"Let's proceed with the physical assessment, shall we?" Baizhi suggested.
Rover and Yangyang nodded silently, following her toward the designated examination chamber.
The area was already prepared. Large monitors flickered softly along the curved walls while a Sonoro Sphere hovered at the center, pulsing faintly with resonance energy.
After finalizing the configurations on her Terminal, Baizhi turned to Rover, her voice calm and professional. "Please hold your Terminal firmly and remain still."
She gestured to the environment as the simulation loaded. "This is the Academy's simulated training ground. Don't worry—Yangyang and I will assist if necessary."
Baizhi's gaze sharpened as the scenario stabilized. "Now, please engage the simulated Tacet Discords. Just fight as you normally would."
Rover took his stance as holographic Tacet Discords materialized, their movements eerily lifelike despite their virtual nature.
Without hesitation, Rover advanced. His strikes were precise and calculated—a fluid rhythm of evasion and counterattack as the creatures lunged toward him.
Baizhi monitored the data streaming across her Terminal in real time, her expression thoughtful. "Hmm… As You'tan previously detected, your physical functions are stable."
"The Crownless' energy shows no residual interference," Baizhi noted, her gaze narrowing as she pointed at the latest readings.
The data puzzled her—everything... was normal. "Your bodily systems remain completely unaffected. Not a single anomaly."
The test continued without incident. The simulated creatures dissolved one after another under Rover's steady strikes. But as the sequence neared its end, something shifted.
Suddenly, the holographic environment flickered. The signal fluctuated, distortions rippling across the projection.
"Rover! Can you...¥%Hear...#¥%... &*" Baizhi's voice broke apart into fragmented static over the comms.
Rover's eyes narrowed as he instinctively shifted into a defensive stance. "The comm line is dead… Something's wrong. I need to be careful."
His gaze swept across the now unstable training ground. "Where's the exit…"
He advanced toward the projected doorway, but as he stepped through, the surroundings warped unnaturally. When the visual settled, he found himself standing in the exact same spot.
"I'm back to the same place again…" Rover muttered, unease settling into his gut.
And then he noticed it—something unnatural in the sky above. The moon. "And this… Moon? What is happening…"
The glowing orb hung massive in the simulated heavens, far larger than any moon should be, its surface subtly pulsating as though alive.
Before Rover could fully process the sight, the environment shifted again.
A strange force gathered, and a presence emerged—not like the earlier simulations.
A towering figure stood few meters before him. Its humanoid form gleamed white, almost porcelain-like under the moonlight.
Enormous wings unfurled behind its back, and in its hands, it wielded a massive scythe that reflected the simulated starlight.
Rover took a cautious step back, his breath catching. "Is that… a Tacet Discord?"
The figure hovered slightly above the ground, the air heavy with an unfamiliar pressure. And then a distorted voice rang out, echoing within the simulation.
"...Leave… Mother..."
Before Rover could react further, a voice broke through—familiar, concerned.
"Rover! Rover!" Yangyang's voice cut sharply through the fading simulation.
The next instant, Rover blinked—finding himself back outside the Sonoro Sphere. The simulation had ended.
Yangyang rushed to his side, her expression anxious. "Thank goodness… You're awake."
She turned to Baizhi, her voice laced with concern. "Baizhi, what happened? The connection was suddenly cut off."
Baizhi's brows furrowed, her tone thoughtful. "...Rover. Do you remember what you saw inside?"
Rover nodded slowly as he explained his vision. "A giant Tacet Discord… it wielded a scythe."
Baizhi's eyes narrowed as she repeated his words. "A giant Tacet Discord with a scythe... That doesn't match the characteristics of the Crownless. It may be something even more advanced."
Rover continued, his voice steady but uncertain. "There was also a massive moon… It kept fading in and out."
Baizhi fell silent for a moment, recalling the oddities from past records. "An enormous moon looming above… That's reminiscent of the strange phenomena reported during the previous wars."
