The world controlled by dice [Western Fantasy]

"So, which of the two of you invented the card of fate?" asked Siles.

Opposite him, the colorful and changing colors inside the two glass balls seemed to freeze for a moment, as if frozen.

Siles also thought about who the inventor of the fate card was for a while.

Obviously, Mr. Xia asked the Jillini family's printing factory to make it.However, who is using Mr. Xia's identity is another question.

Is it Sirius himself?He invented the fate card?

But this involves a chronological issue.He had learned about the Cards of Destiny from Alva Gilini, and he had heard the cards from Alva.

If he knows the face of the fate card, he cannot be the inventor of the fate card, because he "already" knows it.

If he becomes the so-called inventor of Destiny Cards, then this source will be completely untraceable, and it will become a complete endless loop.

...and this situation is actually quite familiar, isn't it?He had thought about the writings of Jen Calder and where his dissertation had come from, and Qiuqiu admitted it frankly.

By the way, he didn't turn to Qiuqiu for last year's academic paper.

He just spent a month rushing to write a thesis after God's birthday last year. manifestation".That's not too difficult.

Qiuqiu's confession at the beginning left a deep impression on him, which made him deeply feel that he should not "judging the ball by its appearance".

As for the other, more dishonest "ball"...

Under the gaze of two pairs of eyes - one tangible, one invisible - Dice shifted his glass body uneasily, and said, "I confess! I admit. Oh, Keeper, you can always Discover the secrets hidden by others.

"...I just learned something from your hometown! You know, those interesting cards, interesting rules of the game. Although I didn't learn it very well, your new game rules are more interesting.

"Of course, I still think the thirteen old god cards, as well as the believer card, as well as the blank card and the universal card, are very interesting... people in Fisher's world can't imagine.

"Until the old gods have fallen, until the past era and glory have passed away, they can accept all this, and at the same time, accept the coming of a new era. Anyway...human beings have a strong ability to adapt, right? ?

"...So, Keeper, you won't be angry with me, will you?"

After rambling a lot, Dice nervously added a question.

Siles was silent for a moment.He felt an unexpected and slightly funny mood - well, he already had a premonition of the next topic.

The long river of time has revealed the only possibility.

"I'm not angry, don't worry," he said.

Dice immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and then said coyly: "Then, Secret Keeper...well, can you help me...go back in time and print out the cards of fate?"

Siles: "..."

He knew it.

He wants to go back to the past-help the ball to publish "Gods and Believers in the Shadow", help the dice to print fate cards, oh yes, and publish "From Cynthia on the Journey".

Rarely, he has a feeling that he has to be busy in the long river of time.

Although that is not in a hurry, although the "past" is always just quietly waiting for him in the past, but...

…Forgive him, since the incident on October 10 last year, he no longer has the feeling that his schedule is full and clear.This will always make people a little uncomfortable.

Besides, he still had two other unresolved matters, that is, Mr. Xia's meeting with Nanisar and Arkwright.

Siles sighed secretly in his heart, and then said, "Of course." He paused, "Then, let's go now."

Dice cheered and said loudly: "No. Qiuqiu, let's go!"

Once he realized that the Keeper was not angry, the dice immediately perked up.While complaining to the dice in a low voice, Qiuqiu told him not to call it "Qiaoqiu", and at the same time said to himself, "Qiaoqiu is leaving!"

They go back in time.Time was determined by dice and balls, and Siles didn't have to worry about that.He only needs to communicate with the publisher and Gilini Printing House as Mr. Xia.

For a moment, he did feel a...subtle sense of strangeness.

Or maybe it can be said that because many things between the shadow believers and the followers of the old gods have passed, when he was doing these things, he really felt as if he was just here to talk about business.

…and not for the future at this moment—in his past, relying on these preparations made in advance, to provide himself with some necessary help, in order to fight against the "shadow".

After solving these three things, Siles temporarily returned to Fisher's Mirror.

He looked at the statue of Antinam, just staring in silence for a moment.Then he suddenly gave a low laugh.

"What did you think of?" Dice asked curiously.

"Some...thoughts that aren't very friendly to me."

Both glass balls rolled in confusion.

