Wizard’s Journal (2)

Scanning correction: MRX

Title IV

Sneak attack in the pit

“Ryu! Watch your back!”

Bill exclaimed.

Ryu quickly turned around as a silent sword came at him, and with no time to parry, Ryu dodged as fast as he could and dropped to the ground. But the attacker didn’t let go of this perfect opportunity, and chased Ryu down with a series of unrelenting blows. Between the rolls, Ryu didn’t have time to pull out the longsword hanging on his waist, which made it impossible for him to reverse the situation.

“Bill! Flame magic!”

“Attack!” Separated by such a distance, I could only be anxious on the other side of the underground river.

After all, it had been more than a decade since I had returned to the old, abandoned pit, and I couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to the dangers of finding the right path through the collapsed sections of the pit. It was indeed my fault that I was inadvertently blocked by a sudden underground flood, leaving Lon and Bill stranded on the dangerous side of the pit.

“Xiao An, I… can’t cast it!” Spreading his hands, unable to gather any magic, Bill muttered an incoherent incantation and shouted helplessly back towards me. He was so anxious and panicked that he didn’t even notice that more enemies might be gathering at his position, but he was just helplessly fidgeting by Ryu’s side.

“Damn it!” I almost wanted to fly across the river with my flying magic, but I was more than capable of leaving Aimee alone on this bank of the river to face unknown dangers on her own. The only thing I could do at the moment was to try to stabilize Bill and get him to cast magic to help Ryu. “Bill! You can do it! Regulate your breathing and calm your mind, you can gather enough magic power!”

“Ann, don’t mind me, go over there and do them a favor!” Amy was by my side and was already so worried she could hardly swim over to help. She yelled to Bill across the river, “Bill, just like we practiced last night, you can do it!”

“Aimee, you know there’s no way I’m letting you alone over here.” I held out my hands and quickly surrounded Aimee and I with a wave of defense magic, “Aimee, there may be enemies over here as well, I’ll start with a simple magic defense for now, and you must focus on alerting this side as I’m going to be distracted to help out Lon and the others. If there is movement, immediately call my attention back or you and I will be in danger together. We can’t afford to be on both sides of the fence, okay?”

“An… I know.” Without going through a long hesitation, Aimee immediately picked up her staff and turned her back to Ryu’s direction, concentrating on her vigilance. I could see her shoulders constantly shaking from worry, but I knew she would do well.

Aimee, while more emotional, is actually the strongest person on this team, and I’ve always known that.

“Bill! Take up the dagger and answer the battle!”

After seeing Bill holding his feet and playing with his Misty Staff, I couldn’t help but feel angry in my heart. I don’t know how many times the most basic flame magic has been taught to him, and he knew it long ago, but he just refused to practice it properly, and now he can’t use it on the spot? What Ryu needed most right now was not powerful assistance, but to delay the enemy, as long as he could draw his sword, the situation would be much different. But, Bill is now almost equal to a waste of time, can’t even use a magic?

A wizard who can’t use magic?

I no longer expect Bill to be able to use magic in this situation, I extend my index finger, in the fingertip to gather a very small range, but the power will be quite amazing; the pit has no light, and the distance is very far, in this case is even more unable to withstand any error. I know very well that this is not a good time to cast this kind of long range attack magic, but at this point when Bill has lost his battle power, I have no choice left. “Ryu, focus all your strength on defense! You have to be mentally prepared to be hit by my magic! Bill, move farther away and focus on any other enemies approaching!”

“Ann, what are you doing?”

Bill looked over in horror. I ignored him, and after seeing Ryu stop rolling and dodging and focus his strength on defense, I wasted no time in blasting my magic past him. A flash of light cut through the deserted pit amidst the sound of gurgling water and struck Ryu and the sneak attacker in the middle of the struggle; I had aimed my attack as hard as I could at the sneak attacker, and I saw the sneak attacker collapse after taking the magic. However, I also saw Ryu take part of the attack and fall at the same time.

“Ryu!” Bill immediately rushed to Ryu’s side after the magic subsided. From Bill’s reaction, I knew Ryu was not badly injured, not to mention that he had already suffered a lot of injuries from the sneak attacker’s attack first. I looked over at Amy; with a clench of my teeth, I made a decision that wasn’t easy.

“Aimee, hold on for five minutes, I’ll go get them.” I hold out an auto-inspired magic scroll to Aimee: “When someone comes open this scroll, throw it out with force, and cast a defense spell to match what I did earlier, and hide tightly inside. However, I want this magic scroll not to be opened until you have to.”

“I know. Go ahead.” Without even looking back, Emi took the scroll. At the same time, I saw more sneak attackers approaching in the direction of Lon and Bill, and before it was too late, I immediately used my flying magic to cross the underground river, picked up Lon and Bill, and flew back to Aimee as fast as I could before the enemies arrived.

“Ryu!” Aimee’s strength crumbled at once upon seeing Ryu’s injuries. I signaled for Bill to take over Aimee’s guard duty, leaving Ryu to Aimee’s healing spell, and I didn’t waste any time in immediately turning to face the enemies in the gathering on the opposite bank. I was sure that the enemy had come prepared, and it was only a matter of time before they tried to cross the underground river, and I had no idea how many of them there would indeed be. My mind reflected on the injuries I saw Ryu suffer when I just picked him up, and a nameless fire in my heart couldn’t help but burn with the surging magic.

“You guys!” I raised my hands, gathering between them a magical power several times higher than what I had just used, and shouted to the enemy on the opposite side of the river. “You guys take that!” As soon as the words stopped, the magic in my hands swept towards the enemy in an instant like a beast out of a gate. The power of the magic engulfed the enemies in the darkness in an instant, but I knew that the power wasn’t enough to defeat them, at best, it would only delay them from coalescing their next attack.

“Aimee, this is not a good place to stay, we must find a safer place to come back and heal Ryu.” Looking at the enemies on the other side of the river who were hastily enduring my attacks, I didn’t feel at all relieved in my heart.

I have a feeling that this isn’t a sneak attack by chance, this should be a planned attack, including the sudden outburst of the underground river, I’m afraid it’s all just part of the plan. Before figuring out the situation, I think it would be inappropriate to clash head-on with the enemy for the time being.

“Wait, Ryu can’t afford to move right now!” Aimee was shedding tears while the glow of healing magic in her hands didn’t rest. “Just wait a little longer, just a little longer.”

“Aimee, we can’t wait. The enemy could come back at any time.” I cast a freeze magic on Ryu, temporarily freezing his injuries. “Bill, with your thief’s instincts, find a safe place. Be quick!”

“I know.” Bill hadn’t finally dared to speak until now, but it was only a short sentence. By the faint light, he broke into a run towards the depths of the pit. I hugged Ryu, and Aimee, who accompanied me, followed Bill closely.

Imprisonment Magic

“Ryu, is everything okay?” Bill asked in a whisper.

“It won’t kill you.” Aimee was obviously still angry and didn’t give Bill a good look.

She gently cares for Ryu so that he can lie down comfortably and slowly recuperate from his injuries. I also sprinkle – a bit of magical light on Ryu, so that he can recover, a bit faster.

“Ann, Aimee, I…” Bill, filled with guilt, seemed to want to apologize, but Aimee had already pressed her temper and looked about to snap. But I beat Bill to it and interrupted him.

“Bill, don’t say sorry.” I saw that Bill was a little surprised, a little relieved, but when he saw the look on my face, it didn’t seem right that I wasn’t handing him forgiveness so easily. That’s right, I wasn’t trying to forgive him.

“Bill, I told you a long time ago, and I’m now, repeating it to you again.” In a very serious tone, I suppressed my urge to berate Bill severely, “In battle, never say you’re sorry. Because you don’t ever get to say sorry. Whether it’s a stupid move, or not being able to attack when you should have, or anything that might jeopardize your partner, you don’t have to apologize. Because, if a partner isn’t killed in battle because of your stupidity, he or she will leave you because of your incompetence.”

“Ann, I…” said Bill, trying to think of something to say.

“Don’t call me Little Ann.” I clenched my fists, suppressing the power I could barely hold back from letting out, “As of today, you have no right to call me Little Anne. As far as being the master who imparted your magic is concerned, I have been too indulgent with you, I have allowed you to level with me with impunity, so much so that you have taken all of my words at face value, never properly taking what I said to heart, and that’s what nearly cost Ryu his life. You have only two choices now, one is to leave obediently now, the other, is to come to your senses and accept my strict training in the future with absolutely no more mercy.”

“An… Master Ambrosious, I… I am willing to be punished and to accept any kind of training from you.

“I’m so sorry,” Bill said with his head bowed and filled with guilt. I really hated myself, if I hadn’t been indulging his hang-ups, Ryu wouldn’t be struggling on the brink of death today.

