Chapter 1979 Three Pavilions <TOC> Chapter 1981 Ruins Within the Water
Translator: SumTLMan
When only Angel and Sanders were left at the ruin Star Pool, Sanders gestured for Angel to follow him forward.
Walking upon the star sea, they were bathed in starlight. Ripples and waves seemed to merge with them as one.
“Totoro already knows about the Wilderness of Dreams,” Angel broke the silence as they walked on the waves.
Sanders asked, “Did you tell him?”
Angel shook his head, “He foresaw it himself.”
During a previous private conversation, Totoro had revealed visions of the future he had been hesitant to share. What surprised Angel was that the prophecy Totoro had chosen to conceal was precisely about the Wilderness of Dreams.
Angel didn’t know the specifics of what Totoro saw, but it was clear that Totoro knew the Wilderness belonged to Angel and had recognized its immense potential. Thus, he deduced its extreme value. Since Angel hadn’t made it public, Totoro didn’t want to reveal it in the presence of others.
Only when Totoro was alone with Angel did he share without reservation.
“Foresaw it, huh…” Sanders’s eyes momentarily clouded, but quickly regained their luster under the starlight: “As expected of the last descendant of the Laudsourcian. It seems his prophetic talent is as unique and unparalleled as he is.”
“Totoro’s prophecy ability, with the aid of the Mystery of Starlight, has almost reached the domain of an Observer, an incredible feat,” Sanders turned to Angel, “However, he’s now facing the same dilemma you once did, his power doesn’t match his status. He has the means to climb to the peak but not the ability to stand there. You should pay more attention to his situation.”
Angel nodded, “Tree Spirit also mentioned something similar before. Success and burdens both stem from fame.”
“I will remind him, and once he returns to the Savage Grottoes, I’ll have him try to avoid high-profile outings.”
Since Tree Spirit had already mentioned it, Sanders didn’t elaborate further. Moreover, Totoro was part of Angel’s network, and Sanders trusted that Angel would handle it properly.
“Besides the Wilderness of Dreams, did Totoro mention anything else?” Sanders inquired.
“He said something else, but it was very vague, and I didn’t understand it,” Angel recalled. When Totoro spoke those words, his speech was heavily adorned and disguised.
This was the first time Angel had seen Totoro hesitant to speak directly of a prophecy, instead using roundabout language typical of an oracle to convey his meaning indirectly.
Still, Angel didn’t understand what Totoro was trying to say.
“What did he say?” Sanders asked curiously.
“When the gears turn, the path of destiny will unfold. With an unchanged initial heart, one can continue to forge ahead.”
Angel repeated Totoro’s words.
Even upon repeating it, Angel was still baffled by the phrase. It sounded like an inspirational quote, but he felt it couldn’t be that simple.
After hearing this, Sanders also fell into thought.
After a moment, Angel murmured softly, “An unchanged initial heart, it mentions the initial heart. Could it be related to Initial Heart City?”
However, Sanders shook his head, “It’s probably not related to Initial Heart City. What Totoro wants to tell you is to not forget your initial heart, to not be disturbed by external chaos, and to continue forging ahead with determination.”
Angel remarked, “So it’s essentially an inspirational caution after all? Then, perhaps it’s not really a prophecy, is it?”
Sanders peered deeply at Angel and said, “It’s not that simple. Do you understand what gears represent in the realm of prophecy?”
Angel hesitated. On the path of alchemy, gears are mechanical devices used to transmit power. But in prophecy, do gears hold any significance?
After pondering for a while without an answer, Angel looked up at Sanders, who was gazing intently at his chest.
It seemed Sanders was observing something.
Angel reached out and gently touched his chest, feeling a ticking sensation under his fingertips.
Suddenly, it dawned on Angel. He swiftly pulled out an ancient bronze pocket watch from his lining.
The ticking sensation was the movement of the watch’s hands. Realizing something, Angel murmured, “The Wheel… of Time?”
Currently, there are three main divisions among prophecy wizards: the River of Destiny, the Strings of the World, and the Wheel of Time.
The Wheel of Time often symbolizes the swift movement of clock hands driven by gears.
In this sense, gears could metaphorically represent the Wheel of Time.
If this interpretation holds, then Totoro’s statement might actually mean: “As the Wheel of Time descends, the path of destiny unfolds before you, and only by staying true to your initial heart can you reach the end?”
It sounds more complete, but what exactly do “the Wheel of Time” and “the path of destiny” signify?
At that moment, Sanders suddenly said, “The destiny of every individual is unique. Even twins from the same family, in the same social strata, will eventually diverge onto their own distinct paths.”
In Angel’s mind, it was as if a thunderous revelation struck: “Choice?”
Because people’s hearts are not the same, faced with the same matter, they make different choices. Once you make a choice, even if you’re a twin, even if all other circumstances are identical, the trajectory of your life continuously shifts, propelling you towards your own unique destiny.
The Wheel of Time, choices, and the path of destiny.
When these concepts interconnected, Angel had an answer in his heart. As the answer materialized, a figure with an indistinct face also appeared in his mind.
“The Time Thief,” Angel murmured the name.
Sanders nodded: “If there’s no surprise, Totoro is warning you that the Time Thief will likely come in the near future to steal your choice. Moreover, this choice will definitely pertain to the Wilderness of Dreams.”
Totoro dared not speak directly, precisely because the disparity between him and the Time Thief was too frightening. Others might let it go, but since it concerns Angel’s future, Totoro tried every possible means to convey the answer to Angel.
That’s why Totoro spoke in such an obscure and difficult manner.
Angel: “I’ve been wondering when he would come and for what reason. Now the answer has surfaced: he’s coming for the Wilderness of Dreams.”
Sanders: “And this also indirectly highlights the potential of the Wilderness of Dreams.”
Seeing Angel’s solemn face, Sanders smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and said, “Don’t worry too much. Totoro has already told you the solution, hasn’t he?”
——With an unchanged initial heart, one can continue to forge ahead.
As long as your conviction is firm, and you aren’t tempted by the Time Thief, you’ll eventually reach the end of the road.
Sanders watched as Angel’s gaze slowly became resolute, and his own heart gradually eased. On the day the Time Thief truly arrives, Sanders won’t be able to help Angel; it’s a decision that Angel must make on his own.
Although it sounds easy, when it actually comes time to make a choice, there are still variables involved.
When facing these variables, without a steadfast conviction, it’s hard to persist to the end. Therefore, Sanders isn’t making Angel more anxious now; instead, he’s strengthening his confidence in facing these “multiple-choice questions.”
That’s why Sanders appears unconcerned, but deep down, he’s not as relaxed as he seems.
Chapter 1979 Three Pavilions <TOC> Chapter 1981 Ruins Within the Water