Mystery: Good Witch

Chapter 1427 Let me ask Arrodes
"Are you planning to go to the Giants' Court? Could you take my sister and me with you?"

Seeing that Franka and Janna did not answer, the blonde, purple-eyed girl in front of them, who looked like she was not yet an adult but was gradually growing up and was lovable, repeated.

The girl next to her, with her long black hair simply tied up and looking rather quiet, also looked at Franca with expectant eyes.

How could anyone refuse...? Of course not! How could two girls who don't look like ordinary people suddenly appear in this small town far from big cities and want to travel together? Something just doesn't seem right, does it?

Although she was on vacation, in a small town where the number of extraordinary individuals could probably be counted on one hand, Franka, the "Messenger of Calamity" and a member of the Extraordinary Organization, still maintained basic vigilance and did not immediately agree because of the other party's "advantage" in appearance.

She had heard too many stories of extraordinary individuals with considerable strength failing miserably within the church and the Curly-haired Baboon Research Society.

Looking at the two girls with a scrutinizing gaze, Franka quickly noticed some suspicious points.

Although "Afternoon Town" is not large, it is located in the most prominent area of ​​the Eastern Continent and closest to the Sunia Sea. It is adjacent to the first port when the continent was developed. It is basically the only place for immigrants from other regions and for goods to be transported in and out. The two girls are not dressed like the locals who are usually dressed simply and look travel-worn. Instead, they look like children from middle-class families like Rune and Intis.

If they were truly locals, they would have already visited the "Giant's Court" near the town, which has long been a famous tourist attraction with people visiting and "checking in" all the time. The two of them could have easily gone there by following the road without needing to find someone to accompany them.

If, as Franka suspects, the girls are from out of town, then the question arises: where are their parents?
Either it's a lost child, or it's some kind of scam; in any case, Jenna and I won't fall for it… Franka concluded in her mind, and was about to shake her head in refusal when Jenna smiled and said:

"Sure, we're going there anyway, we can give you a ride."

"..."

Franka swallowed back the words of refusal that were about to come out. Looking at Jenna's profile with a gentle smile, she remembered the night she had drowned her sorrows in alcohol at the "Breeze Ballroom," almost losing her virginity, only to be saved by Jenna who had stepped in to help her.

Under my protection, she's still the same innocent Cheria she was ten years ago... But that's a good thing... Franka muttered, forcing a kind smile as well, and followed up with Jenna's question:

"Are you here in the afternoon town for tourism? Where are your parents or other elders?"

Franka's question made the blonde girl, whose eyes bore a striking resemblance to the "Chariot" lady from the Tarot Club, flicker with uncertainty. The latter stammered in response:

"They...they went out without us, but I want to see the Giants' Court. I've heard the sunset there is especially beautiful..."

I wanted to take Jenna there because of this rumor, but bringing you two along is like bringing two third wheels... Franka's brown eyebrows, which were almost reaching her temples, furrowed slightly. She instinctively suspected that the two girls in front of her were planning to run away from home, and if she took them along, she might become a suspect in child trafficking if their parents found out.

Of course, she admitted that the reason she didn't want to bring outsiders along was mostly due to her own selfishness. After all, she was already a Sequence 5 "Pain" witch, and if she faced an obvious trap, her spirituality would definitely warn her. But nothing had happened yet.

Besides, she should have already agreed... Franka sighed inwardly as she watched Jenna begin to talk to the two girls.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The road from Afternoon Town to the Giants' Court had long been widened and paved with stone slabs. Freight wagons occasionally traveled in the middle of the road, illuminated by the moonlight. On both sides were a few scattered pedestrians, most of whom, like Franka and Jenna, were heading to the "Giants' Court," a place that still shone with the eternal, undying light of dusk in the darkness.

It is said that not long ago, this continent was shrouded in perpetual darkness. Neither the sun nor the moon could illuminate the ground. Ordinary people who entered the darkness, with no lighting around them, would be snatched away by unknown monsters almost instantly, their fate unknown.