“Bill, stand inside.” I pulled the Staff of Mists that had been passed to Bill from around his waist and drew a spell on the ground, signaling for him to step inside. Bill stepped in with a confused look on his face, and he consciously reached for a thin spell book I had given him. I reached up with my right hand and let the long-simmering magic in my hand explode within the spell formation; a burst of green light instantly shone within the circular confines of the spell formation, solidly encompassing Bill.

“This is a forbidden magic formation.” I ignored Bill’s horrified reaction, “Unless you find the right magic to undo it, you’ll stay in there for the rest of your life and die. The spell book I just gave you has the magic to undo it, but you have to figure out for yourself which one it is, or which ones are strung together in a magic sequence. I’ve taught you most of the magic in there, so it’s up to you whether you can use it or not, and if you can’t do it, you’ll stay in there for one more day. I’m not going to save you, and this magic formation isn’t something that can be undone from the outside, so you’re on your own.”

“Ambrosious… this…” Bill held the grimoire like a drowning man grasping a straw that he didn’t know if or how to save his life, “What… what do I… what do I do?”

“Don’t ask me, ask yourself.”

I really had my mind made up this time and didn’t want to indulge Bill in learning magic the way he wanted.

“You’ve always thought that with the elves of the Isle of Mists to back you up, you could spend a lot less effort on magical studies and reach the level of a first-class magician? Wrong! You are very wrong! Fate wants you to become a magician, but it doesn’t guarantee that you will become one, if you don’t rely on your own efforts, you will always be just a pawn of fate, sooner or later, you will be given up because this pawn is of no use at all.”

“Destiny just gives you a better chance, and if you don’t know how to take control yourself, destiny will get away from you.” I pointed at Bill’s nose through the magical array, showing no mercy. “You, right now, you’re destroying your chances, you’re destroying yourself. This time, I won’t help you, you’ll have to break through this one on your own, and the elves of the Isle of Mists won’t come all the way here to help you.”

“Also, let me remind you that we’re only waiting for you until Ryu recovers. Once Ryu recovers, if you can’t break through this magic formation by then, we’ll leave you here.” I waved my hand to stop Bill’s words, “If you have time to talk, why don’t you take a good look at the magic book and think back to the old days when I taught these spells, so you can have more time and energy to break through this magic formation before you starve to death and die of thirst.”

“What? I don’t have anything to eat or drink in there?” Bill really freaked out this time, shivering at me who had turned away from him.

“Crap.” Aimee answered the question in my place. “For a magician who can’t cast magic, this disposition couldn’t be more appropriate.” She also added ruthlessly : “Don’t worry, if you starve to death in there, I’ll shed a tear of sympathy for you.”

The second full moon in the fall

Another full moon.

Even in the midst of the pit, where I could not see the light of day, with the throb of magic, I could feel it. I pricked up my ears and listened, and there seemed to be other footsteps in the abandoned pit that had been coming and going in the distant tunnels. But it wasn’t another enemy that would suddenly appear that I was worried about, because I had already closed the cavern we were resting in, temporarily, from the outside. No one would probably be able to find us until I reopened it with my magic.

That way, Ryu would get a chance to fully recover.

Aimee was asleep on the sidelines, she was tired after all, and casting healing spells on Ryu almost without interruption was no easy task. We left Bill in confinement in the adjoining cave, where he was able to struggle with the confinement magic undisturbed, and I wouldn’t let him off the hook again in a moment of weakness. I think it may be a great weakness in my personality that I’m often too ruthless to ask anything of others, preferring to change myself to accommodate others, and that’s why I let Bill use his magic the way he did.

I couldn’t help but sigh to myself in this dark, abandoned pit.

After the entrance to the Gnome Cave was blocked off by me, the path to the Chamber of the Stone of Life became even more treacherous and difficult to navigate. Based on my memories from years ago, I chose this abandoned pit that was supposed to be a shortcut, hoping to stop my enemies in time before they broke through to the final level.

MESSIS… MESSIS’s troops, as I had expected, even under MESSIS’s orders, completely ignored my presence in Hapag Harbor, not to mention following my command. I don’t blame them, after all, I was the one who destroyed their home, and it’s hard enough that they didn’t turn on me. It was good to be back with Lon, Bill, and Aimee, walking into this abandoned pit was like going back to my summer adventures.

But this time, I don’t think I can leave them. After letting go of too many feelings for them, I don’t think I can abandon them and go wandering alone.

And what I’m worried about now is not being able to get to the Chamber of the Stone of Life in time to stop the enemy from getting their hands on a fountain of such terrifying power. After the seal from thirty years ago had gradually weakened over time, even I wasn’t sure how much of a defense force would remain, and the small population of the Gnomes probably wouldn’t be able to withstand such a planned invasion. And now, with Ryu’s injuries still needing a few days of recuperation, and with Bill’s confinement, the pit had already consumed more time than I had predicted. And I knew that if Bill didn’t figure out a way to undo the confinement in time, it would be hard for me to turn my back on it, and I’d still be on the sidelines with constant hints.

Just, how can I not tell Bill that once he reads that magic book from cover to cover once – once – to really experience the true meaning of magic, this imprisoning magic will be unlocked on its own. Instead of my magic imprisoning him, the source of the power of this imprisoning magical array is his own mind’s magic. If he understands his mission for magic, if he understands his destiny of having to keep the magic running and flowing through him for the rest of his life, and if he is willing to dedicate himself to magic, this magic formation will disappear with the last obstacle in his heart.

I only wish that Bill could have appreciated this before Ryu recovered from his injury.

Dark elves surround me, fluttering like bats. I settled my mind that had been in waves for a long time and focused my mind, listening to the elves’ voices. Ever since I set foot on the Isle of Mists and met Mathis, for some reason, my mind has always been restless, not only was I unable to communicate with the elves of the Isle of Mists, I was even excluded by the power of nature, and it was only when the elves of the Isle of Mists chose Bill that I was able to utilize the power of nature through Bill. This feeling is like a magic fog surrounding me and shielding me. It was only now, in the darkness of the pit, far from the crowds, that I finally recovered that feeling of meeting with the elf’s mind.

And what they conveyed to me now was a surprisingly palpitating warning.

It’s like trying to walk into a room that was once very familiar, but hasn’t been visited in a while, and opening that familiar door, only to have a wave of bats pouring out and blackening your face in an instant.

That’s how I felt now, a wave of panic and warning flooded my unguarded mind, plunging me into almost limitless fear in a flash. It was as if I were drowning, struggling to grab the nearest straw, and then exerting my magic to stabilize myself; even if I was still like an involuntary weed in the water, at least I was able to stabilize myself enough to slowly see what kind of impact was coming around me.

A very powerful force is silently sweeping across the continent, at a time when most humans are not alerted.

I was beginning to understand why the Isle of Mists had used so much power to seal the entire island in knots, because there was no way to stop the power from controlling everything except this. And that is what the dark elves in the pits are doing, the eruption of the underground rivers, the crumbling of the pits here and there, and the eventual dark sealing magic that is already slowly taking place. I already knew that I had to get out of this abandoned pit within three days or I would never get out, the dark elves had already activated the seals that belonged to them.

And the sound of enemy footsteps coming and going in the distance turned out to have been a pack of trapped beasts, none of which, I’m afraid, were able to leave this abandoned pit alive.

And all I have to do now is to bring Aimee and the others out within three days, and to warn all the creatures on the continent, especially the humans, as quickly as possible that this terrifying force is in the midst of taking place. More importantly, I must immediately rush to the Life Stone Room and destroy the enemy’s attempt to leak the idea of pointing at the Life Stone once and for all.

Time, it’s running out. Time is what I lack right now to stop this force.

without reservation

“Ann, what’s wrong with you? You’re sweating like crazy even in this weather?” Aimee said to me, who was sweating coldly all over, as she rubbed her still-sleepy eyes.

“It’s fine.” I steeled myself from the shock I’d just experienced and forced a hard smile, attempting to act as if nothing had happened.

“A spell I’ve been unable to remember, and when I get anxious, I make myself sweat all over the place. I think it’s better not to rely too much on my memory, and checking the magic books once in a while isn’t really hurting my reputation as a legendary wizard.”

“You, you can’t even lie.”

Aimee shook her head and grabbed a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off my forehead, “The sound of you screaming out could have woken me up, it obviously wouldn’t be something as trivial as not being able to remember magic. Something that would make you scream out loud would have to be no small thing, and after I was woken up by you and what I saw you were in a cold sweat again. Let’s see, I’ll get you a change of clothes so you don’t catch a cold in the cold underground pit; we can’t afford to have yet another person less than one hundred percent battle fit right now.”

“Did I… did I scream?” I shook my head, completely unaware of what I had just done. Stretching out my right hand, I used magic to intensify the campfire in front of me, and the roaring flames not only illuminated the otherwise gloomy cave, but also added a sense of warmth.

