Chapter 2: Tears of the Gods and the Remains of the Gods

Amon is neither a slave nor a noble; he is merely an ordinary citizen of Doke Town. The name given to him is merely a self-deception of his drunken father, who fantasizes about glory. That long list of titles does not represent his family lineage but is instead concocted by his father in a drunken state, which is why Amon himself would never bring it up.

In addition to alcohol, the residents of Doke Town also enjoy various delicious meats. However, apart from the few sheep raised nearby and the occasional game hunted in the mountains, most of the meat must be transported from outside. Amon's father, upon acquiring wealth, immediately exchanged it for enjoyment, while the tax for this season, represented by a single divine stone, has yet to be submitted.

Amon could only regard these as the ramblings of a madman after drinking, yet he dared not dismiss the possibility entirely in his heart. Thus, he chose not to dwell on it any further and continued to focus on his own tasks—this was his best habit

The old madman also mentioned that during his early travels across the continent, he encountered monks from the distant East, who referred to the divine stone as the "relic of the earth." Amon did not understand what this meant. As he spoke, the old madman's unkempt beard was stained with bright red wine, and his smile appeared quite lewd. He then winked at Amon and said, "Many countries on the continent have legends about deities, claiming that the earth is transformed from the body of ancient celestial gods. What is wrong with saying that the divine stone is the remains of a god?"

Thank you, great goddess Isis, thank you for the favor of the gods, may the light of the divine forever shine upon Egypt, and may it always protect the city of the sea cape ... In the midst of Amon's confusion, Fayyur had already crossed the threshold, one hand on his forehead and the other on the ground, kneeling on one knee. The two warriors outside also knelt on one knee alongside Lord Fayyur, their long swords resting on the ground, the sound of their breastplates clashing resonating heavily.

Not every ore core necessarily contains divine stones, but divine stones will only appear in such ore cores. My father's hands trembled, unable to control the mining hammer, which is why he called upon the fourteen-year-old Amon to give it a try

Amon has a full name, which is Arohe-Men-Sumi-Saiya-Hua-Anla-Ye-Mengtemeng, but this full name was given by his father and was only mentioned by him during Amon's childhood. Even Amon himself does not remember it very clearly; the townspeople usually just call him Amon. The name given to him by his father is excessive, as only noble families are allowed to have such a long string of titles and to write them out, representing hereditary glory

Fayol looked at Amon and seemed quite satisfied as he nodded, his expression becoming solemn and grave. He said with great seriousness: "I am Fayol-Judah, from the city-state of Cape of the Great Empire of Egypt, which governs the Kingdom of Hatti. I serve as the chief secretary to Lord Dick, the great scribe. Lord Dick received a great revelation from the goddess Isis in a dream, and the holy maiden of the Temple of Isis has been favored by the gods, granted a tear of the gods, and the place of descent is right here"

... ...

Nietzsche: The residents of Doke Town, an old friend of Amon, nicknamed the Old Madman

Amidst the fine gray-white sand, there lies a divine stone, quietly resting. It is surprisingly pale golden, semi-transparent, and seems to possess a strange luster that mysteriously flows within, as if it contains tears on the verge of falling—what exactly is this divine stone!

The divine stone cannot be extracted merely through brute force; it is extremely solid, and ordinary strength finds it difficult to damage. However, when it is still within the mineral core, it is quite fragile and can easily turn to dust along with the core if not handled carefully

Amon's father has set down his wine cup and stood up, trembling as he asked: "Noble sir, what kind of divine stone is this? Why have I never seen it before?"

In an instant, many thoughts flashed through Amon's mind, yet he did not consider another matter at this moment—Fayol's actions would reveal that he had learned the techniques of the miners in Doke Town without permission.

Fayol has already knelt down, yet the townsfolk of this foreign land remain standing, appearing as if Fayol is kneeling before them. How can this not provoke anger? Amon's father moved his lips but dared not speak, uncertain whether he should kneel before the sacred stone on the chopping block or before the esteemed gentleman at the door. After some contemplation, he ultimately chose to kneel and pay his respects to Fayol.

