Translator: SumTLMan
Angel relayed Sparrow Blossom’s lead to Popoca.
However, he didn’t delve into details, merely conveying that they had new information, and they could now pinpoint Sparrow Blossom’s location, assuring Popoca.
Angel didn’t catch Popoca’s reaction because after delivering the news, he withdrew his consciousness from the bracelet.
Angel contemplated consulting Sanders about their next steps.
Yet, upon looking up, he found Sanders, seated on the opposite couch, already immersed in the Wilderness of Dreams.
With no other recourse, Angel retreated to his meditation chamber for his routine daily meditation.
Six hours later, Angel emerged from his deep meditation, immediately probing the Gate of Dreams. Over the last three hours, Freud, along with Alda and Sunny, had departed the Wilderness of Dreams. Sanders, however, had lingered, never leaving the dreamlike expanse.
After some thought, Angel decided to directly venture into the Wilderness of Dreams to seek Sanders’ advice and, while he was there, check on his elder brother, Leon.
Upon entering the Wilderness of Dreams, Angel found himself in his room at Pat Mansion.
No sooner had he opened his eyes than he was greeted by an astonished gasp, followed immediately by the sharp tinkle of shattering porcelain.
Turning his head, he was met with the sight of a maid, Ollie, dressed in her uniform, her eyes wide in astonishment, surrounded by a scatter of broken porcelain fragments at her feet.
“Master Angel, what brings you here at this hour?” Almost instantly after uttering those words, Ollie realized she had perhaps misspoken. She hastily covered her mouth, and after a brief pause, sheepishly corrected herself: “I mean, it’s a surprise to see you return at this time. I was just tidying up the room…”
Ollie cast a regretful glance at the shattered porcelain on the floor, a twinge of remorse in her eyes. “I apologize, I broke your favorite porcelain cup. Please, feel free to reprimand me.”
Angel, propping himself up from the bed, gestured dismissively, “It’s just a cup, no harm done.”
After all, this was the Wilderness of Dreams; even if everything broke, it could be restored using the Dream Conch.
“Has Leon been here today?” Angel inquired as he rose from the bed.
Ollie nodded, “Right before I entered your room, I saw Lord Leon. He was discussing estate management with Head Maid Mana.”
“Very well, continue with your cleaning. I’ll go and find him.” Angel headed for the door, ready to depart. But as he was about to step out, a thought struck him, and he turned back to Ollie, whose eyes still held a hint of distraction.
“By the way, are you adjusting well to life here?” Angel questioned.
Ollie hesitated for a moment before nodding, “The main tasks are quite similar to before, with a few additional city duties. So, yes, I am adjusting.”
“However… well, never mind. Everything is actually quite fine now.”
It was evident that Ollie was holding something back. Angel, observing her closely, pressed gently, “If there’s something on your mind, feel free to share. Is it the tasks assigned to you? Do you find them unsatisfactory?”
Ollie was quick to shake her head, “No, I genuinely enjoy them.”
“In what light do you see this?” Angel gazed quizzically at Ollie. “Should a burden weigh upon your heart, know that my ears are always open.”
Ollie reflected a moment before confessing, “All seems well, but the struggle lies within me…”
As Ollie shared her heart, Angel came to grasp her inner turmoil.
Much like before, Ollie had gradually acclimated to life in the Wilderness of Dreams. Yet, the sands of time couldn’t sweep away her memories, nor quell her yearning for her dearest companion.
Ollie, a soul both sensitive and reserved, weaves her bonds with others at a pace unhurried by the world’s rush. These delicate threads, woven over countless shared moments, culminate into profound connections. Yet, owing to her reserved nature, few have truly journeyed to the sanctuary of her heart.
Her dearest confidante was Lucia, who later was proposed by Butler Torino to serve as Angel’s personal maid. Now absent from the Wilderness of Dreams, thoughts of Lucia color Ollie’s days, casting shadows of melancholy.
“It may seem trivial, this reason… Uncontrollable are the tides of my heart, for when stillness sets in, my mind becomes a canvas painted with yesterdays,” Ollie admitted, a blush tinting her cheeks. Her hesitation stemmed from an inner voice that ridiculed her very emotions.
“It’s far from trivial,” Angel reassured. In this vast tapestry of life, each individual thread is unique. Not all dance with grace through life’s ballroom, nor does everyone find their footing in unfamiliar terrains with ease.
In truth, Ollie’s feelings mirrored many a soul’s experience, a testament to the shared human condition.
Perhaps the distant morrow will see these anxieties eroded by time——maybe even forgotten. Yet, in this moment, they are Ollie’s most palpable reality.