“It seems as if I have never been able to lie easily in front of you. Well, something did happen, something very horrible. But I hope you won’t ask for a while. I’ll tell you, but not now, before I can even sort a clue out for myself.”

“I wouldn’t dare ask!” Aimee, sensing the gravity of my attitude, put on a playful smile in an attempt to lighten my mood.

“I wouldn’t dare to ask more about you if you don’t want to talk about it. Last time it was just a few more questions, and after finding out that you were the legendary wizard Enlis, you patted your ass and turned around and left. I’m not that stupid. If you want to get rid of us again, isn’t this the perfect excuse? Ryu said…” She suddenly realized that she had said something she shouldn’t have said, and tried to silence herself.

“What did Ryu say?” I smiled, knowing that Aimee wouldn’t give me that answer. Between the three of them, there must have been some sort of agreement or tacit understanding that they wouldn’t ask me any more questions. I knew, of course, that my sudden departure last time had hit them hard, and they were willing to do whatever it took to prevent things from repeating themselves again.

“Ryu said,” Aimee hesitated, but went on. But as soon as I heard it, I knew it wasn’t what she originally wanted to say. “Ryu said that you’re a nuisance with a bad stomach, and that asking you more questions would only lead to making up a few more stories to trick us and satisfy our curiosity. So don’t ask you questions lest you either leave without saying goodbye or have to spend your brain trying to think of a story.”

“When have I ever lied to you?” I spread my hands and made an innocent face. “Well then, from now on, I’ll ask you questions and I’ll answer absolutely all of them truthfully, and if I tell a single falsehood, I’ll electrocute myself hard with electric shock magic. However, I reserve the right not to answer.”

“You’re such a fraud!” Aimee said petulantly, “Whatever, whatever, if you don’t flog me back, then I’ll turn around and leave right now, I’m a man of my word.”

“Okay, for you to ask, I give up my right not to answer the question.” I nodded my head in surrender to her.

“But first, a warning, don’t ask questions you can’t afford to ask.”

“What questions will there be that you can’t afford to ask?” Aimee blinked and asked the first question, “Well then, I need to know the story between you and Catherine.”

“You… you really know how to pick your questions…” I paused and said, “Why do you want to know about me and Katharine?”

“Because it’s legendary, one of the most beautiful love stories.” Aimee wore that expression of an innocent girl with a giddy face. “Ever since I was little, I’ve heard about you and Catherine. After you saved her village, she followed you on your journey of conquest; you went straight to the Cathedral of Kassa for her, so that she could be baptized by Bishop Misir, and became one of the strongest monks afterward. Together, you went through the Elven Caves, guarded the Life Stone, visited the Isle of Mists, and fought to the death against the Black Dragon King… Oh, my God, this is a legend that I couldn’t get tired of hearing as a child, and now that I know that the hero is right in front of me, how can I not ask for clarification? Tell me… You have to tell me, you can’t be a liar.”

“Katharine…” I let the name iron through my mind once more, and the feeling of having my heart burn up, only to turn to ashes, like it had done for the past thirty years, cycled through me once more. “Katharine… the gentlest girl in the world… What do you want to ask when you know everything about us?”

“I’d like to hear the hero himself, tell me that story again.”

Aimee insisted with a determined look on her face, I must keep the promise I just made.

“Anyway, with Ryu still needing to rest and Bill still struggling with forbidden magic, we have all night for you to tell me the story in its entirety. I want you to start over, from the first time you met.

”

“Okay.” I nodded, and as if I were telling a story that had absolutely nothing to do with me, in a tone I didn’t even recognize myself, I carried out the story from thirty years ago, for the first time, in its entirety. “Thirty-five years ago, after I graduated from magic school…”

“┅I buried her in Emerald Lake in her favorite rose casket. Okay, the story is finished.” After several hours, I clapped my hands together and managed to finish the story in its entirety.

“That’s it, huh? And then what?”

Amy was shedding tears that hadn’t dried up yet, and at some point had used my chest as the biggest handkerchief, stained with her snot and tears. “And then what? What story ends like that? What happened then?”

“There is no later.” I was surprised how much more relieved I felt in my mind after getting all this out. For the first time in thirty years, I had thought about everything, head to tail, like this, without reservation, and said it all once.

It was as if I had let out all the secrets that had been accumulated in my mind and kept for too long, and I was surprised to feel a sense of relief in my heart. Perhaps, for Catherine, keeping her in my memories for too long wasn’t a fair thing for her either.

“Isn’t that all you need to hear about Catherine and me? After that it’s all about me.”

“So… so touching…” sighed Aimee promiscuously, soaking my easily sweat-dried clothes again. “Tell me, do you still love her now?”

“Love.” I replied without thinking. I patted Aimee’s shoulders against my chest, but the tears came uncontested. “I love her. Loved all my life. The only reason I’m still alive today is because I don’t want the magic she sacrificed her life for to die without valuing my life. As soon as her magic fades from me, I will end my life immediately.”

“Immediately?” Aimee tilted her head and looked at me who was retaining her tears, but her voice was unusually calm. “No! I forbid you to die!”

“Fool, it’s not like I’m going to die now.” I stroked her hair as I had stroked Catherine’s thirty years ago, gently smoothing the strands and letting my fingers feel her tenderness.

“No matter what, I forbid you to die, do you understand?” Aimee spat those words out word for word between her strong lips.

“Why?” I laughed bitterly.

“Because I love you.” Aimee’s lips kissed mine, unreservedly. All I could feel was as if magic was coursing toward me, but I had no time to notice that anymore. Because, with Aimee’s slender body in my arms, she suddenly transformed into Catherine, dismantling my thirty years of defenses and dissolving into me. I didn’t resist, I just let things happen like that.

On that night, Amy and I, possessed each other without reservation. Including the mind.

newborn

There was a loud crash in the distance as the pit collapsed.

From the resonance of the magic, I knew that the dark elves of the waste gas pits had begun their sealing. After so many years of the pit’s abandonment, it was finally going to be closed for good. I sighed, feeling a wave of powerlessness at all of this, not knowing whether to consider it a natural backlash or a natural self-defense. Nature always realizes that something is wrong one step ahead of humans, while humans, on the other hand, can only realize that everything is imminent when it’s hard to remedy things.

“Ann, what happened?” Aimee asked, rubbing her hooded  eyes after being awakened.

“It’s time to leave.” I answered her quietly. “You wake Ryu up, we can’t wait even though Ryu hasn’t fully recovered yet. I’m going to go check on Bill, hopefully we won’t have to actually leave him here.

”

“Whoa, there’s no need to wake me up, I’m already awake.” Ryu’s voice suddenly interjected, “How long have I been asleep? It feels like a century… I feel like my neck is so stiff…”

“You, I’ve used healing magic that could almost kill an elephant, it’s hard to get you back to this point, and you’re still smacking your neck stiff?” Emi gently tapped Ryu’s head with her finger, thinking about his condition in passing, “Alright! Although I can’t give you back an intact body, at least, my healing magic isn’t something to sneeze at! You’re in good shape, stand up and show Anne so he doesn’t just criticize my healing magic in the future.”

“How dare I…” I laughed and joked along with Emi. Ryu laughed along with me from the sidelines.

“Well, I’ll go see Bill.” After the laughter stopped, I collected my smile and returned to the current situation. “I hope Bill has broken through his demons. We don’t have time, nor can we stay here much longer.

The pit will soon be permanently closed, and the crisis in the chamber of the Stone of Life is urgent.”

“Ann, if Bill really… really can’t make a breakthrough, are you really going to leave him here?” Amy asked worriedly.

“Let’s put it this way, give me an hour and I promise to get Bill out of here, is that okay?” I thought about it and decided to go soft. “I won’t undo the forbidden magic for him, but I will help him. Ryu, don’t say anything, I know I can’t help being soft again, but I really can’t be cruel.”

“Ann, how could I possibly blame you?” Ryu looked at me and couldn’t help but smile bitterly as well. “Could I really be heartless enough to leave Bill here to die? Don’t forget, the one who promised his parents to take care of him is me, if you really want to let him die on his own, I’m afraid that the first one to disagree is me. I can’t really blame him for this injury. My own slow reaction was also… Forget it, let’s not talk about this. I’ll go with you to see him.”

“I’m going too.” Aimee quickly packed up the campsite and said firmly, “Don’t argue with me, I’m going, Ann.”

“Let’s go then.” Aimee was a little surprised to see that I didn’t stop her instead. I pointed in Bill’s direction, signaling them to follow me.

In the adjoining cave, Bill was still struggling with the forbidden magic array with what was left of his magical power. From the book of magic that had been left at his feet, it seemed that he should have been proficient in the magic on it, but couldn’t find the right way to break the spell formation.

