Nigel Elliott now believed that this person was indeed a fan of his, not soone who had co to cause him trouble.
To be able to say such a thing—to appreciate his clumsy and futile attempts from those paintings, this was definitely not sothing those barbarians would do.
"Ah... my apologies."
Nigel wiped his eyes and nodded with so reserve, "It’s been a long ti since I’ve heard about those old tis... sorry."
"No, the one who should apologize is ."
The man with black hair once again displayed a cheerful smile, "I am also sorry to bring up such secrets—it’s sothing we should be discussing over drinks and laughter, hugging and crying together, after we’ve beco acquainted. But I guess, only by ntioning these things can I convince you that I am truly a fan of yours? Hahaha..."
This response was undoubtedly slightly impolite.
But it gave Nigel a way out and explained why he had been so nervous before.
—Because the middle-aged man had figured out that Nigel had encountered so trouble before. This was why Nigel had been so overly cautious to the point of rudeness. Nigel didn’t have to explain any further...
"I’m really sorry, I ran into so trouble earlier."
Nigel smiled awkwardly and lowered his head to express his apology, "I thought I was being chased again..."
This slightly painful statent actually made the conversation less awkward, allowing it to continue more smoothly.
He looked back at the bustling chatter of the Hussky and Thirteen Spices, focusing on the differently colored robes of the two for a mont.
Nigel decisively shifted the previous topic and asked, "Speaking of which... what are you doing going to Noah?"
"Going to the Heath Tower of Black."
The middle-aged man answered without hesitation, "I have so things to handle."
"...the Heath Tower of Black," Nigel hesitated, "seed to have encountered so trouble a few months ago."
"Ah, I’m aware."
The middle-aged man laughed heartily, "I’ve co to help deal with the aftermath of that incident."
"...Oh."
Nigel nodded his head in sudden realization.
He must be a wizard from sowhere else... The Winter Duchy seems to have two Wizard’s Towers.
"I’m sowhat envious of you..."
Nigel sighed, "You know, if I hadn’t taken this path back then, I might have beco a wizard."
"Oh?"
"My mother was a ritualist, and she always hoped I would enter the Heath Tower of Black to study transformation spells."
The middle-aged painter picked up his teacup and took a sip, then held it in front of his face as if to shield his expression.
His face showed a mixture of emotions.
After taking another sip of tea, he sighed softly and said in a low voice, "But I wasn’t up to par. I preferred to run away from ho to paint.
"Of course... I do not regret that choice from those years. But sotis, I wonder—perhaps studying spells and painting are not conflicting pursuits? If I had chosen to beco a wizard back then, perhaps I would have had ti to practice painting as well..."
Nigel spoke softly and set down his teacup.
The cup landed on the table with a sound like a bell chi.
He spoke in a deep, clear voice, "But it still wouldn’t have worked.
"My talent was insufficient, unlike those geniuses. If I hadn’t been pushed to a desperate point, I might have just given up on this path..."
No, he would have definitely given up on this path.
It was because he was still a young boy back then, with no other options... he owed the Paper Princess too much and was dissatisfied with his muddled life at the ti, so he trained hard for twenty years... all so that one day, he could repay everything that the Paper Princess had given him without expecting anything in return.
It was all to express his gratitude.
If he had beco a wizard, his life would likely not have been so difficult, and it wouldn’t have been so dull. There would have been so much more for him to pursue... he might have been happier, perhaps seen as a success in the eyes of others.
—But that ultimately wasn’t the life he wanted.
"I still prefer to paint."
He spoke in a low voice.
The middle-aged man kindly said, "That might also be your luck."
"...What?"
"You probably only know that sothing happened to the Heath Tower of Black back then. But you don’t know exactly what it was."
The affable middle-aged man seriously told the painter, "Just a few months ago, the Heath Tower of Black was attacked by a Gold-level enemy. At that ti, every wizard in the Heath Tower of Black—except for Tower Master Hugo—perished."
"Ah, this..."
"So, it’s fortunate that you didn’t get accepted into the Heath Tower of Black back then. Otherwise, you might already be dead."