Is anyone home? I am Fayaul Judah, the secretary to Lord Rod-Dick, the lord of the Cape State of the Empire of Aijia, here on the orders of Lord Dick. As he spoke, the speaker pushed open the door, crossed the room, and arrived at the entrance of the workshop.

Amon was filled with anger and resentment, thinking about how his father would have to pay a divine stone tomorrow. This peculiar divine stone could have completed the task, but it was now taken away. He then recalled that the divine stone was taken by someone sent by Lord Dick. If the mayor wanted to pursue the matter, he should seek out Lord Dick, as their family had not failed to fulfill their tax obligations

When the father and son knelt down, Fayol had already stood up. He had seen very clearly that it was that child who had extracted the Tears of the Gods. When Fayol entered, Amon had not yet put down the mining hammer in his hand. Meanwhile, the scruffy old drunkard beside him was trembling with both hands, clearly not the one who could have extracted the divine stone

It outlines the contours of the world as drawn by the divine, containing the mysterious information and * diagrams * of the fifth element, serving as a source of mystical power and symbols. The most common divine stone is colorless and transparent; when held in hand and viewed from different angles, it reveals various unpredictable pentagram shapes, so perfect, dazzling, and enchanting, evoking awe at the Creator's wonders.

Amon gently placed the large hammer beside the anvil and replied as calmly as possible: "When mining the divine stone, it is essential to stand in order to swing the mining hammer; otherwise, how could you see it being extracted intact?" After speaking, he mimicked the posture of Fayol from earlier, kneeling on one knee before the divine stone. He had already realized that the divine stone extracted today was extraordinary, and these people had come specifically for it.

The mayor of Dasti, who oversees the collection and statistical assessment of taxes in Duku Town, is generally very kind. He typically does not press miners too hard regarding occasional delays in payment, as mining the divine stone requires not only hard work and skill but also luck. Even if there are temporary delays, it is not impossible to make up for them when fortune smiles again. It is precisely for this reason that Mayor Dasti has long been supported by the residents of the town, leading to a comfortable life.

After finishing his words, Fayol took out a bag and placed it on the cutting board. He reached for the Tear of the Gods and put it into a golden box he carried with him, then turned and walked out. Amon's father saw what he did, his lips moved as if to stop him, but he did not dare to speak.

This sound made Amon understand that it would be of no use to chase after the person who had just left. The strange divine stone, which he had never seen before, had just been mined and was taken away by this uninvited guest, leaving behind only a money pouch. The person even said, "Thank you for his contribution," as if Amon had willingly offered the divine stone to him.

Amon's father: a miner and blacksmith from Doke Town, is a drunkard

O great goddess Isis, please forgive this ignorant voice! Hearing the words of the father and son, Fayal lowered his hand from his forehead, raised his head in exaggerated astonishment, and then saw that Amon and his son were still standing there. He scolded them displeasedly, "Why are you not kneeling yet?"

All the divine stones are identical in shape and size, approximately the size of a cat's eye, and are perfect dodecahedra. They have thirty edges, twenty vertices, and twelve faces, each of which is a standard regular pentagon. It is said that in the far northwest of the Tian Shu continent, a sage named Tai A Tai De once stated that there are only five types of regular polyhedra in the world, and the dodecahedron is the most special among them.

