Chapter 171: The Cat Slave Shana and the Dream-Evoking Bracelet
The Mysterious Capital, located two blocks away from the Great Library, is an educational area.
The Imperial Academy of Magic is located nearby, as well as the academies of professions such as warriors, knights, thieves, and rangers.
In addition, there are tutoring institutions that help young people get into these "Imperial prestigious schools," as well as corresponding educational materials and equipment stores. This creates an extremely strong academic atmosphere.
Moreover, due to the sufficient number of young people, they appear notably youthful and vigorous.
However, the opposite is that there will be more fights and brawls. Young professionals, lacking knowledge and experience, tend to feel superior and invincible after acquiring some skills, only to be taught a lesson by the garrison stationed here.
Who wasn't a prodigious youth at the beginning? The garrison is also quite sinister, dispatching geniuses from the past, who possess exceptional abilities in both strength and posturing, in combination with constantly upgraded equipment, easily crushing these young pups.
The troublemaker was beaten by the seniors. While physical injuries could be endured, the mental damage caused by the looks of contempt would cast longer shadows on them. In due course, everything here would return to peaceful harmony.
Shana lived in a small house in the education district, with a modest area and affordable rent. As long as she joined an adventurer's guild and took on a commission, she could earn enough rent for many years.
These rooms were furnished for professionals who had failed their exams but were determined to make a comeback next year. The environment is relatively clean and tidy, and most of the inhabitants are young students, creating a great atmosphere.
Shana studies by herself in the large library every day, inheriting the wisdom of Nerine. She can actually absorb a large amount of information instantly, but instead of using violent methods, she chooses to read with the speed of a typical genius who can read at a glance at the beginning of her learning.
She believes that this "slow" pace is also a way to enjoy life.
Every day, she stays up late and then goes home to rest, occasionally taking the trouble to decorate her small room.
She bought many cute decorations, planted three kinds of flowers, and even made a swing - she enjoyed the feeling of daydreaming while sitting on it.
As time passed, her dress style, temperament, and the students here became more and more similar.
Along with her excessively beautiful appearance, even though she was quite low-key and didn't interact with others, she had some pursuers trying to create some youthful stories.
However, Shana's response was a forgetting spell, easily getting rid of this entanglement.
The first criterion for the little angel's mate selection is that the pursuer must defeat oneself. How can one fall in love without any magical resistance?
Apart from some occasional flies buzzing around, she was quite satisfied with her current life.
Although her so-called efforts didn't match her strength and current situation.
With her ability, she can easily comprehend even the most profound magical theories and spatial hypotheses, let alone spending time on reading poetry, prose and novels.
Therefore, reading books only serves as self-comfort, proving that I am still making efforts and have not given up, while slacking off has become Shana's new norm.
At that time, she was extremely angry and wanted to tear Roger apart, but now she suddenly feels that the emotion has become vague.
As time passed, she received more and more information, and her level of paranoia naturally entered a state of decline.
Instead of being angry at that bastard, it's better to enjoy life!
The only Eternal fear is the fear that seeks the essence, engraved in the depths of the soul.
As a projection of Nalineir, she was one of the most knowledgeable about Nalineir's various methods, and realized that she was only struggling to survive. If she were exposed to the Seven Gods, death would be her only fate.
In order to prevent the arrival of this day, Shana quietly recorded a batch of information that she believed would greatly damage the Seven Gods, in a ring she made, and hid it in a place where no one could find it.
If she dies one day, the ring will be transported to Fengling Moon Palace.
"Of course, perhaps by then this world will no longer exist, but I have done my best!"
After completing this operation, Shana completely let go of herself, even considering becoming a top student at the Empire Magic Academy to satisfy her vanity...
Only heaven knows how long she struggled before finally giving up the opportunity to show off easily, and not bullying the little children in her eyes.
Thus, spending each day in a daze, shuttling back and forth between her abode and the grand library, in contrast to the fulfilling life she once had as an angel, she was, in reality, wasting her time.
Even if it demands putting forth relentless efforts to exact revenge on Roger, it still qualifies as a form of striving, doesn't it!
However, at this moment, Shana's heart takes pleasure in enjoying this idle life before death, which is the greatest happiness!
This lacks aspiration, and it is not similar to what she initially wanted to accomplish in this world.
But this was the ordinary life she wanted, the one she longed for.
She enjoyed it, what did it have to do with others?
Chanah wasn't sure whether she had grown up or become more childish.
She attempted to search for answers in the book, but it contained a hundred thousand different truths, each one extremely reasonable, yet reading them was just like not reading.
