Chapter 51 – Illusion or Dream

“You know about Tidis? This might be a misunderstanding. I was referring to the Duke Tidis family on the mainland…” the captain said.

“There’s no misunderstanding. It is indeed the Tidis family from the mainland,” Daniel replied. “The eldest son of Tidis is a good friend of ours… a truly astonishing coincidence.”

“You actually know Young Master Tidis?” The captain felt an immediate sense of familiarity with the two Mages before him. Speaking of the family he served, he gained more confidence, puffing out his chest with pride. “The Empire has five major legions. Some are directly under the command of the Duke, while others are led by the Duke’s relatives and in-laws—the Duke is the supreme commander of the entire Imperial Corps! The Imperial Navy I serve belongs to the Third Legion, the Duke’s direct line. Four years ago, when the Duke brought the young master, who was still underage, for an inspection, it was my ship that he boarded, and I personally took the helm!”

“But, Captain,” Haitie lowered her head. “We’re sorry.”

“Huh?” The captain looked at her curiously. “Honorable Mage, what do you have to apologize to me for?”

Haitie bit her lip, her face pale as she shook her head.

Daniel took over, addressing the captain, “You saved our lives. Once the Seasonal Tide ends, we’ll help you return safely to the mainland.”

The captain scratched his head sheepishly. “Mage ships are truly sturdy… There’s no ship on the entire mainland sturdier than the one I used to helm, yet it was still torn to shreds by the storm. I’m just a small figure, my life doesn’t matter much. But the other two you rescued are different—I can’t imagine how the Imperial Family will thank you, though Mages probably don’t care much for things from the mainland.”

“Who are they?”

The captain straightened up. “This isn’t something I should be saying, but since you’re friends of the Tidis family, it doesn’t matter! When the two Mage ladies used their incredible magic to bring us up from the ship that had been shattered into three pieces, you must have seen the emblem on the ship—the Flaming Rose. That’s the symbol of the Imperial Family. The two you rescued are His Highness the Crown Prince of our Empire and his most trusted aide, Viscount Angel!”

“The Crown Prince…” Haitie and Daniel exchanged glances.

On the carriage ride to the Imperial Capital, Haitie had once asked Lin Wei about the customs and people of the mainland. The topic inevitably turned to the Imperial Family, which ruled almost the entire continent. When discussing the Crown Prince, Lin Wei had this to say:

“His Highness Gregory… I don’t know how to evaluate him, nor do I think I understand him very well. He seems to have no particular hobbies, and women are optional for him—the only things His Highness doesn’t lack are ambition and vigilance. I have to admit his talent, but I hope he never ascends to the throne.”

Even when Lin Wei had previously commented on the Emperor, he hadn’t used such ambiguous language. The phrase “I hope he never ascends to the throne” left Haitie and Daniel utterly puzzled.

The deck fell silent for a moment as the Magic Wheel sailed steadily across the calm sea toward the edge of Siren Island.

As a Beast Speaker, Ansel naturally understood the meaning behind the magical beast’s long cry. He stood on the shore, waving vigorously at the Magic Wheel, his voice booming, whether from nervousness or anger. “Daring to return at this time, you damn brats! Goddess of Light be praised—you weren’t torn to pieces by the Seasonal Tide!”

Before the Magic Wheel even docked, Ansel strode onto the deck. “Look at you—this is truly a miracle!”

The Mages, having survived the ordeal, finally saw their familiar teacher, the “Gatekeeper” who perpetually patrolled Siren Island. Only now did the three of them fully relax. No matter how loud Ansel’s voice was or how heavy the tone of his reprimand, to their ears, it sounded as sweet as the song of a mermaid.

“Teacher Ansel…” Haitie’s voice trembled slightly.

Ansel looked at the young, drenched Magic Apprentices and couldn’t maintain his stern expression any longer. He sighed, his tone softening. “It seems you encountered the Seasonal Tide midway. Regardless, it’s good that you arrived safely… Go back to your houses, dry your hair and clothes—and get some proper sleep.”

As he spoke, he glanced around the deck and suddenly noticed something amiss. “Wait… Why is the girl from the Valley of Wind here? And where are the two boys? Are they in the cabin—are they injured?”

“No, Teacher Ansel,” Haitie supported herself on the ship’s railing, struggling to stand. Her legs were still weak, and her voice trembled, but she remained composed. “In the cabin are the knight friends we brought from the mainland and a few gentlemen we rescued along the way. Please help me settle them in our houses. Daniel and I must go see Teacher Sylvester—right now.”

Hearing this, Ansel immediately sensed that something serious had happened. Without asking further, he simply replied, “In that case, go ahead. He might still be awake—leave this to me.”

