Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2115: Chapter 2116: Need Some Quiet

”Dream characteristics?” Tree Spirit pondered over this phrase for a long time before suddenly realizing something, closing his eyes and furrowing his brows tightly.

As time passed, Tree Spirit’s brows furrowed even deeper, and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.

He seemed to be exerting all his strength, as if trying to break free from the shackles of immense power.

Watching Tree Spirit’s strange behavior, Angel and Rhein glanced at each other full of suspicion.

Rhein: ”What’s going on with you?”

Tree Spirit was silent for a moment, then opened his eyes: ”I’m trying to create something.”

”Create something?” Rhein asked in confusion: ”Did you comprehend some kind of law?”

Tree Spirit shook his head: ”I was thinking, isn’t the characteristic of dreams to create things at will, just like in lucid dreams, where as long as you wish for something, your thoughts can bring it forth...”

Rhein: ”So you were imagining with your mind just now?”

Tree Spirit nodded with a look of regret: ”Yes, but it seems there’s no way to create it.”

Angel, Rhein: ”...” It would be strange if you could create it.

Rhein rubbed his suddenly aching temples and said helplessly: ”Even if there were a creation law, it’s not something you could realize just by thinking about it. Furthermore, there’s not necessarily a creation law to begin with.”

After all, the realm of creation is already a forbidden zone, and since the Wilderness of Dreams reflects the rules of reality, the forbidden zone should be no different.

Angel: ”I don’t know if there’s a creation law in the Wilderness of Dreams. However, what I meant by dream characteristics has nothing to do with creation.”

”Nothing to do with creation?” Rhein and Tree Spirit both showed confusion.

Although Rhein found Tree Spirit’s previous behavior somewhat erratic, he had to admit that Tree Spirit’s thinking had aligned with his. Angel was so confident when he said that materials were definitely not lacking and all were top-tier. Besides creation, Rhein couldn’t think of any other method that could consistently supply and deliver.

”Then does it have anything to do with lucid dreams?” Tree Spirit asked.

Angel still shook his head: ”It has nothing to do with lucid dreams either, because the rules are firm, and lucid dreams are absolutely unachievable in the Wilderness of Dreams. What I meant was that this world has the characteristics of dreams but might not require consideration of the dream characteristics themselves.”

Confusion flashed in Tree Spirit’s eyes: If not considering dream characteristics, then what should be considered?

”Is it Dream Magic?” Rhein suddenly interjected: ”Since there are dream characteristics here, Dream Magic should surely be able to trigger the rules here too?”

”It’s not Dream Magic, but it’s very close.” Angel: ”Speaking frankly, Dream Magic is a method of leveraging dream characteristics to stir the dream realm. What I’m talking about isn’t a method, but a tool that uses dream characteristics to stir the dream realm.”

A tool to stir the dream realm. Rhein and Tree Spirit seemed to realize something, but the answer lay beyond a veil, leaving them momentarily unable to perceive it.

Angel: ”I once obtained an object related to dreams.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the thing obscured by a thin veil in Rhein and Tree Spirit’s minds instantly displayed its true form!

Tree Spirit’s expression showed incredulous surprise: ”Are you referring to that object known as the most...”

Tree Spirit hadn’t finished his sentence when Angel nodded: ”Yes, it indeed is that item considered the most useless mysterious object in history.”

”Dream Conch from Moonlit Coast.” Rhein slowly revealed the name of this mysterious object.

Because mysterious fluctuations are hard to conceal, Rhein and Tree Spirit had actually known early on that Angel acquired the Dream Conch. At the time, Angel’s statement was that despite the conch’s feeble effects, it ultimately was a mysterious object, and he intended to research it further.

If any other Alchemist said this, they would surely be dismissed, but Angel was different; he was reputed as the Alchemist in the Southern Domain closest to the mysterious level. If he chose to research a mysterious object, there was naturally reason to believe him. After all, Angel had once almost entered the mysterious realm.

So, they believed his words at that time.

Yet they hadn’t anticipated that Angel was still concealing part of the truth. Perhaps he was truly researching the mysterious, but the Dream Conch to him was absolutely not for solely researching the mysterious.

”What you mean is, the Dream Conch can pull objects from reality into the Wilderness of Dreams?” Despite Angel’s statement containing this implication, Tree Spirit was still in disbelief.

”Yes. Tree Spirit, you’re surely familiar with the mysterious effect of the Dream Conch.”

