Chapter 104: The Observer

Chapter 104: The Observer

Wind Granny glanced at the tower and said to Lyman, "You've likely figured it out by now. This island's former master, the ancient deity, though fallen, left behind a contingency for their own revival."

"It's... Little Bird?" Lyman asked.

"She is the deity's fledgling. As long as she grows up gradually on this island, she will one day reclaim her former power. But Governor Bivar ruined that plan. He tried to steal the deity's authority and seize the full power of the fountain of youth. The 'False God' he created was incredibly powerful, constantly draining the divine power that rightfully belonged to Little Bird. Unless he became extremely weakened, Little Bird could never reclaim that power.

"What's even scarier is that priest, the former Pirate Lord, wanted to wipe out the entire island. Their homes were shielded by divine power, and we couldn't get near them, so we had to look for outside help."

How ironic. The Governor and the priest—one a blasphemer, the other a heretic—yet just because they were in the Holy Order, they automatically got the deity's protection. Isn't this God of Dawn's blessing a bit too indiscriminate?

Lyman frowned. "Then why didn't you just say so directly? Why all the secrecy?"

The old woman said, sounding sorry: "I am the deity's servant. My words have power. If I said it outright, it would attract certain beings' attention, or even disrupt the path of fate."

"The path of fate..." Lyman repeated softly. He felt like some invisible force had guided him to Ninoville. Was it the hourglass pendant? Or the deity waiting to awaken on this island?

Wind Granny spread her hands, and several feathers shining like diamonds flew out of her palms and landed in everyone's hands.

"These are the deity's feathers—magical items that let you fly and call the wind. Our church has been in decline for too long, and we don't have anything better to give. Sorry it's not much."

Everyone was happy to get a reward. Even Tove, who could already fly, happily took hers. She didn't need it, but she could give it to someone back in the Golden City.

Then a small bottle appeared in the old woman's palm, filled with a clear, colorless liquid. It floated into Lyman's hands.

"This is a bottle of the fountain of youth—the true fountain of youth, the deity's blood, untouched by pollution or curses. Maybe it'll come in handy for you someday."

Lyman accepted the small bottle. The true fountain of youth didn't just stop mutations and let you leave the island—it could also heal wounds, regrow lost limbs, and supposedly made you immortal. Whether that was true, Lyman had no idea, but even just the wound-healing part alone was incredibly valuable.

"So, is everything on the island done? Can we head back?" Tove asked. She still had a lot to do back in the Golden City and hoped to return soon.

Lyman looked down the mountain. The whole island had been thrown into chaos by the Waking Nightmare and the feathered monster. With the Governor dead, who knew who'd keep things in order? Tomorrow morning, the Storm Fleet would show up, and that would cause another uproar...

"Thanks, everyone. You can head back now. If anything else comes up, I'll have Xiaoqi let everyone know."

Everyone said their goodbyes one by one. Lyman handed Sylen the Blade of Revelation.

Sylen unbuttoned his clothes, cut open his own chest and belly, and opened a portal through time and space. The bloody sight made everyone flinch.

Tove, Sylvira, and Dorian went through the portal one by one. After sending them off, Sylen got ready to open a portal for himself.

"Hold on a sec." Wind Granny interrupted him. "Young man, you're a merman, aren't you?"

Sylen touched his cheek. The sweat had smeared his makeup, showing the scales on his face.

He nodded.

"I'd like to have a word with you alone." Wind Granny looked at Lyman. "Can you give us a minute?"

Sylen looked at Lyman for approval. Lyman looked at Wind Granny—she had no reason to hurt Sylen; they had no beef. Even if it came to a fight, Sylen might not lose to her.

"I'll go check out the lower district," Lyman said to Sylen. "When you're done, have Xiaoqi give me back the Blade of Revelation."

With that, he vanished into the shadows and headed for the lower district. He was curious about what they were talking about, but he respected their privacy. He figured if it was really important, Sylen would tell him.

On the hillside, only the merman and the old woman were left. Wind Granny waved Sylen over, then stared at his face without moving.

Sylen felt a little awkward. "Is there something wrong with my face?"

