Chapter 1239 Reminiscences of Ice Valley <TOC> Chapter 1241 Tribulation of Resentment
Translator: SumTLMan
Odeklaes, cold in temperament, typically paid little heed to others. His indifference amplified after Bina Jonis’ incident, he cared less about the outside world, thus showing no curiosity about Feng’s origins.
All information about Feng was self-proclaimed.
The most common story Feng told was that he was a painter, traveling through the Abyss to capture varying landscapes.
Besides, Feng mentioned he had a half-demon friend who obtained the entire legacy of a Fire Demon. This friend was the one who hosted a Hunting Museum in La Sutherland. Feng once gleefully suggested, “You’ve been staying by Bina Jonis’ side. The frost power she emits will gradually erode your Source Fire, causing significant damage. If you wish to resolve these physical ailments in the future, consider seeking my friend.”
However, Odeklaes was reluctant to leave Ice Valley. He therefore spread word that anyone who could bring him the Firestone would earn his friendship.
But why would anyone simply surrender such an extremely rare and valuable item like the Firestone?
Thus, hundreds of years passed until the arrival of Angel.
Upon hearing this, Angel had roughly understood that Feng’s words to Odeklaes were likely a plot, and he was likely the one to be caught in it.
This was in line with the information he later obtained from Curator Night.
Because Feng had also set a restriction for Lord Night: Feng once told him that the painting he left for Night, the night within it could not be completely engulfed in a sea of fire until a certain time point.
And this time point was when someone came looking for him in Feng’s name.
If the night in the painting couldn’t turn into a sea of fire, Lord Night couldn’t take the next step. Thus, he had always been waiting for the person Feng mentioned.
Angel arrived “as agreed” at this moment, freeing Night from this restraint.
Evidently, this plot Feng had set was now linked with Odeklaes’ situation.
“Indeed, I am the one in Feng’s plot. Is anyone suitable to be the one in the plot, or is it inevitably me?” Angel thought it might be the latter, but if he inevitably fell into the plot, it induced a sense of dread in him. It felt like an invisible hand of fate was puppeteering his life’s trajectory.
Angel had read some records about “prophecy,” even prophecy wizards had mentioned, destiny fluctuates, it’s not absolute.
But Feng had set this plot hundreds of years ago, causing Angel to have an illusion of “destiny.”
Moreover, up to this point, Angel still didn’t know what Feng wanted him to do by getting him into the plot? And, was he still in the plot? Or had he already stepped out of it?
Another concern arises: if Feng is capable of setting up this plot, it undoubtedly indicates he possesses some kind of foresight. But, is Feng truly a painter?
Beyond the aforementioned matters, Odeklaes divulged an additional piece of information to Angel: Feng apparently mentioned that he hails from the “Turing Magic Cube.”
Yet, the true nature of this “Turing Magic Cube,” and its whereabouts, remain inquiries unaddressed by Odeklaes.
Perhaps, the only path to uncovering Feng’s origin lies in locating this “Turing Magic Cube.”
As for the matter concerning Feng, all Angel can compile are these pieces, which, though essentially unhelpful, clearly hint at his potential role as a character in a stage created by Feng himself. The significance of his role, the outcome, or whether he is still an actor in this story are unknown.
But, if he is indeed still part of this story, there might be a place bearing proof.
The Tidal Realm!
The Tidal Realm is tucked away within the Goldfinch royal treasury. Therein lies a passage, more minuscule than a rat hole, leading directly to the entrance of the Tidal Realm.
The informant of these details is none other than Feng. As of now, Angel is the sole knower of the Tidal Realm, a place closely connected with Feng. Perhaps, a visit to the Tidal Realm could uncover traces left by Feng.
However, the prerequisite to entering the Tidal Realm is mastering the shape-shifting spell.
Angel doesn’t believe he can learn the shape-shifting spell in a short time. His only hope now is to see if the Softworm Worm Mother can hatch a Morphing Softworm.
……
Two days have passed.
During this period, Odeklaes hasn’t appeared, and Angel has remained in Ice Crystal Palace, continually keeping watch by Toby’s side.
Toby floats in the center of the hall. His fiery aura, compared to two days ago, has significantly weakened, almost to the point of invisibility. As the flame’s power wanes, Toby’s aura becomes progressively cleaner.
Though Angel cannot sense what exactly this so-called “doom” is, his many years spent with Toby have created a profound bond between them. He had previously sensed a murkiness clouding Toby, but now, this murky sensation has disappeared, revealing an aura of clarity.
As the last of the flame around Toby extinguishes, he slowly descends from mid-air. Angel immediately moves forward to catch him.
At this moment, Odeklaes, unseen for two days, suddenly appears in Ice Crystal Palace. He steps forward, silently observing Toby. Finally, under Angel’s expectant gaze, he gives a nod.
“The curse has been fully lifted from it,” Odeklaes calmly states.
