Mage Manual-Chapter 1408 - 1031: Interlude of Longing (Part 2)
It’s over.
Siflin released her hand and looked at the three people trapped in the misty Illusion Realm, letting out a helpless sigh.
Her "Blood Return" had already been activated, but this Miracle requires the person’s willingness to be effective. Yet they were unwilling to leave the Illusion Realm, lost in unachievable dreams, and completely unresponsive to her Miracle.
Siflin finally realized the horror of the Reverse Color Stairs: it requires the mage to entangle with the mist to stop the fading, but once the mist is too thickly entangled, the mage becomes trapped in their own constructed Illusion Realm. It’s a trap, one that willingly ensnares but cannot be escaped.
Freyja’s most desired wish was for her love to be reciprocated. She deeply loved Ash, and everything she invested; her love was pathological, absolute, yet it also moved herself.
But because she was so fervent, she remained unshakable.
Hanna was completely different from everyone else who liked Ash. She might be the least romantic; although Ash made her Heartbeat at times, it was merely that. Had it not been for Freyja, had it not been for the Witch, she might not have kept thinking about Ash. But precisely because so many liked Ash, she also wanted him.
She was the type who didn’t mind not marrying, a career woman. Despite her constant complaints about how the Witch deserted the nation adding to her workload, secretly becoming Gospel’s highest ruler left her unable to stop. She was a bad woman loving power, luxury, ambition, and grand plans, but simultaneously had a fragile side, wanting a haven of protection.
So Ash wasn’t just her Heartbeat choice, but her best choice. Currently, the mage possessing Supreme tail feathers, one was the Supreme Star, and the other was Ash. If she could become Ash’s partner, Hanna was only a step away from doing whatever she wanted.
Yet it wasn’t that Hanna was unfaithful; rather, among all women who like Ash, her loyalty was second only to Freyja. Because while love might decay, alliances based on interests were solid.
In the Dream Heaven’s love war, Siflin believed only three people would always welcome Ash, no matter what happened: the first was Freyja, the second was Hanna, and the third, the observer who didn’t participate—a certain maid.
Siflin could see that the maid was extremely unrestrained by greed. Her gaze toward Ash was as if wanting to swallow him whole. She was a more extreme version of Hanna; Hanna at least wished to rely on Ash, but the maid merely wished to drain him dry as a pet.
But Tamasi surprised Siflin. She thought Black Crow didn’t understand its own heart yet. Unexpectedly, Black Crow had already detected feelings for Ash beyond competitiveness and friendship, mingling with romantic love.
Nevertheless, Black Crow was still naive, probably never having learned about these matters, so she could only explore bit by bit, in the style of Ya Sha Jin, violent yet somewhat adorable.
Although Siflin could completely discern their dreams, it was to no avail.
Forced by circumstances, she could only use Miracle to directly harm them, but despite the injuries covering their bodies, they couldn’t escape from the Illusion Realm. Even their souls’ wounds quickly healed due to color infusion.
Color infusion?
Siflin suddenly realized her injuries silently healed too, with the new color allowance quietly exceeding 95%. At this moment, she wanted to activate "Blood Return" on herself, but it was too late.
Her thoughts slowed down, her soul became weightless, her Consciousness was slowly dragged into the misty Illusion Realm.
The little bat should have escaped long ago, but she just couldn’t leave them.
It’s all Freyja’s fault for picking her up in the Sea of Knowledge. Before that, Siflin was accustomed to solitude, but after encountering Meiwa, she found it increasingly difficult to endure Loneliness, even deliberately assigning Freyja to her hospital.
She became the largest anomaly of the Blood Saint Clan, a bat who enjoyed approaching Meiwa.
If Freyja, Hanna, Tamasi all died here, leaving only herself alive, returning to days with only herself, Siflin would rather get lost with them in the Illusion Realm.
If she escaped, becoming cold-blooded over hundreds or thousands of years, she would surely deem her current self as naive. But Siflin thought, the naive self...is the happiest.
So, it’s all Ash’s fault.
If he hadn’t appeared, Meiwa would still be Meiwa, Purple Moth would still be Purple Moth, Black Crow would still be Black Crow, the little bat would grow into a cold-blooded bat...
I wonder what my Illusion Realm is...
Siflin gave up resistance, her Consciousness completely immersed in the misty Illusion Realm.
