The Sleeping Past

My name is? Xilutaiya. This was obviously not the name from her past life, but after waking this time, certain vague memories told the girl that her current name was Xilutaiya. Could reincarnation really exist? She had been born without memories of her past life, and only now had they suddenly returned. As some unexpected side effect, she had instead lost the memories of the earlier years of this life, retaining only a few vague fragments. Looking at the clothes she wore, the plain white dress was not overly elaborate in style, but some details—such as the cuffs and hem—were exceptionally refined, as if reminding her that its price was not low. When she continued examining her palms, their smooth, delicate appearance did not look like hands that had done labor. Her background should be decent. If she could find her family and relatives in this life, she would probably not have to worry about food and clothing. The girl pondered the origins of this body. Although she did not know what her personality was like in this life, from certain vague memory fragments and her inner feelings, it seemed not much different from her past life. There was nothing strange or uncomfortable; it felt as if she were the same person. While searching the vague memories for information, a sudden enlightenment rose in her mind, and a certain piece of information appeared in her consciousness. ———— Name: Xilutaiya · ※※※※ Race: Human (※※※) Status: Healthy (No abnormalities) Talent: Stars [Unknown Grade]: You are favored by the stars. You are not an original inhabitant of this place, but a being descended from another star. Strangely, you have already been accepted by this world and become part of it. Cherish this gift; the meaning behind it far exceeds your imagination. Cornflower’s Attachment [Rare Grade, Can Be Raised]: When you use any secret arts or creations related to cornflowers, their effects are increased. This is a talent flowing in the bloodline, an inheritance from the family bloodline, allowing each generation of inheritors to receive one category of favor and blessing. —Those who have glimpsed the Fairy Sovereign, Spring Warden “Funixini,” will have their bloodline descendants receive the Covenant Blessing according to the ancient covenant. Destiny Card: [Sleeping Maiden] (Attribute Rank: None) A strange card appeared in Xilutaiya’s consciousness. Its border was surrounded by silver metallic vines. In the center of the card, a silver-haired girl lay sleeping with her eyes closed in a sea of pale blue cornflowers. The distant sky within the image was dim, and occasionally a shooting star streaked across before flashing out of existence, as if it had never existed. [Sleeping Maiden] “You have lost the attribute power you once possessed. From the silver vine frame, you can only guess that this attribute power may be related to ‘Radiant Moon’ or ‘Emerald Honey.’ The memories of the past sleep deeply. If you wish to awaken that sleeping past, begin with ‘Radiant Moon’ and ‘Emerald Honey.’” Effect: [Appraisal Eye lv.2]: Originating from a special talent and constitution, you can distinguish colors that ordinary people cannot perceive, as well as part of the essence of things. (When you raise the rank of your Destiny Card, this ability will also be raised in sync.) Ability Cards: [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] ———— At the center of the Fate Board outlined by invisible threads, the silver vine-bordered [Sleeping Maiden] was placed. Below this card were three empty slots, where other cards should be able to be placed. One Destiny Card representing herself, and three empty Ability Cards. This world possessed a strange supernatural power, and they seemed to correspond to individuals in the form of cards. If one learned special secret arts and techniques, one could convert them into Ability Cards, place them into the Fate Board of soul and consciousness, and make them take effect. Walking step by step toward the village below the hillside, Xilutaiya saw fiery red sunset clouds in the distant horizon and could not help quickening her pace, afraid she would not make it before dark. Snow-white hair fluttered, and her sleeves rolled in the wind. The village that looked close was not actually so near. By the time Xilutaiya arrived, the sky was almost dark. Fortunately, today the village was not as quiet as usual, with people resting early. Several carriages were parked in the village square, around a central bonfire. The rear doors of the carriages were opened, displaying some transported goods, and many villagers were gathered around. “Prices have gone up again, Fandexi.” “These clothes look a bit ugly. Are they things others didn’t want, so you bought them cheap and brought them here to sell?” The villagers discussed, and their voices were clearly heard by the girl. The language was vastly different from her past life, but she could naturally understand it, probably because she had learned it in this life. Using the cover of night, the girl walked along the road toward the village square, thinking about how she should explain her