Chapter 2590 Retained Colors <TOC> Chapter 2592 Ice Mirror World
Translator: SumTLMan
Daus didn’t refuse and walked directly to the edge of the Starshine Stone to study how best to pry it open. However, he didn’t stop rambling: “Your bloodline does indeed seem weak in terms of physical strength. How about you come with me to the Abyss next time, and I’ll pick out a better bloodline for you?”
In response to Daus’ teasing, Angel replied indifferently: “I’d rather not go. However, if you can indeed procure a high-grade bloodline from the Abyss, one of mid to top grade or above, I’d pay for it.”
Angel himself didn’t need it, but he thought it might be useful to prepare it for his brother Leon.
However, this all depended on whether Daus could actually hunt a mid to top level Abyss demon.
Watching Daus become suddenly silent not far away, everyone understood that the difficulty of this task was beyond Daus’ capabilities.
The two apprentices at the scene, however, had no idea just how formidable a mid to top level Abyss demon could be.
As curiosity arose in their minds, a voice came from behind.
“I can find you a mid to top grade bloodline, would you want it?” The speaker was the Black Count, who had just flown down from the staircase. Though he was outside, his mental power was constantly focused on the situation in the hall.
Faced with the Black Count’s offer, Angel unhesitatingly said: “No.”
“What if it’s a high level demon’s bloodline? That’s comparable to a third level true knowledge wizard, wouldn’t you want it then?”
“No.” Angel was still unequivocal, cutting the conversation short.
The Black Count smiled, did not inquire why Angel refused, and landed from the air to lean on the corner of the desk, leisurely watching Daus pry at the Starshine Stone.
This sudden exchange gave the two apprentices a rough idea of why Daus was hesitant to hunt for mid to top grade bloodlines, but another question arose. Why was the Black Count willing to offer Angel such high level bloodlines, and why did Angel refuse?
The answer was simple: Angel couldn’t afford it.
The Black Count had said “give,” not “trade.” This certainly didn’t mean the Black Count was offering to give the high level bloodline for free, but rather that the terms of the trade he was proposing were not something that could be explained in a sentence or two.
If Angel urgently needed a high level demon’s bloodline, he might have been willing to privately hear what the Black Count had to offer.
But he wasn’t in urgent need. His brother Leon was still an apprentice and far from ready to integrate a high level demon’s bloodline.
Since there was no urgent need, why bother inviting trouble?
Moreover, the fact that the Black Count did not pursue the reason further solidified Angel’s belief that accepting the offer would lead to complex and undoubtedly troublesome conditions.
Angel detested such troublesome matters the most because he had enough troubles clinging to him already…
As for why Daus agreed to go hunting? The answer was quite simple. Daus couldn’t defeat the mid to top level demons in the Abyss; even Sanders wouldn’t bother with such demons, let alone Daus, who had not yet achieved true knowledge.
Of course, if Daus really obtained such a bloodline and there were no others involved, Angel would trade with him as previously stated.
Even though Daus also proposed some troublesome requests, Angel believed that these troubles were nothing compared to those proposed by the Black Count.
Perhaps because of the previous conversation, the atmosphere in the air became slightly tense.
However, this tension did not last long, because Daus had already pried open the four settings of the Starshine Stone, and the loosened stone slowly settled into Daus’ hand.
Without any words, everyone’s gaze simultaneously focused on the back of the stone.
“There is a Mural, there really is a mural!” Kael exclaimed, tugging at Daus’ arm excitedly.
“What’s the big deal about the mural, why are you pulling me?” Daus muttered, turning the stone to its back and re-embedding it into the wall for easier viewing.
The reason Kael was pulling at Daus was because although he was the one who discovered the mural, the one who gave him hope and made him scrutinize the Starshine Stone so carefully was Daus.
Daus’ mouth was really blessed! Whatever he said, came to be.
Just as Kael was about to explain this, Angel interrupted him with a look, conveying a simple message which Kael understood clearly.
——Just enjoy it silently; once it’s pointed out, it might not be freely available anymore.
Kael thought about it and agreed. It seemed Daus himself hadn’t yet realized the clue; therefore, what he said now was free “inspiration.” If he realized, he might start charging.
It’s better not to speak.
Weighing his options, Kael immediately kept quiet.
