Turning Chapter 1252

While Yuder, in an unusual turn of events, found himself speechless, a distinct peal of laughter echoed from the vicinity of the door. Kishiar's laughter was so unrestrained that his eyes crinkled into crescent shapes, effectively dispelling the oppressive atmosphere that had previously permeated the room.

“You’ve managed to achieve something that even I never could.”

“Uh... that was a compliment, wasn't it...?”

Kanna inquired, casting a slightly embarrassed glance upwards at him.

“Of course, it’s a compliment. If I could, I’d even bestow a reward upon you.”

“Ahaha. Well, I suppose you've endured quite a bit of hardship due to Yuder as well, haven’t you, Commander?”

While she didn’t state it too overtly, speaking directly to the Commander, her underlying sentiment was unmistakably clear. Kishiar offered no denial, merely responding with a smile. Witnessing this exchange, Yuder could hardly contain his disbelief.

‘If we're speaking about that matter, then he...’

To the general populace, it might seem as though Yuder Aile was the sole individual who routinely flirted with danger. However, based on Yuder's own observations, Kishiar la Orr's situation was considerably more perilous. Despite projecting an image of someone who highly valued self-preservation, Kishiar never faltered in the face of true crises, irrespective of the personal cost.

It hadn't been long since Kishiar had interceded for Yuder in the South, resulting in a grievous facial injury that nearly cost him an eye. Even recalling that moment now ignited a burning sensation within Yuder's chest.

As far as Yuder could discern, the sole disparity between them lay in their respective abilities to conceal such profound sentiments from the prying eyes of others.

A feeling of mild unfairness surfaced... yet he resolved not to voice any grievances. After all, he was acutely aware that every action taken by Kishiar stemmed from genuine concern for his well-being.

‘And objectively speaking, I’ve spilled more blood than him recently…’

Meanwhile, Kanna had finished her second cup of water. The flush of health had returned to her sweat-dampened face.

“Phew. I feel human again.”

Setting the cup down, she turned her gaze back towards Yuder.

“Yuder. So? Has everything I’ve interpreted so far been of assistance to you?”

“Assistance” felt like an insufficient descriptor. Kanna’s proficiency was nothing short of astounding; even Yuder, who seldom experienced awe at the exhibition of another’s capabilities, found himself profoundly moved.

She had effortlessly deciphered and validated conclusions that he and Kishiar had painstakingly assembled over weeks of extensive travel. Her uncanny ability to vividly extract the words and intentions of the deceased, discerning their hidden motives, bordered on the supernatural.

It even prompted the thought that, in this particular domain of power, no future Awakener could possibly surpass Kanna Wand.

Yuder inclined his head, conveying precisely those sentiments.

“...Far more than enough. It’s truly overwhelming.”

Kanna's countenance radiated with palpable joy and pride.

“If the world knew you acknowledged me like this, they’d be so overcome with jealousy that they’d drop dead. But this is a secret, so I’ll be keeping it all to myself!”

“You were even capable of discerning complete conversations held by the owners of these artifacts. Do you believe you can identify who they were conversing with?”

Kanna responded with a shake of her head.

“That might prove a bit too challenging. To be perfectly honest, the reason I could interpret things with such clarity wasn’t solely due to the enhancement of my abilities—it’s also because all these artifacts share such a profound connection.”

“Does that make a difference in the interpretation process?”

“Naturally. These are all possessions of the same individual from the same period, correct? And it appears they were stored together in a single location for an extended duration. When items possess such a strong bond—how should I articulate it...”

She clasped her arms, pondering for a moment, before snapping her fingers.

“Consider it this way: if my objective were to investigate an occurrence within a specific village, then interpreting these items would be akin to interviewing long-standing neighbors or relatives from that very village. This is obviously far more straightforward and coherent than questioning complete strangers from disparate villages, wouldn’t you agree?”

Her reasoning held a distinct logic.

“And your presence, along with the Commander’s, likely contributed as well.”

“In what manner?”

“Because the individuals who discovered and brought these artifacts are present right here. Although it wasn't intentional, when I activated my power, it's plausible that I subconsciously absorbed information you or the Commander possessed regarding them. This might have aided in my interpretation of the readings.”

