Chapter 1290: Chapter 16 Annie de Vandom_2

This sounds somewhat unusual. Compared to a special XP, Aiwass feels like this is some sort of ritual.

Because the relationship between the Old Duke’s three wives is too regular. This kind of regular distribution, like a test question, is most likely part of some kind of ritual in this world.

Speaking of which, what does the thing he had Sherlock investigate truly mean…

Aiwass suddenly fell silent, lost in thought.

“What’s wrong, Aiwass?”

Arsene was puzzled seeing Aiwass unresponsive for a while: “Still thinking about Abi’s matter?”

“…Sort of.”

Aiwass replied vaguely.

He asked Arsene the question he was most concerned about: “Does the Duke have a daughter… who went missing once?”

“More specifically?”

“For example, did she once go abroad to study, and then stayed in Avalon and didn’t return… something like that.”

Aiwass stared at Arsene and asked.

Arsene did not respond immediately.

He touched his chin, thought for a while seriously, but didn’t provide an answer. This made Aiwass’ heart sink.

“What about her age?”

Arsene asked, “About how old?”

“She should be… over forty now.”

Aiwass straightforwardly said, “Her name is Annie.”

“—-Annie de Vandom? Ah, yes, she exists.”

Arsene directly mentioned her name, causing a slight reaction in Aiwass’ heart.

But what Arsene said next made Aiwass feel a chill all over: “But she didn’t stay in Avalon; she’s always been at home. Maybe she went abroad before, but she didn’t stay.”

…What?

“Is she married?”

Aiwass pressed further.

“No, she’s never married. But it’s said she has someone she likes, so Sir Father didn’t force her.”

Arsene laughed, “After all, the Vandom Family is prosperous… there’s no need to form alliances with other families. It’s just keeping a freeloader; it’s no problem to keep her until death.

“And Miss An isn’t purely idle either–she’s quite a good opera actress, but now with age, her voice has declined, so she stays at home… do you know her? No wonder you care about Abi; they do look quite similar.

“…Perhaps I know her. I’m not too sure either.”

Aiwass spoke slowly.

After hearing Arsene’s description, Aiwass roughly guessed the truth—-

—-It’s the Swampfolk.

This would explain why the Duke’s daughter could stay in Avalon, even die in Avalon without causing any diplomatic pressure; originally, Aiwass thought it was because the Duke’s family had too many children, but now… it’s because “Annie” had returned!

The Duke of Vandome simply didn’t know he had a daughter left in Avalon!

But… was the one who stayed the Swampfolk, or the one who returned?

Judging by her behavior, she clearly knew about the existence of “another Annie.” She didn’t marry, has someone she likes… it means she refers to Aiwass’ father, meaning the creation time of this Swampfolk should be after she liked Aiwass’ father.

For a moment, Aiwass had an overwhelming urge to return to the Material Realm, head to the Duke Mansion to meet this “counterpart of his mother.”

But he reined in his chaotic emotions, deciding to rescue Sherlock first.

However, he shifted from his previous sightseeing attitude, becoming much more serious:

“—-Never mind that for now; let’s get into the Dream Realm first.”

Aiwass strode forward, sharing precious Dream Realm knowledge with Arsene without hesitation: “To enter the Shadow Nation, you need to pass through the crevices formed by folding shadows.”

After all, Arsene is somewhat related to him–albeit with no blood, but he counts as Aiwass’ genuine “relative.”

“This gap has to be over thirty degrees, but not exceed a hundred and twenty degrees. And each step must deviate by at least one degree. Generally, this can be reached when lost in a dim forest… but there are places like this in school too–that is, the spiral staircase.”

Saying this, Aiwass led Arsene towards a clock tower on the campus.

He searched several places… then found that the clock tower’s staircase happened to be spiral.

He led Arsene up the stairs, advising Arsene: “Don’t count how many steps the staircase has, nor count how many steps you’ve taken. Dreams are illusory, subjective… you must use your imagination to override the Dream Master’s imagination. We need to descend a total of three thousand six hundred degrees along this staircase, which means ten full turns–I know this clock tower doesn’t have ten floors, but it doesn’t affect our descent, understand? Don’t focus too much on ‘common sense,’ rather focus on imagination…

“If really necessary, blindfold yourself.”

It’s like a “Platform Nine and Three-Quarters,” a gap that’s impossible in terms of common sense–just like this staircase doesn’t actually have ten floors.

In the forest, this condition that requires “get lost ten times and return to the original place ten times” can be more conveniently and stably achieved by using this staircase descent method.

“…I’ll try my best.”

Arsene said seriously, a little nervous. Clearly, Aiwass’ requirements are somewhat challenging for him–to forget, and even ignore the “ground of the first floor,” and forcibly continue downwards…

“Don’t be too nervous, and don’t count the degrees. Listen to my footsteps, when I walk you walk.”

Aiwass encouraged.

They had already reached the top of the clock tower, closing all the doors and windows along the way. Leaving it pitch dark.

He looked around, simply tearing a hole in the hat on his head, turning it into a blindfold, and tied it over Arsene’s eyes.

As for Aiwass–he didn’t need such tool assistance.

Arsene held onto his shoulder, while Aiwass led the way. They descended step by step in the dim, lightless environment.

As expected.

As long as Aiwass kept descending, the spiral staircase extended indefinitely. It had long surpassed the length from when Aiwass ascended but showed no signs of stopping…

The further he went down, the dimmer his surroundings became. He couldn’t count how many steps he had taken, but at least after six hundred steps, it was too dark to see anything.

Suddenly, Aiwass’ foot touched flat ground.

He paused, stepped forward once, letting Arsene come down as well.

Aiwass stopped Arsene, who wanted to continue descending, and untied his blindfold.

Arsene instinctively stepped back, only to find there was no staircase behind him–

Suddenly, a bolt of thunder struck, illuminating the gloomy gray sky.

Taking advantage of the fading lightning, they quickly surveyed everything around them.

No Sun, no Moon, the black and gray sky constantly churned with Dark Clouds. Only during Thunder could they faintly see the outline of this world.

They were in an endless black-gray wasteland.

No villages ahead, no stations behind.

The good news was, there was no threatening Phantom Demon around.

The bad news was, they didn’t even know which direction to go.

“We’re here,” Aiwass looked around, somewhat uncertainly, “this should be the Shadow Nation.”

“…Should be?”

Arsene was taken aback: “You… haven’t you been to the Dream Realm?”

“I haven’t been here, but I should have acquaintances… I’ll call and ask.”

Aiwass said, removing his mirror transformation—-to use the Prayer Arts, the body of the Son of the Moon wouldn’t do.

In the instant before the light disappeared, Arsene saw Aiwass’ face clearly.

In that moment, his eyes widened.