"...I just think it's kind of funny that I used to be troubled by those questions. Only time will tell the answers to the questions-and it is true on these questions." Siles said, "Of course, laughing My past self was immoral."

Qiuqiu muttered something in a low voice.

Dice said: "I think you seem to... relax a lot?"

"...It's just a cold joke." Siles felt a little helpless.His bad joke career suffered another Waterloo.

Both Dice and Qiuqiu smiled dryly.

"Ah! Mr. Qinduo is here!" Qiuqiu said suddenly.

Cendor came to Fisher's Mirror.

If the 1019 incident did not bring any changes to Siles, then for Qin Duo, the changes can be said to be very drastic.He further grasped the power of Lygardia, and got his wish - he could go back and forth at will, not just a one-way trip.

It can also be said that Lycardia's paradise finally got rid of the shackles of Akamala's paradise, and it can exist independently without hiding in dreams or entering through dreams.

Ligardia recognized the strength of his successor.

They believe that this may be because Qin Duo contributed to the events of that night, and it can even be said that he led the battle.For things that happened inside and outside the dream bubble, Siles was in charge of the outside, and Qin Duo was in charge of the inside.

Of course, for the current Qindo, it is nothing more than allowing him to be by Sirius' side anytime and anywhere, and to handle the affairs of the Praia family more efficiently.

However, he intends to hand over the family affairs to others - after all, he is about to leave Fisher's world soon.

He snuggled up to Sirius affectionately, and then said with a smile: "The itinerary has been planned."

He and Siles' plan is to leave Fisher's world during this year's rainy vacation and return to Earth; but before leaving, Sires also wants to travel in Fisher's world.

Siles, or rather, this novelist from Earth, He Jiayin, has been in this world for nearly two years.

In the first year, he was at a loss and confused, curious about the truth of the world but unable to understand it; in the second year, he was caught off guard and learned the truth, and was driven to save the world, and then he was busy investigating and finishing.

...and then there is now.

The city he is most familiar with is Lamifa; besides Lamifa, he has also been to some places in the east of the Everland (although House of Hales has been destroyed), he has also been to Kansas and Middleton, I also visited the Fuliou Sea (although I almost fell into an isolated island).

Altogether, he's been around about... a third of Fisher's world?a quarter?

He is still very curious about the situation in the west of the Neverland, he is still interested in the countries further west and south of the Booth Mountains, and even the situation in another hemisphere; he still wants to go to these places, to see this world.

Although the puppets have traveled all over these countries to solve the mess caused by "Shadow", it is still different from the feeling of visiting in person.

Therefore, they intend to take advantage of the last period of time.

With the power of Lygardia, they can conveniently travel to and from different places in Fisher's world and Lamifa City.Originally, there was only one more person for Qin, but the appearance of the eight-petal rose paper finally allowed Siles to keep up.

The power of the eight-petal rose paper, in simple terms, can be interpreted as "conversion of reality and reality".

Siles can turn himself (or other people, objects) into a line of text on the paper, some descriptions, or some unknown garbled codes, or some flat pictures, portraits, etc.

That could also be interpreted as "dimensionality reduction", but Siles is more inclined to describe it as "changing existence into non-existence".

In his own case, when he “entered” eight-petal rose paper—indeed, any paper—it was as if he had gone from a real person in the real world to a character created by words in an imaginary story.

...He is not quite sure—because he has never let other people enter the paper—but he has a premonition in the dark that if he lets other people enter his paradise, then the fate, future, and life trajectory of these people will be different. , as if it has become his pocket.

Just like when they used eight-petal rose paper to communicate, they only need to put a drop of ink on the paper to wait for the writing to appear, so he can also write freely on the paper of other people's fate.

...But Siles didn't intend to do it (unless there was some reason to do it).

For Cindo, he only needs to bring any book, or an eight-petal rose paper, and his beloved god will accompany him in it.

The ink, or the paper itself, will become the embodiment of Celes.

This can be regarded as a kind of... unique way of using Akamala's power after combining it with his own will?

It would be better to say that this approach combines many, many forces, including the power of illusion, the power of fate, and even the help of Anti-Nam.

Paper becomes his paradise, but perhaps only his paradise, a power that finds no successor, because he has never been "He."

