Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3115: Chapter 3116: Dreamseeing

On the other side, after Uriel said, ”I can give you a chance to perform,” some changes occurred inside the attic.

In places invisible to the naked eye, circles of ripples appeared out of nowhere, with some of these invisible ripples merging into Uriel’s body.

The previously somewhat despondent expression on Uriel’s face suddenly became calm, as if he had changed into a different person.

Faced with this version of Uriel, Luigi didn’t find it too unfamiliar.

Because the current Uriel was a bit like the feeling he had when playing the harp at the window on the second floor. Instead, it was the previous sluggish and dazed Uriel that made Luigi feel uncomfortable.

Aside from Uriel’s transformation, there were also changes on Luigi’s side.

Those circles of ripples also partly transformed into streams of information that Luigi perceived.

”Special Dreamland ’Uriel’s Choice’ Main Quest 3—Uriel’s Recognition: Gain Uriel’s recognition through a harp performance.”

”Please note, this quest can be challenged once a day.”

”The daily challenge time is not fixed; the specific challenge time will be announced through a Fairyland prompt.”

”The challenge period is limited to seven days. If recognition is not obtained within seven days, Main Quest 3 will be considered a failure.”

”Main Quest 3 can currently be initiated.”

”Number of challenge attempts: 7.”

After reading the Fairyland prompt, Luigi took a while to understand what it meant.

He has seven days to challenge, with a challenge opportunity each day. The daily challenge time is not fixed, and he needs to receive a notification from the Fairyland prompt to confirm whether he can challenge that day.

If he fails to gain Uriel’s recognition in all seven attempts, the main quest will automatically fail.

The prompt does not say what changes will occur after a failure... However, that’s not important; Luigi is still very confident about this challenge.

If this challenge only allowed one attempt and had to be undertaken immediately, he would likely fail. But since a seven-day period is given, there is a chance for a comeback.

He admittedly cannot surpass the top three seats of the Empire’s music group.

But music is sometimes not just about technical skill, it’s also about the composition!

Luigi is confident in his skills; even if he can’t match the top three of the Empire’s music group as Uriel mentioned, the gap shouldn’t be too large.

In short, Luigi’s performance skills are competent.

Being technically competent, he could completely rely on exceptional compositions to boost his score and gain Uriel’s recognition.

Of course, Luigi doesn’t have any extraordinary compositions at hand at the moment.

But he has time, he can go offline, and he has some tricks up his sleeve!

Seven days is actually not a short time; he can use this period to widely search for compositions. The Ancient Tooth Fairy holds quite a few valuable compositions, but Luigi has preferred creating his own in the past, so he hasn’t tried to acquire them; plus, the multi-tribe routine gathering is about to begin, and there’s a chance he might find rare compositions there.

If worst comes to worst, there is still Angel.

He could ask Angel to find some compositions.

Being a resident of the Western Lands, Uriel has been completely cut off from the Southern Domain for nearly a millennium, and he surely hasn’t heard compositions from the recent Southern Domain. Over the past millennium, someone in the Southern Domain must have created top-notch compositions, and borrowing them is fine.

It’s because of these considerations that Luigi is confident about this challenge.

Of course, relying on external help is only a backup plan; Luigi hasn’t given up on the idea of a self-driven challenge.

At this moment, Luigi nods without hesitation in front of Uriel, saying: ”Alright, I accept the challenge.”

Uriel silently sits back on the sofa, gaze fixed on Luigi.

A stream of information gathers once again—

”Main Quest 3 is initiating, Uriel will re-enter the ’Dreaming’ state after the successful initiation of the quest.”

”The duration of this ’Dreaming’ state is: 36 minutes.”

”Please start the challenge within the duration of the ’Dreaming’ state.”

”The ’Dreaming’ state is about to begin”

”Countdown 1:59”

”Countdown 1:58”

”...”

The main point of this stream of information is undoubtedly the ”Dreaming” state; it’s the second time the Fairyland prompt has mentioned the so-called ”Dreaming” state.

From the information provided by the Fairyland prompt, one can infer an implicit piece of intelligence: Uriel had recently exited the ”Dreaming” state.

Because he exited the Dreaming state, the re-entry to the Dreaming mode was needed.

