< 124. Butterfly’s Dream (2) >
*
Vaitas’s voice struck and scrambled his brain. Fernandez, with his hands still clasped, sank deep into thought.
‘If this voice is Vaitas’s, then the one who altered the statue’s text initially… wasn’t Vaitas trying to communicate with me.’
Assumption 1. At least two transcendent beings are currently intervening in my affairs.
‘And, whether this is a dream or if I’ve dreamt up a past life, it’s still unclear.’
Assumption 2. What if my past life is a dream? Or, what if this very moment is a dream?
I must prepare for both. Nothing is certain. I hope it’s just a hallucination after diving into the Soul Realm… Fernandez doesn’t act on a single assumption.
Fernandez slowly unclasped his hands and stood up. Either scenario is fine. If all this is Mumto’s scheme, he will regret it.
‘Whichever is the illusion, there’s something to gain.’
Fernandez has knowledge of events from now until forty years later. If the past life is a dream, so be it. It’s better. It’s not too late to start changing things one by one.
‘I have the power.’
Magic Circuit. How I’ve missed it. No longer do I need to tediously refine the incomplete functions of the Bronze Throne. I can bring my prime thirty years earlier.
‘On the other hand, if this moment is my illusion.’
Then it’s all the better. I can gather as much information as possible from this timeline and find a way back later. And…
‘This messy situation proves Mumto’s weakness!’
A fully powered Mumto could easily incapacitate a teenager just by looking at them. If all he can show in his domain is an elaborate illusion…
‘If this is all you’ve got, you’re dead.’
Fernandez stood up and tilted his head towards the Holy Statue. He smirked and raised his middle finger towards it.
“I’ve always wanted to do that. What can I do? I’m not a priest anymore.”
Suddenly, something fell and rolled behind him. Fernandez turned to see Aria, holding a basket of potatoes, dropping it in shock.
“Good heavens! Teacher! What are you…! Get out, quick!”
“Huh?”
“No matter the religious differences, how could you blaspheme in a church… Really!”
Before he knew it, he was dragged out by Aria. He glanced at her retreating figure, then glared at the distant Holy Statue.
‘Send your four.’
*
After nearly an hour of scolding at home, he finally gained his freedom. After sending Aria home, Fernandez began a simple experiment.
[Morris Lane’s Crystal Sphere]
The recipe is simple. Embed five spells, mix animal blood with seven medicinal herbs, and immerse a clean cat’s eye stone or a similar spherical crystal in the solution.
-Sssss.
The solution, infused with magic, began to boil. Though he couldn’t obtain a cat’s eye stone, crystal spheres were essential for apothecaries, alchemists, or Wandering Mages. They are the most suitable vessels for containing magic.
He took out the escape crystal sphere he cherished during this time. In emergencies, it emits a fog with a sensory disruption spell and casts an acceleration spell on the user.
‘I don’t need escape tools at this point.’
Though it has saved my life several times, few heroes can stand against Fernandez in his prime, and the chances of them seeking me out are slim. Fernandez chanted the spells over the crystal sphere and slowly placed it into the solution.
-Slurp.
The sticky, boiling solution foamed and enveloped the sphere. Fernandez’s fingers intertwined as he chanted the mantra.
In order, [Construction] [Detection] [Command] [Guidance], and [Compass]. Thus, [Morris Lane’s Crystal Sphere] is completed. A complex magical artifact, but with his magical tuning senses and experience, it’s not difficult.
-Sssss!
Blood snaked across the sphere’s surface, forming strange patterns. A sinister red light emanated from the solution containing the sphere.
‘This is undeniably heretical.’
If someone opened the workshop door now, they’d immediately report me to the nearest church for heresy. Fernandez found his sudden change in circumstances quite amusing.
But it was necessary. He slowly extended his finger and placed it on the sphere’s surface. The residual heat of the pulsating spell was felt at his fingertips.
No rush, take it easy. There’s plenty of time. He pressed his finger firmly. With a creak, his finger began to sink into the sphere’s surface.
-Squelch.
It felt like pushing a finger into firm jelly. He focused on the sensation at his fingertip and conjured an image in his mind. Raven, crow, eagle. Anything bird-shaped…
-Crunch.
The blood in the sphere boiled. Spell characters rippled across the surface and seeped into the solution. Morris Lane’s Crystal Sphere. A magical artifact that can create and control five minions simultaneously.
A dreamlike magic for summoners. From battle assistance to small-scale applications like this.
-Slurp.
Red crows crawled out of the blood. Fernandez, with his hand in the sphere, concentrated. Fly. Fly and see what you must.
-Flutter!
After shaking off, five crows soared through the chimney. All minions shared their vision with Fernandez. To the sky, to the sky. Just towards that horizon until it curves!
-Whoosh!
The sensation of wings cutting through the wind and the sound of rough high-altitude winds. All senses flooded his mind. Ordinary…
Wizards find it tough to handle more than one minion while maintaining this level of communication…
‘Go.’
-Whish!
Fernandez could simultaneously send five crows flying in different directions with precise instructions. He was familiar with the local geography. The only information he needed right now was whether this moment was real or not.
‘Gather as much information as possible from this period.’
After giving the crows their flight directions, Fernandez pulled his finger out of the crystal sphere.
‘The lands of the northerners, the Dane Kingdom, the western Great Wilderness, the plains of the Hundred Demon Tribes, and the High Council of Aseas.’
