Capítulo 112: A explicação de Azik

Backlund, Queens District.

Audrey Hall sat on a hanging chair in a shaded corner, gazing at the vibrant clusters of flowers blooming under the sunlight, pondering the favor Fors Wall had asked of her.

According to Viscount Gladitz’s verification, there was indeed a young girl named Xio Derecha being held in a temporary prison in the North District of Backlund.

Her charge was causing grievous bodily harm to a respectable gentleman following a financial dispute, leaving the man still bedridden in a hospital, perhaps never to walk again.

Regarding this, Fors explained that the gentleman was no saint; he was a gang leader in the East District of Backlund who made his living through usury.

The incident began when a borrower discovered the interest rates were several times higher than anticipated. Unable to repay even after declaring bankruptcy and failing to reach an agreement with the gentleman, the borrower sought out Xio Derecha, a "Judge" with a small reputation in the area, hoping she could convince the man to waive the unreasonable portion of the debt.

The gentleman did not comply with Xio Derecha’s "verdict" and even threatened to abduct the borrower’s wife and children that very night. Consequently, Xio Derecha changed her persuasion technique, adopting physical means, and in a moment of carelessness, caused serious injury.

Viscount Gladitz investigated the course of events, confirmed Fors Wall’s account was true, and verified that the gang leader had lost control over his subordinates. Following a "visit" from someone in the middle of the night, the leader waived the borrower’s debt and provided a statement to the prosecutor forgiving Xio Derecha. However, a case of grievous bodily harm cannot be dismissed simply because the victim no longer wishes to pursue it.

"Gladitz hopes to resolve this through normal channels. He sent someone to consult a prominent barrister, who said there is a good chance of a light sentence, but an acquittal is highly difficult unless the defendant can obtain a medical certificate stating she suffers from a mental disorder or cognitive underdevelopment..." Audrey whispered to herself, leaning toward her friend’s opinion.

For her, the most important thing was not to have any public association with Fors Wall and Xio Derecha—after the "Tarot Club" experience, Audrey felt she was no longer an innocent, ignorant girl.

"There is a dance at Count Wolf’s house tomorrow night. I will tell Gladitz then to proceed according to the barrister’s advice." Audrey nodded slightly, making her decision.

In the Loen Kingdom, lawyers are divided into barristers and solicitors. The latter handle out-of-court matters, such as collecting evidence, interviewing clients, drafting wills, overseeing asset distribution, and providing legal consultations. Naturally, they can also represent clients in lower-level magistrate courts for simple cases.

Barristers, however, are the lawyers who study evidence and argue cases in court. According to Loen law, they must maintain an objective attitude, so they cannot have direct contact with clients, relying instead on assistants—the solicitors—to gather information. Each of them is a true legal expert with exceptional eloquence and high-level debate skills.

Feeling relieved, Audrey watched the colorful flowers outside, lurking in the shadows and peering into the light, when a thought suddenly occurred to her:

"A medical certificate for mental disorders or cognitive underdevelopment... a psychiatrist..."

"If the Psychology Alchemists have mastered the 'Acting Method,' does that mean I could potentially find them among psychiatrists?"

Thinking this, Audrey felt her line of reasoning was perfect; her eyes sparkled like brilliant gems.

Just then, she saw Susie, the large golden retriever, sneaking behind the flowerbeds with a stealthy demeanor, moving toward an area only the gardener would reach.

"Susie... what is she doing?" Audrey, hidden in the shadows, watched, stunned.

The large dog seemed intoxicated by the scent of the flowers and, failing to notice her owner behind her, opened her mouth and let out vocal exercise-like sounds: "Ah-ah-ah," "Ya-ya-ya."

Immediately after, she caused the surrounding air to vibrate, emitting stiff, unpolished words:

"Hello."

"How are you?"

...

Audrey’s mouth hung open, completely forgetting the etiquette required of an elegant young lady. She could not believe the scene she was witnessing or the stiff voice she was hearing.

She stood up abruptly and blurted out:

"Susie, can you speak? Since when could you speak?"

The golden retriever jumped in fright, turning to face her owner.

She wagged her tail in a flustered, rapid motion, and after opening and closing her mouth several times, she caused the surrounding air to vibrate:

"I..."

"I don't know how to explain it. After all, I am just a dog."

Hearing this, Audrey was momentarily left speechless.

...

On Monday morning, Klein, who was on leave, followed his planned schedule to review and consolidate his occult knowledge before taking a public carriage to Hoey University.

He wanted to have more contact with Mr. Azik to see what the man actually knew.

In the three-story gray stone building belonging to the History Department, Klein chatted with his mentor, Cohen Quentin, exchanging thoughts on the ancient ruins of the Hornacis main peak.

