Chapter 1258 Unexpected Change in the Ruins <TOC> Chapter 1260 Blurring the Truth
Translator: SumTLMan
In the grand dining hall, Angel and Sanders sat in silent communion, partaking in their meal.
In accordance with the age-old traditions of the nobility, when indulging in dishes that required a knife or were soupy in nature, a rule of silence was observed. This custom served to prevent any accidental spills or splashes, which could lead to uncomfortable moments of embarrassment.
The main course of this meal was a broth-based dish, ensuring their mutual silence throughout. Angel found the meal exceptionally satisfying. Although it lacked the extravagance of magical delicacies, Butler Goode had an impeccable understanding of his palate. From appetizers to the main course, from the thick broth to pastries, every dish was an invitation to indulge. What added to the charm was the fact that everyone was lost in their world, and there were no disapproving glances thrown his way.
It was only when the tea and desserts were served that soft murmurs of conversation began to resonate through the room.
Most of the conversation was Sanders instructing Butler Goode about recent matters and future arrangements.
Angel continued to enjoy his meal without interruption, particularly savoring a dessert rich in creamy flavor. However, mid-feast, he felt the piercing gaze of watchful eyes upon him.
Lifting his gaze, he spotted a small head peeking shyly from behind the heavy curtains of the grand dining room entrance. Although the figure donned a long robe and mask, the childlike stature was unmistakable to Angel — it was Wimbledon.
Currently, Wimbledon was sneaking glances at Angel, curiosity evident in his stance.
With a welcoming gesture, Angel signaled for Wimbledon to approach. Wimbledon hesitated momentarily. According to the dining etiquette of Phantom Island, he shouldn’t be entering at this time.
However, young Master Pat was beckoning him… Recalling the words his grandfather once told him about Sanders not necessarily agreeing to let him stay on Phantom Island, Wimbledon considered that maybe, just maybe, he could win some favor through the young Master.
With a hesitant and slightly nervous stride, Wimbledon finally made his way into the dining room.
The subtle commotion caught the attention of Sanders, his gaze shifting towards the source. Butler Goode felt a twinge of unease. He pondered ways to discreetly signal Wimbledon to depart. However, in a fleeting moment, Sanders retracted his attention, continuing to converse with Goode, unperturbed.
Goode observed Wimbledon approach Angel, and it appeared they engaged in harmonious dialogue. This observation soothed Goode’s apprehensions.
Elsewhere, Angel nonchalantly offered a cup of milk tea, inquiring, “What’s with the constant gaze? Fancy a cup as well?”
Angel recalled Goode mentioning, in passing, that Wimbledon’s emotional and intellectual maturity closely mirrored his outward demeanor, including his palate. Thus, Wimbledon held a fondness for dairy-infused delicacies. Goode’s insinuation was that Wimbledon wouldn’t ridicule Angel’s predilection for dairy products, as he found it rather commonplace.
Wimbledon, in haste, gestured a refusal. Merely stepping into the dining area was a breach of etiquette, partaking in the host’s provisions, even more so.
“What brings you here?” questioned Angel with a hint of perplexity.
Wimbledon, a bit despondent, responded, “Sir Pat, about what I mentioned last time… any news?”
“Last time?” Angel quizzically raised an eyebrow, “The tale of Peter Pan, the young flying boy?”
“That’s one, but I was referring to Ananda’s matter,” Wimbledon’s voice brimmed with concern. “Captain Nebia relayed that Ananda remains missing. During your recent travels, might you have encountered her?”
Previously, when he was positioned at the entrance, he overheard Angel and Sanders discussing another departure. This spurred Wimbledon’s anxiety, prompting his covert attempts to catch Angel’s attention.
“Ah, that matter,” Angel’s memory was jogged. He had indeed promised Wimbledon to relay any sightings of Ananda. With a touch of regret, he said, “Alas, my recent travels took me to the Abyss. I did not cross paths with her…”
As Angel was speaking, he paused for a fleeting moment.
For in that split second, a revelation seemed to strike his mind. As Angel was lost in contemplation, a stooped figure emerged before his eyes, an elderly woman with white hair, traveling alone. The very same woman he had glimpsed not long ago in Shepherd City.
Why, when thinking of Ananda, did the image of this elderly woman emerge?
Angel was slightly puzzled. In his recollection, Ananda was a sultry beauty, her attire far more provocative than even Nausica. In stark contrast, the old woman had gray hair, deep wrinkles, and saggy skin — bearing no resemblance to Ananda.
Yet, inexplicably, Angel had unconsciously equated these two starkly different individuals.
Reflecting on the uncanny familiarity the old woman exuded, Angel’s brow furrowed, and he mentally performed an age-regression analysis.
In his mind’s eye, a clock appeared, beneath which stood the elderly woman with her hands clasped.
Suddenly, the clock began to tick backward.
With each ticking sound, the old woman began to rapidly rejuvenate, as if the fountain of youth had been discovered. Her stooped figure straightened, the excess weight around her waist receded, the sagging skin tightened, and her white hair transformed into seductive wavy curls.
As the clock chimed a single time, it seemed as if time had been rewound by six decades. What was once an aging figure now stood as a radiant and ravishing beauty.
