Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 814 - 79: Philarx Who Understands Everything

Chapter 814: Chapter 79: Philarx Who Understands Everything

Through the transparent walls, one could see Philarx’s footsteps unconsciously quickening, yet his walk was unsteady as if he might fall at any moment. Were it not for Felic occasionally steadying him, it seemed he could topple over at any time. Pannis closed his eyes and let out a gentle sigh, unable to bear the sight of the old man walking a few more meters and headed to meet him at the entrance to the dining room.

"Snap," as soon as he opened the door to the dining room, Philarx saw Pannis standing at the doorway. Before Pannis could speak, Philarx reached out and grabbed his wrist. The old man’s hand was coarse and ice-cold, rubbing Pannis’s skin on his wrist like there was a layer of sand in between; even through the physical contact, one could feel the protrusions of the bones, and the fingers holding the wrist had no strength, loose and flaccid, it was more like resting on Pannis’s wrist rather than holding it.

Only then did the girls get their first opportunity to closely observe this hero from a century ago. Against the backdrop of his black mage robe, the old man’s skin was as pale as paper, covered with wrinkles and light brown spots. His already lean figure had become even more frail, his cheeks hollowed deeply without the support of teeth. Not just his cheeks, his eye sockets had also sunken in, and his once clear and sharp eyes had become as murky as the mires of the Whispering Swamp. On Philarx’s hands, holding Pannis’s wrist, the nails remained neatly trimmed, and the skin bore many aged marks left by potions. His fingers were still slender, but the crooked digits were as dry as withered branches devoid of moisture, seemingly about to snap off in the wind at any moment.

Standing before Pannis, Philarx’s lips moved, uttering a few incomplete syllables, but he didn’t speak a complete sentence. However, the old man calmed down after a while, slowed his speech, and in a slow and odd rhythm said softly, "I just knew you, this guy, definitely wouldn’t be dead yet. Sure enough, you’re still alive and well now, and even seem to be getting younger."

"Heh, you still don’t know how to have a proper conversation." Pannis’s expression shifted continuously, ultimately settling on a complex smile as he sighed and said, "No wonder she was always arguing with you back then. Can’t you change this speaking habit of yours?"

"What do you mundane mortals know." The old mage seemed to recall something, banged his magic staff heavily, and huffed, "It’s your and her habits that need changing, always fussing over pointless things. Hmph, what’s the use of being tactful? A waste of time, if intelligent beings didn’t waste so much time on these meaningless matters, our Magitech would have already surpassed the goblin technology from ten thousand years ago."

The old mage spoke very slowly, seemingly only this way could he make himself understood clearly; if he sped up, he would end up like at the beginning, only producing disjointed syllables. However, slow as he was, Pannis listened very attentively, not responding until the mage had finished, then said with a helpless wry smile, "Alright, alright, you’re right, okay?"

"Boring condescension, humph humph." Philarx sneered a few more times, then released Pannis’s wrist and turned to walk to the next room, not forgetting to give instructions to his student and maidservants. "Felic, you go back, and on the way, tell the students that if I don’t appear on time, today’s guidance is temporarily canceled. And you lot, prepare tea for eight, remember to add sugar."

"Hey, you know I drink my tea without sugar." Pannis raised an eyebrow, protesting. "Why do you always have to add sugar to mine, and the cup for me always has the most sugar? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?"

"That’s right, if you’re not satisfied you can choose not to drink it." Philarx retorted sarcastically. "Besides, the tea is prepared for the ladies, not for you. Don’t tell me you thought it was for you. Foolish, naive. But seeing you looking so pitiful, fine, prepare the tea without sugar for one portion, off you go. And you, why haven’t you left yet? Not so much to deal with now, is it? Go on, get going, these maidservants are enough here, you’re just in the way."

Felic showed a wry smile, surreptitiously making eye contact with Pannis and gesturing a plea for help before he quickly escaped under the impatient shooing of his teacher. The old mage snorted at his departing student’s back and muttered, "Really gets in the way, annoying. Come with me, we can sit down and talk if there’s anything."

