Chapter 200: The Final Journey (Part 3)
In the side palace, Heiser sat kneeling before a silver mirror, gently combing her long hair.
Beside her, a simple hourglass saw fine white sand flowing slowly. The stone wall nearby bore over ten distinct marks.
These were the markings the Golden Elf used to record time. It had been twenty-nine days since she was imprisoned here.
During this period of nearly a month, she had been decadent, given up on herself, contemplated suicide, and wished to end her life.
However, after repeated futile attempts, as she lay on the cold ground, feeling the weakness that permeated her entire body—
Heiser finally, after the incident at the Council Hall, calmed down for the first time in days.
Her self-abandonment, her frenzied attempts to end her life over the past month—
In truth, if she thought about it carefully, it wasn’t at all what she had imagined, a supposed atonement to help Shaya sever his ties and escape.
It was merely dragging him down, and failing to appreciate everything he had done for her.
Teacher Shaya was not ignorant of the secrets and potential dangers lurking on the Lost Island.
But for her sake, he had still come, willingly striking a deal with a sleeping ancient deity.
And her former self, meanwhile, had been pitifully giving up, pitifully abandoning the chance to live that Shaya had desperately fought for her.
If Shaya were to see her decadent appearance through the veil of shadows, he would likely only feel heartache—
Perhaps even regret.
Regret that he had misjudged someone.
Regret that he had given all his everything and sincerity for a Golden Elf who didn’t cherish her own life.
So, at least during this time—
No matter how sorrowful her heart was, how sharp the pangs of pain, how deep the regret that made her want to give up… at least in front of Shaya, she had to appear optimistic.
She didn’t know when Shaya would look at her through that veil—
So, she would force herself to be calm and wear a smile at all times.
Heiser washed the dust from her golden long hair with clean water. Her unadorned, straight hair cascaded down like a waterfall, spreading onto the soft bedding.
Then, she changed into a black knee-length dress.
A black butterfly silk ribbon adorned her waist, and delicate lace was embroidered on her shoulders.
The Golden Elf’s previous clothes were all in pure plain white. This was due to the scarcity of supplies on the Lost Island, lacking sufficient dyes. Most elves wore white, and even the elders maintained this habit.
But in that small house drifting in the Astral Realm, Shaya had said that perhaps black tones suited her better than white.
So after that, in her spare time from studying arcane arts and magic, Heiser secretly asked Yui to check the fashion magazines and outfit matching information stored in Yui’s database.
The trendy and fashionable clothes in Yui’s database dazzled Heiser, who had previously only lived on the Lost Island.
This was the Lost Island, beyond the Endless Sea…
The world called the “Western Continent,” which she had only heard of in ancient scrolls and from the mouths of elders, its colorful, vibrant scenery.
Looking at the dazzling and eye-catching information in Yui’s database, and at the images of bright-faced female models in the recorded pictures, who didn’t hesitate to showcase their fashion and beauty—
Heiser felt a bit like a poor girl from a remote village, looking at the diverse and vibrant world with a sense of inferiority.
However, the love of beauty is universal, even for a Golden Elf of legendary status.
After that, Heiser spent several weeks, following the examples in the fashion magazines in Yui’s database, to tailor a set of black attire for herself.
She had thought this outfit was lost in the previous riot at the Council Hall, but she never expected Shaya to find a way to preserve it and send it to the side palace where she was confined.
Heiser changed into the clothes and carefully examined herself in the mirror.
“It looks good.”
A familiar voice sounded in Heiser’s ears.
The Golden Elf turned her head in surprise, only to see that the dark curtain at the entrance of the side palace had quietly disappeared at some point.
The human youth with black hair and black eyes stood beside her, calmly looking at the silver mirror.
“Shaya, why are you here?”
Such an unexpected scene left Heiser bewildered for a moment.
“That guy… He’s not stopping us from contacting each other anymore?”
“Even a prisoner sentenced to death would be comforted by the guards with a few kind words and given a good meal before execution, right…”
“Even if those comforting words and that good meal weren’t originally intended out of humanitarianism… but simply to appease a condemned prisoner so they wouldn’t cause trouble, and to save the executioners and guards some hassle.”
Shaya smiled.
“In His eyes, I’m no different from a death row inmate about to be taken to the gallows.”
“Before that, fulfilling some of my small wishes, resolving some of my regrets… allowing me to calm my survival instincts, to stop resisting and give up myself, to entrust my body to Him, and to smoothly complete the soul-snatching and fusion.”
