Tianjin people will never lose SAN

Chapter 559 Thomas (6k+)

"Thomas, I came to you today to talk about something."

The witch knocked on the door, and a thin boy stood behind it. His room was very small, which was originally a shoe and cloakroom. However, this boy named Thomas insisted on living here, just because he didn't want to share a room with others.

"Miss Flores, please come in."

The boy was so scared that his legs were shaking when he suddenly saw the witch standing at the door late at night. He thought of the stories about Miss Flores, and an ominous premonition lingered in his heart.

After the witch entered the room, she didn't rush to speak. Instead, she looked around Thomas's cramped little room with the help of the dim kerosene lamp.

A dirty antique bed was placed in the corner of the room. The bed was estimated to be no more than 5 feet long, and it was cramped even for a child, let alone a or -year-old boy.

There was a broken table with a missing leg next to the bed. There was no place to put a chair in the room. It was estimated that Thomas spent most of his time sitting on the bed reading and working.

There were many strange mechanical devices on the desk. Under the dim light, the polished metal shell reflected a soft halo. There was a magnifying glass near the bed, and under the magnifying glass was a precision machine similar to the dial of a pocket watch.

The dial is turned upside down on the table, and the back cover is opened, revealing the mechanical structure inside. The large and small gears mesh and rotate, driving the tourbillon to swing gently, and the balance spring under the tourbillon rotates at a constant speed driven by the tourbillon.

“How ingenious.”

The witch exclaimed sincerely.

"Teacher, you...your black tea."

Thomas nervously brought a cup of black tea, but found that the table was too messy and there was no place to put it. There was no chair in the room and the teacher had no place to sit. Thomas turned back and forth hurriedly with the black tea, as if looking for a way to entertain the guest under the conditions.

But the room was too small, and it seemed too impolite to ask the teacher to sit on the bed. The tea splashed out as Thomas turned his body, scalding his fingers.

"I'll just sit here and say a few words and then leave."

The witch noticed the student's panic, smiled, took the tea from him, and sat down beside the bed.

"Thomas, I came here today to tell you something. You have studied here for three or four years. It's time..."

“Ms. Floris, please don’t chase me away no matter what! I… I know that I’m not talented, my brain is a little slow, and I always have trouble getting along with others.

But no matter what, don’t chase me away.”

The apprentice, who was usually cowardly, suddenly interrupted his teacher.

I really guessed that Miss Floris came here tonight to persuade me to leave.

But Thomas didn't want to leave yet. He felt that he had just gotten started. Unlike other apprentices, Thomas didn't have any great ambitions. He didn't want to be a wealthy mystic or a leader of a cult that everyone followed.

He just wanted to stay quietly in the room and do his research. Only when he was fully absorbed in the vast and profound forbidden knowledge could Thomas forget his insignificance and lowliness in reality.

"You have three days to prepare. Don't worry. I remember I gave you an ancient relic before. That relic can be considered as a parting gift."

The witch acted as if she hadn't heard Thomas' request. She took a sip of her tea with a perfect smile on her face.

Miss Flores is like this, always looking calm and gentle.

……

On the cliff of the Hidden Island, the Pope still pretended to be calm, even though a powerful enemy was right in front of him, blocking his retreat.

How long has it been since I experienced this heart-wrenching feeling of despair?
Ten years, a hundred years, or even longer, the cool sea breeze brushed against his face, but the Pope felt his soul was burning.

He turned his mechanical wrist, the gears made a crisp sound, and a wisp of white steam sprayed out from the gap between his skin and flesh.

The little genius brother and sister standing in front of the Pope's left sensed the Pope's movement and took a step back slightly.

Even though these two siblings are not very smart, they still have battlefield experience. The Inquisitors have received strict training from the Holy See since childhood, and after taking office, they are often sent out to perform missions. That is the majestic flail of the Holy See, and they will not give up in vain in a fight.

The strength of the Pope and Bastoli should not be underestimated. Before the fight, Roselis told her brother not to fight hard with all his might. What she had to do was to entangle them and consume the opponent's energy.

Seeing that the two siblings showed no flaws, the Pope suddenly sprinted to the front right. His thighs had been strengthened like Donny's. Compared to Donny, the rest of the Pope's body was stronger and more solid, and this state could be maintained for quite a long time.

"boom!"

There was a muffled sound, and a lump of black sticky substance collided with the Pope. The black mucus was splashed everywhere, and drops of it fell on the grass.

The Pope's own movement was also slowed down, and he had to return to his previous position.

The shattered mucus on the grass quickly gathered towards the center, and the body of the asphalt monster shrank visibly. In the previous collision, a lot of mucus rolled down the cliff and fell into the sea, and could not be gathered back.

