Tome of Blood

Chapter 676-23- Charlotte's Day (The End)
Morning light streamed through the window lattice, draped with light gold tassels, and gently fell upon the magnificent carved wooden bed.

The beautiful girl stirred in the soft velvet blankets, her golden eyelashes fluttering slightly as she slowly opened them. Her azure eyes, like the clear sky after rain, still held a trace of lingering sleepiness.

Good morning, miss.

The maid Marianne, who had been standing by the bedside, smiled and gently drew back the heavy curtains, letting more sunlight, carrying the unique freshness of the capital, flood into the room.
"The weather is lovely today. The Countess has instructed the kitchen to prepare your favorite maple syrup muffins and rose tea."

"Thank you, Ms. Mariana..."

The girl sat up lazily, yawning and rubbing her sleepy eyes. The sleeve of her silk nightgown slipped down, revealing a section of her fair and slender arm, which was warmed by the sunlight.

This is the inner city of the royal capital, the new residence of the Castel family.

A few years ago, Count Castel was promoted to Grand Master of the Third Knights Order of the Kingdom, and the Castel family officially separated from the Duchy of Bold and became a direct vassal of the Crescent Kingdom. Count Castel also moved the Castel family from Bold to the capital.

At first, Charlotte was somewhat reluctant to leave her old manor and the supposedly historic family castle, but soon, the prosperity and convenience of the capital, as well as this spacious, bright, and warm new home, won her over.

More importantly, her parents are with her here.

Father, Earl Roy Castell, seemed to be busier with official duties than before, but his complexion had improved considerably. Mother, Lady Isabella, always wore a gentle smile, and the faint worry that used to occasionally linger between her brows was no longer visible.

everything is fine.

This is the beginning of another day in Charlotte de Castel's peaceful and ordinary girlhood, the only daughter of a count in the kingdom, in the capital.

After washing up, I changed into my school uniform: a dark blue fitted jacket with silver trim, a matching pleated skirt, and a white shirt with a red rose bow tie that symbolizes the Castel family.

The girl in the mirror had smooth blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and a healthy blush on her cheeks. She carefully tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and gave herself a smile.

The atmosphere at the breakfast table was pleasant. The father was browsing the latest edition of the Capital Times, occasionally exchanging a few words with the mother about political or business gossip, while the mother placed jam-spread muffins on Charlotte's plate and asked her with concern about her lessons that day.

"The morning session will cover the general history of Myria and the theory of basic elements, while the afternoon session will cover etiquette and literary appreciation."

Charlotte took a sip of the fragrant rose tea and replied:
"By the way, Father, regarding the academic exchange with the Elf Kingdom that you mentioned last night, I heard they'll be attending today's class together. They've also invited a renowned scholar from Moon Goddess Island, I think his name is... what's his name..."

"Sebastian Flameheart".

Count Castell looked up from behind the newspaper and added with a smile:
"He is a renowned historian among the elves and a friend of His Excellency Nicholas."

The blonde girl frowned:
"That bastard cat with the pesky color who always turns into a black cat and sneaks into our manor library?"

Countess Castells gently patted the girl's head:
“Show some respect. After all, he was a legend, and an old friend of your grandfather. He was the first to notice Elena’s case.”

Upon hearing the name Elena, the girl looked somewhat disappointed.

Irene... or rather, Irene de Castel.

That was her step-grandmother, who had been very kind to her when she was little.

However, no one knew that the kind old man was actually a witch who wanted to seize the bloodline of the Castel family.

Ten years ago, her parents were sent by Duke Bold to hunt monsters. At that time, she was the only one left in Castel Manor. If it weren't for the patrol knight Kara who rescued her in time, she might have been sacrificed and killed by the monster when she was five years old.

“My little scholar. His Excellency Sebastian is the Kingdom’s honorary advisor. He is very knowledgeable. I’ve audited his classes, and they were very interesting. Listen carefully, and you can tell your father about what you’ve learned when you get home tonight.”

Noticing the girl's disappointment, Count Castells changed the subject at the opportune moment.

"I will."

Charlotte smiled and nodded.

She has a natural curiosity about history, especially those ancient eras and legends of gods that have been lost to time. The bizarre and fantastical records in the thick books in the academy library always easily capture her attention.

She was particularly fascinated by the legends about the moon goddess, the myths that supposedly originated from the sacred court of the elven sun god, and the even more ancient legends of the creator goddess who shared her name.

After breakfast, Charlotte, with her mother's gentle reminders and her father's smiling gaze, picked up her leather satchel containing her books and left home.