Perhaps it can also be said that he actually deceived the universe of the gods, allowing this place to treat him as a god and give him a place to stay; when the "Paradise of Destiny" really appeared and formed, he changed from a god back to a human being.

Just as he once entered Akamala's Paradise, now he seems to have gained the power of himself—Himself.

There are several benefits to having this power.

One advantage is that now he doesn't have to go through dreams to get to Fisher's Mirror, he can also go through paper.

Of course, after harvesting the power of the last three puppets, he didn't have to wait until night, and he didn't have to enter the dream again the next day, but after all, he still had to sleep to enter the dream, so it was much more convenient to use paper.

Another benefit is that his reading speed has never been faster.

Because he only needs to "enter" that book and "swim" in the ocean of words, and he knows the content of this book well.

It's a little less fun to read, but it's really useful when you're rushing through papers.

...In short, the mirror of Fisher is still there, the dream of the deep sea is still there, and Kanyo Farm is still there. He just has an extra eight-petal rose paper... the avatar, perhaps.All the best.

Anyway, it's just one more choice besides the doll, which is easy to understand.

Qin Duo was even more satisfied.Occasionally, when Siles left the city of Lamifah with him, he would carefully wrap the piece of paper or book where Siles was with other god models and bloodline manuscripts.

...yes, like a book cover.

All that aside, life is still the same.

In the past period of time, Qin Duo spent some time planning and arranging their future travel itinerary.Originally, Siles also wanted to help, but he was not as familiar with this world as Qindo.

Because they still have jobs in Lamifa City, they can only spend at most three or four days at a time to go out and play.But that's enough.

No need to worry about traffic, no need to worry about running out of time, no need to worry about various emergencies... This is probably the perfect travel in Siles' mind.

Besides, that was much more enjoyable than their previous experience of leaving Ramifa City.

Now, after the initial chaos, the Land of Embers has gradually gained a relatively stable order.Some big adventure groups have occupied part of the territory, and some countries have gradually set their sights on the fertile land of the Everlands... Things are always developing.

Qin Duo asked Qiuqiu to help show a planetary projection of Fisher's world, and then talked about his thoughts with Siles with great interest.

"A new journey?" Finally, Sirius asked.

Qin Duo laughed, and said as a matter of course: "A new journey." He paused, and then asked, "Has your matter here been resolved?"

"not yet."

"Oh, this is rare." Qin Duo said jokingly, "Have you encountered some trouble?"

"Going back to see two old friends," said Siles. "Nanisar and Arkwright."

Qin Duo was stunned.

The duo played some unheralded roles in "The Big Thing."

Ebenezer Cost, although this is a person who is difficult to describe simply, he did reserve a way out for his only child.

When the shadow believers created the piles of bugs and bugmen, they prepared some means of expulsion and confrontation for themselves in advance to prevent them from getting out of control and devouring the Lord.

According to Nanisar, this insurance measure is actually a portrait belonging to Thaddeus, that is, especially against the "death" of those bugs and bug people.

The "Shadow" was trying to be the child of death and the stars, and the Shadow disciples actually knew it.

Therefore, apart from the underground arch incident where the Graves family tried to reappear the "shadow" with Ruthmi at the center of Lamifa City, shadow believers are also thinking about it in other parts of Fisher's world. Some similar schemes with Thaddeus at their core.

They also delved into the power of death, and used it as their last resort, though... somehow, it ended up being aimed at their other weapon, the bugs and bugmen.

Only when Siles traveled to the past to understand the truth of the matter did he truly know the origins of those worms.It's not just the shadow believers, there are indeed some shadow believers, but more are the people involved in the evil plans of the shadow believers.

That kind of pollution was earlier and more deeply integrated into the flesh and blood of those people than other pollutions, forcing them to become prisoners of the shadow at that moment, and this mutation is irreversible.

The shadow believers began stuffing these mutants into the sewers of Lamifa City a long time ago.

The "gates" they formed by using those paintings (including those drawn by Emir), let this group of bugs and insect people crowd the underground space of the city, just waiting for a certain day, a certain final moment.

...and Ebenezer Const gave Nanisar a talisman--a small drawing of death, sandwiched between the cards of life.

Nanisar took apart the card, stuffed the portrait in it, and glued the life card back together.