“Little… Master Ambrosious,” Bill changed his tone just in time after almost calling me “Little Anne” again, “I’ve memorized all the magic spells in the spell book, but which magic spells can be combined to break the confinement spell? I’ve tried almost everything I can think of, but it just doesn’t work… I’m so hungry, so tired…”

“You, you deserve to die of hunger and exhaustion.” Aimee hadn’t changed her fondness for fighting with Bill, and even when she was very concerned about Bill she was in an evil shape. I hastily gave her a wink to stop her, because what Bill needed right now, was encouragement, not mockery.

“Bill, the point isn’t just how to put each spell to use, didn’t I say that earlier?”

I turned to Bill and looked straight into his eyes, “I talked about the elements of a good wizard, do you remember?”

“Of course I remember, you said…” Bill scratched his head, desperately trying to remember what I had said, “A good magician, besides being able to cast powerful magic, must possess a keen sense of magic, total devotion to magic, scrupulous respect for magic, and the ability to make the whole person completely united with the magical empathize.”

“So, after memorizing all the magic, tell me, or should I say tell yourself, what are you still lacking?” I looked straight into his eyes and saw, from the depths of his soul, that it wasn’t that he didn’t understand, he just wasn’t mentally prepared to face these loads that might be a bit beyond his burden.

“I…” Bill tilted his head and thought for a moment, then said ashamedly, “I seem to be lacking in everything… Ann, I think maybe I’m not really cut out to be a wizard. I’m not calm enough, I’m not focused enough, I’m too fickle, maybe I’m not cut out to be a magician.”

“Then, you’ll just give up being a wizard.” I tilted my head and hesitated, making a risky move, “If you think you’re still fit to be a thief, then it’s not too late to return the Misty Staff to me, return the magical power to the elves of Misty Isle, and forget about the magic in your head. Think it over, and if you decide not to be a wizard, then I can immediately disarm this magic formation for you now.”

“Can I… really do this?”

Bill said in a hesitant tone, “But if I do this, then what is this bout of wizarding practice? What about the promises and the meeting of minds with the elves on the Isle of Mists? What about my promise to do my best to learn magic? Yes, not being a wizard is the easiest way, and at a time when I really can’t find a way to unlock this forbidden magic on my own, it may be the only way for me to regain my freedom, but I can’t do it.”

“I can’t do it.” Bill clenched his teeth, clenched his hands, and said stoutly, with that look of impassioned determination, “I can’t do it, Ann. This is the first time I’ve ever felt that I had a chance to make something of myself other than being a thief who took his chances, and to miss it, not to say that I’m not likely to get another chance like this, I don’t think I’m likely to have the courage, as well as the strength, to accomplish any of my goals in the future. I think I finally understand what you mean, I’m a person who doesn’t know how to take good advantage of opportunities, who doesn’t know how to take good advantage of opportunities to make myself grow.”

“I think, yes, I’d still like to be a wizard, and a good one at that. Whether I can get out of this imprisoning magic or not. I’ll try all the magic again, and as long as there really is a way for me to get out of this confinement magic on my own, I’m sure I’ll be able to do it, it’s just a matter of time.”

Bill’s eyes revealed a radiance that I had never seen before, and Ryu, who was on the sidelines, had been moved to wipe his eyes frequently. I think I can understand Ryu’s feelings, Ryu has always treated Bill as if he were his own brother, and now, Ryu finally sees that Bill has grown up, really grown up.

“Bill, I think you’ve found a way to undo this magic formation.” I said with a smile as I was moved. Bill froze for a moment, and watched in amazement as the magic formation around him, transformed into dots of green light, combined with his own magical power, surrounded him, and then, took in the palm of his hand.

A brand new wizard has been born here.

diastasis (medicine)

“Hurry! We’re running out of time.” I urged everyone.

The speed at which the dark elves sealed the abandoned pit was faster than I had imagined, and after Bill gained a new life, the collapse of the entire pit proceeded crazily at a lightning fast speed. From the sound of the collapse that could be heard everywhere, I knew very well that if we didn’t break away in the shortest possible time, probably all of us, this group of people, would be buried in this abandoned pit.

“Ann, if I use the Labyrinth Disengage spell, can we get to the right geopower?” Aimee asked me quickly after quickly straightening her gear.

“I’m not sure.” I shook my head, “We don’t just have to get out of this abandoned pit now, we have to get to the gnome caves that are connected to the chamber of the stone of life. The dark elves have messed up all the rules here, I think we may have to use a more reliable method. Everyone hold on to me, I have to use the instantaneous movement spell.”

“No way… is it coming again?”

Bill asked, his scalp tingling. “The last time I took your instant movement spell from the Isle of Mists to Har Fear Harbor, I really just felt bad. I think that by taking a boat at least I wouldn’t get so dizzy; the boat was rocking up and down, unlike your Instantaneous Movement Spell, which even shook my head and magic along with it…”

“Bill!” Ryu gave Bill a blank look. “I thought you’d grown up, but you still haven’t.

Looks like I’m going to have to ask Ann to seal you back into the forbidden steel magic again.”

“Well, don’t make a scene! , Bill.” I had a serious look on my face and was really not in the mood for jokes. “It’s not a question of being comfortable or not, it’s a question of life and limb. I’m not sure if anything is going to happen at high speed through the collapsing pit. Aimee, help each of us with some defense enhancing magic, we’re going to need it badly. Ryu, Bill is in a very weak condition right now, hold on to him a bit later to help him take some damage. Have a mental preparation, this time it’s a real fight for your life, even I’m not sure I can get out before the dark elves completely close the pit.”

“Okay, I’m ready.” Aimee put away her smile and quickly helped everyone beef up their defenses.

“I’m better too.” Ryu held Bill close with his big arms, ignoring Bill’s protests.

“Well, then, we’re off.”

After I wrapped my arms around Aimee and Ryu, I let the magic run between us. We transformed into a high-speed ball of magical light and quickly traversed the pit, heading straight for the Life Stone chamber of the Elven Cave.

Title V

Hades

Magic and sword energy echoed through the small space. With barely a chance to catch our breath, we immediately broke into an offensive and defensive battle. The outnumbered gnomes utilized their advantage over the environment and barely managed to stave off the onslaught of aggression from the enemy. But even with the powerful magic of the gnome elders, the battle was still too close to call, if we hadn’t intervened in time.

It’s been a long time since I’ve cast such powerful magic. With the assistance of the gnome elders, we retreated in the direction of the Stone Chamber of Life while letting the dark magic spread all the way along the channel. The plague-like magic doesn’t pick the target of its attack, and no one who comes in contact with it is spared; however, there’s really no way to avoid using this kind of two-edged magic anymore.

Bill, who had experienced the horrors of this magic, was still reeling from the rest after the battle.

After informing all the gnomes of my reinforcements, the Gnome Elder concentrated all remaining force, here, outside the chamber of the Stone of Life. This is our last line of defense, and besides retreating, the only way to defend it is to sacrifice our lives to the end. Aimee was busy treating the gnomes’ injuries while I, on the other hand, was contemplating on what else we could do to hold this stronghold that we absolutely cannot afford to lose.

I have a feeling that this time is even more difficult than thirty years ago. Maybe it’s because I’ve gotten old in my mind, thirty years ago and Katharine were here as well, and even though we didn’t have such powerful magic as we do now, we were confident that we would win. But now, I not only don’t know what kind of enemy we’re facing, I also don’t know how many enemies there are. I, for one, am not at all sure of winning.

“It was the humans who colluded with the Stygian Spirits.” A gnome elder explained my query in broken human language. “The Stygian Spirit Race possessed the humans.”

“The Stygian Spirits?” I froze for a moment, and it dawned on me why my magic hadn’t mortally wounded them.

“The Underdogs?” Bill repeated my words. I understood that not much had been written in human texts about this mysterious race, and it wasn’t a surprise that Bill hadn’t heard of it.

“The Stygian Spirits.” I half tilted my head, slowly recalling the account I read long ago. “This is a race that belongs to the darkness, they have no form, all they have are dark souls, and although they have never been a peaceful race, they tend to congregate in caves deep in the earth because they cannot survive in the sunlight. They possess the power to control the darkness, but do not have a form that can withstand these powers, and thus rarely ever pose a threat to other races, and rarely come into contact with other races.”

“But that doesn’t take away from the power of their terror.” I shivered, realizing the horrors we were currently facing. “Legend has it that the Stygian Spirits can borrow a special magic to combine with a creature with a form into one, becoming a composite race. This way this new individual not only retains the power of the original form, but also possesses the dark source of the Underworld Spirit Race, and under this combination, the power possessed by this dark individual already exceeds the original power of the Underworld Spirit Race.”

“But this magic was sealed away centuries ago. I never thought that it would be unearthed again?”

