Book 3: Chapter 275: A Brand New World

At the top of the tower, Amelie listened with a dazed expression as the three Named Ones and Sylutia discussed their affairs, only grasping the meaning near the very end.

"Hedra, are you going to the Hidden Grove Alliance?"

"Well, that's probably the case." Sylutia nodded slowly.

Not only was the Hidden Grove Alliance calling her back, but several of the exalted leaders here in the Mage Alliance also approved of her going there to fulfill greater responsibilities.

Originally, she had come to the Mage Alliance out of curiosity, wanting to understand this side's systems, all the novel things and secret arts. That wish had now been largely fulfilled, though after spending these past few years here, she had indeed developed many deep attachments, and parting was hard.

Fortunately, judging by the intentions of the three exalted leaders, she could return at any time; it was just that she currently needed to go to the Hidden Grove Alliance to fulfill her obligations.

That said, her own identity had become somewhat ambiguous now. Did she belong to the Hidden Grove Alliance, or the Mage Alliance? Or were all of these merely waystations, with her destined to travel to places even farther away?

When people experience something for the first time, they often cannot foresee the long-reaching impact it will ultimately have. Just as the original purpose of attending school is to gain knowledge and develop abilities, the friends made and experiences had along the way also leave profound impressions, eventually becoming etched into memory as part of who you are. Meanwhile, the knowledge learned, unless continuously used, gradually fades with time and becomes less important.

While Sylutia was lost in memories and introspection, Amelie beside her felt a pang of sorrow. She had finally gained a close friend, a companion, someone whose fate was remarkably similar to her own, and now they were about to part. The feeling was as though half of herself was being torn away.

Although she had learned an immeasurable amount of knowledge and mastered countless secret arts beyond the reach of ordinary people, faced with such a situation, she was still like an ignorant child, not knowing how to respond.

Her instinct was to beg Sylutia to stay, but she also knew the decision was not hers to make; it lay with the three exalted leaders and Sylutia herself.

If she were truly a child, she could throw a tantrum, cry and plead, clutching Sylutia's hand to hold her back. But the knowledge she had acquired and the teachings she had received would not allow her to do something so unreasonable. She could only watch the young woman beside her, fingers twisting behind her back, sorrow accumulating in her heart.

"Hedra..." she called softly.

Hearing Amelie's voice, Sylutia looked up and saw those eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She understood Amelie's sadness at once.

She gently drew the girl into an embrace, her fingers lightly stroking Amelie's long hair, using her heartbeat and warmth to gradually soothe the girl's restless emotions.

"Even if I leave, I will never forget Amelie." Those words were like a promise, letting the other girl's heart slowly settle. Though the sadness remained, a small candle flame flickered to life, illuminating the depths of Amelie's heart.

Though she had been born with extraordinary talent, her unique identity had also condemned her to lifelong solitude. Even as she grew and the Sages loosened some of their restrictions, she still found it difficult to become close friends with ordinary people.

This was not out of aloofness or contempt, but because as the "Daughter of the Secret Word," she was vastly different from ordinary people. They could not comprehend the questions she pondered, nor understand what brought her joy. She could only exchange the shallower aspects of daily life with them, while anything delving into the boundless ocean of knowledge and profound problems had to be savored and contemplated alone.

But Sylutia was an exception. This young woman's talent was no less than hers, they were of similar age, possessed equally remarkable gifts, and shared the same fields of study. She could almost fully understand everything that troubled Amelie and everything she loved. Such a kindred spirit and dear friend would likely never appear a second time in Amelie's entire life.

Therefore, facing Sylutia's departure, Amelie was deeply reluctant to let go. Perhaps she hadn't yet figured out exactly why, but her instincts already felt the ache of loss.

After comforting Amelie, it was time to leave the top of the Sky High Tower. Though Sylutia knew she would likely return to the Hidden Grove Alliance, given the current situation, the exact timing of her departure would likely wait until after she completed her advancement.

...

The following spring, after months of negotiations, the Mage Alliance and the Hidden Grove Alliance finally finalized their agreement. In essence, the Mage Alliance would provide manpower, mechanical creations, and various resources in exchange for the Hidden Grove Alliance's support in gardeners and modest quantities of grain.

Each side produced a long list, detailing the types and tonnage of various grain crops to be exchanged, the metals, gemstones, mechanical creation models to be traded, and so on. The documents alone numbered in the hundreds of pages. In the first half of the agreement were also detailed lists of the names of personnel to be exchanged, including renowned gardeners from the Hidden Grove and mages proficient in various fields from the Mage Alliance.

