Chapter 2 Comes with Itself

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  The late afternoon sunlight pierced through the crimson clouds, shining on the tranquil square of the Adrien Church. The small sun in the bishop's hand had lost its bright light and was hung on his chest as he turned around and walked into the church.

  In the center of the square, the rather beautiful black-robed witch had been burned to ashes, but the crazy laughter and curses seemed to still be echoing, making many people shudder involuntarily, looking around, then following the bishop and pastors into the church, confessing their sins under the Lord's attention, sincerely praying.

  The white light that had just disappeared from view still seemed to be in front of him, and the sacred and majestic power it contained could still be faintly felt. Lucien, under this impact, had already accepted his identity and deeply buried all his past in his heart, not daring to show any abnormality.

  "How powerful is the divine technique? I wonder if I'll have a chance to learn it?"

  Lucien was mentally shocked, without the ordinary person's awe, when a huge force suddenly slapped his left shoulder, causing him to involuntarily lean to the left and almost lose his balance.

  "Oh, my poor little Evans, you're finally okay, this is all the Lord's protection, I thought you'd end up like your father, falling ill and never getting back on your feet, thank God that such a great young man can continue to live."

  Lucien was slapped awake from his stunned daze, and saw a brown-haired auntie standing beside him, who was at least twice as wide as himself, wiping away tears with one hand while repeatedly patting her own shoulder with the other hand that could rival a bear's paw in strength.

  Just slightly dodged, lest he be photographed to vomit blood. Lucien opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't say a word, because: "What should I call this aunt? It seems my full name should be Lucien Evans?"

  Lucien's dodge made the old aunt even more sorrowful: "Poor little Evans, you must be ill and confused, just look at this little face, thin to the point of being able to see the bones..."

  In his muttering, Lucien was more embarrassed than ever. He had crossed over and inherited nothing except the ability to understand and speak the language here. If he responded incorrectly, he might be mistaken for being possessed by a demon. Of course, in a certain sense, Lucien's soul was indeed occupied by a demon now.

  Fortunately, a middle-aged man standing next to them patted Elisa on the back and comforted her, "Elisa, little Evans is fine, he must be very weak in spirit. Don't disturb him. Evan, support your mom, let's go home together."

  This middle-aged man is very thin, with a slightly arched back and a head of golden short hair that is slightly graying. On his face, which has been etched by time, one can still faintly see the handsome features of his youth.

  But in Lucien's eyes, this middle-aged uncle was like an angel with a halo of white light, an angel who had extricated himself from embarrassment and tension.

  "Aunt Elisa, I'm completely fine, just a bit dizzy." Lucien carefully chose his words to avoid raising suspicion.

  That little boy Evan, who had dragged Lucien to watch the witch burn, was half-supporting his mother and making a face: "Brother Lucien isn't that kind of coward who dies from just one illness, only you still treat him like he's some fragile little thing."

  "Aunt Eliza wiped away tears: 'Little Ivan, seeing you get better, I'm relieved. It's all the fault of that damned, evil, already-in-hell witch.'"

  Supported by Ivan, Aunt Elisa slowly moved forward, muttering: "When she just moved into the house next to you, how quiet and beautiful, how gentle and elegant, I thought that if little John could marry such a girl, it would be the Lord's blessing. But, but she turned out to be a witch, and even went to the cemetery to steal the remains of the dead to cast evil spells. Fortunately, the Lord's glory shines on everything, at that time there was a night watchman from the courthouse in the cemetery, who caught her directly, otherwise with the evil spell she had prepared, our Adelian district would not know how many people would have died..."

  Walking behind with the middle-aged uncle, Lucien roughly knew what had happened from Aunt Elisa's nagging. The female witch was caught by the church's night watchman while stealing corpses in the cemetery, and as her neighbor, he was also found by the church for questioning. In the middle of the church, some divine means were used to exclude the real Lucien's suspicion, but at the same time, he suffered spiritual or physical harm, so he got seriously ill and died, allowing him to possess his body.

  Lucien didn't say a word, the middle-aged uncle patted Lucien's shoulder and whispered comfortingly: "Alyssa is like that, just pretend you didn't hear it."

  Lucien didn't know what to say and could only nod his head.

  The middle-aged uncle looked at Elisa's back and sighed quietly: "Ah, the Elisa of those days was a pure and passionate beauty, but since giving birth to little John, it's as if she's been cursed by the devil, changing into what she is now in just one short year."

  He looked as if he was filled with a sense of life's regrets, his eyes were quite deep, then paused: "I can no longer beat her."

  Just after crossing over, Lucien witnessed and experienced the power of divine magic again, receiving a huge shock. He was still in a state of unease, so he just forced a smile and didn't answer directly. Moreover, he didn't know what to call this uncle.

  Perhaps lost in thought, Elisa hummed: "Joel, you romantic and passionate bard who came to Alto with a dream of music, aren't you also just another drunkard now?"

  Joel chuckled: "Altos is the City of Hymns, and every day countless young people come to pursue their musical dreams. But how many can succeed? Elisa, besides, haven't I quit drinking since Little John started training?"

