Chapter 2192 Two Shadow Boxes <TOC> Chapter 2194 Joining the Team
Translator: SumTLMan
Magu sighed and said, “After watching it, I understood that humans are not absolutely good or bad, but Mr. Feng’s kind treatment of elemental creatures makes me more willing to remember the good in humans.”
Magu’s opening statement was actually a covert message to Angel, indicating its own attitude towards humans.
With mutual trust and similar attitudes, there was a basis to continue the conversation.
Magu said, “This time, I’ve called you here for just two things.”
“The first thing is that His Highness and I have accepted a destined future, where the connection between the Tidal Realm and the Wizarding World is inevitable.” Magu continued, “The moment the two worlds connect, the implications are not only related to humans but also closely linked to elemental creatures. So, what I want to know is, aside from you, when will humans come? And who will come?”
Angel understood Magu’s intent to prepare in advance. Knowing oneself and the opponent, when facing human wizards for an exchange of interests, it would prevent being completely transparent from the start.
Angel thought for a moment and did not refuse. After all, the relationship between elemental creatures and wizards is inherently imbalanced. Informing elemental creatures of more information in advance could give them a bit more leverage in negotiations, making the relationship somewhat more balanced.
A relatively balanced relationship can reduce the probability of intensifying conflicts and allow both parties to engage in friendly exchanges while benefiting from each other.
“When humans will come, I cannot give you an exact answer. Perhaps in a month, three months, or even five months, but I believe it won’t be too late. At the latest, within half a year to a year, someone will definitely come looking.”
“In other words, you don’t have much time to react. But this is not necessarily a bad thing. You have been preparing for thousands of years, and now is actually the best opportunity.”
Magu nodded. Feng had given them time to develop and propagate, and the Tidal Realm was now somewhat qualified to face the oncoming flood of wizard civilization.
“As for who will come.” Angel paused before continuing, “You can breathe a sigh of relief on this point. Not too many people will come because the door to the Tidal Realm requires meeting very high conditions to enter.”
As Magu breathed a sigh of relief, Angel’s next statement made it anxious again.
“But you cannot be completely at ease, because those who can enter must have reached the formal wizard level. I believe, after watching the Drama Shadow Box, you should understand what this means.”
Magu and Magic Fire Midir nodded, clearly understanding that formal wizards are very powerful, and only upon reaching the formal wizard level would they have a greater demand for elemental creatures.
“The initial group should not exceed fifty people.”
Angel would certainly prioritize the wizards from Savage Grottoes. As for the “fifty” figure, it was actually a high estimate, considering the number of wizards currently active in Savage Grottoes does not exceed fifty.
Hearing the number fifty, Magu and Magic Fire Midir were somewhat relieved. Facing hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of formal wizards right away, the Tidal Realm would indeed be insignificant.
However, the thought of facing fifty wizards, each as powerful as Angel, still caused them a bit of distress and worry.
“I know what you are worried about. The desire of formal wizards for elemental creatures will not dissipate, but they will not want just any elemental creature.” Angel said, “Perhaps this topic is uncomfortable for you to hear, but if you wish, I can discuss the criteria formal wizards use to choose elemental partners.”
Magic Fire Midir remained silent with a cold face, but Magu showed no aversion and gestured with its hand, “Then, please go ahead.”
Angel explained, “Wizards choosing elemental creatures face significant restrictions. First and foremost, the creature must suit them and match the element of their practice. This is a very subjective and personal condition; often, not even one in hundreds or thousands of elemental creatures will suit a wizard.”
“Secondly, wizards generally do not choose newly born elemental sprites. Because nurturing an elemental sprite to maturity requires considerable expense, not all wizards can afford this cost.”
“Thirdly, wizards rarely choose fully mature elemental creatures. Because mature elemental creatures possess fully independent personalities, finding them to consider humans as close companions is quite difficult,” Angel said, looking towards Magu and Magic Fire Midir: “In elemental cultivation, wizards seek the unconditional and unreserved support of elemental companions. If faced with creatures that hold absolutely mature notions of personality, such unreserved support is hard to come by. Just like the two of you, Mr. Magu and your highness possess great wisdom, making it virtually impossible for a wizard to gain your proactive assistance and closeness. Therefore, wizards also seldom choose mature elemental creatures.”
