Whispering Verse

"So Mr. Humphrey, are you the one who made the stone statues that are rumored to move at night in the association?" Luvia also asked, and the old man shook his head again:

"My ability can only make some noise and maintain the picture you see now. Besides, rumors of moving stone statues have been around for hundreds of years. My ancestors might not have even arrived here at that time. A city."

Of course Luvia knew this, and what she wanted to ask was actually the next question:

"So, during the year you became a soul and stayed here, did you see the moving stone statues in the association at night?"

Old Humphrey smiled:

"You are very perceptive, young girl. It reminds me of my granddaughter, but she is not as old as you. I am very happy that you can ask me this question, but before I give the answer, please answer my question. one question."

He finally turned around completely and looked at the two of them. Although they were souls, they still had shadows. After all, the fire was also created by him:

"What do you think of the art of carving stone statues?"

Shade and Luvia looked at each other. Rarely, he felt that he understood Luvia's mind, so Shade spoke first:

"It is not the mason who carves the stone, nor the mason who gives the stone a concrete image, but the mason who, in accordance with destiny, unseals the statue from the stone."

"Whether it's one more cut or one less cut, every cut is destined."

Luvia added the second half, happy that Shade could read her thoughts. Mr. Humphrey, the old stonemason, took a deep breath, and his soul swayed a little in the firelight: "What an interesting view. One more knife and one less knife are destined."

He turned around again and touched the statue beside him, with endless sorrow in his eyes:

"I have been working as a stonemason for so many years before I understand this truth. Today's young people are really amazing. Do you want to know whether the rumors about moving stone statues are true? I can tell you that it is indeed true."

He put down his hand:

"This is a test left by an ancestor. I hope that the descendants of the Masons can one day discover this test and pass it. I don't know if anyone has discovered it before me, but obviously no one has ever been able to pass it. it."

The old man looked at Shade with his hands behind his back:

"Young man, are you interested in this?" "Of course."

Otherwise, Shad wouldn’t have had a candlelight dinner with Margaret tonight, wouldn’t have gone to see the stars with Luvia, wouldn’t have studied at home with Lesia or Dorothy, or rested at home with Mia, so why would he have come all the way here? It makes sense. "Then come with me. Your opinion about the statue is very good. Maybe you can really pass this test. I have also tried it. This is where my special ability comes from, but unfortunately, I am not qualified yet. "

The fire went out and the stone statue disappeared. The old man left the warehouse with Shade and Luvia with his hands behind his back. After passing through the yard, we returned to the building of the Stonemasons Association, and then went from the first floor to the third floor, and actually returned to the same position as before.

However, this time he did not enter the office, but stood in the empty corridor: "Wait a moment."...

The old stonemason said, turning over his free hand, the hammer and chisel actually appeared again. He gently hit the two, making nine consecutive rhythmic sounds, and then shouted to the corridor:

"I brought my people to accept the test!"

After waiting for a moment, part of the corridor ceiling fell silently, forming a ramp leading upward. Looking up, there is no sky. This is obviously the entrance to the attic above. However, Shade and Luvia are both sure that there is no attic in this building. The roof is above the third floor, and the sky is above the roof.

"What an interesting, hidden space!"

Shade said excitedly. The old stonemason took the lead and walked up. The originally dark attic was lit up with fire. The fire still came from a coal stove.

So Shade and Luvia followed and found that there were densely packed stone statues in the attic. Some are busts, some are full-length, but all are human statues. in the attic

There was a small open space in the room, and a stone statue that looked like a mason stood still beside the stove, making the appearance of carving a stone statue.

The old stonemason led them to the middle and explained:

"It took me a long time after my death to discover the rules here. Every month, this place will be opened randomly, and one of these stone statues will randomly walk out and move within the association for about twenty minutes. They will deliberately They avoid living people and even become invisible, so most people can only see vague shadows or hear the sound of the stone statues moving. But if you can track them like me, you can follow them into here."

He paused:

"I even suspect that this test is specially prepared for the souls of the dead. It is really difficult for living people to discover them."

When the three of them stepped into the area illuminated by the fire, the static stonemason statue became active. It was originally bent down, but now it straightened up and looked at the three people. Of course, it looked at the old stonemason first:

"Are you here to be tested again?"

