The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 283 - Three: Mysterious Origins

Chapter 283: Chapter Three: Mysterious Origins

Upon seeing the Great Sage lost in a moment of distraction, as though he recalled some unforgettable past events, Komer’s mournfulness and disconcert seemed tinged with a hint of lingering sorrow that suddenly stirred within the girl an unprecedented complexity of emotions. Silently, she experienced the emotions echoing within her chest, uncertain if this was what legends called envy, but she was certain that the fleeting memories in the eyes of the Great Sage belonged to a woman, undoubtedly one who had left an indelible mark on his heart. At that moment, she felt an urge; she desperately wanted to know what kind of woman could leave the Great Sage so desolate and alone? In her mind, how could the Great Sage, who swept through life with such ease, be distracted by such a trivial matter as a woman? To her, this was unimaginable.

Komer’s distraction lasted only an instant, yet even in that brief moment, he felt that his current state of mind had changed considerably from before. Could all this be because of the girl before him? He dared not contemplate any further.

The girl also noticed that the Great Sage had returned to his usual clarity and nonchalance. Although she was compelled to delve deeper, the intelligent girl knew that now was not the appropriate time. Perhaps returning to their prior discussion was the most sensible choice.

"Great Sage, Lome is very curious to know where exactly the relics of the lost civilization are located?"

"Ah, there is no exact consensus on that. The most probable location would be deep within the Blue Continent. It is said that for hundreds of years, adventurers daring to challenge themselves have ventured into the Blue Continent, bringing back relics from the era of the lost civilization. Furthermore, in the southern part of our Continent, there are many crafts that are modeled after the remnants left by the lost civilization—perhaps a clear proof of its existence. There are also legends about places like deep within the Baden Gold Mountain Range of Cordillera Wilderness and the Volt Mountain Range. However, the legends about Volt Mountain Range come from dwarves, while those about the Baden Gold Mountain Range have been passed down among barbarians." Komer could sense the interest in the lost civilization from the girl, regrettably himself not knowing much about it. Even the origins of the Cosmic Bag he held were vague when his master gave it to him, and such a thing he could not simply ask around about, only knowing it had profound ties to the lost civilization.

"The Volt Mountain Range? Is that our Caucasus’s Volt Mountain Range?" she asked, somewhat excitedly. If it was within the Caucasus territory, then she truly might have a chance to explore and seek out the old secrets, her face full of anticipation.

"Yes, it is our Caucasus territory’s Volt Mountain Range, but these are merely the dwarves’ rumors. I personally think there might be some relics there, but they are unlikely to be related to the lost civilization—it’s probably just linked to some defunct tribes from the dwarves’ legends." Komer was never one to put much stock in such rumors; the Volt Mountain Range was not some impenetrably mystical and dangerous place. With so many years of absence of any discovery, especially recently when many Half-Beastmen had stealthily crossed the Volt Mountain Range into the Caucasus, no such findings were reported.

"Oh, even just an adventure would be fine. It would also give Lome more practical experience. Great Sage, Lome would like to find time to visit the Volt Mountain Range, to take in the views along the way. The world feels both extraordinarily familiar to Lome and yet, upon careful thought, like something I can’t recall at all. This feeling is truly unpleasant, and I wish to change that."

The girl’s earnest request almost made Komer, already burdened with a sense of guilt, unable to refuse her. However, it suddenly occurred to Komer that he had been planning to visit the Great Swamp Area. It would be an excellent opportunity to take her along to broaden her horizons. Compared to the Volt Mountain Range, perhaps the Java Swamp could offer more eye-opening experiences. The only concern was the increased safety risk, but thinking it through, since he never intended to conflict with the Jellyfish People, as Rebry had said, the odds of escaping undetected would be slim once engaged with them in the swamp, so having one more or one less person in the group would hardly matter.

Komer was visiting the opponent’s laboratory for the first time. Ever since this group of people had entered Damarlinsk Castle, they had nearly immediately behaved as if they were the masters of this castle. The nether Qi seeping from beneath the castle was extremely beneficial for the cultivation of Dark Magic Force and Cold Power. All of them, without exception, had chosen the first floor on the west side as their bedrooms and laboratories. This environment was not only conducive to the daily training of their own magic power and physical strength, but it also yielded better results when conducting magical experiments.

