Genshin Impact: The Road to Reversal

Chapter 553: Inscribed in the Name of a Paladin

"We...are back?" Karin's voice was slightly dazed as she looked around the silent cemetery. Everything was exactly the same as when she left, as if the harrowing twenty years had been nothing more than a long dream.

Mo Yan nodded silently, his gaze falling on Peruvieri.

She stood quietly before the ice monument, reaching out her hand, her fingertips gently tracing the cold inscriptions. There were no tears, no words, only a profound silence and acceptance born of hardship.

The knot in her heart that had tormented her for two hundred years was finally untied after witnessing and participating in her teacher's final moments. She completed that long-overdue farewell, even though the ending was so heavy.

After a long while, Arecino withdrew her hand, turned around, and her face returned to its usual cold expression. However, there seemed to be an indescribable depth in the depths of her pupils.

"Let's go," she said calmly. "It's time to go back."

Mo Yan nodded, his gaze sweeping over their surroundings. The Time Stone had completed its mission, sending them back to the correct point in time. Next, they would face the challenges of this era, obtain the Guardian's Token of Rek'os, then reach Dream Heaven, and finally... go home.

The three of them turned and left the quiet cemetery without lingering. Little did they know that as they left, a phantom suddenly stood still, silently watching their departing figures.

The woman chuckled softly, closed her eyes, and slowly spoke.

"Hmph, now that you're here, aren't you going to show your face?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than another figure suddenly appeared out of thin air.

"Is he truly worthy of being an ancient monarch? Even though he is only a wisp of spirit, his knowledge is still so sharp."

A lazy, mocking voice rang out, and Diablo's figure, as if emerging from the shadows, silently appeared beside Phoenix's spirit. He adjusted his glasses, his scarlet eyes scrutinizing the lingering consciousness with keen interest.

Phoenix's spirit did not turn around, but continued to gaze in the direction where Mo Yan and the other two had left, a faint, knowing smile playing on its lips.

"The Time Demon... Diablo. It seems you were behind all of this." Her voice was ethereal, carrying a calm that seemed to have seen through everything.

“It’s just following the natural order and providing some guidance.” Diablo chuckled, not denying it. “After all, it would be too cruel for the living to not be able to properly say goodbye to a deeply cherished past. Besides, we can also watch a wonderful historical drama along the way.”

At that moment, Phoenix turned around and looked at him closely.

“Interesting. I don’t sense any familiar aura from you, and as far as I know, Shadow Lord wouldn’t allow ‘prisoners’ to freely enter and leave the Abyss. Although the aura is the same, you are not the one I know.”

Her tone carried a hint of understanding and amusement, clearly indicating that she had already guessed Diablo's origins.

Diablo's smile deepened slightly, carrying a lazy air of being seen through but not caring at all: "That's right, I am indeed not Diablo of this era. I just borrowed a fragment out of curiosity about the direction of this causal drama, so I came to take a look."

After saying that, he casually tossed the Time Gem fragment back into his hand.

"However, it is you. Back then, in order to protect the glacier, you were consumed by lust and your soul was torn to pieces, yet you were still able to maintain a wisp of spiritual fabric and retain consciousness... It's truly intriguing."

“Really? If you’re really curious, why not take a trip to the Abyss? Perhaps there’s plenty of data and stories that will interest you there.” Phoenix let out a very soft laugh.

“The Abyss? Indeed, it holds many interesting secrets.” Diablo smiled. “Well, I need to prepare beforehand, after all, that guy’s sense of smell is no less than that of a tiger.”

After he finished speaking, his figure disappeared, leaving Phoenix alone in the same spot.

"Well... good luck then." She smiled gently, her arms crossed.

After a long while, she looked up at the sky again, her gaze piercing through the clouds, looking towards a distant direction that only she could perceive. In those heterochromatic eyes, a complex emotion flashed, indescribable—a sense of relief, a touch of longing, and a faint hint of anticipation.

“Over the past 200 years, this place hasn’t changed much…” she chuckled softly. “Although it’s just a remnant of memory, but… Glacier, I’m back.”

……

The day after the Glacier Trials concluded, a solemn yet brief ceremony was held in the castle to confer the knighthood.

Inside the hall, all the soldiers stood solemnly. Rek'os stood before the throne, his expression as cold and dignified as ever. Sugniel stood to one side with his arms crossed, still carrying a hint of unruliness, but his eyes held a more serious expression than yesterday.

At that moment, the doors opened, and Peruvieri and Clévy, draped in velvet cloaks and dressed in brand-new clothes, slowly walked in from the far end of the hall.

After a night of rest and treatment, although a trace of fatigue remained between their brows, their eyes were sharp and resolute, like tempered iron.

On the way, Peruvieri looked around and saw many familiar faces in the crowd, but Phoenix was nowhere to be seen.

Under everyone's gaze, they walked to the front of the throne and knelt on one knee.

Rek'os's gaze swept over the two, his voice steady and clear, echoing in the hall: "The trial of the glacier has now ended. Following in Phoenix's footsteps, two more trial participants have successfully passed the final trial, thanks to their extraordinary perseverance, powerful strength, and unwavering faith."

"Although Phoenix has fallen, her unwavering will will become the eternal cornerstone of the glacier, forever imprinted in our hearts."

The moment the words left her lips, Peruvieri's heart sank.

The teacher... has fallen?

That strict yet caring teacher who taught them strength and power... is gone?

This news was more devastating than any life-or-death crisis during the trials.

The hall was silent, everyone immersed in the sudden mourning and respect for the hero.

Rek'os gave them no more time to process this devastating news; he continued to proclaim in his unquestionable, authoritative voice:

"Here, in the name of the Lord of Glaciers, the Ice Emperor Rek'os, I hereby formally confer upon you both the position of Holy Knight."

"Krevy Schneizevna, your camaraderie during the trials was deeply moving, therefore I bestow upon you 'Flawlessness' and confer upon you the title of Blood Rose Knight. May you never forget the bonds with your companions, and with fire as your shield and thorns as your blade, protect the sincerity and purity of the glacier."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Claire's voice trembled slightly, yet remained exceptionally firm. She bowed her head deeply and accepted the contract.

Rek'os's gaze shifted to Peruvieri.

"Peruveli Schneitzfna, your decisiveness and strength during the trial were remarkable, therefore I bestow upon you 'Sorrow' and confer upon you the title of Crimson Moon Knight. May you uphold your true heart and, with the sword in your hand, defend the order and majesty of the glacier."

Peruvieri lowered her head deeply, suppressing the turmoil in her heart caused by Phoenix's fall, her voice hoarse but firm: "Your subordinate obeys!"

Rek'os stretched out his hand, and a magic circle formed from gathered elemental energy rose from beneath their feet. The energy flowed into their bodies like a gentle stream, resonating with their own elemental power.

The ceremony was completed, and the light from the magic circle gradually faded.

"From this moment on, I hope you will live up to this name and perform your duties diligently."

(Contract Quest: Ice City, Act One, Sorrow, The End.)