July 24, 711.
They truly went back twelve years.
Through the shiny shop window glass, Nol could clearly see the time on the calendar clock. The window also reflected Nol's current state—Teest had one hand wrapped around his waist and another pulling on a golden thread hung from a nearby branch. Nol gripped Teest's belt tightly, fearing that he might slip.
The two were about two meters above the ground. A height that previously seemed trivial was now dizzying for Nol.
"Quite impressive. Going back in time? At least you two have done something useful." Black Candle Kando, with its one eye, curiously looked around. "Now I only have one question—why choose this specific time?"
Nol didn't argue with the candle this time. He was also curious about the answer.
According to Painter, the Immortal Church in Grape Collar was destroyed at the end of July in 711. They needed to infiltrate the still-intact church to find the document indicating the location of the "Eclipse Shield".
Teest volunteered to handle the time jump. Ironically, he chose a time just a week before the church's destruction.
Teest reeled in the golden thread, taking Nol back to the branch. "Anyway, we can only stay here for about seven or eight days. Once the church burns down, we should return. Just think of its destruction as an alarm clock."
Really? Nol hummed, swearing on his dinner that the Mad Monk had other motives.
"We better get started then," Nol said, hooking his arm around his staff and clinging to a frail branch like a sloth. "First, we need to find that church…"
"Oh, I know where the Immortal Church is," Teest admitted without hesitation.
Of course. This kid is, after all, a Supplement Demon. The Eternal Church wouldn't let him roam freely.
Nol: "So you've been to that church."
"That's right. You might even see my past self there."
Teest had returned to his white hair and golden eyes appearance, swaying on a branch like a particularly cocky sparrow. "At this point in time, I should be around sixteen."
Teest spoke with such calmness, as if he was showing Nol a photo album of his younger days.
Nol looked at Teest for a moment, finding it hard to imagine the Mad Monk's teenage years. "You lead the way. Let's get moving."
"No need. I suggest we stay put and hitch a ride with one of the Eternalists. Like sneaking into their pockets or smuggling in their parcels. There are plenty of them around here," Teest suggested conservatively.
"Honey, it's not that I don't trust your abilities. But the Immortal Church in Grape Collar was once one of the best churches of the congregation," he whispered softly.
'Alright,' Nol thought. 'One of the best churches, meaning more skilled opponents, more unknowns, and tighter security.'
If a fight breaks out, they'd have to win in their unfortunate form, ensuring their survival without affecting major historical events. The mere thought was exhausting for Nol.
In the end, the two decided to stay on Cork Street.
Teest assured that he could recognize the Eternalists, and on this street, they were as common as rats—
Cork Street was the busiest in the lower district of Grape Collar. Here, one could find delicacies hard to come by in regular streets, interesting storefronts, and, in greater numbers than anywhere else, thieves, low-level mercenaries, and vagrants.
The two turned into an old, closed-down pawnshop at the street corner, deciding to make it their base.
The shop was named "Old Jon's". Its door was tightly locked, with worn edges that Nol could easily squeeze through. Even better, the shop's display window showcased wooden cabinets, one of which had a half-opened drawer, offering them a natural lookout point and temporary shelter.
Nol stepped over a dust layer that was as thick as accumulated snow and struggled to climb into the display window. The sun began to tilt westward, bathing the old wooden boards in warm orange light, which felt smooth and warm to the touch.
"I'll leave this to you," Teest said, picking up a spool of twine. "Get some bones and make a ladder. I'll look around the shop to see if there's anything else we can use."
'The sensation is surreal,' Nol thought. As he wrapped the twine around mouse bones, he watched Teest hopping around inside the room.
Behind him, separated by the glass, the crowd continued to flow at a leisurely pace. The cries of street vendors and the aroma of food wafted into the shop, making it feel as if time had never changed.
In front of him, the Mad Monk drew the curtain cords, waving a pocket watch hand like a short sword, marveling at piles of antique buttons. The lighting was dim, the air warm, and everything felt like a dream.
...
The sunlight in the display window melted away like accumulated snow, thinning and eventually disappearing. As the four moons rose and the streets lit up, the two had successfully set up their base.
Teest found a decaying toy house. He packed useful plates and utensils, a few clean tea towels, and had Ben fetch some chairs and tables.
Inside the half-open drawer, there was now a double bed with clean tea towels and a toy dining table. The open section held several candle heads. Once lit, they glowed as bright as a bonfire.
Both of them sat breathlessly beside the candles. With some effort, Teest pulled a grape from his pouch and split it in two, offering half to Nol. The refreshing scent of the fruit burst open like an explosive, and the flames flickered continuously over its juicy surface.
Nol decided not to ponder what the knife had cut through before.
"Did you use concealment magic on the candlelight?" Teest handed him a small spoon made of tin foil.
"Of course."
As the night deepened, Nol and Teest sat on the edge of the drawer. Both had half a grape on their knees, scooping and eating it as if it were a watermelon. A young flower seller leaned against the window outside, her bright flowers almost pressing against the glass. The bouquet shined brilliantly in front of them, with candlelight dancing behind and faint noises blending with the night. Nol had never experienced such a… bizarre yet wonderful evening.