After studying for ten years, as if studying for ten years, she still didn't have an answer in the end.
She walks among the hustle and bustle of the world but ultimately never steps into it, observing the joys and sorrows of others with a certain vigilance.
She just mixed through until the New Year, at the moment when she was touched by the white world touching her soul strings, she found the black cat that transformed from Afu, and named it Xiaobai.
Due to the reliance on that weak life, Shana temporarily found the meaning of her existence and gained the motivation to raise it to adulthood.
In that small house, she arranged a warm and comfortable little nest for Xiao Bai, consulted various precautions for keeping a cat, bought the best kitten food, and various toys.
She didn't have a childhood, so she especially hoped Xiao Bai would have a happy one.
Although Xiao Bai was played by A Fu, as an Eris Worm, he could easily control the soul of the cat, and showed no flaws at all in the way a kitten would behave.
Moreover, Shana has never raised a cat.
As long as the appearance is sufficiently adorable, even if Afu accidentally exposes some of the cicada's living habits, she won't suspect it.
Also, because Shana takes care of Afu wholeheartedly, Afu develops an inexplicable emotion, and becomes a bit...obsessed with playing the role of a black cat.
Each Erebus worm is solitary, and the existence of the realm of demons makes them possess self-protection and territorial consciousness from birth and weave terrible traps to patiently wait for prey as they go alone to the starry world.
Only after experiencing too many human emotions, understanding the relationship between them, watching and longing for their interactions, did Afu begin to have emotions.
After experiencing countless partings and reunions, I came to realize my uniqueness as the precursor of the Eris Moth, making me the sole one of this era.
I am the only one awakened to spiritual intelligence, possessing self-awareness, and finding no equal among my peers.
However, this also led to becoming an incomparable and solitary existence, causing an inexplicable sense of loneliness.
Roger arranged for Afu to find Shana, not only to bring Shana closer to the Anti-Green Vines Alliance, but also because he saw some similar qualities in Afu and Shana.
From a young age, they were two problematic children, yet they possessed wisdom and knowledge beyond that of ordinary adults.
This led to their inability to have a normal period of growth and childhood. In order to cultivate and guide them, the Night Queen directly entrusted the task to Roger.
However, Roger had never raised a child before, especially since Shana had entered adolescence early, making her particularly difficult to handle.
The arrangement of bringing Ah Fu to Shana in the form of a kitten was actually intended to let them come into contact and perhaps generate some chemical reaction to promote each other's growth.
Communication works better with those of the same kind. On the surface, an angel and a demon from the starry world seem vastly different. However, upon deeper reflection, perhaps they could understand each other?
After spending some time together, humans and cats surprisingly got along just as Roger expected.
Shana's need for Ah Fu triggered her gentle and maternal instincts; Ah Fu also needed Shana, that wonderful feeling of being taken care of.
They formed a dependent relationship, like a master and a slave, and also like "friends".
Shana is still a child, with a side of stubbornness and impulsiveness, but also a side of simplicity and kindness.
Taking care of a fragile little life, from awkwardness to proficiency, watching Xiao Bai grow day by day, activated her kind side.
Ah Fu, on the other hand, drew unprecedented warmth from this process.
The Eternal Night Queen is Ah fu's nominal master, but she doesn't have a hobby of keeping pets. At first, she treated him as an experimental subject, but now she regards him as a special servant.
The most heartless royal family, not just a boast, Ah Fu is facing the exploitation that maximizes his value.
Roger treated Ah Fu as an equal friend in daily life, joking with him, intentionally watching him blush, and also giving him some life advice.
But there was no more special treatment, he regarded Ah Fu's knowledge as that of a child, which was truly ridiculous.
These are the two people whom Ah Fu can contact with on an emotional level in daily life, but he is forbidden to show his humanity when dealing with others.
When in contact with ordinary staff members of the mystical society, he had to disguise himself as someone who was previously ignorant and unfeeling, in order to ensure the stable operation of the sorcerer's camp.
Of course, Ah Fu was not just here for vacation, he also aimed to guide Shana towards the path expected by Roger.
"Little Bai, would you like this?"
"Meow~"
On the still quite chilly street, Shana's black cat popped its head out of the pocket and caught its owner's attention with its paws, causing them to halt and stare at the large advertising board ahead.
They gazed at a grand billboard where the Eternal Night Queen wore a magnificent robe and a Soul Mimicry wristband with a two-inch crystal screen. Next to her was written a line that read, "This is a brand new world that you have yet to see."