Tree Spirit naturally knew the effect of the Dream Conch.

Dream Conch from Moonlit Coast: A mysterious conch discovered on the coast under moonlight; activating it can disregard rank and pull all non-living entities into dreams.

Knowing this effect was precisely why Tree Spirit was puzzled. The conch was considered useless because its effect was too impractical. The Dream Realm is so vast, and pulling a non-living entity into dreams--who knows where it would end up? Exhausted for a lifetime, one might never find the object pulled into the Wilderness of Dreams, so in Wizards’ eyes, even a bottle of potion would be worth more than the conch.

But now, Angel claimed the Dream Conch has a special use, which made Tree Spirit feel very absurd.

Unless Angel could control the Dream Conch to pull non-living entities to a designated location...

Thinking of this, Tree Spirit looked up at Angel.

Even though Tree Spirit hadn’t voiced his question, Angel knew what he wanted to say: ”Yes, I can use the Gate of Dreams to allow items pulled in by the Dream Conch to enter the Wilderness of Dreams, and I can precisely designate their position.”

”To speak of Originheart City, it was actually pulled directly from reality using the Dream Conch. The reason you find its style somewhat off is that back then, I didn’t consider much, just pulled in buildings I found visually appealing, mixing architectures from several continents, which led to the chaotic style.”

Angel used this disclosure about the Dream Conch to weakly explain why Originheart City’s architecture seemed so mismatched.

However, neither Tree Spirit nor Rhein focused on Originheart City’s style problem at this moment. Upon receiving Angel’s explicit confirmation, they were all bewildered.

Thirty years ago, after the Dream Conch was sold at the Sky auction, some magazines conducted a comprehensive analysis of it. They pointed out that the Conch was considered useless because its entry point for objects could not be specified. If specifying were possible, it wouldn’t be so useless for Dream Sorcerers.

The result of this analysis clearly implied that even if locations could be specified, it would only help Dream Sorcerers and remain insignificant to the general populace.

Yet no one expected that one day this Dream Conch could indeed specify locations, and most importantly, it had completely transformed.

According to Angel, Originheart City relied on the Dream Conch to be brought into the Wilderness of Dreams, meaning, non-living items pulled into the Wilderness retained all the characteristics they had in reality!

Following this line of thought, Extraordinary Materials would certainly maintain the same characteristics as well.

Thus, this benefaction extends far beyond Dream Sorcerers!

Any Wizard would use materials for spell casting research; some materials are too precious to use in reality. But using them here could mean unlimited resources!

Additionally, numerous material compatibility studies, usually with very low success rates, could be continuously researched here, couldn’t they?

If we delve deeper, like Runeology, Ritual Studies, and most importantly Alchemy...

Rhein and Tree Spirit dared not imagine further; just with these disciplines, they already saw a future full of light!

They now finally understood why the Research and Development Institute of Sky Mechanical City spread the news that ”mystery never gets dusty.” At first, they thought it was merely a strategy by the institute to sell the Dream Conch at a high price, but now in retrospect, it seems reasonable—

All mysteries have their own value; if you think it’s superfluous, it’s only because you haven’t found the right way to use it.

Indeed, that is the case.

Is the Dream Conch superfluous? Until today, Rhein and Tree Spirit would have said the same: they’ve never seen a mysterious object more useless than the Dream Conch.

But now, looking at it, the Dream Conch is definitely not superfluous!

You could even say the potential of the Dream Conch has exceeded the limits of imagination; it can absolutely be called a strategic-level mysterious object!

Of course, all of this is contingent on aligning with the Wilderness of Dreams.

With this thought, Rhein couldn’t help but look at Angel. When Angel launched the Wilderness of Dreams, and wrapped in it the strategic impact brought by the Dream Conch, Rhein couldn’t imagine what the future would be like.

At this moment, Rhein’s heart surged with even more intense emotions compared to when he first learned about the Wilderness of Dreams yesterday.

The potential of the Wilderness of Dreams is for today, but with the Dream Conch, the Wilderness of Dreams is for the future.

In his astonishment, Rhein confirmed some of his assumptions from Angel’s mouth. Like the consumption of casting materials, and Alchemy... despite Rhein being prepared, receiving an affirmative answer still felt surreal.

”I need to go be quiet,” Rhein could clearly feel that the radiant future had already begun, but how Barbarian Cave should enter this path, and which direction they should take, required deep contemplation from him.

