Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1454: Section 1455: Mollya’s Story

Angel had prepared the Samsara Overture, and his gaze occasionally drifted towards the Infant Spirits in the glass sphere above his head, but when Isabel deliberated for a moment, the matter she discussed had nothing to do with the Infant Spirits.

Isabel told a story.

The protagonist of the story was a witch named Moria.

Moria’s background was tragic, with her parents dying early and leaving her a vast inheritance. Yet she was betrayed by her own husband, who not only plotted to take all her property but was also framed by her husband’s new lover. Out of desperation, she chose to jump off a cliff to commit suicide, but in the end, she did not die. After a series of twists and turns, she arrived at Black Castle, where it was discovered that she was a Talented One, and thus she obtained a mentor—”Soul Deathflame” Kalafi.

When Isabel mentioned this, Angel couldn’t help but recall that Sanders had mentioned Isabel’s mentor was a powerful Soul Witch named Kalafi.

Now, when Isabel spoke of Moria’s mentor being Kalafi, it made Angel wonder if this Moria might have some sisterly relationship with Isabel as apprentices of the same mentor.

Soon, Isabel provided the answer.

Indeed, not only did Moria share the same mentor with Isabel, but Moria also entered the apprenticeship earlier. After Isabel became an apprentice to Kalafi, Moria, who was close to forty, took great care of Isabel, who was not yet thirteen.

In public, they were apprentice sisters; but to Isabel, she almost regarded Moria as a family member, akin to a mother or sister.

Even though Isabel rapidly surpassed Moria and advanced to become an Official Wizard and gained True Knowledge before her, their emotional bond did not change, and even deepened over the centuries of companionship.

When Moria became an Official Wizard, Isabel helped her a great deal.

Later, when Kalafi reached the pinnacle of her power and could not break through to become a Legend, she chose to leave Black Castle and head to the Origin World.

Not long after Kalafi left, Moria disappeared.

After inquiring around extensively, Isabel finally determined that it was likely Moria had left the Southern Domain alongside her mentor Kalafi.

Upon confirming this news, Isabel actually felt a bit sad. But after all, it was Moria’s choice, and she could not stop her.

A few more years passed, and Isabel reached the stage of a Half-step Legend. Finding it difficult to achieve a breakthrough, she too chose to leave the Southern Domain in search of an opportunity to do so.

That year was exactly a thousand years from today.

“By the time my remnant soul at Black Castle awoke and transformed into a human, it was already a thousand years later,” said Isabel, pausing, her gaze shifting away from Angel, for after all, it was thanks to Angel’s alchemy of the Mysterious Object and that half of the Mysterious Spirit that her remnant soul was able to take human form.

“After I awoke, I found it was a thousand years later, today. My mentor had not returned, and Moria had not come back either.” Isabel had once thought that Moria might be in the Origin World or somewhere in the Pan-Dimensional Plane, quietly cultivating.

Isabel even imagined that perhaps Moria’s power had grown stronger than hers by now, perhaps she had found a soulmate, perhaps… countless possibilities, all positive aspects.

However, Isabel hadn’t anticipated that not long ago, while they were clearing the undead at Black Castle, Moria appeared as an undead.

With Isabel’s retelling, Angel also remembered that just before he was dragged into the Underground Corpse Forest, Isabel seemed to be indeed battling a female undead in a black robe, fighting cautiously and reluctantly to strike hard.

“Yes, that undead was Moria.”

Isabel nodded in confirmation, then she touched something, and with the sound of a mechanism, a strange platform rose from the even ground.

The reason this platform was considered strange was because it was surrounded by candles. When the candles burned, they emitted a grayish-blue smoke that didn’t dissipate but instead floated around the platform heavily.

Besides the candles, Angel also saw some of the same strange flowers and herbs that act upon the soul which he had previously seen outside the Wizard’s Tower.

They were stacked neatly around the platform, creating a sense of ritual.

Isabel stepped onto this platform, and as she reached the center, the grayish-blue smoke stirred slightly, and the silhouette of a person emerged.

This was an aged female undead, dressed in a dark, luxurious robe, with closed eyes and a very calm expression. Her crossed hands rested at her navel, and her skin was covered in wrinkles.

Angel could recognize that this undead must be the one who had fought with Isabel before.

In other words, she was Moria.

The grayish-blue smoke enveloped Moria and moved slowly, like a coffin made of smoke, fixing Moria in its midst.

Isabel’s eyes brimmed with sorrow as she silently looked at Moria for a long time before turning to Angel and saying, “This is a soul-fixing ceremony, used to contain the Chaotic Energy inside Moria’s body. However powerful the ceremony might be, it can only deprive Moria of the means to kill, but there is no possibility of her Restoration.”

By this point, Angel had a faint idea of what Isabel intended.

