---o---
Fu Zhu couldn't help but laugh out loud upon hearing the reason Tiresias gave.
"So that's how it is. As expected of a Saintess, you're quite smart."
Seeing Fu Zhu praise her, Tiresias followed with a smile.
"Thank you for the compliment."
After a brief silence, Tiresias asked another question.
"Since you come from beyond the sky, how did you break through the Sky Titan's blockade?"
"I don't know." Fu Zhu shook his head. Although he didn't know what this 'Sky Titan' was, since Tiresias put it that way, it implied that the Sky Titan wouldn't easily allow people to enter or leave.
"I just suddenly arrived in Janusa; I haven't figured out why myself."
Speaking of 'suddenly', Fu Zhu thought of a similar event: back in Penacony. The first time he entered the Dreamscape, he had intended to enter the Dream World via the Dreampool, but the moment he touched the pool, his physical body was transported directly into the Dream World. This time was very similar.
Connecting this with what Black Swan had said before diagnosing March 7th—that Amphoreus was rich in Memoria—could this place also be a 'Dream World'?
Even if it wasn't a 'Dream World', Fu Zhu felt that Amphoreus probably wasn't a normal world either.
After answering Tiresias's question, it was Fu Zhu's turn.
"Where are the Twelve Titans? Do you know? I'm somewhat interested in them."
"I do, but it is a long story to tell..."
"Do you have somewhere else you need to be?"
Fu Zhu looked around meaningfully, leaving some things unsaid.
Tiresias noticed Fu Zhu's gaze; her eyes dimmed slightly, and the smile on her lips became dangerous to maintain.
"Yes... I do indeed have a lot of time to talk about this matter."
Tiresias sighed with emotion and began to tell Fu Zhu about the Twelve Titans of Janusa. She spoke with great engagement.
She didn't know how long it had been since she had chatted freely with someone like this, and she estimated there wouldn't be many opportunities for this in the future.
.......
The lamp flame flickered. It was unknown how long the story of the Twelve Titans lasted.
When the story ended, Tiresias looked at a stone slate hanging on the wall. Fu Zhu followed her gaze; that slate could be described as a different kind of clock, with time divisions similar to the outside world.
"It's already morning..."
Tiresias murmured, then placed both hands on the ground to stand up. However, because she had been sitting cross-legged for so long, her body swayed. Fu Zhu reached out and supported her, preventing her from falling to the ground.
"Thank you."
Tiresias thanked Fu Zhu, then said, "...Mr. Nameless, I must go speak with the [Titan of Years] now. I'm afraid I cannot keep you company any longer. You should leave here as soon as possible. As you know, there isn't much I can do as this so-called Saintess. Having a person from beyond the sky stay in the temple... I fear some people will not approve."
Fu Zhu nodded. He was already clear on the situation she knew. The next thing to do was to contact the Twelve Titans and see if he could learn about the Triple Paths or the center of the world from them.
"Can I go with you? You know, I also have some matters I want to ask the Titan about."
Tiresias hesitated for a moment, then nodded and agreed.
"Alright, but I hope you can promise me one thing. After seeing the Titan, please leave here as soon as possible. If you stay in contact with me for a long time, you will face trouble."
Trouble?
Fu Zhu immediately thought of Tiresias's current state of being 'under house arrest'. Hearing her say this, did it mean someone would make a move on her soon? Or was she preparing to make a move on someone else?
Seeing that Fu Zhu didn't reply, Tiresias took it as his tacit agreement. She walked out of the library and pulled a switch on the wall. A spiral staircase leading upward appeared before the two of them.
"Let's go."
Fu Zhu followed Tiresias up the stairs, returning to the [Library of Prophecy], and then walked toward a large hall on the other side of the temple.
On the way, they encountered several guards. Seeing an unfamiliar face beside the Saintess, the guards immediately surrounded them. Just as they were about to question Fu Zhu's identity, Tiresias spoke first.
"He is my guest."
The guards showed hesitation but did not retreat immediately.
Their reaction made Tiresias unable to hide her sorrow any longer.
"Do I not even have the right to show a guest around the temple anymore?"
As soon as these words came out, the guards immediately revealed looks of panic and hurriedly lowered their heads.
"No, Lady Saintess, we have overstepped. Please, do as you wish."
Having said that, the guards hurriedly left, turning a corner. However, Fu Zhu glanced at the [Minimap] and discovered that these guards hadn't actually left; instead, they continued to hide around the corner, secretly monitoring them.
Fu Zhu shook his head helplessly. It seemed Tiresias's current situation was much more difficult than he had imagined.
Tiresias sighed softly, turned her head to look at Fu Zhu, and forced a faint smile onto the corner of her lips.
"Let's go."
"Mhm."
Tiresias led Fu Zhu to a cliffside wall. The floor here was paved with stone bricks, but no railings were installed. Fu Zhu poked his head out to take a look; it was a bottomless abyss.
If not for his strength and his ability to perform a [Water Bucket Clutch], he estimated this glance would have triggered his acrophobia.
"So, where is the Titan?"
Fu Zhu looked left and right but saw no traces of any creature. Just as he was about to check the [Minimap], Tiresias walked forward, looked up at the thick fog in front of the cliff, and spoke.
"Oronis, I call upon you..."
A ball of golden light appeared in the thick fog, and Fu Zhu immediately looked at the [Minimap].
[Titan of Years: Oronis]
Although that massive golden light ball made no movement, Fu Zhu could still feel that it seemed to be watching the two of them—especially him.
A segment of ancient and obscure sound rang out, yet Fu Zhu could clearly hear the meaning within.
"Powerful existence... You do not belong here... Who are you?"
Tiresias was just about to translate the Titan's prophecy for Fu Zhu, but Fu Zhu raised his head a step faster and met Oronis's gaze.
"Astral Express, Nameless."
Tiresias looked at Fu Zhu with some surprise. "You understand the Titan's language?"
Fu Zhu nodded. When he had just arrived in this world, he had installed a [Translation Mod]. Even without the Synesthesia Beacon, he would still be able to understand the languages of all intelligent lifeforms.
"Truly impressive..."
Tiresias sighed, then looked back at Oronis, waiting for its next words. But after a long time, Oronis remained silent, as if the conversation between it and Fu Zhu had ended right there.
After another short while, Oronis finally spoke again.
"Perhaps... Tiresias, you are right."