On a sunny and warm day, a simple but lively wedding was taking place before the few houses behind the Spirit Tree Pavilion.
Cups were raised and laughter rang out. The people of the Hawk Company hadn't celebrated or laughed like this in a long time.
After sending his blessings to the newlyweds, Guts and Casca, Nidhogg quietly found a stone table, with no one else nearby. He sat down, ate a dessert cookie, and took a sip of wine.
He looked not far away, where in a corner sat the noble daughter Farnese, also silently eating and drinking. She occasionally glanced around, probably looking at the clay statues walking back and forth with plates.
However, after a few glances, Farnese would always show an expression of shame, close her eyes, and mumble scriptures to herself, like a pious nun.
But after a while, she couldn't help but open her eyes and look a few more times.
The Spirit Tree Pavilion was full of magic and spiritual power. Even the veteran members of the Hawk Company, who had fought everywhere and were well-informed, were amazed. Not to mention her, a young lady.
Her persistence in faith could not suppress her inner curiosity. So, after satisfying her curiosity, she would feel a strong sense of guilt for betraying her faith.
"I think sooner or later she'll get used to life here."
Suddenly, a small voice came from behind.
Nidhogg turned his head and saw the "little witch" Schierke, in her wide magic hat and with a magic staff as tall as herself, approaching him.
"May I sit here?"
"Please, sit."
Schierke sat down, setting aside her magic hat and staff. Nidhogg poured her a cup of tea, and she whispered, "Thank you."
"What do you mean by 'sooner or later she'll get used to life here'?" Nidhogg asked curiously.
"Teacher said so." Schierke said firmly. "Although she believes in the teachings of the Holy See, unexpectedly, she adapts well and has an aptitude for magic. She seems very talented in this regard."
Nidhogg couldn't help but laugh when he heard this.
This time it was Schierke's turn to ask curiously, "What are you laughing at? Flora said so."
"I know." Nidhogg glanced toward Farnese. "I was just thinking that no matter what you say with your words, your inner thoughts are reflected in your actions. That's called 'verbal suspicion of integrity'."
Schierke also glanced toward Farnese and nodded thoughtfully.
"Where's Ivalera?" Nidhogg asked. The goblin was always with Schierke, and it was a little strange not to see her now.
Schierke said helplessly, "I don't know. She quarreled with Puck for a while, then went with him to the back kitchen to steal food. I don't know where they've gone now. Are they getting along well?"
"Actually, quarreling together is a sign of a good relationship," Nidhogg concluded.
Schierke nodded in agreement, then asked with some excitement, "Can you tell me about your journey since you left here last time?"
The little witch still loved listening to stories. Although she was willing to live with Flora, that didn't mean she didn't want to know about the outside world.
Since there was nothing else to do, Nidhogg naturally obliged. Of course, he briefly glossed over the too bloody and brutal parts, like the scenes during the "Eclipse." There was no need to mention severed arms and stumps.
However, even mentioned only lightly, Schierke felt a sense of horror, and goosebumps ran down her arms.
But she was like a girl who is afraid of ghost stories yet wants to hear them, still sitting there, eyes wide open, listening quietly.
When the wedding banquet ended, Nidhogg had finished telling what he had seen along the way. Schierke thanked Nidhogg with satisfaction and left.
During the wedding banquet, Flora had appeared once. She was the one who officiated the wedding, and she also used great magic to add beautiful decorations, causing everyone to marvel.
After that, Flora returned to her room to rest. Now Schierke was also worried about her teacher's health and wanted to go and check on her.
Only the skeleton knight did not appear at the banquet at all.
He felt his image was too evil to appear at such a festive event. Even though Guts and Casca didn't mind and strongly invited him, he refused to appear.
After a while, Nidhogg was about to join Pippin, Judeau, Corkus, and Rickert for the second half of the cocktail party when suddenly Schierke came to him.
"Nidhogg, Flora wants to see you," Schierke relayed her teacher's instructions.
"Alright, I'm going."