At the entrance of the mansion, an unassuming but well-made carriage was already waiting, driven by Old Ruf, a silent but extremely reliable werewolf from the North.

"Good morning, Mr. Luf. To the Royal Crescent Academy!"

"Yes, ma'am."

The carriage moved smoothly along the clean stone-paved street.

Old Lu Fu silently drove the chariot, his figure as upright as a pine tree in the morning light.

Charlotte leaned back in her soft chair, her gaze sweeping across the fleeting scenery outside the window: exquisite mansions of various styles, lush flowers and plants glistening with dew, early-rising merchants pushing creaking carts, and towering spires in the distance outlining the elegant skyline of the capital.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of bread and flowers, and everything seemed orderly and vibrant.

The wheels rolled over the last stretch of tree-lined road and came to a stop in front of a large complex of buildings with a wide plaza and a multi-story main building.

This is the Kingdom Academy, the premier place for young nobles and scholars in the capital to pursue their studies.

Charlotte stepped down from the carriage, bid farewell to old Rufus, and, accompanied by her maid Sherry, entered the academy gates.

There were already quite a few students in small groups on the college square. Their morning conversations and laughter mingled with the faint sound of organ practice coming from afar, creating a vibrant atmosphere full of youthful energy.

Good day, Charlotte!

A crisp voice sounded.

Charlotte looked in the direction of the voice and saw Emily, a girl with beautiful chestnut curly hair, standing with several familiar classmates.

Good day, Emily.

Charlotte stepped forward with a smile.

"Have you heard? Today's 'Theory of the Origins of the Extraordinary' is being presented by Mr. Sebastian Flameheart! He's the scholar who published the groundbreaking paper in 'A Study of Ancient Elven Runes'!"

Emily said excitedly, her eyes sparkling:

"It's said that he's also a friend of Lord Nicholas!"

“I know. He is very knowledgeable.”

Charlotte nodded, but her gaze was unconsciously drawn to the notice board on one side of the square.

Besides the academy notice, there was also a beautifully illustrated poster depicting the elven scenery of the Western Continent, with the following words written in elegant cursive script:

"Invited Scholar: Sebastian Flameheart (Honorary Member of the Royal Society of the Elven Kingdom) - The Origins of the Extraordinary: From Myth to Reality."

"Alright, let's hurry up and get a good spot!"

Emily linked arms with Charlotte and walked towards the large lecture hall on the east side of the main building, chatting and laughing with the other students.

The classroom was spacious and bright, with heavy oak tables arranged in an arc, and a huge blackboard covering an entire wall behind the podium at the front.

At this moment, many students were already seated in the classroom.

Besides the noble children and commoner students from the Crescent Kingdom, there were also some international students dressed in clothing with distinct elven, dwarf, or other racial characteristics. They mostly huddled together, talking quietly in their respective languages.

Charlotte and her companions sat down in the middle of the front row.

She had just placed her books and notes on the table when the classroom door was pushed open again.

An elven scholar, dressed in a sharp dark gray suit, with his red hair neatly tied back and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, walked in with a composed gait.

He was handsome and had a gentle and refined demeanor; he was none other than Sebastian Flameheart.

His appearance immediately quieted the previously noisy classroom.

Following behind him, and the first to step onto the podium, was Mr. Yulster, the official instructor of today's course.

He looked to be around thirty years old, with a pale yet handsome face and an almost inhuman level of refinement. His dark brown hair was meticulously styled, and his deep red eyes calmly swept across the room.

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo, with a style that was almost rigid and formal.

Despite looking only thirty years old, Charlotte knew that this Mr. Yulster was probably at least a thousand years old.

He is a member of the Familia, a mysterious race said to be the retinue of the Goddess of Creation, the only immortal race in the world, though it is said that they need to sleep periodically to reduce the wear and tear on their souls.

Good morning, everyone.

Yulster's voice was steady, with a slight hint of coldness:
"As you all know, we are fortunate to have invited Scholar Sebastian Flameheart from the Elf Kingdom to join us in today's lesson to discuss the grand topic of 'the origin of the extraordinary,' and I will serve as the moderator and supplementary speaker."

"Now, let us welcome Bachelor Sebastian."

applause.

Sebastian bowed slightly and walked to the center of the podium.

"Thank you, Mr. Yuerst, for the introduction, and thank you to all the young scholars for coming."

Sebastian spoke, his voice clear and pleasant:
"Today, I hope to share with you not definitive conclusions, but rather some clues and reflections based on archaeological discoveries, ancient documents, and transcontinental comparative studies. First, let's begin with time..."

He turned gracefully and wrote several key time points and place names on the blackboard with chalk.

