Chapter 1881 - 1016: The Great Arcanist’s Curtain Call (Part 2)
"To prevent the emergence of another deity wanting to control all mages?"
Lis pondered for a moment and spoke directly.
"Yes."
Daniel nodded and sighed:
"Mistra is too whimsical, wanting to control all mages through the Magic Net."
"However, since she holds the Divine Position of Magic, she can influence all mages, even if the connection is not very tight."
"Likewise, if something happens to Mistra, all mages will be affected."
"This is the uniqueness of the Divine Position of Magic."
Lis the Elf listened to Daniel’s narration without interruption.
"That’s why, after Mistra’s downfall, we chose to seal it off, to prevent other deities from attempting to acquire the Divine Position of Magic."
"If another deity like Mistra succeeds in mastering the Divine Position of Magic, who knows if another disaster affecting all mages will happen?"
After speaking, Daniel looked at Lis and said:
"Or, can you assure that such a thing will never happen again in the future?"
Facing Daniel’s inquiry, Lis did not respond directly.
He didn’t want to give a superficial answer to Daniel’s question.
In fact, before coming to this Dream World, he had never thought about this issue.
After all, he only learned about the situation with the Divine Position of Magic recently from the first Councilman, Osiris.
However, Lis’s will would not waver because of this.
"I am willing to guarantee it."
Lis looked at Daniel and said with determination:
"Mr. Daniel should have already noticed that I became a demigod by pioneering my own arcane path, rather than following the path to divinity of those deities."
"Precisely for this reason, I know it was on the accumulation of countless predecessors that I was able to cross that threshold."
"And now, the Gaia World is facing new dangers and disasters."
"At this time, I need the power of the Divine Position of Magic."
"I believe, I have not yet reached the end of the arcane path, and I will keep moving forward."
"Therefore, I want to acquire the Divine Position of Magic and go further."
"And I believe, the secret of Magic is not in supposedly stronger divine power, but in that kind of knowledge and wisdom that breaks through everything."
Lis spoke each word carefully.
"...Well said."
Daniel smiled and said, the madness in his eyes slightly faded.
"If it wasn’t you saying this, I wouldn’t agree."
"After all, no one can resist the temptation of power, not even a Great Arcanist, not even me."
"But as someone like you who can break through to a demigod on the arcane path, I somewhat believe."
"What is your name?"
After a moment of silence, Daniel looked at Lis and asked.
"Lis Kain."
Lis said directly.
"I hope you can persevere."
Daniel said directly.
A gentle breeze swept over the boundless golden wheat fields, mature wheat ears rising and falling in waves of gentle ripples.
Lis and Daniel were surrounded by warmth and the fresh scent unique to the countryside, enveloping the entire Dream Space in tranquility and harmony.
Daniel stood in the wheat field, the boy’s clear voice just dissipating into the wind, as a faint white glow slowly rose around him.
The light was not glaring, gentle as the first ray of morning light piercing through the mist, softly entwining his thin youthful figure.
The glow slowly streams along his strands of hair and the hems of his clothes.
As the glow becomes smoother, his youthful form begins to transform slowly.
The originally vibrant and fresh silhouette gradually stretches and settles, the youthful brows and eyes shed all their young vitality, replaced by the profundity and sorrow honed by the passage of time.
His form stretches tall inch by inch, then slowly returns to steadiness.
In an instant, the once lively and dynamic youth has already transformed into an elderly man with white hair and beard.
He wears a simple, clean white mage robe, the fabric soft, with a few strands of hidden magic patterns embroidered at the edges.
The magic patterns subtly emerge in the glow, carrying the arcane essence accumulated over countless ages.
The old yet upright figure stands amid the wheat fields, exhibiting no signs of a bent posture from old age, only a worldly composure and tranquility.
A pair of eyes, clear and deep, has shed the youthful heat and flair, filled instead with the absolute rationality of understanding magic, as if harboring endless mysteries and time.
