Chapter 1271 Family Surname <TOC> Chapter 1273 The Encounter
Translator: SumTLMan
In the beginning, Angel had agreed to a five-year pact with Jon. Before he returned to the Old Land Continent from the Savage Grottoes, he was visited on Phantom Island by a figure known as White Bear.
At that time, White Bear had said, “He sent me here to give you something of utmost importance.”
The ‘He’ in his words referred to Totoro.
White Bear wasn’t sure what Totoro had foreseen, but one couldn’t deny Totoro’s remarkable talent and potential; his predictions were infallible. After much contemplation, White Bear sought out Angel, entrusting him with a cherished possession he had held onto for years: a white bear plush doll.
Now, as Angel brought out the white bear doll, it was clear he was acknowledging the foresight Totoro once had.
A pang of realization hit White Bear. He remembered an old prophecy made about him: To escape the engulfing darkness and tread further on the path of transcendence, to find his true home, he must meet a particular individual.
The prophecy had revealed that this person was none other than Angel.
This prophecy had two elements: the first was his desire to journey further on the path of wizards, and the second was to find his true home. Both these elements were intricately connected to Angel.
This connection was the very reason why White Bear had always been keen on forging a deep bond with Angel.
Remembering a time when Angel had inquired about his bloodline, White Bear had an inkling: “Could it be that Angel speaks of his own bloodline, his genuine home… his kin?”
Years had passed, and much of White Bear’s memory of ‘home’ had faded.
He had no recollection of his parents. His earliest memories were from a foster home, with his aunt. He had once asked her about his direct relatives. He still remembered the complex look on her face when he had posed the question — a mix of anger, nostalgia, and deep helplessness.
In the end, she didn’t reveal the truth of his origins. She merely mentioned that the white bear plush doll, always by his side, was a keepsake from his family. This was why White Bear cherished the doll so deeply. His fondness for dressing up as a white bear also stemmed from this ingrained sentiment.
During his extended stay at his aunt’s abode, White Bear’s identity began to blur, being enveloped by their kindness, making him think that life would always be this comforting.
However, this idyllic chapter was abruptly torn at seventeen. For reasons unknown, King Guman issued a decree to eliminate his aunt’s family. On that tumultuous night, White Bear’s memories were overwhelmed by rivers of blood and mountains of corpses. In that haze, all he recalled was his cousin, the daughter of his aunt, clutching his hand, leading him secretly away.
Sadly, during their escape, his cousin was wounded. Their journey from the city to the wilderness was marked by her declining health. Without timely medical care, she was soon on death’s door.
Before her last breath, she presented White Bear with a plush toy resembling him, whispering that finding “him” was the key to ending their family’s sufferings. Although she didn’t specify, White Bear understood whom she referred to.
Subsequently, White Bear awakened a prophecy gift, revealing glimpses of the future. Realizing that to change his fate and reconnect with his bloodline, he needed to transcend the ordinary. This conviction led him on a 13-year odyssey from the Kingdom of Guman to the Savage Grottoes, where he apprenticed as a wizard.
His reminiscence halted when he noticed Angel’s gesture.
Angel unveiled a white bear plush doll, extracting a pendant attached to it. From the worn pendant, she drew a stamp-sized portrait. It depicted a young boy holding a white bear doll, squinting with joy. A woman, intimate in gesture, stood behind, resting her head on the boy’s shoulder. However, her facial features were indistinct.
Pointing to the portrait, Angel inquired, “This boy, is that you?”
White Bear nodded, “Yes, it’s me.”
“And the woman with you in the image, who is she to you?”
Shaking his head, White Bear responded, “I can’t recall her, but I’m certain she’s tied to my immediate family.” Deep within, he pondered: This must be the very person my cousin spoke of.
Angel pressed, “Regarding this woman, you have no leads? Despite your young age in the picture, you should remember something, right?”
White Bear pondered for a moment, seemingly struck by a thought. “After I had the honor of studying under the magnificent Lady Maya, I once pleaded with her, hoping she could help me rediscover memories from my past. Later, Lady Maya revealed that memories from before I turned eight had been deliberately erased and were irrecoverable. And after the age of eight, I was raised in my aunt’s home.”
Erasable memories from before White Bear turned eight? One thing became clear; this incident must relate to those with extraordinary powers. Erasing such memories to the point of being irretrievable isn’t something a mere novice can achieve.
An image surfaced in Angel’s mind.
“You mentioned once that all your kin perished thirteen years ago, correct?”
White Bear nodded. “I was referring to my aunt’s family. As for the lady in the painting, I’m unaware.”