She described it as a form of mutual resonance effect between closely linked entities.

“Prior to my deployment to the South, I was engaged in the process of extracting intelligence from those captured Star of Nagran Awakeners. I deduced this principle while experimenting with a few concepts back then.”

“I see.”

“And frankly, compared to other information I’ve processed, the energy emanating from these artifacts is exceptionally potent. Now that I've witnessed it firsthand, it makes perfect sense, but... still, even with diligent training, I cannot always achieve such clarity. Just so you are aware.”

Kanna lightly scratched her head, a gesture of modesty.

‘She felt the need to mention that—it could be perceived as her downplaying her own capabilities. However, she likely shared this detail because she understood even this minor distinction might prove beneficial to me.’

In essence, she was indicating that the “event” deciphered from the readings was simply of that unparalleled intensity.

The remnants of bloodshed and demise were etched so profoundly that they gleamed with an unusual clarity.

Within Kanna’s kind blue eyes, Yuder detected a subtle flicker of worry. Instead of offering words of comfort, he casually nudged the subsequent object toward her. “Explaining all of this certainly aids understanding. Very well, let’s examine this next piece.”

“Understood.”

This instance, the item presented to Kanna was a mage’s badge. Having been purified by Yuder’s earlier fiery cleansing, the Imperial Magic Institute badge had regained its luster. Save for the missing clasp, it appeared almost pristine.

Kanna lowered her gaze, her hand closing firmly around the badge as she channeled her unique abilities. “...It echoes the prior readings. The same owner, the same incident. The strongest imprint remains largely consistent, yet… there’s an additional layer…”

Her eyes drifted, as if seeking something in the empty air, before fixing upon a specific point. “…It must have been concealed.”

“......”

“This particular item was intentionally hidden—or perhaps cast aside. A potent desire is deeply embedded within it. However…” She paused, her brow furrowed in contemplation. Reaching out, she grasped another nearby artifact: the robe she had previously examined. ‘Why that one again?’

Yuder remained silent, observing. Kanna then added the bag atop the pile, clutching all three items as one. The radiant energy emanating from her hands was as potent as before, and a low, resonant hum emanated from her lips. “Mmm…”

“Is something amiss?”

Kanna responded slowly, her gaze still scanning the surroundings. “When I channel my power, a single, overwhelmingly strong piece of information can overshadow the rest, making it difficult to discern. But just now, I believe the impression I gleaned from the badge… was also present in one of the other objects. I surmised that examining them collectively might offer greater clarity, but… it’s proving ineffective.”

The elderly gentleman had intended to dispose of these items completely. Their survival was solely due to the kindness of a shop owner, who had rescued the bag from the incinerator and kept it. Thus, it was understandable that the objects carried such a profound inclination towards concealment or abandonment…

‘But if Kanna could perceive beyond that—if she could uncover something deeper…’

There was yet another item in proximity, potentially more helpful than the others. “Kanna. Then, instead of another artifact, try this one.”

“…A notebook?”

“This was found alongside the others. I suspect it might provide greater insight into… that specific aspect.”

A notebook, presumably utilized for arcane research. It was this very item that initially prompted Yuder to consider the possibility that his grandfather might have suffered from memory loss.

Kanna acknowledged his suggestion with a nod and placed her hand upon the notebook. Yuder tensed, prepared to intervene at a moment’s notice.

Suddenly—her shoulder convulsed as if struck by a jolt of lightning. “Ah…!”

Veins visibly pulsed on her trembling hand as she clutched the notebook. Kanna shut her eyes tightly.

Amidst the swirling energy, her voice emerged with clarity. “This is a research… a research log. Or rather, it constituted a research log. Its objective: to track the gradual decline of mana density across the continent over time. It served a purpose beneficial to all, yet the process was tedious—or so the owner perceived it. Merely an ordinary, unremarkable log… but…”

Her voice, which had been softening, abruptly ceased. “…This was the item that most vividly revealed the owner’s personality and inner thoughts. Having now extracted the necessary information, this should be discarded.”