Daniel slowly lifts his gaze, his eyes sweeping over all the familiar sights before him.
His gaze moves over the familiar wheat field beneath him, each inch of land and each stalk of wheat bearing his sealed memories.
He looks towards the village not far away that he yearns for, the scattered cottages quietly settled, the faint silhouettes of villagers chatting and working visible at the village entrance.
The simple, familiar faces are the warmest and most cherished ties within his heart.
Countless emotions well up, ultimately turning into a gentle and far-reaching sigh.
Daniel utters in a low, hoarse voice carrying the wear of times:
"To die in the wheat fields of my hometown is already a great blessing for me."
He has traveled across Gaia World and Demand Occupation World (Note: "Demand Occupation World" seems to be a proper name, suggested that it be verified should it be a typo, not altered here), researched endless arcane mysteries, seen the vastness of the world, endured storms and tribulations.
But what he yearns for the most in his heart has always been this land that gave birth to him and nurtured him.
To conclude his journey in his loving homeland, to fall into silence amidst familiar cooking fires and the scent of wheat, for Daniel, this is the most complete culmination, with no regret or remorse.
His mind settled, Daniel retracts his gaze from the distant view, slowly falling onto Lis standing quietly before him.
His eyes, gentle yet solemn, the right hand thin yet steady, slowly opens forward, palm up, the movement gentle and dignified.
The glow gathers and coalesces suddenly in his palm, within moments, a completely clear and flawless transparent crystal quietly floats in the center of his palm.
The crystal is crystal clear, its interior not empty, but flowing with fine, dazzling light dust.
Countless complex and arcane magic patterns, profound and deep knowledge and meanings are entirely sealed in the tiny crystal, quietly lurking, embodying his lifetime’s toil and accumulation.
This is all the magic knowledge he has pursued over the course of his lifetime, the essence he has sought all his life, the last gift he leaves to those who come after.
Daniel looks at Lis, his gaze sincere and earnest, his tone utterly solemn:
"This is all the magic knowledge I’ve accumulated throughout my life completely sealed here; I hope it will benefit you."
Lis quietly stands amidst the rippling wheat, his expression solemn, carrying respect and seriousness in his eyes.
He understands the weight of this crystal; it’s not merely a heap of cold magic knowledge but also the faith, persistence, and the legacy of a mage’s lifetime!
He speaks no extra words, with a steady demeanor, solemnly raises his hand and receives the magic crystal that bears the heavy heritage.
As it falls into his hand, it is smooth and cool, the crystal clear and transparent, and he can clearly feel in his palm the immense arcane essence contained within; this is the pursuit of a Great Arcanist’s entire life.
Having handed over all his lifetime’s learning, Daniel’s heart bears no further concerns.
A serene, liberating smile slowly climbs onto his aged brows, dispelling the sorrow accumulated over years, leaving only peace and acceptance.
He slowly closes his eyes, his figure tall as ever, letting the gentle wind brush his white robe, waiting patiently for the curtain to fall in the warm aroma of wheat.
At the moment he closes his eyes, this stable and beautiful dreamscape abruptly begins to turn turbulent.
The once clear and soft light and shadow of the world suddenly become chaotic, the entire dream space begins to twist and tremble violently.
The surrounding wheat waves suddenly freeze, then transform into tiny light particles scattering away.
The distant village’s phantom shatters and collapses layer by layer, the colors of the sky rapidly fade, becoming mottled and grey.
The folds of space tear apart layer by layer, emitting a slight hum, countless fragments of light and shadow peeling off and dissipating from the void.
The whole dream world constructed by thought collapses visibly, disintegrates and fades.
Chaotic space currents rage all around, shattered fragments of light and shadow splashing everywhere, but Lis remains shrouded by a faint invisible barrier.
This is the guardian barrier specially set by Daniel before his end, protecting him from any impact from the collapse of the dreamscape.
Lis stands quietly in the center of the chaotic collapsing space, unharmed and undisturbed, silently watching the disappearance of everything before him.