Life contains death, and life will be born from death.

That not only saved Nanisar himself, but also saved the other children who were in the central cathedral of the Church of the Past, and at the same time, saved the statue of Antinam who fell down.

It was only later that Siles learned from Dice and Ball that the statue of Antinam in the Central Cathedral of the church in the past was not just a simple statue.That can also be said to be the last bridge that maintains Antinam's identity as "Fischer Civilization".

After Antinam voluntarily became the god of the past and history, Fisher's identity as the god of civilization was temporarily vacated.It was Antinam who temporarily occupied this position with that statue.

If the statue of Antinam collapsed at that moment, and the church in the past and the image of Antinam as the savior in the eyes of the world were completely eliminated, then the "shadow" could take advantage of it at that moment and occupy the "civilization" of this world .

Siles cannot do this, because his soul belongs to the earth after all.

Although Fischer's world recognizes him as a god, he cannot become a "civilization"; but "Shadow" does not belong to any civilization, so theoretically speaking, "Shadow" can do this.

Therefore, those children's "puzzle puzzle" approach can be said to be a thread that has been repaired and repaired.

Although "Shadow" may not really choose to become "civilization"-that is his opposite and his eternal enemy, but the method of putting the statue back together is at least a kind of insurance measure.

So in reverse, the life card in Nanisar's hand, the life that conceals death, is a very important existence.

Siles had to spend some time recalling his conversation with Nanisar and thinking about what Nanisar had said.He needs to go back in time to fill this gap in time.

Of course, the help was still brought to him by the eight-petal rose paper.

Because when he "enters" the paper, he is like a real story character, who can turn his life and experience into ink on the paper, and then check and flip through it bit by bit, just like he "The Book of Life".

...Although he could also directly ask Qiuqiu what Nanisar said that day, obviously, reading his "Book of Life" is more ritualistic.

Humans—Earthlings—always need a little ritual.Traditions of his homeland.

So he quickly found what Nanisar had said at the time. On the first day that Nanisar was taken to that hospital by Jonathan Bryant, Nanisar picked it up at the door of the ward.

In other words, Nanisar actually didn't know that the person who put the card at the door was Mr. Xia.

This gave Siles a lot of room for manipulation. He only needs to put the life card at the door at the right time, and then wait for Nanisar to pick it up.

Both the dice and the ball can remind him of timing.

Although only once, it's not a hassle.

The Arkwright case was another story.

According to Arkwright, he and Mr. Xia should have met twice.

The first time was after he went to Lamifa City and before returning to Hales House, Mr. Xia gave him the merchant card.

The second time was after the House of Hales was destroyed, Arkwright wandered alone in the Land of Embers, and after getting lost, he met Mr. Xia again, who guided him to the city of Lamifa to usher in the final ending.

... Arkwright's position in the entire process of the 1019 incident is quite special.

At that time, they had been rehearsing Miss Garland's story, and that story echoed everything that happened in reality, whether it was the sewer or the adventure in the dream, there was a sharp contrast.

This situation of alternate reality created an opportunity for Siles to become a god at that time, but also because of this, these actors who are rehearsing are obviously the top priority.

Those ordinary actors who don't know why are fine, but Garland and Arkwright are obviously different.

Garland plays the protagonist who faces the darkness, and to some extent, this corresponds to the identity of Sirius.This identity is good to say, after all, the little girl Garland has faced the power outside the world, and she is mentally prepared.

But what about Arkwright?

Arkwright plays—according to Carlos—the "biggest villain" in the story.So his role corresponds to "Shadow".

This conceptual correspondence is related to what happened in the city of Ramifa at that time, and at the same time, it has exactly appeared in reality under the influence of real and illusory forces.

In other words, Arkwright will be polluted by "shadows".

Relying on the unique power of the "clown", Arkwright uses the ignorant and funny mask of the "clown" to cover up his knowledge of the truth and at the same time isolate him from the invasion of pollution.

But with the power of a circus clown alone, will Arkwright be able to fight the erosion of "Shadow"?Siles actually doubted it very much.He felt that maybe something unknown had happened in the past.

…In fact, any little human being whom the “Shadow” paid a little attention to at the time, would be able to discover the abnormality of this human being.