“No matter how you look at it, this is a foolproof deal.”
He turned his head and glanced behind him, into the depths of the gloomy night.
“After all, He is the Creator of the Glorious Era, and even His current body is the true master of this Elf Royal Court.”
“Before, when He was still in self-seal and slumber, He needed to remotely control the elders of the Elf Race to carry out His will. But now that He is close to full recovery…”
“In His eyes now, even if He allows us to meet, or even to conspire… the ripples caused would be easily extinguished by Him.”
Although the topic was something directly related to him, Shaya’s voice was calm, as if the one whose self and body were about to be taken was not himself, but merely discussing an insignificant matter.
“Never mind, let’s not talk about this.”
“Anyway, I’m not here today to discuss escaping with you.”
“If I were to discuss escaping, I wouldn’t choose such a blatant method.”
“Anyway, the other party promised me that once he recovered his original status, he would recreate a body for me… I think the promise of that Creator from the Glorious Era is trustworthy.”
He smiled slightly.
Then, he extended his hand to Heiser.
Behind Shaya, an illusory and hazy door began to materialize.
Bright sunlight, passing through that illusory door, sprinkled into the palace shrouded in eternal night.
It also illuminated the Golden Elf’s dimmed eyes.
“Although my time is running out, I still have one last day.”
“Let’s go.”
“There are some things I’ve been planning for a long time, and I want to show you.”
…
The moment Heiser took Shaya’s hand and passed through that illusory door.
An unparalleled brilliance, like a tide, flooded her vision.
What met her eyes was a scene she had only heard of in ancient scrolls and in the books of the Royal Court’s Grand Library, a sight she dared to imagine only in nocturnal dreams.
However, the world before her was hundreds, even thousands of times more magnificent and splendid than the landscapes she had imagined in her dreams.
This was a bustling city.
The sky was azure and pure, dotted with a few white clouds.
Occasionally, clear chirping sounds would ring out, and the shadows of several birds would dart across the blue sky.
Further in the distance, a massive magic-infused airship rotated its propellers, slowly traversing the sky’s dome. It briefly obscured the sun, casting a shadow over the city below.
Yet, the humans in the city, shrouded by the airship’s shadow, felt no fear, only cheers directed at the massive airship.
Heiser looked at the giant magic-infused airship overhead.
Then she looked at the bustling, noisy, and vibrant city before her, filled with the sounds of people.
Such a dreamlike scene, like an ocean tide, washed over her mind, leaving her somewhat bewildered. Yet, from the depths of her heart, a yearning and longing for the world before her inevitably welled up.
“This city is named the City of Knowledge—Lokiia.”
“And today is the city’s quinquennial festival, the ‘Arcane Festival’.”
“Fellow mages, from all corners of the Western Continent, of different races and statuses, who have all chosen to become wizards, gather here whenever the Arcane Festival is held.”
“They exchange progress in their respective schools and domains of arcane arts, showcase the latest magic items, extraordinary objects, and magic-infused creations…”
“This is a grand gathering of wizards, and also one of the most famous festivals in the entire Western Continent.”
Shaya, holding Heiser’s hand, merged into the noisy throng.
…
“Master Bobby, a legendary Dwarf craftsman from the Golem School, personally crafted this humanoid prosthetic golem. It can fight fifth-tier opponents and also warm your bed… The starting bid is only fifty thousand Rhine gold coins…”
“A stall set up by the chief reader of the Astrology School. Their divination magic can inquire about anything from astronomy and geography to love and fortune, knowing everything…”
The voices around her were incessant, leaving Heiser dazzled.
“Arcane Festival?”
Heiser looked at the noisy places throughout the city, and at the flying airships floating in the sky by means of magic arrays, and asked Shaya in a very small voice.
“In other words, this city… is entirely filled with wizards who practice magic?”
“It’s too exaggerated to say it’s entirely wizards.”
“After all, you also know that becoming a wizard not only requires soul aptitude and elemental affinity, but every wizard is a big spender… If you don’t have a mine at home, you generally can’t afford the expenses of a wizard apprentice.”
“However, it’s true that this entire city is related to wizards and magic.”
Shaya stood side-by-side with Heiser, looking at the noisy and chaotic city before them, and replied.