  Aunt Elisa turned around and glared at him: "Fortunately, with the blessing of our lord, you still know that our hopes are all on John and Evan. If it weren't for little John's daily training, how could he be chosen by Lord Vien to go to his manor for formal knight training? If he can inspire the 'divine grace' in his blood and become a true knight, then he can be enfeoffed as a baron by the grand duke and become a respected noble."

  The severe gaze made Joel shrink his shoulders, but Elisa soon noticed Lucien's daze on the side: "Oh, sorry, little Evans, Auntie didn't mean to bring up this matter, you also have talent, it's just that you haven't been training since childhood..."

  Finding herself touching Lucien's inner wound more and more, Elisa hurriedly closed her mouth and gestured to Joel with her eyes.

  Joel burst out laughing and patted Lucien's shoulder again: "How could our little Evans be so fragile, he's the man who's going to inherit his Uncle Joel's musical dreams."

  Lucien's heart was turbulent and he forced a smile: "Yes, my dream is to be a musician."

  Lucien seemed fine, and Elisa continued to chatter on about various trivial matters, which actually gave Lucien a deeper understanding of the city he was in.

  This is a great city called Alto, near the Dark Mountains, with the title of City of Hymns, prosperous and full of opportunities.

  I currently live in the slum of Adéjan, a poor neighborhood in Abidjan. I also seem to have lost my fixed job helping with loading goods at the market due to several days of illness.

  Before long, the four of them arrived at the small cottage where Lucien was staying.

  Aunt Elisa had intended inviting Lucien to dinner at her home, but the latter, needing quiet, politely declined.

  When they parted ways, Evan quietly and curiously asked Lucien: "Lucien brother, when did your dream become a musician?"

  "Just now." Lucien's lips moved numbly.

  Aiyin let out a long sigh.

  He went into the house, locked the door behind him, and sat down at the wooden table with his elbows on it and his head buried in his arms.

  "I've actually traveled through time!"

  "And it's still this kind of world with inhuman power."

  "One careless move and you'll be tied to a stake and burned alive."

  The emotions that had been building up after witnessing the witch's tragic fate finally erupted when no one was around, and Lucien was shocked, frightened and terrified.

  Of course, as a guy who hasn't experienced many big things, Lucien is somewhat introverted and easily flustered when something happens, but in the face of that huge pressure, he still managed to remain calm until he got back before he couldn't hold it in anymore.

  It has to be said that environment and experience are the most important factors in shaping a person.

  As time passed, the darkness gradually descended, and Lucien also adapted to fear, calming down. Since they had already crossed over, being terrified, worried, or afraid would not make a difference. They could only proceed with caution, one step at a time. If they died again this time, it was uncertain whether they would have another chance to cross over.

  Emotions recovered, suppressing thoughts and worries about parents and friends, just wanting to plan life, Lucien immediately felt the surging hunger, his stomach was like a burning fire, saliva constantly secreted.

  He swallowed hard and filled his stomach, which was the most urgent task. Lucien interrupted his thoughts and walked towards the only wooden box in the house that could hold things.

  In the old trunk, apart from some clothes, Lucien saw two black bread-like foods and seven brass coins that shone with a metallic luster.

  His stomach had taken over his brain and he didn't have the energy to think about anything else, so he picked up a black bread roll and started gnawing on it.

  With a loud crack, Lucien hastily covered his mouth with his hand, and his teeth almost fell out. Was this bread or a wooden stick?

  He sniffed it and Lucien reluctantly confirmed that it was indeed bread, only hard enough to knock out an adult.

  Biting back his hunger, Lucien rummaged through the crate again and produced a flint, after several failed attempts, he finally managed to ignite the wood under the stove and began baking bread in an orderly fashion.

  "Braised pork, spicy chicken wings, steamed beef with rice flour, Kung Pao chicken... " Lucien muttered to himself as he toasted bread, his mouth watering uncontrollably.

  The black bread was slightly softer, and Lucien couldn't help but gnaw on it, the terrifying taste was like chewing on wood shavings.

  Korosuke continued to wolf down his food, eating while lamenting: "If I had to eat like this every day, I'd rather die. No way, I have to make money and get out of this poor life."

  "If I could learn divine magic, become a bishop and priest..." Lucien's mind wandered aimlessly, thinking of the elegant bishops and priests he saw in front of the church, thinking of their superhuman powers and the noble status they brought, his heart racing with excitement. "But, in my current state, going to the church isn't seeking death? I wonder if there are other ways to obtain supernatural powers besides divine magic... like that Divine Favor?"

  "If I can't obtain this power, will what I've learned be of any use in this world?"

  Suppressing his hunger, Lucien began to seriously analyze his path of survival, but as soon as he recalled the knowledge he had learned, something suddenly happened in Lucien's mind.

  Upon closer inspection, Lucien couldn't help but widen his eyes: "Aren't these the books from the library? Did they also come through with us?"

  In his mind there was a whole comprehensive library of books, they didn't seem like memories, but rather projections, neatly categorized and placed on shelves for Lucien to browse.

  Curious Lucien flipped through the books casually, but was puzzled to find that most of them couldn't be opened.