Without waiting for Klein's response, Aztec, who was staring deep into the mausoleum, continued, "I still remember the first time I died and was resurrected.
"I still remember the first time I died and came back to life. I was lying in a pile of pale corpses, and I stood up shakily. I was terrified, not knowing what had happened, and not knowing where I was.
"Before the Church members collected the corpses for purification, I stumbled out of the place. I traveled through the wilderness, villages, and cities like a wandering ghost. I couldn't remember who I was or where I came from.
"During that period of time, no matter where I went, I could hear cries. I saw priests presiding over a large number of burial rituals. I felt that sorrow permeated every corner.
"Later, I happened to save a noble lady and entered her manor. She was a sunny and cheerful girl, but I was like a wild beast that had come out of the forest. I was sensitive, suspicious, self-abased, afraid, and often showed a cold, indifferent, cruel side that didn't conform to human morals.
"She was very curious about me. No matter how I avoided her or how I did something bad, she would approach me and use her smile to infect me. She would use interesting things to influence me. Unknowingly, I got used to her teasing and her existence.
"We secretly got together. She was very worried, afraid that her father wouldn't agree to her marrying a former tramp who was now a servant.
"Seeing her smile tainted with sorrow, I felt my blood boil for the first time. I impulsively told her that I was leaving, but I would return with a title and a garland for my bride.
"I joined the army and became a knight. I raised a three-meter-long lance and charged at the enemy. In the chaos that remained in the Northern Continent at the end of the Fourth Epoch, I became a baron and had my own fief.
"I followed my promise and married my bride with the king's edict, my family's emblem, a knight's ribbon, and a garland I made myself."
At this point, the expression on Aztec's face gradually softened, as though he was reminiscing and reminiscing about something. Even the corners of his mouth had unknowingly curled up.
Klein's heart stirred when he heard that, as though he was seeing the familiar Mr. Aztec again.
"What happened next?" He carefully guided him.
Aztec looked ahead and said, "Later … Later, we built a castle in our fief and had a child.
"Later … later, we built a castle in our fief and had a child. It was a boy, and he grew up very quickly. It was foreseeable that he would grow up to be very tall and sturdy.
"He liked to fight and would always run around with a broadsword. He said that he wanted to become a knight.
"I thought that this was just a child's hobby and that it was difficult to persevere. But even after he broke his leg and knocked his head, he didn't give up practicing. He believed that I wouldn't see him if he hid in his room with a twisted expression while covering his wound. Heh heh, he underestimated his father. The entire territory's spirits were secretly working for me.
"Year after year, I recovered more and more of my memories. My wife always complained that the castle was too dark and wanted to go to a sunny and warm place. I satisfied her request, but it wasn't until a long time later that I understood that it wasn't that she hated living in the castle, but that she was afraid of the changes that were happening to me. She was afraid that I would become colder and stranger.
"She didn't tell me about these things. She still got along with me like she used to. We had a beautiful life by the seaside in the south, and we even wanted to have another child. Unfortunately, we didn't succeed.
"Only when I had a premonition that my next death was near did we return to the fief and the castle.
"My eldest son, that boy, told me that he wanted to head to Baekeland and become the attendant of the viscounts and counts, starting his own path as a knight.
"I asked him, why did he have to make such a choice at the age of ten? He answered me because I was his idol and role model, and he wanted to become a knight and a noble like me, relying on himself instead of his father and mother.
"Back then, I had already recovered most of my memories. Facing this child, I always felt a little awkward, distant, and uncomfortable. But when I heard his answer, I still felt an indescribable joy, satisfaction, and pride. This was my child, a child completely different from the blood descendants I left behind in the Balam Empire."
Klein knew that Mr. Aztec was referring to his identity as the first Baron Lamud, and the child that made him proud and satisfied had been poisoned and murdered in his later years or middle age. He was nailed to death in a coffin, and even his skull had been taken away by Ince Zangwill.
Aztec's eyes turned adrift as he said, "I died once again and woke up in a daze.
