Translator: SumTLMan
When the announcement was made to commence the sale of the Drama Shadow Boxes, the crowd up front surged forward, resembling a torrential flow. However, they were suppressed right before reaching the entrance of the Breezy Magical Materials Shop, overpowered by two prominent factions: the Artistic Faction and the Alchemy Faction.
Without a stronger force to breach the defenses, the only way to secure purchase rights was to join one of these two factions.
“If we can’t stand out as a refreshing stream, then we might as well join the muddy waters,” Loki said with determination in his eyes, glancing towards Farja beside him.
Loki intended to ask Farja if he’d like to join the Artistic Faction with him for a start. However, Farja seemed deep in thought, his brows furrowed.
“The sales have begun, what are you still pondering over?” Loki nudged Farja.
Farja began, “I still have some doubts…”
Before Farja could finish, Loki interrupted, “Do you know what Muse, the head of the Research Institute, is doing right now? Do you know why Fingernail Granny hasn’t practiced alchemy in so many years? Do you have any idea how the Potion Master obtained that Mysterious Potion?”
Farja shook his head in a daze.
“See, you don’t know,” Loki said, an obviousness in his voice, “That’s just it. There’s an answer to everything, but do we really need to know the answers to all these? If the knowledge aids our practice, then by all means, seek it out. But we’re just here to buy an alchemical creation. Why bother about the rest? When you buy a witch’s soup, do you ponder what ingredients go into it?”
Farja replied, “That’s not the same…”
“There’s no difference,” Loki retorted, “We can’t possibly guess the right answer now. So, why dwell on what’s behind the curtain? Let’s go.” Pulling Farja with him, Loki continued, “Stop overthinking, let’s get the Drama Shadow Box first. I’ve heard the Breezy Magical Materials Shop’s stock is running low. Even with daily quotas, they might last for just a day or two. If we miss out, it’d truly be a tragedy.”
After all, this Drama Shadow Box could very well be an alchemical creation of Angel! There’s no possibility of it being anything less in value!
Loki had been talking at length, only to find that Farja stood still, resembling a wooden post, utterly motionless.
Loki, puzzled, looked towards Farja, “Why aren’t you moving? Don’t you intend to buy it?”
Farja nodded slightly, “I won’t be going.”
Having said that, Farja turned on his heel, heading deep into Sunset Boulevard. Meanwhile, a whisper drifted into Loki’s ear, “I forgot to mention, while my mentor is still in Silent Hill, Witch Orola who has continuously taught me bloodline magic, is currently in Sky Mechanical City attending an underground fragrance gathering.”
Loki paused for a moment, finally grasping Farja’s intention. He clearly had no plans to compete for a spot with the crowd, but rather intended to leverage the influence of Witch Orola to surpass others through a shortcut!
Realizing this, a spark flashed in Loki’s eyes. He no longer squeezed into the crowd, but instead ran towards Farja’s direction, shouting, “Wait! I’ve always admired Witch Orola. Please, I must accompany you!”
……
The sun rose, and the moon set.
The next day, Loki, who had quietly been following Farja, walked into the Breezy Magical Materials Shop amidst the envious gazes of the crowd, following the silhouette of Witch Orola.
Dressed in an opulent long dress, Witch Orola held a lace folding fan in her hand, exuding the elegance of a noblewoman straight out of a painting. A fragrant aroma enveloped her, and Loki, walking behind her, couldn’t help but continuously inhale deeply, wanting to retain that lingering scent in his nostrils.
Orola cast a fleeting glance at Loki but said nothing. Had it been someone else, she might have frowned. However, to her, Loki was but a young whippersnapper not even fully grown. She deemed it unnecessary to nitpick over him. Instead, she turned to Farja, “Is this the shop? Do they have creations crafted by the Super Dimensional Wizard?”
“It’s still uncertain if this is the handiwork of the Super Dimensional Wizard, but it’s highly probable.” Faralga’s actions exuded utmost respect, yet his tone was comparatively relaxed. This indicated his close familiarity with Witch Orola.
Witch Orola opened her folding fan, using it to cover half of her face. The eyes that were still visible shone with a faint gleam. “I’ve heard that Mirror Lady has always spoken highly of his Illusion Music Box. Regrettably, his creations are rarely found, and I’ve never had the chance to see one.”
