Sword of Dawnbreaker

The other party was clearly aware of the surrounding changes. As soon as Gawain and Veronica Moen approached, the massive stag slowly opened his eyes, those crystal-like eyes quietly staring at the unexpected guests before him. A deep and melodious voice directly reached the minds of both, ”Welcome—today there’s an extra guest in my little yard.”

”Last time, I stood somewhat farther,” Veronica Moen said calmly, ”And you probably recognize an ’earlier’ version of me—back then, I had a different identity.”

”Then you should tell me your name and identity from that time,” Amoen said, ”Unlike what many believers proclaim, gods are neither omniscient nor omnipotent. Even the strongest faith cannot truly grant us these two abilities that defy rules...”

Veronica Moen showed a slight smile: ”I was once called Ophelia, Ophelia Norton.”

”...Ah, I do have some impression now,” Amoen said in sudden realization after a brief moment of recollection, ”The mortal scholars who were busy digging into me or building supports mentioned that name during their chats...they also mentioned Herman Norton and Simmons Norton.”

Veronica Moen nodded: ”They were my father and elder brother.”

”Truly memorable—a long time in mortal standards. So, as a human, how did you live to today? You appear...as entirely human.”

”That’s my secret—since you are not omniscient nor omnipotent, let some mysteries remain hidden,” Veronica Moen shook her head, ”Today we didn’t come to reminisce with a god; we have some questions we want to ask you.”

”Ah, I guessed so, and I even guessed what you want to ask...” Amoen’s tone carried a trace of amusement, then paused before speaking unhurriedly, ”A hurried ’god’ passed through the shadow realm, happened to be seen by me. She should have run quite far by now.”

Gawain was organizing his thoughts and considering how to start the conversation when Amoen abruptly revealed this information, catching him off guard and leaving him speechless, his face full of shock and disbelief, and even Veronica Moen beside him was momentarily dumbfounded.

”So, it seems this is indeed what you wanted to ask,” Amoen’s tone remained calm and indifferent, ”What, are you looking for her?”

”You really saw it with your own eyes?” Gawain couldn’t help but confirm, ”She passed by here?!”

”Saw it indeed. And if I’m not mistaken, it should be the Goddess of Magic... Milmina, I remember the name. Her form had very obvious elements of mystical representation, and the aura she emitted pointed to the spell system created by mortals. However, she seemed somewhat weak, even...as if she was weaker than I was when I first arrived ’here’,” Amoen said unhurriedly, finally asking, ”So, what happened?”

”...She might be emulating you,” Gawain hesitated for a few seconds before sighing and saying, ”I’m not sure if I should tell you the specifics, but there’s one thing you can know now—there probably is no longer a ’Goddess of Magic’ position in the world, at least temporarily. Milmina has left her position, and I suspect her current state isn’t much different from yours.”

Amoen was unexpectedly silent for a moment; externally, he showed no sign of his current mood, but Gawain felt he caught a hint of shock in the depths of Amoen’s eyes—the change concerning the Goddess of Magic had clearly shocked this ancient ”God of Nature” too!

After several seconds of silence, Amoen’s voice finally rose again, ”It really happened one day... it really...”

Not waiting for Gawain and Veronica Moen to speak, he then narrowed his eyes slightly, speaking with a hint of self-mockery, ”You said her state is not much different from mine; I don’t agree with that—she quickly ran past in front of me, do you think in my current condition I could achieve that?”

Veronica Moen instinctively glanced at Amoen’s body, and all she saw was countless metal remnants, fixed clamps, and restraining locks. These layers upon layers of bindings made it impossible for Amoen to even move a limb, let alone run from the neural network to the shadow realm as the freed Goddess of Magic did...

Gawain, somehow, thought of Nariteer helplessly, thought of that Supreme Narrator’s obsession with ”legs”. He glanced at Amoen, and mischievous thoughts surged in his mind—

You guys with eight legs and four legs, you can’t even outrun one without legs...