Chapter 330: Meeting

Chapter 330: Meeting

The Old Fairy had now settled inside Bran. Its usual resting place was the pearl-like Fruit. Without anything to compare it to, Bran had not thought much of it, always assuming the Fruit was about the size of a fingernail. But when compared to the fairy, he realized that was not the case.

The arrival of several Old Fairies did not make the Fruit seem cramped. Instead, it highlighted its spaciousness. This forced Bran to reconsider himself.

Many reference points for inner and outer worlds were never consistent. In the Sea of Magic, he was too insignificant. Even compared to the Inky Torrent he was attached to, he was just a small whirlpool. Subconsciously, Bran always thought he was too small. When projecting Mana into the Mortal World, he would subconsciously use the surroundings as a reference, becoming the familiar young boy again.

The fairies’ entry made Bran aware of these issues and helped him understand himself better. As his self-perception adjusted, his power also became more refined.

In a dangerous environment, what could be more tempting than power? So, Bran focused on the task at hand. He temporarily put the previous invitation out of his mind.

Tasting success, Bran turned his attention to the Dark Elves. In just a few days, several Dark Elves also entered his body. They were also a group of very old individuals.

And so, all the aged members of the fairy race gathered inside Bran.

Immersed in progress, Bran felt delighted with each day’s advancements. Until one day, an Old Fairy sat on Bran’s shoulder, lamenting that its time was short, and decided to make its final resting place on Bran’s Fruit…

When the final moment came, a fairy would choose to die in its favorite home. Bran knew this and understood it well. But when an old, dying fairy prepared to slumber forever inside him, he still felt a chill. The beautiful image of a home in his mind was instantly replaced by a gloomy graveyard.

After careful consideration, Bran agreed to this request with deep sadness and heaviness. He did not know if fairies needed burial, tombstones, or memorials after death. He did not want to know; some things were better learned later.

…

As Kano watched and hesitated, the matter of the meeting gradually went quiet, which made him somewhat embarrassed. Even if he went to visit now, it seemed inappropriate.

His contact with the Dragon Riders during this time went smoothly, and he gained a lot of useful information. According to the Dragon Riders, that Great Wizard was really just a young boy, and his rise was recent.

This made Kano dismiss his previous suspicions. If it was as the Dragon Riders said, then the Saint (Great Wizard) here had no time to establish his own Cycle. That meant his Territory was still blank. Meeting inside it, the one who should feel threatened was him, not Kano. Because any slight conflict would surely damage everything around, a loss too great to bear.

So Bran’s invitation was a gesture of goodwill, and Kano had missed it by hesitating. This was undoubtedly an offense, even if Bran was just a boy and had not been a Saint for long.

Making up for it? It seemed a bit late…

One morning, Kano walked through thin morning mist into Northland City. As soon as he stepped in, an invisible force appeared beside him to guide the way.

Everything around made him realize he had overthought. This place was even simpler than expected. Mana was bound within the city, but there was no sign of any Cycle. Many things had just begun to develop; who knew how long it would take for them to amount to anything?

Kano couldn’t help but laugh at his own earlier reaction. This was the Desolate Continent. Even though it had produced a Saint, it was still a backwater. He had been misled by the title of Saint.

This place had not accumulated the slightest foundation. Even the poorest place on the Emerald Continent was a hundred times richer than here.

As he moved forward, Kano felt the aura here start to become strange. There seemed to be multiple Saints. But two of them were full of deathly energy, and another had a faint trace of life.

He began to hesitate. The Dragon Riders said there was only one Great Wizard in Northland City, but clearly, that was not the case.

In his hesitation, he suddenly realized his perception had been affected. Otherwise, how could these auras appear so abruptly?

So, Kano relaxed. Since they could block his perception without him noticing, they could easily continue to do so, but they did not. And he already knew who was causing the interference—the misty boy shown in the Pool of Foresight, the target of his meeting, the Great Wizard Bran.

The mist gradually cleared, and the High Tower became clearer. Under the tower stood a tall Ancient Tree and a huge pool. Not far away, two corpses were thrown on the ground. A sign stood beside them, reading “Look only. Do not touch.”

A young boy, holding a Black Cat, sat by the pool with a girl. They sat quietly, completely ignoring Kano as he approached.

Although the scene was strange, it helped Kano understand the source of those auras.

At this moment, Kano felt resentment towards the Dragon Riders. What honest people! They were right; there was only one Great Wizard here. But why did no one mention the Black Cat? And what was with this girl? She had clearly touched the gate of heaven.

Bran sat there without any interest. His previous probing had made him lose interest in Kano. Although Kano’s power was somewhat refined, it could not hide its rough edges.

Kano obviously misunderstood, thinking Bran held a grudge for his delayed arrival. So he gave a slight bow and expressed sincere apologies in a heartfelt tone.

Bran’s expression did not change, but Zoya beside him smiled, her eyes curving. Bran slowly said, “No need to apologize. To come or not is your choice and freedom. I do not consider it an offense. What truly confuses me is the mention of the unfamiliar title ‘Saint’ before the meeting, which you explained means Great Wizard.”

“I would very much like to meet a real Great Wizard,” Bran gently stirred the Pool Water beside him, “even if it led to some conflict. But in fact, the title of Great Wizard is not something you can currently reach.”

Looking at Kano, whose face had slightly changed, Bran pointed to the two corpses on the ground. “I mean no insult or offense, but the power on you does not completely belong to you, just like them.”

Bran’s voice sounded somewhat annoyed. “Since you mentioned Great Wizard and think you have the right to compare, then send someone like that. We may not respect each other’s titles, but we must respect the power they represent, because we are born for it.

You steal power that should not be yours and then grow blindly arrogant. These two on the ground were once like you. They thought they had the right to stand before me, thought they had enough power to face a Great Wizard.”

Bran sighed and casually released a Soul of The Dead. “I know your purpose. I asked this person. His name is Ruben, one of the first you sent here.

The person you are looking for is my Sister, but you are not qualified to ask her back. In fact, I thought someone qualified would appear before me. To guide us back, you should at least let me see your true power.

Until then, I allow you to move freely outside the Northlands, but please follow the Rules here and do not disturb the order.”

Kano had lived for so many years but was lectured by a young boy. He did not dare argue. Because when Bran mentioned his Sister, the droplet from the Pool of Foresight in Kano’s embrace began to give constant warnings. Whenever he wanted to argue, the warnings grew stronger.

…

It was a very unpleasant meeting. The boy named Bran seemed to have called him over just to give a warning. After the warning, he rudely kicked Kano out of Northland City.

Kano had many things he wanted to say but never got the chance. The only opportunity to speak was wasted on expressing apologies, which he deeply regretted.

After returning, Kano placed the droplet of Pool Water he brought in the center of the island. After some time, it would form a new Pool of Foresight.

Then, the Pool Water would help him spy on everything here.