However, tonight, after the mineral core transformed into grayish-white fine sand scattered across the workbench, Amon was taken aback, and the heavy hammer was frozen in mid-air. His father, who was watching from the side, was also rooted to the spot, his eyes wide open, mouth agape in forgetfulness, and the hand holding the wine glass trembled incessantly, yet he remained oblivious to the wine that had already splashed onto his clothes

When Amon's father had just arrived in town with the caravan, he exchanged the last divine stone in his possession for fine wine. It was only when the mayor issued his orders that he realized he had not yet completed his tax obligations for the season. Consequently, he went to borrow from the town's old madman, Nietzsche, but only managed to obtain a processed ore core. The madman assured Amon's father that there was certainly a divine stone within it

When Amon swung the heavy hammer towards the core of the mine, his father's expression was tense, his hands trembling involuntarily. In contrast, Amon's demeanor was focused and calm. His father believed this was Amon's first time completing this task, unaware that Amon had already done the same thing many times at the old madman's place. The person who privately taught Amon the craft was not just his father; the old madman in town had also instructed him, often watching Amon work while drinking.

Fayol, in his thirties, has a medium build, slightly tanned skin, and curly hair. He wears a long robe made of burlap and is very clean. His lips are somewhat thin, and his eyes are slightly narrow, often bearing a contemplative expression. It is only in the presence of esteemed gentlemen like Rod-Dick that he displays an expression of utmost concentration. However, at this moment, his gaze is solely fixed on the shimmering stone that glows with a faint golden hue

The father was astonished, but Amon was even more surprised, not because he had learned so quickly. Hadn't the priests and the clergy said that one could only learn the unique skills passed down through generations in the Duku Town with the blessing and approval of the guardian deity? He had not undergone that solemn and sacred ceremony, so how had he awakened the legendary dormant power? He did not ask his father but had inquired of the old madman Nietzsche, who scoffed at him disdainfully but also cautioned him to keep it a secret and not to speak carelessly. He had not undergone that solemn and sacred ceremony, so how had he awakened the legendary dormant power? He did not ask his father but had inquired of the old madman Nietzsche, who scoffed at him disdainfully but also cautioned him to keep it a secret and not to speak carelessly

His voice exuded refinement, yet his demeanor was quite casual. He entered without the master's permission, with two fully armed soldiers guarding the entrance, and another two soldiers flanking him on either side. As Amon came to his senses and turned to look outside, Fayol was just stepping over the threshold, his face displaying a mix of shock and elation

According to the city-state decree, each household in Doke Town must submit nine out of every ten mined divine stones to the city-state, retaining one for themselves. However, the decree also stipulates that each registered miner must pay at least one divine stone each season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—as a basic tax.

The heavy hammer struck the mineral core, and what was controlled and depicted was not merely strength. At the moment of contact, a penetrating shockwave erupted into the incredibly hard mineral core, and a lingering, resonant hum echoed throughout the room. Then, countless fine cracks appeared on the surface of the mineral core, which was harder than pig iron. The cracks continuously intertwined and expanded, becoming densely packed, and the mineral core gradually transformed from its dark appearance to a dull grayish-white, lacking luster.

Over the past two years, Amon's father has felt his physical strength deteriorating at an increasingly rapid pace, and his hands have been trembling more severely. He fears that if he waits for that day to come, it may be too late for Amon to take over his mining hammer. Therefore, he privately taught his son the local mining skills in advance. After two years of practice, Amon has mastered these skills quite proficiently, which has surprised his father. Generally speaking, boys in Doke Town who wish to master this unique method of controlling power begin their studies at the age of sixteen and typically do not graduate until they are twenty, and even then, it is unlikely they could wield it with such proficiency. Amon has mastered these skills quite proficiently, which has surprised his father. Generally speaking, boys in Doke Town who wish to master this unique method of controlling power begin their studies at the age of sixteen and typically do not graduate until they are twenty, and even then, it is unlikely they could wield it with such proficiency.

Amon thought to himself, so this divine stone is called the Tear of the Gods. It seems that the old madman was not entirely off the mark when he said that the divine stone is the remains of a deity. At the same time, he respectfully replied, "My name is Amon, and everyone here calls me Amon"

"Who are you, to just come in like this?" Amon asked hesitantly

Since ancient times, the custom in Doke Town has been that upon reaching the age of sixteen, young men must participate in a prayer ceremony presided over by a priest in the Temple of Goddess Mu Yun, where they receive the blessings of the deity. Only after this can they qualify to learn the unique artisan skills passed down through generations. Mastery of these skills is necessary to independently access the mineral core and extract the divine stone. Those who do not obtain this qualification can only perform auxiliary tasks, such as searching for mineral cores in the mountains and extracting them, or cutting wood and making charcoal to provide fuel for the furnace.

