Warlock Apprentice

Why had he become the key factor in a crucial decision that would obviously alter someone else’s trajectory?

Had Feng seen it through Divination? Or was it simply that in the wilderness of time, he hadn’t arrived too early or too late, but just in time?

Angel shared his confusion with Night.

Night’s answer, however, made him even more perplexed, “Anyone could have come looking for me, or perhaps it could only have been you.”

To Night, who came looking wasn’t significant, the timing was. Maybe Feng had truly foreseen this meeting with this human, or maybe Feng had merely set a limitation for him, but no matter what, Night needed to know only one thing: the time had come. All other details were just prerequisites for this conclusion, important at the moment but dispensable thereafter.

However, if Night were to address Angel’s doubts, it personally leaned towards the theory that “it was all predestined.” In other words, Feng might have foreseen the current situation through some method.

Because the timing was too coincidental, just as Night’s power had hit the most critical step, a step further and it would reach the Demon Lord rank, and it had also just completed the final step of self-control. Now, the only thing hindering its progress, besides energy constraints, was… this painting.

The energy constraints were solvable, but this painting, if Angel hadn’t come looking, might never have obscured the night within it.

Such coincidental timing, such a serendipitous encounter, naturally made Night inclined to believe that Angel was destined to seek it out.

Seeing Angel still confused, Night spoke indifferently, “It doesn’t matter who you are, nor do you need to take responsibility for my future. For when Feng gave me this painting, it was already destined that the pale fire would overturn the night within. This outcome was preordained; you’re just caught up in the moment.”

A flicker of doubt passed through Angel’s eyes. Perhaps he was indeed just caught in the moment, but was it really that simple? Was there no deeper meaning behind Feng’s choice to make him the one to change Night’s circumstances?

Angel didn’t know, but it seemed that was all there was to it for now.

Angel looked at the painting, “Then… when will Night make this darkness disappear?”

“Night never disappears. Even if obscured by great flames, it still exists.”

Night’s response seemed to carry a double meaning. However, what Angel really wanted to know was what Night would do after the nocturne in the painting was replaced by flames, whether Night’s next actions would also be within Feng’s foresight, and whether Angel would continue to play a new role in it.

To his confusion, Night simply chuckled, “How fate will play out is never clear after just one foretelling. If you confine your thoughts within Feng’s foresight, you’ll always be within the script. Even if the play isn’t as Feng envisioned.”

Night’s words reminded Angel of a jest he once read about Divination: true prophecy is not written with a pen but fashioned with scissors into an unwritten script.

Perhaps Feng’s foresight was just a whimsical thought, cutting out an unwritten script. Even Feng may not be clear about what the script holds.

But, a script is still a script. No matter how it concludes, it can’t escape the framework of the play.

So, if Angel keeps his thoughts within Feng’s script, any choice he makes in the future will be deemed a foresight, and he’ll remain trapped within the script.

But fate is ever capricious, not prescriptive.

Thinking this, Angel nodded thoughtfully.

“Let’s talk about the materials,” Night said, bringing the topic away from Feng and back to business, capturing Angel’s attention again.

“The Earth Vein Firestone required for crafting the Fire Transmission Stone originally only needed to be sedimentary for a millennium, but you’ve provided ample Demon Gold Coins, so I’ve chosen for you a piece that’s been sedimentary for ten thousand years.” Night paused, then continued, “I’ve also gathered all the materials for the White Ash Fire Solvent. Give me a day, and I will have it concocted with Hell Pale Fire.”

The White Ash Fire Solvent had to be concocted with Hell Pale Fire, and only Night could accomplish this.

Night produced the Earth Vein Firestone and other assorted materials, and Angel collected them one by one. Aside from the White Ash Fire Solvent, he noticed there was another primary material, the shard of the Fire Transmission Stone, which Night hadn’t presented yet.

“The shard of the Fire Transmission Stone is required in great quantity and isn’t available just yet. Wait for two or three days, and it should arrive.”

Two or three days? Angel calculated quickly. If he returned to Ice Valley immediately after the goods arrived, he should have enough time, so he nodded to Night, “Then I’ll trouble you, Night.”

“No need for courtesy.” Night replied blandly, “I’m going to concoct the White Ash Fire Solvent. Tomorrow at this time, you can come and get it.”

With those words, Night turned and vanished into the darkness.

Angel turned back to glance at the painting hanging on the wall, looking at the flames suppressed by the darkness, seemingly glimpsing that land of fire transmission.

Recalling Night’s serene figure, he suddenly became curious about what Night would become after the darkness completely disappeared. Without suppression and constraint, would Night become like the Fire Transmission Demon, monstrous and ferocious, transforming into an endless sea of fire and sweeping across the Scorched Earth?