But Luigi clearly remembers, when Uriel came down from the second floor, the information stream explicitly stated, ”Within Main Quest 2, Uriel will enter the ’Dreaming’ state.”

This means that Uriel was actually in the Dreaming state before, but because Main Quest 2 was completed, Uriel exited the Dreaming state?

Recalling Uriel’s previous mental state, Luigi understood a bit.

—Despondent, dazed, behaving like daydreaming, this is what’s called the ”Dreaming” state.

And the previous return to a calm state was when Uriel exited the Dreaming state.

Although Luigi reached this conclusion, he still doesn’t understand what the difference is between the Dreaming state and a normal state?

However, Luigi doesn’t dwell on it, as the countdown is approaching zero.

It will soon be his time to perform.

Although he can choose any time within the 36 minutes to perform, Luigi doesn’t procrastinate and confidently lifts his harp the moment the countdown ends.

Under Uriel’s dazed gaze, the melodious sound of the harp gently drifts...

...

Outside the Fairyland instance.

”Again with the Dreaming state, something feels quite unusual about it,” Angel mutters.

Glaipnir says softly, ”Not just unusual, I suspect this Dreaming state might be the only variable in the Fairyland instance.”

”Variable?” Angel looks at Glaipnir with confusion.

Glaipnir: ”Why can’t Main Quest 3 be challenged at a fixed time, and instead requires the Fairyland prompt to confirm if it can be challenged?”

”In my view, there’s only one possibility for this situation, a variable exists here that even the Fairyland instance can’t control.”

”And because of this variable, the Fairyland instance can’t determine when the challenge can occur.”

”And in Main Quest 3, the only potential variable is Uriel. But Uriel himself belongs to the Gifted People. Since he is a Gifted Individual, he is bound to be restricted by the Fairyland Authority, and a variable shouldn’t exist.”

Initially, Glaipnir was explaining, but as she continued speaking, she immersed herself in her thoughts. Her response seemed more like a demonstration of her thought process.

”Just when I was puzzled, I saw a second Fairyland hint: ’Please start the challenge while maintaining the Dreaming State.’”

”This hint is very odd; why must the challenge be undertaken in the Dreaming State? Can’t it be challenged in the normal state?”

”Fairyland hints wouldn’t purposely say something unnecessary. The only possibility is that the Dreaming State is very special, playing a crucial role in whether Main Quest 3 can be completed.”

”This made me think of the initial problem: Is Main Quest 3 unable to be challenged at a fixed time because it can only be challenged when Uriel is in the Dreaming State?”

”So, isn’t the Dreaming State the only variable here?”

Glaipnir explained her reasoning completely, and both Angel and Laplace understood her intent, although there were flaws in her words.

To be considered a variable means it’s uncontrollable.

But Main Quest 3 clearly states: It can be challenged within 7 days, and once per day.

This statement actually represents a kind of ’order’ or... pattern.

Since there is order and some pattern, it is hard to call it a chaotic variable.

However, Glaipnir’s statement is not wrong, at least Angel believes that the Dreaming State is indeed suspicious, possibly related to the secrets of Wonderland of Dreams?

Perhaps, when this is over, they can focus on investigating this ’Dreaming’ state?

Time slowly passed, and a quarter of an hour later, Luigi’s performance was reaching its end.

Luigi didn’t know how Uriel felt, but he was already immersed in the beautiful melody, still lingering in his ears even after it ended.

”These past days using the Sea of Questions Tactic have taught me a lot of skills. This performance should be on par with my peak recital.” Luigi was somewhat self-satisfied and even wanted to recite a poem after the performance.

But before he could speak, Angel interrupted him.

”Though I’m talking to you now, it was Glaipnir who interrupted your poem recitation.” Angel said, ”Don’t be puzzled why she knows you want to recite a poem. According to Glaipnir, she knows you’re about to burst when you twitch your buttocks.”

”She asked me to tell you, now’s not the time for poetry.”

Angel’s message was actually modified; Glaipnir’s original words were ”if you utter that rubbish poem, it will certainly lower your score,” but Angel didn’t convey the latter part.

Mainly because Angel felt his performance was good but not top-notch, and probably wouldn’t be recognized by Uriel. To not be recognized while also being discouraged in poetry, Angel was unwilling.