Fortunately, the "Sun God" who disappeared from historical records at the end of the Third Age returned. He brought light and hope to the Eastern Continent, giving new life to the local inhabitants who had struggled in darkness for more than two thousand years, and making this continent a place of longing for all pioneers and immigrants.

They were really just criminals, poor people, and speculators who couldn't make it in the local area and were willing to risk their lives. There are records of this kind of thing in old North America... Franka had an instinctive skepticism about these glorified histories, but after all, the "Endless Church" was one of the main forces that organized people to immigrate to the East Continent. She only dared to mutter a few words in her heart and didn't even dare to say them out loud.

As a high-ranking Extraordinary, she knew very well that although myths and legends were embellished, gods were real. The "Giant's Court," which was forever shrouded in the light of dusk, was most likely some kind of miracle, or even the residence of a god, such as the legendary Giant King.

The president of the "Curly-haired Baboon Research Society," the Fursac man codenamed "Gandalf," possessed giant blood. He was the one who revealed many myths, legends, and occult knowledge, including numerous tales about giants. This was one of the reasons why Franka included the Giants' Court as a target on her journey.

Of course, the most important thing is to let Janna see the world... She looked at Janna, who was walking a little ahead with two girls on her left and right sides, and who had already become familiar with them, and the corners of her mouth slowly turned up.

Just now, when we left the town in the afternoon, Janna secretly gave Franka a wink. The habit formed over the years immediately made the latter realize that Janna was not as carefree as she had seemed before. This "witch" had also experienced the cold-bloodedness of the "assassin" stage and the ruthlessness of the "instigator" stage. Even if she did not have much practical experience, she could not still be the naive person she was ten years ago.

At this moment, Jenna deliberately quickened her pace, leading the two girls further away from Franka, giving the witch the opportunity to perform "magic mirror divination".

As expected of us, we work together perfectly... Franka chuckled and took out the magic mirror, which she kept close to her body and was still warm from her body, from her women's shirt.

For witches, divination with a magic mirror is a fundamental skill. It can be used not only for reconnaissance before battles to understand the enemy's situation, but also for many other purposes in daily life. As long as the object of their prayers and the one who provides them with power is benevolent, it is almost entirely free.

Generally speaking, witches of the "Endless Church" choose the goddess they believe in as their object of prayer, followed by a verified benevolent and great being, the ruler of the spirit world, and of course, certain angels with clearly defined names also have the ability to respond to prayers, but the results of divination are not necessarily very good.

Among them, the one who can provide the most accurate results is a being called "Arods," but there is a certain price to pay when performing divination, which can easily lead to "social death."

Because if you ask Arrodes a question, Arrodes will ask you a question, and there must be a third person present.

Most importantly, the questions asked by the other party are usually the kind that are difficult to talk about, difficult to answer, and even silence can cause others to have wild thoughts, which may lead to the "social death" of the diviner.

For example, when Franka first became a "witch" and helped the "Muggle" Aurora resolve a supernatural event, Arrodes questioned her about whether she had any improper thoughts about Aurora's newly adult brother, Lumian.

That was the most difficult day Franka had endured since her transmigration.

Of course, in her many years of practice, she has also found many ways to deal with Arrodes, such as finding a regular "divination partner". The questions Arrodes asks are usually related to this observer, and as long as the two get along well for a long time, the social death problem will not have much effect.

And her "partner" was Janna.

Using a "simple divination method" instead of candles and an altar, Franka ceremoniously stroked the mirror three times and recited a revered name in Hermes:
"The eyes that gaze upon all living beings, the marks of holiness from the primordial land, the all-knowing one who serves the goddess of calamity, the great Arodes."

The third part of this title is said to have many variations. A follower of the Fool in the Curly-haired Baboon Research Society claimed that he used "The Omniscient One Who Serves Fools," and there seems to be a similar title on the side of the Sun God. This led a very small number of transmigrators who did not have much respect for the gods to jokingly call the other party "a slave to three surnames."