The elven scholar's explanation was insightful yet easy to understand, citing numerous excavation reports from the elven kingdom on various ancient ruins in the western continent, as well as long-term observation data from elven mages on the fluctuations of the source of magic.

He argued that the earliest known traces of supernatural abilities can be traced back approximately three thousand years.

"...Therefore, based on existing and verifiable archaeological and magical evidence, the period in which we can currently determine a systematic account of extraordinary powers 'manifesting' in the world is roughly within this range."

"Of course, this does not mean that supernatural beings did not exist in earlier times, it's just that... no conclusive, non-mythological evidence has yet been found."

Just then, a human student raised his hand. After receiving permission, he stood up and asked with the confidence characteristic of a student from the kingdom:
"Scholar Flameheart, I have a question. According to you, extraordinary powers manifested simultaneously about three thousand years ago. So, where did it originate—the Eastern Continent where our Crescent Kingdom is located, or the Western Continent where the elves reside?"

This problem is like a pebble thrown into calm water.

The atmosphere in the classroom immediately became subtle.

The students from the Eastern Continent, including Emily beside Charlotte, unconsciously straightened their backs, their eyes filled with expectation and a certain unspoken inclination.

The international students from the Western Continent, especially the elves, listened attentively, their expressions carrying a hint of defense.

"Yes, Scholar, the general history of the kingdoms we've studied all say that the belief in the Holy Royal Court originated in the Eastern Continent!"

"But our ancient epic records that the glory of the sun god first shone upon the sacred forest of the western continent!"

The students began to whisper among themselves, though they remained relatively restrained, their opinions were already quite distinct.

Sebastian smiled gently and pressed his hands down lightly, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

"This is a very classic and controversial question. When I was in the Elven Kingdom, I discussed it countless times with many top historians and mages."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the entire room:

"Based on our comparative analysis of the remaining magical patterns in the earliest relics of the two continents, our research on the evolution of related words in ancient languages, and our tracing model of the origin of geological magical pulses... the most likely conclusion at present is—"

He spoke clearly and slowly:
"The 'manifestation' of extraordinary power is very likely to occur simultaneously, or within a very short historical window, independently in the Eastern and Western continents."

A surprised buzz filled the classroom.

This answer seems to have surprised many people, showing no bias towards either the Eastern Continent or the Western Continent.

"But... how is that possible? Could there be two sources?"

A dwarf student asked in a muffled voice.

"It may not necessarily be 'two sources'."

Mr. Yulster calmly added from the side, his deep red eyes:

“Extraordinary power is more like a seed that sprouts simultaneously in two different places where conditions are right. Its roots may point to the same, more ancient and essential ‘origin’. Of course, this is just one of the academic hypotheses.”

Sebastian nodded approvingly to Ulster and continued:
“Mr. Yulster is right. We are looking for the ‘traces’ of history, and beyond those traces lies a grander context. This leads to what we will explore next—myth and belief.”

He naturally transitioned to the next topic, recounting the legends of Helios, the sun god, and Artemis, the moon goddess, within the Elven mythology system, and their relationship with the Holy Lord, the ruler of the Holy Royal Court, who was later widely worshipped by humankind.

"Then, Bachelor..."

A devout human student asked impatiently:

"Is the Divine Lord of the Holy Royal Court the same great being as the Sun God in Elven mythology? Our theology teachers have different opinions on this."

Sebastian's expression became more solemn:
"Based on the oldest scriptures of the Elven Kingdom, and our research on certain... extremely high-ranking sacred relics,"

As he spoke, his gaze, almost imperceptibly, swept briefly across Charlotte, who was listening quietly in the audience, before quickly returning to its original position:
"It can be confirmed, yes. His Holiness Harald is none other than His Holiness Helios, the sun god. And His Holiness Artemis, the moon goddess, is his sister to His Holiness the sun god; they both serve someone above them..."

"Goddess of Creation!"

A lively female student answered quickly, then stuck out her tongue.

The atmosphere in the classroom relaxed a bit, and many students, including quite a few elven exchange students, laughed, their eyes intentionally or unintentionally glancing at Charlotte de Castel sitting in the front row.

In an instant, the entire classroom was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

"That's right, the goddess of creation."

Sebastian smiled slightly, but his smile was filled with utmost respect:
"She is the source of all things, the beginning and the end of everything."

"Scholar, does the Goddess of Creation... truly exist?"

A young boy with freckles on his face, sitting in the back row, asked curiously in a loud voice; he was clearly a freshman:

"I mean, is there really such a deity? And... is it true that her name is Charlotte?"

This time, almost half the students in the classroom laughed, and many turned to look at Charlotte with mischievous, benign eyes.

