Chapter 1221 Cold Ancient City <TOC> Chapter 1223 Activating the Right Eye
Translator: SumTLMan
“Alright.” Angel affirmed with a composed nod.
He had anticipated the likelihood of Vaudeurs seeking him out. As Popoca had pointed out, Vaudeurs wouldn’t be approaching without a motive, yet the exact nature of his objective remained a mystery to Angel.
Setting out alone, Angel wanted to confirm if Vaudeurs would indeed make his move.
His conjecture proved correct.
Vaudeurs: “Follow me.”
Soaring towards the distant, the cold winds within the fortress stirred his cloak into a resonant hum.
Beneath Angel, the Dark Night Flyover flickered with a black-gold formation. With a light touch of his toes, he floated into the air and followed Vaudeurs into the indeterminate Abyss.
As Angel departed, Greaves in the stone chamber remained oblivious, still gazing affectionately at Olucia’s soul, muttering to himself. However, Popoca in the adjacent compartment looked up, his gaze piercing through the cloak and towards the window. Only after Angel’s silhouette vanished from sight did he lower his head, releasing an almost inaudible sigh into the air.
Leaping over the gloomy fortress filled with bones and ghosts, Angel was brought outside the city by Vaudeurs.
The place of the throne and the pile of bones.
An isolated lantern exuding a dim yellow light stood atop a small hill of bones. With each gust of wind, the flame flickered, casting ghostly shadows over the already dim surroundings.
After arriving here, Vaudeurs halted, standing silently beside the pile of bones without uttering a word for quite a while.
Uncertain of Vaudeurs’s intent, Angel held his ground, responding to the uncertainty with patience and waited for Vaudeurs to speak.
Previously, when he first arrived, his attention was wholly captivated by the Phase Gateway in the sky, so he didn’t scrutinize this area thoroughly. Now, upon a second look, Angel discovered several peculiarities.
Why was the throne situated outside the city?
Logically speaking, the throne is a symbol of supreme authority. Shouldn’t it be placed at the core of the fortress?
Furthermore, why was this small mountain of bones deliberately arranged here? And why did the solitary lantern not illuminate the throne but instead quietly lit this hill of bones?
Noticing Angel’s gaze on the bones, Vaudeurs suddenly said, “Are you curious about these bones?”
“I’m just wondering why they’re piled up here,” Angel replied honestly.
Vaudeurs laughed, a sound devoid of mirth emanated from beneath the mask. It was the sound of laughter without the emotion.
“This is their wish, as well as mine,” uttered Vaudeurs gently, turning to pick up the lonely lantern atop the mound of bones, casting a peaceful light over this mountainous formation of remains.
“These skeletal remnants belonged to my ancestors, my kin, my beloved, and my friends,” as the wavering lamplight cast an ancient, primordial pattern on his mask, the dim glow seemed to awaken the souls from a bygone era within this pile of bones. They were lives intertwined with Vaudeurs, who now, besides him, had all faded into the annals of time, leaving behind only these skeletal fragments.
“Most of them died in battle, guarding the Cold Ancient City to their last breath. Those who claimed their lives included the invading demons, mighty monsters, and even… your kind, humans.”
“I apologize,” said Angel softly.
“There’s no need for you, savior, to apologize. This has nothing to do with you. Those are matters of a time long past. Time has weathered away any resentment or grudges I held. But among all the invaders, humans seemed the most transparent to us, the natives, always seeking benefits, even ready to turn on each other for it.”
Vaudeurs narrated the past with a tranquil tone, “For them, dying in battle, upholding the glory of the Cold Ancient, was an honor. In life, they defended the last bastion of the natives; in death, they guard the city gates, their duty never ceasing. This was their own choice.”
“As for me, seeing their skeletal remains always prompts self-reflection. Hence, I place the lantern on their bones, constantly reminding myself that their vigilant eyes are always watching me.”
At this point, Vaudeurs turned his gaze towards Angel, “Would you like to hear my story?”
Angel hesitated a moment, quickly understanding that Vaudeurs was likely moving onto the main point of the discussion.
Realizing this, Angel nodded, “Sure.”
After a moment’s contemplation, Vaudeurs began, “I was once the ruler of the Cold Ancient City.”
“But compared to them,” Vaudeurs gestured towards the pile of bones, “I was a coward, scared of death. Thus, I contemplated my escape early, chose to blend in with the continental turmoil, fully immersing myself into this vast land…”
“…Due to the Phase Gateway, or perhaps the pursuit of other interests, after countless wars, the coward in me survived.”
