Perhaps having learned her lesson, Ranni was not sitting on a pile of books, thus avoiding any disturbances from the sorcery apprentices. She was currently floating mid-air, lying down as if on an invisible bed, gazing up at the magic tome in her hands. But while Ranni appeared to be reading, her thoughts were not on the book at all. Instead, Ranni was contemplating how to use the Fingerslayer Blade to kill her sworn enemy, the Two Fingers. She was waiting for Melina’s rebirth and for the completion of Blaidd’s mirror helm. These past few days had given her the time she needed to plan in detail. Although she had obtained the Fingerslayer Blade, it didn’t mean she could rest easy and kill the Two Fingers whenever she pleased. The Two Fingers still had a host of creatures protecting them, including the most detestable of all—the Baleful Shadow. The Baleful Shadow was the Two Fingers’ curse upon Empyreans, a threat Ranni could never escape and had to face directly. It was also the reason she had avoided appearing before the world and stayed away from Caria Manor entirely. Once it latched onto her, she would have no peace for a long time to come. Only after completely shaking its pursuit could she enjoy a brief period of quiet. However, evading it was an incredibly time-consuming process, and Ranni required frequent periods of slumber. Therefore, the best solution was to not be discovered at all. The Baleful Shadow was a more immediate threat than the Two Fingers themselves. Her current doll body simply wasn’t built for combat. If only there were someone who could deal with the Baleful Shadow for her. Ranni gently bit her lip. Truth be told, Blaidd was perfectly capable of fighting the Baleful Shadow. After all, he too was the shadow of an Empyrean. Fundamentally, he was no different from the Baleful Shadow, nor was he any weaker. But Ranni had never allowed Blaidd to confront the Baleful Shadow, fearing he would be influenced by it and fall under the Two Fingers’ control. Even after Blaidd donned his mirror helm, Ranni had no intention of sending him to eliminate the Baleful Shadow. Their strengths were too evenly matched. If the helm were shattered during their intense battle, it would be all over. She couldn’t expect much from War Counselor Iji in a fight either... As for that scoundrel Seluvis, he had his own depraved schemes. Ranni couldn't trust him. Ranni sighed. She decided she would have to deal with the Baleful Shadow herself. This was, after all, the path she had chosen. She couldn’t ask them to do everything for her. However, Bai Shi’s image suddenly and inexplicably surfaced in her mind. If Bai Shi were to act, he could surely take care of the Baleful Shadow with ease. For Bai Shi, it would be a trivial matter... Ranni shook her head violently, nearly sending her large hat flying, and quickly cast the thought from her mind. Really, what was she thinking? Since when had the Witch Ranni become so weak as to think of relying on others? She and he were merely partners. Once their collaboration ended, their connection would be severed. Her pride would not allow her to ask an outsider for help. A short while later, Bai Shi returned to the Grand Library. Ranni turned over and floated down toward him. As she descended, she noticed another soul had taken residence within Bai Shi. Ranni blinked but offered no comment on the matter. “From the look on your face, I take it you found something?” Bai Shi nodded and recounted the history of the Lands Between that he had just shared with Selinsax. After listening, Ranni’s brow furrowed repeatedly. “Such a thing happened?” “Queen Marika... truly unfathomable...” Bai Shi nodded in firm agreement. Marika’s character in the original story was already vague and abstract. Now, after learning this history, he understood her even less. “But it seems that place was merely sealed away. If possible, I’d quite like to go see it.” “Not just for the various ruins and lost technologies to discover.” “I also wish to see that Shadow Tree for myself.” Hearing this, Ranni thought of his currently useless Great Rune and deeply agreed. “Indeed. If the Shadow Tree could shed its grace like the Erdtree, that would be ideal.” “But the place is undoubtedly sealed tight. It won’t be so easy to find a way in.” Bai Shi looked up in thought. “Perhaps a trip to the Royal Capital will yield some clues...” “Since Queen Marika was the one behind it, she might have placed the entrance to the seal within the capital.” Ranni shook her head, unconvinced by his idea. “The Royal Capital is heavily guarded. You would likely have to conquer the entire place before you could even begin exploring.” “Besides, with it right under Queen Marika’s nose, any and all clues were surely erased completely.” “Only places she couldn't easily access, like the Academy and Stormveil, might hold some minor traces.” “If you hadn’t found that ancient king before, the trail might have gone cold forever.” Bai Shi shrugged. There was nothing to be done; the Golden Dynasty’s lockdown was too thorough. Since he couldn't go there now anyway, Bai Shi changed the subject. “Once the rebirth is complete, you’ll be going to face the Two Fingers, won’t you?” Ranni nodded. “I have a rough idea of where they are hiding.” ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩 Bai Shi scanned Ranni from top to bottom, a hint of worry in his eyes. Back when he was weak, he had thought Ranni was powerful. But looking at her now, he realized her doll body possessed little combat strength, capable of little more than a few minor tricks. He wondered if she could get past the Baleful Shadow. And the Two Fingers surely had more than just one shadow guarding them; there had to be other countermeasures in place. Bai Shi thought for a moment before saying to her, “If you run into trouble, just contact me. I’ll find a way to help you.” Ranni’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him, and she slowly floated back into the air. She felt she had to draw a clear line right now. Otherwise, she feared a day might come when she, bewitched, would actually agree to his offer. The thought of relying on Bai Shi must not be allowed to take root. Ranni put on an air of cold indifference and said, “That won’t be necessary. Our partnership ends here.” “What comes next is my own business.” Bai Shi sighed internally. If Ranni refused, there was nothing he could do. After all, she had her own pride, and it was a very strong one. “Alright. I wish you success.” Bai Shi approached the Rebirth Amber for a closer look. Within the amber, the Larval Tear was gradually taking the shape of a human embryo. He wondered if Ranni could one day use rebirth to restore her own body of flesh and blood. After watching Melina’s slow formation for a while longer, Bai Shi left the Grand Library. He still had three matters to attend to within the academy. First, the Red Wolf of Radagon in the Debate Parlor. Second, the White King Ordina beneath the waterwheel. And third, the Abductor Virgin at the very bottom of the waterwheel’s lift. Leaving from here, he could visit each of them in order. Bai Shi crossed the plaza and soon arrived at the Debate Parlor, which the Red Wolf of Radagon now occupied. The moment Bai Shi pushed open the doors, the red wolf lying in the center of the room immediately leaped to its feet. It adopted a combat stance, its gaze fixed warily upon him as it bared its fangs. After a moment, however, the Red Wolf of Radagon caught Bai Shi’s scent and slowly relaxed its offensive posture, though it remained on guard. Bai Shi glanced around the Debate Parlor. The room was littered with the skeletal remains of sorcerers and shattered glintstone crowns. Bai Shi reached a hand out toward the wolf’s head, but it dodged away. However, the wolf made no other move. Not caring whether the beast could understand him, Bai Shi spoke, “The Academy has been liberated. I am its new leader.” “From this day forward, no one will imprison Queen Rennala of the Full Moon.” The Red Wolf of Radagon stared at Bai Shi, as if discerning the truth in his words. Then, it walked to the side, leaped up to the second floor of the Debate Parlor, and lay down. Bai Shi considered this for a moment, then opened his achievement panel. Sure enough, the achievements for ‘Queen Rennala of the Full Moon’ and ‘Red Wolf of Radagon’ were both lit up. These two achievements granted Bai Shi two additional uses of Fengling Yueying. His count was now back up to four, which would give him more flexibility when facing future challenges. However, all of his previous achievements had been earned by defeating or killing his enemies. But this time, he had neither fought nor defeated Queen Rennala of the Full Moon or the Red Wolf of Radagon, yet he had completed the achievements all the same. It seemed that ‘subduing’ was considered a subsequent stage of ‘defeating’ and would also trigger the reward. All in all, this was good news. In the game, there were some bosses who didn't necessarily need to be killed. Now that he could gain achievements without fighting or killing, it was an excellent development. Bai Shi took a moment to look at the portraits of the various sorcerers hanging in the Debate Parlor. These were the founders of the academy’s schools, and among them hung a portrait of Queen Rennala of the Full Moon. The designs of the glintstone crowns were all modeled after the visages of these founders. However, he couldn't find any portraits of Primeval Sorcerer Azur or Primeval Sorcerer Lusat. Those two masters were immensely powerful; none of the other sorcerers in these portraits, save for Rennala, were worthy of comparison. After all, the two most powerful schools of the academy were founded upon the sorceries of those two masters. It seemed that when the two masters were exiled from the academy, all traces of them, including their portraits, had been removed as well. Bai Shi exited the Debate Parlor, descended the stairs, and walked to the wreckage of the waterwheel. He leaped from the cliff’s edge, landing on the stone bridge below. Next, it was time to meet the White King Ordina. He hoped the king would be willing to teach him gravity magic.