Warlock Apprentice

You just want to keep playing that game, am I right? Angor complained in his mind while looking at Sunders’ straight face.

“Ahem, yes, professor. I’ll specifically make another illusion based on Monument Valley later so that you can… give me suggestions,” he replied with a similar poker face.

Sunders smiled. “Let’s go to Greya. I want to see what you’ve done that attracted her so much.”

Since they were going to see Mysterious Mountain soon, Angor remained silent on Cat Bus without explaining it beforehand.

When they arrived, Greya was sitting on a stone bump on the mountainside with her eyes closed, while her expression would change now and then as if she was trying to comprehend something.

Sunders wondered what intrigued her when he suddenly felt the sensation brought by the mountain wind.

His knitted eyebrows suggested that he was no longer calm. On hurried steps, he approached where Greya was sitting and also closed his eyes to sense the familiar mystical energy.

If Angor had not already told them that the energy was abstract, Sunders would believe that there was a Mystery item hiding somewhere just like Greya did.

Angor joined them and silently watched the two powerful wizards trying to grasp the nature of the energy. However, the energy was as elusive as ever without allowing any of them to catch it.

“You blended such Mystery sense into your illusion?” a voice spoke directly to Angor’s mind. It was a Spirit Bond initiated by Sunders.

Angor jumped a little upon hearing the sudden voice. This Mysterious Mountain was the most unstable place among all the sections. It would easily crumble if anyone disturbed it by unleashing magic, especially when two “visitors” were both truth-finder wizards.

Thus, Angor was very surprised to see that the Spirit Bond did not damage the illusion at all.

“I patched some weak points in the illusion with my own nightmare energy,” Sunders saw his student’s expression and explained.

It sounded simple, but as the creator of the illusion, Angor knew his professor just displayed some serious skills by repairing a foreign illusion in a blink of an eye. This meant Angor’s illusion was like a child’s play to Sunders.

“This sensation appeared to be similar to the Mystery energy spread upon Sleepless City,” Sunders continued speaking through their “connection”. “Is it the Mystery sense you learned inside the dog?”

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Angor recovered from the shock and replied, “Yes and no. I did remember some of the strange energy inside Spotty, but I never comprehended it. I just… recalled how it felt and copied the feeling here.”

He can “remember” the properties of Mystery energy by feeling it? Sunders silently exclaimed. This calls for extreme awareness. Perhaps this is also made possible by Angor’s soul, or that strange scar on his soul?

Sunders did not ask how Angor did so because he once succeeded in doing a similar test. However, to achieve the same level displayed by Angor’s illusion, he needed numerous time and calculation.

He didn’t proceed with the test because placing the “impression” of the Nightmare Realm into illusions wasn’t helpful in battles. It would confuse enemies for a brief moment but that was about it.

Angor’s superior clairvoyance lay in his talent, which allowed him to clearly memorize environmental factors he went through before. It was unlikely for anyone else to copy such a trait.

Sunders considered and believed that he could certainly try making Mystery energy showing up in his illusions if he meant it. However, he didn’t know how much work that would take him. Probably a hundred years or more.

He would never do such a thing because the gain did not equal to the potential gain.

“Where did the Mystery energy come from? Or, why did you design the illusion like this?” asked Sunders.

“I wanted to use the illusion to better look at the energy and maybe understand what it means to me, sir.”

“So, you consider this a way to challenge the title of a Mystery Alchemist?” Sunders had no problem perceiving Angor’s intention.

“Yes.” Angor nodded. “Well, Lady Greya asked for something ‘new and creative in this world’, and I just happened to remember this Mystery feeling in Spotty, so…”

“So you want to show it off to her?” Sunders raised an eyebrow.

Angor blushed a little bit. While it was true that he meant to finish Greya’s request, what Sunders pointed out was also correct in a sense.

Sunders did not scold Angor, for it was common for teenagers to act so. “So this is what Greya was asking about. You told her that you didn’t know the source of the sensation. Why? Is this what became of your illusion as soon as you brought the Mystery energy here?”

“This isn’t always the case. The truth is, it’s uncommon for the source to stay so well hidden,” said Angor.

Angor explained his previous experiments, including how different “manifestations of Mystery” presented themselves.

“Manifestation of Mystery?” Sunders muttered. “Interesting…”

According to Angor, the “manifestation” of this illusion was hiding somewhere that they had yet to uncover.

Greya had opened her eyes and looked their way.

“You know why I asked Angor that question now?” she said.

Sunders grinned. “I know why you looked so anxious. Because you’re feeling jealous.”

Jealous?! Greya’s expression twisted a little due to rage. Well, of course I’m jealous. You should be jealous of Angor’s skills too!

She slumped down soon. Sunders was right, and there was nothing she could do about it. Angor was officially Sunders’ student. No one could change that.

While a little defeated, Greya asked Angor about the details of the Mystery sensation she wanted so badly.

At the same time, Sunders warned Angor through their Spirit Bond, “I don’t have to remind you what to tell and what not to tell.”

By this, he meant that everything related to the strange puppy should be kept confidential. As for the rest… Angor was free to decide.

It turned out that Angor did not have to worry about how to answer because Greya also knew what questions were “proper” when Sunders was looking.

But her next question stumped Angor for good.

“If there isn’t a Mystery item in the illusion, then what’s the point of the ‘sensation’ without an item?”

It should exist for a reason, just like how the “game” in Monument Valley was designed as a time killer.

Sunders also focused since he was curious as well.

Angor wanted to tell Greya that she would know the answer when she found the manifestation, but in the end, he decided not to reveal the hint too openly. After looking through various different manifestations in his test, something told him that allowing Greya to figure out the solution on her own was the better choice.

“I… don’t know. I still don’t know much about this type of illusions. Maybe we’ll find something once we get to the bottom of it?”

Greya easily noticed that Angor was hiding something from her, but she couldn’t push the matter when Sunders was nearby.

Goddammit. Such a sharp and brilliant boy, ruined by this damn old half-aphasic crook!

“Fine! Your golden meal order has to wait until I find it then!”

Greya gave up on questioning Angor since it was impossible as long as Sunders was still with them.

After canceling the illusion, Greya stomped her way out of the guest room without looking back.

“Go to my study,” said Sunders, “I also have something to ask about that ‘sensation of Mystery’.”

…

Angor placed an object on Sunders’ desk. It was a pendant made from pure silver, shaped like a crescent moon hidden behind a cloud.

This was one of Angor’s alchemy items when he was testing on different manifestations. He didn’t give the item much refinement.

“This is a crescent necklace, with the illusion of a snowfield inside. Like the Mysterious Mountain, I failed to find the manifestation in this one.”