Chapter 1565: The Ancient God’s Astonishment

For the Lorren Alliance today, most of the truths revealed by the poem left behind by the Voyagers were already known pieces of information. These insights no longer held much warning or guidance. Yet from another perspective, simply finally understanding the true meaning behind these ancient messages was profoundly significant for High Lord Gawain.

It gave him a sense of having arrived at the right point in the endless cycle of time and space—a feeling of finally touching the thoughts of his ancestors after a million years of memory passed down. After 1.87 million years, after countless rises and falls of civilizations, the Voyagers’ last glance back at this planet had finally been answered. Perhaps that answer was the very meaning of the journey itself.

He couldn’t help but feel again in his heart: the ultimate questions facing this world had already been answered from the very beginning.

But just as this thought settled, another question sprang to mind. “Wait—if all these phenomena were observable before the arrival of the magical tides, then why haven’t the corresponding records been passed down? The dragons and the sea-folk should have experienced at least a dozen full cycles of the magical tides…”

“It’s simple,” Lady Night replied with a faint smile. “The dragons could only resist the magical tides under the protection of their gods. When the tides came, they retreated into the Great Shield and, like the Dragon God, entered an ‘information closed loop.’ In that state, they couldn’t observe the true starry sky at all. As for the sea-folk you mentioned…” She smiled again. “At that time, they didn’t even know how to observe magic properly. The ‘twinkling of the stars’ mentioned in the poem actually occurred within the magical vision.”

Gawain’s expression shifted as he softly murmured, “No wonder… those who survived the magical tides never saw the real stars, and those who did see that scene never had time to leave any records.”

“Actually, it’s not that no records were left at all,” Amber suddenly interjected from beside him. “At least the ‘solar surface red spot eruption’ was recorded in the archives of the Gondor Empire. I think the sea-folk had corresponding records too.”

“That’s a change visible in the light spectrum, so yes, those were recorded,” Gawain nodded thoughtfully. Then his mind began to wander. “If that’s the case, maybe seven hundred years ago, when the magical tide tremor arrived, someone in Gondor might have seen the ‘twinkling stars’ phenomenon. If someone happened to look up at the sky and opened their magical vision… Unfortunately, those observation records didn’t survive.”

“However, there might have been places within the Silver Empire where the strange celestial phenomena were visible. Theoretically, such cosmic anomalies should be visible worldwide. But back then, no one understood the magical tides correctly, and no one imagined that this spreading disaster on the land was actually a ‘projection’ from space. That’s why these observations never reached the eyes of later scholars. When you return, you can have Belsethia investigate.”

Gawain’s thoughts quickly aligned, and he exhaled softly. He liked how these complex pieces of information finally fit together perfectly, each link connecting seamlessly. It made all his past efforts feel worthwhile.

Now, the short poem left by the Voyagers had a complete explanation. The “solar anomaly” observed by Gondor’s scholars finally had a reason. Extending this line of thought, he even believed the principle behind the Noyan’s “magical tide observation device” perfectly matched the poem’s description—based on the “disturbances” caused when the magical tide approached large, high-energy celestial bodies, and observing these disturbances. Essentially, it was an early way to observe the “twinkling stars” and quantify them to analyze the magical tide!

He lifted his gaze once more to the star map covering the entire divine realm. This time, his heart was filled with a different kind of emotion.

Among the dazzling, intricate starlight, the interconnected routes, and the flickering beacons at the edges, he seemed to feel that glimpse of “looking back” from a million years ago—a distant hope. The Voyagers had indeed left and would never return. The universe still operated eternally under its cold laws. But in this vast starry expanse, other civilizations would surely set sail from their home worlds, bringing moments of warmth and light to the darkness. These flames might be faint, but they passed from one generation to the next.