"This is the first time we've encountered anything like this since deploying the simulated training ground," she muttered, pondering the implications.
Yangyang glanced toward the Sonoro Sphere. "You think it's connected to the simulation itself?"
Baizhi nodded faintly. "The Sonoro Sphere archives and replays actual events from specific time periods. What you experienced may have been a lingering echo—either a real phenomenon recorded in its memory or a disturbance layered within."
"We built this training ground based on Sonoro Sphere architecture," Baizhi added, her voice turning more analytical. "It's possible this was a side effect of its internal reconstruction."
She exhaled softly, her gaze returning to Rover. "I'll conduct a full diagnostic on the simulation core to investigate what happened."
She glanced again at the physical test data streaming across her Terminal. "Physiologically, you remain perfectly healthy. All vitals and data are within normal parameters."
"But," she added gently, "if you experience any discomfort or anomalies afterward, please report to me immediately."
Rover gave a small nod. "Thank you. I will."
With the tests concluded, Rover made his way to the nearby laboratory to retrieve his belongings from Mortefi.
As he entered, he caught sight of the report still open on Mortefi's desk. His eyes instinctively flicked across the file—though he quickly averted his gaze, resisting the temptation to intrude further.
All he could glimpse was the name printed in bold: "Da Lian — Confidential." Silently, Rover turned away, reminding himself not to pry into records not meant for him.
After retrieving the sundial and having its irregularities resolved, Rover regrouped with Yangyang once more. The two of them quietly reviewed what little progress had been made on the remaining tokens.
At least one answer had presented itself — the sugar pearl, despite its mystery, turned out to be nothing more than a simple piece of confectionery.
No hidden mechanisms. No exotic composition. Just an ordinary candy, its significance perhaps rooted more in memory or context than any inherent property.
The soft hum of distant equipment still resonated faintly through the Academy's halls, but the weight of unresolved puzzles pressed more heavily on their minds. For all their analysis, so much still lay outside their grasp.
The Magistrate's cryptic words echoed back to them — a suggestion that some answers could only be uncovered beyond the Jinzhou's walls.
Standing beneath the cold glow of a corridor lantern, Rover exhaled quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I suppose… some pieces just won't fit together unless we venture beyond Jinzhou. The Magistrate hinted at that much."
Yangyang nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "It might be better not to overthink it for now. Some questions can't be forced."
Realizing they had reached the end of what could be accomplished today, the two exchanged a brief glance, silently agreeing.
"Let's call it a day," Rover suggested softly.
Yangyang gave a small smile. "Yeah… we'll make better sense of it once we've had some rest."
***
By the time they made their way outside, night had fully descended over Jinzhou. The warm amber glow of lights illuminated the Academy's courtyards, casting long shadows across the polished stone paths.
A soft breeze stirred the leaves of nearby trees, rustling faintly in the cool night air.
The two of them found a quiet spot beneath one of the decorative pavilions. The stars above shimmered faintly, while distant Tacet barriers flickered like translucent veils over the city's horizon.
Rover exhaled quietly, breaking the silence. "Let's review what we've gathered so far."
He laid the small tokens out — the sugar pearl, the miniature sundial, the oddly-colored leaf, and the mangosteen fruit. Each object resting quietly, yet heavy with unspoken meaning.
"Our clues point to the sugar pearl as the key," Rover continued, his voice steady but contemplative. "Specifically, it seems to have some connection with the sundial's mechanism."
He tapped the sundial lightly, watching how its tiny shadow shifted with even the slightest motion. "Simply put — one token may lead to several different targets. And one token might even carry multiple layers of information."
His gaze sharpened slightly. "Both the Magistrate and I had reasons for this meeting. She had information to offer, while I came seeking answers."
He paused, his brow furrowing. "But these tokens… they contain both what she wanted to say and what I hoped to ask."