As the person involved, Luigi certainly didn’t think his performance was poor. He confidently looked at Uriel, awaiting his review.

But the development was entirely different from what he imagined.

Uriel didn’t say anything, and he became a phantom bubble, disappearing.

Looking at the empty attic, Luigi was stunned: ”What happened, why is the person gone?”

As Luigi felt puzzled, a familiar flow of information arrived on schedule.

”Special Dreamland ’Uriel’s Choice’ Main Quest 3, challenge failed.”

”Current level able to reach: 20th seat of Empire Music Group. (Seat ranking of Empire Music Group totals twenty-one seats)”

”Currently unable to start Main Quest 3. (Next available start time awaits Fairyland hint)”

”Available challenge attempts: 6.”

Seeing this line of information, Luigi remained silent.

It turns out Uriel didn’t disappear but that he failed the challenge. Only... failed challenge without a word, not even a review, since the feedback was given by the Fairyland hint.

At least Uriel should have said what was wrong before leaving! Clearly, he felt every aspect was performed well...

This left Luigi quite unsettled.

Moreover, his level only reached the 20th seat of the Empire Music Group, surpassing just one person?

According to the quest hint, to earn Uriel’s recognition, one needs to reach the top three seats of the Empire Music Group, which seems so far away.

Besides, not everyone in the Empire Music Group plays the harp, isn’t this evaluation somewhat biased?

The ranking should be based on musicians who understand the harp, not mixed together!

Luigi’s heart cried out in grievance, but he also knew the mechanism behind the Fairyland instance is authority, to expand further, it’s Law.

Pleading grievances to Law is like playing music to a cow, entirely futile.

Next, Luigi wandered around the attic and found he couldn’t go to the second floor or exit, as if a layer of invisible walls blocked his progress... This also meant he was confined to the first floor.

He can go offline but can’t exit the instance.

This situation is akin to returning to the previous state.

He initially thought after clearing the Fairyland instance today, he would go to the Wilderness of Dreams to personally meet Mentor Jon, but it seems it will be delayed.

”Uriel disappeared, expecting him to appear only when Main Quest 3 can be initiated tomorrow.” Luigi sighed and said, ”I have no way to leave this place aside from going offline.”

With nobody in the attic, Luigi naturally said this to Angel.

”By the way, I don’t think I can complete this quest alone; I wonder if I can...” Luigi exchanged expressions, speaking in a flattering tone.

Angel understood Luigi’s intention, which was nothing more than seeking an out-of-discussion method to help him pass this task.

”... we’ll discuss this after we go offline.” Saying it’s a discussion, but Angel has already decided to help, firstly because helping find sheet music isn’t difficult; secondly, he is intrigued about what follows this task.

Luigi also realized speaking across the instance wasn’t so appropriate, so he didn’t continue and went offline first.

...

At the same time, in a distant void.

In a corner of Dawn City in the Dusman Empire.

An old and shabby small attic, under the glow of Dawnlight, seemed to be covered with thin gold powder.

The surrounding shops and streets were waking up along with the crowing of the early morning bird.

When the streets were teeming with people, the balcony on the second floor of the small attic was opened, and a middle-aged man in a white shirt walked out yawning.

His expression was somewhat dejected, seemingly not fully awake, lazily leaning on the balcony railing, his gaze slightly dazed, as if daydreaming.

Until the morning hymn from the Glory Church reached him, his gaze regained some vitality.

The Glory Church has morning hymns, afternoon sainthood chants, and evening gospels. He chose to rent such a dilapidated attic so he could listen closely to the Church of Radiance’s three daily prayer music renditions.

For others, the three prayer music pieces are acts of faith, but for him, it’s an appreciation of high-standard performances.

The characteristic of the morning hymns is the combination of children’s pure voices and harp renditions, making people feel as if a clear spring is flowing in their hearts. Anyone who hears the morning hymns would be filled with vigor, starting a fresh day.

In previous times, he focused on the choir’s performance when listening, but today, for some reason, his thoughts were continually drawn to the harp backdrop.

Listening to that elegant and clear harp sound, he seemed to think of something, softly murmuring: ”I dreamed last night, and in my dream, it seemed like there was someone playing the harp like this?”