OBS Chapter 4271 Humanity and Tools
Chapter 4271 Humanity and Tools
Chapter 4271 Humanity and Tools
Adelina noticed the subtle expressions on her sisters' faces, inwardly reflecting on how her troubles had affected their lives. While Shad didn't possess Adelina's [Chaotic Heartbeat] to sense others' feelings, he noticed the little princess's dejection.
“Adelina, you can’t just stay cooped up in the house and do nothing because you’ve encountered danger.”
The red-haired princess then sat up straight in her sister's arms:
What can I do?
“Vige will be busy with the [Holy Son Alliance] matters recently, and you will need to keep a close eye on the Gray Gloves agents. Although Big Mouth Sparrow and the stolen printing plates may seem to be related to ordinary people, the follow-up situations they may involve are more important than the [Holy Son Alliance].
Shad paused for a moment, then continued speaking to Adelina:
"The printing master plate might be related to the [Truth Society], but this is just my current speculation. As for the intelligence on Agent Big Mouth Sparrow, it is related to my true identity and origin. I want to know what I went through before I opened my eyes and saw Detective Sparrow on the bright silver moon of summer in 1853."
Adelina nodded quickly:
"No problem, leave this to me."
Viggo also realized that Shad was trying to give Adelina something to do, so she said:
“Since Margaret arrived, I’ll have even more miscellaneous tasks to handle. The number of refugees piling up outside the outer city is increasing, and they’re occupying more abandoned buildings in the desolate areas. Although the hospital at Grayrock Pass Fortress is still under construction, a considerable number of wounded have already been transferred there.”
Although I'm not in charge of this city's administration, I still need to oversee these matters, but things on Shad's side are more important. So, Adelina, can I let you handle the less important things?
Adelina nodded emphatically:
"Yes, teacher."
Lacey then said to Adelina:
“Since you have so many tasks, I won’t give you any more instructions. Adelina, danger is both an opportunity and a challenge. Dorothy and I were very worried about you in Topske, but we were also happy to see you grow so quickly.”
She whispered to her younger sister:
"Go for it, Adelina, I'll always be there for you."
Although the action plan against the [Holy Son Alliance] has not yet been finalized, Vige still began preparations for it that afternoon.
Lacey had important business to attend to in Topske. Dorothy originally wanted to stay and keep Adelina company, but Adelina told her sisters not to worry about her, as Shad was still there and she wouldn't feel lonely.
After the conversation in the study ended, Miss Rowling instructed the maids to prepare the lunch their masters had missed. When Shad went to see Lacey and Dorothy off, he also explained to them why it was best for the two of them to stay away from each other for the time being.
Contrary to Shad's expectations, Lacey and Dorothy were not disappointed:
“We’ve said it before, we’ll do whatever you say. Remember that time we tried something stupid that almost caused our souls to annihilate each other? We haven’t been willful since then.”
They each hugged Shad to say goodbye, and Lacey reminded him one last time:
"Before you go home tonight, remember to talk to Adelina alone. Although she seems strong, she is still just an eighteen-year-old girl."
"I understand, don't worry."
Lacey and Dorothy then waved goodbye to Shad, and the two of them broke through space and left. The girls were also making progress little by little. Shad was never alone.
It was 2 PM. Before lunch, Shad had Viggo's follower deliver his letter to the inn where Lady Handel was staying at Grayrock Pass Fortress. He expected to receive a reply by evening or the next day, but to his surprise, Lady Handel and Joey Barton arrived at Fragrant House at 4 PM.
The Sage-level relic, the Soul Gem, isn't very well-known, but the Cursed are clearly quite familiar with it. Viggo went to attend to other matters, and when Shad met them in the study, only Adelina was with him.
Adelina nervously handed over the blue gem that had protected her. Mrs. Handel, sitting on the sofa, quickly examined it and understood the situation:
"The girl's desperate soul turned into a gem, and the curse was passed on to the next holder, who would also eventually face the fate of turning into a gem in despair. This relic was not completely destroyed; it was only partially consumed by that so-called 'hatred'."
"Is the soul damaged?"