However, although Kael remained silent, a question arose in his heart: everyone noticed that Daus’ mouth seemed blessed, so why was Daus himself completely unaware?
This was just like the saying that those in the game often cannot see as clearly as those outside it.
Daus came to explore the ruins because he had a premonition that his spiritual perception seemed on the verge of a breakthrough. And this inspiration was correct.
Daus was now in a position where his spiritual perception was about to evolve into an innate talent. Perhaps the inspiration was influencing this, or maybe some law restricted it, but Daus was normal in other aspects, just less attentive to his inspiration. That was why he was unaware of being a pawn in the game.
To break through this puzzle, Daus needed to realize that the flower of inspiration was silently blooming, and then step out of his status as a pawn on the board, allowing the flower of inspiration to fully bear fruit. This would be the best outcome.
Certainly, others may offer reminders, but once reminded, whether Daus can break through again depends on the whims of fate.
In other words, at this moment, anyone who interrupts Daus thinking they are doing a good deed, as soon as Daus realizes, he will undoubtedly place them on his list of enemies for life.
Vai has been warned by the Black Count, and now Kael has been tricked by Angel.
With all external disturbances now removed, whether Daus can break through is up to him.
Ironically, Daus is quite lucky, as the Black Count actually had no obligation to help him, especially since Daus has provoked him multiple times; yet, when Daus is in a “pawn on the board,” his spiritual perception explodes in such a way that whatever he says, happens, which is a very peculiar state of erupting inspiration.
This is extremely useful for their exploration.
Once Daus is interrupted, this state of inspirational eruption will end. The Black Count does not want to see this happen, as this exploration also involves the Noah family, and Daus’ bursts of inspiration can provide clues that are otherwise hard to find.
Like with this Starshine Stone, if not for Daus’ confident words, Kael might not have discovered the mural. Others wouldn’t think of flipping over a faded Starshine Stone to look for a mural.
Returning to the backside of the Starshine Stone.
The mural on the back is exceptionally well-preserved, its colors and patterns as vibrant as if new. The reason is simple: the quality of the Starshine Stone is sufficiently high, and it is positioned such that it is constantly maintained by the energy conduits of the two magic formations.
This has resulted in a mural that is vividly colorful, without any fading.
The mural is well-preserved, making its content easier to understand.
Broadly speaking, the layout of the mural is divided into an inner and outer circle, with the outer circle consisting of kneeling followers, encircling the most central inner circle.
The followers on the outermost are tiny and blurred, but as they near the inner circle, they become larger, and their attire more elaborate, even the faces under their hoods are detailed.
This variation in size is not due to racial differences but is a perspective employed by the painter and an exaggeration to highlight the central figures.
Those near the inner circle are inevitably the core followers.
These followers aside, even those in the inner circle have half their faces covered by hoods, making it unclear who they are.
Most central and most important is the inner circle.
For it depicts their revered “god,” the object of the followers’ worship.
“These must be the followers of the Demon God of Mirrors, right? And this one in the middle, this is the Demon God of Mirrors, isn’t it?” Daus remarked, noting something odd about the central deity: “This style, why does it feel a bit strange?”
Not only Daus found it strange, but others also felt as if the style of the painting had been somehow cut off, creating a peculiar sense of dissonance.
In the outer ring, the worshippers kneel, adopting the common style of religious murals, enhancing the atmosphere to the point of gaining a hint of an epic sensation.
However, the style within the inner circle… is completely different. The Black Count cannot quite pinpoint the style, only noting that it somewhat resembles the familiarity of a noble’s crest?
To say it resembles a noble’s crest might even be an overstatement since many noble family crests are imbued with their stories, lacking epic grandeur but certainly carrying a sense of weight.
In Angel’s view, the style before him resembles more a painting of a circus clown.
It’s a black hollow circle, simply bisected by a diagonal line, splitting the circle evenly into two halves.
On the left half, upon closer inspection, appears to be a male figure wearing a high top hat wrapped with a black ribbon with white flowers, his face covered by a bizarre smiling mask.
The right half features the profile of a woman, her long blonde hair blowing about, covering her beautiful contours.
One circle, two different styles of people, both exaggerated in style.
“Is this whom they worship, the Demon God of Mirrors?” Daus, thinking himself open-minded enough to accept anything, still struggles to accept this style, evident from the elongated tone of his question.
