Chapter 1585: Chapter 276: The Mask of the Crow Guard
Hayna ultimately accepted Aiwass’s suggestion.
——Of course, it wasn’t an order, but a proposal from a friend.
Just like the confused yet fearless Fool, who always needs the advice of the “Magician” to embark on the journey of destiny.
And she indeed longed to know her true self, wanting to become a real human——
So, she packed her bags, bringing only enough food and water for a few days, and left Holy Spring City openly at noon.
It wasn’t that few people witnessed this scene. Because Hayna didn’t conceal her tracks at all. As soon as she reached the First Ring, the news had already spread outside the city.
…In this regard, she was quite aware of her identity as a strong person.
However, Aiwass didn’t really just let her venture off on her own…
Being exploited was not the concern——primarily with Hayna’s lack of social experience, Aiwass was a bit worried she might be sold off or assassinated.
It’s like training a child to go to school by themselves; although you say “be careful when you go out on your own,” you actually follow them from afar.
After all, the fear that the child might get into trouble is always there. But you still need to scare the child a bit, or else she wouldn’t pay attention.
This approach works for Hayna as well.
Hayna must have an awareness of Death, to be alone in dangerous situations, so she can take things seriously. Thus she can be pushed to unleash her potential and awareness——even though in the advancement ceremony Hayna’s behavior was somewhat naive, her decisiveness, perseverance, patience, and reflexes were actually not lacking and could even be considered excellent.
It’s like a college student cramming before finals; if you work hard, you can always get some results; just like a husky in the polar circle, when its brain gets fully cooled, intelligence seizes the high ground again.
So after Hayna left, Aiwass had Lily follow from afar.
Lily’s stealth ability here was nearly invincible——she was equipped with the complete set of Hawkeye’s gear, and only someone at the Fifth Power Level in the Path of Wisdom or Path of Balance with scouting equipment might vaguely detect Lily’s presence. The only one here who met that standard was probably Flame Fist Hassan.
And the fact that he could vaguely sense Lily’s presence was actually a good thing for Hayna. It meant a kind of deterrence.
When Hayna encountered a crisis she couldn’t resist, only then would Lily step in to save her; otherwise, Lily would not appear or meet with Hayna.
Whether it’s Aiwass or Lily, they could directly guess that type of future possibility——as soon as Lily appeared in front of Hayna, after a first scare, she would immediately joyfully stop thinking.
How should I put it… giving up one’s brain could be considered a warrior’s fate, in all senses.
Meanwhile.
In Holy Spring City, the Benevolent Lords were almost all gathered.
Shortly after the departure of Benevolent Lords Mahid Fran and Ismael, a Water Crow Guard with a raven mask knocked on the door.
“Lord Aiwass.”
The respectful voice of the Water Crow Guard came from outside: “There is a message for you from the Forgiver.”
“Oh?”
Aiwass’s voice came from inside.
Since Lily had already left and Nephthys’s guard was just Prodeno “Bai Ke”‘s personal guard, it was the old ritual master Ibn who went to open the door.
As he opened the door, he immediately saw the black-clad Water Crow Guard standing at the entrance, and jumped in fright.
Even though Ibn was now very strong, he would instinctively fear the Water Crow Guard. It’s a mark imprinted in the heart of every Holy Spring person, one that Ibn couldn’t forget despite having left Parthia for so long, not speaking Parthian well anymore.
Initially, he even had the chance to join them——of course, perhaps that couldn’t be called an “opportunity.”
Because once the Water Crow Guard came to the door, they didn’t need to show evidence to take someone away.
They were the incarnation of the “Benevolent Lords’ will.”
Those taken by them might be interrogated, sold, made into one of them, or perhaps used to make thirst stones… all part of the water tax.
The Holy Spring City’s Benevolent Lord Ayimar Nur, as Parthia’s Grand Vizier, didn’t usually appear openly in front of others. All his actions were carried out by the Water Crow Guard, and his words conveyed by them.
Therefore, the will of the Water Crow Guard was absolute.
Holy Spring City didn’t need codified laws——because if others knew the contents of the laws and regulations, it might constrain the actions of the Water Crow Guard. Therefore, “The Face of the Crow Guard” was the law itself.
As the Water Crow Guard glanced at old Ibn, they immediately recognized him as a native Parthian.
They said nothing and didn’t enter the room. They just bowed respectfully and waited at the entrance.
As if no one had opened the door.
Although they were extremely respectful to Aiwass, to Ibn, a Parthian, they showed no courtesy or friendliness. They didn’t even look Ibn in the eye, with a cold gaze full of disdain behind the mask.
Aiwass walked over slowly, observing the attire of the Water Crow Guard.
These were the black-robed priests creating thirst stones when entering the city.
His mask looked a bit like the bird-beak doctor’s masks from the black death era… functionally similar too. That bird-beak contained a special reflux tube that could collect, purify water vapor when breathing, enabling it to humidify the air inhaled.
This simple function, in Parthia, indicated a possession of “a part of control over water.” Even if just a tiny fraction of authority, as small as managing their exhaled moisture, it marked them as a class distinct from ordinary free people.
And the long staff in their hand, called the “water-seeking staff,” also had special powers——a special cane akin to a blind man’s walking stick that, when struck on the ground, could sense water in nearby containers through vibrations.
It is said that this technology was originally used by Lizardfolk and Serpentfolk for underground water prospecting, now used to detect secret water storage.
“Kneel.”
Aiwass said calmly.
The Water Crow Guard unhesitatingly knelt, offering the water-seeking staff to Aiwass, then deeply bowed to him. Their forehead touched the ground motionless, signifying that even if Aiwass killed them here, they’d offer no resistance.
This was the price for being a Good Master’s Representative as a Water Crow Guard, and the reason old Ibn must escape this fate then.
Once becoming a Water Crow Guard, they had to vow to abandon their autonomy. They couldn’t defy the Benevolent Lords’ orders, nor betray… like machines. Even other cities’ Benevolent Lords had some control over the Water Crow Guard.
As proud as they were before, they were now humble.
Ibn breathed a little easier, looked to Aiwass in gratitude.
He could tell, Aiwass was standing up for him.
Even though as a Parthian, he had long been accustomed to the Water Crow Guard’s power and influence… so much so that before Aiwass’s intervention, he hadn’t realized he was being deliberately ignored.
It felt so childish, akin to pushing someone on purpose. Old Ibn even felt like laughing… he hadn’t used such means since his teens, which gave him a feeling of growing young again.
“Speak.”
Aiwass instructed calmly as he took the staff.
“Ayimar Nur has words…”
No sooner had the Water Crow Guard spoken.
A searing flame rushed across the earth, scorching their skin.
In the moment of speaking, it felt like swallowing a hot wind, instantly choking his words back.
The instant power heated the water in his mask to boiling, the scorching steam made the young Water Crow Guard disgorge steam from his Crow Guard mask, burning his trachea.
At this moment, an awe-inspiring voice echoed from the heavens:
[Path of Devotion surpassing limits, the Material Realm is about to ascend——]
Aiwass jolted, realizing what had transpired.
——Did Grey really talk the Flame Celestial Marshal to death?