Pillar of Yita

”Affia, this name... was the name Princess Rupert had before marrying into the Royal House of Penelope. Women in Istania often have two names before and after marriage—one belonging to their own family, and the other to their husband’s family.”

”The King of Sand bestowed this name on his second daughter in memory of his wife.”

For a moment, countless thoughts swirled in Fang Hong’s mind, like disjointed images.

He seemed to grasp the only flash of insight amidst the chaos, and a thought naturally emerged in his heart. He took a step forward and asked, ”Why tell me all this...?”

The middle-aged man stood before a door, lifted the curtain with his hand, and gestured for Fang Hong to enter. Fang Hong hesitated momentarily, peering inside. The bright light outside contrasted starkly with the darkness beyond the door—he hesitated but couldn’t resist his curiosity and stepped inside.

Once his eyes adjusted to the change in light, he discerned the surroundings—or rather, the person before him. ”We meet again. Last time you bought me a drink; this time let me treat you to the same.” The man smiled gently, revealing his white teeth: ”Blood wine from the desert, rich and intoxicating—”

”It’s you... Delan?”

”Indeed, it is I. Allow me to reintroduce myself, Delan Iger Aimer Ibun,” the man said with a smile, ”An obscure court magician.”

The flash in his eyes had long dissipated from when he was in prison.

Now, it shone brightly in the dark ambiance.

...

In Kashan Palace, Princess Rupert quietly listened to the Parers’ account.

”So you are Parker, also Lady Papamo. May I see your belt?”

”This damn belt,” Parker cursed sharply, then lifted his robe to reveal the belt, ”Here’s the thing; if you don’t believe me, I can take it off.”

”No need.”

The Princess halted his actions.

She paced back and forth in the palace, contemplating the words previously spoken by the dwarves. She turned her gaze back, fixing a serious look upon the Parer, and asked, ”I will take your words at face value. But before that, I wish to meet with Mr. Ade, is that possible?”

Parker was taken aback.

”What is it?”

”It’s just... the captain didn’t inform me what to do next?”

”Can you notify him?”

”He instructed me to stay by your side and ensure your safety.”

”My safety?” The Princess was momentarily taken aback, concern brushing her brow briefly before regaining her composure: ”Alright, I understand. You stay here.”

”What?”

Princess Rupert replied softly: ”Since he told you to remain here, he will surely come to see me soon.”

...

”Ten years ago, I was just an ordinary court alchemist in the Royal House of Penelope. Being born into the Aimoyiben Family gave me more opportunities to rise, much like the trust my brother placed in me, the King of Sand, Barbaltan, also trusted me as a brother.”

”I was appointed as the Queen’s personal guardian knight. Alongside me were seven others, but they all perished in that catastrophe, leaving me as the sole survivor, merely because I was just an ordinary alchemist.”

”For the past decade, I have never ceased investigating the truth of that incident. To protect me, my brother imprisoned me in that place. Truthfully, few who participated in the event back then even know I am still alive, only remaining in the gloomy underground thanks to them.”

”I’m Delan Iger Aimer Ibun, and can be counted as that little girl Lavali’s uncle; that’s my tale,” the man said with a carefree smile, ”Young man, many believe the attack on the Queen was retribution, an act of vengeance against the Royal House of Penelope. But events were far more complex; not simply due to that notebook, everything leads back to the Garden of Illusions.”

”The Garden of Illusions?”

Delan pulled out a handful of crystal shards from his pocket and placed them on the table.

The shards appeared like shattered glass, emitting a faint glow in the darkness.

Fang Hong instantly recognized what they were: ”These are, shards of the Emerald Star?”

Neither De’an nor the middle-aged man spoke, as they were both aware of the events on the Dawood ship, Fang Hong’s recognition of the Emerald Star didn’t surprise them.

”The slates recorded the secrets of the Holy Relics, including their origins,” after a while, the latter replied, ”The Four Holy Objects were all crafted by elves—the Hailin Crown, Morning Light Holy Sword, Hand of Truth, and Eternal Emblem. Although Divine Power indeed resides within, with the God of Chongshan infusing Divine Strength into Hailin Crown and Morning Light Holy Sword, Hand of Truth was blessed by Angina, and Eternal Emblem by Ameya’s Divine Will, yet they were unequivocally crafted by the Master Numelin Elves.”

”Legend has it, a special force resides within the Holy Relics, named Pale Glory, the Power of Creation. This power is more elemental than even Divine Power, which is precisely why the Four Holy Objects are exceptionally rare.”

”Since this power surpasses Divine Power, it naturally does not originate from the three Oulin Gods. Can you guess where they come from?”

Fang Hong shivered upon hearing the term ’Pale Glory’, almost exposing something inadvertently. However, observing Delan and the middle-aged man’s expressions, he realized they were already aware.