Simon didn't believe a single word Harkon said, not a single phrase, not a single intonation.
What he said might be true, but it wasn't worth trusting.
Simon didn't answer. Harkon was tied to his back, and Serana didn't dare to look her father in the eye, so she walked three paces ahead and to the left of Simon, looking around. She heard Harkon's words but didn't stop, appearing indifferent.
With no one to agree with him, the Vampire Lord began to talk to himself, speaking of his life philosophy, of art, of the aesthetics of violence, and discussing history. His body was still so emaciated, the injuries from the recent chase too severe.
"Big fellow, I have a question. Could you possibly answer it for me?"
Big fellow, that's what he called the Troll. And indeed, the current Harkon was like a shriveled, thin jackal. For some reason, a layer of short, pale white transparent fur had grown on his body. It was like moss clinging to a smooth stone surface, or like tube worms in the deep sea, subtly wriggling as if preying on the ephemeral dust in the air.
"Please speak."
"I still don't understand why you sided with my wife. Is it out of sympathy for women?"
Simon smiled and continued walking. "You know, the stronger I become, the simpler and more direct my thought process becomes, and I no longer tolerate lies. I'll tell you honestly, Serana, in my eyes, is as beautiful as Secunda. Of course, her appearance isn't why I approve of her. There are endless beautiful people and sights in the world, and they are all fleeting. I also have many standards for judging a person; what fits is beautiful, what doesn't is ugly."
"Can you elaborate?"
"It's hard to elaborate on this, as it differs for different people at different times. I'll just say what I can think of right now. First are rumors, if the person has any. Then there's the first impression. Only after I've truly interacted with this person—whether directly or indirectly—can I properly judge whether they align with my views…"
Harkon chuckled softly, interrupting Simon. "Heh heh, in that case, you're no different from a serf planting wheat by the roadside, judging others by your own ideas, imposing your will on their lives. Is this what you call justice?"
"Oh, don't misunderstand. I've never said I'm on the side of justice, nor do I believe there's any absolute right or wrong in the world. At least until I find the ultimate answer, I'll adhere to my consistent attitude towards life. This might sound hurtful, but I'll tell you plainly: you disgust me. As for Serana, while I'm still wary of her Vampire identity, the qualities she's shown are already trustworthy."
Serana, who had been silent, suddenly turned around and glared at Simon. But this time, it wasn't her usual mocking gaze, but one of anger. "Enough! Please stop judging me and my family."
The Troll looked at the Vampire's crimson eyes. She hadn't consumed blood for a long time. He hadn't asked why, and Serana hadn't said, but the pain and torment were real.
"Serana, you know what I mean. I won't harm you in any way. If you find my words unpleasant, then I simply won't speak them."
Serana trembled with anger, wanting to say something, but couldn't. Simon knew she wasn't suppressing a weak outburst of rage; she was just feeling an unstoppable sorrow.
"Don't talk to my crazy father anymore. Thank you, okay?"
Harkon stiffened his neck and hissed, "Serana! My Daughter, do you look down on me so much now?!"
"No… don't say it," Serana's tone was still calm, but her expression had become mournful. "He will kill you when this journey ends."
"Hahaha! Good! Excellent! Now I'm better off dead. Good Daughter, persuade him to kill me immediately."
"Shut up! Just shut up! Father, please shut up!"
Simon didn't know how to stop this meaningless argument. He was like a reef caught between two waves, continuing to move forward. He was moving forward, so all three of them were moving forward, causing the argument to become like a stage play, legs walking, vocal cords vibrating, brains shaking, hearts twitching, all in their own worlds, saying words without consequences.
Lies were a good thing. If Simon had always deceived Serana, perhaps she would still participate in the exploration with full confidence. But after all, Simon prided himself on being aloof and resisted false, shallow words. So, it couldn't be helped.
It was often at times like this that Simon felt bored.
Eleven minutes and twenty-one seconds later, the argument between the Vampire father and daughter ended. Harkon, overcome with emotion, fainted. Serana quietly walked behind Simon, looking at Harkon with a mournful gaze.
"Actually…"
"Don't tell me any reasons. I don't want to hear them, understand?"
Of course, of course, Simon fully understood. He breathed a sigh of relief as the long, boring road also reached its end.
He saw the Sanctuary.
This was the second one, named Revelation. The previous Sanctuary where Geleb was located was named Enlightenment. As the faithful filled their ritual water pitchers, they were also filling their hearts with Auriel's Revelation.
A spectral Snow Elf priest wandered before the dormant Sanctuary. To encounter a ghost in such a gloomy Underground was a pleasant surprise.
"Welcome, faithful one. This is the Sanctuary of Revelation. Are you ready to praise Auriel and fill your Vessel with His Revelation?" The Snow Elf priest's voice was ethereal, but his tone was steady and resonant, full of vigor.
The entire ritual was profoundly significant, pouring Auriel's "Righteous Dharma" into the "Root Capacity" of mortals, thereby enabling the faithful to achieve enlightenment, obtain a trace of divine nature in the unseen, foster inner strength, cross the barriers of the mundane world, and ascend the ladder of the strong. Replacing divinely ordained talent with a materialized ritual water pitcher, and popularizing enlightenment, such a ritual could only be described as a divine grace.
As Simon answered, he also secretly observed the state of the priest's spirit in front of him.
"Of course."
The spirit had become so faint that it was misty, with a thin halo around it. Only an unwilling thought kept it lingering in the human world, and this long-cherished wish had transformed into a new logical core, obliterating its original rich will, turning it into a puppet that could only give simple answers, a pre-set repeater, perhaps even more painful than vanishing into thin air.
"Excellent. See Auriel's grace, my child. May it light your path as you seek the peace and tranquility of the inner Sanctuary."
The priest used a similar method to raise the Sanctuary, and Simon entered, scooping a ladle of clear water from the stone basin with the ritual water pitcher—strangely, the water didn't stick to the inner wall of the Vessel at all, flowing easily into the pitcher like a colloid. This was the second time he had seen such a scene. Simon could hear the crisp thudding of the pure water hitting the inner wall of the pitcher, as if echoing in the depths of his soul.
Simon closed his eyes, far from the clamor.
Harkon had woken up at some point. He murmured with his eyes closed, "Serana, the prophecy is true."
…Serana didn't answer. She saw the priest lightly smiling: May Auriel's light ward off your enemies.
"The Daughter of Coldharbour will eventually defile the sun, and the world will plunge into eternal night…" Harkon's mind was no longer clear, and he spoke nonsense. "Your blood is the key. My death is not important, as long as you can live in the eternal night. Vampires in the eternal night are like normal people; they won't be burned, and they can walk openly on the earth. You must live to see that day. This is what I owe you…"
"Father, do you truly have us in your heart?"
Harkon seemed not to hear Serana's pleading words. He only whispered "Home, sweet home" twice, then fainted again.
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