Warlock Apprentice

”I saw it, that was a...” Dororo nodded and was just about to describe the appearance of the ticket seller when Hastur suddenly interrupted him.

”I’ll give you a Phantom Stone, you can use your spiritual power to project the appearance of the ticket seller onto it. Rather than a pale description with words, I’d rather see what this ticket seller looks like with my own eyes,” Hastur said. After finishing, he seemed to think this request was a bit excessive and added, ”Just project the ticket seller’s appearance, nothing else is needed.”

The reason this request seemed a bit excessive was because there were almost no precedents of using illusions to project future fragments during Star Observation Day. It wasn’t limited by rules but rather in exchanges, everyone would imagine things themselves. Truly projecting future fragments with illusions could lead others to discover and manipulate information you initially missed, which could hurt you instead.

In such cases, no one would deliberately use illusions to make public their visions. Of course, if you voluntarily do so, it’s your choice. But if others demand it, that’s moral coercion. Thus, Hastur made sure to add that extra line.

Hastur’s urgency drew the attention of everyone, including the Observer. They couldn’t understand why Hastur would make such a request. Could it be that he knew the ticket seller? Only Lapuye and Asetos seemed to think of something, but they remained silent, quietly observing the development.

Dororo declined the Phantom Stone offered by Hastur. When Hastur’s eyes showed disappointment, Dororo said, ”I know some Light Shadow Technique. Although it’s not possible to present the ticket seller in 3D, a 2D presentation should be no problem.”

Dororo knowing the Light Shadow Technique slightly surprised Hastur.

The Art of Light and Shadow is barely considered a type of illusion. It’s the most basic illusion trick, only capable of projecting some images on a flat surface through light and shadow.

Though very basic and just a level 1 trick, learning it is not so easy. After all, illusion series tricks on the mysterious side are considered challenging, and cross-domain learning would require ten to twenty times the effort of a normal illusion apprentice.

Generally, only if such a trick is very useful to oneself would an apprentice, with limited lifespan, invest time to cross-domain learn it. For example, elemental side tricks—be it mysterious side or bloodline side apprentices—are cross-domain learned because these tricks provide significant life conveniences or combat enhancements.

Yet the Light Shadow Technique, a basic illusion trick, doesn’t have much practical application. It can’t be used for combat or life improvement, and it’s hard to learn. Therefore, Dororo, as a Prophecy Apprentice, spending time learning such a useless Light Shadow Technique surprised Hastur.

However, surprise aside, Hastur didn’t investigate further, he merely nodded, ”A flat projection is fine, I just want to see if the ticket seller is... an old friend.”

An old friend? Everyone caught on to the information Hastur mentioned.

Although they didn’t know who exactly Hastur’s old friend referred to, it’s now certain that Hastur must know something about Dororo’s prophecy.

Moreover, everyone sensed Hastur’s impatient feelings.

This, in some way, indicated that Hastur recognized the significance of Dororo’s prophecy.

If even Hastur recognized it, does that mean Dororo is about to set a record—

Did a Prophecy Apprentice actually silence the initial announcement?

The thought of this possibility made many Prophet Wizards uncomfortable.

They hadn’t seen anything in the Mystery of the Stars and came to Star Observation Day just to get information. Since most present shared this sentiment, they did not feel any particular way, but now, seeing a Prophecy Apprentice silence the initial announcement hit them hard.

Even an apprentice is stronger than them. If they don’t say something, how can they justify coming here to glean? But if they do speak, they can’t conjure up anything, which created an awkward, silent tension as they suddenly felt increasingly uncomfortable.

Despite having countless discomforts inside, they could only hold it in. At this moment, they had to strain their ears to listen to the ”junior” Dororo’s prophecy...

Though the Observer felt a bit awkward initially, they were prepared with material they would soon share, so they didn’t feel the discomfort for long. Instead, they watched Dororo and Hastur with interest, waiting for the final revelation.

Dororo did not sense the change in the surrounding atmosphere because he suddenly felt a bit nervous.

After all, the Light Shadow Technique is also an illusion.

If not done well, and word reached the Barbarian Cave, it’d be a bit embarrassing if Angel found out. The Light Shadow Technique is documented in ”Basic Tricks Revised,” a book authored by Angel.

However, since Dororo had already stated his use of the Light Shadow Technique, he couldn’t take it back. Forcing himself to remain calm, Dororo meticulously constructed the trick model of the Light Shadow Technique in his Mind Space.

The level of care surpassed even his execution of Divination.

Under his careful construction, the Light Shadow Technique was finally successfully released. Seeing an image appear on the floor in front of him, Dororo breathed a sigh of relief.

He pondered, hoping he hadn’t tarnished Angel’s reputation.

Maya was probably the only one who could guess Dororo’s concerns. Even though Hastur noticed Dororo’s nervousness, he didn’t delve into it. What was more important to Hastur now was the person in the image.

Was it the old friend lost in the theater?

Hastur carefully examined the figure projected on the floor. Even though it wasn’t three-dimensional, it still delineated the person realistically.

It was an old man with a white beard, who appeared strange, carrying an eerie and dangerous look in his eyes, yet his attire was very... yes, childish.

Childlike indeed.

This was everyone’s first reaction upon seeing the old man’s outfit.

His white beard, cascading to his chest, was dyed a very girlish pink at the ends, woven into a heart shape, like an old joker from fairy tales trying to entertain children.

His clothing was also a pink heart robe with bubbly designs. Even the hairpin on his head was heart-shaped.

This childlike attire was in stark contrast with his fierce gaze.

Amusing yet childlike, eerie yet creepy.

”It’s not him.” Hastur looked at the person’s image, sighed disappointedly. It was not his old friend.

Although it wasn’t that old friend, from the ticket seller’s attire, Hastur was one hundred percent sure that the theater must be the legendary Peach Heart Theater.

To think, after so long, the Peach Heart Theater had come to the Southern Domain once again.

As Hastur was contemplating this internally, Shura, who was beside him, suddenly closed the book in his hands and softly said, ”This man seems to be the 16th principal of Flashgold Academy?”

At this moment, Shura was pointing at the old man projected by the Light Shadow Technique, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

”Do you know him?” Hastur looked at Shura.

Shura shook his head, ”I wouldn’t know him. If he really is that principal, he’s at least a figure from five thousand years ago. I’ve only seen some records about him when I once went with Gauss to Vifette’s place, which had detailed information about the Western Lands Wizard World, especially regarding Flashgold Academy.”

The ”Pensive Dreamer” Gauss and West Dimosha’s Vifette were friends. Vifette had traveled through other wizard realms, thus had much otherworldly information. Shura once accompanied Gauss to visit Vifette and happened upon these records then.

Gauss thought for a moment, ”There is indeed such a thing, and I remember this person was called Sirod.”

After saying this, Gauss carefully scrutinized the person in the Light Shadow Technique, ”It indeed looks somewhat like him, could it really be Sirod? But I remember the records said he disappeared in the end.”

Ultimately, Gauss wasn’t sure, as the Sirod in the records was portrayed as honorable, whereas the old man’s outfit was bizarre.

Shura looked at Hastur, ”Never mind whether this person is Sirod, I’m more interested in knowing who you meant by an old friend, Hastur. Also, what exactly are this theater and ticket booth he’s talking about?”