A tired smile spread across Wind Granny's old face. "No. It's just... I haven't seen a merman in a long, long time."

Sylen looked at the old woman's face. Her skin was tanned and wrinkled—she was just a regular old lady. But she had bright blue eyes that reminded Sylen of the sky and the ocean.

It suddenly hit Sylen, and he asked excitedly, "Are you a merman too?"

Wind Granny looked down. "Me? I'm a sinner. I hurt the people I loved. The goddess of this island is strict but forgiving. I drank the spring water she gave me and got a long life. Then I used that long life to make up for my sins. I wonder... have the people I hurt forgiven me?"

Sylen didn't get why she was telling him all this. They were strangers who'd only just met today...

"Young man, the god has a message for you."

Sylen straightened up instinctively, though he was confused. He didn't even know the god Wind Granny served—why would it send him a message? Wouldn't it be better to give it to Mr. Shadow, who's more experienced, or just tell Xiaoqi?

Wind Granny asked, "You know what this island is called?"

"Ninoville," Sylen answered.

"That's its name now. A long, long time ago, before the god wars changed the land and sea, before this island sank into the ocean, it had a different name."

Wind Granny paused, then said quietly, "It was called Vendra, which means 'home of the birds.'"

Sylen's eyes went wide.

In that moment, so many things suddenly made sense. Pieces of the past came together in his mind like a giant puzzle. Each piece fit perfectly, forming a beautiful, connected picture.

So that's it... So that's it!

"You are—"

A gust of wind blew up, and Wind Granny vanished like a feather in the wind, gone in a blink.

"Wait!" Sylen shouted. "Are you... are you...?!"

His voice was carried off by the wind, drifting into the sky, heard by who knows who.

The merman stood alone in the wind. He'd sworn he'd never cry again, but at that moment, tears fell anyway. The tears were salty and bitter, just like the water back home. His home was streaming down his face.

He went back to the basement of Fergus's house. He'd locked the door before leaving—he was the only one here.

After putting the Blade of Revelation back in the Divine Casket, Sylen was about to leave when he noticed someone else in the basement.

Behind him stood a figure in a cloak of shifting colors. The figure was tall and thin, impossible to tell if it was a man or woman. Under the hood, there was no face—just a constantly moving, twisting silver symbol: ∞.

Around its neck hung an hourglass pendant, flipping up and down endlessly.

"Who are you?!" Sylen demanded, his eyes still red.

"Folks call me the Observer." The voice sounded like a man and a woman, old and young at the same time.

"The Observer... the hourglass pendant Mr. Dorian found?"

"Ah, yeah. That was mine." The Observer sounded casual, like they'd found something funny. "Even when we gods fall, we always leave a backup plan for our comeback. That hourglass has a piece of my will in it. When I sensed other gods' chosen ones nearby, I called them to me."

"So the time loop on this island was really your doing?"

"It wasn't just me—it was 'us.' Everything was to bring back the fallen gods, to get the best possible ending.

"My companions may have totally different personalities and ideas, but they all share one thing: a deep love for this world, and for the courage, grit, and determination of its people. We fought once—or, well, we will fight—to protect this world. My friends deserve a better ending."

The ∞ symbol beneath His hood whirled faster, as if questioning Sylen.

"You have companions too, so you get it, right?"

Sylen mulled it over for a long time, then finally nodded. Indeed, for his companions, he would give everything.

He asked, "Since you're the Observer, I wanted to ask... did our cause succeed?"

"Didn't you see it with your own eyes?"

Sylen cast his eyes down. "So that's how it was... That's really... really wonderful."

The Observer extended a hand toward Sylen. His skin was pitch black, with glittering silver sand flowing and eddying within, as if a shimmering river ran through His body.

"You know this, don't you? Even with the power of the Blade of Revelation, one cannot cross the river of time. The reason you could do it was my covert protection. Now, that protection is coming to an end. When you're ready, go bid farewell to your companions. Then, I'll take you to meet mine."

"Meet... whom?"

The Observer let out a pleasant laugh.

"Ah, you'll be delighted to meet Him," He said softly.