“In general, the selection of elemental companions by wizards is usually focused on elemental sprites that are not newly born, and elemental creatures whose values have not yet fully solidified.”
Angel: “Of course, this is under normal circumstances. If there are special situations, or if money is no object, some wizards may attempt to contract with fully mature or newly born elemental creatures, but such cases are rare.”
Upon hearing Angel’s explanation, Magu and Magic Fire Midir indeed relaxed a bit.
Their original imagination was that once humans entered the Tidal Realm, they would, like locusts passing through, sweep up all the elemental creatures in their path.
But now, hearing what Angel had to say, not all humans were after them, and they had their own selection restrictions.
With this in mind, even if hundreds of human wizards came in, they might not necessarily encounter suitable elemental creatures for them. Moreover, considering the vastness of the Tidal Realm and that not all newcomers would require fire elemental creatures, the impact on the Fire Domain might not be as severe as feared, perhaps not even a minor inconvenience.
Most importantly, the elemental creatures taken away would not die; they would be nurtured and respected by wizards, becoming close comrades and partners with them, and there might even be a chance for them to return.
Viewed in this light, the situation seemed not too bad.
Of course, this was Magic Fire Midir looking at the situation somewhat optimistically amidst adversity; its core feelings were still of resistance. However, facing the irreversible trend and the considerable power of wizards, maintaining such a balance was already challenging.
Angel, observing the flicker in Magic Fire Midir’s eyes and Magu’s deep contemplation, understood they were digesting what he had said.
He did not interrupt, waiting quietly.
Once they came around, Angel noticed their resistance had noticeably decreased when he spoke again about “elemental companions,” slowly saying: “In fact, capturing elemental creatures indeed sounds quite purposeful and coercive, not so pleasant. If, however, we consider it from another perspective, where elemental creatures voluntarily become partners with wizards, perhaps that would sound better?”
Before Magic Fire Midir and Magu could respond, Dangros, who had been listening the whole time, interjected: “How could there possibly be elemental creatures willing to voluntarily become partners with humans?”
Angel: “That remains to be seen. Perhaps some elemental creatures do not like staying in their small original places forever; they might want to see the larger world, to venture into the outside world. The outside world is vast, perhaps dangerous, but definitely full of excitement.”
“There are many humans who pursue adventure and excitement, and I believe elemental creatures should not be few in number either.”
Dangros opened his mouth to object but didn’t know how to refute. Among its own subordinates, there were those who liked to see the larger world, for example, the Traveling Frog that always loved collecting gems… as souvenirs.
Angel, looking towards Magu and Magic Fire Midir: “Of course, this is just one of my ideas. If it truly could be mutually voluntary, that would indeed be a good thing, wouldn’t it?”
Magu pondered: “If it truly could be a friendly and mutual companionship with human wizards, that indeed would be a favorable scenario. However, achieving this is difficult, after all, sir, you cannot make decisions on behalf of all humans, can you?”
Angel: “Indeed, I cannot make choices for other humans, but… I am backed by a very large wizard organization, an unshakeable existence even within the Wizarding World. If they were to establish such a rule, I believe others who enter this realm would not oppose it.”
This was also Angel’s ambition; the Tidal Realm inevitably could not be kept hidden from others forever. If he could, at this time, bring the Tidal Realm under the jurisdiction of the Savage Grottoes, it would be of great benefit to him and the Savage Grottoes.
Backed by the Savage Grottoes, the Tidal Realm holds its ground when facing other humans, not without confidence. It can be said to be a win-win situation.
Angel could see that both Magu and Magic Fire Midir harbored doubts, but Angel did not explain: “What I say now may indeed sound like empty talk. Why not wait until my next visit to discuss further with you?”
After saying this, Angel truly did not delve further into the matter but asked, “Mr. Magu asked about the first matter, what about the second?”
Magu, setting aside his previous complex thoughts, pointed to two Drama Shadow Boxes on the table: “The second matter, if possible, I hope you could provide me with more of these Drama Shadow Boxes.”
