Chapter 266: Watching Calmly

Chapter 266: Watching Calmly

The noise of the wedding never died down. Amidst the clinking of cups, cheers occasionally rang out. Even the Little Fairies who fed on Mana pretended to circle around the wine and food, letting out screams now and then.

Bran watched all this with a mix of envy and jealousy. It felt as if everything was being prepared for someone else’s benefit. The joy of others, the gatherings and partings of others—he could only ever be an observer. He had built the stage and drawn the audience, but when it was time to step onto it, he found there was no place left for him. He could only stand below the stage and watch scene after scene, as if everything belonged to him, yet had nothing to do with him.

The wedding was a grand affair, roughly divided into three circles. The noisiest were the Northlanders, and the quietest were the Wizards and Knights who stayed behind in Northland City.

The delegations from several countries and the representatives of various forces from the Green Kingdom had a harder time. They could not be too cold and dampen the host’s joy, nor could they be too loud and appear rude.

Pachu, who had hurried back, sat among the guests, frequently casting his gaze toward the High Tower. There were originally many matters to report, but Bran had dismissed them lightly with a “you handle it.”

When they, representing Northland City, swept through the Green Kingdom with a firm attitude, they met almost no real resistance. In the eyes of many small and medium-sized Nobles, it made little difference who became their king. Now that Northland City intended to rebuild order after this unrest, it was more beneficial than harmful to them. What they most desired was a stable environment and a guarantee of safety; temporary losses would not cripple them.

Upon returning, Bran formally introduced him to a strange creature—the Fairy Mikkel. Bran also said that if he was unsure about anything, he could discuss it with Mikkel. Pachu was old and cunning, so he naturally understood what this meant.

At the same time, Pachu also met another powerful existence—Bran’s Sister. When she examined him with interest, mountain-like pressure followed. Pachu did not understand how a young girl could possess such an awe-inspiring presence, but he knew at least that the number of people he needed to pledge loyalty to had increased by one.

This was good for him, or for the other White Robes. Because he knew that Bran had not invested much effort in either Northland City or the Green Kingdom. If one day Bran decided to let go, there would still be someone who could take over, even if only in name.

On his way back, at Shajia’s request, he detoured to Sandstone City. It was now even more dilapidated, and the Dead residing there had completely lost their intellect. Watching Shajia laugh and cry before her father’s figure, Pachu too felt a pang of sadness.

Just when Pachu thought things would soon be over, that Shadow made a surprising move. It reached out and gently stroked Shajia’s face.

Shajia cried even harder, but the thought that popped into Pachu’s mind had little to do with the scene before him. At that moment, he thought of Baz, and of Immortality.

He had spoken with Bran about it before. Bran did not approve of this so-called Immortality. He believed Death was Death, regardless of form or intellect. But if one could truly preserve the intellect they had in life, what was that if not Immortality?

He suddenly wished Baz would die sooner, so that he could see some evidence from Baz. Even if Baz only lingered in this world for a few more years, he would make up his mind to try.

Pachu believed Bran would surely agree to his request. Because he, an old Wizard with some achievements, must be a rare experimental subject. Bran, who was immersed in the world of Mana, how could he refuse such high-quality material?

…

Eileen and Aiman, sitting among the guests, were also secretly watching the High Tower. They had come hoping to see Bran as friends, but Bran acted very heartlessly—he refused to see them.

Upon receiving this answer, Eileen understood the gap between them. Before coming, she had wanted to question Bran. Only after arriving did she realize that if she set aside the identity of a friend, she didn’t even have the right to approach him.

Their peeking also caught Bran’s attention. Bored, Bran nudged his Sister with his shoulder and teased, “Your childhood admirer is here. Aren’t you going down to say hello?”

“I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from killing him right then.”

“Really?”

“From the moment the Dragon Rider acted against you, there was no friendship left.” Lily turned to look her brother over and continued, “It’s just because you acted like you didn’t want to pursue it that we didn’t take action.”

“We?”

“Yes, all of us.”

“Wow, I thought it was just you.” Bran put on a playful grin.

Lily gave Bran a look of disdain. “I’ve never understood what you’re thinking. If I were you, I’d have smashed the Dragon Rider’s homeland long ago.”

“I simply never thought about it. It always seemed too boring to poke an ant nest for no reason, and they still have some uses.”

“Uses my foot.”

“Broaden your horizons. Don’t always fixate on one time and place.”

“What do you mean?”

“You must have heard the Old Fairy tell stories, right?” Bran raised his hand and waved his fingers. A wisp of gray smoke transformed into the shape of this Continent. “The Fairy said our ancestors migrated from the Far North. But according to the Fairy, it was more like an escape. The interesting thing is, initially, our individual strength weakened with each generation. This continued for several generations before stabilizing.

Do you know what that means?

Our growth also requires Mana supply. Even though we joined forces with the Fairies, the new environment is probably still not ideal.

Moreover, we’ve always had the legend of the War God. In every generation, there are always some powerful warriors. For example, our family’s Danny, and Heavy Axe who’s busy in the kitchen. Such people are not many, but they’re not unique either.

I’ve asked about the situation in the Demon Clan’s lands, and it wasn’t as vast as I imagined. Looking at the land beneath our feet and everything around us, it always feels a bit barren.

Barren in terms of Mana. Look at the original residents of Northland City, look at the Green Nobles who came to offer congratulations—do they have any Mana stored within them?

Fairies feed on Mana. They once spread all over this Continent, but look how few remain now.

This place is more like a forsaken land. We are merely struggling to survive here.

The Fairy said you are the darling of this heaven and earth, and I could never figure it out. Until I touched the Sea of Magic, until that Mana slowly seeped out through your body and mine.

You awakened your Wizard abilities first, but you were always confused. Then I came, seemingly just to help you. A family shouldn’t have people awakening as Wizards one after another; it’s not normal. Yet you saw it—our younger sister.

Zoya also became a Wizard, right before my eyes. She is even our newly born family member.

A Monster drifted here with the ocean current, and a hand in the unseen sent me to that Lonely Island too, letting me snatch its Key.

Wizards might be this Continent’s, this small world’s, means of saving itself. I don’t have your intuition, but when I needed life to nurture me, so many troubles always showed up.

What does that mean? Perhaps this Continent is in urgent need of Mana’s nourishment.”