"The content of the mural will become reality in the material world..." Whether it was Caine or Leonard, both found themselves unconsciously repeating the words just spoken by the "Justice" lady. While it was still astonishing and admirable that the mural on the other side determined the course of history in the world of the book, this discovery on this side was powerful enough to deeply move each person's soul and stir up a great storm. The画卷 you describe will unfold on the real stage, not in the realm of fantasy—this is truly divine! "Not quite that dramatic, is it?" Leonard said, repeating the words, then spoke them in a tone of disbelief.
Klein habitually began his analysis: "Even with '0–08,' it could only impact one major city, hardly extending beyond that scope. The Sequence 1 'Writer' via the 'Audience' path should be similar. The 'Uniqueness' of the 'Idealist' could certainly be traced to Adam. But what ensures that the content of the murals in this 'City of Miracles' comes to fruition? Was it the divine power of the 'Dragon of Imagination' at the outset? When the book took shape, the mural content had already become an imprint, sinking into the collective unconscious, spreading outward and gradually inspiring generation after generation of beings to fulfill this task unconsciously?"
"If this is true, then commissioning a new mural now will surely be impossible, as the 'Dragon of Imagination' has already fallen and can no longer provide divine power...
But we can at least try—should the content of the new mural indeed unfold in the material world, that would prove the 'City of Miracles' is truly the original Levithed, harboring a profound secret, and also indicate that the 'audience' pathway is deeper than I had imagined.
'Writers'? And a magic potion named after them?' Leonard listened to Caine's thoughts and couldn't help murmuring.
Compared to the 'Imaginists' who extend from the 'Dragon of Imagination,' the term 'Writers' as a magic potion name clearly stands out—more captivating, more evocative, with a sense of reality stepping into fantasy.
Odile, already familiar with the higher-sequence magic potion names of the 'Audience' pathway, found herself thinking of something else:
'Uniqueness... How remarkable that the 'World' gentleman can instantly recall and analyze so many details!'
Well, perhaps I've been a bit too direct in my praise—has the 'World' gentleman even heard all of it... This hall is truly difficult to adjust to! No, 'World' gentleman, I'm genuinely saying it, from the heart!" Audrey first felt a bit embarrassed, then quickly regained her composure, striving to appear at ease. "...Indeed, you're a true psychologist—such a swift adjustment!" Klein thought to himself at that moment. "Indeed, the 'World' gentleman isn't as cold as he appears—he must quietly murmur to himself, hmm... I didn't say a single thing!" Audrey had just unconsciously formed that thought, and immediately dismissed it with determination.
A voice echoed beside Leonard: "Klein's Germaine Sparrow has done a splendid job at his disguise—everyone who knows him believes him cold and eccentric, heh, who would have thought..." As Leonard's thoughts began to unfold, they were suddenly interrupted by a voice: "Shut up!"
He glanced at Klein, who had taken on the appearance of Gérard Spaloff, and spread his hands, suppressing a smile. "Look, isn't this a bit less cold than expected?"
"Cold? Then I'll simply press the 'Unbroken Cross' right onto your head! If you don't want your extraordinary trait, give it to someone who needs it!" Klein instinctively responded, unable to control his inner thoughts through meditation.
"...," Audrey looked at the "World" gentleman, then at the "Stars" gentleman, her inner voice rapidly bouncing with thoughts, "I never realized there was so much drama going on inside them. I only noticed the 'Stars' gentleman before—completely unaware that beneath the 'World' gentleman's poker-faced demeanor, there were all these names—Gianter, Bos, Minnie..."
At the crucial moment, Audrey, with experience, forced herself to recall names by methodically listing them, thus interrupting her stream of thoughts.
"Who are these people?" Leonard's attention shifted accordingly.
"They're my family's hunting dogs and horses."
"Audrey replied politely. "A hunting dog costs over 450 pounds..." Suddenly remembering Walter, the housekeeper, suggesting the purchase of a batch of hunting dogs after acquiring the Mogue estate. "Why did Mr. World first think of price?" Audrey immediately wondered. Leonard gave a slight sigh, silently conveying his answer: "Isn't that quite normal? He's always been particular about this sort of thing—I remember..." Before he finished speaking, Clarence lightly cleared his throat and said, "Let's continue exploring elsewhere. We'll return to experiment with the murals when we have more time."
"Oh, this hall really has a way of turning things chaotic—always managing to shift the focus right onto everyone's privacy..." Hearing that comment, both "Justice" Audrey and "Star" Leonard couldn't help but laugh, no matter how much they tried. Seeing that "World"先生 clearly didn't want the situation to spiral further into disorder, Audrey lifted her head, gazed up at the ceiling, and refocused on the matter at hand: "The mural on the right controls the world within the book, while the one on the left seems to influence reality. What if we place the mural above? What would happen then?"
