A Sorcerer’s Journey

There were about three hundred men in the cavalry troop. They were all clad in sturdy metal armors and displayed great discipline in their actions—unlike the knight-wannabes that Grimm saw amongst the nobles or the lowly uncivilized “knights” who visit the pubs.

These knights were… basically an army of their own.

According to what Grimm knew, most areas of the Seven-Ring Holy Tower Academies, not just the Eastern Coral Island, were split into various sections according to their sorcerers’ castles and nobles.

It was unthinkable for the nobles, who usually were only interested in indulging in luxury and pleasures, to want to organize a fully trained army.

After all, no matter how strong the knights they acquired, these warriors were nothing but papers in the eyes of the sorcerers. In the eyes of the sorcerers, these knight-cavalry recruiting was entirely pointless.

Nina York’s usual turbid eyes were glowing with excitement as she looked at Grimm, trying to spot a glimpse of his emotion from under his Mask of Truth.

“These… are these Millie’s workings?” Nina York asked.

Looking at the cheering peasants on the street, Grimm shook his head and answered, “I don’t know. Perhaps.”

Perhaps…

These displayed peace and joy on the streets were nothing but a front to cover up the real evil that was hiding in the shadows.

No matter how skilled a Black Sorcerer was, his or her specimen would most likely be left with major damage after going through the human despair harvesting process.

Due to Nina York pampering Myna a lot, it was now standing on her shoulder instead of Grimm’s. Seeing his master’s response, Myna let out a mischievous laugh and said, “Caw caw, my master! How about I head down and do a sweep of surveillance first?”

Shifting his eyes from the cheering peasants to the knights’ chained prisoners and finally to the biggest castle door in Bi Seer City, Grimm’s mind was starting to calm down as he inched towards the truth.

Ignoring Myna Grimm turned around and looked at a certain direction… at one spot… that spot was once his home.

“It doesn’t matter who the city owner is, we shouldn’t disturb the peaceful lives of this city’s citizens. It’s best that we begin our investigation at night. As for now…”

Nina York was surprised by his reply. “All your relatives are now long dead. Why would you want to care about the feelings of these ordinary humans?”

Ignoring her question, Grimm flew towards that place that still dwelled in his distant memory.

A moment later.

Grimm and Nina York both landed on a muddy road. This was the road that every villager used to commute into Bi Seer City.

There was no one using the road at the moment.

Landing on the road, Grimm’s shoes had sunk partially into the mud. However, Grimm was not bothered by this at all. In fact, he appeared to enjoy it, using his toe tip to impale the soft muddy soil beneath. This brought back all the memories he had with Old Ham… the good old days when he and Old Ham were on the carriage.

Nina York, on the other hand, was hovering above the ground. She wasn’t fond of the dirty muddy soil.

“If you don’t mind, it’s better for you to land on the ground here.”

After saying this, Grimm tore open a pocket dimension and grabbed two pieces of peasant clothing from the ocean of clothes within; then, he threw one of them to Nina York.

Grimm prepared these clothes for his future research on Dissimilation Sorcery.

Letting out a sigh, Nina York stepped on the muddy ground and received the clothes that Grimm was handing over. Without saying anything, she quickly changed into the clothes that were given to her.

“Caw? Master…”

After changing into the peasant clothing, Grimm threw Myna into the pocket dimension without hesitation. Then, he led Nina York along the muddy road.

Two hundred years had passed.

Thus, it was natural that the entire village and surrounding geography had massively changed. This was not the same place that Grimm remembered.

Grimm could still vaguely remember there were only thirty to forty families living in the village that he and Old Ham lived. Other than that, there were also vast distances between the houses too—it was a rare sight to see neighbors living close to one another.

Yet now, there were hundreds of villagers living close to one another. It was not the village that had vast space as he remembered.

It would also appear that they did not usually have visitors. Under the sunset, the weak elderly were staring at Grimm and Nina York.

Ignoring the old villagers’ stares, Grimm and Nina York kept on walking, passing by a pair of old farmers who were returning home from a long day’s work.

Then, there it was.

Grimm’s eyes lit up as he saw it.

Hold on.

It was still there?

And it was under preservation too?

Stunned by what he saw, Grimm stood there quietly as he looked at the old beaten stone house. He could feel a sting of bittersweet nostalgia hit his nose.

The old stone house… the old horse… these were Old Ham’s treasures.