Before the cooperation was finalized, the lower ranks of both sides breathed a sigh of relief. The Mage Alliance would finally stop worrying about the mild food crisis, and the Hidden Grove Alliance could gain support from the Mage Alliance's cutting-edge talent and industrial system to slowly develop their own infrastructure. The potential threat of war was also minimized to the greatest extent possible by the agreement, allowing at least nearly eighteen years of peace between the two sides once the Sinking Fog season began.

Before the agreement was even publicly announced, it quickly sparked enormous discussion within both alliances. People debated the various figures and categories on the lists, along with the names of personnel to be exchanged. When "Amelie's" name appeared on the list, it triggered extremely heated debates.

Many people opposed sending this young woman to the Hidden Grove. After all, her portrait and deeds had already spread throughout the Mage Alliance, and almost everyone knew of her. Her extraordinary beauty, peerless talent, and status as a celebrated rising leader made her the object of countless admirers' dreams.

Even knowing that such admiration and longing could never be fulfilled, there was still a sliver of possibility, and at least it was within the Mage Alliance. But letting someone like her go to the Hidden Grove Alliance was unacceptable to many, like a father losing his daughter, or a young man watching his unattainable love disappear into the distance.

Countless people wrote letters urging the Alliance Council to change the decision, or to remove "Hedra" from the list. Unfortunately, such objections were ultimately not adopted.

Gradually, everyone was forced to accept the outcome, only hoping the young woman would return as soon as possible, and cherishing the time she had not yet left all the more.

...

March, Mishil District, Mage Guild Tower.

Sylutia sat at her desk, reviewing recent reports and the status updates from various departments, when she heard a commotion outside. She couldn't help but open the curtains to look.

On the street outside the Mage Guild, a crowd of people held up signs reading "Keep Hedra Here," which startled the young woman.

Shortly after, Cerise knocked on the door and entered to inform Sylutia of the detailed situation outside.

"It seems someone organized a protest specifically. There are probably over a thousand people out there."

"Over a thousand? That's so exaggerated?" The young woman was astonished again.

This was not an era with convenient transportation. To participate in such a protest, people would have to depart from other regions more than ten days in advance, take trains, and converge here. Coordinating the timing was also a significant challenge.

To Sylutia, this seemed almost unbelievable. Even if her departure upset some people, she never imagined it would provoke such intensity. After all, she rarely appeared in public, and many only knew her through newspapers and rumors.

In an era without the internet, information traveled slowly and with considerable delay.

How should she handle this? Sylutia looked at the people outside, thinking to herself.

She couldn't just ignore them and give no response, could she? But even if she responded, she couldn't possibly agree to their request. The decision was already final. If she didn't go, the Hidden Grove Alliance would surely suspect the Mage Alliance of forcibly detaining her through covert means, causing friction between the two major powers and possibly tearing apart the hard-won agreement, leading to unimaginable problems.

Sigh, why do people in this era idolize celebrities? Sylutia lightly pressed her forehead and shook her head, the tied tail of her hair swaying with the motion, the ends brushing against her cheek.

"Cerise, help me get an approximate count of the crowd. While I can't grant everyone's request, so many people traveled such a long distance to come here. That's no small effort. Contact the large restaurants or venues in the main city in advance and prepare a sumptuous dinner for everyone. I'll also make an appearance then and explain the reasons."

"Yes, my lady." Cerise nodded and withdrew.

That night, at the Black Iris Hall in the main city district, a venue usually reserved for hosting grand banquets, it was now used to entertain the crowds who had come from various places to protest.

The attendees in the hall wore all manner of attire. Some were official mages of considerable standing, some were apprentices from workshops in various regions, and others were ordinary citizens. Now they all stood in this magnificent banquet hall, marveling at the lavish spread of food and delicacies prepared before them. Upon learning that Hedra was hosting this feast in their honor, the crowd was deeply moved and eagerly anticipated the young woman's appearance.

Time ticked by, and shortly after all the invited guests had arrived, the side door at the front of the hall opened, and a figure in splendid attire stepped out.

Sylutia, dressed in black adorned with magnificent sapphire-blue ribbons and silk rose flowers, slowly made her way to the front. Her soft black hair was tied into a youthful high ponytail, with a matching sapphire-blue ribbon fastened at the back into a shimmering bow. The ribbon's ends swayed gently alongside her hair. Her off-shoulder gown, with its black-and-blue trims contrasting elegantly against her graceful neck and shoulders, was so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.

Even those who had seen Sylutia's likeness in newspapers and posters were stunned when they saw her in person. Especially when the young woman bent slightly in a bow and then raised her eyes, merely blinking unconsciously, the charm of that single moment made hearts skip several beats.

Perhaps this young woman was better suited to being an idol than a learned mage.