Of course, after being severely punished by Arodes, they never mentioned this joke again.

At the same time, Jenna also left the two girls she had been chatting happily with, unconsciously slowing her pace and returning to Franka's side, acting as an observer of the magic mirror's divination. Gathering her thoughts, and looking at the shimmering, sometimes misty, sometimes dark mirror, Franka quietly posed her question:

"What is the origin of the two girls who call themselves Christina and Dorothy?"

Such a question is not accurate. There are countless girls in the world with the same name, and the person being divined may use a pseudonym. However, the advantage of mysticism lies in its ability to identify with fuzzy logic and respond to what is closest to the subject. Even if it is a pseudonym, as long as it has been used and known by others, it has a certain degree of traceability.

Sure enough, a blurry image quickly appeared on the mirror: two stylishly dressed, beautiful girls sneaking out of the room after a couple left. The couple's figures were blurred as if they had been pixelated, but one had black hair and the other had blonde hair, so they could be identified as the two girls' parents based on their features.

Are they really here for tourism? Did they secretly visit the "Giant's Court" without their parents' knowledge? Is this some kind of rebellious phase...? These two thoughts had barely crossed Franka's mind when she saw several lines of bloody text appear on the mirror where the divination image had vanished:
"Are you planning to jump to 'Iron Knight' when you advance to Sequence 4, so that you can truly possess Cherie Bellow?"

"No, I didn't..." Franka blushed instantly, feeling that Arods was particularly aggressive today.

If the bystanders were members of a curly-haired baboon research society, or even some of her closest friends, Franka wouldn't feel too ashamed. After all, she had mentioned more than once at gatherings that her goal was to become a male again as an Iron Knight. But now, Jenna was right beside her...

She glanced furtively at Janna beside her, whose brown hair fluttered in the breeze and whose eyes shone in the night. She noticed that Janna's expression didn't change much; she was simply staring intently at the magic mirror.

Did she already know...? Franka felt a surge of joy, a slight sense of relief, but also worried that Arods would think she was refusing to answer and would subject her to a terrible punishment. So she had no choice but to speak:

"I have this idea."

"It's just an idea for now."

It was only then that she realized that Arrodes' question had still left her with a last shred of dignity, by not pointing out the fact that she was actually a man before becoming a "witch".

Praise be to you, great Arodes!
Franka lit a candle in her mind, then put away the magic mirror and, pretending nothing had happened, said to Jenna:
"It seems there's no problem. Let's send them home after we return from the Giants' Court, in case they run into any bad people."

Jenna nodded, gave her a look that said, "You look like a bad guy," and then quickened her pace to catch up with Dorothy and Christina who were walking ahead, so as not to arouse their suspicion.

When Franka caught up, the three of them were already chatting happily, as if they had known each other for a long time, making her feel like an outsider.

It's strange. Jenna is one thing—she's always so enthusiastic towards everyone, especially after becoming a theater star and earning a good income that allows her parents to take a break from their tiring jobs. But these two girls seem overly friendly towards strangers, especially the blonde Christina, whose closeness to Jenna is almost abnormal...

Following behind them and secretly observing the three, Franka's doubts did not dissipate because of the divination results; on the contrary, they grew stronger.

Just then, as if crossing some invisible boundary, the four of them suddenly broke free from the shroud of night and entered a splendid yet somber twilight.

These lights did not come from the sky, but rather surged from every inch of space around us, solidified in the air, and enveloped everyone who entered this area.

In the depths of twilight, there was a complex of countless palaces, towers, and majestic city walls. They were clearly not designed for humans, but rather for the legendary giants. The battlements and gates were like enlarged versions of the city of Trier that Franka had seen, and they shimmered with a golden light, like a legendary divine kingdom, frozen in time, ever new.

Despite her many thoughts, Franka couldn't help but stop and look up at the breathtaking view, a sight she could only dream of. Although she had seen photos of the Giant's Court taken by some members within the research institute, only by standing in the frozen twilight herself could she truly understand the instinctive awe that humans feel towards colossal structures.