The laboratory of Rebry was right next to his own bedroom, while the room adjacent to it seemed empty and desolate, with nothing but a flickering candle hanging from an old bronze chandelier. The somewhat damp stone slabs were quickly dried by Air magic, even the insects in the gaps between the stones were swept clean by a sudden application of flame magic. Komer could clearly feel the remnants of the Fire element slowly dissipating in this empty room, indicating that this Mage had just performed some sort of Fire Magic demonstration here.

The real laboratory was next to the empty room, and even at the moment the door was closed, Komer noticed the Suspended Everlasting Lamp hanging in the lab. This was a prop of Light Magic, which, while said to be based on a very simple principle, required some expensive Magic Metals and materials, with a high purity requirement for Light Power. Moreover, its craftsmanship was quite sophisticated. It was generally used in holy places, and many Mages of the Church of Light were quietly making this high-end commodity to sell to other Sects in exchange for money. But such transactions took place only in the black market, for if the Court knew about such dealings, selling to other Sects, it would probably lead them to the Burning Stake.

Komer’s curiosity about this slovenly Mage grew as intense as Lome’s about him. This fellow hid too many secrets. Although Mihailovich was not to be underestimated, Komer could still grasp the rhythm of his power. He could understand most of the details of the two Dark Knights, but it was this slovenly Mage, the first he had encountered, who remained enigmatic to Komer. Komer even suspected that the appearance he presented was altered through some special means, as he had a feeling that this guy was definitely deeply connected to the Church of Light, a conclusion he had drawn from careful observation and interaction over time.

Although this guy disguised himself well and his Magic ability was extremely vast, even the nature of his Magic power being somewhat similar and able to be disguised like his own, there was a fundamental difference in the conversion. He could only temporarily or partially transform, unlike Komer who gained Magic power through a special vessel and created it out of nothing. For this reason, Komer could sense the Light Power hidden behind the display of Dark Magic Force.

However, Komer wasn’t worried that the other might be a spy sent by the Church of Light. For a Mage of Rebry’s caliber, to relegate him to the role of a spy for observing himself or Caucasus was too insulting. With his strength, he could have easily destroyed the former Komer countless times and obtained whatever he wanted through his power, without any need for additional schemes. The only explanation seemed to be that this individual might have come from the Church of Light but, for some reason, had left it, and might even have become an enemy of the Church. Yet, his attitude towards the Church was unfathomable to Komer. For instance, Lome’s fate—he did not seem like a true enemy wanting to doom the other to death, nor did he offer protection as one with lingering affection might, instead adopting a bystander’s position, leaving her fate to Komer, which really baffled him.

This man’s remarkable performance was not limited to his Magic ability; his views on the current situation were also exceptionally accurate and profound. He had, particularly regarding the relationship between the Kingdom of Nicosia, Homer, the Church, the two factions of the Northern Alliance—among these various parties, he could always point out with a few sentences that were both concise and insightful. This made Komer suspect that he might have previously played an important role within a country or power on the Continent. But how could such a figure with a complex background and a mysterious origin have fallen to the point of becoming a wandering Mage? Komer couldn’t fathom why such an enigmatic person would appear here in this guise.

"Lord, you seem quite interested in my laboratory, aren’t you? What do you think of the model of that Everlasting Lamp? I have better stuff, are you interested in making an investment? If you can provide enough Magical Materials, I believe I could craft some awe-inspiring Magic crafts for you, turning your Caucasus into a famous magic craftsmanship market on the continent." Shrugging his shoulders, Rebry seemed utterly unaware of the intention behind Komer’s visit, still maintaining his unkempt appearance. From any angle, he didn’t seem like a renowned figure, but this only made Komer more suspicious of his identity.

Komer was startled that a mere casual glance from him was enough for the other to nonchalantly bring out that Everlasting Lamp, which was bound to spark many associations. Did this fellow not know what kind of Magic power was needed to imbue it? Did he not care if Komer knew, or did he think Komer lacked such knowledge? Komer suspected it was neither—the other seemed to want to deliberately mislead him.