He needed to identify the differences between the history he remembered, the history of this period, and the altered history after his regression to formulate a strategy. If this was just an illusion, if he could return after killing Mumto, this information would become his most powerful weapon.
“Now, let’s prepare to welcome our guests.”
After flexing his fingers for a moment, Fernandez began preparing other tools. It was a proper mage’s workshop, something he hadn’t seen in a long time, and there were countless materials here he could use.
*
He dozed off. Fernandez found himself staring blankly at Aria, who had come in and was pouring coffee in front of him.
Unlike Diemonica’s body, which was always alert even in sleep, Faijashi’s body in this period was nearing twilight and was withering away. Pulling all-nighters was too much. The fact that he had to sleep every night felt strangely unfamiliar.
When he had Diemonica’s body, sleeping once every three days was enough. Fernandez shook his groggy head and frowned. He had to get used to it. He didn’t know how much longer he would be trapped in this twilight.
‘No, it’s not good to think like that.’
Wishing this moment wasn’t real was his own greed. Perhaps, just perhaps, he had foreseen the future… If so, then…
“Goodness. The house is a mess. Teacher. I tried to clean up a bit… Is it okay?”
“Of course.”
If this is reality, and the past year was a dream… Then, Aria. I still have a chance. Fernandez slowly sipped his coffee. The warm, bitter liquid was chasing away his sleep.
“Did you stay up all night? I’ve told you many times that it’s bad for your health… Sometimes it feels like you don’t want to live long.”
“How could that be?”
“Really! You make potions and cure illnesses for the villagers so they can live long, but you don’t take care of your own body…”
Fernandez raised his coffee cup to his lips and watched Aria passionately lecturing him. The sound faded, and her face shone in the sunlight. At this moment, she was everything in this world.
‘Do I wish this was reality?’
Though his heart was tainted with hellish magic, he hadn’t yet made a contract with demons and blood. If he hadn’t received the Sabbath, there was still a way back. The magic contamination could be fixed if he found a way…
A weakened body? The Secrets of Magic lay dormant in his hands, so what could be the problem? Yes. If this moment is reality, if he had foreseen the future…
‘How sweet.’
Aria, who had been passionately chattering, frowned when she saw Fernandez smiling.
“You’re not listening at all, are you!”
“No, I heard everything.”
“Liar. What did I say then?”
“Take care of your health?”
“And then?”
“The priest’s law has fallen to the ground. How dare you argue with your teacher?”
“Only at times like this!”
Aria shouted with an annoyed expression. Fernandez burst out laughing at her. In this period, she was still just an innocent country girl. He slowly nodded.
“Let’s do as you say. Aria.”
“Huh?”
“Since it’s come to this. Let’s live long. Very long. And…”
At least as happy as you. You deserve it. Fernandez said as he ruffled Aria’s hair.
‘If this isn’t reality, you die, Mumto. But if this is reality…’
I’ll show my gratitude. Fernandez quietly closed his eyes and drank his coffee. Yes, I’ll show my gratitude.
‘Your minions will be the last to die.’
For Aria and my happiness, demons and heretics are unnecessary in the material world. If this is reality, you must die by my hand.
*
Night fell. Five people gathered at the edge of the town slowly raised their weapons and entered the town.
“Demeter, head west. Veil, take the south. Karl, with me, we’ll charge straight in.”
“Makto.”
A robe with an inverted keyblade emblem. They were the Inquisition Officers of Vaitas. Codename Angelo, he drew his sword and took out a flask from his pocket.
“Mission start. Brothers. For the glory of Vaitas!”
-Crash!
The flask flew and shattered loudly. The liquid flame inside spread widely, igniting the outskirts of the town.
Flames and ashes, symbols of the Inquisition Officers of this period. They charged towards the town. But at that moment, the flames that had been consuming the town’s outer fences were extinguished in an instant.
“What!?”
“Playing with fire at night will make you regret it in the morning.”
In front of them, far across the town plaza, a thin middle-aged man with a short beard was slowly walking towards them. Angelo tightened his grip on his sword and glared at him.
The target of this mission. The traitorous Wandering Mage Faijashi. Sharp eyes, a twisted smirk, and elaborate tattoos on both arms. He looked to be in his 40s. It was definitely him.
“Arrogance or repentance. Mage?”
“It’s a deal.”
“Arrogance then.”
Angelo narrowed his eyes and raised his sword. His hand moved quickly behind his back, signaling the other Inquisition Officers.
[Surround.]
The other Inquisition Officers quickly scaled the walls and scattered throughout the town. Angelo glared at the mage who wasn’t making any moves. Should he charge? Or…
“I tried to make a deal with your god, but it seems unwanted. Then I thought I’d tell you instead… but it seems.”
Now’s the chance. Angelo quickly drew a dagger from his sleeve and threw it. The incredible speed from Diemonica’s muscles, the Saint Metal dagger flew like an arrow towards the mage’s head—
-Clang!
“It’ll be simpler to tell you after I defeat you.”
“Attack!”
The dagger aimed at the mage’s head was deflected mid-air with a loud clang. But he never expected the first attack to land. Angelo shouted and charged at the mage.
Simultaneously, the Inquisition Officers hidden around the area rushed towards the mage.
Fernandez watched and smiled deeply.
“You’ve aged a lot, Fabiano.”
*
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