The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 63: The Way to Protect Oneself

After making a round through the Botanical Garden District near the Mason Café as planned, Lumian returned to the "Golden Rooster Inn" on Rue Anarchique. He went straight up to the third floor and arrived at the Madman's room, No. 10.

Bang! Bang! Bang! He pounded on the door.

"I'm going to die! I'm going to die!" The mutterings inside suddenly became sharp and frantic.

"I'm going to die too!" Lumian cursed flatly, showing little emotion.

The madman inside seemed to be intimidated by Lumian's tone, falling silent, though he made no further response.

Lumian didn't knock again. Instead, he pulled out a small piece of wire he carried with him, inserted it into the lock, and fiddled with it for a moment.

With a click, the stained brown wooden door "opened itself."

Lumian immediately saw the madman. He was still wearing the same linen shirt and yellow pants, kneeling on the floor. His thick black beard almost obscured his eyes.

Lumian walked in, casually closed the door behind him, and squatted down in front of the madman, lowering his voice as he spoke:

"I've encountered the Montsouris ghost too."

The madman visibly shuddered, and the only thing left in his terrified blue eyes was a glimmer of recognition.

After a few seconds, he exhaled and asked in a deep voice:

"Are you sure it's the Montsouris ghost?"

Has he entered the occasional lucid state that Charlie mentioned? Lumian thought with a smile and replied:

"I'm not sure, which is why I'm here to confirm it with you.

"What does the Montsouris ghost you encountered look like?"

The madman trembled as he answered:

"A shadow, like a lonely old man, slightly hunched, walking slowly.

"When I noticed it, it disappeared into the darkness. At first, I didn't know it was the Montsouris ghost, not until my parents, my wife, and my children died one after another..."

It really does resemble what I encountered... Lumian frowned, now seriously suspecting that he had indeed encountered the Montsouris ghost.

He thought for a moment and asked:

"How did your family members die? Did you yourself suffer any attacks?"

The madman shook his head quickly:

"No, apart from often feeling like something was watching me from the darkness, I had no other encounters; otherwise, I wouldn't still be alive.

"My child fell gravely ill and died in the hospital. We had just purified him and buried him in the catacombs. My wife, my wife broke down and hanged herself in our room.

"It was only then that I recalled the legend of the Montsouris ghost and took my parents to the church, asking the priest there to protect us.

"The Church took it very seriously, assigning three clergy members to live in our house. During that time, nothing happened. I thought the nightmare was over.

"After the New Year, the clergy members left, and not long after, my father strangled my mother and then killed himself with a kitchen knife. After that, I don't remember much... I occasionally wake up to find I've somehow moved here..."

The madman's blue eyes showed deep pain, and Lumian felt that the man was like a taut spring, ready to snap at any moment.

"Isn't the Montsouris ghost supposed to kill the person who encountered it within the year? It's already the new year," Lumian keenly noticed a discrepancy between the madman's story and the legend.