origins to others and then find a simple job here to settle down. She did not seem to have any money on her. As she walked, the girl touched her clothes again, but unfortunately, apart from this pretty plain white dress and undergarments, there was nothing else. No, wait. There was one more thing. She touched the back of her head and felt the hair ribbon tied among her hair. Untying the ribbon, her upswept hair fell against the side of her neck. Xilutaiya held a pale blue silk ribbon. On it were beautiful cornflower patterns interwoven with silk threads, showing the exquisite craftsmanship of its making. She now had something to exchange, but… the girl touched her own cheek. Although she did not know what this body looked like exactly, based on vague memories and the feel of it, she was probably very beautiful? Being too beautiful while having no power was actually quite dangerous, because one possessed something coveted by others yet lacked the strength to protect it. Thinking of this, her footsteps slowed, and she began to consider how to deal with it. If it were a big city, public safety would probably be much better, but this was a small village. She had no way of knowing the local customs, but at present she truly had no better choice. If she spent the night outside, she might encounter other difficult situations. Going to a place with many people would always be better; she might also gain a small measure of restraint from the public. After pondering for a moment, she resumed her pace and walked toward the brightly lit place. “There’s nothing I can do, Old Man Pang De. This trip wasn’t easy for me either. You know, it’s the Ti Wolf Festival period now, and there are quite a few fierce beasts on the road. I need more money to hire people to protect the caravan, and I can’t travel at night either. Look, didn’t I arrive late this time too? If it were normal times, how could I give up such a money-making opportunity? Don’t you agree?” The bearded merchant folded his hands and tucked them into his sleeves, speaking with the village chief about the current situation. “All right, all right. I’ve heard these excuses countless times. You always have a reason for making money.” The old village chief waved his hand, indicating that he did not care about the other party’s costs. “Oh, right. Did you bring the iron nails I ordered last time?” “I did, but those things are rather heavy. I put them under the carriage. It will probably take until tomorrow to unload them. Why, are you in a hurry to use them?” “Not really. I bought the iron nails to reinforce the houses. It will be the Gale Season in another two or three years. If I wait until then, it will be too late.” “You’re preparing two years in advance for something like that. You really think far ahead.” “Everything gets more expensive during the Gale Season. I’m just preparing early to save a little money.” The village chief shook his head and answered casually. “Gales, Deep Mist… I wonder if this old body of mine can last until the next Trade Wind Season.” “It will. With your health, Elder, you will definitely see the dawn of the next Trade Wind Season.” “Hahaha, then I’ll have to live for more than twenty years.” … More noisy voices entered the girl’s ears. In this life, her hearing was far superior to her past life’s. Even if ten people spoke at the same time, she could easily distinguish them, understand them, and remember them simultaneously. Such an ability was truly somewhat terrifying. If it had been her past life, she probably could have attended the university she once dreamed of. From the conversations between these villagers and the merchant, Xilutaiya learned quite a lot of information. This carriage convoy was a merchant group that passed through the village, and the leading merchant was also a regular local visitor. The atmosphere seemed harmonious, which made her feel slightly less worried. Facing the burning orange bonfire, the girl gradually approached until she stepped across the boundary between firelight and shadow, suddenly revealing herself. A snow-white silk dress was not something ordinary people could afford, especially keeping it so pure white. Even nobles would only use it on certain formal occasions. When Xilutaiya entered the village square, she immediately attracted quite a bit of attention. “Excuse me, you… you are?” When a member of the caravan saw her face clearly, he hurriedly changed his words to a respectful form. Someone who could move around so leisurely, dressed in luxurious clothes, with an exceptionally beautiful face, must be a noble lady—perhaps even the child of a noble and esteemed great house. The accompanying members of the caravan hurriedly reported to Fandexi. He also turned his head, bid farewell to the village chief, and quickly walked toward this silver-haired, white-dressed girl. “Hello, esteemed lady. May I ask if you need anything?” He tried to imitate the etiquette he had seen before and greeted the girl. The slightly comical and clumsy movements made the girl want to laugh, but she politely held it back and lightly lifted her skirt in return, as if