Rhein looked at Angel: ”I will temporarily leave for a while, please assist with entertaining the Mushroom Witch.”

Angel could sense the uncontrollable light in Rhein’s eyes; he knew Rhein needed time to thoroughly process this news. So, he didn’t say much but nodded in acknowledgment.

Rhein turned to Tree Spirit: ”If you’re free, come by Cloud Tower later.”

With Mirror Lady in slumber and Book Elder in concealment, Tree Spirit, as one of the three Ancestral Spirits, must also share the burden of pondering future directions. After all, Rhein will leave Barbarian Cave some day, but Tree Spirit will always remain here.

Tree Spirit also nodded; he needed time to process and communicate.

Before leaving, Rhein looked at Angel again, remaining silent for a long time before exclaiming: ”I feel immensely fortunate now that you’ve joined Barbarian Cave.”

Angel: ”It is my fortune as well.”

Rhein patted Angel’s shoulder: ”About the Dream Conch, it’s best not to rush informing others; we need to plan carefully. Also, protect the Dream Conch; it represents... hope.”

Rhein left the Wilderness of Dreams, and also Angel’s dwelling at the ruins, returning to Cloud Tower.

He needed the comfort of the Crystal Ball, as well as quiet solitude.

After Rhein left, Angel returned to reality.

He sat silently at his desk, contemplating the events of today. The reason he chose to inform Rhein at this moment was also a matter of timing.

Originally, he intended to prepare for a while longer, letting Rhein first digest the news about Wilderness of Dreams, but did not expect today’s discussion about New City construction would prompt Tree Spirit to inquire about the source of materials.

At that time, with no outsiders present, only Tree Spirit, Rhein, and himself, coincidentally questioned about the materials. Angel thought it over, and took the opportunity to mention the Dream Conch.

The Dream Conch is very powerful, but fully utilizing its function by himself is challenging. Rhein, as the current Controller of Barbarian Cave, can mobilize an enormous amount of resources, thereby maximizing the potential of the Dream Conch!

So ultimately, it had to be shared with Rhein.

Angel had considered that revealing the Wilderness of Dreams to Rhein might mean losing the Dream Conch. But in hindsight, he realized he was being overly cautious.

Reflecting further, it indeed makes sense; the Dream Conch and Wilderness of Dreams are inherently paired. Angel has absolute control over Wilderness of Dreams; even if Rhein possessed the Dream Conch, without the ability to enter the Wilderness of Dreams, it’s meaningless, so Rhein wouldn’t take such actions.

Rhein’s final sentiment towards Angel also explained everything.

Though he was still in a state of bewilderment then, he understood well that in today’s entire affair, the central element was not the Dream Conch nor the Wilderness of Dreams, but Angel.

Angel is the key linking everything; there’s no need to offend Angel over mere immediate gain and end up at a loss.

Angel returned from deep thought. Now, after informing Rhein of the Wilderness of Dreams and Dream Conch, he believes that the future of Wilderness of Dreams, with Rhein’s support, will surely enter a rapid development phase. He is also eagerly anticipating what the future will hold.

However, even rapid development requires time to align. At present, instead of rushing, it’s better to quietly focus on the task at hand.

With this thought, Angel refocused his gaze on the fragmented Magic Pattern on the Knight’s armor.

...

Sunrise, sunset.

Another day passed, during which Angel not only repaired the Magic Pattern on the Knight’s armor, but also received information from Crown Star Church via the mini signal tower in the twilight.

The one communicating with him was Dororo.

He informed Angel that he and Maya would leave Crown Star Church today, and through the teleportation array, would arrive at Barbarian Cave in two days.

Angel was naturally very pleased and instructed Dororo to come to the ruins immediately upon return, for a chat on the prophecy he mentioned earlier, and also intended to give him the log-in device for the Wilderness of Dreams.

Dororo is one of the people Angel trusts most; he had long wanted to provide him the log-in device, but delayed slightly because of the observation day.

Additionally, Dororo mentioned the ”surprise at the tea party” that Lord Reine told Witch Maya about yesterday.

Though Dororo didn’t explicitly state it, Angel sensed that he seemed to have already inferred what the surprise is...

After bidding farewell to Dororo, Angel originally planned to continue repairing the Magic Pattern, but then he sensed a wave of spiritual power outside the door.

This was a message from Tree Spirit.

The content of the message was very simple, just one line:

Regina has arrived.