Standing on the low stage, Sylutia surveyed the room, as if trying to remember every face present. She met the eyes of the crowd one by one, then gave a slight nod. Even such a subtle gesture made countless hearts flutter, as if in that instant she had already exchanged a thousand unspoken words with each person.

Then the young woman spoke, beginning to explain the origins of the matter and the reasons for going to the Hidden Grove Alliance, hoping to earn everyone's understanding.

Her gentle voice, sincere words, candid reasoning, and generous hospitality made even the harshest critics in the room unable to voice any reproach.

"Though I will travel to a very distant place, I will never forget all of you, nor those who waited for me, those who worried for me, and the times we shared together." She pressed her fingers lightly to her chest, eyes gently closed as she spoke.

"This journey to the Hidden Grove is not only to fulfill the mission entrusted by the agreement, but also to carry the knowledge and ideals of the 'Gold Steam' Path to distant lands. This world is not yet perfect, and it needs us to forge it piece by piece."

"I know many of you feel reluctant and sad, but please allow me this choice and this willfulness. Still, please grant me your blessings. Bless that I may complete my mission, and one day in the future, return in glory."

When words had reached this point, what reason could anyone use to stop her? Though many present still felt reluctant, they ultimately said nothing more, silently offering their blessings to the young woman, hoping she would achieve all she desired.

After finishing her speech, Sylutia once again lifted her skirt and bowed in gratitude before bidding farewell and leaving.

Afterward, the banquet hall resumed its music, and only then did the crowd slowly awaken from the beauty and shock the young woman had brought, as if emerging from another world.

The murmur of conversation gradually rose once more, and the banquet continued late into the night before everyone departed.

A week later, Sylutia once again went to the top of the Sky High Tower. This time, however, she was not studying alongside Amelie, but listening to the teachings of Sordas, learning the secret arts of the "Luminous Moon" Path, formally preparing for her advancement.

"The Origin Hourglass's esoteric knowledge is in no way less than that of the Mithril Clock. If I were to teach you everything completely, it would probably take five or six years to finish. So for now, I will focus on teaching you what's relevant to your advancement." The kindly old man spoke slowly.

"Yes, Your Excellency." The young woman nodded politely and seriously.

"No need for such formal address. If you'd like, you can simply call me teacher." Sordas slowly stroked his beard.

"Yes, teacher."

Hearing the young woman's gentle voice, even as a Named One, the old man's mood brightened considerably before he continued his lecture.

"Hedra, how much do you know about 'composite Aspects'?"

"Well, I know a little. It seems one can possess the traits and advantages of two Aspects simultaneously, and also use the secret arts of both."

"Correct, but that's only the surface." The old man tapped his staff lightly, and a large white board materialized before the young woman.

On the board, various creatures were depicted in different colored lines, with explanatory text written beside them.

"Now, allow me to introduce some common composite Aspects. That should give you a better understanding of their special nature."

Sprites [Mist Shadow - Verdant Nectar]

Creatures that occasionally appear in deep forests. Their appearance resembles fairies, but they lack the intelligence of fairies and are not as powerful. Relying on their innate abilities, they can conceal themselves within flower buds to rest and sleep, and can easily manipulate plants and flora, setting traps and playing pranks. Whenever they successfully trick other creatures, they accumulate a sliver of power for themselves.

Bone Fiends [Dead Embers - Distortion]

Monsters resurrected through the power of "Dead Embers" and driven by the tainted instincts brought by "Distortion." They possess no intelligence, but by relying on the power of these two troublesome Aspects, they can continuously reconstitute and revive, and by devouring other beings, twist and convert them into their own strength.

War-Spawn Beasts [Bloodline - Beast Fang]

Through special rituals, other creatures are transformed into "War-Spawn Beasts." The process reshapes their flesh and bones. Regardless of what life form they originally were, they are converted into "War-Spawn Beasts" after the ritual, granting them brand-new, razor-sharp claws and fangs, as well as incredibly strong bones and muscles.

Premonition Art [Alien Star - Luminous Moon]

The power of the star domains brings chaotic and ever-changing guidance, while the power of "Luminous Moon" filters out the noise, allowing one to clearly lock onto a single moment.

When cast, it can subtly guide the opponent in battle, making a certain event inevitably come to pass.

"What they call a composite Aspect is not a simple one plus one. Rather, when the two combine, they produce an extraordinarily wondrous reaction, birthing something entirely new. It possesses the traits of both, yet is completely different from anything that came before. This is a truly astonishing phenomenon. If you cannot deeply understand the mysteries within, it will be difficult to truly merge the two Aspects."

Within the Named One's words, a brand-new and wondrous door slowly opened before Sylutia's eyes.