“Voicing my thoughts has lightened my soul,” Ollie admitted, her cheeks awash with a bashful hue. “With that, I shall resume my tasks.”
At that moment, Angel suddenly remarked, “Do you recall when I once mentioned that even though they still breathe, there’s a chance they might find their way to Initial Heart City?”
Ollie nodded, her mind having been consumed of late by those very words Angel had shared with her.
“In reality,” Angel continued, “the time of their arrival is drawing near; all you must do is wait.”
Ollie was taken aback. Angel had initially spoken of a mere “possibility,” but now he seemed certain that their entrance was imminent.
Did this mean she could soon reunite with Lucia?
A glimmer of surprise and hope flashed in Ollie’s eyes. “Is this… true?”
“Yes,” Angel affirmed, “When she arrives in Initial Heart City, she might need your guidance.”
With fierce determination, Ollie nodded in agreement. Her gravest fear was never seeing Lucia again. Yet Angel’s affirmation that Lucia would also arrive slowly began to disperse the shadows that had loomed over her thoughts for days.
With more power at his disposal, Angel would soon unveil parts of the Wilderness of Dreams. Among the first to be revealed would likely be the servants of Pat Manor. This move was both a test and driven by personal desires. Therefore, the moment of Ollie’s reunion with Lucia was indeed fast approaching.
Parting from an elated Ollie, Angel ventured into the grand hall.
At that moment, Head Maid Mana was busy overseeing the repairs of the manor. Catching sight of Angel, she promptly approached.
“Good day, Young Master Pat,” greeted Mana with a warm smile.
Angel, casting a glance at the overcast sky, remarked, “Can one really discern the time in such weather?”
“Marilyn, the lord of the city, has established a temporal schedule that remains cyclical each day. Judging by the time, it is now noon,” declared Head Maid Mana, adhering strictly to Marilyn’s decree on the time.
Angel merely nodded without expressing an opinion, sidestepping the issue of time, and queried, “Earlier, Maid Ollie mentioned that my brother is here. Why haven’t I seen him?”
“The young viscount just left Initial Heart City. I heard he might be undergoing some sort of training,” replied Head Maid Mana.
Angel surmised that it could be Nausica training Leon. He had initially wanted to inquire about Leon’s previous whereabouts, but it seemed that discussion would have to wait for another time.
Angel then inquired about Jon’s status.
The answer was still the same: absent.
These days, Jon hadn’t returned to the mansion but had remained in the library, working with other scholars on organizing and classifying books.
Angel chose not to disturb Jon and, after bidding farewell to Head Maid Mana, decided to meet directly with Sanders.
Activating his “godly perspective,” Angel observed and noticed that Sanders was currently at the top of Azure Tower, in Freud’s office.
When Angel arrived, only Sanders was present. He sat at his desk, meticulously reviewing numerous documents.
Drawing closer, Angel discerned that the documents Sanders was studying consisted of Freud’s records regarding the current status of all the citizens of Initial Heart City.
This was a task Angel had previously entrusted to Freud, primarily out of concern for Jon’s well-being in the Wilderness of Dreams, establishing a reference record in the process.
“Mentor, is there any issue with these documents?” Angel inquired with genuine curiosity.
“It’s no issue; I simply aim to catalog every nuance of the Wilderness of Dreams in its entirety,” Sanders responded, “Freud and I are on the cusp of meticulously detailing everything about the Wilderness of Dreams.”
Could this be why Sanders has been frequenting the Wilderness of Dreams lately? A hint of embarrassment colored Angel’s face. By rights, it should’ve been his responsibility.
Reading Angel’s mind, Sanders gave a light chuckle, “Of course, we’ll require your assistance in documenting it, but there’s no rush at the moment. For now, prioritize bolstering your capabilities. Leave the rest, and rest assured.”
Flustered, Angel nodded, “By the way, why hasn’t Freud returned yet?”
“It seems someone from an external wizard group is set to partake in the Talent Test,” Sanders informed.
Ah, the Talent Test. It made sense why Angel felt the absence of not just Freud but also Sunny and Alda.
Sanders continued, “I’ve heard Freud explain this Talent Test — it’s quite an ingenious concept. If someone takes up a guide mission in the future, consider recommending them to give it a go.”
After meandering through these unrelated topics, Angel finally broached the primary subject.
“What should our next move be?” Setting down the documents in his hand and locking eyes with Angel, Sanders paused for a lingering moment before simply stating, “Patience is Key.”
Ironically, Angel had just advised Ollie to remain patient, and here he was, hearing those familiar words echoed back from Sanders.