Philarx led the six members of the adventure team and Muir into the reception room’s large doors, the space inside wasn’t large, just a circle of soft chairs and a long coffee table. Philarx’s trembling, he leaned on his cane as he carefully inched onto his chair, his movements slow and stiff, as though he might accidentally fall to the ground at any moment. Pannis’s pupils contracted, but he turned his head away as if to admire the azure sky outside the Mage Tower, as if he hadn’t seen Philarx’s struggle, not until he had safely settled into the soft chair did he turn back to say, "The view here is really nice; I haven’t seen such an azure sky anywhere else. Sometimes I really want to just jump down and dissolve into the blue sky."

"Then you should jump." Though Philarx’s words were harsh, the old mage’s eyes carried a hint of a smile as he turned to the girls and Muir and said, "Don’t stand there, everyone, sit. There should be enough chairs."

"This reception room hasn’t changed at all." Pannis didn’t wait for Philarx’s invitation, sat down first on a chair, and patted the armrest while saying, "Hmm, even the little figures drawn by Maya beneath our feet are still here, hahaha."

"That damn Winged person." The old mage’s forehead throbbed with veins as he angrily said, "She daringly used Light-attribute magic to draw figures all over my Magic Tower and once drawn, they couldn’t be erased, damn it, and she still pretends as if she had done nothing. I remember when I first met them, they weren’t this mischievous."

"Ahaha." Pannis whistled, looking left and right, pretending to be clueless, "Who knows? Maybe it’s the nature of the winged people, or perhaps it’s their way of showing affection?"

"I knew it was you who secretly taught them," Philarx said through gritted teeth, but despite her anger, she couldn’t help but reveal a smile, shaking her head and sighing, "You people, really... there’s no way to handle you."

"Alright, no more anger." Pannis’s demeanor showed no sign of the sorrow he felt earlier, with a rascally air, he lazily waved his hand and said, "Look, haven’t I brought your favorite food as an apology? Oh right, that has already been sent to the kitchen by your student Felic, you can sneakily eat it tonight. No one will compete with you for it, so no worries."

"Felic..." A rare smile on the old Mage’s face slowly faded, as he continued speaking slowly, "You guys must have arrived early, right? Standing outside the dining hall, watching me, correct?"

"Nope, we really just got here," Pannis blinked, looking perplexed as he spoke, "The moment we arrived, we saw you drinking tea. Why do you think we’d been here for a while?"

"You’ve never learned how to lie. Your false words come across too clearly," Philarx scoffed, "Do those children think I’m unaware of what they’re up to? Humph, my health may be deteriorating, but I’m not so old that I’d be confused and unable to sense such a close energy reaction in my own Magic Tower."

"Alright, I admit it, we’ve been here for a while," Pannis scratched his head, smiling wryly, "But if you could notice it, why do they all think you can’t sense them? You’d think your students would know your habits pretty well."

"Huh, these kids," Philarx sighed, speaking resignedly, "Ever since my health started going downhill a few years ago, they’ve been taking turns to stay with me. But I’m not so weak that I can’t manage on my own, I don’t need their constant company, so I sent them away. Yet, they’re stubborn, always hiding and following me, especially when I eat. If I don’t let them in, they lurk outside to sneak a peek. I’ve chased them away a few times, but each time they just retreat a little and refuse to leave."

"Ah, they’re just worried about you," Pannis said, "Given your condition isn’t great, their concern that something might happen to you, wanting to stay by your side...it’s understandable."

"I’m not stupid, I perfectly understand their intentions." Philarx glared but ultimately her tone deflated, "I know they mean well, and I do realize their determination. So after shooing them off a few times and seeing they hadn’t changed, I simply pretended not to notice anymore and left them be. Those naive kids think they’ve found a safe distance where I can’t sense them, so they always hide there to keep me company. As long as they don’t get any closer, I can’t be bothered to deal with them."

"Hahaha, I bet Felic and the others never expected that you knew everything and just pretended along with them," Pannis laughed heartily, "But you’re still the same, tough on the outside, soft on the heart, accepting their kindness but pretending to be upset."

"Who’s accepting their kindness? They left me no choice with their persistence," Philarx grumbled dissatisfiedly, "Just like this time, daring to bring you along. I’m going to give them a piece of my mind later."

"Then that would be too unjust for him," Pannis shrugged, "Since you already know everything, surely you understand his purpose as well?"

"Of course, he’s just trying to get you guys to leave sooner, right?" Philarx scoffed, "Alright, you came to see me for some important matter. Spill it, what’s going on?" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to support the author at qidian.com by voting, purchasing monthly tickets, your support is the greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)