I looked worriedly at each other with the gnome elder, “It seems that this time, the enemy is even more difficult to deal with than thirty years ago. Thirty years ago, we were only dealing with one main enemy and his minions, but now, we are dealing with an entire army of dark individuals.”

“And the magician who is behind everything.” The gnome elder reminded me of the crisis hidden behind this, “Someone who can transport this magic must not be a good character to deal with.”

“And I’m afraid that the whole conspiracy is still beyond our predictions.” I thought over this whole incident up to the present, and became more and more alarmed, “I always have a feeling that the person behind this not only has a secret deal with the Stygian Spirit Race, but also seems to have predicted all of our reactions, especially me, with perfect clarity? Including the shortcut I would take to the abandoned mine, as well as my habit of using powerful dark magic and so on, all figured out a way to crack it. Against the Stygian Spirits, you can’t use dark magic at all, it only strengthens their power.”

“But now, we’re dealing with humans who are bonded to the Plutonians, that is, a force stronger than humans plus the Plutonians?” Bill stepped aside to help me come to a conclusion.

“Right, that’s why I have to come up with a magic to completely dismantle this bond. Otherwise, just dealing with this army could take all of our strength and then give the people behind it a chance.” I nodded. The Gnome Elder nodded as well, as if he had anticipated my thoughts, and handed over a spellbook written in gnome text, flipping open one of the pages and pointing it out to me. On that page, a spell was recorded.

It can dismantle the light magic of the Stygian Spirits.

before the decisive battle

Although there is no day and night in the cave, the races that are used to rising at sunrise and resting at sunset will still follow the day and night routine outside. Gnomes are an exception, they have their own standard of rest and relaxation; while the Underworld Spirit Race, is a race that never rests. Because in their world, there is only darkness.

And I will end their darkness before long.

“It would be better if there was sunlight.” The gnome elder murmured.

“Even the Plutonians who possess humans cannot live in sunlight. Therefore, it’s unlikely that this magic will have the chance to be cast in sunlight.” I quietly state this fact. I think the gnome elder knew that, but couldn’t help but expect it that way. Honestly, I expect this too, expecting a bit of sunlight to complement the light magic that I’m not sure I can fully utilize. Even after spending the night reviewing this magic, I’m still not sure that I can maximize the power of this light magic with the assistance of the gnomes.

“Can I help?” Bill finally couldn’t help but open his mouth. He had picked up the Gnome Grimoire after I had put it down and read the spell as well, but the Gnome text on it was difficult for him. Ryu, who was beside me, also looked worriedly at me, who was frowning in thought, but it was clear to me that there was nothing they could do to help at all. Even, it might be better for their safety if they could stay away. But was I able to say that?

“Yes, you guys can help with one thing.” After a little thought, I decided I couldn’t leave them out of it. Besides, they wouldn’t be willing. “It’s to stand by and store up your powers as much as possible.”

“An…” even though she was busy with her healing magic, Aimee tried to voice her sternest protests from the sidelines, but I instantly cut her off and continued.

“This light magic will consume most of my mana, and I will be completely incapacitated the moment the magic is cast.”

I looked at Aimee seriously, letting her know that I needed her quite a bit, though not in the most major battles. “At that point, I’ll need you guys to guard me. If the magic doesn’t take effect, or if some other enemy ambushes me, I’ll be completely defenseless. So, I need you guys to guard me and help me recover as fast as you can for any dangers that may come next.”

“It’s no problem, we can definitely do it.” Ryu’s steady voice helped assure Bill & Aimee the best.

“Then, you return to the back.”

I saw the gnome elder’s gesture and understood that the enemy was in the midst of approaching and the battle was about to begin. “I may cast this spell at any moment.”

“Ryu…” seeing their retreating figures, I couldn’t help but call out to Ryu. “If… if anything happens to me, I hope you’ll take care of Bill and Aimee for me.”

“I will.” Ryu tapped me on the shoulder and gave me the most solid reassurance I’d ever gotten.

Light vs. Darkness.

Magic.

It had been a long time since I had trembled so much before unleashing my magic. Thirty years ago, I had thought that my magical power had reached a certain limit, especially after I had defeated the Black Dragon King, and the legends that had been spread around had strengthened my inexplicable confidence. But now, at this very moment, I feel small again. Without a real challenge, one tends to forget that one’s own power is still too small compared to the whole of nature.

And the Stygian Spirits may be the last challenge of my life.

I had a feeling I might not survive this fight. After that night in the abandoned pit with Aimee, I felt Katharine’s magic leave me, and my body began to redouble its plea to grow old with time. Not only was it physically old, but even my physical strength seemed to be growing old, how else could I explain how just a few spells could make me feel so tired? I didn’t show my fatigue, nor did I show any signs of it, but just continued to play my proper role: the legendary magician of infinite power.

Because at this point in time, everyone’s hopes are placed on me. Even a little bit of weakness will only bring unnecessary worries and troubles to my partners.

So, as I cast this light magic with all my might, I only let those thoughts stay within my own mind. The gnomes around me were cooperating with my magic in their own way, and thankfully, the magic was still working as it should, ripping the constant influx of Stygian Spirits away from the possessed humans and destroying the dark energy source they relied on to survive. The humans who had lost the possession of the Underworlders were like puppets that had lost their souls, becoming corpses lying on the ground. When they sold their souls to the spirits, they were doomed to lose their souls and become walking corpses.

“Awesome!” I heard Bill’s cheers behind me, and I could only laugh bitterly. While I was letting this light magic source out with seeming ease, I was actually feeling my power gradually drying up and might never be able to replenish it back. As the light of the light magic shone throughout the entire outside of the Life Stone chamber and drew the Stygian Spirit Race over to disintegrate, it was as if I saw my own disintegration amidst the light as well.

“We did it!” I heard cheers throughout the cavern as the last Stygian fell. Still, I let the light magic last a while longer and spread outward. I sensed that the elves in the Chamber of the Stones of Life had begun to take over, combining this magic with the power of the Stones of Life, with a view to making this magic one of the defenses of the Chamber of the Stones of Life. I did not resist and allowed the elves to take the power of light from my body and turn it into a part of the Stone of Life.

Because I no longer had the strength to control the magic. After the light magic finally came to an end and everything calmed down with cheers all around me, I collapsed without a sound.

“Ann!” Aimee rushed over at the first opportunity, and one of the strongest recovery magic immediately greeted me. Her hands rested on my head, making me fall on her knees, while the light of the restoration magic was unable to enter my body and exert its proper effect.

“Aimee, don’t cry,” I gently comforted Aimee when I saw her start to shed tears, “Maybe, this magic is really beyond my ability.” All this time, I had decided to hide my physical condition to the end. There was no need to let them know that my body was doubling in age.

“No!” Emi didn’t give up on strengthening her recovery magic, regardless of whether it was effective or not, “You are the strongest magician in the entire continent, it’s not possible, it’s not possible to have a magic that you can’t even manage! This… this is just a momentary disorder of your body under the agitation of powerful magic, wait a little longer, wait a little longer your body will definitely respond to the restoration magic…”

I didn’t reply and quietly let my body gradually weaken. In fact, when I took this magic from the Gnome Elder’s hands, I could tell at a glance that this magic consumed not only magic, but life as well. The Gnome Elder knew that as well, so I could also see his hesitation. However, what is meant to be is still not to be pushed back.

Maybe I’m the only one left on the entire continent with the power to cast this magic.

“Let me.” The gnome elder came over and sprinkled some of the gnome’s magical powder on my head. I felt a cooling sensation in my body, and Aimee’s restoration magic worked somehow, starting to warm up my body. There was no way to recover the lost power, but at least it would slow down the rate of my weakening.

“AN…” Aimee also felt the subtle change in my body and began to break into tears. Ryu and Bill, who were at the side, finally breathed a sigh of relief as well. However, at that moment, a bone-chilling chill flashed down my spine.

In an instant, a silver arrow pierced the air of merriment and shot straight into my heart.

Hilda’s Raid

“I thought Enlis was really immortal.” A cocky voice came from the darkness.

“Who!” A small knife in Ryu’s hand, without hesitation, shot over to where the voice came from. The figure in the darkness easily knocked down the knife and stepped out. In an instant, the gnomes were enveloped by a wave of magic, and all of them were taken away from the outside of the Life Stone chamber.

Bill was too late to make a move, and just stepped in front of Aimee to prevent further surprise attacks. Aimee, on the other hand, apart from panicking and casting healing magic, was already at a loss.

“It’s you! Hilda!” Ryu exclaimed.

“It’s me,” said Hilda coldly. “Yes, we meet again. Only this time, Victory will be on my side.”

“Why?” Ryu asked through gritted teeth.

“Perhaps I should ask, what are you doing? We managed to repel the Underworld Spirit Race with great difficulty, and the Life Stone should already be safe and sound. And you, not only didn’t bring your army to reinforce us instantly, but instead came to pull back at this time?”