Having gained no extra information, he took advantage of his mentor’s absence to enter the office diagonally opposite, walking to the desk of the resident instructor, Mr. Azik.

"Mr. Azik, may I have a word with you?" He looked at the instructor with bronze skin, gentle features, and a small mole below his right ear, tipping his hat in a gesture of respect.

Azik, whose brown eyes hid an indescribable sense of vicissitude, straightened his books and said:

"Certainly. Let’s take a walk by the Hoey River."

"Very well." Klein carried his cane and followed him out of the three-story gray stone building.

Along the way, both maintained silence, neither speaking a word.

When the flowing river came into view and there were no more teachers or students passing by, Azik stopped and turned halfway to face Klein.

"Is there something you wish to ask me?"

Klein pondered for a long time, considering many tactful approaches, only to discard them one by one.

Finally, he asked candidly and directly:

"Mr. Azik, you are a trustworthy and respectable gentleman. I want to know what exactly you saw in me, or rather, what you know? I am referring to that last incident, when you said there was an inconsistency in my fate."

Azik tapped his cane and sighed with a smile:

"I didn't expect you to be so direct, leaving me unsure of how to answer."

"Frankly speaking, the inconsistency in your fate is the only thing I can see. Beyond that, I don't know more than you do."

Klein hesitated before asking:

"But why can you see it? I don't believe this stems from divination."

Azik turned his head to look at the Hoey River, his tone tinged with a touch of melancholy:

"No, Klein, you don't understand. Divination can achieve this level; it just depends on who is performing it. Of course, my divination was just an excuse."

"...Some people are always special, born with strange abilities, and I suppose I am one of those people."

"Suppose?" Klein keenly grasped the issue with his choice of words.

"Yes, I don't know if I was born with them. Perhaps the price of such power is to forget oneself, to forget the past, to forget one's parents." Azik’s gaze rested sadly on the river surface.

The more Klein listened, the more confused he became:

"Forget the past?"

Azik smiled, though there was no joy in it:

"Before joining the History Department at Backlund University, I lost the vast majority of my memories, remembering only my name and basic knowledge. Fortunately, I had identification papers, otherwise, I would have become a vagrant. Over these years, I have searched for my parents based on those documents, but to no avail, even though I can see a corner of fate."

"During those years at the university, I gradually discovered that I possessed some peculiar abilities, abilities beyond the scope of common sense."

Klein listened intently and blurted out:

"Mr. Azik, why did you lose your memory? No, I mean, did you find the cause of the amnesia at the scene?"

He suspected Mr. Azik was a member of the Psychology Sect, perhaps even a high-ranking mid-sequence member—this was the secret organization corresponding to the "Monster" pathway, which had produced "Prophets" and was primarily passed down through master-apprentice relationships.

Azik shook his head heavily:

"No. It was as if I simply woke up and had forgotten the past."

He tapped his cane and took a few more steps, saying:

"After leaving Backlund, I began to dream, dreaming of many strange things..."

Dreams? I am an expert at interpreting dreams! Entering his professional field, Klein immediately asked:

"What kind of dreams?"

Azik chuckled vaguely:

"Many, many different dreams. Sometimes, I dream of the interior of dark mausoleums, dreaming of ancient coffins where the corpses lie face down, with white feathers growing from their backs. Sometimes, I dream I am a knight in full armor, holding a three-meter lance, charging at enemies."

"Sometimes, I dream I am a lord with a bountiful estate, a beautiful wife, and three children. Sometimes, I dream I am a homeless man, walking in the rain on a muddy road, cold and hungry."

"Sometimes, I dream I have a daughter—a daughter different from the children before. She has flowing black hair, likes to sit on a swing I made by hand, and is always asking me for candy. Sometimes, I dream I am standing beside a gallows, coldly looking up at the corpse swaying above..."

Listening to Azik’s ramblings, Klein found he was unable to interpret the man’s dreams because the symbols in the different dreams were contradictory and opposite!

Azik withdrew his gaze, his voice no longer drifting:

"The Feynapot Kingdom in the south worships the Goddess of the Earth, and her church promotes a concept: they believe every life is a 'plant,' drawing nutrients from the earth, slowly growing, flourishing, and decaying."

"When they wither, these lives fall back into the earth, returning to the mother’s embrace. And the following year, they grow again. Flowers bloom and fall, year after year; life is the same, lifetime after lifetime."

"Sometimes, I am very willing to believe this claim, to believe that because of my own uniqueness, I can dream of fragments from my previous life, and the life before that."

At this point, he looked at Klein and sighed:

"I haven't even told Cohen these things. The reason I am telling you is because I..."

Azik paused and smiled:

"I apologize, my previous description was not quite accurate. The inconsistency in your fate is not the only thing I can see. I have also seen something else."

"Klein, you are no longer a normal person. You possess extraordinary, strange abilities, much like me."