As Nol observed a particularly large blue rose, Teest sneakily glanced at him. This was a skill the Mad Monk had deliberately cultivated. Directly observing others might alert some especially sensitive individuals. But this indirect way ensured he could look as long as he wanted.
His Lich had relaxed eyes and was intently looking at the rose. With his gentle features, slender build, and the scene before him, he looked like a real night fairy—the kind children would see in fairy tale illustrations.
Teest probably looked more like a toy soldier, and a villainous one at that. Fairies always preferred children, and they never appeared in the same story as evil soldiers.
Teest didn't like this train of thought and quickly cut it off, diverting his attention—
Nol seemed much better than before. The Lich had been resting regularly lately and smiled many times more than before. He no longer had that smoky fragility but became increasingly… real.
Occasionally, Teest almost forgot that Nol was a Lich.
His husband was steadily improving, and Teest wondered if he might lose that captivating madness.
His gaze shifted from Nol's eyes to his lips, then to the corner of his mouth that curled up. In those brief moments, he realized he no longer wanted to know the answer.
"That flower probably was dyed with a potion. It doesn't quite look like a magic effect," Nol said after finishing his observation, scooping up another mouthful of grapes. "What about you? Found any Eternalists?"
"It's not going to be that quick. It's like trying to spot a rat's tail when there are thousands of rats around," Teest replied. "If the Eternalist were openly running around, Grape Collar would have been doomed long ago."
"Do we need to keep watch all night?" Nol looked outside again. The flower seller adjusted the flowers left in her basket, seemingly preparing to head home.
Before Teest could reply, Nol turned and noticed the Mad Monk's figure was gone.
Outside the display window, a small white figure skillfully climbed up to the flower basket. Teest first tossed two copper coins into the basket, then with a flash, the smallest of the blue roses was severed.
Holding a blue rose the size of a ping pong ball, the Mad Monk squeezed back into the shop. He placed the rose beside the bed. A large portion of his clothes was wet from the dew.
After all this, Teest sat back down, still carrying the rich scent of roses.
Nol touched the damp spot with his finger, and a warm blue flame ignited, evaporating the moisture.
"Is this for me?"
"It's for you."
"I admit, I'm already drawn to you." Nol laughed and shook his head. "Given the current situation, you don't need to be distracted by this. I'm serious."
"I think this blue looks more like a magical effect," Teest replied evasively. "Let's examine it more closely before sleeping."
"I see," Nol said, "So, Sir Knight is also paying the price of curiosity… When that girl finds the coins in her basket, she'll surely think she encountered a night fairy."
Nol's voice was full of smiles. "From my angle just now, you only lacked fairy wings."
"…Is that so?"
Teest looked intently at Nol and responded with a smile.
...
At night, for the first time in his life, Nol lay on a toy double bed.
The candle went out, and the only light source in the drawer was the starry sky. Among the shadows, a blue rose bloomed quietly by his bed. Its beautiful blue hue and fragrance engulfed him.
Teest turned his back to him, his breathing light and even. His silver hair sprawled out on a tea-towel embroidery, giving off a faint glow. Nol turned over, his fingers playing with the ends of his hair.
The shadows in the room were as still as water. Shadow Wolf Ben was frolicking outside, looking for leftover bones and meat in the trash cans. Every now and then, Nol could hear the pattering sound of the shadow wolf's paws on the street.
Taking all this as an adventure, he began to enjoy his current life…
Before Nol's thoughts came to an end, Teest's breathing suddenly stopped. At the same instant, a jolt surrounded Nol. He quickly grabbed the staff beside the bed and cast an invisibility spell.
There was a presence approaching!
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" could even bewitch animals. Relying on its protection, they had let their guard down. But without a doubt, the presence outside the drawer was coming for them.
Teest raised his "Betrayer", and Nol took up his staff—
Half of a gigantic face appeared outside the drawer, blocking the dazzling starry sky.
It was a child's face.
A grubby little boy, no more than seven or eight years old. His cheeks were thin, and dark hair messily clung to his scalp.
What color that hair was exactly, Nol couldn't be sure. Under the cover of night, any darker shade appeared pitch black. Even with night vision, it wasn't easy to determine.
But he wouldn't mistake the color of those eyes.
They were deep purple pupils, uncommon and rare. They gave off a faint glow in the dark, staring directly at the two of them.
Neither "A Midsummer Night's Dream" nor the invisibility spell seemed to affect this child.
[Eyes of Truth], a rare passive skill.
Players couldn't obtain this skill through normal means. It appeared in NPCs with an extremely low probability as an "innate ability"—the owner of these eyes could see through all illusions and deceptions, reflecting only reality.
Nol lowered his staff and quickly relayed this information to Teest.
"Wow!" The boy exclaimed softly, holding onto the drawer. "Night fairies!"
Teest still held his "Betrayer", the blade not lowered in the slightest. "It's bedtime for good little boys now, young sir."