“Looks like you guys are dumber than I thought.” Hilda’s provocative voice said contemptuously. “That lady who is still trying to heal her magic, you can give up. I’m using a dragon slaying arrow with lethal magic, and after I shoot it straight into Enlis’s heart, there’s no way in the world that anyone, or any method, will be able to bring him back.”

“What did you say?” Aimee’s whimpering voice trembled.

“I say, die to that.” And Erda’s voice revealed a cruel excitement.

“In order to get rid of this difficult Enlis, we have searched the ancient texts and moved our last assassin.”

“Why did you do that?” Aimee’s entire body had gone limp, and Bill instantly held her up so she wouldn’t hurt herself.

“I really don’t know, what good would that do you?” Ryu said painfully.

“Ryu, stop it. Don’t you understand by now that this entire incident was originally their conspiracy?” Bill finally broke the silence and analyzed the entire present situation in an unusually calm tone. “From the time we left the Island of Mists, who could have grasped our whereabouts, as well as all of our weaknesses, so clearly? From the news of the attack on the Elf Cave, knowing that Little An would be obliged to leave the Isle of Mists to join the battle, the route taken through the abandoned pit, and Little An’s habit of using dark magic, of course, there is only the partner who fought side by side with Little An thirty years ago-Mycis.”

“Then I suppose the army that ignored us at Harbor Harbor, and why they haven’t come to reinforce us so far, would be blocking the various entrances to the Elven Caves in case others break in to reinforce them. And it stands to reason that the humans who have bonded with the Stygian Spirit Race are also under your command. Am I correct, Hilda?” Bill gritted his teeth and questioned Hilda.

“So what if it’s all right?”

Hilda laughed cruelly, “My men have already taken away the Gnomes that got in the way, and you three, you’re about to die by my hand, going to the netherworld to accompany that legendary Enlis. You wizard who thinks you’re so smart, I haven’t forgotten what you did to me on the Isle of Mists, I won’t give you a pain in the ass, I’m going to torture you slowly until you die.”

“Want to torture me to death? That depends on whether or not you have the strength.” Bill and Ryu quickly looked at each other, exchanging the tacit understanding that had been accumulated over the years of partnering. At this time, there was no time for exchanging tactics, there was only trusting that a partner of many years could invisibly combine to be stronger than ever. After all, Hilda, who was using her full strength, was not an easy opponent.

“Go on!” Aimee threw an enhancement spell onto Ryu and Bill without a sound, and though she was still paralyzed on the ground without the strength to get up, she had gritted her teeth and put her grief behind her for the time being. “Give the brat some credit! And help Anne get justice!”

Ryu didn’t answer. He just swung a sword at Hilda at a fast speed, and Hilda raised her sword to parry; at the same time, Bill rolled behind Hilda and threw out a powerful flame magic, which burned behind Hilda’s back. As the battle raged on between the three, an anxious Amy could only stand by and watch, except for the magical power building up in her hands, ready to reinforce her at a moment’s notice.

After a flurry of back-and-forth offense and defense, each of the three men jumped away to catch their breath for a moment.

“I advise you not to live on,” Hilda put in as she examined the wounds on her body, “surrender early! I may even spare your lives. Enlis is dead, do you really think that with the meager strength of the three of you, you can hold the Stone of Life?”

“Defend or not, you’ll know after you die at our hands.” Ryu replied back defiantly while receiving treatment from Aimee. “Bill, I think I’ll be fine on my own for the rest of the fight.” Ryu turned his head and whispered into Bill’s ear.

“Ryu!” Bill was about to protest, but the serious look in Ryu’s eyes made him retract what he had intended to say.

“Good. We can’t put all our strength into dealing with Hilda or we’ll just be waiting to die afterward.”

Ryu nodded and brought up his sword, once again attacking Hilda. Aimee immediately gravitated into Bill as well, helping him with his return spell.

“Do you think Ryu will win?”

In the midst of a sword fight, Aimee asked Bill worriedly.

“No.” Bill bit his lower lip and shook his head with difficulty. “As a matter of fact, combining the strength of the two of us, we couldn’t beat Hilda. I don’t know why, but Hilda’s power has strengthened so much more than when he was on the Isle of Mists, and has grown faster than Ryu and me. The way he is now, he might really only be able to be dealt with by Yasu.”

“Then why did you leave Ryu alone to deal with him?” Aimee asked in horror.

“Ryu is going to help us buy time to figure out a solution to Hilda.” Bill closed his eyes and did his best to recall all the magic and knowledge he had ever learned. “Ryu himself knows his chances of winning are too slim for us to let him die in vain. For his sake, and for the sake of Ann, who is still alive or dead.”

“An…” tears welled up in Aimee’s eyes again and almost fell, “Is there any hope for him to survive?”

“I’m sure there must be a way to get him back.” Bill said firmly, “But we must repel all of our enemies first. If we can’t find a way to get Little Anne back, I’m sure the Gnomes can more or less help us.”

“Good.” Amy wiped away the tears that were about to drip from her eyes and steeled herself.

“I thought of that! Remember when you and Ryu were attacked in the abandoned pit? That was when Ann gave me a magic scroll to use in a time of crisis. Here, I thought it might be of some help.” Aimee pulled a magic scroll out of her traveling bag and handed it to Bill.

“Right! That’s what I need!” Bill hastily opened the scroll and skimmed through it once with a very fast speed. “This… this is a very strong flame magic, Si, just throwing it out with a little bit of magical power can create quite a strong flame magic. I think I can add my own flame magic to it so that I can create even stronger flames… Emi! I think I’ve found a way to defeat Hilda.”

Aimee exchanged a hopeful look with Bill.

Scroll of Fire Magic

Blood.

With a pool of blood, Ryu fell towards Aimee’s feet, just as Aimee and Bill were discussing the details of the next raid. After a scream, Aimee didn’t hesitate to crouch down, and the glow of healing magic immediately enveloped Ryu. Bill immediately stepped forward and stepped in front of his partner, taking over the guarding as well as the next wave of the assault.

“Well? I’ve already taken care of one, you two are left, are you going to obediently bind your hands, or do you want to put up any more pointless resistance?” Hilda said provocatively as she wiped the blood from her sword on her cloak.

“Ryu’s okay, it’s just a flesh wound, nothing serious. I’ll guard him, do what you can.”

Aimee ignored Hilda, and after examining Ryu’s injuries, immediately told Bill to rest assured and fight with all his might.

“You guys still want to resist, huh?” Hilda smiled arrogantly, “Don’t laugh me to death, you second-rate magician, what other moves can hurt me? On the Island of Mists, if it wasn’t for the fact that you had the Misty Island Elves to help you hold up your aura and use their power, or else with your flame magic, you would only be able to help me bake my cloak. Hurry up and get out of the way, I’ve already let your partner off the hook, as long as you guys obediently get out of the way and don’t get in the way of my big event, maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll spare you from death.”

“You make fun of my flame magic?”

A thought flashed through Bill’s mind, wanting to cling to this opportunity of Hilda’s arrogant and lightheartedness, “Then do you dare to make a bet? If you can catch my flame magic with your empty hands without resisting, then we will no longer make unnecessary resistance and obediently make way out. If you can’t catch it, indicating that we still have hope of winning, then don’t blame us for doing our best to block you even if we sacrifice our lives.”

“What difference does that make?” Hilda was her usual cocky self, “Fine, I’ll take the challenge, as long as you keep your word. You’re going to lose anyway no matter if you do, and blocking a flame magic could save a lot of unnecessary trouble. However, you are too naive, you should also know that the same flame magic, used in Enlis’s hands, and used from your hands, is completely different in power.”

“Cut the crap, you’re ready to take it!” Fearing that Hilda would backtrack, Bill took advantage of Hilda spreading her hands out without defense, and a full force flame magic swept towards Hilda.

“If that’s all your flames are, that young lady could have held the wounded warrior out of the way and made a path out.”

There was a brief moment of relief on Bill’s face as his full force of flame magic covered Hilda, but it took Hilda’s voice coming from the flames to make Bill realize that things weren’t going as well as he thought.

The clothes Hilda was wearing were made of fireproof material…

“Don’t talk too soon, watch my second wave of flame spell!” Knowing that there was no way back, Bill summoned up his entire body’s magical power and poured it into the magic scroll, betting all his strength on this strike. “I’m eager to see if you can still eat this flame magic!”

Under Bill’s urging, the magic scroll turned into a dense ball of fire that swept over Hilda, whose flames had already faded. The whole scene, as if it was a repeat of what happened on the Misty Isle, Hilda also tried to avoid the flames, but the fireball still encompassed him relentlessly. The fireproof cloak Hilda was wearing was clearly designed for this situation, but the endeavor was unsuccessful. As Hilda’s clothes began to catch fire and burn, Bill thought he saw the familiar panic in Hilda’s eyes. Hilda’s wailing screams echoed through the cavern just as Bill and Amy stared at each other in disbelief.

