chapter 158
[Dear Master Lin.]
He would have repeated seven times just reading the first part of the letter he wrote 27 years ago. The typeface was hazy and shattered, making it impossible to read.
It was the same font as before.
Although she was more beautiful and mature than when I had just taught her to write, her habits and mannerisms remained the same.
[I am writing a letter to Master today. When I was puzzled by the way you write letters with the Mage Tower every day, Master Friede explained this.
A letter is an expression of a certain mind that can only be contained at a certain moment in time.
But it’s not too embarrassing.
No matter what I did on any given day, no matter what I went through, whether it be spring, summer, fall or winter, the feelings I have for Master and the words I want to say are always the same.]
I finished reading the letter, rolled it back up, and sat alone for a long time in the hot summer night breeze.
I was just sitting alone.
It was only after Pippi entered through the wide open window, barely letting out only the sound of light breathing, that I realized that I was shedding tears.
“Rin, don’t cry, Rin, don’t cry.”
Pippi flapping his bandaged wings in front of his face, quickly wiping away a single tear and shaking his head.
“I’m not crying, Pippi. just wait… … Dust gets in there.”
“Dust, dust, dust.”
I laughed miserably and leaned my cheek against Pippi’s head, and he lightly pecked my cheek.
“Turaina wrote a letter.”
“What are you saying, what are you saying, what are you saying?”
“I won’t read it.”
Letters are exchanges between people who have fallen into a time and space where they cannot meet. I can go see him now. Because we live in the same place at the same time. therefore.
“I will go and see you face to face. After that, I’ll read it to Fifi too.”
One time is enough, parting through letters. Suddenly, I remembered the face of the dean’s lady. And the Osarius school classmates too.
“I don’t know if Turaina will recognize me like you do… … .”
I don’t think I can remember not only Pippi, but even the texture of my soul. How would you react when I said, “It’s been a while”?
I’m not a formidable opponent enough to use the magic that made Fifi recognize me (I’m on the same level as me 300 years ago), and now I can’t even use water magic.
and… … Will I be able to scold when I meet Tureina again, who has committed a celestial wrath? After all, isn’t it because I made a ridiculous promise?
‘Yeriselica-nim, you’re leaving it up to me? What do you want me to do?’
I thought about what the dean’s wife or Lista would have said if someone else had been encased in ice and I had become obsessed with black magic.
All night long, Pipi and I sat on a hill where the summer wind gently caressed the trees, grass, flowers, and hair, looking up at the night sky and thinking.
The answer did not come to mind until the moment the night ended, but Park Myung, as always, illuminated the world with ruthless precision.
“hey.”
And at dawn, when the birds woke up and chirped, Lista appeared… … .
No, the hair brushed by the wind is golden, and the eyes are transparent blue-green, as if engraved with jade. It was Miria, not Rista.
Even though he was wearing a tunic without any special decorations, his off-white color was as perfect as a spring flower. Just like Lisa did.
“He’s the guy who saved us in <Aurelinople>.”
There was no time to be relieved to see that he was safe, and next to him, I felt the sign of a guy who was more of a bad relationship than an old relationship.
“I heard that he was originally the chief warlock of Lu Zhaihe, but I don’t know about that, and if it wasn’t for this guy, I’d be dead. He’s the one who gave me and Pippi first aid through magic.”
He was a tall young man wearing a dark blue robe unique to black magicians and a featureless iron mask.
I couldn’t see his face because of the iron mask, but I could definitely feel something else.
Magical power so intense that it gives goose bumps down the spine, and miasma so great that Pippi instinctively spreads its wings of flame… … I know this aura.
“You, you… … ?”
A voice emerged from a complex emotion that I could not even define. It was a voice that was both welcome and puzzled at the same time, and filled with an irresistible fury.
Did you read such complicated thoughts?
At the same time, he threw back his robe hood, unfastened the iron mask, and showed his face.
“Heh. Seeing that you recognized it at once, it seems that Abu, who said he was the most respected wizard in the world, wasn’t lying?”
In the sunlight of dawn, with her dark blue hair rustling, her outstanding features were revealed as if she had cut out a painting.
i know this guy
It is safe to say that the last school days, which were like raging waves, marked the end of this scandalous guy’s name… … .
“… … Valencidis?”
* * *
There has never been a dark cloud in the Shinhwa Peak area of the Red Mountains since the beginning of time. The temperature was always high, and the ice caps were never covered.
It was because of the divine heat that hovered over the mountain peaks, and now only eerily thick dark clouds lingered over them.
The dark clouds of the deep abyss, wriggling like worms, spread wider and wider, cutting off the world from the light of the sun and moon.
[Do you see that beautiful scenery of the old world?]
The spirit body of the girl, whose shape was formed by a dark blue haze, walked through the magnificent Arched Gate of the Temple of Belakior (Blessing of Fire) and spoke.