Even the usually serious Mr. Yulster seemed to subtly curve the corners of his mouth.

Charlotte's cheeks flushed slightly, and she glared helplessly at the boy who had egged her on.

Sebastian's expression turned serious at that moment, even carrying an almost admonitory solemnity.

He adjusted his glasses, his voice clear and strong, echoing in the suddenly quiet classroom:
"Watch your words, young man. The Goddess of Creation certainly exists."

His gaze swept over everyone, and his gentle scholarly aura suddenly exuded a breathtaking majesty.

"The air you breathe right now, the earth beneath your feet, the vitality and possibilities contained in the blood flowing through your body... even the foundation upon which you can learn and use elemental power, are all the afterglow of the goddess's grace."

"Her existence does not require the church's proof, nor can her name be easily questioned by ordinary people. Although the goddess has not established a visible sanctuary in the world, everyone who knows her name should have the highest reverence for her."

“This has nothing to do with religious rituals, but rather with respect for the ‘origins’ themselves. I hope this is the last time I’ll hear such a careless question in this classroom.”

The classroom was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The boy who asked the question had already blushed and lowered his head in shame.

Everyone was awestruck by the unquestionable certainty and profound awe in Sebastian's words. Even the most lively students suppressed their smiles and fell into deep thought.

Charlotte stared blankly at the serious Sebastian on the podium. The slight embarrassment she had felt from being teased had vanished, replaced by a strange and indescribable feeling.

It was as if a string dormant deep within the heart was gently plucked by these solemn words.

The morning classes concluded in a solemn yet fruitful atmosphere.

The latter half of Sebastian's lecture, delivered from the perspective of an elf, dissected the essence of the fundamental elemental theory. His unique insights and exquisite explanations captivated all the students, regardless of which continent they came from.

When the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class, the students seemed to snap out of their daze, stood up, and gave the two scholars a warm round of applause.

At lunchtime, Charlotte, served by her personal maid Sherry, had a light meal in the academy's elegant dining room.

She had little appetite, so she asked Shirley to wrap a carefully prepared sandwich and fruit in parchment paper, along with her favorite apple juice, and together they went to the secluded garden courtyard behind the college that she liked the most.

The courtyard is not large, but it is lush with greenery, and there is a small fountain in the center with the sound of flowing water.

Charlotte sat down on the familiar stone bench, taking small bites of her sandwich, but her gaze drifted somewhat to the clear, cloudless sky.

Sherry,

She suddenly spoke in a very soft voice.

"Miss?"

The girl standing to the side immediately responded.

"In the scriptures of the Church of the Moon Goddess, Her Majesty Artemis, the Moon Goddess, resides in the Realm of Moon Dreams; while the sacred scriptures of the Holy Royal Court say that Her Majesty Harald, the Lord of Gods, sits on the throne of the Holy Royal Court."

Charlotte paused, a pure look of doubt and curiosity appearing in her azure eyes:

"Then...where does the creator goddess who granted them power and created all of this reside?"

Shirley was taken aback, clearly not expecting her mistress to ask such a question.

She tried hard to recall what she had learned in class that morning, and repeated somewhat uncertainly:

"Scholar Sebastian said...the Goddess of Creation is the origin of all things, and she...should be omnipresent, right?"

"Everywhere...?"

Charlotte murmured to herself, her gaze still fixed on the depths of the sky, as if searching for something beyond that azure expanse.

Suddenly, she chuckled softly, turned her head, and made a joke at Shirley:

"Then do you think the omnipresent goddess might be watching us from somewhere right now?"

Her smile was bright, with a mischievousness unique to young girls.

Sherry was taken aback by the abrupt joke, opening her mouth but unsure how to respond.

Charlotte was about to laugh and comfort her, saying it was just a joke, when she suddenly stopped.

An extremely subtle and indescribable feeling came without warning.

The smile on her face froze, and almost instinctively, she turned her head and stared straight in a certain direction.

The afternoon sun shines through the dense foliage of the oak tree, casting dappled, swaying shadows on the ground.

There was no one there, only the rustling of the wind through the leaves.

"Miss? What's wrong?"

Shirley asked worriedly, and following her gaze, she found nothing.

Charlotte blinked; the strange feeling had vanished, as quickly as if it were a hallucination.

She shook her head, looked away, and found her own reaction somewhat amusing.

“It’s nothing,” she said softly, picking up the half-eaten sandwich again.
"Maybe I'm seeing things."

……

Not far from the courtyard.

In the shadow cast by the dense canopy of that oak tree.

Three figures, absolutely invisible to the naked eye of mortals, stood there silently.