Orola and the budding witch of the Tree of Heaven, Luna De Misa, are good friends. Furthermore, Luna De Misa is a close acquaintance of Mirror Lady, one of the three ancestral spirits of the Savage Grottoes. Due to this connection, Orola has indirectly come to know much about Angel.
“I’ve always been curious about his creations; I hope they don’t disappoint.”
Upon their entry into the Breezy Magic Materials Shop, a tall male figure resembling a centaur greeted them.
“Madam Mist, welcome to the Breezy Magic Materials Shop. I am its acting manager, Viking.”
Orola, a witch of the dark bloodline, goes by the alias “Mist.”
With a casual glance at Viking, Orola offhandedly commented, “The transplanted bloodline seems impressive.”
Viking bowed his head respectfully, “Thank you for your praise, my lady.”
Orola simply responded with a faint smile and, fluttering her fan, got straight to the point, “I’ve heard that the Drama Shadow Box available here is crafted by the Super Dimensional Wizard. Is that true?”
“That involves certain secrets, I’m afraid I cannot answer,” Viking replied, maintaining his reverential demeanor, but with evident unease and fear.
For an apprentice to decline answering a formal witch’s question was, by all means, disrespectful. However, Orola had already heard that several members from the Research Institute shopped here, including wizards of true knowledge. They wouldn’t be frequenting this place without a reason, suggesting some hidden truths might be at play.
Orola pondered for a moment, refraining from pressing further about Viking’s words. “Whether or not it was crafted by Angel, a quick glance for Angel’s distinct emblem on it should clear things up,” she thought to herself.
With that in mind, Orola remarked, “Bring out that Drama Shadow Box then; I intend to purchase one.”
Orola was already well-aware of the price. The Drama Shadow Boxes here weren’t overly expensive, costing merely a thousand magic crystals. Some budding alchemists outside could gather that amount by pooling their resources, so she naturally didn’t fuss over such a trifling amount of magic crystals.
Promptly, Viking unveiled a peculiar container, and from within, more than twenty bubbles, each emitting a unique hue, floated out.
One could discern that despite the varying colors of the bubbles, each encapsulated a box of the same design.
Farja affirmed that the box he had seen the mushroom folk carry out of the store earlier was identical to these.
Orola reached out, arbitrarily selecting a bubble that shimmered with a red radiance. As she prepared to open it, Viking approached and interjected, “My lady, before you proceed, there are some specifics I must brief you on.”
Orola quietly observed Viking, awaiting his explanation.
“Per the rules set by the creator of the box,” Viking began, “each individual is allowed to purchase only one. Moreover, this box bears a special rune, which requires activation using one’s inherent energy. The rune will only recognize and memorize the energy characteristics of a single individual, ensuring that only you can use it after purchase.”
After a brief pause, Viking added, “Of course, after purchasing, my lady, you are free to hand it to someone else for usage. We won’t intervene. However, if an apprentice were to buy here, we’d require them to activate the rune on the spot. This measure ensures their safety.”
This was due to the potential risk that once an apprentice made a purchase, others might covet it, which could invite trouble. To avert such scenarios, on-the-spot activation was mandatory. However, formal witches, like Orola, were exempt from this stipulation.
Viking: “In addition to this, there’s another matter I need to bring to your attention, my lady. While the exterior of these Drama Shadow Boxes looks identical, the contents within them differ. The alchemist who created them didn’t inform us of how to distinguish the stories inside. Hence, whatever story you select remains a mystery.”
Orola: “Is this a requirement from the Super Dimensional Wizard?”
Viking, with a smile that doesn’t answer the question, responded, “It’s the alchemist’s demand.”
Orola chuckled lightly, “This alchemist certainly has a flair for the dramatic.”
Clearly, the message the alchemist wished to convey is: If one encounters a story they dislike, it’s simply fate.
Viking: “I’m not privy to the reasons for the alchemist’s decision, but if you find it unsettling, my lady, perhaps consider it as a form of artistic expression.” After all, the Drama Shadow Box itself stands as a testament to the art.
“An art that begins with the ‘unknown’ choice,” Orola remarked with a piqued interest, nodding, “It’s indeed an intriguing concept.”