Translator: SumTLMan
“Should the gateway used as the Time Thief’s target anchor be handed over?”
The decision may seem straightforward, as neither outcome will substantially alter the course of one’s life.
It’s like the age-old dilemma: if both a loved one and a blood relative fall into a river, whom do you save? Stripped of all other considerations and forced into a binary choice, whichever decision you make carries significant implications for your future. Perfect solutions are rare in this world.
Yet, the choice given by the Time Thief this time isn’t so complex.
Handing over the target anchor might introduce some variables, but retaining it essentially equates to maintaining the status quo.
Considering you’ve already ascertained the Time Thief’s ill intentions, the best defense might be to resist changes.
Thus, Angel’s decision might not be absolutely right, but it certainly isn’t fraught with risks.
Of course, just because the Time Thief’s proposition is simple this time doesn’t mean it always will be.
Sanders solemnly warned Angel that, should he encounter the Time Thief again, even if faced with such a straightforward dilemma, he shouldn’t let his guard down.
For the Time Thief often sets traps in these choices, lying in wait for you to leap into them.
Life’s decisions are omnipresent, happening anywhere and under any circumstance.
Answers often arise and vanish within a fleeting thought.
For instance, currently, on the other side of the Middle World.
Having just returned to Silent Hill, Farja, after a long silence, made a choice: to let go of his obsession with Angel.
It was not only because Angel had saved their entire ship earlier, but also the stark disparity in their actual abilities. After all, clinging to such an obsession was unnecessary. Angel didn’t target him, yet he absurdly saw Angel as his nemesis.
One must bow to reality; there’s no need for pride at every turn in life.
By letting go of his fixation on Angel, Farja also released his own pride.
As Farja’s mentor, Talos was elated to witness Farja’s transformation. However, when he learned the reason for Farja’s change from Wizard Ivan, he was somewhat taken aback.
At the very pinnacle of Silent Hill.
Inside a ragged-looking stone tower, the current ruler of Silent Hill, “Eternal Silence Black Crow” Talos, sat at a withered wooden desk, his scarred brow deeply furrowed.
Before him burned a roaring fire, within which an image was displayed. It was a scene captured not long ago, a vision of the Sky Ghost Ship high above the vault of the sky.
As the image slowly faded, on the other side of the fire, Wizard Ivan whispered, “That’s how it happened.”
Talos pondered for a while.
Their experience could be seen in two parts. Initially, when Isabelle and her disciple “hijacked” the ship with Lady Kimberly, this did not surprise Talos. He had known since Isabelle’s return to the Southern Region that as long as Black Castle remained within the Fairytale Town Wizard Alliance, the dominion over the Sky Ghost Ship would eventually be reclaimed by Black Castle.
The second part was about Angel advancing to a formal wizard and even stepping onto the path of true knowledge. This chapter also includes the rescue of the Sky Ghost Ship.
Upon learning the news, Talos was more shocked than when Black Castle reclaimed the Sky Ghost Ship.
For wizards with a long lifespan, it felt like just yesterday to Talos when he saw Angel nearly lose his life to Dusk Queen, Isabella, at Silent Hill.
But in the blink of an eye, Angel had not only broken through the Great Barrier to become a formal wizard but had also stepped onto the threshold of true knowledge?!
Such progress was truly astonishing.
It’s noteworthy that Talos himself still lingers outside the door of true knowledge, uncertain of the path ahead.
Rubbing his slightly throbbing temples, Talos remembered that not long ago, he heard of Angel causing a storm in the Abyss, becoming a member of the Research Institute… and other such deeds. To him, each was a shock, and he didn’t expect that the aftershocks hadn’t ended, even extending to the Middle World where Silent Hill was located.
After a long pause, Talos took a deep breath and said, “The lineage of Phantom Island is indeed formidable.”
In his eyes, there was undeniable admiration. Sanders’ talent scouting was impeccable; while Sumesh had just entered the realm of true knowledge, Angel had already shown his prowess.
It was indeed a pity that such a prodigy did not emerge from Silent Hill.
However, Talos had recently read many magazines, which documented Angel’s experiences in great detail.
If Talos’s regret was merely a fleeting sentiment, then when news of Angel’s advancement to formal wizard spreads, the real regret might be felt by White Coral Floating Island College.
With a sigh, Talos shook his head and said to Wizard Ivan beside him, “Although the Sky Ghost Ship has been damaged, establishing a relationship with Wizard Pat is no loss.”
After all, Angel possesses vast potential and is undoubtedly a wizard of true knowledge. With his membership in the Research Institute, he would be treated as an esteemed guest in any wizard organization, even within the Frost Moon Alliance.