The middle-aged man spread his thick, reliable hands, emitting a gentle voice, "That’s ’Fate’. Fate is the track of the celestial chariot, once traversed, it’s fixed.
"Just stop pondering about those things from the past."
"...Indeed."
Nigel nodded.
"By the way," the middle-aged man’s face showed curiosity, "I rember you always lived in Noah. Recently, you even released a drawing of the Paper Princess... When did you co to Winter?"
"Ah, so minor work..."
ntioning this, Nigel’s smile suddenly beca sowhat strained, "Previously a friend... soone asked to co over to help draw a few things."
"Did you encounter a contractual dispute?"
The middle-aged man leaned forward slightly, speaking sowhat seriously, "Not to hide from you, I do have so properties in Winter... Many people respect here. Even the Tower Master, I can have a word with him."
"Really..."
Nigel hesitated, sowhat incredulously.
"Yes, I can even et Prince Dmitry at any ti."
The middle-aged man leaned back slightly, speaking sincerely.
Nigel’s eyes slightly brightened, "Then you know Prince Annan... no, Emperor Annan?"
"Of course, I’ve known him for not just a year or two."
He declared matter-of-factly, which Nigel couldn’t discern the truth of, "The reason I can travel abroad during this tense season is by the archduke’s command."
With that, he took out his docunts for Nigel to see.
After confirming Annan’s signature was indeed there, Nigel finally relaxed a bit.
He looked around, hesitant but still gritting his teeth, lowering his voice to speak.
"If you know Emperor Annan... when you return to Winter, make sure to especially alert His Majesty about Saint Felix Province."
"With the Tower of Storms there, shouldn’t they be safe from any issues though?"
"It’s hard for to say this to Emperor Annan... but I can ntion it to you."
Nigel spoke earnestly, "I suspect—just suspect, no evidence. But I always feel there’s sothing beneath Furnace Mountain. Sothing not very good."
"Furnace Mountain?"
The middle-aged man’s eyebrows raised, "Does this have anything to do with you suddenly rushing back to Noah?"
"It’s like this. I haven’t been in Winter for long; previously an old friend asked to draw so ’indescribable things’... right beneath Furnace Mountain."
"Did you see those things?"
"I saw them and I drew them. Indeed, they are queer... truly indescribable, but I don’t think they are particularly dangerous."
He spoke seriously, "What feels off is not the crystal clusters beneath Furnace Mountain. It’s the whole Saint Felix Province... My friend, and the nobles I t, all seed unusually... mild?"
"Is mildness a bad thing?"
"Of course, it’s good. But would those noble lords really be so mild towards a commoner like ?"
Nigel furrowed his brows, "That’s why it’s hard to speak of this to Emperor Annan. I actually do know Emperor Annan; the Frost Fortress isn’t far from Frost Speech Province. But because I don’t have any evidence, it’s hard to bring this up... it might cause trouble for many people if it’s just my overthinking..."
"But if I convey it, rely as ’sothing I heard, possibly happening’, and it reaches Emperor Annan’s ears, he wouldn’t particularly believe it, right?"
The middle-aged man straightforwardly broke through Nigel’s hesitation, "Actually, you should have so evidence—just whom do you want to trust it with on Noah’s side?"
Upon hearing this, Nigel’s expression changed drastically.
His face turned pale, and he beca exceptionally anxious and unsettled, "You, this person..."
"—What about this person?"
A gentle and pleasant voice ca through.
Sohow, the middle-aged man had transford into the cross-legged Annan.
Annan, with a smile that was not quite a smile, said, "I think there’s no need for such hassle—I didn’t expect to just try my luck but end up catching a big fish—I’ll just ask directly then, Mr. Nigel. Who invited you to Winter, what exactly did they ask you to do?
"What is beneath Furnace Mountain? And... what exactly is amiss with the nobles in Saint Felix Province?"
Annan casually said, "Would you like to speak here, or shall we go to Noah together... and et Queen Kafney there and discuss this matter?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)