The Grove of Ephiphany, where knowledge flourishes and philosophers are born. Yet here stands Anaxagoras the blasphemer, the Chrysos Heir who challenges the Coreflame of Reason. He is questioned: Would you defy the prophecy even if you must bear infamy, and insist on driving the thorns of doubt into the Sacred Tree of wisdom?
——“Ridiculous. In a world full of lies, I am the only truth.”

“Ah, you were born in a remote city-state. Your parents departed early, leaving only your older sister by your side, barely supporting the family on the meager income she earned from taming animals. You have been reclusive and isolated since childhood. While your peers frolicked on the grassy fields, you would hide alone in the shadows of trees and pick up fallen leaves from the ground.

'Why do the dromases not fly toward the sky?'
You look upon the dromas that grew up alongside you, mumbling to yourself.
'Maybe because this dromas used to be a nerd in its past life too!'
You've often heard these words spoken all too often, but you never understood why it was used as a form of mockery.

'If all the gods are omnipotent, why do they fear death?'
In the temple where sacred teachings are recited, the very things deemed unquestionable inevitably stir your doubts.
'Out, Anaxagoras!'
The furious priest often throws you out of temple.

Your sister never blamed you. Instead, she carved out a portion of her meager income to buy the books and tools you longed for. Screws, heavy pliers, delicate scales… At home, you tinkered with these instruments, utterly immersed in the joy of creation. At five years old, you were endlessly curious about life: A mechanical bird that sang on its own, a dromas incubator, artificial flowers that stayed forever vibrant — you boldly declared you'd become the most knowledgeable person in the world. Tsk, tsk. How rare it is for a child's grand boasts to be taken seriously by their family.

Later, she heard from passing merchants that there was an academy called the Grove of Epiphancy, a sacred place devoted to the pursuit of wisdom. You secretly memorized that name, thinking that if you could one day go there with your sister, life wouldn't be so hard.
Later still, she finally managed to raise enough travel funds and asked a merchant friend to give you a ride so you could go study at the Grove.
Halfway along the journey, upon hearing that the black tide had struck, you hurriedly rushed back — the sight of that corroded ruin was truly unbearable to behold… Proud as you are, you even found yourself kneeling on the ground. You weren't praying to the gods, were you…”

“Stop flipping through my mind, you naughty Titan.”
The man snapped out of his reverie, and an emotion — indeterminable if it was either rage or sorrow — flickered in his right eye.

Number: 13
Subject: Chrysos Heir's Golden Blood Experiment
Materials: My blood
Records: After purifying the fluid, it resembles liquid gold, and reveals a seed-shaped structure under the microscope. Fainted thrice while obtaining blood.
…
Number: 55
Subject: Dissecting the soul of Titan creations
Materials: Three dying ■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■ Titan creations, mercury potion, Antila flower extract
Records: Experimental subject abruptly went berserk upon dissecting to the core. Fortunately, only I was severely injured, it did not harm anyone else. Subsequently, the alchemy equipment have been refined. The pedigree chart of the souls of ■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■ Titan is nearing completion.
…
Number: 144
Subject: Atempt at the metaphase of the soul fusion
Materials: A soul flame donated by a scholar, Titan creations
Records: ■■■■■■■■, my dearest friend, according to your last wishes, your body has been transformed into a flame that incinerates punishment, and your soul has turned into a cornerstone for analyzing Titans.
…
*The last page of scribbled comments*
It's been years since this had happened, the frigidness of death still stirs in my left eye, but I can see “souls” of humans. That boiling heat is enough to fill the void.

Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps next year, or perhaps in the next instant —
I'll be accused and arrested. There will always be people who want me to lower my head and keep me silent.

But sister, I'll always remember that I met you for the last time here. You didn't say anything.
But that was enough, I know I did the right thing.
Over the past decade, it has always been so—
“Failure is a stepping stone to success.”

— Anaxa's parapsychology experiment log.
The original copy has already been destroyed.