However, "Shadow" has always passed by the power of the circus. From the beginning to the end, it has never realized, noticed, or paid attention to the power of human beings.

This may be a good thing.

However, for Siles, what he needs to worry about is how to ensure that his future fate will not be affected when he meets Arkwright.

How much did Arkwright know?

This is a difficult question to pin down.

After the "big event" ended, Siles also met Arkwright a few times, but the Mr. Clown, as always, always looked stupid, as if he really didn't know the truth of the matter.

Siles was still aware of the small role of the merchant card from Garland's statement, which seemed to imply a deal... although he was still not sure what the deal was.

But in fact, judging from some of Arkwright's previous expressions, he is not as stupid as he appears on the surface.He is just used to seeing the world from the perspective of a clown, and is used to communicating with the world in a clown's way.

Therefore, Siles had to think twice about how to communicate with Arkwright.

But he also realizes that time waits for no one.Half a year has passed since last year's God's Birthday.He couldn't drag it on any longer.

So, after pondering for a moment, he said to Qin Duo: "I have to go to the river of time...to settle these two things. Are you waiting for me here?"

"I'm very happy." Qin Duo spread his hands, "Looking forward to your return."

Siles, Dice and Qiuqiu embarked on a journey again.

Determined to clean up his departure, he also asked Dice and Ball a question.Almost instantly, Dice replied with a suspicious tone: "It is indeed possible, but you are for..."

Dice paused.At the same time, Qiuqiu let out a small exclamation.

"...Are you sure you want to do this?" Qiuqiu asked in surprise.

"It's not just about me," he replied in a calm tone, "it's about you."

"You decided to do that from the beginning, didn't you?" Dice asked.

First, as Mr. Xia, he went to another time point and got the first version of the fate card with an eight-petal rose symbol in the corner of the card from Jilini Printing Factory. Then, led by Qiuqiu, he went to to the same hospital that Nanisar had been to.

He pulled out a life card from the cardboard box, pretending to drop it when passing by the door of the ward.No one noticed his actions.

He stood at the corner of the corridor, quietly waiting for Nanisar to get the card.

He replied: "No, it wasn't decided that way at the beginning. It's just that as time went by, I gradually realized that I could do this. I asked myself whether it was necessary to do this, and then I thought, at least for For me, it is necessary."

He heard the sound of the ward door opening and closing, and a boy's low exclamation.He knew it was Nanisar, which made him smile.

He continued: "If I embraced the power of time and fate, or even squandered it, it wouldn't be me, would it?"

Dice and Ball remained silent at the same time.

Finally, the dice said: "I... I and this silly ball, we both agree with your arrangement, and..." It is always nagging, but at this moment, it even stuttered a little, "We admire your choice."

"Thanks. But don't make it so pathetic," he said. "I still have phantom powers."

"You just... made a noble enough decision." Qiuqiu whispered.

"But that's just an option."

"Choices only you will make."

In the face of such praise, he just smiled slightly, and then said: "We should go. Let's go to the next goal."

Qiuqiu took him out of the hospital and went to where Arkwright was.

Things went well at first.He handed over the merchant card to that Mr. Clown, and asked him to pass it on to that Professor Sirius Noel.For this reason, he specifically asked the clown what he wanted in return.

The clown, with his face covered in paint, thought for a moment, then replied that he would like a cake.

So he bought a cake for the clown, watched the clown eat it in that unique way, thanked him, and left.He knew that the merchant card would eventually return to his hand, lying quietly in the drawer of his study.

Qiuqiu gently reminded him, "This matter has succeeded."

It can also be said that the timeline is closed.He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Then there is another thing.The significance of this matter is even greater. He pondered for a moment before embarking on the journey.

He found Mr. Clown who was almost dying in the vast desert. The latter's face was still smeared with heavy oil paint, and he didn't know why he still did it after leaving the circus.

He had anticipated this situation early in the morning and had already brought water and food with him.He saves the clown.

"...Thank you." The clown said in a low voice. The dirty oil paint on his face concealed his true expression, and his eyes were so cloudy and blank that people couldn't see his heart at all.

After a while, the clown looked relieved.

But it was at this moment that things took an unexpected turn.