The monster slowly turned into a human form, and the gray robe he was originally wearing was piled at his feet. After his body gathered together, the monster was in no hurry to chase, but instead squatted on the ground, took out a few fried cakes from the pocket of his robe, threw them into his mouth and chewed them madly.

"Shani, take it easy! If you can't do it, just step back. We have plenty of time to play with this old guy slowly."

Liu Yonglu's wild voice sounded from behind the Pope.

Previously, Shi Weitian's men had been lying in ambush on the plank road under the cliff, and the Pope and Bastoli were caught off guard when they just escaped to the cliff. Now Liu Yonglu, Milly Tang, and the people from the Hidden World Island have caught up with them and surrounded the Pope and Bastoli again.

The Pope turned his head and looked behind him coldly. Millitan had already taken out the potion from his pocket, Andreas clenched the scepter in his hand, and Ricky also took out his black stone.

Ancient relics? In my eyes, ancient relics are nothing new. It's time to give it a try.

……

"Miss Flores, listen to me first."

Seeing the teacher getting up to leave, Matos was suddenly at a loss for what to do. He knew that as long as the teacher left tonight, his journey of studying would be completely over.

At the critical moment, he could only take a gamble and squeeze awkwardly in front of the door, blocking the witch's way out.

Floris was not in a hurry. She just stood there and looked at the apprentice in front of her without saying a word.

"Did East go to you to complain? A few days ago, a few of them planned to beat me up in the alley, and I… I sprained East's arm in order to protect myself.

They hit here, here, and here."

Thomas lifted the sleeve of his shirt to reveal the wound on his arm.

"Did I mess up again when I was mixing the potion two days ago? Miss Flores, I admit that I am a little dumber than others. I slept too late the night before, and my head is groggy and a little unclear.

But please believe me, I really won't make mistakes with those complicated herbs again."

Thomas was so anxious that he burst into tears. He didn't know what he had done wrong to make the teacher angry again, but he wanted to stay anyway.

“It’s not these, these are small things.

Besides, you also reminded me that I need to apologize to you. I know that other apprentices bullied you, but... there are too many painful, helpless, frustrating and desperate things in this world.

I don’t think these setbacks and hardships will defeat you. Instead, they will make you grow faster and become stronger.

But, this idea... maybe it's wrong today, I apologize to you."

The teacher's apology not only failed to make Thomas feel relieved, but made him even more overwhelmed. The previous explanation was logical, but now the boy just kept begging and crying.

The whole process lasted for more than ten minutes. The witch sat by the bed and looked at him quietly without saying a word.

"I have persuaded many apprentices to leave before."

Floris finally spoke:

"There are many reasons, but the reason why I asked you to leave is different from all of them. I have a vague feeling that there is a dangerous smell about you."

The witch straightened up and looked down at the crying boy kneeling on the ground in front of her:

“I have smelled this danger in many outstanding occultists and witches.

Among these people, some became outstanding figures that you could hardly imagine, while others... were attracted by the gods and stepped into an abyss from which there is no return. "

The witch saw the characteristics of Thomas very clearly.

Among the apprentices following him, some learn forbidden spells for fame and fortune, some for desire, and some for revenge.

But Thomas is different from everyone else. His obsession with it is simply out of pure curiosity and persistence.

Certain mysteries of forbidden knowledge attracted him like the guidance of fate, and this motivation and persistence frightened Flores.

……

"Is it a fantasy dreamland?"

The Pope wandered in an orange grove. The sunlight above his head was unusually warm, and the ripe oranges emitted bursts of fruity fragrance.

The Pope pushed aside the dense leaves of the fruit trees and saw an old manor villa. On the left side of the manor was a four-story tower. From the balcony on the third floor, he could see the flowers and plants beside the bed. That was Miss Flores's room.

On the right side of the manor is a row of townhouses next to the barn. They are not built luxuriously. They used to be the guest rooms of Miss Flores and were later converted into dormitories for apprentices.

The Pope was certain that he had fallen into Andreas's dream, but the dream before him was slightly different from the others. Most dreamlands were places for gods to sleep and meditate, and the scenes in them were also related to the owner of the ancient relic, that god.

But the dreamland before him projected his own consciousness. The only god who could do this... was probably the "King of Sleep".

Just now in the fight on the cliff, he used more than a dozen replicas of ancient relics in one breath. Although the people from the Investigation Department and the Hidden Island had the advantage in numbers and terrain, they were caught off guard in an instant.

The scepter in Andreas's hand is a special ancient relic that can activate the dreamland. The Pope had previously guessed that when he looked at the scepter, his head would become dizzy and he would unconsciously think of some irrelevant past events.

However, after all, the memory in front of him was still a dreamland. As long as it was a dreamland, there would be an exit. Just now, the Pope killed several spider-like creatures of the clan in the orange grove. The other party wanted to drag him to death here.

Humph... I won't let you get what you want.

