The Song Of Sword And Magic

Chapter 21: A Parallel World  

[Translator — Asuka]

[Proofreader — Karane]

Unexpectedly, it was very bright in Wolfsburg at night. In puzzlement, Niss gazed out the window and saw that waves of green lights were in the sky above her. She had never seen anything like it before, so she widened her mouth and couldn’t utter a word.

“They’re aurorae, which are unique to the Northern part of Wallis.” With her legs crossed, Rae meditated on the bed, and she didn’t seem surprised by the sight in the sky. 

“The people living here are so lucky to be able to see these aurorae often,” Niss said in amazement.

“You mean the people living here are lucky?” Rae paused her meditation and stared at Niss. “For centuries, people have lived on this cold and barren land, and they have to risk their lives to protect the continent from the Dark Tide’s threats. However, they never ask for anything from those rich countries in the South.” Rae looked away and gazed at the front. “Sometimes, I wonder what makes them want to stay here. Aren’t all humans supposedly born equal?”

Niss didn’t know how to reply to her, but she still pursed her lips and said, “I believe everyone is born to have their own role in the world. Fate has decided everything for us.”

“Really? Is that what the archmages taught you?” Rae shifted her attention to Niss again. “Even if what you’ve said is true, why can’t we try to change our fate?”

“Only if our fate can be changed.” Niss tried to defend her faith. “But it can’t be changed.”

“Really? We’ll see.” Rae sneered before she closed her eyes and continued her meditation.

In a helpless manner, Niss stuck out her tongue. “Perhaps you should talk about this issue with Fern.”

“I wouldn’t dare to talk about this with him.” Rae’s eyes remained close. “The more I say, the more he’ll discover.”

Still perplexed, Niss batted her eyes, then she turned around and gazed at the splendid view outside the window. 

***

For the following three days, Stan brought them to stroll around Wolfsburg. On this day, he brought them to the castle and introduced to them the history of the Doyle’s monarchy. Unable to stand it anymore, Fern interrupted him and lugged him to the corner. 

“Stan, thanks for showing us around, but we have a more pressing issue to deal with.” Fern said anxiously. “The Source of Magic! Do you remember this?”

Rae and Niss stared at Stan as they waited for his reply. 

“Of course I remember this.” Stan didn’t seem to have noticed the mockery behind Fern’s words. “In Doyle, the king would meet his citizens every seven days. By then, we can meet up with him and request that we’d like to enter the Source of Magic.”

“That’s a great idea.” Rae chimed in. “But why would the king meet us out of so many citizens?”

“The royal guards will collect the appeals from the people first, after which the ministers will choose the more important ones on the king’s behalf. When that day comes, these chosen requesters can enter the castle and meet up with the king.” Stan explained slowly. “I already did it for you three days ago.”

“Requesting to enter the Source of Magic. That’s an eye-catching appeal.” Fern said as he shook his head. “I think what awaits us could possibly be fetters.”

“You don’t have to worry about this.” Stan gazed at the castle and said expectantly. “Many people had requested to enter the Source of Magic before, and the king would meet every one of them.” Stan turned to look at his companions in a serious manner. “However, no one has yet to receive the king’s approval.”

“Why?” Niss asked as she was perplexed. “Does he only support it on the surface?”

“No.” Stan placed his hands behind his back and paced around. “He’s just trying to protect those people. It’s because if they’re not powerful enough, they would lose their lives upon entering the Source of Magic.”

Fern crossed his arms. “The Source of Magic is quite a mystical existence, which could kill people.” Then, he turned to Niss and Rae, hoping to get some useful information from them. 

Meeting Fern’s eyes, Niss rested her chin on her right palm and recollected what she had learned from the books. “Legend has it that inside the Source of Magic there’s a parallel world that’s very much like ours. There is the Endless Sea, Wallis, kingdoms of different eras, and even… the Dark Tide.”

“That’s basically the same as our world.” Stan stopped in his tracks and looked at Niss.

“No. It’s called a parallel world because time and space there are different from ours.” After casting a glance at Stan, Niss lowered her head and tried to recall the contents in the books. “According to the records, inside the Source of Magic, people and events from different eras could possibly exist together. For example…” She raised her head to gaze at Stan and said, “Stan, you might meet your grandpa in the Source of Magic.”

“Really?” Stan rubbed his hands together as he was looking forward to it. “If that’s the case, I have to go there and see it for myself.”

“That’s just one of the scenarios,” Rae chimed in. Her voice was colder than the climate in Doyle. “We might also see things we don’t want to see. For example, we could go back to the era before Doyle was founded. It was when the entire Wallis was being destroyed by the Dark Tide, and humans were on the brink of extinction.”

***

Stan pressed his lips together and replied solemnly, “Even if we went back to that era, we could still defeat the Dark Tide!”

“Blind optimism benefits you in no way.” Rae snorted and crossed her arms. “Are all men like this? Fern has this problem as well.”

“Perhaps you’re just overly pessimistic.” Fern tilted his head and stared at Rae.

“I’m not pessimistic, but I’m just being careful.” Rae swept a glance over the men before her eyes.

“Alright, alright. Let’s talk about something else.” To end this pointless argument, Niss tried to change the topic. “Stan, I have a doubt.” At that moment, she eyed Stan with a straight face.

Stan’s expression turned milder. “Yes.”

“During our stay in Stesinki Port, you said…” Niss looked around to make sure that no other people were around before she went on to say, “You said that the Dark Lord is also the creation of the Source of Magic. I’ve read many books in the Magician’s Tower, but I never knew this. You’re not even a magician, so how did you find out about this?”

“My grandpa told me this. Do you remember I mentioned that there’s a tower that was built to seal the Source of Magic? My grandpa was about the same age as the archmage who guarded the tower, so they’d always grab a beer together. You know, when a person is drunk, they will spill just anything.” Stan put on a relaxed smile. “Therefore, beer is a good thing.”

“I agree with you.” Fern nodded in agreement.

“On the contrary, I think beer is a bad thing! How could the archmage reveal this secret?!” Niss exclaimed, as though she was the one who exposed this secret instead of the archmage. 

Upon hearing that, Fern and Stan guffawed.

“So…” Rae said coldly again. “When will we be able to meet the king?”

Expectation and pride were written all over Stan’s face. “Tomorrow!” he said excitedly. 

***

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