"It's nothing, just a gut feeling of danger," Brand shook his head. Otarais was suddenly enlightened, knowing that Brand had great faith in his own judgment. Although most young people at his age seldom have such experience and judgment, Otarais was aware that Brand was an exception. His judgment was always relatively accurate, not losing to her thousand-year-old self one bit.
On the other hand, Brand's own reason for not wanting to go inside was quite simple. Because the Array inside was the same as the Sealing outside, in the Amber Sword its only function was to indicate the Level of an Underground City. The Sealing Array outside was called the Chaos Barrierβa Sealing for a Level 30 to Level 40 Underground City, while the one inside was called Time's Standard. In the Amber Sword, it was the entrance to a Level 300 Underground City. Thus, upon seeing this Sealing, Brand decisively gave up the thought, believing he hadn't lived enough yet.
(Note: Brand's Level 130 warrior is a pure Warrior Level, while in fact, players often don't just hold one job; hence, in the game, the Level 40 Underground City is actually prepared for player teams around Level 30, while the Level 300 Underground City corresponds to world top teams at Level 150.)
Though he very much wanted to know what was buried underground, ultimately his life was more important. Upon seeing the Array, Brand immediately decided to hold off and wait, knowing there would be chances to return in the future.
"Are you planning to return then?" The Deer Demon Sister suddenly asked, "However, I can't send you directly back to the surface; you might have to wait for your companions to dig open a path."
"It's fine," Brand wasn't concerned. He smiled, "I just have some questions about being a Travel Mage that I'd like to ask you."
"Then let's go back to the hall first," the Deer Demon Sister nodded. She glanced deep into the cave, "Honestly, I don't really like it here."
"Neither do I."
Brand took a deep look at that Level 300 Array, then nodded.
...
Underground time unconsciously always seemed to pass more slowly than on the surface, just like when Little Roman somehow uncovered a colossal secret. Char was terribly busy, days passing like years, finally meeting the great Silver Elf Princess and Vampire Lady after struggling long enough. They spent three to four hours digging a path through, and nearly as much time digging into the tomb.
By this time, Brand had already obtained most of the answers he wanted from the Deer Demon Sister.
"One last question." The information about the Travel Mage obtained from the Deer Demon Sister was completely different from Tu Men; rather, it was more detailed and straightforward, enriching the details. Until now, Brand finally understood that Travel Mages were not outside Vorn's history; they had always existed and once fought alongside the Ancestors against the Dragon of Dusk, even playing the role of leaders.
Brand even realized that Dark Dragon Odin was also once a Travel Mage, a revelation that greatly surprised him, yet somehow seemed predestined. Judging by the power of Dark Dragon, he indeed had the potential to become a Travel Mage. Moreover, Dark Dragon often led his Dark Army into battle; among them, there were bound to have his Summons present, but history is too distant, and it's impossible to verify now.
The only thing that puzzled Brand was that Odin, while talking to him in the Sealing Stone Fragment, didn't mention anything about the Travel Mages, perhaps due to an incomplete legacy.
Despite so many Travel Mages existing, it led him to wonder how many Travel Mages truly exist in this world, prompting him to ask, "Lady Yi Lian, you once said I'm the last one. Could you tell me how many Travel Mages there are in the world today?"
The Deer Demon Sister seemed to have anticipated his question, sighed, "In the most ancient era of Travel Mage history, when the Earth Tablet was still in Babel Fortress, not yet stolen and scattered by the traitor of the Gods, Hoder, the Travel Mages formed a Council consisting of forty-three members."
"Later as Twilight descended, most Travel Mages faded away in that war where Ancient Divine People perished, until just before the dark age prophesied in the epic, only thirteen Travel Mage legacies remained. My master Trisman was one of these, and as far as I know, this lineage too mostly met ill fate. By three thousand years ago, only six were left. Among these six, almost none truly passed on their legacy; so, if I'm not mistaken, in this new generation of Travel Mages, you might be the sole Inheritor."
"You're saying, I'm the only Travel Mage left?" Brand was dumbfounded, unable to believe that such powerful Travel Mages had dwindled to this.
"Not necessarily, there could still be some old beings surviving, but the number of Travel Mage successors keeps dwindling, which is an undeniable fact," the Deer Demon Sister shook her head, "For some reason, the condition to become a Travel Mage is extraordinarily demanding, most people can't even grasp the Law of cards, and those who can mostly stay at the apprentice stage."
Stay in the apprentice stage? Brand furrowed his brow. He himself had yet to breakthrough from the apprentice stage. Though as he was about to speak, he saw the Deer Demon Sister place a finger to her lips and say, "Shh!"
Brand turned back, he and the Deer Demon Sister were within a corridor not far from the upper tomb. Quieting down, they heard the sound of a shovel digging from above. "Your companions are here," the Deer Demon Sister whispered, "Okay, let's end here, I don't want others to see."
Brand was slightly stunned.
Only then did he realize the meaning behind her words: "Aren't you coming out with me, Lady Yi Lian?" He couldn't help but look at her in surprise.
But the Deer Demon Sister only gave him a faint smile, stepping back into the darkness where those speaking-like eyes shone with indefinable, dynamic light. From those eyes, Brand had seen a resolution never to give up, yet now there was only gentleness and a hopeful blessing. In that moment, Brand understood the other truly intended to leave him.
...
(PS: In the afternoon, I drew a bit to change my mindset, updated late. Did some character design drawings for Amber, mainly because Qidian isn't very convenient. If I have the time, I'll put them in the public chapters. Also, there's been a lot of discussion about the Travel Mage plot recently; some may think it's unrelated to the story's main line, but it is indeed part of Amber's main line, so I had to write this segment. However, the plot isn't as fast-paced as everyone imagines; it'll proceed step by step.)(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)
