Taking the Mafia to the Magic World

Chapter 1073: Destination in Mind

”The Inviting Isles is the place you should aim for when you leave Amae. The island is halfway to Red Enclave and has been researched by every Polaris Realm native who has passed through Amae in the last 1 million years.” Lyra answered Vicente with some of what she could offer him on this journey.

”The Inviting Isles?” The two elves next to her asked, never having heard of these places before.

Lyra continued. ”The Inviting Isles is an intermediate place in Anicane. They say that from the Inviting Isles, you can reach any other island in Anicane in a maximum of five yearsʼ travel.

The only other islands in the region where it is located are practically uninhabitable, having been destroyed by extreme forces in Anicaneʼs prehistoric past. This makes it the only alternative for the forces living in the region and naturally concentrates all forces wishing to have a post with an intermediate distance between their homes and their targets.

This presumably includes representatives and observers from Hell and Argardus.”

Lyra said the last words with gusto, looking into Vicenteʼs eyes, enjoying his reaction as she spoke.

Supposedly, those responsible for partially ending the ten thousand planesʼ connection with Anicane were related to Hell or Argardus. So for Vicente, to be closer to them would be to have a chance of discovering the truth and finding methods of solving his mission.

”Is there such a place?” Asked the two elves sitting at the table together with Lyra, Vicente and Larissa.

She said positively. ”Yes, you probably donʼt know that because itʼs a faraway place. Itʼs almost four years away from where we are. You need to look for very specific and unpopular books to read about it.”

Lyra looked at Vicente again after explaining this. ”Your compatriots sought this place out for the same reason youʼre thinking of now. But I canʼt guarantee you anything. What I do know is the story of those who left. Unfortunately, no one has ever returned to tell what they experienced.”

The elf there to guide Vicente commented on this. ”The tribe believes that all of them have already died... Leaving the island and not returning for more than a century is not a very good sign.”

Garnot commented, ”Youʼve seen how dangerous it is to travel by sea. We were attacked and almost destroyed before we reached Amae. But I can tell you that there are much more dangerous routes than the one we used... You just have to be on a bad day, in the wrong place, and creatures from even the 9th stage will attack you.”

Vicente understood what they were getting at. It was a warning about the dangers of the journey, but also a warning to temper his expectations of seeking out the same places as these other individuals from the same plane as his.

Lyra sighed and said, trying not to scare away her big chance of leaving the island safely. ”But the tribe could be wrong in their assumptions. Maybe some of them survived. Itʼs possible. There are powerful islands near the Inviting Isles. I wouldnʼt be surprised if some of them have succeeded in reaching one of them and settled in such places. Going back would be of little value to them after reaching a high level, so naturally we havenʼt heard of them.”

This was indeed possible, although extremely unlikely.

Vicente considered this alternative, however. He himself didnʼt intend to return to Light Cay unless it was to help some of his companions. But even in such a situation, he couldnʼt see himself answering questions from fellow sect members. Others would probably be even worse than him in this respect, so it was possible.

He thought of something and asked, ”Were there any signs left behind by these countrymen of mine? Did they leave anything that could be found by other Polaris Realm natives and that might have guided those who came after them?”

Lyra thought for a moment, not immediately remembering anything that matched Vicenteʼs question.

”Maybe there is something like that, but Iʼm not sure. The only thing that might show it is the fact that they have Red Enclave as a common destination. But thereʼs no record of any letters or messages left behind. But itʼs possible.”

ʼI guess Iʼll have to go to The Inviting Isles and Red Enclave to find more clues...ʼ Vicente thought as he clenched his fists. ʼTaking Lyra with me will help. Even if she doesnʼt make it to the end of the journey, Iʼll certainly have enough time to learn a lot from her.

He then looked at Leena and Tasar. ”Do you remember anything along those lines?” He asked them both.

They both denied it almost simultaneously. What Vicente wanted was too specific, too far removed from their current reality.

They remembered things about their parents, but they were more important memories for them and not about everything they had experienced. Maybe their parents had told them something that meant something to Vicente, but they couldnʼt remember it.

”All my father ever told me was how I should strive to become stronger, one day leave the island and search for more about the truth behind the ʼendʼ of the Nine Paths,” Leena said.

Tasar commented, ”My mother didnʼt try to convince me of anything, but I remember her saying how incredible Anicane would be if it went back to the way it was over a million years ago.”

That was just saying how loyal to their promises from when they were still in the Polaris Realm these two parents had been. But even though it didnʼt say much about what Vicente wanted now, it was something he considered positive.

ʼAt least it seems that a good number of those in the same situation as me remain committed to at least trying...

Itʼs possible that Iʼll meet someone alive with more experience on this journey to find out about the Nine Paths... The former supreme leader of the Congregation of Revelations, from the time the temple allied with the vampires to end the Cataclysm Order, was the last to transcend the limits of the Polaris Realm before me. Maybe heʼs still alive somewhere in Anicane.ʼ

Vicente had learned about the betrayal of such a figure in his journey in Polaris Realm. But close to her departure from that plane, he heard that, before betraying the Dark Path mages, the supreme leader of Congregation of Revelations had been in alliance with the forces of Majestic Treefrog Grove and knew the truth about many things from the past.

Because of this, Vicente had no doubt that such a figure had sought information about the partial end of the Nine Paths, even if it wasnʼt for him and Leena and Tasarʼs elven parents.

”Very well. Thank you for the information.” He stood up after some time in silence. ”Iʼll take you with me when itʼs time for me to leave Amae, Lyra. Get ready as soon as possible, because it wonʼt be long now. But for now, this information is enough.”

He looked at Leena and Tasar, tossing them space rings with gift resources, mostly items from Amae and Light Cay, but a few books on the Polaris Realm that he still had with him.

”This is my way of thanking you. Please accept this in exchange for your answers.”