The metal parts in the Pope's body made a "clicking" sound. It can be said that his body is composed of more than a dozen replicas of ancient relics, and the power contained in them is enough to deal with all kinds of emergencies. The manor is still the same as he remembered. The original flower garden sculpture in the center of the manor was moved away by the teacher and replaced with a medicinal field for growing herbs. Plants such as royal leaf grass, tansy, and laurel grow vigorously.

There were many broken alchemical cauldrons piled up in the corners of the tower. Some of these cauldrons had leaking bottoms, while others had broken edges. They were just thrown in the yard without anyone repairing them.

There are more than a dozen wooden brushes and brooms against the wall of the apprentices' dormitory building. The teacher likes cleanliness, so in addition to completing the day's homework, the apprentices also have to clean the manor every day.

The Pope's eyes gradually softened, and he even heard the noise coming from the building.

No, this is a dreamland. I cannot be affected by the "King of Sleep". I have to think of a way to get out quickly, but how can I break out of the enemy's encirclement after getting out?

If there is no other choice, he can only reveal his trump card and use Bastoli as a medium to communicate with the original will of God the Father. Although this is a bit risky, even if he is a preacher on earth of the "Living Flame", it is difficult to communicate with God the Father and the situation may get out of control.

And Bastoli's body will also become a vessel for the coming of God the Father.

While thinking about the tactics for the next step, the Pope pushed open the door of the apprentice dormitory. There is an exit in the dreamland, and the more dangerous the place, the more likely it is. This is the experience that the Church of Wisdom has learned from years of attempts.

Strangely, the dormitory, which was originally noisy and noisy, became silent the moment he opened the door.

The hall was empty. The rocking chair near the fireplace was still rocking back and forth. The thick soup on the table was steaming and the ink on the book had not yet dried.

Is this a trick of the gods? Or have all these former apprentices disappeared from my memory?

The Pope walked slowly towards the depths of the dormitory. The old floor made an annoying creaking noise. Outside the window at the other end of the dormitory was a forest. The dense branches blocked the light. The visibility inside the dormitory became worse the further he went inside.

The Pope's face maintained a smile as the light and darkness in the window alternated. He could feel that a room in the building was calling him. There were dangers hidden there, as well as the mysteries of his dreams.

There is a small door at the end of the corridor on the second floor. The door lock is very old. Every time I take out the key to open the door, I have to hold the door handle and lift it up before the door lock can be opened smoothly.

The Pope placed his hand gently on the bronze handle. He could feel the cold temperature coming from his fingers. Should he open the door? Who was waiting for him inside?

For a moment, the Pope hesitated.

After standing in front of the door for more than ten seconds, the Pope finally turned the handle and pushed open the door. The moment he opened the door, a familiar smell entered his nostrils.

The smell of herbs, the smell of sunshine, the smell of quilts, and the smell of metal.

Nothing had changed. The curtains beside the bed were not drawn, allowing sunlight to shine in. His desk was filled with all kinds of strange mechanical devices, and the metronome that he had modified at the head of the bed was still swinging from side to side.

The Pope closed the door and began to check the books and mechanical parts in the room one by one.

The exit to the dreamland could be hidden in any object. The covers of those ancient books were still the same as in memory, even the positions where they were worn were exactly the same, but after opening the covers, there were only blank pages inside the books.

I have indeed forgotten the magic spells of those witches.

The Pope shook his head.

"Dong dong dong."

Just at this moment, there was a series of knocks on the door. The Pope suddenly closed the ancient book in his hand. He had a premonition that the woman, the teacher he once admired, the witch he killed with his own hands during the mass ceremony, was standing outside the door.

……

Thomas was stunned when he heard the teacher's answer. He never thought that this was the reason why the teacher drove him away.

“Ms. Floris, I…I understand. Thank you very much for your guidance during this period.

And there's no need to apologize. I, I appreciate it, but isn't that what a mystic should be like? I'm not afraid of gods. To be honest, I think... there's still a lot I can do.

Have you seen my little inventions? This device, and this one is for mixing potions, and that one generates power, which can sometimes replace spells."

Thomas' tone seemed to have accepted his fate. He just wanted to share as many of his little gadgets as possible with the teacher before leaving:

"I think... maybe you will think my idea is a little arrogant...

But I sincerely believe that I might be able to use some inventions to restrain the ancient relics and reduce those damn side effects.

Even if it is a god, if I think more, I won't be like a servile slave, trembling in their whispers and dreams."

Wouldn't he be like a slave in front of the gods? Floris finally pulled out a contemptuous smile. The boy in front of him was still too young and didn't know the vastness of the universe and the horror of knowledge.

But when the witch saw Thomas's determined eyes, her heart couldn't help but tremble again.

This kid might... really be able to do it.

"Then wait a few more days."