by some instinct. “Hello.” Her clear voice was like mountain spring water, soft and pleasant, causing the people present to pause for a few seconds. The girl also paused slightly, surprised by the sound of her current voice. “Hello, may I ask where this is?” She spoke again, her fingers lightly touching her cheek beside her ear, lifting a few strands of hair to relieve her nervousness. “This is…” Merchant Fandexi had not expected someone to ask such a question. He stalled for a few seconds before recovering. “We are now in the southern part of the Regas Duchy, in Linden Village.” The Regas Duchy… The girl carefully recalled, but felt no sense of familiarity. It seemed she had never been to this place in this life. If so, to recover her identity, she could only rely on raising the relevant Attribute Rank to restore her memories. Otherwise, blindly stumbling around like a headless fly would hardly yield results. Seeing this girl fall into thought and not speak, the few people before her became somewhat nervous, unsure where they had performed poorly. Fortunately, at this moment the village chief also heard about the situation and slowly walked over. When Village Chief Pang De came before the girl, this change woke her from her thoughts. Her eyes moved slightly, and her gaze met the elder’s. Her eyes were the pale blue of cornflower petals, pure, as if never polluted. This aura surprised even the experienced village chief; in his youth, he had been an adventurer and visited many places. “Miss, are you lost?” He asked carefully, seeming to see the problem this girl faced. “Yes, I experienced an accident and became lost in a forest not far from here. I currently need some help.” The girl bowed politely again. “I see.” Hearing this, Village Chief Pang De and Merchant Fandexi exchanged a glance, and their minds settled. This noble lady seemed quite easy to get along with; her temper was much better than those dandies they usually encountered in Scoria City. This was a world with supernatural power. Nobles possessed many resources, knowledge, and skills, as well as strength ordinary people could hardly match. Therefore, ordinary people generally feared conflicts with nobles unless absolutely necessary. “Since that is the case, why not let me arrange a place for you to stay tonight, Miss? I still don’t know your name?” The village chief took the initiative to offer hospitality. “My name is… Tiya. Sorry to trouble you.” Out of some caution, the girl only gave the short form of her name. “No problem, Miss Tiya.” The village chief stroked his beard and answered with a smile. In his eyes, this girl was the kind of simple girl who had stayed in manors or castles for long periods, living a secluded life. She was also among the easiest people to get along with. A minor noble family generally could not raise such a temperament; she was probably the daughter of a great noble house. If he could build a good relationship with her, there would surely be some benefits. After all, even something slipping from the fingers of those great nobles would be a treasure ordinary people could hardly obtain in a lifetime. The conversation between the three gradually ended. While they were talking, many villagers and caravan members had quietly gathered around. Although they did not come too close, the convergence of those gazes made Xilutaiya somewhat uncomfortable. It was not that she was afraid, but that both her current and past-life personalities were not good at dealing with social situations and preferred to stay quietly alone. Fortunately, this situation was soon broken. A girl who looked about the same height as Xilutaiya ran over at the village chief’s call. She had reddish-brown hair tied haphazardly into a braid at the back of her head. She wore a short flax-yellow tunic, had a somewhat thin and sallow figure, and the exposed calves had a slight sheen. The straw sandals on her feet were tightly woven and durable. “Taliel, take this miss to our home. Clean up the room your sister used to stay in properly, change the bedding to clean ones, and let this miss stay overnight.” “Got it, Grandpa.” Taliel answered casually, but her gaze did not leave Xilutaiya’s face, as if she wanted to look at and identify her properly. “Follow me.” She reached out and suddenly grabbed Xilutaiya’s wrist, leading her through the crowd toward the inner part of the village. This action startled the village chief and Merchant Fandexi, but they did not have time to stop it. Fortunately, Xilutaiya simply followed, without showing displeasure, so the two wiped their cold sweat and relaxed. “It’s all my fault. This child has been used to running wild every day, and I haven’t taught her properly.” The village chief thought that his daily energy had all been spent on the village, and the only one he had paid attention to was Taliel’s sister, who had recently married. Compared to the wild and stubborn Taliel, her sister Wenni was much gentler, calmer, and more beloved. Because of that, she had married into a good family in the city. Walking through the crowd, Xilutaiya lowered her head slightly, avoiding