It was probably around three or four in the morning, with the street vendors long gone. The child seemed to have no one looking after him.
"I'm not a good kid, so it doesn't matter," the boy continued, excitedly observing them. "Where are your wings? Were they torn off? That's sad."
"Yes, it hurt a lot, so now we particularly dislike being watched."
Teest took a step forward, shielding Nol slightly. "Could you move? You're blocking our starlight."
The little boy, taken aback, quickly stepped back out of their line of sight.
Nol heard the rustling of a candy wrapper, and seconds later, a peeled candy was carefully placed inside the drawer.
It was a cheap candy, giving off a slightly bitter scent. Nol couldn't identify the flavor.
"Will candy make you feel better?" The boy quickly retracted his hand, asking timidly. "When I eat candy, my wounds don't hurt as much. It must have some medicinal effect… Don't be afraid. Not all humans are bad."
Nol shook his head at Teest, who finally sheathed his sword.
"Thank you, but we don't like candy," Nol said softly. "Take it back, kid."
"I'm not 'young sir', and not 'kid'. Everyone calls me 'Piel'—probably because I always pick up grape skins to eat*."
*Clarity: His name is (皮尔) which means "peel" in Chinese. Westernized, it could be Pier/Pierre/Piel/Piele (just depends on context). In this case, grape skin peels.
The boy quickly took back the candy, the wrapper crinkling as he carefully rewrapped it.
This clearly wasn't enough to sway the stern Mad Monk. "Alright, Piel. You can leave now."
"But I've always lived here…" Piel whispered, "Only I can fit through the hole in the wall behind here. If I sleep outside, monsters will eat me."
It seemed like sleep was off the table for now. Nol lit the candle and climbed to the edge of the drawer.
From the edge, he could see Piel's whole body—
Piel's face was thin, but he still had cute and handsome features. He wore oversized, dirty clothes. It was evident he tried hard to keep himself clean, but there was still a sour smell of garbage on him.
The [Eye of Truth], a precious ability.
If this child were discovered by someone from a great mercenary group, who knows how many people would be willing to provide for his living expenses… But to ordinary people, he probably just looks like a beggar with a slightly unique eye color.
"Eaten by a monster? …What kind of monster?" Nol asked.
Hearing the word 'monster', Teest became interested and leaned in, peeking from the edge of the drawer.
"I don't know. They say that children who get separated will be eaten by monsters," Piel said while patting his protruding rib cage, his voice growing fainter. "My eyes are sick, and everyone is afraid of catching it, so they don't want to live with me. That's why I have to stay here. Please don't chase me away, okay?"
"They're all talking nonsense. There's nothing wrong with your eyes!" Kando spoke up for the first time, still in its usual gruff tone. "Listen, kid, your eyes are very powerful. Those people don't know anything."
Nol looked at Kando with surprise and decided to stay out of the conversation.
"Wow!" Realizing that the candle could talk, Piel's eyes shone even brighter. "Really, Mr. Candle? I-I always see things that shouldn't exist. Everyone says that only lunatics see such things…"
Kando's flame flickered vigorously. "Everyone says, everyone says. You're not living for those idiots. Besides, who says that what lunatics see isn't real? Do you think we are fake?"
Little Piel stared at Nol for a while and then took a quick glance at Teest.
"No." The boy shook his head earnestly. "I can't imagine faces as beautiful as yours."
"That's the spirit." Kando rolled its eyes. "Although I don't particularly like your reasoning."
"If this isn't an illness… Can I stay here?" Piel was evidently concerned about this.
"Show some backbone, kid. You should just go there and say, 'This is my territory'," Kando chided, its candle flame swaying. "You're not sharing a drawer with them to sleep. What are you afraid of?"
Piel, unfamiliar with his own unique eyes, couldn't see the strangeness of this black candle. Amused by Kando's exaggerated words, he began to giggle. However, his stomach's growling almost drowned out his laughter.
Soon after, a whole roast chicken flew out of the drawer, almost hitting Piel's face.
"Take it." Teest finally climbed up to the edge of the drawer. "Consider it our rent for staying here. Just remember to keep our secret."
"Thank you, fairy!" Piel hugged the roast chicken tightly, not minding the mess it made on his clothes. "I promise I won't tell anyone!"
[You're quite nice.]
[It's better to let him take us around than ride on Ben.] Teest shrugged.
[This is at least a win-win situation,] Nol thought.
It would be a good idea to have Piel show them around. Maybe he could guide the child to be discovered by a master sooner…
Just as this thought crossed his mind, an icy chill ran down Nol's spine.
…You can't do that. Absolutely not. You'll die.
Nol's instincts screamed incessantly, as if he were standing on the edge of a deep abyss, not a floor at some shop.
The author has something to say:
Rounding up, they are a sweet couple who have given roses to each other. Isn't that sweet? (?
Kinky Thoughts:
Note: the Immortal Church is referring to the physical church of the Eternal Church (religion), like how the Evergreen Church is the physical church of the Temple of Life.
Oh no… Given Nian Zhong's track record with children, I feel I'm going to be a sobbing mess in this arc.