Floris said this sentence for some unknown reason, and even she was shocked. The moment she said it, the witch even felt an inexplicable chill, and the hairs on her body stood up.

"Really? Thank you, Miss Flores!
I will definitely work harder than before, please believe me, I promise that I will become an excellent apprentice, and you will not regret your decision today."

Thomas was so excited that he was incoherent and shaking all over. If the teacher hadn't been right in front of him, he would have jumped up with excitement.

"What is this?"

As the witch stood up to leave, she glanced at the dial under the magnifying glass again.

"Didn't you give me an ancient relic a few days ago, that small green crystal? I cut the crystal into a hammer, and then embedded the hammer into the pocket watch.

This pocket watch has two functions. The first is to weaken the influence of the gods in the dreamland on the mortal spirit. The second is to sense the surrounding...environmental changes, or should I say environmental changes.

Anyway, even gods and forbidden spells can be sensed."

Thomas carefully used tweezers to pinch the back cover of the pocket watch and closed it. His eyes were so gentle, as if he was looking at his lover.

"It sounds interesting. Can you give me this pocket watch after you make it?

I'm going to meet an old friend in a few days. Humph, this girl is very cautious, but she has a lot of good things. She doesn't like ordinary gifts. I need a gift for meeting her.

I will find another ancient relic to compensate you in two days."

"Of course, Miss Flores! If you don't mind, I will have the watch calibrated and polished and sent to you immediately."

The witch waved her hand, smiled, and left the room.

……

In the dream, the Pope stood there panting. He raised his right hand tremblingly, took off his glasses and wiped them with the corner of his robe.

"Crack!"

A small piece of glass fell from the frame and onto the floor. In the fierce battle just now, the Pope's lens had been shattered.

At this time, there was a woman lying on the floor, her body was full of holes, this was the work of the Pope.

The woman's clothes and figure are the same as her teacher. Miss Floris, are you here to take revenge on me?
"You should understand, right, teacher?

Even without me, the Father God would have emerged from the cracks in space. It was me! I signed a contract with the Father God and became his preacher on earth. Only in this way could I appease the crazy will of the gods. "

The Pope slowly squatted on the ground. His expression was no longer calm, and the muscles at the corners of his mouth and under his eyes trembled slightly:

"I might have been bewitched by the gods at that time. This is the dreamland of the King of Sleep. Father God cannot hear what I said! So I can tell the truth. What I said is the truth!
That's not my fault. It was the gods who manipulated my body. Teacher, you are also responsible, aren't you?

Many people have advised you, including your cautious witch friend, that this spell is too dangerous. We have no idea what is hidden on the other side of the passage!
I will not beg for your forgiveness, because now I am not only the earthly preacher of the gods, I also control the divine projection of the Father God.

It's only one step away, really only one step away. As long as I get the stone slab, even the gods outside the starry sky cannot command me. The stone slab contains profound ancient wisdom. I will rely on the stone slab to run among countless civilizations.

When I have mastered all the forbidden knowledge they hold, you will know that I am doing the right thing, Floris, and you will be proud of me."

The Pope's voice became increasingly shrill, and his usual good-natured smile disappeared, replaced by the excited look of a teenage Thomas.

After finishing his words, the Pope closed his mouth and calmed down for a few minutes. Until the expression on his face returned to normal, he reached out and gently touched the woman's body on the floor.

The sunlight outside the window suddenly became dazzling, and the Pope's former small room was engulfed in the dazzling white light.

The next second, the Pope found himself standing on the edge of the cliff of the Hidden Island. The enemies were still eyeing him covetously, and Bastoli had been in a tough battle during the time he was brought into the dreamland. The fire giant's light was dim at this time, and he could only wave his arms awkwardly to disperse the forbidden spells around him.

"Bastoli, it's time for the Father to hear our sincere call."

The Pope said with a calm expression.

"You still have a lot of ancient relics that you haven't used yet! Use them all!"

The fire man's voice was filled with hysterical madness.

“It won’t change the result. In the calculation, these small variables will not change the final result. Close your eyes and feel the distant will above the starry sky.

This is your honor. The flames of Beiluo Shimen are already crackling. Don't worry, you are the Father..."

When the Pope spoke, he had his back to Bastoli and was facing Liu Yonglu and others. He needed to remain alert so that the mass later could not be disturbed by these guys.

But before he could finish his words, a flaming knife pierced his chest from behind.

“I don’t have to be the vessel for the Father’s descent. As the Father’s preacher on earth, you are also qualified.

Don't worry, this is your glory. When you get the stone tablet, Father God and I will not forget you. "

Bastoli's cold and cruel voice came slowly from behind his neck.

The Pope lowered his head and watched the flames slowly melt and cut his body, even the position was the same as he remembered.

Teacher, I have to say that you are right to be worried. Sorry, Miss Flores, I'm sorry.

(End of this chapter)