Nidhogg asked everyone to continue drinking, and then he went to the Spirit Tree Pavilion alone. Even Schierke didn't follow, which must have been requested by Flora.
He reached the hollow of the huge library on the second floor, where he saw Flora sitting before the flickering candlelight, and the skeleton knight half-hidden in the darkness.
Both of them were here, and it seemed they were going to discuss serious topics.
Flora asked Nidhogg to sit down, and with a wave of her hand, the teapot on the dining table lifted and poured a cup of hot tea right before Nidhogg.
"It contains herbs that can cure hangovers," Flora said with a smile.
"Thank you."
Nidhogg took a sip, and indeed, the effect was immediate. Most of the wine was dispelled, some energy was lifted, and his body became much warmer.
"I heard you're planning to leave tomorrow, right?" Flora asked.
"Correct." Nidhogg said. "Now I can only be considered a restless pawn on the chessboard. I still have a long way to go if I want to jump off the board or even become a player."
The skeleton knight, who had been silent for a long time, said, "It's good to have such awareness. Actually, I'm also planning to leave in these few days. I've been at the Spirit Tree Pavilion for too long."
Flora glanced helplessly at the skeleton knight and said, "It's been less than ten days in total. Alas, I'm afraid you haven't seen anyone for several months, and there's no news."
"I need to focus on the enchantment of the 'Sword of Calling,'" the skeleton knight said. "For this reason, I need to hunt more Apostles and seize their Beherits. That is very important."
Flora pressed her lips together and hesitated for a moment, saying nothing.
"What's the matter?" Nidhogg sensed the tension in the atmosphere and asked.
The skeleton knight and Flora exchanged glances. Then Flora nodded, and the skeleton knight said, "I already mentioned that Flora and I have studied the God Hand for many years."
"Void was not the first God Hand. Before him, there were at least four others... Besides seeing them with our own eyes, we have also learned some random facts and truths from the records of certain ancient classics."
"The God Hand usually resides in the abyss of the astral world. If they want to come into this world, they need a certain medium, a certain thought force field, and a time limit. You must know this."
"However, they do have the ability to continue walking in this world. It is called 'incarnation'—a reincarnation ritual that can only occur once every thousand years."
"The last person to be reincarnated in the flesh was the Great Sage, incarnated by Void. He completely made the teachings of the Holy See the mainstream faith on this continent and implanted the beliefs and ideas of almost everyone in the religious circle."
"A thousand years have passed. If we guess correctly, in two years, a God Hand will inevitably become flesh again and come into the world in the flesh, bringing a storm to this continent."
"There is nothing more suitable than Femto, who has just been reincarnated. Few in the world know what he has done. Even if you tell them, few will believe it. He can take advantage of this and return to the world."
"If Void brought blind faith, then Femto brings the Dark Ages. We must be prepared for this."
Nidhogg was not surprised by this. He thought for a moment and asked, "Void paved the way for Femto's reincarnation a thousand years ago, and the teachings of the Holy See are also paving the way for him. What does Void want to do?"
The skeleton knight was silent for a while before saying:
"Based on personal selfish desires, he may want to create another 'sovereign,' unify the entire continent in some way, and then fully spread the concept of 'divine right of the kingdom.'"
"By the will of God, He may have wanted to return the world to the chaos of ancient times, when the power of the Abyss was at its peak. After that, everything would burst forth, the spiritual wisdom of life would awaken, and He would gradually weaken."
"The chaos of ancient times..." Nidhogg thought. "How do they do that?"
"Let me explain this." Flora interjected.
Nidhogg looked at her.
Flora organized her thoughts and said:
"In fact, in the abyss of the astral world, there is a giant tree called the 'World Tree.' Its roots are in the abyss. Its extended branches can penetrate the astral world."
"Every night of the full moon is the time when magic peaks. It is also the time when the World Tree is most powerful. During this period, its branches occasionally penetrate from the astral world into the real world."
"In general, small branches, known as 'magic paths,' allow people in this world to reach the shallows of the astral world. If they don't leave in time, they will get lost in the shallows."
