The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 783: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, - 19: Blazing Flames and Signal Smoke

Chapter 783: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, Chapter 19: Blazing Flames and Signal Smoke

"Shatima?" Komer was taken aback, before saying, "Hasn’t she told you about her origins?"

"No, every time I ask her, she just beats around the bush and refuses to give a straight answer. She only says that meeting you was purely by chance, um, that there is nothing special between you two, just ordinary friends. But however I look at her expression, it doesn’t seem quite natural. Yet I feel there is nothing secretive about the relationship between the two of you. When I press her for answers, she tells me to ask you, saying that it is up to you to decide whether the question can be answered or not. Komer, tell me, what exactly is going on?" Vero’s bright eyes rested on his uncertain face.

Komer was also unsure whether or not to let Vero know the secret. Now in Caucasus, only Mihailovich had a rough idea of Shatima’s origins. Others, although also surprised by Shatima’s behavior, haven’t been too suspicious, as Komer had always been accompanied by a variety of people behaving oddly.

Komer didn’t want to hide anything from Vero. He had revealed everything, including his special relationship with the Great Mysterium Sect that led to being hunted by the Court of the Church of Light. In fact, Komer had not many secrets to keep from Vero anymore. But Shatima’s origins were truly extraordinary. If people found out an Ice Dragon had transformed into a human form and was living among them, it would be incredibly unbelievable. Dragons transforming into humans wasn’t news, but to live among humans, just like humans, and even to be an attractive woman, this news, once spread, would be earth-shattering. Now that she had pushed the question to him, and even hinted that she wouldn’t mind him telling Vero, Komer was genuinely puzzled by her motives. Did she not worry that being exposed as a different kind would make her an outcast?

"You mean she’s letting me decide whether to reveal her origins?" Komer asked back.

"Yes, that’s exactly what she means." Facing Komer’s gaze, Vero asked curiously, "Is her background really that shocking?"

"Well, that depends on how you understand it." Komer licked his lips, somewhat helplessly, "This Shatima, to be exact, she isn’t one of our human kind."

"Not human?!" Vero’s lips formed an ’O’, her eyes full of confusion and puzzlement, "What do you mean? If she is not human, could she be a Magic Puppet you created? But that doesn’t seem right; she seems to possess vitality and intelligence—I can feel it."

"I didn’t say she lacks vitality. In fact, her vitality is stronger than all of ours. She is a female Ice Dragon. What you see now is just her human form." Komer scratched his scalp and said, "I met her on my way to the Great Swamp Area of the Jellyfish People, and she just followed me back."

After observing Komer’s expression carefully, convinced that Komer was not deceiving, Vero finally understood why Miss Shatima’s words and actions were so different from other women. Her thinking was often strange and rebellious, completely deviating from the norm. So that’s how it was!

A female Ice Dragon! This reality almost stunned Vero. Her companion with whom she’d been playing along was a non-human?! This was too ludicrous.

"Can you explain why you say she is a good person?" After pondering for some time, Vero finally accepted this reality and asked, tilting her head.

"Well, although she is from the Dragon Clan, she’s not less wise than us humans. It’s just that because she has lived in the relatively pure world of dragons for a long time, she is unfamiliar with our complex human society. Thus, she often looks at things and considers problems from their dragon perspective, causing many of her opinions and ideas to clash with the surrounding environment. But her heart is very pure, devoid of the cunning, cunning duplicity that we humans possess. So, my assessment is that she is a genuinely good-hearted person, though that doesn’t mean that her good intentions can always lead to good results—a point I believe you’ve also felt." Komer suppressed the laughter inside and spoke slowly, "However, after you spend more time with her, you will come to like her."

Vero furrowed her brows slightly; she detected a hint of teasing in Komer’s tone. It seemed that Miss Shatima was not as popular in Caucasus as she claimed. However, Vero herself hadn’t found Shatima to be particularly disagreeable.

The silent night was peaceful, and the candlelit conversation brought Komer and Vero’s hearts, which had grown apart with time, swiftly back to the way they used to be. Komer found himself willing to relax to the greatest extent when he was with Vero, unreservedly laying bare everything in his heart. He even shared with Vero the secret plans to launch an attack on Homer, not concealing anything because he believed she would not be interested in such affairs, nor would she use that information to harm him.

