Chapter 1938 A Theater Docking <TOC> Chapter 1940 Peach Heart Theater
Translator: SumTLMan
“See, that is a…” Totoro nodded, ready to describe the appearance of the Ticket Seller, but Hastur suddenly interrupted him.
“I’ll give you an Illusion Stone, you can use mental power to project the appearance of the ticket seller onto it. Instead of using bland language to describe, I’d rather see with my own eyes what this ticket seller looks like,” Hastur said, and then seemed to think this request was a bit much, adding, “Just the appearance of the ticket seller is enough, no need to project anything else.”
The reason this request was somewhat excessive was that during the Star Observing Day, there were almost no precedents of using illusions to project future scenes. It wasn’t a rule restriction, but rather, when it comes to communication, everyone preferred to imagine on their own. Actually projecting future scenes through illusions might lead to others discovering and utilizing information not initially noticed, inadvertently disadvantaging oneself.
In such a situation, everyone would not deliberately use illusions to publish future fragments. Of course, if you took the initiative to publish, that was fine. But when others made such a request, it bordered on moral coercion. Hence, Hastur made a point to add the latter part.
Hastur’s eagerness made everyone, including the Observers, turn their heads. They didn’t understand why Hastur would make such a request; could it be that he knew the ticket seller? Only La Pluie and Azathoth seemed to have thought of something. However, they didn’t speak, just quietly watching how things unfolded.
Totoro refused the Illusion Stone Hastur handed over, and when Hastur looked disappointed, Totoro said, “I know some light and shadow tricks. Although I can’t present the ticket seller’s appearance in three dimensions, I should be able to do it in two.”
Totoro’s knowledge of light and shadow tricks slightly surprised Hastur. These tricks, in fact, also barely counted as a type of illusion trick. However, they were the most basic illusion tricks, only capable of presenting some images on a flat surface through various lights and shadows.
Although it’s very basic and only a first level trick, it’s not that easy to learn. After all, illusionary tricks in the mysterious branch are considered quite difficult, and to learn across domains, the time commitment required is ten to twenty times more than that of an ordinary illusion apprentice.
Generally, only when such a trick is of great utility to you, a life-limited apprentice, would you be willing to spend time learning across domains. For instance, elemental tricks are pursued by apprentices from both the mysterious and bloodline domains because these tricks can significantly enhance their quality of life and combat capabilities.
However, Light and Shadow tricks, this basic illusion trick, doesn’t have any practical application; it’s neither useful in combat nor does it improve the quality of life, and it’s also hard to learn. Totoro, as a prophecy apprentice, spent time learning such a seemingly useless Light and Shadow trick, which surprised Hastur.
But, surprise aside, Hastur didn’t inquire further, just nodding: “A flat surface will do. I just want to see if the ticket seller is… an old acquaintance.”
An old acquaintance? Everyone caught this piece of information from Hastur.
Though it’s unclear whom Hastur is referring to, it’s now certain that he must know something about the details of Totoro’s prophecy.
Moreover, everyone felt Hastur’s impatience, which in a way indicates that he has acknowledged the importance of Totoro’s prophecy.
If even Hastur acknowledges it, does it mean that Totoro is about to set a record——
A prophecy apprentice actually managing to hold sway over the first utterance of the scene?
Considering this possibility, the faces of many prophecy wizards turned somewhat uneasy.
They saw nothing in the Mystery of Starlight, and coming to the Star Observing Day was just to freeload information. As most of the attendees harbored this thought, they didn’t feel much about it. However, now that an apprentice of prophecy had silenced the first to speak up, it was a sharp slap to their faces.
Even an apprentice was stronger than them, and if they didn’t say something, how could they justify their freeloading? But they couldn’t muster anything to say, and it was this silent embarrassment that suddenly made them feel uneasy.
Despite their discomfort, they could only hold it in and even had to listen intently to the ‘junior’ Totoro’s prophecy…
The Observers on stage, initially feeling awkward, had substance to share and were ready to exchange their insights, so they didn’t linger in embarrassment for long. Instead, they watched with interest as Totoro and Hastur awaited the final revelation.
Totoro was oblivious to the changing atmosphere around him because he was suddenly a bit nervous.
After all, the light and shadow trick was also an illusion.
If performed poorly and word got back to the Savage Grottoes, it would be embarrassing if Angel found out, especially since the light and shadow trick was recorded in —Basic Tricks: Revised—, authored by Angel.
But now that Totoro had declared his use of the light and shadow trick, he couldn’t back down. After forcibly maintaining his composure, he meticulously constructed the model of the light and shadow trick in his mental space.
He was even more careful than when casting prophecy spells.
Under his cautious construction, the light and shadow trick was successfully released. When he saw a human figure appear on the floor in front of him, Totoro finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He hoped he hadn’t tarnished Angel’s reputation.
Totoro’s little worries were probably only guessable by Maya. Hastur noticed Totoro’s nervousness but didn’t probe further. For him, what was more important now was the person in the image.
Is it the old acquaintance who succumbed within the theater?
Hastur scrutinized the silhouette cast upon the floor. Though not three-dimensional, it still outlined the other very realistically.
This was an old man with a white beard, who appeared quite strange. His eyes carried a weird and dangerous meaning, yet his attire was very… well, full of childlike whimsy.
Yes, childlike whimsy.
That was everyone’s first reaction upon seeing this old man’s attire.
Because his white beard, which reached down to his chest, was dyed a very girlish pink in the lower half and was even woven into a heart shape, reminiscent of an old jester in fairy tales designed to cheer up children.
His clothes were also various shades of pink and heart-shaped robes. Even the hairpin on his head was heart-shaped.
This childlike attire, contrasted with his fierce gaze, created a strong juxtaposition.
Amusing yet childlike, eerie yet unsettling.
“It’s not him.” Hastur looked at the portrait of the man, sighing in disappointment; it wasn’t his old friend.
Although it wasn’t that acquaintance, from the attire of this ticket seller, Hastur was one hundred percent certain that this theater must be the legendary Peach Heart Theater.
Unexpectedly, after such a long time, the Peach Heart Theater had once again come to the Southern Region.
As Hastur was inwardly sentimental, Shura, who was beside him, suddenly closed the book in hand and said softly, “This person, seems to be the 16th principal of the Flashing Gold Academy?”
At this moment, Shura was pointing at the old man shown in the light-shadow spell, a trace of hesitation in his eyes.
“Do you recognize him?” Hastur looked towards Shura.
Shura shook his head: “I don’t know him. If he really is that principal, he would be a figure from at least five thousand years ago. I’ve only seen some documents about the Western Lands Wizarding World when I visited Velite with Gauss, among which the most detailed were the records of the Flashing Gold Academy.”
“The Illusory Contemplator” Gauss and Velite of Western Demos were friends; Velite had traveled through other Wizarding Worlds, hence he possessed many documents from those worlds. Shura had seen some during a visit to Velite with Gauss.
After pondering for a moment, Gauss said, “Indeed, there was such a thing. I remember that man was called Sirod.”
After finishing, Gauss carefully examined the man in the light and shadow trick: “He does resemble him. Could it really be Sirod? But I recall the documents mentioned he disappeared in the end.”
Gauss couldn’t confirm in the end; the Sirod in the documents was a highly esteemed figure, and this old man’s attire was far too peculiar.
Shura turned to Hastur: “Regardless of whether this man is Sirod or not, I’m more curious to know, Hastur, who is the old acquaintance you mentioned? Also, what exactly are the theater and ticket booth he spoke of?”
Chapter 1938 A Theater Docking <TOC> Chapter 1940 Peach Heart Theater