Shad asked, and Mrs. Handel shook her head. Joey Barton, standing behind her, shrouded in black mist, replied:
"This relic is not a complete soul, nor can it be restored to a complete soul. Its injury is a deeper trauma, which is related to the characteristics of the relic itself, as well as the power of 'Abomination'. Although we were unable to see it with our own eyes, we can still feel the monster called 'Abomination' from the scars left on this gem. It probably has the power to oppose all normal order."
Joey Barton is in spirit form, and the sound he makes is essentially the vibration of the air by his spirit power, yet it still mimics a hoarse voice.
Adelina wasn't afraid of him, so the little princess asked again:
"Can this gem be repaired?"
Ms. Handel nodded:
"Yes, you can use humanity. If an ordinary soul gains more humanity, it will only make its emotions more complex and its heart more sensitive. But for beings whose soul nature is quite extreme, humanity can effectively repair deeper levels of emptiness and trauma."
Shad then recalled that during the battle against the "Rain Man" last week, Joey Barton had extracted "humanity" from the frog monster, and Lady Thorne in the [Swamp of Oblivion] had also mentioned that "humanity" could help everyone resist the fog formed by different emotional memories in the swamp.
Is humanity something precious? Or rather, how can one obtain it?
Shad asked curiously, and Mrs. Handel opened her right hand, and a long, black, trembling shadow, like a soul, appeared.
The thing was no more than the length of a palm, and Shad could not sense any power from it, but he inexplicably felt that it was very pure, yet very complex, just like intelligent life itself.
"That's human nature."
Ms. Handel explained to Shad and Adelina:
"Humanity is a part of the soul, but not the whole of it. Emotions and memories together weave together humanity. It contains no power and cannot provide power to anyone. It is simply something that arises spontaneously from the soul."
Research on human nature is extremely scarce, partly because it is extremely difficult to obtain, and partly because human nature has almost no value to normal life. Every life possesses human nature and generates it at all times, without distinction between good and evil, and without exception.
For Joey and me, humanity isn't hard to acquire. We obtain it from some of the evil spirits that refuse to leave, to ensure our own souls don't become completely cold due to the curse, and to prevent us from becoming mere tools of death.
Shad nodded in understanding. The curse of death was indeed very severe on them. Two years of walking and atonement had not lessened their punishment much. They still had a long way to go.
"Then let's repair this gem."
"We've retained enough humanity to repair it."
Adelina immediately expressed her gratitude, while Shad, knowing that this might also be needed in the [Swamp of Oblivion], then asked:
"So, can humanity be sealed in a container? I want some humanity; I might need it later."
He didn't know how much humanity it would take to resist memories imbued with emotion, so he didn't ask for much.
Joey Barton nodded:
“Any soul can carry humanity for a short time, but over a long period of time, the soul will spontaneously assimilate the humanity from outside into itself. You can come to us anytime you need us.”
"Then I'll come to see you on Sunday morning."
"Shad said, then watched as Madam Handel carefully filled the crack in the Soul Gem with the black human mark. The gem emitted a faint blue light during this process, the crack slowly narrowing, and those watching the Soul Gem saw a story unfold within its light and shadow.
That is the story of this desperate soul.
The story isn't particularly exciting; the souls originate from the Fifth Age. The older and younger sisters are locked in a love-hate relationship, only understanding each other's feelings at the very end. The younger sister sacrifices herself to protect her older sister, while the older sister, in despair, also transforms into the Soul Stone.
This isn't a particularly special story; using relics comes at a price, a fact known to all those with extraordinary abilities. And after humanity successfully mended the cracks in the gem, the story unfolding within it came to an end.
Adelina is still kind:
"Is there a way to let this soul continue its journey? I can do without this relic."
The very professional Ms. Handel shook her head:
“In essence, this gem is no longer a soul, and naturally it has no right to continue. Do not have any sympathy; that soul has already ‘died’ in despair, and the current [Soul Gem] is merely the shell left behind by the dead soul.”
"So why would it help me?"
Joey Barton's voice was still hoarse:
"Perhaps it's because of emotional resonance that you want to protect those children, which aligns with the last thought of this desperate soul before it transformed into a gem. The Soul Gem possesses some very special hidden properties; emotional resonance can grant the gem greater power to its holder."
But frequently resonating emotionally with this relic can also hasten your descent into despair. Don't rely on the gem's power; its essence is the despair and tragedy passed down through generations. Treat it merely as a tool to be used occasionally.