"You really intend to wage war with Homer? No wonder Uncle Philip came to Gutenberg—so he came to seek help." Vero said in surprise, "Komer, have things really reached the point between you and Uncle Philip where battle is unavoidable?"

Seeing a flicker of concern in the girl’s green eyes, Komer was moved, "Oh? Philip has come to Galle for help? Hmph, he’s quite well-informed. Do you know how your father responded?"

"I don’t know, you know I never ask about my father’s affairs. He came in a rush, only stayed in Gutenberg for two days before leaving." Vero shook her head and quickly urged, "Komer, please don’t go to war with my father."

Komer gave a bitter smile. Could he really avoid this war if he wished to? It seemed that the damned old man did not intend to sit and wait for death and insisted on dragging others into this. Komer wondered, aside from Galle, where else would this man seek support? The Heine Family of Poznan or the Ferdinand Family of Silesia?

"Vero, let’s not talk about these disheartening matters. Why don’t you stay in the Caucasus for a while longer? Once I get through this busy period, I’ll take you to the Cordillera Wilderness to experience the rugged charm of the Barbarian Territory. We could also visit the Southern Mediterranean to experience a civilization utterly different from the North. Oh right, you haven’t been to the Flanders Territory of the Iberian Kingdom yet. And there’s the elegant beauty of Athens. Oh, I really miss that place. I have two castles there, Kapok Castle and Crystal Castle. Vero, I’m actually planning to give Crystal Castle to you as your birthday gift," Komer deliberately changed the subject.

Vero realized her words had touched upon some sensitive topics. A shadow of melancholy crossed her face, and she too had felt Komer’s rise to power in the Caucasus. Even she, who never cared for worldly matters, had heard his name mentioned in her father’s and magicians’ talks. Her father would also subtly observe her reactions. Vero had no choice but to maintain an indifferent composure to avoid arousing her father’s suspicion, fully aware that he had never ceased to surveil her for a moment.

Men’s conversations could never stray far from power and conquest. Her father and the man before her were no different. She preferred the boy who recited Shelley’s poetry in the wind, even though she knew that it was only one aspect of him. But she preferred to believe that this image was his true face.

The dark iron leaf armor on the Barbarian Warriors’ robust bodies made them appear even more valiant. The grotesque Magical Beast-shaped facial patterns on their helmets were pulled down, revealing only two deep and ominous eyes, staring forward. Clutching lances thick as a child’s arm, in response to the commander’s forceful wave of the small red flag on their backs, a soul-stirring leathery drumbeat sounded within the ranks. It was as if a dense forest had suddenly sprung from the ground; the raised lances created a shadow as dark as night, and even the sky seemed to darken at once. A powerful desire for battle rose in the air, accompanied by the groundswell of roars from tens of thousands of Barbarians, resounding across the plain. The whole Busen Plain trembled violently.

The rolling dust clouds advanced like seismic waves, showing the Barbarian Infantry Formation’s swift progression. Each Barbarian Warrior had become a fierce beast of war, yet they were bound tightly together by the rhythmic beats of the leathery drums, every step clean and unified. The sky full of arrows and stones were like nothing to the Barbarian Warriors. The raised Tower Shields could not fully block the arrows and rocks falling from the sky. Occasionally, flying objects landed within the formation, splashing bursts of dark red, weaving a bloody pattern on the black carpet, vivid and gruesome.

The Half-elf Archers closely followed the rapidly advancing Barbarian Infantry Formation. Their frail bodies could not bear the weight of iron leaf armor. Even the light leather armor, though reinforced by magic, was insufficient to protect them from stray arrows and flying stones, only lessening the severity of injuries. Yet, they could not stop. Facing the barrage of arrows and stones cascading down from the Castle, the Barbarian Infantry had to pay a heavy price before the assault began. The Half-elf Crossbowmen needed to get as close to the City Wall as possible to enter the range of their compound bows, providing as much suppressive power as possible for the siege troops and maximum support for the Barbarian Infantry.

Mihailovich, for the first time, donned a Mage Robe. For a Puppet Mage like him, who never cared for appearances, this was an anomaly. His sinister snake-like eyes, even under the midday Sunshine, looked somewhat terrifying. His Scepter, planted firmly into the ground, remained static as he watched the distance intently.

(To be continued. If you wish to find out what happens next, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM. More Chapters are available there; support the author, support authorized reading!)