various curious gazes. She felt the hand holding her wrist. Taliel was about the same height as her, and there were some rough marks on the inside of her fingers. They should be hardened skin left after a cut not long ago that had scabbed over. Even though this was their first meeting, Xilutaiya guessed that the other girl was the type who liked to run around and play everywhere. Just as Xilutaiya was thinking about what kind of living environment this place would have, a burst of urgent hoofbeats came from the distance. She could not help turning to look, only to see a group of cavalry holding torches in the night rapidly advancing along the road. They held the reins, their bodies rising and falling with the horses’ gallop, their expressions anxious. When they reached the village entrance, they almost did not pause, leaping over the low fence. Behind them, several cavalry members even failed to leap in time and directly crashed through the fence. The dry wood of the Rising Wind Season was snapped in half, making a crisp cracking sound. Then this group of cavalry charged straight into the square holding torches. “Everyone, prepare for defense!” A rough roar exploded across the square. Many villagers had not yet understood what was happening when another frightened scream was heard. “Wolves! It’s wolves!” Outside the village, in the darkness, chilly whimpering sounds continuously approached. In the pitch-black darkness, nothing could be seen clearly, but the constant rustling sounds all indicated that a group of living creatures was approaching. At this time, some villagers finally reacted. Some hurried home to find weapons, while some women anxiously looked for their children and brought them back indoors. The caravan’s accompanying members also became tense. They drew their short swords and axes, and some set up spears, preparing for unknown danger. After more than ten seconds, a group of blurry running outlines appeared outside the village, but even more striking were those pairs of oily green eyes. Wolves, a wolf pack. About forty or more wolves rushed out of the night. The leading giant wolf directly leaped up, crossing the fence that had no blocking effect at all. At this moment, by the firelight, everyone finally saw the wolf’s appearance clearly. It had smooth, dense fur that was orange-red all over. Its long fur fluttered slightly like flames. Even standing on four feet, it was taller than a person, larger than a common ox. When it approached, a scorching aura spread out. Its narrow eyes revealed ferocity, and an invisible pressure immediately awed everyone present. Gazing at the giant wolf that surged like a wave of flowing flame in the square, many pieces of information appeared in Xilutaiya’s mind. ——— Race: Forest Wolf (Aberrant) Status: Healthy (Ferocious) Talent: Sense of Smell [Good Grade]: A keen sense of smell that can distinguish and track various creatures. A common talent of wolf-type creatures. Destiny Card: [Crimson-Dyed Wolf] (First-order - Blazing Sun) “Baptized by the Rising Wind of the Blazing Sun, the wolves running through the mountains and forests gradually become dyed with orange fire and crimson red. When they complete their overall transformation, they enter the first stage of the supernatural attribute ‘Blazing Sun,’ breaking away from the category of ordinary beasts and becoming Fang Beasts feared by ordinary people.” Effect: [Boiling Blood lv.2]: “The attribute power of the ‘Blazing Sun’ flows in its blood, granting this creature powerful vitality. It can run day and night without fatigue, while slightly strengthening its physique, increasing strength and speed.” Ability Card: [Fangs lv.2] (Beast Fang): Possessing teeth and fangs far sharper than ordinary beasts, capable of tearing some metals, and sharpening and repairing themselves naturally. (Most beast-type beings will gain one of the three abilities: Fang, Horn, or Claw. This originates from the ‘Beast Fang’ attribute instinct flowing in their bloodline.) ——— So that was it. After the girl finished understanding the information, she understood why these cavalrymen had been unable to shake off the wolf pack all along. Because of the enhancement of the “Blazing Sun” attribute, the stamina of these Ti Wolves had become especially long-lasting. Ordinary people and animals simply could not shake them off. Once defeated, they could only be run to death. Thinking of this, she could not help feeling fortunate. If she had chosen to flee all along during the day, she would probably have been caught by that Ti Wolf on the road due to exhaustion and become its meal. “Run!” While Xilutaiya was still observing and thinking, Taliel beside her urgently pulled her toward the houses deeper inside the village. There were several stone buildings there that could be used for defense. At present, many villagers were also running in that direction, and at this time, the battle in the square had also begun. “Steel Sharp Blade!” Formless light poured into the drawn broadsword. Then the blade struck at the giant wolf’s open maw of fangs and bloody mouth, and sparks and blood spattered.