"And the large branch, known as the 'Dragon Path,' allows people in the real world to go directly into the depths of the astral world. The Beherit held by these Apostles is an abyssal talisman that can open the Dragon Path at any time through the demon-subduing ritual."
"The reason the skeleton knight wants to collect Beherits to forge the Sword of Calling is that only in this way can he wound the God Hand, who are protected by the power of the Abyss."
Flora took a sip of tea, gave Nidhogg a little time to understand, and then continued:
"The Spirit Tree Pavilion where we are now is called the 'Spirit Tree Forest.' There is only one such pavilion in the world. In fact, although they are in the real world, they are trees parasitic on the World Tree."
"The reason these spirit tree forests can exist for so long is that they absorb the power of the World Tree and at the same time prevent its branches from spreading directly into the real world."
"I will live here, and it's not by chance. I, like my other fellow mages, have guarded the Spirit Tree Forest from the dangers of evil spirits, and also to prevent the growth of the World Tree."
"However, Void has completely weakened the power of us mages and elves through a millennium of planning. At this critical moment, the once-in-a-thousand-year moment of incarnation arrives. It's hard for us not to think about it."
"Femto will likely follow the apocalypse written by Void and return to the world. He will unleash an unimaginable storm of time, sweeping across the continent and even the entire world. Everyone will be affected."
"At the same time, he will inevitably set his sights on the Spirit Tree Forest where we mages reside. If we destroy them one by one, it will be like opening a seal. The power of the World Tree will grow stronger and stronger."
"At that time, with the wedge and the right moment, the God Hand can make the World Tree pass through the depths of the astral world, go straight into the real world, and gradually return the entire world to the chaos of ancient times."
"I think, if things really come to this, the entire world may only be left with the roots of the World Tree. It will become a paradise, a calm typhoon eye, full of spiritual power, capable of resisting the approach of evil spirits."
"However, beyond that, it will become a purgatory. The thoughts of those in purgatory will feed the Abyss and the World Tree. At the same time, they will yearn for the pure land within the roots of the World Tree."
"The Pure Land is a natural paradise. They will undergo all kinds of trials and gather from thousands of miles away, that is, to completely surrender their fate to the God Hand. They may become captive cattle or another demonic feast."
"This is the worst outcome, that the Dark Ages have fully arrived. The skeleton knight and I are trying our best to avoid this end. The Sword of Calling is our only hope."
"No." Flora suddenly changed her words, staring at Nidhogg with her eyes, and said, "Your power can disrupt the situation, at least unexpectedly. This is our chance."
Hearing this, Nidhogg didn't promise anything. He just nodded.
The skeleton knight said, "I will hunt Apostles, collect Beherits, and forge the Sword of Calling. What will you do?"
"I'm going to find that group of uninvited guests," Nidhogg said. "They've always been here to invade my territory. Now it's my turn to invade theirs."
"Do you have a target?"
"Probably. A long time ago, I heard a rumor on the road that there is a person named 'Godrick the Grafted'... I'm going to find him."
"That's good. Good luck."
"Good luck to you too."
The secret conversation between the three ended quietly, but its significance was naturally obvious.
Good night.
The next morning.
Nidhogg packed his things and prepared to leave the Spirit Tree Pavilion. The Hawk Company members, Puck, Schierke, and Ivalera all came to see him off.
Guts, Pippin, Judeau, Corkus, and Rickert all stepped forward and hugged Nidhogg. Casca's belly wasn't very convenient, so they just nodded to each other.
"I remember that day I saw you off to the Hawk Company, and we were the same people," Guts said with a complex expression. "I didn't expect you to do so many things behind our backs..."
"This time, you're also setting out on a journey with some kind of mission, right? Hmm... We won't let you go alone. You take the first step, and we'll follow."
"Whether he returns or not, we will make a decision in the coming days to confirm our consciousness and our future—whether it's to avenge our dead comrades or to protect our living ones."
"This battle will not end until he loses. Nidhogg, you can go. When you gain consciousness and strength, we will come after you as soon as possible."