Therefore, it is wholly advantageous for Wizard Ivan to converse and maintain a positive relationship with Angel.
“Wizard Pat has recently advanced in realm. He should be stabilizing his condition during this period. Once he’s stable, perhaps you can visit him to express your gratitude…” Talos advised.
Merely considering Angel’s identity as an alchemist makes it worthwhile to cultivate this relationship, not to mention he’s also a seed of potential.
Wizard Ivan nodded in agreement.
After expressing his sentiments, Talos shifted the topic to Farja.
“Farja letting go of the inner demon in your heart is a good thing this time.” Talos knew Farja all too well; excessive pride had blinded him and had become his chains.
Wizard Ivan nodded profoundly, recalling his journey aboard the Sky Ghost Ship back to Silent Hill, where he witnessed Farja’s transformation firsthand.
Pride, in itself, isn’t harmful. But when pride becomes the cornerstone of one’s life, one’s perspective narrows.
For Farja, letting go of his pride is not a bad thing.
“By the way, Farja told me on his way back that he might participate in the Novastar Competition in the next couple of days,” Wizard Ivan said.
“The deadline for the Novastar Competition preliminaries is approaching. It would be good for him to participate now,” Talos paused for a moment, then called out, “Sisia, can you fetch Farja for me?”
Sisia is a young Sun Conure Parrot. It was during a disaster that Talos met her. At that time, Sisia was just a newly hatched chick, abandoned by her mother due to an unexpected rainy season. If Talos hadn’t found her, she would likely have died alone in the nest.
Sisia accompanied Talos through his most challenging times. Later, he brought her back to Silent Hill, exerting great effort to transform her from an ordinary parrot into a magical creature.
Talos called out several times, but received no answer.
Turning around, he found that Sisia was no longer on the windowsill.
Among Talos’ many dark crow magical pets, the white-feathered Sisia was always the most noticeable. Now, the windowsill was full of dense black crows, but Sisia was nowhere to be found.
Talos frowned, “Sisia was here just a moment ago, where has she gone so suddenly? Could she have run off to gossip with Taros again?”
Sisia is generally good, but as a talking and mimicking parrot, there’s one thing about her that drives Talos mad.
She’s quite the chatterbox!
The one at Silent Hill who best tolerates Sisia’s Gossip is Taros. So, if Sisia ever goes missing, it’s likely she’s with Taros.
At the edge of Silent Hill, a beautiful white-feathered parrot with a golden sunflower crown on its head perches atop a large stone.
The stone’s surface has a peculiar human face on it: one half with an open eye, the other closed; one half with a dark eyebrow, the other light; one half youthful, the other old; one half laughing, the other serene. It’s as if the faces of a flamboyant young man and an elderly gentleman were forcibly combined.
“Taros, stop pretending to sleep, wake up! I’ve got some big news!” After landing, the Sun Conure Parrot immediately pecked at the stone with its bright red beak.
“Don’t, don’t… stop pecking! If you keep at it, I’ll go bald!” “Have you forgotten you’re a stone? You’ve always been bald!”
The face of the old man on the stone made the first remark, followed by the face of a young man on the same stone.
“How dare you call me bald! Wait… I think I am bald?” “Are you an idiot?”
“Anyway, I am you, and you are me. If you call me bald, you’re bald too. If you say I’m dumb, then you’re dumb too!” “Do you want to argue, old man?”
Just as their quarrel was escalating, a Sun Conure Parrot intervened, “Tataros, stop fighting. I’ve come with big news, not to listen to your pointless bickering!”
“Sisia, it’s usually us who share gossip with you. What big news could you possibly have? Did Orola tell you something?” “Also, how many times must we remind you? We’re called Taros, not Tataros!”
The Sun Conure Parrot, known as Sisia, was the magical pet of Talos. It responded somewhat irritatedly, “I have genuine news, straight from my master.”
“Oh?” “What news from Lord Talos?”
Sisia: “Didn’t you notice, when Wizard Ivan returned just now, there were several large holes in the Sky Ghost Ship?”
“Oh, that seems to be true.” “I also noticed many injured onboard. That’s why I didn’t ask what had happened.”
Sisia boasted, “That’s the big news I’m talking about!”
The Two Faced Stone Spirit looked at Sisia with a curious expression, one sycophantic and the other flattering.
Taros’s expressions seemed to genuinely please Sisia, who lifted its crest proudly and spoke deliberately, “This big news is about the person you’ve both been so curious about recently…”
“The one we’ve been curious about?” “Could it be Miss Mein from the Bliss Pavilion?”
Sisia spat, “You’re a stone spirit; why would you be thinking of women? I’m talking about Angel, the very Angel you were discussing a few days ago!”