[Most humans live peacefully without any suspicion. Without knowing that this world is not what it used to be.]
The target the girl was talking to was a red-haired baby with fangs exposed, chained on the altar of Polantir in the temple.
“Agbuu.”
On top of the altar, there was a drawing of a complex and difficult spell that made the eyes hurt. A baby was placed at the ‘entrance’ in the central circle, and a frozen boy was placed at the ‘exit’.
[It was a very perfect world. It was a world where no one would suffer, and the sadness of parting did not exist. A world where all humans live freely in their instincts!]
“Ah-that baat!”
[It was such a perfect world, but there were thugs who called themselves light! Then, he muttered that he would release your shackles or something… … .]
The girl, who was satisfied with the dark clouds that gradually eroded the blue sky over the horizon, turned around.
[People who only have primitive brains have fallen for that trick. In the end, the world has changed so irrationally.]
“Are you sure?”
[But do you know what’s funny? Humans want to be like the kings and nobles of old. Did you know that all the noble titles in the Empire today are taken straight from the old days? What about the slavery prevalent in the continent of Adreon?]
“Eruu!”
[You Balaur who received the command of the light wanted to implant a new civilization, but humans are returning to the civilization of the old era.]
The girl hopped up to the baby and touched its face with a terrifyingly murderous gesture.
[It’s the regression instinct. called regression. The world that you forcibly and forcibly changed is trying to return to its original state.]
As the movements of his hands gradually began to take his breath away, the dragon cries wildly and struggles, but the chains were not bound by the power of fluid.
“Abat, abat, abat, a-baat!”
[Look out there. The day your era ends, the era will go back to normal. The future sinks back into the abyss. like it was in the past. Wipe away all of your stench that has permeated deep in this world—]
“—Don’t touch it carelessly.”
At that time, the cigarette smoke that flew in from somewhere roughly wrapped around the spiritual body’s wrist, and pulled it back. The arm fell out of the spirit body.
[Ah, that’s right~ This was an important tool for Turaina’s wish.]
Elamas, the youngest of the three pillars of the Black Church, giggled, but Turaina’s expression with a smoking pipe in her mouth was more gloomy than usual.
– Turaina, Turaina, Turaina.
the parrot… … what was it
no, who was it?
It seemed like an existence I shouldn’t forget, but I can’t remember… … All you feel is the sense of loss that fills your soul and the unknown guilt for what you did then.
[Oh, this must be a problem.]
Seeing traces of confusion, bewilderment, and hesitation in those eyes, Elamas approached and placed his hand on Tureina’s cheek.
[Tureina, what you’ve done with us so far has been a great miracle to this world. You changed a century with Gernix oppa.]
“Let go of this hand.”
[But are you thinking of stepping out now? You decided to put the first button in correcting the world in chaos, but if you give up on it, it will interfere with what I decided to do, and then the world will continue to be in chaos?]
Unlike when he touched a young dragon, it was like a very kind hand gesture, but the darkly swirling tenacity in his deep eyes and his fanatical, non-stop muttering voice were fear itself.
“I would have told you to let go of that hand.”
Cigarette smoke spread fiercely, and he grabbed the limbs of the spiritual body and twisted it off. The dispersing spirit body smiled brightly.
[Seeing that this cruel disposition is still intact, there is no need to worry too much… … Still, if you intend to disappoint me, you better be prepared.]
Only after the suffocating oppressive fog of the spiritual body disappeared, Turaina took a deep breath and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
Then he turned his head to the side where he could feel his gaze, toward the young dragon who was looking up at him with innocent eyes.
The young dragon wanted to tilt its head, aww, but opened its eyes wide as if realizing something, put its fettered hands together and closed its eyes. Just like the boy who looked at the stone statue of Tureina did it with sad eyes.
“Are you wishing me luck?”
Turaina asked funny.
Perhaps because she was once a shaman who lived in the age of dragons, behind her hostility towards Gwangryong, there was a bit of respect for the dragons.
“You guys are truly a kind species from birth. take that hand I am not worthy of such a blessing.”
“cadet?”
“I, Turaina, are a mean b*tch. They killed thousands of powerless and innocent people without any hesitation.”
“Ah?”
“What kind of cause was there? No, there is not. It’s all because of my own petty wish.”
The eyes of the woman who muttered that in a sad voice were directed not at the young dragon, but at the face of the boy next to her.
never forgot
never could have forgotten
I tried not to forget it no matter what, but now to the existence that I have forgotten most of except for that face.
“It’s just because of a small wish… … The first and last embrace in my life.”
* * *
“They say you live longer if you get cursed at, so I don’t know how long you have to live with curses to survive the fight against Tureina.”
Valencidis said.
He shamelessly extended his hand as if congratulating the reunion, but I stood up hesitantly and instead of holding his hand, I punched his face.
And I was bewildered.
