Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Don’t Trust the Gods_1
Having finished this diary entry, Aiden inexplicably felt a chill run down his spine.
Why does the content of this diary feel... like it’s heading in the direction of a horror story?
Melindale, the goddess of love, who once wielded the scepter of "Desire", wasn’t completely killed by the god of death, but left a wisp of a resentful soul attached to the nameless witch’s body and then began to erode the other’s consciousness, preparing to take over her body...
Is this... possession? Is this also a power of "Desire"?
Full of doubts, Aiden immediately shifted his gaze to the next page on the right:
"I haven’t slept all night, neither able to sleep nor daring to do so.
I always feel that once I fall asleep, Melindale’s consciousness will take over my body.
I don’t know what exactly she wants to do...
I have to protect Alice.
After much deliberation, it seems that the only way is for me to become the controller myself to resist this erosion.
The only powers available for me to choose are those of ’life’ and ’reproduction’.
But it’s probably going to be difficult, despite the intermittent efforts, I’ve been searching for a way to become a controller over these years, and all I found was a line of irrelevant ’Order’ maxims.
Without the guidance of the god of death and Melindale, finding the clue to becoming a controller would probably be as hard as reaching heaven.
But now this is the only path I can take."
"What did you write?" Abigail’s urging voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
Aiden hesitated for quite a while, then told the truth.
After hearing his narration, Abigail fell into silence, neither speaking nor immediately turning the page for Aiden.
This ominous silence lasted a considerable length of time, until Aiden was the one to break it first, "To tell the truth, I’m not very familiar with the scepter of ’Desire’. Could something like this be a power of the ’Desire’ scepter?"
The power of "Wisdom" can take over others’ bodies; Melifilia can do it with ease, and the spells that Presia devoted herself to studying can almost achieve this effect, too.
"I haven’t done much research either, but as far as I know, the three powers under the ’Throne of Spirit’ each seem capable of forcibly interfering with a mortal’s spirit, just with different conditions and details," replied Abigail, "Furthermore, the divinity cap of a controller is much higher than that of mortals, so it wouldn’t be strange for them to master powers beyond their own sphere."
In other words, the power of the "Desire" scepter might be able to create the effect of taking over someone else’s body, just like the power of "Wisdom". Of course, we can’t rule out the possibility that Melindale could also use the power of "Wisdom".
Aiden nodded and gestured for Abigail to continue flipping through the pages, feeling an urgent desire to know the outcome of that predecessor time-traveler, as he could tell Abigail was equally concerned.
Abigail nodded, flicked her finger, and the diary automatically turned another page.
"May 28th.
I’m heading out on a long journey.
A good while ago, I deciphered the location of the Lulin Tribe’s ruins from ancient texts, but I’ve been hesitating to go there.
There might be clues related to the fallen Wilderness King, or perhaps a chance to find the sole scepter of ’life’.
Alice is now capable of taking care of the house by herself; I’m not worried about her.
On the contrary, it might be more dangerous for her to stay by my side now.
I can clearly feel another personality coexisting inside me.
As soon as I fall asleep, she will take over this body.
Every night before bed, using the power of life to forcibly deprive this body of its ability to move is just a temporary solution.
I can sense that Melindale’s erosion is still deepening, and magic of the spirit kind simply has no effect at all.
After all, the idea of a mortal fighting against divine power is nothing but a pipe dream.
It is said that explorers who’ve entered that region never return alive, but I should at least not die there.
Compared to death, gaining nothing is even more disheartening.
Hope is faint, but I must try nonetheless.
Speaking of which, Children’s Day is just a few days away.
It’s rare for me to go out, so I’ll bring back a gift for Alice."
Aiden then shifted his gaze to the right, only to discover that several more pages had been torn out, which meant he could only read much later content.
"August 7.
It’s already too late, I feel the moments of full consciousness are getting shorter and shorter.
I can feel Melindale’s will starting to influence me, I can’t tell anyone, nor can I record anything about Melindale using this world’s writing.
Luckily, I can still write in Chinese.
I suppose Melindale probably can’t understand this script, but if she completely devours my consciousness, she may inherit my knowledge and memories.
This must be prevented.
I’ve neither found the last adage nor the sole authority.
No, even if I had, I probably wouldn’t have the chance to complete the ascension ritual.
Thinking about it, I’ve somehow calmed down.
I was prepared for this all along.
It seems there’s only one way left.
There’s no time to lose, I’ll leave this place tomorrow.
Actually, it doesn’t really matter; it’s just a life given for free anyway..."
There’s only one way left—Aiden stared at this line for a long time.
The nameless witch, his predecessor time traveler, was she preparing... to die?
After a while, he lifted his face and translated the content for Abigail, omiting the section related to the time traveler at the beginning and the end.
After listening, Abigail said nothing, just waved her finger and turned the page.
And then Aiden suddenly realized that this was the last page of the diary with content:
"August 8.
When I awoke this morning, I felt clearer than any previous day, not sure if it’s because I’ve made up my mind, or if Melindale’s lingering consciousness has begun to sympathize with me, granting me a day of reprieve.
I spent one last day with Alice, although it was just an impromptu playing house, I might as well see it through to the end.
I taught her the Divine Words technique, the little one thinks she just learned a powerful magic, now the whole house is filled with flowers she grew with the Divine Words.
I added Magic Potion with a sleeping effect to her dinner, and now she’s completely asleep.
I regret not teaching her Chinese, she probably won’t be able to read this diary; I’ll have to write an additional farewell note for her. She will become a fine witch.
Well, actually there’s not much else to say, only hope she’s not foolish enough to look everywhere for me.
Take care, my daughter.
This diary, in this world, is probably unreadable to anyone else, unless some poor soul is summoned here by some ruler.
If there is, then I hope you remember.
No matter what, don’t trust the gods of this world."