"Klein suddenly had an association: 'The Dragon of Imagination' holds at least three key aspects: the realm of fantasy will inevitably materialize in the physical world, the proclaimed future will unfold and become real, and imagined objects will manifest into tangible forms. The first aspect somewhat corresponds to the mural on the right; the second aligns with our interpretation of the left side—what about that blank space above the palace? Could it relate to the third aspect?" "As long as you depict imagined objects on it, they will manifest—correct?" Audrey easily grasped Germain Sparo's meaning of 'the world.' "Then, what if I draw a 'Dragon of Imagination'?" Leonard raised the question tentatively. Klein glanced at him again: "First, you must have personally witnessed the 'Dragon of Imagination' remain stable and not collapse. Second, you must be able to accurately reconstruct its essential physical features. Third, you must be capable of drawing." "…I don't have that ability now, but that doesn't mean I won't develop it in the future. I can certainly arrange for a private tutor in drawing."
"Leonard," murmured, "and what exactly do you mean by the main details? The physical structure, or the symbols manifesting the divinity?" At this, Audrey pressed her lips to hold back a smile, then spoke with a light, brisk tone: "I can draw." This was a fundamental skill for a noble lady, and Audrey had a particular talent in this area. "Yes, we can try that later," said Kline, nodding, and stepped toward the great column at the far end of the hall. His plan for this exploration was to first gain an overall sense of the setting before delving deeper.
At the same time, he thought of other things prompted by Leonard's question earlier: "The symbols and identifiers manifesting the divine—this encompasses a vast and intricate body of knowledge that, after one can endure the impact, allows one to interpret corresponding potion recipes and extraordinary abilities. Then, before the first 'Board of Desecration' came into being, what would someone gain from directly gazing upon a half-divine or an ancient, immortal deity? At that time, there was no concept of potion recipes yet. 'Could it be that only mythical beings who ascended step by step through the use of potions carried this knowledge within their divine essence? Or, once potion recipes emerged, did all mythical beings—regardless of the path they took—acquire this accumulated knowledge? If these two reasons are correct, then it suggests that the knowledge inherent in the divine is not static but can evolve and grow. Could the angels of the 'Thieves' path possess the ability to alter, or even erase, such accumulated knowledge?"
"Mr. World" seems to be thinking about such deeply profound matters, involving such lofty levels..."Audrey, representing Justice, couldn't help but exclaim. Leonard couldn't suppress his inner voice either: "Is there really something like this? Go ask the old man... "Klein knows so much! He doesn't just pretend to be Germain Spalro—he genuinely possesses that deep, resonant quality, at least, it seems to belong to him naturally." "Thank you both for your kind words!" Klein, holding a vial of blood in one hand and grasping the "Cross of No Shadow" in the other, forcibly calmed his thoughts and directed his gaze toward the distant seat of the ancient god. ——They were now in spiritual form; though confined by the hall and unable to fly, their maximum speed was still significantly faster than that of human form. It wasn't until now that Klein noticed, behind the massive pillar that appeared to be the seat of the "Dragon of Imagination," there was a dark, downward passage.
"Nothing to see, just light...," Audrey thought instinctively.
Then, within the passage, a pure, gentle light brightened, illuminating it with exceptional clarity.
Without entering, Caine, Leonard, and Audrey saw standing at the deepest end an ancient bronze double door.
On the door, countless symbols—unnameable and intricate—were densely arranged, resembling a series of chains extending into the distance, as if sealing something, creating a tangible sense of weight and mystery.
In the "City of Wonders" of the dragon race, within the abode of the ancient gods, behind the divine throne, there exists a door believed to be sealed.
Almost simultaneously, their lines of sight seemed to penetrate the bronze door, revealing the profound darkness within.
Immediately afterward, they heard a steady rhythm: the sound of their own hearts beating.
And now they exist in a spiritual state—there is absolutely no concept of a heart! Instantly, the verdigris on the surface of the "Luminous Cross" in Celine's hand began to peel away, revealing a solid, pure radiance that radiated outwards like the light of the sun. Within Celine, Audrey, and Leonard, an inexplicable chill emerged, as though each cell had gained its own consciousness, striving to form a new "self." In their ethereal vision, deep within the profound darkness behind the bronze gates, one eye opened—its pupil dark, streaked with intricate blue fissures. Then, one after another, countless other eyes opened, densely clustered, observing with cold, unwavering attention. At that moment, Celine and the others seemed to hear an unheard, yet profoundly compelling call—silent, yet irresistibly attractive. Without hesitation, Celine's spiritual form expanded, enveloping Audrey and Leonard, and immediately concluded the summoning, returning to the gray mist above.