sewer, with a strange smell emanating from him.
"Are you alright?" Lex crouched down, frowning slightly.
Gabriel barely glanced at Lex: "Is that you? Do you, do you have anything to eat on you?"
A moment later.
After eating five loaves of dark bread and downing two bottles of beer, Gabriel finally came back to life.
He wiped his face and said, "I haven't eaten for three days."
Lex threw him a cloak: "Put it on, don't talk, and follow me."
After Gabriel put on the cloak, the two of them came out of the alley and found an inn. Lex booked two rooms.
As soon as they entered the room, Gabriel went to clean up. It wasn't until he changed into clean clothes and revealed his original appearance that Lex asked, "Weren't you going for a job interview? How did you end up in such a state?"
Gabriel's face was full of fear: "Don't you know? Many people have died on the Sea Island recently, all in mysterious ways. Some committed suicide by shooting themselves, some turned into a shapeless mass of flesh and blood, some even moved around after dying..."
"But the most terrifying thing is the Marshal's Residence, which is Yedgar's mansion. He wasn't recruiting people at all; what he wanted were sacrifices!"
"Sacrifices?"
Lex said in astonishment, "You're not trying to say he wanted to use you as sacrifices, are you?"
Gabriel nodded vigorously: "Exactly. Remember that night after we arrived in Yedgar? We were told that night that we had passed the interview, and that news made everyone very excited."
"But that night, we were suddenly attacked. I don't know what happened, but the curtains, bedsheets, and chairs in the bedroom, almost all inanimate objects, were attacking us fiercely."
Gabriel spread his hands with a bitter smile: "You see, anyone encountering such a bizarre attack would make a mistake, even an experienced Adventurer like me."
"Yes, I was knocked unconscious. When I woke up again, I was already locked in the dungeon."