He shook his head with a smile, casting away the cumbersome thoughts, and Angel turned to leave.

After leaving the Hunting Museum, Angel walked toward the Misty Cabin while pondering his next plan. He had originally thought he would only need to stay in Lassudral for another day, but due to a shortage of Fire Transmission Stone fragments, he would now have to stay for three more days.

Since that was the case, he decided to keep the Misty Cabin open.

Demons had absolutely no interaction with humans, so the supplies and prices in Demon City didn’t fluctuate with human demand. Furthermore, Demon City had many unique materials; Angel planned to take this opportunity to earn more Demon Gold Coins and stockpile some.

After all, it was difficult to tell whether there would be another chance to visit Demon City in the future.

Moreover, even if he did enter Demon City later on, he probably wouldn’t have the same timely and favorable conditions that allowed him to purchase precious demon resources with the connections of the Night Householder.

Soon, Angel arrived in the forest where the Misty Cabin was located.

The fresh air, coupled with the dappled tree shadows, made Angel feel quite comfortable. Before, after arriving at the Abyss, his impression of the Abyss was only twofold: hopelessness and endless oppression.

Having such a leisurely moment in the stifling Abyss was indeed quite rare.

However, this pleasant time didn’t last long. When Angel got to the door of the Misty Cabin, he found himself being watched… no, stared down by a demon.

The fireball, with its red eyes, glared at Angel fiercely.

In those bloodshot eyes, Angel faintly saw a hint of grievance.

Angel sighed; he hadn’t expected this young fire demon to be so persistent. He had spent a good half of the day at the Hunting Museum, and upon his return, this little one was still guarding the door.

It had caught him off guard.

With Fafnir in the cabin suppressing it, the young fire demon didn’t dare to lay hands on him; it just glared at him with those eyes.

Without saying a word, yet filled with deep perseverance.

Angel’s head tingled under the stare, and the young fire demon was blocking his path, so in the end, he sighed and said, “Sigh, what exactly do you want? I didn’t let you experience the ‘Rhythm of the Ocean’ for your own good; you’re a fire system demon. If you experienced the essence of the water system, you would end up hurting yourself.”

The young fire demon was also surprised that Angel spoke to it. It had caused a commotion outside for half a day, and the dark-skinned woman inside either threw it out or completely ignored it, which left it feeling very stifled and aggrieved.

It also didn’t understand why it was so persistent in coming here; it just felt very unwilling, as no one had ever treated it this way before.

“I don’t care, I want to experience it!” Perhaps because of a rebellious attitude, even though the young fire demon realized what the indigenous person in front of it might be saying was true, it didn’t want to lose face.

The young fire demon spoke in Abyss Language, which was much more standard than Angel’s, but perhaps because it was so young, its tone always had a childish milkiness to it.

Just a brat that becomes restless without its milk. Angel lamented silently in his heart.

“If you really want to experience it that much, you can. But don’t blame me for not warning you if you get seriously hurt,” Angel paused then added, “Our shop is already closed today; come back tomorrow if you want to experience it.”

The softening of Angel’s tone made the young fire demon’s furious stare falter a little, and it asked with a dubious expression, “Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“You won’t come and swing at me again?”

“As long as you don’t disturb the other customers, I won’t come swinging at you.”

Having obtained the assurance, the young fire demon then sulkily put on an expression of sky-high haughtiness and said, “Hmph, then I’ll come back tomorrow. If you dare go back on your word then, I will set you on fire.”

After saying that, the young fire demon changed its previous demeanor and floated leisurely out of the forest, its black tail swinging fiercely, as if it were a little puppy rewarded with milk.

Angel shook his head and opened the door to enter the cabin, but just then, he felt a hot gaze on his back.

He turned around, puzzled, to see that in the distance, the young fire demon had hopped over to the edge of the forest, and beside it was a figure wrapped in a red robe. The young fire demon was impatiently talking to the red-robed person, and the gaze that Angel had felt was coming from that red-robed person looking his way.

The hood of the red-robed person was up, so their features were obscured, but Angel could feel that even while talking to the young fire demon, their eyes were sizing him up. Moreover, that gaze was filled with complex emotions: puzzlement, malice, skepticism, and wariness.

Is it the young fire demon’s servant? Angel wondered. Judging by the way they interacted, it did seem as though there was a servant’s demeanor.

Not long ago in the Land of Rest, Angel had encountered Stientrofehr, who was a servant to a certain Sheep Demon. It was normal for a young fire demon from the inner layers of the Abyss, a member of the demon nobility, to have servants.

Angel ignored the gaze; anyway, he wouldn’t be staying here much longer.