Previous page password is bold portion: Y5r00InEp&eb
Translator: SumTLMan
Angel had departed the estate.
Above, thunderstorms raged. Intermittently, lightning slithered across the sky, as if a serpent of electricity. An imposing fortress of iron and steel stood enveloped in a volatile curtain of rain.
Yet, even such inclement weather couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the people.
For today was the last and the most critical day of the Novastar Competition — a culmination of nearly a year’s planning. Angel had accepted the special assignment of being a judge, and he was committed to fulfilling this role from beginning to end.
Gloria also left the estate alongside Angel. As there was some time before the competition would commence, they made no haste. They flew at a leisurely pace toward Infinite Battle Tower.
A purifying forcefield surrounded Angel, making him impervious to the rain. Gloria, on the other hand, was holding a black umbrella, appearing content as she floated through the storm.
“The sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella is my favorite,” Gloria suddenly said.
Pulled back from his train of thought by her words, Angel looked at her curiously.
“When I was very young, before it was discovered that I had special talents, I lived in the mortal world. It was a small town with three seasons of rain each year. Almost half of the week was usually overcast and drizzly,” Gloria’s eyes seemed to lose focus, becoming dreamy amid the rain. “I was born with a leg condition and couldn’t walk. Whenever we went out, my father would carry me. On rainy days, I’d hold the umbrella for him.”
“From that time on, the sound of rain hitting the umbrella became a soothing melody for me. It gave me a sense of peace,” she finished.
The atmosphere was imbued with a moment of serenity, contrasting with the turbulent storms outside.
Gloria spoke with a good deal of sentimentality.
Angel looked somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Gloria to suddenly start talking about her past right in front of him.
He pondered, thinking that wizards usually don’t engage in shallow yet profound conversations. The words from Gloria were likely an indirect way to express the level of friendship between them.
“Do you feel at ease because this sound reminds you of your father’s warmth?” Angel probed.
Gloria chuckled, “Perhaps. I haven’t really delved into it, nor do I intend to.”
“What happened next?”
“Next? What do you mean?”
Angel clarified, “For instance, what happened to your father afterward?”
“Oh, him. He died not long after,” Gloria stated calmly, “It wasn’t a murder, just a mishap. He slipped while hunting and hit his head. I remember it was raining heavily that day, just like today.”
Angel looked at Gloria, suddenly uncertain what to say. Should he offer consolation, or apologize for prying into her past? Gloria seemed to notice Angel’s hesitation and chuckled, “All of this happened centuries ago. If you hadn’t asked, even I would have forgotten about it.”
“As a wizard, the longer you live, the more you feel your emotions thinning out. So when something rare stirs my memories and emotions, I like to dwell on it,” Gloria paused and turned her head, “So, you don’t need to worry about my feelings.”
Angel gazed deeply into Gloria’s eyes, nodded, and chose to remain silent.
Gloria greatly relished the sound of the falling rain, maintaining this serene silence until they approached the vicinity of Infinite Battle Tower.
Although the downpour and thunder persisted, their cacophony was dwarfed by the surrounding din.
After all, it was the final match of the Novastar Competition, and not even heavy rain could dampen the enthusiasm of the spectators. Even before the match had begun, and despite many people not having tickets, the noise from the crowd that had gathered outside Infinite Battle Tower already overpowered the sound of the thunderstorm.
In such circumstances, Gloria could no longer savor the pitter-patter of raindrops on her umbrella. She emerged from her contemplative silence, reverting to her usual demeanor.
“Why haven’t I seen Shirley and Azaz today?” Angel, noticing that Gloria had snapped out of her reverie, casually inquired.
“Azaz came to Infinite Battle Tower early in the morning, and Shirley went to see her mentor,” Gloria responded.
It took Angel a moment to realize that the Water Ripple Witch, although currently secluded for alchemical research, had also accepted a role as a special judge and would likely make an appearance for the finals. Therefore, Shirley’s visit to her made sense.
“Oh, by the way, Alan stopped by this morning,” Gloria suddenly added. “He was looking for you, but I sent him away.”
Angel had spent his morning in the Wilderness of Dreams and was unaware of this development. “He returned from Paradova? Did he find any clues in Deserted City?”
Gloria shook her head. “It seems like he specifically went to investigate matters concerning the Bud Church, but he found nothing. He came looking for you, presumably still concerned about his sister.”
Gloria: “You don’t have to worry about him; I’ve already told him not to inquire further about the Bud.”
Angel pondered, “When one has not seen the face of the Abyss, the more you keep him away, the more he will be drawn to gaze into it. After all, Alan is from your Candy House; you should know him better. If one day he gains enough self-control, you can actually reveal a limited truth about the Bud to him.”
Gloria nodded, agreeing that sometimes less restriction is better than more. However, the precondition is that Alan has the courage and ability to handle this revelation.
Thinking of this, Gloria couldn’t help but glance at Angel. She remembered that Angel and Alan came on the same boat. Despite being of similar ages, their experiences and mental states were worlds apart.
As they spoke, they had already arrived at Infinite Battle Tower.
After entering the tower, Angel and Gloria went their separate ways. Angel, being a special judge, had his own designated pathway, while Gloria headed to the Boundless Arena first.
The hall outside was bustling with noise and people coming and going. However, as Angel approached the judges’ exclusive passage, the ambiance instantly became serene.
The permanent judges should have already arrived; this pathway is likely just for Angel and a few other special judges. Yet, at the moment, Angel was the only one present.
After walking through the dark corridor for a short while, Angel noticed a person leaning against the wall not far away.
As Angel approached him, he paused for a moment.
The sound of Angel’s footsteps successfully captured the attention of the young man engrossed in his book. As their eyes met, a genuine smile spread across the young man’s face.
“Lord Super Dimensional.”
Angel glanced at the door that was open beside him, which led directly to the backstage area for the contestants. Since there was only one match scheduled for today, this young man was naturally one of today’s competitors.
“The Philosopher” Onassis.
Angel had encountered him here before and was surprised to run into him again today.
“Before the cloud vine flowers bloom, I see you again,” Angel said, recalling Onassis’s previous whisper and responding in kind.
Onassis was taken aback for a moment but soon his eyes lit up with joy. “My lord, you still remember that saying?”
“Of course, I still look forward to hearing the sound of the cloud vine flowers blooming under the distant stars,” Angel replied.