A long time ago… Old Ham once decided to spend the two-piece of gold coins, his all-year wage, to renovate this house. And then, he wanted to help Grimm finding a wife… to help Grimm start a family. His greatest dream was to hold a grandchild in his arms.

Yet…

Old Ham did not get to realize his dream. After slaving off all his life, he did not get to see his grandchild in his twilight years. In the end, he did not get to enjoy the warmth of a full family.

Grimm quickly rubbed his eyes, trying to hide his fragile side from his companion.

“So, this is where you lived?” Nina York asked.

Although the stone house was already old and beaten up, its entire structure was still preserved and protected by various finely lined-up wooden pillars. At a glance, this old house looked “odd” rather than “old”.

Crack!

As he opened the wooden door, Grimm walked into the familiar place he once called home—the simple furniture, the bed that he once slept in… though now his bed sheet and blanket had been taken away…

Putting his finger on the wooden bed, Grimm saw that there was only a thin layer of dust. It would appear that it had been periodically cleaned by someone.

As nostalgia beginning to wear off, Grimm took in a deep breath, intending to inhale this familiar scent. Then, Grimm grinned. He could almost smell the days that he spent with Old Ham… and that small whiff of a lovely scent.

Grimm turned to Nina York with a smile, “It would appear that…. Lefay has indeed returned.”

…

Nightfall.

Millions of stars had splattered across the black sky as the crescent moon curved mysteriously amongst them.

Under the cloak of night sat a girl.

The girl’s hair, ashen black and silky long, was dangling freely in the wind—as though trying to blend into the black night. Her skin was fair as snow, as though not ever stained by dirt. Her tall and shapely body was so perfect that as though it had received the grace and blessings from nature itself. And finally, her red rosy lips were so lovely that a sight of it was like courting the devil itself.

This lady was carrying the peak of her beauty. Like a recently blossomed flower—so lovely and stunning.

And yet…

“Ah… you monster… you evil Black Sorcerer… I’m not going to let this slide even after I’m dead!”

The flame of candles had lit the room, casting various shadows of bloodied metal cuffs on the stone walls that had icy cold water dripping on it. Excruciating screams and wailing could be heard in the room, as though they were cries of demons.

A prisoner, clad in a rags, stared at the two black eyes with extreme horror.

“Hmm? Perhaps I should increase the despair level when I harvest?”

Her refined fair fingers slowly pulled out the metal needles from within the prisoner’s body. Then, a silver ray flashed through the air…

One of the prisoner’s fingers dropped to the ground.

“Arrrghhhh….”

Agonizing wailing echoed in the chamber as the prisoner stared at his cut-off finger.

Finger? Cut-off?

He’s now… not whole anymore…

Tears rolled down the prisoner’s eyes as despair overflowed in him.

“Hmm, that’s it.”

As the lady calmly mumbled, a grotesque tumor—hidden in her long hair behind her head twitched a little.

Then, she started to bandage the prisoner and help him to stop bleeding.

Black Sorcerers’ methods of collecting despair were different. They were not like the Demon Hunters who killed and slaughtered to collect despair.

In the eyes of the Black Sorcerers, normal humans that were used to collect despair were like rechargeable batteries—their despair was a kind of replenishable resources. Thus, unless they were cut to pieces and expended all their uses, these humans would not be allowed to die.

The Black Sorcerers’ lab… it was indeed a depressing and despairing hell.

After bandaging the prisoner, the girl then looked at the other cages with her calm eyes. Seeing this, the other dismembered prisoners had started to sob in despair awaiting the ambassador of hell toying with them again.

These were all thirty to forty-year-old men. Yet, they were sobbing and crying like infants.

Suddenly, the metal door that sealed the underground lab was opened. The door appeared to have been enchanted with some sort of sorcery—in a brief tremble, the door was shattered into pieces like a bubble. Then, two silhouettes walked in.

Seeing them, the girl’s body was stunned as though she was shocked by electric current.

One of them, who looked like an old witch in the old folklores, looked at the bloodied knife in the girl’s hand and said in trembling voice, “You…”

The other one was wearing a gray mask that was embedded with a spiral marking and had long golden hair.

Under his mask, his eyes were filled with tears.

“Lefay… you’ve come back. Oh, thank goodness…”

Clank!

The bloodied knife fell off from the girl’s hand.

She quickly covered her face with her hands, like a small child who was caught stealing candies red-handed and started to weep in front of them…