“I… I didn’t realize the power of this scroll was so amazing…” after a moment of silence, Bill mumbled and opened his mouth.

“Almost on par with the power of the Misty Isle Elves… but no matter what, we did it!”

Aimee replied from her disorientation, a brief smile on her face. “Ann! We have Ann to tend to! Hurry!” Aimee set down Ryu, whose injuries had stabilized, while gathering magical power for more important healing.

“Wait!” Bill suddenly tackled Aimee to the ground, “Danger!”

“What’s wrong?” Aimee asked in alarm. Bill didn’t answer him, just a surge of power that left deep slash marks in the ground where Aimee would have been headed.

revitalization

“It seems that Enlis even has a better eye for choosing disciples than I do.” An old voice echoed in the cave.

“Mathis?” Aimee murmured fearfully, “Impossible, Mathis is a dying man, how could he…”

“Aimee!” Bill shook Aimee’s shoulder as hard as he could, “Go help Lon stand up, quick! We don’t have time to waste!” With that said, Bill fought to jump in front of Mycis, blocking all directions Mycis might attack.

“You know what? I almost can’t bear to kill you.” Maisis smiled and shook his head lightly: “The three of you are really one of the best partners I’ve encountered in the past thirty years, definitely not inferior to my partnership with Enlis and Caesarine back then; in time, if you have Enlis’s tutelage, your accomplishments should be able to rival ours back then. Especially you, this young magician, I remember when I first saw you in the Isle of Mists, you were still a small, cowering thief, but now, even though your abilities are not yet up to par, your entire aura has come out. It’s just that, sadly, you guys are on different sides from me.” Mycis slowly raised the weapon in his hand and let out a sigh. “I’ll give you all one last chance to become my men! Didn’t that warrior in particular want to be my heir in the first place? Now that the no-good Hilda has lost repeatedly at your hands, perhaps you are more worthy of being my heir than he is.”

“No need!” Bill squinted as he saw Ryu slowly rise to his feet with Aimee’s assistance, knowing that he would have to stall a little longer for Ryu to regain his ability to fight. “If being your heir is turning into a wimp like Hilda, then I’d still rather have little An, Ambrosious, or Enlis as you call him.”

“I just don’t understand why you did what you did. I always thought that you, like Ann, had been on the side of justice all your life. And you, the legendary greatest warrior Mysius, actually colluded with the Underworld Spirit Clan, instructing your own men to sell their bodies to the Underworld Spirit Clan in an attempt to take away the Life Stone?” The more Bill spoke, the more agitated he became, and he couldn’t help but tighten his grip on the Misty Staff and gnash his teeth.

“It really is the thoughts of the young.” Mycis didn’t get angry, but just tilted his head as if he was thinking back to when he was young. “When I was young, I thought the same way, thinking that this life should be dedicated to justice, and that I would fight for defending justice all my life until I die. But you will also grow old, when you grow old, will you still think like that?”

“Even if I’m too old to move, I’ll still feel that way. Till death do us part.” Ryu’s voice joined the conversation.

“Wait until you’re dying!” Mycis’ eyes, suddenly, became cold and unfeeling. “As I grow old, my own body slowly swallowed up by the years, and death is already hovering at the door, the greatness of my youth keeps surfacing before my eyes even more vividly. I’m not willing, not willing to my life here to draw to a close. Don’t talk too much nonsense, you’d better get out of the way, as long as I get the stone of life, my life can continue forever, and stay young forever. At that time, I think I’ll spare your lives and let you become my subordinates, or even my heirs.”

“No way!” Bill raised the Staff of Mists and let the magic coalesce around the crystal at the head of the staff. “There’s no way we’re letting you pass! As long as we’re still fighting and on our feet, you’ll never be able to leak a finger to the Life Stone.”

“Fool, you think you can stop me? Don’t let the victory over Hilda go to your head. I’m a completely different person than that untalented child. Even against two little mice without much strength, I will give it my all.” Mycis’s disdainful tone pressed against Bill’s body like an invisible giant.

“Don’t be too arrogant!” Bill let his magic coalesce into a magic ball and lunged at Mycis head-on. Ryu also attacked at the same time, but Mycis raised the sword in his hand, flicked off Bill’s magic attack, and struck a powerful blow at Ryu at the same time. Ryu’s body, which had not yet fully recovered, flew outward like a kite with broken strings, and Aimee rushed over to try to catch Ryu’s body. Bill was not idle either, and his next spell was aimed at Mycis in the shortest possible time.

But victory or defeat was decided in a split second. Instead of catching Ryu, Amy let the impact knock her and Ryu heavily unconscious against the cave wall. Bill’s magic only hastened his collapse, and with a single blow, Mycis gave Bill a taste of the power of his own magic bouncing back.

The three men, in a very short period of time, all collapsed to the ground, losing the ability to fight back, and could only look helplessly at Mycis, slowly sheathing their weapons back and heading in the direction of the Life Stone.

“Wait!” Bill said as he struggled on the ground, “Don’t forget, there’s no way you can break the Junction Seal that Ann put down for the Life Stone thirty years ago!”

“You underestimate me.” Mycis laughed contemptuously∶”If I didn’t even consider that, why would I take the Life Stone? I was going to ask the Underworld Spirit Race to help me open the way, but since Enlis came to his own death, I decided to take the easier way out. Don’t forget, I watched Enlis create this boundary thirty years ago, and as long as the caster dies, the power of this boundary will diminish and I can break it my way. It’s really ironic that the Dragon Slaying Arrow that I used to kill Enlis was given to me by Katharine thirty years ago to take care of the Keeper Black Dragon King. As a result, I used it to kill Catherine’s most beloved person.” Mycis smiled triumphantly, “If Catherine knew that the Dragon Slaying Arrow that she had used all her magic to figure out was the only one that could completely dismantle the ultimate smithing magic that she had cast on Enlis, she would be doubled over in her grave with unease. Ha! Ha!”

“And now, I’m going to get the Stone of Life. Everyone, just wait to see the young and immortal me return to you once again.” Maxis took a step into the tunnel formerly belonging to the Boundary.

“It’s too late… is there really nothing we can do?” Bill’s eyes revealed a helpless sadness and looked in the direction of Aimee and Ryu. After the three looked at each other, they all lowered their heads and closed their eyes, none of them having the courage to continue watching things happen like this.

“What… what’s going on?” Mycis’ panicked voice made Bill open his eyes again. Bill really didn’t know why either when he saw Mycis’ feet frozen not far inside the tunnel.

Maybe it really was a miracle! The three men exchanged surprised glances, but also wondered what in the world had stopped Mycis in his tracks.

“Mycis, have you ever wondered if your method of breaking the boundary would still work if the person who set it up hadn’t died?”

I stood up quietly and spoke to a flushed Mycis.

“You didn’t die? It’s impossible… the power of the Dragon Slaying Arrow…” Mysias was really panicked.

“You’re really letting me down.”

I just slowly unfurled my feet and headed over to Mycis.

The last twilight of winter

“I don’t understand…”, Mycis’s pale voice revealed panic that he didn’t know what to do.

“I think the only thing you’ve miscalculated is probably using the Dragon Slaying Arrow to kill me.”

I slowly spit out one word at a time. “Using Katharine’s attack magic to kill someone protected by Katharine’s defense magic, perhaps only someone like you could come up with such a cruel idea. But let’s not forget what a kind hearted person Katharine is, she considers everything before she uses every magic. The dragon slaying arrow, yes, may have done me great harm, but if you had used any other arrow to plunge into my heart when I had become so weak, perhaps I would not be alive in front of you now.”

“The dragon slaying arrow resonated with Katharine’s magic and stopped before stabbing me in the heart.” I coughed violently a few times. After all, my torso was already weak, and an arrow plunged into my chest did a lot of damage to my lungs, even if it didn’t hit my heart. “So, I’m sorry to say that I survived and will be teaming up with the elves of the Stone of Life to end you with the power of this boundary.”

“You…” decades of Mycis’ life hadn’t been spent in vain after all, and he quickly calmed down. “I guess I don’t have to worry about you at all. Don’t think I didn’t see that even if you didn’t die from my Dragon Slaying Arrow, but with Katharine’s magic having left you and you being so badly injured, all I have to do is to stand here and wait for a little longer, and maybe you’ll die in front of me. Don’t laugh at me, a random two year old can tell that inside you, there is no power left at all.”

“AN…” despite her injuries, Aimee struggled to get close enough to give me a healing magic.

“Aimee, it’s no use.”