Even knowing that this was Earth and not another world, Franka still couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
This is the fantasy world of my dreams!

Jenna, Christina, Dorothy, and several other travelers from Afternoon Town beside her also looked up and stopped, admiring the spectacular scenery that could not be seen in other countries or continents, and letting out sighs from deep in their throats.

A moment later, Tina, who was carrying a rather heavy-looking shoulder bag, finally turned her gaze to the stone steps at the front of the Giant's Court, each step over a meter high, which were not easily climbed by a normal person, and the double gates tens of meters high. She asked in confusion:
How do we get up there?

Franka, who had already done her homework to act as Jenna's guide, chuckled and pointed to the walkway next to the steps, which was clearly laid out later.

“The Giants’ Court is a famous attraction in Afternoon Town. Ten years ago, a passage was built that allowed ordinary people to climb the stairs and enter the interior of the city walls. We can go that way.” She sighed as she spoke. “Even the legendary residence of the Giants has now become a place that ordinary people can visit at will.”

At that moment, she thought of the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the Terracotta Army, and a similar negative emotion to the despair she felt when she first learned that the ground beneath her feet was "Earth" resurfaced in her heart.

Fortunately, Tina and Dorothy's laughter, and Jenna's encouragement, which also brought a smile to her face, quickly brought Franka back to her senses. She composed herself and, with the mindset of appreciating a historical site in a game, followed the three up the giant's staircase, through the city walls marked with burn marks and studded with giant arrows several meters long, and into the interior of the giant's royal court.

Looking back from the steps leading up to the top, Franka and the others could see the town of Afternoon in the distance, as well as the scattered lights along the winding road that led here. This contrasted sharply with the twilight surrounding them, making them feel as if they were in another world, different from the outside world.

But the constant flow of tourists and the roadside vendors selling giant statues and armored knight dolls brought their newly elevated spirits back to reality.

Franka thought to herself, “I can tell Aurora about these experiences and have her write a story called ‘I Sell Figurines in the Giant’s Court’ for the Little Trier newspaper. Remember to give me some of the royalties…” She quickly led her three companions through the place that was too full of money, continued up the stairs, passed through the passageway with palaces and towers on both sides, and arrived at the highest point.

This is a platform built on the edge of a cliff facing the sea, with a hollowed-out stone railing taller than a person. Beyond the railing is a misty haze also shrouded in twilight, and further away, the endless black sea dyed by the night.

"If you come here during the day, you can see the endless blue ocean, but you can't appreciate the contrast between dusk and night, so you could say it's a bit of a disappointment."

Franka commented with words copied from a travelogue in the newspaper, then looked around and was surprised to find that there were no other tourists on the high platform.

Logically speaking, this kind of tourist attraction, which is convenient for tourists to "check in," should be the most crowded place. However, the huge platform surrounded by the steps leading up to this place, the railing facing the sea, and the magnificent palaces on both sides, actually only had the four of them, and nothing else.

Have we entered a dream, or perhaps a special space isolated from ordinary people? But besides Jenna and me, those two girls also followed us in without any hindrance. They're ordinary people too... Could it be that they strayed into this place because they followed us?

Franka, who was experienced in fighting supernatural forces, considered several possibilities, and her relaxed travel mode immediately switched to combat mode.

She quietly grabbed Janna's wrist and squeezed it slightly. After a moment of surprise, Janna realized what was happening and stopped smiling.

The two looked at the two girls who were strolling around nearby, and were surprised to find that they had somehow ended up standing in front of the tallest and most magnificent building next to the platform.

The building has a spire on one side and a round tower on the other, with a gray-blue main gate in the middle that is tens of meters high, as if it were built by a legendary giant king.

At this moment, a crack appeared in the double doors, and blonde Christina was peeking inside, while her dark-haired sister stood guard beside her, equally curious.

In Franka's dark vision, from the crack in the door where the twilight light couldn't reach, a shadowy giant hand was reaching out to grab the two girls at the door!
(End of this chapter)