Chapter 84: This World With Shaya
Faced with the witch enveloped in the twilight’s radiant glow and the metallic disc in her hand, Fiolen’s gaze, like Isvilda’s, remained fixed.
Why? If it were just a teleportation array, there would be nothing strange about it. After all, spatial magical construct devices, due to their immense strategic impact, were never exclusive to the Freista Empire. Almost every transcendent power was secretly conducting similar research. Given the Azure Silver Witch’s strength and status, coupled with the White Tower’s profound foundations, it wasn’t surprising that she possessed similar magical technology.
However— The magical array disc that appeared in the Azure Silver Witch’s hand was precisely the Empire’s single-person bidirectional teleportation array, and moreover, one that was mass-produced. Of course, even though the Empire maintained extremely strict secrecy regarding such technology, for a Legendary Expert, it wasn’t beyond possibility to acquire one discreetly from the Empire.
But the magical array disc before them was in an extremely peculiar state. It was already riddled with rust, and even its magical runes had become dull and lifeless, long since rendered useless. It was as if it had truly endured centuries of corrosive time. Yet, as far as Fiolen knew, this type of individual combat bidirectional teleportation array was only officially popularized in the military a little over a decade ago, and the research and development of its prototypes couldn’t possibly predate a hundred years.
Recalling her experiences in the Netherworld, the Azure Silver Witch before her should have truly slept for five hundred years on that solitary throne… This was rather chilling to contemplate. It was so chilling that Fiolen, at this moment, began to worry if she might be silenced by the Azure Silver Witch for knowing secrets she shouldn’t. With the power the other party had just displayed, if she were to act, Fiolen would likely not even have a sliver of a chance to resist.
Fortunately, the solidified twilight never descended. The Azure Silver Witch merely glanced at Fiolen, whose unease was palpable, and then shifted her gaze away. The pressure, like a mountain toppling, vanished from Fiolen.
“I understand.”
Light golden script appeared in the void. With just a glance, the witch had gleaned the answer she sought from Fiolen’s wavering expression. Fiolen let out a long sigh and suddenly realized her back was soaked with sweat, though she didn’t know when it had happened. When her gaze returned, she found the witch standing by the window. Her slender figure was enveloped in the twilight’s fading light, and she silently gazed at the object in her hand.
It was a crystal hairpin. The platinum hairpin itself was somewhat old-fashioned, but the amethyst embedded in it remained clear and luminous. Under the slanting sunset, it refracted colors as brilliant as stained glass. Clearly, this crystal hairpin had been meticulously maintained by its owner, allowing it to remain as new as ever despite the corrosion of centuries.
The Azure Silver Witch, Sylvia, gazed at the hairpin in her hand for a long time. Then, she carefully pinned it back into her silvery-white hair.
The next moment.
Sylvia’s hand held a thick, simple book. Without any extraneous movement, the substantial book opened by itself, the rustling of turning pages accompanied by a shower of dust. Soon, the turning sounds ceased, settling on a page already filled with written text.
“The teleportation array that sent me out of the Royal Capital of the Azure Court was, after that night, the last remaining artifact of the Azure Court Duchy beside me.”
“At first, I believed the Brunnhildr Family truly possessed such secret magical technology, and to prevent Norton’s ambition from succeeding, the elders of the family unhesitatingly escorted me to escape using the teleportation array.”
“It wasn’t until later, when I ascended to the Legendary realm and opened my Spiritual Ocean, surveying my own consciousness from a higher dimension, that I discovered traces of my memories being tampered with, and those lost blanks.”
“But even then, though I searched the entire Western Continent and even sub-planes, I could not find any trace of Brother Shaya.”
“And that array was the only clue Brother Shaya left behind.”
“I visited the most senior authorities in spatial magical technology across the Western Continent and had them show me confidential research sites at the Academy of Magic…”
“However, all investigations indicated that even large-scale, long-distance bidirectional teleportation arrays were still purely theoretical at that time. The only thing manufactured was a prototype machine that occupied an area the size of several buildings, capable of teleporting objects the size of a bottle cap each time, yet it was already considered an unprecedented breakthrough in that field. Let alone a portable single-person teleportation array, highly miniaturized and integrated, no larger than a disc…”
“With the Brunnhildr Family’s capabilities, no matter how secretly they researched, they could never possess such magical technology that was several generations ahead of the great nations’ magical academies.”
“That lone teleportation array was a product out of its time… It seemed to be from the distant future.”
“Much like Brother Shaya, who quietly appeared in my life and then vanished like the wind.”
—Excerpt from the Diary of the Azure Silver Witch, page 701, Holy Calendar year 360, Month of Budding, 7th day.