“Wizards have a demand for various rare spellcasting materials, so the City of Knowledge has adventurer teams that go out to hunt for rare spellcasting materials to resell to wizards…”
“And adventurers need to raise familiars, rent places to rest, drink and have fun, and need treatment when injured while exploring… thus, there are familiar training grounds, pubs, inns, white houses, weapon shops, and potion shops…”
“However, even those who are not wizards and are completely clueless about arcane arts…”
“But this doesn’t prevent them from enjoying this festival and experiencing the wonders of this Arcane Festival.”
Whoosh—
Suddenly, a commotion erupted from afar. It seemed a renowned legendary mage had arrived, drawing the attention of countless people in the City of Knowledge, Lokiia.
This was followed by a dense surge of people.
To avoid the crowd, Shaya and Heiser casually walked into a roadside shop.
This appeared to be a shop selling staffs.
Long, slender wooden staffs were displayed on the shelves along the wall.
The Golden Elf tiptoed, casually picked one from the shelf, and held it, examining it with curiosity.
With her current status, she could naturally tell that this wooden staff had the auxiliary effect of amplifying spell power and accelerating the casting speed of incantations and spell model construction.
However, with the forbidden spells she currently mastered, and the “High-Speed Divine Words” technique, they far surpassed this small staff, offering no practical benefit to her.
But speaking of which, with Shaya’s status, he had also reached a point where he no longer needed to cast spells with a staff.
Yet, Heiser clearly remembered that when the two first met in the Astral Realm, he had specifically taken out a staff and cast a first-ring “Glimmer.”
He said it was for the ritualistic sense of a wizard.
“Fifteen inches, elderwood.”
“The core is… the tail feather of a Night Flicker.”
The elderly shopkeeper stood up from behind the counter, looked at the staff, then at Heiser, his gaze pausing for a moment on the long ear that was faintly visible between Heiser’s golden hair.
“Half-elf?”
“Yes.”
Heiser was taken aback, then nodded.
She wasn’t a half-elf, but a pure-blooded Golden Elf. However, pure-blooded elves were already on the verge of extinction, and most people didn’t know the difference, so she didn’t need to explain.
“That staff is exclusive to the Necromancy school… If you’re a half-elf skilled in elemental or nature magic, I recommend this one.”
“Eleven inches, holly wood, with a phoenix feather core…”
“Thank you for your kindness, but no, I was just looking.”
Heiser politely thanked the shopkeeper and placed the staff back on the shelf.
Then, she placed her hand back into Shaya’s palm and walked out of the shop with him.
On the street, the previous noisy crowd had dispersed.
Even in the Western Continent, this was rare good weather. The sunlight cast a translucent glow on the green trees lining the street, and myriad fiery red maple leaves fell with the wind.
Especially for Heiser, whose life had been almost entirely confined to the Lost Island, having never seen the outside world.
This city was vast.
And so, Heiser and Shaya strolled through the city, stopping and sightseeing, enjoying the various stalls and shops of the Arcane Festival along the way.
She bought candied hawthorns from a street vendor, something Shaya had mentioned before but she had never had the chance to see in reality.
Then, in the amusement center, using a mechanical hook claw device controlled by a handle with remotely controlled extensions andRetractions, she and Shaya caught a few plush toys together.
They continued to walk and explore the city like this.
On such weather, one should wander aimlessly, going wherever fate takes them.
By the time Shaya and Heiser finally stopped, it was already twilight.
The lively stalls of the day had all packed up, and tourists, after a busy day at the Arcane Festival, began to depart.
The city, previously bustling, returned to a brief silence.
Fiery sunset light shone from the end of the sky, casting their shadows infinitely long under the twilight.
“How does it feel?”
“About today’s trip, and the world before your eyes.”
Shaya, still holding the plush doll the Golden Elf had caught earlier, spoke softly.
“It’s beautiful, more beautiful than the outside world I imagined from the fragmented words in those ancient scrolls.”
Heiser lowered her head slightly. “It’s just that because it’s so beautiful, it also seems very out of reach.”
She gently turned her head, looking back at the city behind her.
The setting sun was slowly withdrawing its lingering warmth from the city. Soon, the night curtain would fall again upon the City of Knowledge, just like the Lost Island, marking the end of the day.
But unlike the Lost Island, no one in this city would panic at the coming of night.
Because everyone knew—
Tomorrow, the sun would rise as usual.
“Is that so?”
“Then I am satisfied.”
Shaya’s words carried a hint of contentment.
They continued to walk aimlessly. Heiser didn’t know where Shaya was going, but she simply followed.
“This city, this world.”