“I’ve asked you here in the hope that you can help me, to restore Moria to an ordinary Soul. I want to know what exactly happened a thousand years ago…”

Isabel’s eyes carried a plea. The Infant Spirit was important to her, but not so urgent as to invite Angel to meet twice in succession. It was all because of Moria, someone very special to her.

“When you handed Mandhela over to me, I promised you I would turn the Infant Spirit into a regular soul. However,” Angel said with apparent coldness, “this does not include the witch, Mollya.”

Isabel nodded without any hint of annoyance, her voice calm, “I understand. As an equivalent exchange, you may make your request. As long as it is within my power, I will fulfill it.”

Angel could have directly saved Mollya, but perhaps Isabel might not have wanted that. At times, the debt of gratitude is harder to repay. That’s why he spoke in such a manner, waiting for a reasonable condition to be offered.

Since Isabel had already expressed her willingness for an equivalent exchange,

Angel fell into contemplation. What should he request?

Although it’s called an equivalent exchange, most of the time, price cannot be the sole standard of measurement; there are many other influencing factors. For instance, in this trade, Angel had to turn Mollya into a soul using a White Light Bullet from Black Castle, which reduced the standard he had to uphold in the trade; on the other side, to Isabel, Mollya held a special place in her heart, making this emotional bond another influencing factor, which could potentially increase the standard of what would be considered equivalent.

Taking into account various factors, a perfectly equivalent exchange only happens in alchemy. In reality, fluctuations are inevitable, influenced by people, emotions, or subsequent effects and so forth.

Because it was Mollya, Angel felt he might propose a slightly higher value, and perhaps Isabel would agree. However, as they were likely to form a friendship with Black Castle and interact with them in the long term, this approach also seemed somewhat unfair.

After much consideration, Angel said, “The vast majority of tangible items, I can essentially get my hands on.”

In other words, if it’s a problem that Magic Crystals can solve, he can manage it.

“I now have two proposals for the trade, and you may choose one of the two,” he offered.

Isabel nodded, “I am eager to hear them.”

“The first proposal is a Magic Rune Scroll that can increase luck attributes,” Angel stated. Now that he had become a wizard, new powers were certainly on the agenda, but without a Magic Rune Scroll to boost luck, he dared not rashly acquire powers.

Therefore, he placed this option first.

If Isabel had it, then it would be a cause for celebration. If not, then they would discuss the second proposal.

Isabel frowned slightly, “Such items existed in some number a thousand years ago and weren’t too expensive. But since they were of no use to me, and the so-called ‘luck’ they conferred lasted too briefly, I never purchased one. Now, these items are almost extinct. I’m sorry, I can’t fulfill this proposal.”

Angel sighed softly. Although he had anticipated this response, he still felt a measure of disappointment.

Could he really have to make an exchange with Vifette?

Shaking his head, Angel momentarily cast aside this trouble and continued, “The second proposal is something Lady Isabel can definitely fulfill; it is simply a matter of whether you are willing to let go.”

“Let go?” Isabel looked at Angel, puzzled.

“Hua Que,” Angel uttered the name softly.

Isabel certainly hadn’t expected Angel to say that name. She sized him up and down; she could understand when Angel requested Mandhela, given that as a Semi-Undead, Mandhela had been around for several years and was of great help to Angel’s study of the Samsara Overture.

But what did Angel want Hua Que for?

Hua Que was neither undead nor bound to Angel by deep ties. Why would he want Hua Que?

Indeed, Hua Que possessed some special abilities, such as precognition. However, compared to Soul Witches dedicated to Prophecy, her abilities were clearly unstable, and the visions she received were random.

Isabel kept Hua Que simply out of an interest in studying Special Souls.

Yet Angel was not from the Soul Sect; why would he want Hua Que?

Unable to figure it out, Isabel decided to ask outright, “Why do you want Hua Que?”

Angel hesitated, “I don’t want her for myself; I just hope you can set her free, whether she chooses to stay in Black Castle or to leave. Her decision should be based on Hua Que’s own choice.”

Indeed, Angel had no intention of taking away Hua Que as he had with Mandhela. Moreover, as a soul, Hua Que might be better off staying in Black Castle, near Isabel.

His reason for making the request was out of pity for Hua Que.

Hua Que was a very kind girl. The first time Angel met her, she was even willing to give up the Soul Pearl that sustained her soul to Angel, which spoke volumes. Yet such a kind-hearted person had never been treated kindly. From birth, she had been shackled by various chains, never once having the right to decide her own future freely.

These chains continued to bind her until her death, and even as a soul, they had not dissipated.

Angel’s request was simply to hope that if Hua Que decided to stay in Black Castle, she could possess the will to choose freely.

Isabel paused, looking deeply at Angel. Something occurred to her, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

“Even though you are not a Soul Witch, I didn’t expect that your attitude toward souls and my mentor’s philosophy would be so alike,” she said.

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