Born into nobility and a family of wizards, Vai, who has received a good education in painting, feels a headache coming on, even feeling a slight throbbing at his temples. This style is just too wild, too startling.
However, Angel is more accepting. Although he is also of noble birth, he has seen many different styles of paintings on the holographic tablet, including extremely exaggerated, anthropomorphic cartoons, so he finds this painting tolerable.
His only doubt is, is this really a Demon God? Can a Demon God accept such a style?
After a moment of silence, Kael is the first to speak: “It should be the Demon God of Mirrors. If you look closely, the white flowers on the hat of the man wearing the high hat and mask are actually made of mirrors, it’s just that the white ribbon next to it reflects the light to appear white.”
“And the woman on the right, the necklace she wears from chain to pendant is made of mirrors. Although her earring is obscured by her hair, the painter intentionally drew a beam of light where the earring is, I guess, the earring is also made of mirrors.”
After Kael finished speaking, Daus sighed deeply: “Have we really come to the point where we have to rely on mirrors to identify the Demon God of Mirrors?”
Kael bowed his head in slight shame; indeed, his reasoning was far-fetched. At first glance, it seems fine, but upon closer inspection, it’s full of holes.
Yet, Angel supports his claim, responding to Daus: “What else could it be, if not the Demon God of Mirrors?”
Daus opened his mouth to reply but ultimately said nothing.
Judging by the traces left by the followers of the Demon God of Mirrors they had encountered along the way, this Starshine Stone, undoubtedly, must also be left by the followers. If the deity they worship is not the Demon God of Mirrors, who else could it be?
“Is the Demon God of Mirrors two people?” Vai quietly asked.
No one responded for a time.
“Perhaps this diagonal line is a mirror, and outside the mirror is one person, while reflected within it is another,” Angel pointed at the circle’s diagonal line.
He had had similar experiences, having seen in a mirror someone who was himself yet not himself with longer golden hair.
Moreover, he had seen many modern illustrations from Earth, where simple lines represent obscure and complex things, which is very common.
Therefore, this kind of speculation arose.
“It’s possible that the Demon God of Mirrors is just one, but presents two forms, inside and outside the mirror,” Black Count finally spoke, not to comment on the painting but on Angel’s conjecture.
“Has the lord heard of such a Demon God, or perhaps, of Elders and wizards with similar spells?” Angel asked.
The Black Count pondered for a moment: “Spells related to mirrors, though not numerous, can still be found if one looks. Various organizations should have similar spells in their collections, the most famous of which…”
The Black Count paused here, slowly turning his head to look at Angel: “Is the legacy of your Savage Grottoes.”
Everyone also looked at Angel with strange expressions.
Angel himself was somewhat baffled; he had never heard of this matter, and among the current wizards of Savage Grottoes, none were involved with mirrors.
The Black Count seemed to see Angel’s confusion and lightly stated a name: “Mirror Lady.”
Angel suddenly realized, yes, Mirror Lady definitely dealt with mirrors; the entire base of the Savage Grottoes was the Mirror World created by her, and she was also an old monster who had lived for who knows how long.
Speaking of Mirror Lady alone, she indeed overshadowed other organizations with similar spells.
“However, Mirror Lady is a spirit; she cannot leave the Mirror World,” Angel said: “So, she definitely isn’t some Demon God of Mirrors.”
Black Count: “I didn’t say she was the Demon God of Mirrors. I still understand Mirror Lady; she’s not interested in followers, only in handsome men.”
As Black Count’s voice fell, the most reactive was Daus, who touched his own face, whispered softly: “It seems I can no longer go near Savage Grottoes in the future.”
Everyone else: “……”
Angel: “Mirror Lady never abducts people, and besides, she’s only interested in handsome men.”
Daus: “It’s good she doesn’t abduct… wait, what do you mean? Am I not a handsome man?”
Angel ignored Daus and continued looking towards the Black Count.
“Besides Mirror Lady, were there other wizards or Abyss demons who loved using mirror spells thousands of years ago?”
The Black Count: “I don’t know. I only understand that your Savage Grottoes have the most complete legacy of related spells, even the daughter of that old geezer Rhine, doesn’t she also play with mirrors?”
Chapter 2590 Retained Colors <TOC> Chapter 2592 Ice Mirror World