In order to attract the most users, Roger eventually decided to promote the "ever-playing Eternal Night" attitude by creating relevant materials in collaboration with the Eternal Night Queen.
After all, this is the most brainwashing.
There are several of such flamboyant flat advertisements, along with numerous versions of dynamic magical projections, being displayed in the more prosperous areas of the empire.
Shana was confused, and so were most of the citizens who saw the promotion.
The Virtual Soul Bracelet and Fearless Space were completely alien objects to them. What exactly are these for?
There is relevant information on the "Long Live the Queen" report, but not everyone reads newspapers and not everyone can understand it.
The low literacy rate always seems to be a hassle.
However, Her Majesty the Queen personally took action and produced unique and stylish photos, achieving the highest coverage area in the empire.
Even those who don't know how to read have curiously walked into the Amty Chamber of Commerce store to inquire about the details of the Dream Bracelet.
Specially trained store clerks, warmly and kindly, introduce their new products to all customers and invite them to try them out.
Shana also blended in with the dense crowd, with a selling price of one gold coin per piece, which she could afford, but she didn't know what this thing was for.
If it wasn't for Xiao Bai's curiosity, she would definitely not come to this crowded store, but instead she would be comfortably reading a desired work in a cozy chair in the grand library.
Instead of listening to those staff who are lured by high commission rates and talk noisily here:
"Our bracelet is a masterpiece designed by the Master Frankenstein of the Secret Society, using exclusively developed lifelike magic cores with four large cores and two small ones, which can create an extremely realistic world in the mind, and can be enjoyed with users all over the world."
"Enjoy free services such as letter sending and receiving, long-distance communications, etc.! Just like the magician's camp, this will be a life-changing product. Those who don't play with the "Nihun Bracelet" will be left behind sooner or later!"
"We now have a first-launch promotion. If you sign in for ninety consecutive days, we will fully refund the purchase price to you, which is equivalent to getting such a beautiful magic item for free."
The clerks were eloquent and introduced the "Nihun Bracelet," which had a simple yet stylish design.
Unlike certain other products that still have a big fringe in their thirteenth generation, the "Nihun Bracelet" was constructed using a single piece of flexible crystal for a truly full-screen experience with a thickness of only one Imperial silver coin.
Even without activating the fearless space, this bracelet can be used as a very beautiful timepiece, which looks much more fashionable than the popular Empire pocket watch.
The rich selection of customizable dials are all designed by true art masters.
In addition to the freedom of matching leather, metal, rubber, magic material watch straps, and the abundant customization functions, each Dream Soul Bracelet can be incredibly unique.
As long as you are willing to pay more, the gems can be inlaid all over it, and every AMTI store has high-level artisans who can process them on site.
From an aesthetic perspective, the Soul Mimicry Bracelet surpasses most products of this era. It is a magical item of such quality and workmanship that it is almost historically low-priced - purchasable for just a single gold coin.
This is the price advantage brought about by the industrialization of magic. Assembly line production will gradually reduce the cost of the Soul Mimicry Bracelet.
It is not inherently complex, requiring only a small amount of magic to connect with the modified domain of the user's heart demon, thus guiding their soul into it.
Adding a very simple illusion spell to the face of the bracelet completes this interdimensional piece; a crystal the size of a button can power it for six months.
Because the realm of the heart demon is not the same as that of the soul simulator, which is only a locator and guidance device. The fearless space consumes the magic power of the Eris demon.
Little White scraped against Shana's clothes with his small paw, large eyes filled with anticipation.
There is also a version of the soul simulator for beasts, after all, many demons also have a demand for entertainment.
Shana is now a cat slave, no longer concerned with money, and in the end, she bought a leash for both herself and Xiaobai.
"Wishing you joy playing fearlessly in the space, and for making a successful purchase of the machine." After completing the transaction, the store manager personally presented Shi Na with an exquisitely packaged gift box.
Despite many having inquiries, very few actually made a purchase.
This was an era that hadn’t accelerated yet, and people were not very receptive to new things. It required someone to lead the way before they would attempt to try.
As a result, Shana unintentionally became the "caretaker."
After buying two items, they had a more resolute and less hesitant heart, anyway they could get a full refund, right?
"That depends on my son," Chan said, fondly patting the head of Little White. He thought that with this cat's patience, he would soon get bored of playing, right?
Those unused toys at home were the evidence.
Because of the new toys she had bought, she didn't go to the main library, but went back home to put on the Dream Soul bracelet with Little White and entered the Fearless Space.