"It's as if she's deliberately complicating the matter — or…" Rover's voice softened, almost musing, "...perhaps she was running out of time. And in that limited window, all she could leave were fragments of the larger puzzle."
Yangyang listened quietly, her eyes studying Rover as he voiced each theory aloud.
"Or maybe..." Rover went on, voice lowering slightly, as if speaking more to himself than to her, "she's a strategist — leaving breadcrumbs for us to follow."
"The first clues might serve as a kind of filter. A test, even — to weed out the wrong recipients." Rover pointed.
He looked up at Yangyang, his tone calm but heavy with implication. "She needed to ensure that anyone stumbling upon these tokens by accident — or with ill intentions — would not be able to decipher their true meaning."
"In other words," Rover concluded, "there may be individuals out there who need to be misled."
For a brief moment, Rover fell into thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. 'It seems there may be hidden dangers lurking in Jinzhou...'
Yangyang remained silent, processing his words. The ripples of the flickering night reflected in her eyes as the distant cries of avian beasts filled the air.
Finally, Rover glanced at her. "If it were you, Yangyang — what would you do to ensure your intended recipient understood your message?"
Yangyang tilted her head slightly, considering. After a brief pause, she answered softly, "...I would emphasize my true message by repeating it. Again and again. Until only the right person can recognize the pattern."
Her voice was calm, but carried a quiet conviction.
Rover gave a small nod, his gaze drifting once more to the moonlit sky above them. The puzzle remained unsolved — but the contours of its design were starting to emerge.
***
Some time later, Chixia finally rejoined them, her steps light but her voice quickly launching into an animated recount of her shift and the minor chaos she had dealt with.
"I'm back, I'm back! Finally done with my patrol!" she announced, her voice cheery as she approached. "How's it going, Rover? Feeling spry as ever?"
Rover gave a small chuckle, tilting her head. "Hey! You make it sound like I'm old."
Yangyang chimed in with a soft laugh. "Baizhi said he's in great health — no issues to report."
She added, "We've also made some progress on investigating the tokens. How did things go on your side?"
Chixia waved a hand, as if brushing the question aside. "Nothing special. A pretty typical patrol."
She inhaled and immediately launched into a familiar ramble. "Well, Uncle Zhang's cat climbed a tree, and on its way down, it landed straight onto Uncle Chenpi's head. Poor guy took quite a tumble."
She shook her head, half amused. "Then some dogs were barking and scaring passersby, so I had to calm them down. Oh, and I received a report about someone who's gone missing."
"I logged the case and spoke to the person who reported it. You're not the one they're looking for though, so don't worry." Chixia assured Rover.
She crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly. "Anyhow, I'll visit the person who reported it tomorrow to get more details."
As an afterthought, Chixia added, "Ah, and I tried searching for Rover's terminal number again. The system came up with nothing. The latest entry was from today, when I registered you. That's about all for now."
Rover let out a short breath, shaking his head. "That's quite a lot. You've got me feeling hungry."
Chixia laughed. "It's the middle of the night. Of course you're hungry."
Then her expression brightened as she remembered. "Oh, right! I still owe you a meal. The night markets are closed, though."
Rover struggled to hide his disappointment, biting back a quiet sigh. 'Tch… seriously?'
But before the feeling could settle, Chixia quickly offered, "Let's grab breakfast at Panhua's Restaurant tomorrow before my shift starts. Meet you guys there in the morning. Be there or be square!"
Rover couldn't help but perk up at that, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Alright. I'll be there."
Yangyang, watching him with a touch of concern, spoke up hesitantly. "Do you have a place to stay, Rover?"
Feigning a bit of helplessness, Rover teased, "Not yet. Poor me."
Yangyang blushed slightly but offered, "I-I have a vacant guest room in my house. If you don't mind coming over—"
Before she could finish, Chixia cut in with a playful grin. "Aren't you forgetting something, Yangyang? Rover already told us this morning — he's been offered a place at the City Hall."