I turned my head and said to her gently, “I told you before, when Katharine’s magic leaves me, I will face death openly. What’s more, the injuries I have now can’t be recovered by healing magic.”

“Mycis, I think I’ve really knuckled down and lost to you this time. I hope that I can use the last of my strength to undo all the damage.” A considerable amount of exhaustion must have shown on my face, because I saw Mycis’ expression grow more and more certain and smug.

“Enlis, Enlis, it didn’t occur to you that I’ve been leading all of this, did it?” Mycis said smugly, “The thought that you’ve been letting me play with you really makes me smile in my dreams.”

“I have to admit, until the Dragon Slaying Arrow appeared, I really didn’t think it would be you.” I slowly replied. Of course I knew that he was trying to stall for time, waiting for me to collapse from exhaustion myself. But, I would let him have his way and finish all his words. Because, I want to let Bill and the girls know that human trickery can be used to such an extent, and letting them know about all the conspiracies of Mycis will be extremely valuable for them to face other conspiracies in the future.

“I think I finally understand what you really meant by having a tournament. It’s not about getting old and trying to find a successor, you would have chosen your own son, Hilda, a long time ago. Your real intention was to find a group of people whose power was not bad enough for the Hades Spirits to possess. I didn’t realize that my sudden appearance and the Misty Island Elves’ counterattack would cause you to jeopardize all your plans, and then you still had to sacrifice your own men to supply the shells needed by the Hades Spirits.”

I said it slowly, word for word. Hopefully, Bill and the rest of them will pay attention and listen, take note of it forever, and never fall for anything like it again.

“You’re really as wise as ever, though you’re a little late to the party.” With a smile on his face, Mycis said triumphantly, “That’s right! When you suddenly came to my castle, I was really surprised, and the reaction of the Misty Isle Elves caught me off guard. However, if you think about it from another perspective, your appearance can save me a lot of trouble in breaking this boundary. Besides, if it wasn’t for you, the gnomes wouldn’t have been concentrated for us to kill them all in one go, and just solving their constant raids would have been enough to hurt us.”

“Then I also learned why the elves used so much power on the Isle of Mists, and in the Abandoned Pit, to close off access to the others. On the Isle of Mists in particular, I never knew where the elves’ reaction came from, and now I do. Your ambition made them decide to banish you.” I nodded slowly.

“And it’s true that all the designs on me after that could only have been done by you who knew me so well. And I was really bluffed by the old age you pretended to have.”

“Yes, and you have no defense at all for falling into my trap, one step at a time.” Mycis surveyed my shaken condition and knew he didn’t have to say much more.

“If you have any more questions, just ask them quickly! I’ll make sure you get everything straight before you die, and die all night long. This, even if it’s a privilege specially reserved for you by your partner of many years!”

“Yeah? Then maybe I should thank you.” I suddenly felt a blackness in front of my eyes. Death, it seemed, was slowly taking away my senses, starting with my vision…” Thirty years ago you were able to face death openly, why not after thirty years?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” Mycis suddenly became agitated as he touched on the subject, “You’re protected by Katharine’s magic, you don’t age, and even when you die, you end your life with a young body. And what about me? Do you want a taste of old age?”

“Every day I wake up, look in the mirror and see another wrinkle at the corner of my eye, another gray hair, and feel my strength ageing by another minute. And the people around me, especially my own son’s gradual growth, reminds me even more of the passing of my years. Yes, thirty years ago I was young, thirty years ago I had a glorious past, but all of this only deepened the hopelessness in my gradual aging. I could have faced the Black Dragon King without fear, I could have chosen to die bravely in battle, but I could not face the years taking my life away day by day, year by year, especially when I am a legend admired by all, one of the greatest warriors of all time: Mathis!”

“I’m not happy about this!” Mycis punched the wall beside him with such force that some of the stones tumbled sparsely to the ground. “I was not willing to let death slowly take my life, everything I had, like that. So I began to plan, began to plan to take eternal life, and eternal youth, from the power of the Stone of Life. I want to live forever, live young, live forever young in the legend, do you understand? Just like you! But I don’t have Catherine’s sacrificial magic to protect me, I have to figure it out on my own, so I must get the Stone of Life! Even if I have to sacrifice all my men, as well as my own son, I don’t mind. Only with eternal youth, it won’t be difficult for me to have more henchmen, or even more heirs, in the future!”

“Mycis, you disappoint me too much.” After I froze for a moment, I said painfully, “You are no longer the Mycis I knew thirty years ago, much less the legendary great warrior Mycis. You are just a greedy mortal occupied by fame, power, and desire. Even if you have eternal life, you are no longer the admired Maxis, never!”

“Does it make any difference?” Mycis narrowed his eyes, waiting for death to come to me. “You’re about to die, I’m sure you know that better than I do. And with all three of your disciples, no one will ever know what kind of man I am once I’ve silenced them all.”

“‘The Stygians invaded the chamber of the Stone of Life, and Enlis and I joined forces to try to stop them, but it was not to be, and Enlis and my son Hilda were tragically killed in battle, and the Stone of Life was taken by the Stygians to the depths of the earth, never to see the light of day again.’ That’s the story that will be passed down after today, I’m still the hero of legends, and heroes of legends don’t age or die, don’t they? And who will know that the Stone of Life is in my hands and that I used its power?” Mycis said smugly.

“Don’t tell me you’ll stop me. You have no power left, don’t try to bluff and lie to me, it won’t work.”

“That’s right, I don’t have the power to stop you anymore, not even the power to call out to the Elves of the Life Stone.” I raised my feet, which I could barely move, and still walked as well, with the last of my willpower towards the direction from which Mycis’s voice came.

“But I still have my last energy one life, and a good disciple in Bill.”

“Bill, stand up! This is the last thing I’m going to teach you.” I let the magic cloak slowly slide off my body, as well as the magic backpack and all.

“These things, I’ll leave them to you. Take good care of them, they are the last relics of the legendary wizard Enlis.”

“No! Little Anne! You can’t die!”

Bill and Aimee cried out almost simultaneously.

“Bill, stand up, raise your hands, and echo the call of the Elves of the Stone of Life.” I ignored their pleas and focused on spitting out the last few words of my life. “What you, will accomplish, is a new boundary for the Stone of Life. See the boulder by the tunnel? Use your magic to move it and close off the entire tunnel, sealing both Mysius and I inside. When the Elf of the Stone of Life takes over your body and merges with your magical power to perform this conjunction spell, I will also be in the tunnel, with my life, cooperating with you.”

“No! No… Enlis, you can’t do this!” Desperately trying to move his immobile body, Mycis knocked me to the ground.

“Mycis, isn’t this what you wanted?” I sighed and walked into the tunnel, getting further and further inside.

“When the boundary is created, time inside will stop, forever. And you, too, will be able to get the immortality you’ve been dreaming of.”

“Okay, Ann, I’ll finish the knot, but wait, when I reach a power like yours, or even stronger than yours, I’ll come back and free you frozen in time. I will find a way.” Bill had slowly allowed the magic to resonate with the Stone of Life elf as he stood up holding the Staff of Mists.

He spoke to me with such determination that it seemed to me that he was at the same time promising Aimee that he would not let my life end there. Aimee, who was on the sidelines, was already sobbing uncontrollably.

“I’m sure you will, Bill.” I turned my back on Bill and gave him the last of my trust. “I’m sorry I can’t be around to follow your accomplishments and guide you, but I’m sure you’ll make a good wizard. Ryu, I also hope you keep your promise to me to take care of both of them.”

“I will.” Tears never seen before fell from Ryu’s eyes as well. “I will, even though Bill doesn’t seem to need my care anymore, he’s become an independent and strong wizard.”

“Then, I can rest easy.” I could feel death already hovering around me, and I thought, it’s time. “Do it! Bill!”

“Yes!” Bill closed his eyes and let the air of magic, fill the entire cave. “Spirit of the Stone of Life, please heed my call…”

The boulder at the mouth of the Life Stone tunnel sealed noiselessly with a loud roar of protest from Mycis.

And the magical diary that has been automatically recording all the journeys of my life comes to an end here. The last thing recorded in my life is that in this last winter, at this moment when it should be twilight, I used my last vitality to complete one last magic. What do you want in life? I think that having had an extraordinary life, and an excellent disciple, I have lived up to it.

[End of text]

never-ending

“The story doesn’t seem to end…

Sunshine.

The winter sun shone evenly on us. It should have been a joyous event to see the sun again from the gloomy elf cave. But at this moment, looking up at the blue sky under the sun, we didn’t have a trace of excitement, but just quietly bathed in the sunlight that shone on the earth.

“Bill, do you think we’ll ever see Ambrosie again?” Aimee, beside her, asked this softly.

“It will. I promise.” I said so firmly. “It will.” Ryu, who was beside me, nodded confidently in agreement with me.

[Wizard’s Journal, full text really over].