Secrets: Priestess

Chapter 24 A better choice
Old Neil, who had returned from the armory, interrupted Klein's thoughts. It seemed that Old Neil and Klein's brain waves were very similar, and the two of them got along very well.

After a few jokes, Old Neil asked Klein to confirm the item:
"Monster hunting bullets, regular bullets, gun pouch, and the badge of Special Operations Team 7. Klein, please count them. If you've tested them and they're all ok, sign them."

Klein put on his underarm pouch, buckled his gun, checked it, signed quickly, and spoke to Old Neil before standing up and saying goodbye.

"Then I'll be leaving first. Mr. Neil, Claire."

After Klein left, Old Neil finally had time to talk to Claire:
"Klein is such a polite and interesting newcomer."

Watching Claire intently flipping through Intis's history books, Old Neil tapped Russell's diary on the table and asked:
"Claire, have you figured out anything?"

After hearing this, Claire pushed the pages towards Old Neil. Without even looking up, her eyes remained on the book in front of her as she said:
"Let Mr. Neil do the research."

Old Neil tutted his words twice:

"Young people really lack perseverance."

As Old Neil spoke, he compared the unknown symbols on several pages of the book and began to study them on the table.

And what Claire was thinking about at the moment was all what she saw in the diary.

"January 3rd. My original choice was too hasty. Now it seems that Apprentice, Fortune Teller, and Thief are all better choices. Unfortunately, there's no turning back.

January 4th, why are my children so stupid? I've told you a thousand times, don't be fooled by those charlatans. No, those charlatans may have been fooled themselves. The key to potions isn't mastery, it's digestion! It's not discovery, it's acting! And the name of the potion isn't just a core symbol, it's a concrete image, and it's the 'key' to digestion!

When she read the diary entry, saw the words "digest" and "act," at that moment, a lot of the fog in Claire's heart was blown away.

Why could she feel the slightest changes in the potion in her body when she absorbed knowledge?

Why were certain changes in her body more pronounced when she learned more secret knowledge?

It turns out that this change in her body is the "digestion" of the potion! And her behavior just happened to fit her role as a "universalist"!

She was understanding this concept, and the fact that the "Comprehension" potion in her body was being digested at a high rate was the best proof of this concept!
Claire could clearly sense that she was not far from completely digesting the "Comprehensive" potion.

Think of those Nighthawks who hadn't been promoted in years, even decades. Even Captain Dunn had endured many years before reaching Sequence 7. Claire felt like she'd be able to take potions again soon.

But the regret that Russell revealed in the first diary entry was like a bucket of cold water poured down on Claire.

This made Claire feel cold in her heart.

Through earlier diaries, Claire clearly remembered that the Emperor of Intis, Russell Gustav, was a High-Sequence Beyonder of the Universal Path.

How could someone as knowledgeable, prestigious, and high-Sequence as Russell actually write such a diary entry with such regret?!
Is it that the paths of "apprentice", "fortune teller" and "thief" are extremely special?

Or is the “generalist” approach itself flawed?
One question after another made Claire's mind confused, and the whispers in her ears became more irritating.

Old Neil, who was standing next to her, saw that Claire was in a daze. She was just flipping through the book quickly but it was unclear whether she had read it or not.

Old Neil was concerned, but his tone was full of sneer:
"Can't concentrate on reading today? That's not like you."

Claire wanted to roll her eyes, but she felt so lost and empty that she didn't even have the energy to do so.

Rubbing her forehead, Claire muttered with a slight headache, "What should I do if I find that I have a better choice?"

"Hey, Claire, that's the question you're asking. Are you in a relationship? Or are you two-timing?" Old Neil sighed. "But you look like you're more than qualified to be a sea king."

Claire was too lazy to pay attention to Old Neil, but being interrupted by him eased the gloom stirred up by the diary, allowing Claire's mind to regain some clarity.
"Fuck, what nonsense are you talking about!" Claire rolled her eyes and swore a rare curse.

And a lot of emotions also poured out along with the swear words.

Old Neil chuckled:
"Emperor Roselle once said that even if you know there are two birds in the woods far away, it is still better to own one bird."

Claire opened her mouth when she mentioned Roselle, and she also remembered that among the three potions that the temple had asked her to choose, there was a "Fortune Teller" potion.

Claire sighed, "But I was once very close to a better one."

"But that's not in your hands." Old Neil glanced at the book in front of Claire. "I don't know what you saw in history that made you suddenly so melancholy..."

"Actually, if we're talking about choices, I've made countless choices in my life, both big and small... but without exception, without experiencing them, it's hard to say which choice is better."

"I always have these thoughts: 'If I had made a different decision that year and that day...' As my experience grows and my perspective broadens, looking back, I realize there are indeed some shortcomings. But is this the only way to stop moving forward?"

"Why do I become more timid the more I experience?"

Old Neil grinned ironically.

Yes, why do we become more timid the more we know?

Claire murmured in reply, the more knowledgeable one becomes, the more awed one will be in cognition.

But no matter what, we should not lose the courage to move forward.

Think back to the courage you mustered when you first made the choice; that’s what matters most!
“If you’re confused, just look up and take two steps forward.”

"The road is made by walking."

Claire started laughing again. Even though the whispers in her ears were still crazy, she felt that she was in a particularly good state now. Everything in her vision was clearer, and even the light of the gas lamp was gentle and warm.

Claire stood up and walked towards the door with light steps.

Old Neil looked up at her in confusion: "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to go find the captain. Mr. Neil, could you please help me pack up these books?"

Walking in the underground corridor, Claire felt more and more peaceful.

Slow down your brisk steps appropriately and walk more steadily.

dong dong dong.

When Claire walked to Dunn's office and knocked on the door, Dunn stopped writing with his round fountain pen and cast his deep grey eyes on her.
"Is something wrong?"

"Captain, I think I can continue taking potions and advance to Sequence 8."

The gray eyes turned from deep to confused.

Dunn pressed his temple, his expression hesitant. After confirming that he was not dreaming, he repeated, "What did you just say?"

(End of this chapter)