She opened her mouth, hesitated for a long time, and then asked again, “Is it… real, in the Western Continent?”
Heiser could naturally tell that the city and world before her were not real.
Shaya did not have the ability to actually move a complete human city to the Lost Island.
This was merely an illusion created by illusions.
An illusion so beautiful, it made one want to be lost in it forever.
However, the complexity, almost rigorous detail, and the scene of an entire complete city… God knows how Shaya managed to create this almost lifelike illusion.
“How to put it…”
Shaya thought for a moment.
“This is not the scenery that exists in the current Western Continent. Human civilization on the Western Continent is just beginning to enlighten; it hasn’t reached such a prosperous level yet.”
“But, this is the world of my dreams.”
“And.”
His words paused slightly.
“I believe that one day, this scenery will become reality.”
To plan this trip, even Shaya had to exert considerable effort.
In the Real Timeline, not long ago, the Arcane Festival had indeed been held once in the City of Knowledge, Lokiia.
And Shaya had spent all his mental energy, scanning it bit by bit, simulating it, and then replicating the entire picture of that city and that festival in his mind.
The amount of information of an entire city, down to every minute detail, was so immense that even with Shaya’s current status, it was quite difficult. His mental energy had dried up several times before he could complete it.
“Of course, this city is merely incidental.”
“My true dream is here.”
Shaya said softly, stepping aside.
Only then did Heiser see the magnificent Black Tower.
The dark, towering structure stood majestically, piercing the sky, as if intending to connect heaven and earth.
And on the plaza outside the Black Tower, stood an ancient obelisk.
Crimson Gold ancient Aramean script was etched onto the obelisk—
“Truth and destination lie deep among the stars.”
Although this Black Tower was the center of the entire city, because her attention had been entirely focused on the prosperous Arcane Festival within the city, it was only now that Heiser noticed the location of this Black Tower.
She had never seen this magnificent tower before.
But, the moment the Black Tower truly met her gaze, Heiser understood what it was.
It was the tower that Shaya had once mentioned to her, the one he wanted to build, belonging solely to wizards, to arcane arts and magic.
And at that time, Shaya had also invited her to become the first member of this wizard’s tower.
They passed through the giant obelisk in the plaza and entered the magnificent Black Tower.
It seemed to be the end of the workday, as the Black Tower was empty.
Only scrolls containing the original texts of spells and knowledge of arcane arts were quietly displayed on the bookshelves, exuding the unique scent of paper and ink.
“I have always dreamed of building such a tall wizard’s tower.”
“Humans, half-elves, dwarves…”
“Humans and demi-humans without racial barriers, putting aside conflicts of interest, hatred, and contradictions, could gather peacefully to discuss not war and territorial division, but the truths among the stars.”
“This is a tower of knowledge forged by humans, by intelligent life, self-reliant and ever-growing.”
“There is no room for divine intervention, nor is it needed.”
Hearing the magnificent scenery depicted in Shaya’s words.
The Golden Elf couldn’t help but say, “Teacher Shaya’s dream is also my dream.”
“Is that so…”
“If that’s the case, then I am relieved.”
Shaya’s words carried a hint of relief.
And also, a trace of imperceptible release.
“Before, I thought your elders were somewhat irresponsible, entrusting the mission of revitalizing the Elf Race to you and then dying on their own.”
“But now, at this moment, I can somewhat understand what was in their hearts.”
“That responsibility, that mission, rather than being a task and a burden forcibly entrusted to you… it was more like a blessing.”
“Because they knew they couldn’t accompany you any further… but you were too young, and they couldn’t rest assured.”
“So, they gave you a driving force in life, a direction, in this way.”
“In fact, they might have never cared whether you could truly revitalize the Elf Royal Court…”
“As long as you don’t give up on yourself, don’t give up on life, don’t lose yourself… and can live healthily and happily, they would be content.”
He suddenly stood up, touched the Golden Elf maiden’s head, and turned to walk out of the magnificent Black Tower.
Boom—
At the entrance of the Black Tower, the massive metal door slammed shut behind him with a bang.
In the Golden Elf’s heart, her spiritual intuition sensed something was wrong without warning.
But everything that happened was so fleeting.
By the time she truly regained her senses, the massive metal door had already closed with a bang, and the figure of the human youth could no longer be seen.
Only Shaya’s last words echoed in the windowless tower.
“So, please don’t forget.”
“My dream, our dream, the dream called the Black Tower…”
“And—”
“Goodbye.”
“Teacher Heiser.”