Shortly after recovering, the center of gravity was staggering, and the blow was not properly loaded with power. Of course I thought I’d avoid it, but Valencidis was right on the punch.
“Hey, what’s wrong all of a sudden?”
Miria, who had been blinking in a daze, approached in surprise, but Valensidis spat blood and raised her hand to stop her.
“it’s okay. A reunion with this guy should be normal.”
Where can you put that shameless face on me? Because of you, on that day, something happened there, and I had to go through something.
I couldn’t say that.
I couldn’t afford to speak.
Can’t I, who couldn’t even organize my mind on what to do with Tureina, condemn this guy who was that guy’s subordinate? Besides, this guy saved me twice.
“You, you are alive, Valencidis… … .”
Somewhere, for reasons that even he couldn’t understand, he said that with a trembling voice.
No, that guy’s left arm… … Maybe it was because he saw the loose sleeves on his left arm, which he had blown off himself to let me go.
The betrayal at that time was not discovered, so he did not die.
“Looks like expectations have been lost. I am indescribably happy to disappoint you.”
Valencidis smiled the serene smile he had before at the school festival. I bit my lip and suppressed a laugh.
“Yeah, thank you for letting me down, motherf*cker… … .”
This guy is a son of a b*tch without needing to explain his background. Publicly, but personally, I couldn’t hate it at all. There is no need to explain the reason for this either.
It is an ambiguous relationship that cannot welcome the reunion, but cannot be hostile with a knife. That’s the distance between him and me.
After standing face to face in an indescribable atmosphere, I spoke first.
“Did the teacher you mentioned back then refer to Tureina?”
“okay.”
“That’s why I was fluent in both witchcraft and magic.”
“Accurate.”
“But why did you betray Turaina?”
“Are you asking if I betrayed you because of you?”
“Half right, half wrong.”
“It is true that it became a decisive factor. But this is also half right and half wrong.”
“I’m not in the mood for puns.”
“Me too. I don’t know if you’ll believe it, but I’ve been under it with the intention of betraying you from the beginning.”
Rather than having a meeting, I had no choice but to face each other with Miria, who had been exchanging dry words. What is this?
“It is this Valencidis that has been providing information about Turaina and Rujayhun, whose activities have been uncertain since the sunspot event.”
The one who gave a clear answer was Yuliana, who appeared with a pipe in her mouth. Valencidis bowed her head slightly to show her respect.
“They said he was a priest… … Were they that close?”
“No, that person and I have different uses. It was only recently that I found out that they were priests and priests.”
“Usage?”
“I am the ‘root’ Turaina cultivated to use in her secret affairs. On the other hand, the other side is a ‘bud’ grown for external symbolism.”
It seems that even the culprits couldn’t help but tilt their heads at Turaina’s double-edged path of nurturing excellent students in both light and darkness.
“This guy is much darker inside than he looks. No one knows what the scheme is.”
I poked Valensidis in the side of her head with my index finger to warn her, and Yuliana blew smoke between Valensidis and me, pulling us away from each other.
“I also put a ban on it because I can’t fully trust it. I received it without hesitation.”
It was questionable whether something like a ban would be able to exert a great deal of power over Valencidis’ skills. But the other person is also a shrine maiden with tremendous spiritual power… … .
“I’m guessing, but I don’t think Turaina had any intention of destroying the world at all.”
Yuliana continued, exhaling bitter smoke from her cigarette.
“Even if you look at how he raised someone like me and turned him into a shaman… … If I had wanted the destruction of the world, I would have built a world full of human waste.”
“… … .”
“From the beginning, all I wanted was to bring Rin back to life and live with her. It met the abyss and turned into evil tenacity.”
I thought of Turaina.
Sabu, the face that smiled brightly while walking away.
“By the way, Valencidis, can you really fight your old teammates?”
“I never thought of them as colleagues, so there should be no problem. If you think I’m going to betray you, wouldn’t it be fine if you activate the ban and kill me?”
When Valencidis answered in an inorganic tone, Yuliana smiled meaningfully.
“Really, will you die from something like a golden fowl? I don’t think so. It could do some damage, though.”
Yuliana seemed to know a little about Valencidis’ skills.
As I said before, even by Rin’s standards, he’s a great master, and without much explanation, Thurina was using him as his chief warlock.
Valensidis sighed softly and touched the golden rooster spell engraved on her neck.
“I only saw a new possibility in black magic, the power to revolutionize equality in this world that is now becoming fixed… … I have no intention of releasing the old nobleman.”
So what is the sunspot avalanche?
I tried to be sarcastic, but I kept my mouth shut. At that time, that guy must have been just one of Turaina’s chess pieces.
Now we can’t go against the flow… … Was that what he meant then?
“Mistress.”
It was around that time that witches in red cone hats appeared from the sanctuary.
“Everyone has gathered.”
Yuliana nodded and gave me a deep look before moving her steps there.
“So, you’ve decided what to do with Turaina?”