Chapter 69: The Footsteps of War

Chapter 69: The Footsteps of War

Backlund, inside the home of the furniture merchant Humphreys.

Audrey once again met Hvin Rambis, a member of the Psychology Alchemists’ Review Council.

This elderly gentleman remained gentle, refined, and scholarly. His thick, pure-white hair was combed neatly, and his deep-blue eyes seemed to contain countless pieces of knowledge.

The instant she saw him, Audrey’s gaze first turned blank, then dawned with realization, as though she had finally awakened from a long dream and recovered lost memories.

Yet she felt neither surprise nor astonishment about this. Without any resistance, she accepted the fact, as if this were an utterly normal matter.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Rambis.” Audrey greeted him with etiquette so standard that not the slightest fault could be found in it.

Hvin nodded lightly and responded with a smile:

“Good afternoon, our girl.”

Over several meetings in the past month or so, he had gradually guided Audrey’s self-positioning into that of “the pride of the Psychology Alchemists” and “the most important girl.”

Audrey lowered her head and glanced at the diamond tie pin before her chest. Smiling, she found a place to sit and waited for Hvin Rambis to speak.

As for the so-called suggestions and guidance, she had actually prepared herself every time and had not truly been affected. At that moment, hearing Hvin Rambis’s way of addressing her, she very much wanted to abandon her image, ignore etiquette, forget the risk of exposure, and roll her eyes. In the end, she still endured it and revealed no trace.

Hvin Rambis watched Audrey for several seconds. His smile unchanged, he said,

“You have done well during this period. As a reward, we have decided to give you the Dreamwalker potion formula.”

As he spoke, he took from his coat pocket a sheet of paper folded with great neatness, placed it on the tea table, and pushed it toward the noble girl seated diagonally opposite him.

Audrey pressed one hand against her skirt, rose slightly, and took that sheet of paper. In Hvin Rambis’s presence, she unfolded it.

Her gaze first fell upon the main ingredients, then quickly slid to the ritual portion:

“Main ingredients: one Dreamcatcher’s heart, one Heart Phantom crystal, or the complete brain of an adult Mind Dragon.

…

“Ritual: Find a spirit world Human-headed Bird Demon and sign a contract with it. Then, while holding one of its tail feathers, consume the potion amid intense emotions, whether joy or anger.”

Seeming to notice Audrey’s confusion, Hvin Rambis smiled and explained briefly:

“Human-headed Bird Demons possess nightmare-related abilities. They can awaken a person from a dream. Therefore, the essence of this entire ritual is that, when you are immersed in a dream and unwilling to wake, an external force pulls you out. Otherwise, you might sleep forever, or you might lose control on the spot and turn into a monster.”

Audrey nodded thoughtfully.

“Consuming the potion amid intense emotions is also to make oneself sleep restlessly and prevent the dream from being too deep?”

“Correct. You have grasped the key point.” Hvin Rambis smiled. “If you do not understand the spirit world well and cannot find a Human-headed Bird Demon, we can provide some assistance.”

If the essence of the ritual is to wake me from a dream, then it might not necessarily require a Human-headed Bird Demon. Mr. Fool’s angelic blessing can let me stay conscious in a dream and wake whenever I wish… Audrey’s emerald eyes shifted slightly, and she revealed a hint of anticipation.

“I can try by myself first.”

“All right.” Hvin did not pay much attention to the young lady’s wish to take a small risk.

He paused, then changed the topic.

“There is one more matter for you to handle this time. If you complete it well, we will provide all the materials for the Dreamwalker potion.”

“What matter?” Audrey asked as she always did, without showing much resistance.

Hvin Rambis’s expression turned slightly more…