"Sanguis Plateaus? Trouble?"
Luno was stunned for a moment. It wasn't until the melting ice cream started dripping down the cone that she hurriedly extended her little tongue to lick away the milky-white liquid.
"Blightclouds? But it's not the tidal period now. And I remember it was fine when I left. How could trouble suddenly appear?"
Augusta shook her head. "The specifics aren't clear yet. It was Grandmother Lilibet who delivered the message personally. I've already sent people to investigate."
"Could it be... that being?" Luno speculated.
"Unknown for now. But this anomaly likely relates to it." Augusta slightly furrowed her brows, her tone turning serious. "Regardless, Luno, you must return to the Tetragon Temple immediately. As an Oracle Maiden, you know where you should be during a crisis. I shouldn't need to remind you."
Hearing this outcome, Luno propped her cheek on her hand, muttering softly. "I know... thought I could play in Capitoline Hill City a few more days, but it's back I go on the first day itself."
Though her words were full of complaint, the young woman showed no intention of defying the order.
Meanwhile, Ray, sitting between the two, listening to their conversation, was completely in the dark.
They seemed to be discussing something very important?
But was this really something an outsider like me should be hearing?
"What are you talking about? Blightclouds? And 'that being'? Is it some important secret? Should I leave for a bit?" Ray tentatively inquired.
"No need." Augusta waved a hand. "The dangers of the Sanguis Plateaus are already common knowledge in Capitoline Hill City. As for Blightclouds" she paused briefly, "you know about the Dark Tide, right?"
Ray nodded. "Yes, not only know about it, but due to certain reasons, I've even confronted it."
Such an answer undoubtedly froze Augusta's expression for an instant, as if finding such a reply somewhat unbelievable.
"You've... faced the Dark Tide head-on? There's still Dark Tide in Ragunna now?"
"Well, how to put it?" Ray thought for a moment before saying, "What I encountered wasn't a recent Dark Tide outbreak, but remnants from twenty years ago. Due to some coincidental reasons, I came face-to-face with it."
"Interesting. Remnants from twenty years ago?"
Augusta repeated softly, her gaze deepening.
As Ephor of Septimont, she naturally knew that history, twenty years ago, Ragunna's Saintess Coronation attracted an Echo invasion, bringing down the Dark Tide.
Had that Saintess not sacrificed herself, the entire Rinascita might have been swallowed by the Dark Tide.
The corner of her lips lifted slightly. Her fingertips tapped unconsciously on her knee as she looked meaningfully at Ray. "But... you survived? And the Dark Tide?"
Even if it were remnants from an outbreak twenty years ago, that ability to corrupt and erode all things in the world was certainly not something an ordinary person could withstand.
For a normal person to encounter it head-on, the chance of survival was almost nil.
Yet this young man had survived.
"It was... eaten by..." Here, Ray suddenly stopped. He lowered his head, looking at the Tacet Mark on the back of his hand. "By me?"
"Eaten? What does that mean?"
"Literally."
Ray repeatedly called for Anby in his heart, but the greedy little creature was currently curled deep within his consciousness, hugging its rounded belly in deep slumber, impossible to rouse.
"That is truly unheard of."
Augusta's fingertips lightly pressed against her lower lip, an unbelievable light flashing in her eyes. Even Luno beside them widened her eyes, nearly dropping the ice cream in her hand.
"You... you ate the Dark Tide?" Luno's voice trembled slightly. "Such a filthy thing... didn't it make you sick? By the way... what does the Dark Tide taste like?"
"You're concerned about the Dark Tide's taste?" Ray's lips twitched. "And it wasn't me who ate it. Remember Anby?"
Luno quickly nodded. "Of course I remember! That soft little thing... Ah!" She suddenly realized something. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen it all day?"
Ray showed her the Tacet Mark on the back of his hand. "It's right here."
"?" Luno tilted her head in confusion, her gaze shifting between the Tacet Mark and Ray.
"Anby and I are actually in a symbiotic relationship. Right now, it's sleeping deep within my consciousness." Ray patiently explained. "The Dark Tide was devoured by it. But according to Anby, the taste was awful; it never wants to try it again."
Luno blinked somewhat dazedly. "Huh? Wait, are you saying the Dark Tide, which can corrupt and erode all things, was devoured by your Echo? And it lives inside your body? You're not joking, are you?"
Ray spread his hands, offering a helpless smile. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
"You... are you some kind of monster?" Luno instinctively shrank back towards the other end of the bench.
"Were you serious about that step back?"
"I was joking."
Augusta's slender fingers lightly stroked her chin, her gaze dissecting Ray as meticulously as a scalpel.
After a long while, she finally spoke, interrupting their interaction.
"How truly fascinating... an Echo residing within a Resonator's body, and capable of devouring the Dark Tide."
"This completely overturns all common sense."
"Ray, that's the name, right?" Augusta said. "I wonder if you could go to the Sanguis Plateaus to assist in investigating the truth behind this anomaly? Your unique ability might have a special suppressive effect on the Blightclouds. I swear in the name of the Ephor of Septimont to guarantee your safety to the utmost. Regardless of the outcome, we will offer substantial compensation."
This sudden request left Ray momentarily stunned.
"Right, right!" Luno suddenly clapped her hands, her dark-blue hair swaying with the motion. "I remember now! Ray just won the exhibition match championship right after arriving in Septimont! Maybe he really is quite formidable!"
"Oh?" A meaningful smile surfaced in Augusta's eyes. "Exhibition match champion?"
"That was just an amateur match," Ray hurriedly explained. "And it was mainly because the Second Young Miss—"
"In Septimont, the hunt never ends." Augusta rose gracefully, her skirt tracing an elegant arc in the twilight. She stopped before Ray. "Since you could stand out in the arena and have faced the Dark Tide and survived..."
"Would you do me the honor of sparring with me in the arena?"
Ray's eyes widened. "Huh? Me?"
Though he didn't know the details, he had heard legends about this Ephor, how, with seemingly weak Resonance abilities, she had toppled countless powerful foes in this city filled with decay and bloodshed, ultimately ascending to the peak of power.
Now this Governor, famed for her martial prowess, wanted to personally test him in combat?
Me versus Augusta? Seriously?
Will I win?