Chapter 389 - 335: A Question Even the Saint Doesn’t Know

Chapter 389: Chapter 335: A Question Even the Saint Doesn’t Know

The heavy future, the unknown dangers lurking in the darkness, and the Redemption Saint’s clearly pessimistic [prophecy] all weighed heavily on Lloyd’s mind.

’But thankfully, I still have Hildina by my side. If we can walk forward together, leaning on each other for support, I should be able to get through it, right?’

It was just that he didn’t have that kind of strength yet. He could only help her shoulder the Spiritual Contamination, not yet walk side-by-side with her.

’But that’s okay. I’ll work even harder. I’ll become even stronger!’

Lloyd tried his best to think optimistically, striving to turn the pressure into motivation to move forward.

But as he thought, a bold and absurd idea inexplicably popped into his head—

’Back when my sister and I were wandering the streets, she was the one who tirelessly protected me, stayed with me, shielding me from the wind and rain with her small, slender body...’

He felt he could see a trace of his sister in Hildina.

’Maybe the reason I find the Saint so kind and gentle is because of this sense of déjà vu?’

Of course, this was only to the extent of déjà vu. Lloyd was certain that there were no other similarities between his sister and the Saint, and that they were completely unrelated.

’This was my sister, the one I’d depended on my whole life. How could I not know her?’

But after this thought occurred to him, Lloyd couldn’t help but feel that the Saint beside him was even closer.

He decided to press his advantage and ask some more private, more pertinent questions.

For example, about his [Thought Realm], which always felt a bit off.

"Oh, right, Hildina... about my Thought Realm. I always feel like it’s... well, the way it looks, it just feels weird?"

But the Saint’s reaction was quite unexpected. She blinked her big blue eyes and asked in return with a hint of pleasant surprise:

"Hm? Lloyd’s Thought Realm? You’re willing to share such a private topic with me? Hehe... so what does your Thought Realm look like?"

She looked overjoyed. Her smooth, delicate feet swung back and forth, a very alluring sight.

"Huh? You don’t know?"

Lloyd was also surprised by her reaction. ’Didn’t she basically treat that place like her own home?’

"Of course I don’t know. Everyone’s Thought Realm is their most important privacy, and a very dangerous place. Even I have to be extremely careful and not dare to casually peek inside.

Even though I have ways to influence it and connect with you, it’s just simple contact. I can share knowledge with you or help you shape a [Projection], but I don’t know what it looks like...

To me, it’s just a pitch-black room where I can’t see anything. I wouldn’t want to just ’run’ into a place like that. But thankfully, even though it’s completely dark, I know you’re there. Just having you by my side makes me feel much more at ease, much warmer."

Hildina explained, her tone gradually becoming affectionate. She looked at Lloyd with an expectant look on her face and added:

"Everyone’s Thought Realm can be seen as the deepest thoughts and ideas in their mind. So what would your Thought Realm be like, Lloyd? A crowd of beautiful, barefoot girls?"

"No... no, I’m not that kind of person..."

Lloyd waved his hands in a flustered manner and quickly gave a simple description of the scene in his Thought Realm.

"Huh? How could it be like that?"

Hildina was also deeply surprised by this. She quickly reached out to cup Lloyd’s face, leaned her head in, and pressed her forehead against his, as if to check if he had a fever.

The touch was just like the intimate gestures he and Evelor often shared...

But they quickly separated, and then Hildina stroked her chin, furrowing her brow slightly as she began to think carefully.

After a long moment, she shook her head and answered:

"I’m sorry, I don’t know why that would happen either. I only know that the scene you described is somewhat similar to my Mentor’s failed experiment back then, so perhaps it’s an effect of the [Twist]?"

What Hildina was referring to was probably the apocalyptic scene he had seen at the tower of the Twisted System.

It was indeed very similar to Lloyd’s [Thought Realm]. The few differences were likely the structure and style of the towers, and their overall size.

"Th... Dean Hazled briefly mentioned that experiment to me. I heard that after it happened, the Twisted System department at the academy was emptied out, right? So what kind of experiment was it, exactly?"

Lloyd asked again, curious.

But Hildina, who had seemed so compliant, shook her head, then gave a very forced smile and explained:

"When my Mentor conducted this experiment, I had already left Mizkatoke, so I don’t know the specific details. He was unwilling to mention it to me, either. He just said in a letter that this path to finding the future had ultimately failed... If my Mentor is willing to tell you the details of the experiment in the future, remember to secretly tell me, okay?"

As she spoke, she tilted her head slightly, putting on a thoughtful expression, and then tentatively speculated:

"But looking back now, perhaps my Mentor’s experiment wasn’t a complete failure after all?"

Lloyd didn’t quite understand what she meant by that and was about to ask for clarification when Hildina preemptively changed the subject:

"Anyway, you don’t need to worry. I’ll ask Astra or Bair about it for you later. The two of them have a deeper understanding of this area than I do... You really don’t need to worry too much. Your current mental state is very good, and you do have an amazing resistance to Spiritual Contamination. Besides..."

At this point, she launched a surprise attack, quickly planting a kiss on Lloyd’s cheek before continuing with a grin:

"You’ve got me by your side, don’t you?"

Being kissed by such a beautiful, cute, gentle, and lovely girl, Lloyd’s head couldn’t help but spin a little, so he didn’t press the issue any further.

Then, Hildina left Lloyd’s embrace, stood up from the bench, clasped her hands behind her back, bent over slightly, and smiled sweetly.

"Alright, it’s about time. There are some things in the physical world that I need to see to, so I have to go."

"So soon?"

Lloyd was reluctant to see her go. Not only had he not had a chance to ask all his questions, but he also just didn’t want her to leave so soon.

"Some things are out of my control... It’s okay. If you miss me in the future, you can come find me at the tower in the city center. I’ll always be there waiting for you."

As Hildina spoke, she gave Lloyd a little wave, and her figure gradually faded from his sight.