Chapter 142: The Future

Chapter 142: The Future

After sensing the abnormal fluctuation of Mana, Bran rushed over immediately. Many people saw his figure darting past, like a huge Lynx, leaping over every obstacle regardless of height and sliding a distance with the momentum.

Bran really wanted to observe the moment of an ability Awakening up close, but he was a bit late. While he was still sprinting, a strange and enchanting Mana flower instantly bloomed on the Duelling Ground. Mana, condensed like morning dew, rolled on its petals. A peculiar radiance fell from the sky onto it, and misty, smoke-like Mana swirled and tangled within that light.

His mind captivated by the ethereal and magnificent sight before him, Bran couldn’t help but slow his pace. In just a few breaths, the beauty of the Mana flower reached its peak, then it burst with a pop, shattering into countless points of light that gradually faded away with the wind. Bran snapped out of his daze then, feeling a wave of melancholy.

Bran practically crashed into the Duelling Ground. This method of arrival instantly plunged the surroundings into silence. The people who had just been cheering with raised arms seemed to lose their life in an instant, turning into Statues. Their raised hands dared not lower, their open mouths dared not close.

The scene looked somewhat eerie and awkward. Amidst everyone’s nervous apprehension, Bran first gave Zoya a hug, then grabbed her hand and raised it high. Then, the people came back to life, and cheers erupted once more.

While accepting the cheers, Bran carefully looked Zoya up and down, then reached out and tapped the paint on her face. That paint began to gather like flowing water. Once it had all flowed onto his finger, he flicked it off casually.

As the paint peeled away, what was hidden underneath was revealed—the Facial Markings. When Bran clearly saw Zoya’s Facial Markings, he couldn’t help but pause. Because he was unusually familiar with these markings; it felt like looking in a mirror. Every Northlander’s Facial Markings were different, each with its own characteristics. Now, markings that closely resembled his own had appeared on Zoya’s face; the slight differences were due to her face shape.

What kind of ability was this? What was going on? Did Zoya get what she wished for, or was this just weird and inexplicable?

…

Bran took Zoya back to the City Manor and began questioning her.

“When did you start having the dreams?”

“More than a month ago.”

“What did you dream about?”

“I dreamed I had your Facial Markings,” Zoya stuck out her tongue.

“What is your greatest wish?”

Zoya said firmly, “To become a Northlander!”

“Hmm, that’s a good wish!” Bran grinned and sincerely praised her. Then he continued asking, “Do you understand what your ability specifically is?”

“It’s turning into a Northlander.”

Bran understood. Some people could turn into fireflies, some could turn into lions; Zoya had transformed into a Northlander. And the distinctive feature of a Northlander’s appearance was—the Facial Markings.

Bran pointed to his own Facial Markings and asked further, “Can the style of the Facial Markings change?”

Zoya answered crisply and decisively, “No!”

Bran felt they shouldn’t delve deeper on this issue, so he said, “Congratulations on becoming a true Northlander.”

This made Zoya beam with joy. Faced with such genuine happiness, Bran decided not to discuss matters of Wizards and abilities with her anymore.

He quietly informed Danny and others to treat Zoya as one of their own. Zoya quickly sensed this change when she, pretending to be casual, walked past every Northlander one by one.

When she circled back to Bran’s side, Bran gave her a set of weapons and armor. This excited her so much she got a little lightheaded. She put on the gear and couldn’t wait to spar with Danny and the others. Then she experienced the true driving force behind every Northlander child’s pursuit of strength—a beating. A thorough, flesh-pounding beating taught every Northlander not to easily provoke someone stronger than themselves. Zoya now clearly understood this too.

Bran, who couldn’t bear to watch anymore, had the White Wolf drag Zoya out of the Training Ground like a dead dog and toss her back into her room.

…

At dinner, Xialuo was surprised to see Zoya, bruised and swollen, sitting among the Northlanders. This made her a bit envious. Had Zoya finally been accepted?

The other guests in the Delegation also noticed. Against the tall figures of the Northlanders, Zoya looked too thin and pitiful. This displeased the little prince of the Qiuling Kingdom, who wanted to protest but was pulled back and held down by the people beside him.

These small incidents didn’t affect Zoya’s mood; she was very happy. But the little prince, spurred on, felt a rising protective instinct typical of males.

So after dinner, when Xialuo went to chat with Zoya, he shamelessly tagged along.

“Congratulations, you’ve finally become a Northlander,” Xialuo said sincerely.

“Thank you.”

“I’ve figured it out. It wasn’t my ability that landed me in this situation today, but my identity. Even if I hadn’t come to the Northlands, I would have been sent somewhere else in the future.

At least here, I’ve been given a choice, a chance to break free from control.”

Zoya smiled and said, “Then congratulations to you too!”

The little prince seized the opportunity and interjected, “Are your injuries from them?”

Zoya gave a light laugh and nodded.

“How could they hit you so harshly?”

“They are good to me; they already held back. Besides, every Northlander has gone through this,” Zoya explained softly.

“No one dared to treat me like this when I was at home!” the little prince said with some pride.

Xialuo mercilessly took over the conversation, “So, you were brought here as a hostage?”

The little prince immediately became dejected, finding an excuse: “It’s only temporary.”

His demeanor aroused sympathy from the two girls. Xialuo looked at him and said, “Mavi, you should really think about your future.”

“What future is there to think about? I’m not like you, a Wizard. You can stay here to study, have hope of becoming strong.

Even if I become a Knight, I’d just be an ordinary Knight. On this Continent, those powerful Knights or Warriors either come from a few special regions or from specific families.

And me? I’m just an ordinary person.” His voice actually held a trace of despair.

Zoya thought of something and asked, “Most of them don’t marry outside their own people, right?”

“Yes.”

This answer dimmed Zoya’s expression for a moment. She then asked, “What is the relationship between Anya’s Royal Family and the Hell Knights?”

“They are originally the same people.”

Zoya took a deep breath, shook her head, and cast aside some of her own worries. She reminded him, “There are many Wizards here. You could offer them help; in the future, they might repay you.”

“Thank you, but I don’t have the ability to offer help either. If I could be sent here, it means I’m not valued enough.”

The three fell silent for a while, unable to think of a better solution.