“Silian, is your clan’s surname, as you’ve mentioned before,” Angel paused for emphasis. “Interestingly, during my last trip to the Old Land Continent, I encountered a woman.”
Anticipation tightened White Bear’s throat, eagerly awaiting Angel’s next words.
“I’m unsure of that woman’s true identity. However, I do know she once placed orders for some magical materials under the name ‘Silian’.”
“Moreover, this individual seems to have significant ties to the Kingdom of Guman.”
Angel paused at that, leaving the air thick with suspense. White Bear’s eyes widened in shock, his voice quivering with disbelief, “Are you implying… Kinship? The woman from the painting?”
Angel mused, “I can’t be certain, but there aren’t many coincidences in this world.”
White Bear seemed lost in thought, “Indeed, the world doesn’t have such coincidences. Prophecies led me to you, Totoro entrusted me to give you the white bear plush doll. These are predetermined events… Totoro’s predictions have never been wrong. Silian, Silian, this Lady Silian you speak of must undeniably have a profound connection with me.”
“Can I know who she is? And… may I meet her?” White Bear looked at Angel with pleading eyes.
Angel didn’t respond immediately. The person he referred to was obviously Eureka. Madeline had shared tales about ‘Tainted Blood Shadow Dagger’ Eureka. Rumor had it that Eureka’s thieving pursuits of the Guman King’s treasures were because her family had been ensnared by the King. White Bear’s experiences seemed to align with Eureka’s narrative.
Confronted with White Bear’s earnest plea, Angel hesitated to make a promise.
Firstly, Eureka’s identity was profoundly unique, and even Suis had cautioned Angel not to speak of her. Secondly, if White Bear sought Eureka, he’d inevitably be drawn into the maelstrom surrounding the Guman treasure — a choice that might not bode well for him.
Yet, for Angel to directly decline White Bear’s request would be a breach of propriety and sentiment.
“Let me ponder a moment,” Angel muttered, pacing on the terrace. White Bear was clueless about the intricacies at play, but whatever caused Angel such distress regarding this matter surely wasn’t trivial.
As silence blanketed the scene, Angel decided to seek external counsel.
This matter pertained to the significant affair of the Guman treasure. Finding his own perspective insufficient for a decision, Angel thought to consult his mentor.
Relaying White Bear’s situation to Sanders, the latter expressed astonishment upon hearing of White Bear’s identity. It seems even Sanders hadn’t anticipated that someone from the Savage Grottoes had ties with the renowned Tainted Blood Shadow Dagger.
After reflecting, Sanders mused, “It’s not easy to judge. Considering Eureka’s capabilities, if she’s blood-related to White Bear, she’d surely know of him. Since Eureka knows of his identity and yet hasn’t sought him out, it suggests a conscious choice on her part after careful deliberation. This is from Eureka’s perspective — perhaps she wishes to keep White Bear out of this affair.”
“However, there are two sides to every coin. From White Bear’s perspective, he clearly wishes to meet Eureka. As to the specific choice, outsiders can’t decide.” Sanders paused, then added, “But I believe you can. In White Bear’s prophecy, your role is pivotal. You stand as the bridge between White Bear and Eureka; you’ve become a variable in this situation. From this standpoint, you’re not an outsider; you indeed have the credentials to decide.”
With this, the ball seemed to be back in Angel’s court.
But Angel was no closer to a decision.
As he hesitated, a subtle wave of energy emanated from behind. Turning, he observed White Bear extracting a short staff, placing it upright on the ground. Under White Bear’s energy, it started spinning.
Angel recognized this act——the Guiding Hand of Fate.
Clearly, after White Bear persistently failed to extract a definitive answer from his lips, he began to divine the future using the information he had on hand.
However, witnessing White Bear’s sweat-soaked brow and his face etched with deep concern, it wasn’t difficult to discern that his prophecy might have gone wrong.
“Prophecy… a mere trick?” Observing the scene before him, Angel suddenly had a thought. If Totoro had initially instructed White Bear to hand over the doll to him, then Totoro must have foreseen something. Perhaps, Totoro held the key to the answer!
With this realization, a spark of enthusiasm ignited within Angel.
With a determined stride, he swiftly made his way back from the balcony into the grand hall.
At that moment, the ambiance within the hall felt even more peculiar than before. Totoro and Popoca each stood on opposite sides; Totoro seemed deep in thought, while Popoca appeared to be whispering something under his breath. Though Angel couldn’t make out the words, he could clearly see that Popoca was profoundly agitated.
Angel had previously promised Popoca a meeting with Totoro.
Now that they had met, the atmosphere between them seemed slightly tense and filled with undercurrents.
What exactly had transpired?
Chapter 1271 Family Surname <TOC> Chapter 1273 The Encounter