Vol 2 Chapter 217 Reminiscing in the Tower

The lighthouse on the high cliff, the sea breeze remained the same, with the sound of waves and wind echoing from time to time.

Inside the tower’s study, two people were sitting by the table chatting.

“It’s been a long time since I last came here.” The man in the white suit picked up his teacup, gently blowing on it. He looked to be in his forties or fifties, with a robust build and an imposing, dignified expression on his face.

“How have you been recently? Any progress?” He put down the teacup and looked at Nox sitting opposite him in the wheelchair.

“No progress, just the same as before.”

“Is that so.” The suited man’s voice was deep and unhurried, not surprised by this answer.

“If it were ten years ago, I might have tried to persuade you, but now, looking at it, this quiet life might also be a good choice.”

Silence fell between the two once again.

“Let’s talk about something else. I heard you recently took on a young girl as an apprentice.”

“Yes, I suppose Medisa told you. It was also her idea.”

“Hehe, she is the kind of woman who doesn’t hide things. Just like a snake, she displays her most magnificent and dangerous patterns.” The suited man offered this evaluation.

“Medisa said that child has good talent, probably capable of inheriting your knowledge. She will also go to develop in the Mage Alliance.”

“Hmm.” Nox answered with a single, simple word.

“When I heard this news, I was somewhat surprised. I never thought you would actually agree to take on a disciple. I don’t know if you’ve had a change of heart or simply given up.”

“The things you failed to accomplish back then, the wishes you never realized, are you now preparing to entrust them to a little girl?”

Hearing this, Nox tapped his fingers on the armrest.

“Did you come here to mock me?”

“No, I did not come to mock you. On the contrary, I have always admired Senior Nox.” The suited man shook his head.

“Back then, you were the brilliant rising star in the Hidden Grove. I was still studying in the Grove at that time and greatly admired you.”

“I also know about what happened later. Although everyone found it hard to understand your departure, I believe Senior is actually a very pure person, not a betrayal of the Grove.”

“You gave up a lot and spent the best years and energy of your life to realize your ideals. Speaking of this point, I lack the courage to do the same.” The man sighed.

“So I also understand how difficult your unresolved wish is.”

“When I heard the news of you taking on a disciple, my first thought was that perhaps Senior, nearing the end, decided to pass on the last of his knowledge, and that’s why you agreed to take an apprentice. This aligns with my consistent understanding of you.”

“Fortunately, seeing you today, things aren’t that bad yet. That’s when I became puzzled. Why did Senior suddenly change his mind, imparting knowledge and even preparing to let that girl walk the same old path you did?”

“You think too much, Brennan.” Nox shook his head.

“No wonder you are only suited to be a City Lord, and not to continue advancing on the extraordinary Path.”

“A person’s thoughts can change in just an instant.”

“I teach her, indeed holding the idea of passing on what I have learned, and also hoping that one day, my wish might be realized.”

“But it’s not as you imagine, that I am doing this because I see a one hundred percent possibility. Rather, it’s out of reverence for the unpredictable nature of things, reverence that there will be geniuses in the future beyond you and me, who will effortlessly resolve the stubborn historical problems.”

“I merely respect that possibility, making one last effort, and then letting go of my wish.”

“I see.” This City Lord nodded, then he glanced at the exquisite parchment painting hanging on the wall. The ‘Eternal Daylight White Bird’ on it was still divine, majestic, and handsome.

“That’s true as well. Many things are indeed not that complicated…”

Looking at that painting, he remembered the young, high-spirited Senior Nox he met in his youth. Back then, Nox rode a giant eagle, taking him across Meteorite Lake, telling him that in the future, everyone could be like flying birds, breaking free from the shackles of the earth, conquering the boundless sky.

At that time, Nox didn’t tell him any theories. Just with that soaring passion and fervent gaze, he made himself utterly convinced that this senior would definitely achieve what was in his heart.

Unfortunately, the course of events did not develop as expected. When the two met again, it was already thirty years later. The disillusioned Nox returned to the Hidden Grove Alliance side, then found him, hoping to build a lighthouse in this city under his jurisdiction.

After that, it was self-imposed seclusion within the tower, lasting nearly twenty years. Even though Nox doesn’t look that old now, Brennan knows that this senior probably doesn’t have many years of life left.

Sitting in the tower for a while longer, the two chatted about the past, the current Hidden Grove Alliance, and the developments on the Mage side.

“The Mage Alliance has been developing at an even faster pace in recent years, just like Senior back in the day. Many mages have fervent wishes, hoping to recast this world.” Brennan spoke of the recent situation.

“According to the Aspect theory of ‘Gold Steam,’ the original world is full of flaws, imperfect. Only after human modification, reshaping, and forging does it become more orderly and beautiful.”

“We take everything unearthed from nature as the Foundation Stone, then forge things that transcend nature, approach the Deities, and are more perfect and refined. This is the philosophy of the mages.” Nox answered with his eyes closed.

“It seems that, compared to the scholars of the Grove, Senior still identifies more with his identity as a mage.” Brennan shook his head slightly with a sigh.

“Indeed, the mages have achieved glorious accomplishments in the last few centuries. Not only our Hidden Grove Alliance, but even the ‘Harp Flower Union’ and the ‘Sea Cliff Blood Clan’ have been impacted.”

“I deeply admire Senior’s conviction, but like many others, I am also concerned about the overly fanatical Mage Alliance. Intense debate will only push concepts to extremes, because in the pure realm of theory, the purer and clearer the truth, the more excellent it is.”

“But reality is not the realm of theory. Human factors often carry greater weight. Mages are often proficient in mathematics, understanding the most efficient operation of machinery. But humans are beings with complex emotions and varying individual conditions and circumstances. They cannot be unified like machines.”

“I also look forward to the mages finding a perfect path. But the current Mage Alliance hasn’t shown me a scenario where the two harmoniously advance together. If it continues like this, the end result will likely be that humans will have to bow before the truth, becoming slaves to data and efficiency.”

After saying all this, Brennan let out a long sigh and then stood up.

“Sorry for disturbing you today, Senior. I said a lot of useless nonsense.”

“It’s nothing.” Nox pushed his wheelchair and slowly went downstairs with Brennan.

As they reached the door at the bottom of the tower, Nox stopped, watching Brennan leave. Just as the other thought today’s visit was over, Nox’s voice came through the wind.

“What you said might be right. The conflict between truth and human nature may cause immense contradictions and rifts in the future. But that will be a very distant future. If that day truly comes, I think it would also be a happy kind of trouble. At least it’s no longer a struggle of survival and destruction, no longer a confrontation between freedom and prohibition.”

“I still hold hope for the children of the future.”

By the time Brennan turned back, the Gate slowly closed.

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