“At first, I was rather pleased with myself. But then, as I watched my ancestors, my beloved, and even my descendants grow old and fade away, I began to question if my choice had been wrong. Later, as the era of Cold Ancient passed and the few remaining natives left, leaving behind only this desolate ruin, I realized, perhaps my initial choice was indeed flawed.”
“Once a wizard sought my help to access the Phase Gateway, I agreed. My condition was that I wanted the answer to a question.”
“I asked him, it seems every wizard pursues an endless life, what’s the point of it?”
Vaudeurs looked at Angel, “Do you know how he responded?”
“We are simply seeking truth,” Angel softly replied.
Vaudeurs nodded, “Yes, he answered me the same way. When I asked him what truth is, he only laughed and didn’t reply. After that, I pondered over it for a long time. I’m unsure if my understanding is correct, but I suppose, truth might just be a vision, a motivating force that propels wizards forward, an unattainable yet persistently pursued obsession.”
Vaudeurs cast his gaze upon Angel, as if hoping to extract the answer to “what is truth” from him.
“Everyone pursues truth in different ways,” Angel responded. Whether Vaudeurs was correct or not held no significance for him, as the truth itself dwells within one’s heart.
Vaudeurs shook his head, refraining from delving deeper into the topic of truth. Instead, he returned to the matter at hand, “Unfortunately, I no longer harbor any hope for progress.”
Angel inquired, “Because, you share your fate with this continent’s glory and ruin?”
Vaudeurs gave Angel a deep look, “Exactly, I severed my own hope for progress. If the continent collapses, I’ll die; if it recovers, I will improve with it.”
“The collective consciousness of the continent is close to you, so I cannot harbour any intent to harm you.”
Surprise flickered in Angel’s eyes. There was no necessity for Vaudeurs to voice these words. His emphasis, was it intended to soothe my heart?
“Without any hope for progress, I can only languish in this lonely world. Until, I encountered you, savior.”
At this point, Angel had understood. Whatever Vaudeurs would say next, was likely the reason he summoned Angel to this place.
There had to be a request.
Sure enough, after laying the groundwork, Vaudeurs finally revealed his purpose for this visit.
……
Angel returned to the stone chamber above the prayer chapel.
As he pushed open the door, Greaves floated over. Greaves had returned to his fiery form, appearing just like a small fireball.
Noticing the confusion in Angel’s eyes, Greaves explained, “There are too many souls of the dead here. Although they won’t approach, the cold wind keeps pouring in through the door. It’s warmer in my true form.”
“You can close the door.” Angel casually shut the large stone chamber door, blocking the chilling wind from outside.
Greaves then transformed back into his human form, a slightly tanned but very delicate young boy.
“Because I don’t know when the shop owner will come back.” Greaves was in the middle of this sentence when he suddenly seemed to remember something, “Shop owner, where did you go? Lady Olucia had a brief moment of consciousness, I was just about to find you, but you weren’t outside.”
“I took a tour outside,” Angel nonchalantly brushed off the subject. “Did Olucia wake up?”
“Yes, but it was only for a brief moment. We exchanged a few words, and then she slipped back into slumber. The Source Fire seal makes it difficult for her soul power to flow out. If only we could…”
“What did she say?” Angel cut off Greaves, knowing full well that without interruption, Greaves might pester him about releasing Olucia’s soul.
In reality, Angel didn’t anticipate any ill will from Olucia after the seal’s removal. This conclusion was inferred from Olucia’s willingness to hand over the “Luminescent Eye” to Greaves. Greaves could have unsealed the Source Fire while Angel was away, but he chose not to. Neither did Olucia demand Greaves to do so.
This mutual trust had effectively conveyed Olucia’s stance.
However, to avoid complications and for precautionary reasons, Angel believed it would be better to avoid unsealing the Source Fire.
As for what Olucia had said, Greaves pouted, “I informed Lady Olucia of our current situation. Initially, she responded well. However, upon finding out we were in the original Tan Continent, she grew silent… But she wanted me to tell the shop owner not to provoke anyone or anything associated with the Dark Prison Queen, whether it’s Kurland or Garm, and avoid any significant involvement with them.”
“Why is that?”
According to Greaves, “Lady Olucia mentioned that even the Flameless Lord would consider the Dark Prison Queen as an unspeakable ancient terror. She spreads the horror of death within the Abyss. She’s a self-centered madwoman.”
Even from Greaves’ recounting, Angel could sense the dread that Olucia felt when mentioning the Dark Prison Queen.
Angel pondered for a moment, “I see.”
Angel and Greaves then shifted the conversation to less important topics before Angel retired to his room.
Chapter 1221 Cold Ancient City <TOC> Chapter 1223 Activating the Right Eye