A joyous light instantly sparks in Angel’s eyes. For over a month, he has done so much, all in anticipation of this very moment!
“You have my gratitude, Lord Odeklaes!” Amid his elation, Angel did not forget to express his thanks for Odeklaes’ assistance.
Angel tenderly stroked Toby, attempting to smooth his somewhat ruffled feathers. Yet, after a while, Angel’s expression abruptly froze, a discovery striking him. The curse on Toby had been lifted, but it seemed he hadn’t awoken yet?
Angel turned his questioning gaze towards Odeklaes.
The response from Odeklaes was succinct and powerful, “I don’t know.”
“Anyway, the curse has been eliminated. Perhaps there’s a minor aftershock, or… it’s merely asleep.”
Angel brought Toby back into the room, positioning him on a table. Observing Toby’s calm, rhythmic breathing, doubt flickered in Angel’s eyes.
Even though Odeklaes had personally confirmed the dispersion of the curse, why had he not awakened?
Was it as Odeklaes suggested, that Toby was merely sleeping?
Angel decided to conduct an experiment.
He planned to enter Toby’s dreams to discern what had transpired.
During his last journey into Toby’s dream, Toby had dreamt he was in an island mansion. In that solitary mansion, adrift at sea, a series of bizarre occurrences unfolded.
In the dream, Toby was filled with envy and recklessness, exhibiting drastically different behaviour towards the people in the mansion, including head maid Mana, Ollie, Leon, Jon, and even his close friend, the Moon Bellflower Fairy, from his usual self.
Harsh words, slander, accusations.
The only figure spared from this outburst was the dream’s “Angel”.
At that time, Angel couldn’t figure out what had transpired and could only speculate that Toby was grappling with some discontent in reality. Perhaps the emotional domain of the giant serpent in the Shadowy Caverns had amplified the darker side of his heart, leading to these manifestations in the dream.
Later, when Angel found out that Toby had been afflicted by a doom curse, he finally understood. These negative emotions in the dream might have been induced by the curse.
Now that the doom curse had vanished, would Toby’s dreams improve?
With this thought, Angel cast a “Dream Entry” spell on Toby.
Crossing the extensive bridge of dreams, Angel found the entrance to Toby’s dream. He slowly immersed himself in Toby’s dream world.
However, the moment Angel entered Toby’s dream, he found himself assailed by a deluge of information like a torrent rushing into his consciousness.
In an instant, Angel felt a throbbing ache in his head.
Angel immediately realized, his intrusion into the dream had been detected?!
Freud had reiterated time and again, the utmost taboo in dreamwalking was being discovered by the dreamer, for some dreamers are oblivious to their own actions within the dream realm. Even if you were their dearest companion, a moment’s indiscretion could leave you forever ensnared within their dream.
Therefore, refrain from interacting with the dreamer whilst in the dream, unless you’ve mastered the ‘Dream Control’ spell, usurping the dreamer’s dominion within the dream.
Naturally, Angel hadn’t yet mastered the high-level Dream Control spell, even if he had, maintaining control in the face of this tidal wave of information would be daunting.
His current fortune, however, lay in the fact that he had merely half-entered the dream, and the dream bridge behind him was yet to be sealed by the dreamer. With the situation pressing, Angel, braving the unceasing flood of information penetrating his mind, raced back across the dream bridge, returning to reality.
With great effort, he left the tendrils of the dream and returned to his body. As his thoughts fell back into place, the weight of the information in his mind grew more substantial. Overwhelmed, Angel could only endure a bout of vertigo, before fainting on the spot.
…
Angel endured an immensely unsettling dream.
In the dream, he felt an incessant murmuring filled with malice, as though countless individuals whispered in his ear.
Negative emotions welled up within Angel, and he found himself screaming in a fit of frustration, perhaps his outcry was so loud that it disturbed the nightmarish creatures lurking in the darkness.
From the depth of the darkness, a single cold, vertical pupil opened.
Under the chilling gaze of this vertical pupil, Angel felt his inner rage intensifying, escalating even to the point of hysteria.
Just as Angel thought he was about to plunge into the abyss of darkness, a warm presence made itself known, slowly guiding him out of the darkness…
Suddenly, Angel’s eyes flung open, and he drew breath in heavy gasps.
It took Angel a while to regain his bearings, only then did he understand, had he just been dreaming?
His eyes reflected fear. That was a dream that made him feel on the verge of madness, terrifyingly unusual!
If not for the sudden surge of warmth at the end, he likely wouldn’t have managed to escape the darkness.
Warmth?
Angel paused, he felt warmth in the dream, but it seemed as if he could still sense it now?
Confused, he reached into his pocket, retrieving from within a pulsating, crimson blood orb.
At this moment, the blood orb glowed intermittently, radiating a warm aura.
Chapter 1239 Reminiscences of Ice Valley <TOC> Chapter 1241 Tribulation of Resentment