Chapter 17.1

Kevin dreamed that he was digging in the thick fog of Andorha's dense forest. He pushed away the wet mud, dragged an indistinct heavy object, and lay down in the pit with it. He then sealed the pit himself. The underground was stuffy and humid, and his entire body felt sticky as if it were covered in a thick layer of blood mud.

The rusty smell of blood became increasingly strong, and he finally could not help but push aside the dirt and sit up. He saw dead bodies everywhere around him, and the battle flags of the Bronze Army and the Golden Lion Kingdom lay not far away, soaked in blood. He glanced down to the left and saw that the man lying with him in the pit was Oswald.

"Wake up," he said, feeling a little sad. He pushed Oswald's shoulder hard, only to see that the lying corpse sat up.

Oswald pulled out the arrow that was stuck in his body indifferently. He then picked up a longbow from the ground and handed it to Kevin, saying, "Can you stand here and shoot the chamomile leaves at the other end of the courtyard? Give it a try."

Kevin propped himself up from the ground. When he looked up, he found that the battlefield had become the garden of Parsons Manor. The adult Oswald was standing by the refreshment table, looking at him leisurely with his arms folded.

"Okay, try," Kevin replied hesitantly. He squinted at the chastity tree in the distance and steadily drew the bowstring.

With the sound of breaking the wind, the long arrow was heavily nailed to the broad-leaved chastity tree. The whole tree trembled for a while and fell in response.

Kevin put down the bow, but he found himself standing on the top of a mountain. The entire world was extremely quiet as if he was the only one left. The huge sunset slowly sank behind him, leaving the sky as golden red as blood.

****

Kevin woke up in this silent dusk.

He sat up, but he found that he had been moved at some point. He was no longer in Oswald's study but in a large bedroom. A luxurious bedroom decorated in black, gold, and brass.

"You're finally awake," said an elderly voice.

Kevin turned his head and saw a well-dressed white-haired old man sitting on a chair beside the bed, watching him quietly. The nasolabial folds at the corners of his mouth were so deep that they were almost carved into his bones, making him look rigid and stern. There was a book spread out on the old man's lap, and Kevin could see the mark on the corner of the book with a glance: Houshenshu.

On the first line of the opened page, there was a sentence: "Do not take dreams as a nonsensical journey, it always has a source."

Kevin pouted and looked away. He said to the old man, "Uncle Ian, it's been a long time."

It had indeed been a long time since he had last seen the old butler. He had not seen him since he left Parsons Manor after the spring break that year. He did not expect that Oswald would bring him into the palace.

Ian put on a grave face and said, "It's nice to see you again."

Kevin said, "Thank you," but he did not sound sincere.

"I'll go and call the young master," Ian said. He was probably used to calling Kevin that, but he could not change it for a while.