Chapter 1707 Orola <TOC> Chapter 1709 Magic Mirror
Translator: SumTLMan
After Viking finished speaking, he signaled that Orola could begin making her selection.
Orola didn’t dither; she chose the red bubble in her hand as her selection.
She gently popped the red bubble, and a box from inside it landed in her palm. The exterior of this box was definitely designed with some effort; its color scheme was a combination of red, black, and gold. On its edges were relief designs, carved with patterns of flowers, grass, and animals. It was undoubtedly exquisite. However, boxes in other bubbles had the same appearance, so at a first glance, this one seemed rather ordinary.
“Perhaps when Angel crafted these, he didn’t bother with unique designs and simply standardized the mold?” Orola pondered to herself.
Orola further examined the box. Its craftsmanship was precise, yet the materials used were quite common. What puzzled her was the absence of any emblem or logo on the box.
Doubts began creeping into her mind. “Could it be a trick by Farja?”
“Could this shadow box possibly not have been crafted by Angel?”
But on second thought, since several members from the Research Institute came to purchase it, even if it wasn’t crafted by Angel, it should still be noteworthy.
“Do you intend to bind it here? On the first binding, one will be immersed in an illusion. If you wish to activate it here, there’s a comfortable space provided at the back,” Viking indicated towards a section of the store. Some wizards, eager to experience the Drama Shadow Box, would immediately activate it upon purchase. For instance, the Whispering Witch did so just the day before yesterday. To offer the best service, Viking had Snow remodel a few lounges.
Orola neither nodded nor shook her head but looked towards Farja, “Let him bind his first.”
Viking turned to Farja, “Are you also buying a Drama Shadow Box?”
Farja nodded, handing a bag of magic crystals to Viking, ready to make his selection. At this moment, Loki, standing behind Farja, quietly raised his hand, “I’d like to buy one as well.”
Viking cast a glance at Loki and didn’t refuse, indicating that Loki could make his selection. After all, selling to anyone is still a sale, and if Loki managed to slip in here, that speaks to his own abilities.
In the end, Farja chose a deep purple bubble, while Loki, with a bold face, opted for a black one.
Due to the shop’s regulations, both Farja and Loki needed to activate the runes inside the store.
They didn’t head to the lounge but instead stood where they were and opened the Drama Shadow Box. As they activated the runes, shields of deep purple and black light enveloped them. Simultaneously, both immersed themselves in a world filled with illusions.
“The Drama Shadow Boxes in our store are different from those in other shops,” Viking explained. “Upon the first activation, because it needs to bind with the energy, only they can view it and cannot share it with outsiders. From the second time onward, they can share it with others, of course, provided the owner agrees.”
Orola nodded noncommittally. To her, these fragmented rules seemed a bit superfluous, but for any alchemy work, the creator’s settings reign supreme. It’s not a big hassle anyway, and she’d wait to hear what they have to say after their experience.
As Farja and Loki entered the illusionary world, Orola once again probed Viking, inquiring if the Drama Shadow Box was crafted by Angel.
Viking remained evasive, responding, “I cannot disclose that. The alchemist hasn’t expressed a desire to reveal their identity, I apologize.”
Although Viking didn’t provide an answer, he never denied the suggestion throughout.
After pondering for a moment, Orola thought about the long line of people outside. All of them were adamantly claiming that Angel had crafted the item. If it wasn’t Angel’s creation, she couldn’t think of any other alchemist who’d dare manipulate public opinion, using Angel as a stepping stone. Furthermore, Viking didn’t bother clarifying and let such rumors spread, which indirectly indicates that the alchemist could very likely be Angel.
Upon this thought, Orola chose not to inquire any further. Instead, she settled herself to one side, patiently waiting for Farja and the others to emerge from the illusionary realm.
Perhaps well-aware of Orola’s intentions, Farja didn’t linger within the illusionary realm for too long. After entering, he soon took the initiative to depart from the illusory world.
As the deep purple protective aura around him slowly dissipated, Farja leisurely approached Orola.
“I have completed the activation,” Farja informed.
“What kind of story was it? What do you think of it?” Orola inquired, her curiosity evident.
Viking, at this point, perked up his ears. The stories contained within these Drama Shadow Boxes varied, and he genuinely had no clue about the narratives they held. It could even be said that Viking, up to this point, had never truly experienced the essence of a Drama Shadow Box.
Moreover, of those who purchased the Drama Shadow Boxes thus far, only the Whispering Witch had expressed her sentiments. The rest hadn’t provided any feedback. He was equally intrigued — what kind of story would Angel choose to embed within these boxes?
Hesitating for a brief moment, Farja began, “I merely bound myself to the Drama Shadow Box and experienced the opening scene. For now, I’m uncertain about the complete storyline, but it seems to revolve around the complex rivalries and relationships within a royal family.”
“As for my feelings about it, initially, I wasn’t particularly interested. However, the storytelling method was captivating, and the transitions between scenes felt incredibly seamless.” At this point, a glint of excitement flashed in Farja’s eyes. “Even though I hadn’t finished the first act, it was genuinely engaging. It felt as if I was closely observing and experiencing someone else’s life, yet from a distant perspective.”
This kind of experience was a first for Farja.
“What truly struck me,” Farja continued, “was a particular thunderstorm scene during the first act. It was extremely unique.” Searching for the right words to express its peculiarity, Farja seemed momentarily at a loss for words. Finally, he concluded, “It felt as if I was living through it firsthand.”
After hearing Farja’s words, Orola gave a subtle nod. Though she couldn’t fully empathize, it was evident that Farja was quite satisfied. As for the thunderstorm scene he mentioned, she thought it might be worth checking out once they returned.
While they conversed, Loki emerged from the illusion.
Upon coming out, Loki stood frozen in place, lost in thought for a while.
Curious, Farja approached and asked, “What’s the matter?”
After a moment, Loki turned his head to look at Farja, murmuring softly, “It was just so tragic…”
Based on what Loki shared, he had witnessed a tale of a small town’s joys and sorrows amid a natural disaster. The protagonist was a physically disabled individual bound to a wheelchair, who already had an unfortunate fate. Still, things took a turn for the worse when they encountered the calamity.
With tears brimming in his eyes, Loki spoke haltingly, only giving a rough outline. It seemed to have been a sorrowful tale.
Farja inquired, “How did you find it?”
Loki choked back his emotions for a while before hesitantly responding, “What do you mean, ‘how did I find it’?”
After some time, it dawned on Loki that Farja was referring to the Drama Shadow Box. Wiping away the tears from his eyes, he nodded solemnly, “It indeed is a Magnum Opus. Setting aside the story for a moment, within it, I stumbled upon a secret.”
“A secret?”
Loki affirmed with a nod, and with everyone’s attention on him, he slowly began, “I initially thought the story was just an ordinary human tragedy. However, certain details hinted that the so-called natural disaster in the story’s backdrop seemed to be the result of transcendent powers. I identified numerous traces of the extraordinary within, and these traces have piqued my curiosity…”