Chapter 53: Time Waits for No One

Mel and Vilnia's figures disappeared from the basement, and about five seconds later, the two of them stumbled and fell to the ground at the entrance of the library.

At the same time, a copper coin at the library's entrance quietly melted and sank into a crack in the stone.

“Quick, go.... we can't stop now.”

Mel ignored the consumption of Quintessence, grabbed Vilnia's hand, and walked quickly towards the school gate.

After they were close enough, Mel took a deep breath, and once again initiated Void Walk, taking Vilnia through the closed school gate.

“Next.... let's go to Saint Margaret's Church first.”

Mel glanced at Vilnia in her arms, whose face was ghastly pale without a trace of color, and looked around anxiously, searching for a carriage.

Finally, she spotted a carriage waiting for customers at the street corner.

Seeing this, Mel's eyes lit up, and she hurried towards the coachman.

The excessive consumption of Quintessence made her steps a bit unsteady, but she still held Vilnia tightly, afraid that she might suddenly collapse.

“Sir, to Saint Margaret's Church, as fast as possible.”

As she spoke, Mel took out two copper coins from her pocket and pressed them into his hand—a price far above the normal rate.

The coachman looked at the ten pence in his hand, immediately perked up, and helped the two of them board the carriage.

Inside the carriage, the small space was filled with the smell of leather and wood.

Mel had Vilnia rest against the seat, while she herself watched the outside of the window vigilantly.

The sound of horse hooves clattered a rapid, broken rhythm on the stone-paved road, and the wheels rumbled over the ground, occasionally making dull noises.

“Mel... that altar...”

Vilnia spoke weakly, but was gently interrupted by Mel.

“Don't talk yet, Vilnia—we'll talk when we get to the church.”

The carriage rounded a corner, and the sudden jolt made Vilnia frown.

Seeing this, Mel suddenly remembered that she still had a bottle of Quintessence supplement, so she quickly took it out and gently lifted Vilnia's head.

“Drink this first, Vilnia.”

Mel said, and was about to open the Quintessence supplement, but was stopped by Vilnia.

“Don't.... don't waste it on this.”

The young woman said weakly.

“I can still hold on.... it will be fine once we get to the church—Quintessence supplements are very precious, don't waste it here.”

Looking at her weak yet determined gaze, Mel finally chose to compromise.

She gently placed Vilnia on her lap, the fabric of her skirt brushing against her cheek, bringing a ticklish sensation.

Mel brushed aside the coffee-colored curly hair scattered on Vilnia's forehead, revealing her paper-pale face.

A trace of blood remained on the corner of Vilnia's lips, her breathing was faint, as if it could stop at any moment.

Mel excitedly caressed Vilnia's cheek, her fingertips feeling the coldness of her skin.

She held Vilnia's hand tightly with her other hand, feeling her weak pulse.

In anxiety and waiting, the carriage finally entered the church district.

The towering Gothic buildings cast huge shadows in the sunlight, and the heavy tolling of bells came from outside the window.

“We're here, Vilnia.”

When the carriage stopped, Mel eagerly carried Vilnia out of the carriage and walked towards the entrance of Saint Margaret's Church.

The hurried footsteps startled the devoutly praying believers and also startled Oliver, who was preaching.

“Your Grace, the Bishop....”

Mel ignored the gazes of those around her and looked up at Oliver.

“Please help us....”

Hearing this, Oliver's expression immediately tensed.

His gaze fell on Vilnia and Mel, and with just one glance, he already understood what had happened.

“Today's sermon ends here, please return and continue to pray devoutly—the Red Moon be with you.”

Oliver hastily ended the sermon, then gave Mel a look.

The latter immediately understood and followed with Vilnia.

In the medical room, Vilnia lay on the bed.

Oliver brought a cup of calming tea and had Vilnia drink it.

As the sweet tea entered her throat, the dried-up Quintessence in Vilnia's body was replenished.

The young woman's skin gradually regained its color, and her breathing also became steady.

Just then, Irene came over and gently placed her palm over Vilnia's.

A gentle light flowed, as soft as moonlight.

“Quintessence depletion, mental trauma, and even contamination from (Knowledge)....”

Oliver frowned tightly and turned to look at Mel.

“What on earth did you encounter?”

Mel held the teacup, and after taking a sip of tea, she began to recount her and Vilnia's experience.

“We found an altar in the basement of the school library, that place.... that place was simply a nightmare.”

The young woman's voice trembled slightly, as if recalling the scene sent a chill down her spine.

Under the solemn gazes of Oliver and Irene, she continued: “The walls there were embedded with countless books.... but those books, they were alive. The pages pulsed as if breathing, and mucus would seep from the covers, just like some kind of disgusting creature.”

Hearing this, Oliver's expression became even more grim.

He nodded, signaling Mel to continue.

“In the center of the altar were twelve human skulls, they were arranged in a bizarre array. Each skull was entwined with mycelium, making them look as if they were kneeling in worship.”

Mel paused for a moment, seemingly organizing her words.

“The most terrifying part is... those skulls seemed to have retained their consciousness from when they were alive—I saw translucent human figures, they maintained a kneeling posture. Those spinal cords... those spinal cords were wrapped around the altar like vines. And... there was also a stone tablet. The tablet was inscribed with some kind of writing I couldn't understand, and after I read it out—”

“Wait, you said you read out the words on the tablet?”

Oliver interrupted Mel, looking at her with a serious expression.

“Didn't you say you couldn't understand it?”

“Yes.... but the moment I saw those words, my mouth went out of my control.”

Mel's voice trembled even more, a flash of fear in her eyes.

“My mouth automatically spoke those words, but... but those were not syllables that a normal human could produce at all. Immediately after, many images were poured into my mind....”

“What images?”

“I saw scholars driving chisels into their own occipital bones, filling the sulci of their brains with slips of paper covered in forbidden knowledge. And some people sealing others' seven orifices with molten wax, letting the scalding wax tears cast molds of words inside their cranial cavities.”

Oliver's face became extremely unsightly, he seemed to have realized something terrible.

“Those guys, to think they were able to find the skulls of those knowledge fanatics....”

Oliver's face became extremely unsightly, he seemed to have realized something terrible.

“Just then, a man appeared.”

Mel's tone suddenly turned icy.

“He is a member of the Omniscience Society, and he attacked us.”

Oliver and Irene exchanged a meaningful glance.

“His strength is formidable, at least of the Silver stage. We were no match for him at all, we could only flee for our lives.”

Mel lowered her head, her tone filled with frustration.

“If it weren't for Vilnia desperately covering for me, we might have already...”

Her voice choked up, unable to continue.

Oliver was silent for a moment, then said: “I never thought the location chosen by the Omniscience Society for the God's descent ritual would actually be right under your school.”

As he spoke, he stood up, walked to the side, picked up the telephone on the desk, and dialed a number.

“The location of the ritual has been confirmed, it's in the school's basement.”

Oliver said to Audrey on the other end of the line.

“Come over quickly, time waits for no one.”

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