Not long after writing this page, the Azure Silver Witch established the pure white tower on the Golden Plains and buried herself within it. Sylvia’s gaze lingered on this page of the diary for a moment. Then, the diary turned again, and a blank page soon reappeared.
The next moment, lines of elegant yet ancient golden script materialized out of thin air on the blank page.
“Brother Shaya, you once left me with a final message.”
“‘We will meet again at the end of time.'”
“And now, five hundred years have passed, and the world has changed immeasurably.”
“Is this the future where you exist?”
“Why, back then, did you rewrite my memories?”
“And, in your heart, what position did I truly hold?”
“Was I a tool to be used and discarded?”
“Was it the ordinary affection between a brother and sister?”
“Or…”
The light golden ink trembled slightly, but never continued writing. Fiolen and Isvilda beside her couldn’t help but gasp. Because, the White Tower’s Mistress, the Azure Silver Witch—who had carried an indescribable majesty since her appearance, effortlessly commanding the entire scene—revealed in her pure silver eyes at this moment a hint of unease, fear, and a fleeting glimpse of timidity and cowardice. It was like a traveler returning home after a long absence, feeling a touch of apprehension as they neared their homeland.
However, the fleeting complex emotion soon vanished from Sylvia’s eyes. Light golden script appeared in the void.
“I need a few days to adapt to the power I’ve gained during my slumber.”
“Once fully recovered, I will visit the Imperial Capital of the Freista Empire.”
Sylvia looked at Isvilda, the Silent Singer, beside her. A hint of apology showed in her azure silver eyes.
“My words at the time were unintentional, I didn’t expect your ancestor would take them seriously.”
“This White Tower is merely a tomb I built for myself, and with my strength, I don’t require anyone to guard it.”
“Now that I have awakened, you are free to leave this tomb-like tower.”
“No.” Isvilda shook her head. “Perhaps, in the Tower Master’s eyes, the White Tower is just a structure created casually.”
“But, during these five hundred years, for me, and for all the members of the White Tower, it has become the meaning of our lives.”
“We are willing to stay here, not only because of you, Tower Master, but also because…”
“The White Tower is a haven for the hearts of countless homeless people, a utopia our hearts long for.”
Sylvia’s gaze paused slightly on Isvilda, and after a long moment, she nodded. She had never imagined that her casual act back then would become one of the Three Towers, standing alongside the Black Tower, a sacred place and haven for countless seekers of truth in the future. It was just like Brother Shaya was to me back then.
Fiolen followed suit. “It is also an honor for the Empire that the Azure Silver Witch is willing to grace the Imperial Capital with her presence.”
“As the Southern Inspector of the Empire, I can guide you. The Shaya Egut I mentioned earlier should be within the Imperial Capital now.” Fiolen carefully suppressed the chilling shock within her, revealing not the slightest trace of it.
The visit of a Legendary Expert, and moreover, a powerful one at that, was a momentous occasion for the Empire. Although the Empire had its share of Legendary figures, if such a person were to unleash their full power within the Imperial Capital, even the residual shockwaves of their battle could level the entire city. Of course, this might not necessarily be a bad thing. Regardless, the White Tower and the Empire, outwardly, belonged to the order faction of the Western Continent. Thanks to Fiolen’s mediation, their relationship was relatively harmonious.
Given the tense situation within the Imperial Capital, if a Legendary figure were to voice their stance, the resulting chain reaction could potentially shake the existing order and plunge it into chaos. And for Her Royal Highness, who was currently isolated and without support in the Imperial Capital, the more chaotic the situation, the better.
“Alright.”
Light golden text reappeared in the void. The witch in the twilight slowly turned and looked towards the Grand Library behind her.
“During these few days of recovery, I wish to understand thoroughly…”
“This era that birthed and nurtured him.”
The next moment. Within the Grand Library, enveloped by the solidified twilight. All the books on the wooden shelves suddenly floated into the air. Then, at the same moment, they opened. The Azure Silver Witch, stepping in worn red high heels, walked, step by step, into that boundless sea of books.
Fiolen and Isvilda exchanged a glance, about to retreat silently. But then, they saw light golden script appear before them once more.
“I want to taste the food of this era.”
To think that a Legendary Expert who had slept for five hundred years still possessed human desires such as taste. Isvilda was momentarily stunned and hesitated for a moment before speaking, “May I ask what kind of food the Tower Master wishes to taste?”
Hearing Isvilda’s question. The witch within the sea of books tilted her head slightly, her long hair falling past her ear. A hint of nostalgia flashed in her pure silver eyes.
“Then…”
“Grilled fish.”