After finishing this statement, Fayol cleared his throat and looked at Amon, noticing that the child showed little reaction, perhaps he was already in a daze. He then lightly coughed and continued: "Amon, under the benevolent gaze of Isis, you are fortunate to welcome the descent of the tears of the gods. In gratitude for your offering, it will belong to the guardian saint of the goddess Isis, and the goddess will remember your name... These are bestowed upon you by the generous Lord Rod-Dick." He then lightly coughed again and continued: "Amon, under the benevolent gaze of Isis, you are fortunate to welcome the descent of the tears of the gods. In gratitude for your offering, it will belong to the guardian saint of the goddess Isis, and the goddess will remember your name... These are bestowed upon you by the generous Lord Rod-Dick."

The adults in the town all love to drink, including middle-aged women. Whether it is mining or forging iron ingots, these are extremely heavy physical labor. It is said that alcohol is a magical substance, imbued with some mysterious power. It indeed seems to relax the spirit and relieve physical fatigue; however, excessive drinking is not beneficial. Amon's father is an alcoholic, particularly addicted to fragrant and expensive wines, and in recent years, his hands have been trembling more and more.

The crack extends to the extreme, and the mineral core naturally opens up or disperses, resembling falling fine sand. If fortunate, a divine stone may appear at the center of the gray-white sand grains

By the time Amon reacted and stood up, Fayol had already left, followed closely by two warriors who protected him, the hilts of their swords clashing against their armor, producing a cold and imposing sound

The old madman retorted: "The legendary beings are created by the deities; humans die, so who created the gods? Why can they not fall? In the most ancient legends, the area around Doke Town is the place where the celestial gods fell during the ancient war of the gods.

"Child, you have received the favor of the goddess Isis, fortunate to welcome the tears of the gods descending upon the earth. What is your name?" Fayol asked Amon.

Although Amon does not understand what the divine stone truly is, he is well aware of the types of divine stones. The quantity of the four special divine stones is significantly less than that of ordinary divine stones, with a probability of being mined at only a few hundredths. Amon is also unclear about their exact value, as all the special divine stones that have appeared in the town of Doke have been taken away by the city-state as important tributes.

When this divine stone appeared, a mysterious wave silently rippled outward in all directions. Amon sensed it very keenly, but his unexpected surprise caused him to not pay much attention to it, while his father was completely stunned. Before long, a polite voice from outside the door brought the father and son back to their senses

However, three days ago, the mayor issued an order that all households in arrears with the divine stone must make full payment within three days. All households in the town managed to settle their dues within this period, as most had accumulated savings over the years for emergencies, except for the Amon family. The mayor's order might be related to the arrival of the esteemed Lord Aju in the town three days ago, but Amon was not clear about the specifics, nor was it appropriate for a child like him to inquire about such matters.

Fayol - Judah: Rod - Secretary of Dick

Regarding the divine stones, the old madman Nietzsche has a heretical theory that they are the crystallized remains of fallen deities, which can be referred to as the bones of the gods. In response, Amon could not bring himself to believe this and once asked the old madman—do even eternal deities fall

Character List of This Chapter

In addition to the colorless and transparent divine stone, Amon is aware of four other types of divine stones, which are blue, red, black, and white. According to a distant sage named Empedocles, they symbolize the mysterious information of the four elements that constitute the world: water, fire, earth, and air. Of course, Amon heard all this from the old madman; he cannot discern the truth and is even less certain whether those so-called distant sages truly exist, perhaps they are merely fabrications of the old madman.