Upon seeing the woman’s face clearly, Angel was taken aback. After this visualization of age regression, the young face of the elderly woman bore an uncanny resemblance to Ananda — almost 90% similarity!
Such a high degree of resemblance was significant. Given the variables that time introduces, with this insight, Angel was almost certain that the old woman was Ananda!
No wonder when he beheld her previously, there was a whisper of familiarity tugging at his heartstrings.
This whisper, while faint, wasn’t as profound as one would feel with an intimate companion.
It dawned upon him — she is Ananda!
For Angel, Ananda wasn’t exactly a fleeting acquaintance; they’ve crossed paths a few times. Nonetheless, she remained a familiar face in a sea of strangers. His perceptions of Ananda could be distilled into three descriptors: a thief, a beauty, and surprisingly strong.
Upon deeper introspection, Angel surmised that Ananda might have bartered her youth with Sridhar, aiming to gain entry into the Wizarding World. Yet, what became of her endeavors? Did she soar in triumph or plunge into despair?
Lost in this reverie, Angel barely registered a dejected voice muttering, “I should take my leave then.”
“Hold on,” Angel interjected abruptly.
With a puzzled glance, Wimbledon turned to Angel, who after a moment’s contemplation revealed, “While I haven’t formally met Ananda, I might have a lead on her whereabouts.”
A glimmer of hope sparked in Wimbledon’s eyes.
…
A while later, Angel, accompanied by Sanders, left Phantom Island. Midway, Sanders inquired, “Did you show him the visage of that elderly woman from Shepherd City?”
Angel recounted the incident briefly, concluding with a touch of melancholy, “Little did I know, she was Wimbledon’s childhood sweetheart. Mentor, if she indeed acquired the Cold Night Potion from Lord Sridhar, does she stand a chance of transcending?”
Sanders responded, “If her mental strength exceeds 8 points, there’s a glimmer of hope. However, it remains a long shot. Even if she attains transcendence, without addressing her physical frailties, her progress in this lifetime will likely stagnate.”
For Angel, to mend the physical scars or even to prolong life, concocting a potion or procuring one would suffice, as he boasts a profound legacy. Yet, in the Wizarding World, the vast majority are humble souls at the base. They, like ordinary folks, find the ascent to a higher realm a Herculean task. The stark divide of classes and the skewed allocation or pilferage of resources rarely trickle down to these novice apprentices.
Thus, even if Anada truly becomes transcendent, obtaining the resources to restore her physical form would be a monumental challenge. If she can’t mend in a short span, her lifespan might rapidly wane.
“However, if she does achieve transcendence, Sridhar would likely take her under his wing,” Sanders paused, reflecting, “It’s the path he’s chosen, and he would undoubtedly bear the ensuing repercussions.”
They didn’t dwell much on Anada, seeing her as an outsider. After brief exchanges on the matter, they shifted to another pressing issue.
——Gloria’s Disappearance.
During Angel’s last visit to Phantom Island, he had noticed that the magical cottage by the lake remained, but Gloria had departed. According to Butler Goode, after Angel had returned to the Old Land Continent, Gloria had gone into seclusion for a while to solidify her new spell position.
Upon emerging, she left Phantom Island. The exact whereabouts remained unknown to Goode, but it appeared someone had relayed a message to her prompting her departure.
Angel had assumed that Gloria, needing Sanders’s help to retrieve her physical body, and given her current power status, wouldn’t be gone long. He had hoped to seek her assistance with Toby’s situation upon his return. Yet, unexpectedly, Gloria hadn’t returned.
“Where might Lady Gloria have ventured to?” Angel pondered aloud.
Sanders didn’t address Angel’s query, instead moving his lips, seemingly conversing with someone unseen.
After a contemplative pause, Sanders finally began, “Every message transmitted into the Mirror World usually passes through Tree Spirit. I just inquired with him, and indeed someone relayed a message to Gloria, prompting her to leave. However, the details of the message remain elusive due to encryption, leaving Tree Spirit in the dark.”
“According to Tree Spirit, the messenger is a female apprentice from Black Castle.”
Black Castle!
A spark of realization dawned upon Angel. The first time he met Gloria after her disappearance in the Hante World was at Black Castle. At that time, Felicia, another gourmet witch known as the ‘Butterfly Lady’ from the Candy House, was also present there.
This suggests a deep-rooted connection between the Candy House and Black Castle.
It is plausible that Gloria went to Black Castle.
However, it’s rumored that Isabella and Gloria don’t see eye to eye. The only ones capable of summoning her to Black Castle are either Felicia or another shadowy figure.
While Angel was lost in conjecture, Sanders proposed, “Let’s sideline the matter of Gloria for now. If memory serves, you promised Popoca that you’d take him to Black Castle to meet his sister. Once our immediate tasks are resolved, if Gloria hasn’t reappeared, we might as well pay a visit to Black Castle.”
Sanders paused thoughtfully before adding, “It might also be the opportune time for me to formally meet the ‘Twilight Queen of the Southern Region’, Isabelle, who has returned to prominence.”
Chapter 1258 Unexpected Change in the Ruins <TOC> Chapter 1260 Blurring the Truth