"Mr. Arkwright..."

He said it almost subconsciously.

The question he originally wanted to ask was how the clown was feeling, and the name "Arkwright" was originally told to him by the clown, so he had no worries at all.

...he thought the Joker knew his name all along.

But the clown suddenly trembled.His trembling was so severe that he dropped the water glass in his hand.

The cup fell to the ground and shattered into several pieces, and the clown's expression was so hesitant that even the oil paint couldn't cover it, as if he was also shattered into several pieces just like the cup.

"Arkwright? Arkwright?!"

The clown held his head and muttered to himself in an unbelievable low voice, as if some kind of severe pain was tormenting him, or some kind of deep sadness enveloped him, but together with these emotions came intense ecstasy with shock.

... At a certain moment, he seemed to understand - he remembered.

"That's...that's, my name. I'm, Arkwright."

He said.He repeated the name many, many times.

"Thank you." Arkwright raised his head suddenly, his voice was still ambiguous, but his eyes were so calm for the first time, "You helped me find myself—— my name."

... He couldn't help being startled for a moment, and then he was speechless for a moment.

He finally knew what the so-called "deal" was about.

He told this Mr. Clown the name "Arkwright", and Arkwright will use this name to always maintain his sanity in the 1019 incident and do him a favor.

It was the strength of the clown plus his own name that allowed Arkwright to maintain his sanity amidst the unconscious erosion of "Shadow".

Together they saved the world.

The merchant card involved in their first meeting witnessed this transaction—no, it should be said, the fulfillment of this oath.

Few people remember that, in addition to being the god of commerce, Menawaka was also the god of vows.

And it wasn't an accident of fate, for he did know of Fitzroy Arkwright's existence.Theoretically speaking, he does know the origin of this Mr. Clown.

... However, there was indeed a flash of dumbfounding in his heart.

What a blunder.

At this moment, Arkwright said: "Should I, what should I call you?"

His voice and tone were a bit dry, it sounded like he had been wandering for too long and didn't drink much water.But, from another perspective, it may just be because his soul has been wandering alone for too long.

"...Xia." Mr. Xia said slowly, "You can call me 'Mr. Xia'."

"I..." Arkwright said, he grinned with an exaggerated smile as always, "I will remember your name. Mr. Xia, just like you remember my name."

Mr. Xia was silent.

"Are you leaving?" The face was still covered by oil paint, but the eyes were clear and bright, "I think...you should be leaving."

Mr. Xia looked at him in surprise.

"So, are you coming back?"

Mr. Xia was stunned for a moment, then laughed, and said gently: "Of course, Mr. Arkwright. Lamifa City will always be my hometown. Have you ever been to Lamifa City?"

Arkwright thought for a while, then raised a finger: "I... have only been there once."

"I think you can go again." Mr. Xia said, "Just go all the way to the east, and there is Lamifa City. You may be killed by someone in Lamifa City. This may be your fate , However, only in Lamifa City can you solve everything.

"If all goes well, you may even have a chance to take revenge in Ramifa City—for Mickey, for yourself, and for many others. You need to have the determination to die, but everything depends on you choose."

Arkwright seemed to ponder for a moment, but also didn't seem to hesitate."I will have my revenge," he said.

So Mr. Xia smiled slightly: "I wish you good luck, Mr. Arkwright."

Arkwright gave a stiff, comical, clown smile.He said, "Good luck to you too, Mr. Xia."

Mr. Xia looked at him and thought to himself, the clown in the running group plot has extremely high spirituality and extremely low will, which is something he has always known.It is the identity of the clown that gives the clown the possibility to live in a daze but indeed in safety.

And now, the Joker has a higher will because he remembered his name.However, he can't show it, he can only continue to use the clown's mask to whitewash in order to keep himself alive.

…now he is the Joker, in the future he will be an actor in different roles.That mask will become an indelible imprint on his face.

He chose a very different path than Garland.

But maybe, everyone should have their own path.

So Mr. Xia also smiled slightly, and said, "Goodbye, Arkwright."

He returned to the Mirror of Fisher, and Qindo was fiddling with the planetary projection. Noticing his return, he asked with a smile, "Is it resolved?"

"It's solved." Siles told Qindo what happened, and then sighed