Under Angel’s puzzled gaze, Magic Fire Midir explained: “This was my suggestion. I wish to send these boxes to the monarchs of other territories.”
The gate of the Tidal Realm are about to open, and the meeting between elemental creatures and humans involves not just fire elemental creatures but those of other elemental types as well.
Magic Fire Midir hopes that, before humans enter the Tidal Realm, at least the information about humans can be delivered to the hands of various monarchs, so they won’t be caught off guard when they suddenly face humans.
“I hope you can agree,” Magic Fire Midir said earnestly.
Facing Magic Fire Midir’s hopeful gaze, Angel thought for a moment and nodded: “It’s possible. However, I will also create a shadow box with the theme —The Future Possibilities of the Tidal Realm— using the illusion based on what I’ve said today.”
Angel plans to include the selection of elemental creatures by human wizards and the “friendly exchanges” he mentioned later into the new shadow box.
If it’s possible to gradually change their concepts starting from the pinnacles of various elemental creatures through the shadow box, this can also largely avoid conflicts when humans and elemental creatures finally meet.
Magic Fire Midir naturally would not refuse Angel’s proposal.
Thus, in the following three days, Angel was fully engaged in crafting shadow boxes, even without time to contact Kolokcro. In the end, he crafted twenty-six sets of Drama Shadow Boxes, each set comprising three chapters: —Humans and Civilization—, —The World of Wizards—, and —The Future Possibilities of the Tidal Realm—.
Among them, —Humans and Civilization— and —The World of Wizards— are purely informative, while —The Future Possibilities of the Tidal Realm— contains a full record of his classroom discussion with Magu and Magic Fire Midir.
After tirelessly crafting the shadow boxes, Angel returned to Magu’s interior.
It was still the same classroom and the same few people.
Angel handed the shadow boxes to Magic Fire Midir, who after a moment of silence, pushed seven sets of the boxes back to Angel.
In Angel’s confusion, Magu explained: “You should be heading to the regions of Frost Iseth, Gentle Wind Uranos, and Nemeti next, right? These are major areas, and since you are going there, you might as well deliver them.”
“Is it appropriate for me to do this?” Angel wasn’t saying he couldn’t do it, but as an outsider, delivering the Drama Shadow Boxes to these elemental monarchs obviously wouldn’t be as persuasive as Magic Fire Midir sending his own subordinates.
After all, Magic Fire Midir is also a monarch, and in the Tidal Realm, its status is more authoritative than his own.
Angel expressed his concerns, and after listening, Magu pondered for a moment: “Your consideration is correct… In that case, I will have Dangros accompany you.”
Angel: “What?”
Magu: “Dangros was born from the ashes of Kalomaches, a fact most monarchs are aware of, and they also understand that Dangros represents me.”
Magic Fire Midir added: “Mentor Magu’s weight in the Tidal Realm is significant, even Frost Iseth would not disrespect Mentor Magu.”
The underlying implication of Magic Fire Midir is that Dangros represents Magu, so when the elemental monarchs see Dangros, they show respect to Magu. And the face of Magu, evidently, weighs more than its importance.
“It’s possible, but Dangros is a bit…” bearish.
Angel has no particular objections to Dangros, just that some of the fool’s actions and words give him a headache.
Magu seems to catch the unfinished sentiment of Angel, laughing, “I will tell him in advance to listen to you and not to cause any trouble. Moreover, you are also visiting the Tidal Realm for the first time, and you might not be familiar with the way, Dangros can also guide you.”
Hearing this, Angel was tempted.
Although he had seen the Tidal Realm map drawn by Feng, it must be said that Feng’s map-drawing skills are extremely poor.
Feng himself also noted in the information left on the map: “Ah, I’m not good at drawing maps, just make do with looking at it.”
This shows that Feng was very aware of his limitations.
Therefore, although the map had a general direction, it was not easy to actually find locations according to the map. Having Dangros, who is familiar with the area, as a guide would save a lot of time.
Thinking of this, Angel nodded, “I have no problems on my end, but we still need to see what Dangros himself thinks. If he is unwilling, we can consider another guide.”
For instance… Kolokcro?
Chapter 2192 Two Shadow Boxes <TOC> Chapter 2194 Joining the Team