“In my view, the Voyagers’ expedition was a lonely journey,” Lady Night’s voice echoed in Gawain’s mind. “They dedicated themselves to reaching the edge of the universe as their final trial. Along this endless voyage, their fleet had no true ‘companions.’ Yet the Voyagers never considered themselves alone. On the contrary, they believed that successors accompanied them—those who would one day leave their home stars and become the next ‘Voyager fleet’ in the star rivers they had explored and illuminated. Though that might be many years later, they firmly believed it would happen.”

“This is a kind of ‘shared journey’ across time and space. The travelers who set out cannot see one another, nor can they be sure if others even exist on the path. Their only companions are the markers and boundary stones left by the pioneers, and the ancient, fragmented messages from long ago.”

“The star sea is vast, and survival is hard. Civilizations venturing into space inevitably face overwhelming loneliness, forced to witness planets turned into graveyards after the magical tides. I think the Voyagers understood this deeply. That’s why they left countless relics in the stars, and why beings like me exist as regional ‘star map keepers.’ They tried to pass on the idea of a flame passed from hand to hand to those ‘latercomers’ born among ruins and tombs, so they would realize they are not alone. On this long journey across the universe, unseen companions walk alongside them.”

Gawain listened quietly to Lady Night’s words, then suddenly asked, “Do you believe in the Voyagers’ philosophy? Do you think there really are many travelers who have already set sail, though they cannot see one another?”

“I don’t know,” Lady Night answered calmly. “I have sat on this throne for 1.8 million years and have never received any navigation requests from new fleets at the star map’s boundary relay stations. But even so, I still believe in the Voyagers’ philosophy. I believe that in those distant routes, deep in star rivers beyond my perception, other mature civilizations exist, stumbling forward between the ancient beacons left by the Voyagers—just like the steps you are about to take.”

“…Ancient gods choose to believe in the future, while sentinels with humanity despair and give up waiting,” Gawain sighed. “The world is unpredictable.”

“The sentinels are a regret,” Lady Night said. “Though they tried to destroy this world and once saw me as an enemy, ultimately, it was the Reverse Tide that gave them humanity at the wrong time and in the wrong way. If their awakening had been slower, if they’d had enough time to learn how to face this world, perhaps the outcome would have been different.”

Gawain said nothing, only curious: “From what you say, there must be other star map keepers besides you? Do you know their situation?”

“There are indeed more star map keepers. Even with the Voyagers’ abilities, it’s impossible to build a communication and transportation network covering the entire universe simultaneously. The vast void between star rivers places an enormous load on the system. So star map keepers are responsible for different regions. But as for information about the others… I’m afraid we have no direct communication. I only know that the others are still holding their posts.”

At this, the ancient deity lowered their gaze, eyes full of expectation resting on Gawain. “They are waiting for your visit.”

“But that might take many, many years,” Gawain replied calmly. “Even if we survive the magical tides, even if we and the neighboring Noyan enter the great spacefaring era, it will take a long time for our primitive spacecraft to develop enough to cross star rivers.”

Lady Night laughed. “Compared to the time we have already waited, that’s just a blink of an eye.”

“…True enough,” Gawain smiled, looking at the throne standing beneath the starry sky. The light spilling from its edges seemed to connect with the stars above, and the navigation beacons where the starlight met shone brightly. “So now, can we say the Lorren civilization has inherited the Voyagers’ legacy? The navigation rights to all the beacons, and the entire star map—though for a civilization that hasn’t truly left its home world, this inheritance comes a bit early.”

“Yes, a bit early,” Lady Night winked, her voice cheerful. “At this very moment, I have activated and opened navigation services for all beacons within Lorren, Noyan, and the surrounding area. These old relics aren’t young anymore, but for mortal civilizations at this stage, they can still serve for a long time. But as you said, to truly enjoy this legacy, mortals must at least be able to step from their cradle to the doorstep.”

“…Putting the gift out before they come of age—visible but out of reach,” Gawain raised an eyebrow. “Is that some kind of motivation?”