She stretched her arms, letting out a small yawn. "Alright, enough chatter or the sun's gonna come up. Let's get Rover back to City Hall and leave the rest for tomorrow."
Rover shook his head gently. "You two go ahead. I'd like some time alone."
The two girls exchanged glances but didn't protest. After a brief nod, they departed, leaving Rover to wander the quiet streets of Jinzhou alone.
The lamp-lit roads stretched before him, empty but strangely alive under the moonlight. Though the streets appeared vacant, there was an undeniable sensation — as if unseen eyes lingered just beyond his field of vision.
At one point, Rover paused, glancing back over his shoulder.
Nothing.
He began to walk again, but...
Unbeknownst to him, far behind where he had just looked, two figures dressed in crimson silently followed from a distance. Their footsteps made no sound, but they remained present — like shadows slipping through the gaps of the night.
And further behind them, standing in absolute stillness, was a woman — her beauty frozen like a sculpture of moonlit ice. Her gaze, calm yet sharp, followed their every movement.
Back in the present, Rover continued his slow walk, lost in thought. He reflected on the day's events, but his empty stomach made deeper contemplation difficult.
A small groan escaped his lips. "I'm hungry," he muttered, sounding more like a 'young maiden' throwing a tantrum at midnight hunger pangs.
A/N: Foreshadowing
It was then that a gentle voice drifted toward him. "You seem hungry."
Startled, Rover lifted his gaze. Before him stood a woman — her features bathed in the soft glow of a nearby lantern.
She was beautiful, with a serene air that radiated an unspoken grace. Her navy-blue hair fell like silk, and her aquamarine eyes reflected the moonlight like still water.
She held out a small pancake, offering it with a gentle smile. "Here, have this."
"Th-thank you." Rover accepted it with a small nod, their fingers briefly brushing against hers. The touch was nothing special — barely a moment — yet an odd warmth stirred in his chest, brief but noticeable.
He looked at her. Though her face was soft and feminine, her eyes held a quiet, protective tenderness — something Rover felt he would expect more from a man standing guard over what he holds dear.
'Strange…' he mused.
As the woman walked passed, Rover caught a subtle scent — the scent of petrichor, which seemed to blossom into something stirring within.
Compelled, he turned around and spoke, "May I… may I know your name, miss?"
She glanced back over her shoulder, eyes meeting his. For a heartbeat, something wordless passed between them — a strange familiarity neither could explain.
"Da Lian," she replied softly, before walking away into the night..
Rover remained still, the small pancake in his hand and her name echoing quietly in his mind. 'What was that just now?'
To be continued...
***
A/N: Originally, Rover's true self is female, and Da Lian's is male. There you go — mystery half-solved. Hope readers are satisfied.
And while we're at it… if I ever get to the Septimont Arc, you're all in for a real treat. That entire place is basically built for Lian's character in ways you probably aren't expecting yet.
If you're curious about where this is going, trust me — Septimont is his stage.
Actually, I'm also debating whether I should let Lian and Cristoforo engage in a full mental warfare. Though I must admit, for someone like Cristoforo — who is, after all, a playwright — Lian may turn out to be the worst kind of enemy he could ever face.
Note: It will make sense as I keep writing, but Lian is… uniquely unsuited to being 'written' by anyone else, and cannot fit in narrative unless some rules are followed.
So, readers: Should I let that battle of minds happen? Or should I spare poor Cristoforo?
Also, Normal romance or Lian type of romance? Both will reach their highest thematic potential. To be honest, I would prefer readers to choose the "normal romance" interpretation, as I want Lian's external characteristics to be observed as well.
As for Changli, I'm contemplating the direction for integrating her — and for the others, well, let's first see how things unfold. Well, I originally wanted this romance to be only between OC and Rover.
It might be a bit difficult, since Changli doesn't travel beyond Huanglong. That's why I was quite unsure when I contemplated adding any other romance aside from Rover, who naturally travels and encounters more people.