Haitie took Daniel with her, and without bothering to dry their still-soaked hair, they flew straight toward the Central Castle.

Only Ansel and the captain remained on the deck. The captain, feeling Ansel’s gaze, quickly stood up. “I’ll bring them out. No need to trouble yourself with such a small matter, Honorable Mage.”

Meanwhile, in one of the Magic Wheel’s cabins, Sars Angel felt the ship finally stabilize and let out a long breath. “It seems we’ve cheated death—earlier, I was certain we’d perish in the sea.”

“And we were saved by Mages…” Gregory’s eyes darkened. He slowly smoothed his damp hair, which clung to his forehead. “Now we’re in the realm of the Magic World. I wonder what we’ll encounter.”

“I’m now willing to believe the Mages mean us no harm, given that they saved our lives. By the way, that Mage lady—I’m certain we’ve seen her before. It was back in the East District!”

“It was indeed her,” Gregory seemed to be recalling something, and after a moment, he spoke, his voice emotionless. “I recognized her at first glance… even in the darkness.”

“But why would a Mage appear in the Imperial Capital?”

Gregory didn’t respond this time. He silently gazed out the cabin’s round window at the massive island, dark in the night, his eyes cold and contemplative.

Had Lin Wei been here, he would have been shocked by this expression.

His Highness rarely showed a pensive look. The expression Lin Wei was familiar with was usually one of resolute certainty… bordering on arrogance. Once His Highness made a decision, it was nearly impossible to change, and those around him were accustomed to faithfully executing his orders without question. Lin Wei was one of these people, and the one who needed to tread the most carefully. Sars Angel, with his humble origins, was both a great asset in strategy and someone with nothing to fear, earning him special trust. This was something the eldest son of the Tidis family, born into a military family and possessing magical talent, could never obtain—if not for the outbreak of war, which forced the Empire to rely on its military, Lin Wei’s life would have been even more precarious.

Before falling into unconsciousness, Lin Wei hadn’t been particularly worried. He hadn’t inhaled much of the hallucinogenic mist and was confident in his ability to remain calm. At most, the mist would dredge up some unpleasant memories—like Gregory’s face and a wide hooded cloak—or create some pleasant scenes. The strong arms of his father and the soft hair of his mother from his childhood were equally nostalgic, and the past year spent with Duan Yu at the Magic Academy had been joyful. If it could create a scenario where Duan Yu was defeated by him, that would be even better…

But what he hadn’t expected was that he would first fall into a scene he had never seen before.

In a pebble-strewn valley, clear spring water flowed through lush green grass and small white flowers. Humanoid creatures moved about, speaking a beautiful but incomprehensible language, while a haunting melody filled the air.

The scene was blurry, and his vision seemed to be controlled, focusing on a figure with long hair at the center of the scene.

She appeared to be a young girl, with black hair and pale skin. Her slender hand held a twig, which she used to write and draw on the soft earth by the stream.

Lin Wei’s consciousness floated closer, and he saw that the markings were in the familiar human script, repeating the same name over and over.

Elvis.

She seemed to grow frustrated, tossing the twig into the stream—but immediately regretted it, reaching out to retrieve it.

From the clear water, a skeletal hand suddenly emerged, grasping the twig and handing it back to her.

She anxiously looked around, as if checking if anyone had noticed, then clutched the twig, lifted her white skirt with her other hand, and flitted away like a white butterfly.

Lin Wei remained, staring at the string of names—the handwriting was crooked, like that of a beginner.

He gazed aimlessly, and the name suddenly seemed to exert a powerful pull, drawing his consciousness away. When he looked up again, he found himself in a dim, gloomy place.

The damp earth reeked of decay, and black birds perched on bare branches. The same song continued to echo.

The scene’s protagonist was still the girl—but she seemed slightly older.

Silvery patterns crept across her face and body, forming intricate marks.

A man’s voice spoke softly.

“With the edge of the swamp as your boundary, you shall never leave.”

“Yes,” she whispered, her eyes closed, her tone as low and haunting as the song. “I shall never leave this land of death.”

The marks glowed brightly, and as the light faded, the scene shifted once more, though the song grew even more subdued.

In the mirror was a face with a cold expression. The owner of the face tied up her long hair, arranging it into a beautiful shape at the back, revealing a pair of pointed ears covered in fine down.

Her white dress had been replaced with a black robe. In her right hand, she held a thin book, and in her left, a white skull.

“I swear in the name of Katanaphia, I shall walk with you in the land where the moon never sets.”

In his dazed state, Lin Wei realized that this was likely not his own dream.