Standing in front was a blonde girl wearing a black divine dress that shimmered with starlight and moonlight. Her face bore a striking resemblance to the girl on the stone bench not far away, but her eyes were a mysterious and deep crimson gold.

To her left stood a beautiful goddess with silver hair and eyes, whose temperament was as cool and aloof as the moon.

Artemis, the moon goddess.

To her right is a handsome deity with golden hair and eyes, radiating warmth and majesty.

Helios, the sun god.

Artemis gazed at the oblivious girl sipping apple juice in the courtyard, her exquisite face filled with incredulous amazement:
"It's truly... truly astonishing. Even knowing that this is the 'result' of your reshaping of cause and effect, it's still breathtaking to see a mortal who looks so much like you yet is completely different. She is simply..."

A faint, brilliant light flickered in Helios's golden eyes.

His power increased, and he saw more things.

He gazed intently at the young Charlotte, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, and slowly shook his head, interrupting Artemis's words:
“No, Artemis. It’s not just ‘similar’.”

He paused, seemingly hesitant, his golden eyes turning to the blonde girl before him, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of inquiry:

“Her mental fluctuations… her 'imprint' of existence… a part of her soul seems… connected to the teacher's origin…”

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Artemis instantly understood what was happening and looked at the blonde girl with curiosity in her eyes.

Charlotte, who had become the creator goddess, stood there quietly.

Her gaze fell gently on that "self," watching the girl's bright blue eyes slightly narrowed by the sweet and sour taste of the juice, and the charming and innocent expression that naturally flowed from her as she spoke to the maid.

Hearing the whispers of the two deities, she gently shook her head, a faint yet serene and blessed smile curving her lips.

"Do not……"

Her voice was as soft as a gentle breeze, a voice only the gods could hear:

"She is neither anyone's shadow nor anyone's echo. She is simply a blessed girl, an ordinary life with infinite possibilities. She is a happy 'Charlotte de Castel' in this new era."

Charlotte's gaze seemed to pierce through the present world, seeing on this timeline the ordinary yet precious life this girl might have in the future.

There was no family destruction or death, no conspiracies or pursuits, no sacrifices or burdens, only the path of a noble lady, perhaps with some minor troubles but generally bright.

that's enough.

This was the only way she could express her gratitude, and also her last small blessing.

After she finished speaking, she took one last deep look at the figure that looked exceptionally vibrant and radiant in the sunlight, as if she wanted to etch this scene into her eternal soul.

Then, she slowly turned around:
"We should go. This world truly belongs to them now."

Artemis and Helios exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and respectfully nodded slightly.

"is teacher."

The three figures began to become transparent, like water vapor merging into sunlight, turning into soft specks of gold, silver, and crimson light.

In the final moment before completely dissipating, Charlotte, the creator goddess, turned once more, gazing at the maiden in the courtyard, and whispered in a voice only she could hear, a voice imbued with her supreme power and deepest blessings:
May you be free from all gloom and misfortune in this life.

May your path be paved with flowers and sunshine.

May you always be as blessed with happiness and peace as you are today.

The glimmer of light completely dissipated, leaving only a gentle breeze, sunlight, the babbling of water, and the whispers of the leaves in the courtyard.

It was as if the three supreme deities had never descended.

Charlotte de Castel, who was putting the last bit of her sandwich into her mouth on the stone bench, suddenly stopped.

Once again, for no apparent reason, she suddenly raised her head and looked in the direction of the oak tree.

This time, her heart skipped a beat.

There was still nothing there, but for a moment just now, she seemed to feel a gaze that was both incredibly warm and incredibly reassuring, like the feeling of being gently embraced by her mother in the deepest dream.

That feeling was fleeting.

She blinked her azure eyes in confusion, her long golden eyelashes casting small shadows on her cheeks.

"Miss?"

Shirley asked with concern.

Charlotte snapped out of her daze and touched her chest, where it remained calm as usual.

She shook her head and gave Shirley a reassuring smile.

"It's nothing really."

She said, her tone becoming lighter:
"It's probably because the sun is too warm today, making people a little sleepy and creating an illusion."

The girl stood up, stretched, and her perfect school uniform accentuated her slender and beautiful figure.

"Let's go, Shirley. We have etiquette class this afternoon, and we can't give Mrs. Miller a reason to nag."

She brushed off non-existent pastry crumbs from her skirt, picked up an empty juice glass and a paper bag, and walked briskly out of the courtyard. Her long, golden hair swayed slightly behind her, shimmering like honey in the afternoon sunlight.

The peaceful and hopeful day that belonged to the young Charlotte de Castel continued.

(End of the book)