"I died again and woke up in a muddle-headed state. I instinctively left my fief and wandered to other places according to my previous arrangements. In every life, I had a different life in the beginning. Sometimes, I would encounter sweet love, and sometimes, I would obtain a doting daughter. That kind of love, helplessness, and satisfaction that came from the bottom of my heart made me, who was gradually regaining my memories, stunned, puzzled, and conflicted.
"There was one time when I was a filial son. I brought my parents pride, a beautiful life, and adorable grandchildren. But when I 'woke up' and found myself, I remembered that in my previous life, I had ignored their real son's death on the battlefield and occupied this identity. On the one hand, I felt pain and guilt, but on the other hand, I believed that it was nothing, just a trivial matter. My heart seemed to split into two.
"Back then, I had a mask that allowed me to transform into anyone, but I lost it after one of my awakenings. Perhaps I lost it on my own accord …"
Klein recalled Mr. Azik's mention of a daughter who liked to ask for candy from him. After some deliberation, he said, "That's right.
After some deliberation, he said, "I believe that you aren't suffering from a split personality, but rather, you are struggling with a crazy spirit.
"After losing your past memories, you, who have repeatedly begun a new life, are kind, passionate, and filled with emotions. The closer you are to your present life, the more this will be reflected.
"This might be the real you, the essential you. And during your time as a Death Consul, you were affected by the tendency to lose control contained in the Beyonder characteristic. You were also affected by the influence of Death from a high position. I heard that 'He' had already gone mad after the War of the Four Emperors."
Klein's words actually didn't have much basis. This was because he only knew a few parts of Aztec's life — Baron Lamud, a father who made a swing for his daughter, a filial child, and a gentle and friendly history teacher.
His goal was to provide a guess, a possibility, to help Mr. Azik resist the Death Consul personality that had returned with his memories. He wanted Mr. Azik to face his past, so as to reach some sort of reconciliation with himself and become less cold-hearted.
And as he spoke, he suddenly had a new idea. Without waiting for Aztec to digest what he had just said, he hurriedly asked,
"Mr. Aztec, do you know about anchors? The anchors that the gods and angels use to stabilize themselves, preventing their Beyonder characteristics from losing control and being dragged down by their crazy nature? "
"Yes." Aztec retracted his gaze and nodded.
Klein wasn't too sure, but he said in a rather certain tone,
"Perhaps, the new life that you've gained from losing your memories time and time again is your anchor to resist madness and losing control!"
Don't abandon them. Don't forget them. That's who you are! After saying that, Klein silently added another sentence in his heart.
"Anchor …" Aztec repeated the word, his expression thoughtful and puzzled.
After an unknown period of time, he suddenly sighed and said, "This might be an explanation.
At the very least, the splitting and conflict at the level of my mind isn't that intense.
"However, since I've already come this far, I still have to head deep into the mausoleum to see what's hidden there. Why is it calling out to me, and what caused me to repeatedly die and revive, losing my memories again and again before gradually regaining them …
"This has troubled me for more than a thousand years. It has troubled me over and over again in my life. I believe I should be able to obtain an answer today."
His eyes slowly turned sober. His tone appeared gentle, but it was filled with indescribable determination.
Klein wanted to stop him, but after opening his mouth, he pursed it again.
Aztec pressed down on the half top hat on his head and didn't turn his head.
He smiled warmly and said, "Remember to close your eyes."
With that said, he walked forward and walked down the flight of stairs, heading deep into the dark mausoleum.
The black fog that permeated the area didn't let out any more gasps as it slowly dispersed in all directions. Bit by bit, the illusory object entrenched at the bottom appeared.
It was a feathered serpent that was so large that it seemed to occupy an island!
It had huge scales that were dark green and black. Feathers that were stained with pale yellow oil grew out of the gaps. Above each feather, there were thin illusory black tubes extending out.
This exaggerated feathered serpent was both illusory and real. Its more concrete form was indescribable, as though it had a composition that humans couldn't understand.
Its eye sockets burned with pale flames, and its face was a human's face!
The face had bronze skin and soft facial features. There was a tiny black mole below its right ear. It was clearly another Aztec Eggers!
PS: Update first before making changes. Also, the new version of this chapter seems to have a very strong delay.
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