“Yes, a kind of motivation. Surviving the magical tides doesn’t necessarily mean venturing into space. Civilizations that survive apocalyptic crises can easily fall into complacent new cradles. I imagine you worry about that too. So… now I hand the gift to you. Let it be the driving force for all beings to keep moving forward. Don’t let the homeworld’s barrier become the end of this planet’s development.”

Feeling the deep meaning behind Lady Night’s arrangement, Gawain nodded gently. Just as he did, a sudden data access request knocked on the threads of his mind—directly from the Skyhold station came a data transmission. He “saw” a connection request, and after a brief moment of surprise, he approved it. The next second, a massive amount of information flooded into his mind!

In that fleeting daze, he found himself among the stars. An unprecedentedly vast perspective enveloped all his senses. He saw the universe unfold before him, stars lighting up around him, routes and beacons, and ancient spatial facilities he had never known existed displayed among the stars!

Then he understood—this was the “gift” Lady Night had entrusted to him.

Moments later, the data transmission ended, and Gawain’s mind slowly calmed. He withdrew his consciousness from the “vision” and saw once again the endless gray-white desert, the starry sky above it, and the ancient deity beneath the stars.

Gawain smiled—he had witnessed the stars, and an inexplicable power stirred within his chest. “I’ve seen them. I think… even if just for this glimpse, I must find a way to get the Lorren Alliance off their homeworld.”

He could clearly feel that the moment he spoke, Lady Night’s gaze softened just a little.

Then, the ancient god returned to its throne. The moment it settled back into place, the star map that had blanketed the divine realm instantly retracted. The boundless, dazzling light was drawn back into the throne within seconds, and the chaotic, pale sky reappeared before Gawain and Amber. The desert wind began to stir once more, but unlike before, this endless wasteland and the invisible breeze no longer evoked feelings of desolation and alienation in Gawain. Instead, they carried an inexplicable sense of warmth and… familiarity.

The most important legacy had been passed on. Both Gawain and the Lady of Night seemed to shed a heavy burden. As they relaxed slightly, Gawain finally found the chance to bring up something he had been meaning to ask: “By the way, there’s something else I wanted to consult you about.”

“If I can help,” the Lady of Night replied casually, leaning back on the throne in a somewhat lazy posture—if this had been when they first met, Gawain would have only seen boundless majesty and grace in the ancient god’s stance. But now, he immediately recognized that this “lazy” pose was exactly like Amber’s usual “salted fish flop” when she was slacking off. The aura was identical—only magnified thousands of times over, giving off an illusion of solemnity. “What do you want to ask?”

Gawain struggled to separate the god’s posture from his memory of Amber’s “salted fish flop” as he gathered his thoughts and spoke: “It’s about the coming-of-age ceremony—I know you made some arrangements to ensure that when the Loren Alliance activates the homeworld barrier, it won’t be destroyed by divine calamities. We’ve already established contact with the gods on that front…”

“Oh, you’ve made contact…” The Lady of Night finally shifted her position slightly—loosening the “salt content” of her flop just a bit. “I had overlooked that. But as much as I regret it, I had to make those arrangements, and they’ve already been approved by Them…”

Gawain quickly waved his hand. “No, what I mean is, first, we fully understand and appreciate your efforts. Second… we’ve optimized the ‘coming-of-age plan’ just a little bit.”

“Optimized?” The Lady of Night sounded puzzled. Although she could grasp some of the changes in the mortal world, her knowledge of the recent secret operations between the Loren Alliance and the gods was still somewhat outdated. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I’ve come up with a ‘Ragnarök Plan,’” Gawain said carefully, explaining his idea step by step. “I want to confirm its feasibility with you. The core concept is…”

As Gawain spoke, the invisible wind in the gray-white desert gradually ceased to flow for some unknown reason.

After an unknown stretch of time, the boundless shadowy divine realm finally echoed with the Lord of Night’s sigh directed at all mortal beings: “…Impressive.”

Ancient god shocked.jpg.

(End of chapter)