At this very moment, four silk threads appeared on them. Siflin’s thread was the most ethereal but visible, while Freyja’s, Hanna’s, and Tamasi’s threads glowed intensely, piercing the reverse color world, connecting to the distant void.
As the threads were gently strummed, their Illusion Realm slightly transformed.
*
In the waiting hall, Freyja saw Ash looking around. As she raised her hand, Ash noticed her and dashed over, spinning her around in an embrace and kissing her forehead.
"I’ve already reserved a restaurant." Meiwa’s body softened, tightly hugging Ash, unwilling to let go: "Let’s go eat!"
"No," Ash smiled: "Let’s go for a bath first."
"Ah!?" Freyja blushed instantly to her ears, bowing shyly: "How did you know..."
*
In the Imperial Palace of Yisu, while finalizing planning details with ministers, Hanna found the meeting connection suddenly cut. She saw Ash set down the Mage’s Handbook and waved his hand: "You all may leave."
The hall soon emptied, leaving just the two of them. Hanna looked at Ash in perplexity, as Ash pulled her down the throne and said: "Let’s go for a bath."
"Huh?" Hanna blinked and helplessly sighed: "You really are...let’s go then."
*
The Heavenly Kingdom of Thousand Wishes, Tamasi, who had been bullying Ash to the point of gasping for breath, felt her body go limp. Maintaining joint techniques should have been easy for her, but she was increasingly losing strength, as if Ash had poisoned her.
If this goes on, I’ll be shaken off...
However, Tamasi wasn’t particularly dissatisfied. Whether she defeated Ash or was defeated by him, she could always seek a rematch later. But this time, she suddenly wanted to try and see, if she didn’t admit defeat... what would happen?
"Shall we go take a bath?" Ash suddenly suggested. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
The Black Crow blinked, but since both of them were drenched in sweat, this request was reasonable. So, she cheerfully released Ash, "Alright."
"Together, you know," Ash added.
Tamasi opened her mouth, suddenly feeling a bit timid, but she quickly conquered her weaker self - she absolutely could not show cowardice in front of Ash!
"No problem!"
...
...
In the Thought Domain, Ash, soaking in the bath, was somewhat puzzled, unable to comprehend Rose’s idea.
"Help? How can I help?"
"It’s simple."
Rose tugged at the threads of thought, "Give every thought a place to belong, let every promise be fulfilled."
"To collect the sweetest thoughts, your memories might become blurred. However, even so, don’t slack off in your perceptions, you must let their thoughts..."
"Bloom brilliantly like fireflies."
"You’re not letting me develop other believers, so you have to work properly. I will have you... cooperate with them a little."
In the steaming mist of the bath, the sudden sound of people jumping into the bath echoed. Ash watched as their figures gradually became clearer, and he was momentarily stunned, then covered his face and let out a complex sigh.
"You all..." Freyja, wrapped in a towel, looked at everyone blankly.
"How should I put it?" Hanna tilted her head, and the two amethyst earrings swayed slightly, "I’m not really surprised?"
Tamasi couldn’t say a word, she covered her face with her hands, but through the gaps in her fingers, she kept her eyes fixed on Ash.
But the most confused should have been Siflin.
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What am I supposed to do next?
Is this my Illusion Realm? Am I really this kind of person? Although I do often fantasize about such scenes and have thought about participating, but but but...
Ugh!
...
...
On Ruby Mountain, four female mages emerged from the Reverse Color Stairs, exhausted, and sat down on the ground to rest.
They no longer had the energy to care about being the first mages to discover the "Reverse Color Secret Poison," nor did they feel much about ascending to the Holy Land of mages, Ruby Mountain, as they each became immersed in their own thoughts, leaving everyone muted temporarily.
Freyja smiled foolishly in bliss, emitting a sweet fragrance, even her pupils had turned into heart shapes.
Hanna lazily leaned against a rock to rest, her lips curved slightly upward, as if savoring something.
Tamasi hugged her knees with her arms, her blush still hadn’t faded. She gently bit her thumb, showing not only shyness but also strong discontent on her face, as if she believed she could have performed better before.
Siflin lay directly on the ground, feeling as if she was burnt out.
"Siflin~"
Freyja’s voice carried an indescribable sweetness as she pulled the little bat up and laughed, "It’s wonderful, we’ve become legendary mages together!"
"Mm." Siflin replied weakly.
Meiwa hugged the little bat, cheek to cheek, "We’ll always be good sisters in the future!"
"...Please spare me on that point."