The stone statues are in the Kasenlik language with strong Randall Valley characteristics. Shade believes that the era when this hidden attic was built should be only a few hundred years ago, because the clothes of the surrounding stone statues are very distinctive. resolution.

"I'll try again, and there are these two."

The old stonemason pointed at Shade and Luvia. The stone statues themselves had no expression and could only make very simple movements. It turned to look at the two of them in turn, then nodded:

"Although it's a living person this time, it's okay."

"I must first state that neither this lady nor I know the art of stone carving." Shade immediately added, and Luvia nodded.

The stone statue said:

"It doesn't matter, the test is not carving with your own hands."

Even though he said this, three big rocks still suddenly slid in front of the three people from a distance with a harsh friction sound. Shade didn't know anything about carving or stone appreciation. He could only judge from the color and texture that the stone was almost the same as the stone used in the surrounding statues.

"Press your hand on the stone and use your heart to carve the statue that you think is the most perfect. Complete the work before dawn. If the work is accepted by me, it will be considered to have passed the test. If it fails, you can come here again in the future. Test, but only ten times.”…

The stone statue was also cold when he spoke:

"The location here moves every three months. You can try to reveal this place to others, but if more than eight people know about it at the same time, this place will always be closed to you and those who have been in contact with you."

If this rule is true, it can only be said that the ring wizard who created this place is not only excellent in alchemy skills, but also an absolute master in other aspects.

"No problem." "No problem for me either."

Shade and Luvia said that although neither of them knew anything about stone carving, they could at least give it a try.

At this time, the soul of the old stonemason Humphrey had already placed his hand on the big stone in front of him. As the stone chips peeled off, carvings clearly appeared on the approximately rectangular stone.

"Do you have your own method?" Luvia asked Shade:

"Corresponding to the core spiritual rune [Noble], my thaumaturgy [Accidental Production] can give me extra inspiration when creating art or making alchemical items. If you need it, I can try to trigger the inspiration multiple times to Sharing inspiration with you."

"Before that, I have to solve a question first."

Shade took out the mithril cube, and this time, the third story belonging to Randall Valley City was finally revealed in front of him:

[The Secret Chamber of the Masons-

One of the founders of the Stonemasons Guild, in order to pass on his craftsmanship and strength, he established his own secret room within the Guild before leaving. Once a month, if a lucky person can encounter those moving statues without being discovered by it, he can enter the secret chamber and accept the test of the stonemason. According to rumors, the secret room is located on the third floor of the association. If you carefully carve the best statue, and successfully pass the test, you will not only gain strength, but also unexpected wealth. 】

"Look

Brand new story. However, the clues this story points to seem to be used to find this secret room, rather than to help us pass the test. "

Shade said, Luvia did not feel sorry:

"This is a test after all. It would be wrong to use cheating. Then Shade, I will start first. If you need help, remember to tell me."

"OK."

He nodded and rubbed his fingers over the fine characters on the mithril cube: "Founder of the Masons' Guild."

He raised his head and asked the stone statue next to the charcoal stove:

"Did that Mr. Fleming build this secret room?" "Yes and no."

The stone statue replied coldly.

And at the moment when Shade was talking to the stone statue, the old stonemason's stone carving was almost completed. It was the statue he was carving when he met him just now, the stone statue that smashed him to death.

As for Luvia, after thinking hard, she also pressed her hand on the stone in front of her. As the stone chips peeled off, the statue was quickly taking shape. She seemed to be carving a female image.

After careful consideration, Shade put his hand directly on the stone and realized that he could really carve the stone according to his heart. This is like controlling those impermanence cards. Thoughts become the sharpest carving knife, which can leave traces on the stone at will.

【What do you want to engrave? If you just copy the appearance of a girl you know, it doesn't have the artistic sense of a stone statue. 】

"She" said softly.

"I know, but fortunately I still have some memories in my head. Help me, I need to dig out the memories of the past and control the position and force of each knife. I need your help."

【I will always help you. 】

Shade closed his eyes, and as he chuckled, he felt "she" hold his hand.

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