The Song Of Sword And Magic

Chapter 42: Niss’s Moment of Enlightenment 

[Translator — Asuka]

[Proofreader — Karane]

“How touching it is to meet your disciple again. Moses, it’s been a long time.” Hol finally spoke with a faint smile on his face. 

Moses shot him a look and walked up to the river. “Hol, whatever the reason for your appearance here today, I’m not here to fight with you. I’ve done what I’m supposed to do, so I’m leaving soon.”

“What? Master, where are you going? Please don’t leave me again.” Rae trotted forward to hug him, but she realized that his figure was turning vague again.

“Rae, I’m not actually here. What you see is just my illusion, for I’m unable to enter the Source of Magic. My magic here can only last for a short period of time, and time is up.” Moses looked lovingly at her, feeling sorry that he had to leave her at this moment. 

Rae gazed at him in shock. “Master, are you saying that you’re not an illusion created by the Source of Magic? Have you entered this place using your magic?”

Moses’s figure faded and became semi-transparent. “Yes, Rae. Even though the Source of Magic will tell you the truth eventually, I still want to take this chance to tell you what you’ve been wanting to know.”

“Master, please don’t leave me…” Rae tried to grab the figure, but she was unable to.

“Good bye, Rae. Maybe we’ll meet again in the future. Before that happens, please take good care of yourself.” Moses’s figure vanished completely, as though he had never appeared before.

With no energy left, Rae fell on her bottom and started sobbing.

***

“Alright. He’s finally gone. That man is always bringing trouble to me.” Hol remained smiling. “How could he leave without having a fight with me first?”

“You didn’t dare to attack us when Moses was here. Now that he’s gone, are you prepared to make a strike on us again? Is this what an archmage supposed to do? Don’t you have any shame at all?” Niss questioned angrily. 

Faced with her wrath, Hol didn’t become incensed, but his expression had turned grim. “Miss, I told you not to go against me. If you’re willing to come to my side, I could ensure your safety, but you just wouldn’t listen to me.”

“You are the one who is in the wrong!” Niss snarled. “What you’re doing is against the rules of the Magician’s Tower. Sooner or later, you’ll face your punishments!”

Hol found her words laughable and snorted. “How are you so sure that my action is against the Magician’s Tower’s rules? Moreover, so what if other high-level magicians are against what I’m doing?”

Faced with the question, Niss insisted on finding out whether his action had anything to do with the Magician’s Tower rather than backing down. “So Hol, why are you helping Diaz? Do you have permission from the Magician’s Tower? Or are you acting on your own?”

Hol scoffed, “Miss, why are you still so concerned about whether this matter has anything to do with the Magician’s Tower? What if I tell you that I’ve been granted permission from the Tower?” 

“It’s…” Niss was lost for words. Yeah… What can I do if this matter has something to do with the Magician’s Tower? Despite the doubt in her heart, she still retorted, “If this is the intention of the archmages, I’ll go back to the Tower and question them why they’ve decided to do such a thing.”

“And then? Are you going to stop them? Do you have the power to do so? Will they take you seriously? The archmages are unyielding. Even the Great Sages can’t change the collective decision of the archmages, so you should probably stop your wishful thinking.” Hol sneered. “And I’d suggest you stop inviting trouble for yourself.”

“Whatever the case…” At that instant, Niss realized that Hol was right, for she could never change the decision of the archmages. There was nothing she could do even if she found out the truth and returned to the Magician’s Tower. “I can’t stand idly by when the archmages have made the wrong decision. The Magician’s Tower is the protector of Wallis. If even the protector has lost its way, how is Wallis going to stay safe?”

“You’re wrong, Young Miss.” Hol’s voice turned milder, as though he was trying to give his junior some guidance. “The Magician’s Tower cannot change the course of Wallis’s future. The continent’s future lies in the hands of ordinary people like you and me. Don’t falsely believe that the Tower has such a power. In the grand scheme of things, the Tower plays an insignificant role. The real heroes could be anywhere in Wallis. You and your companions may or may not be the heroes that will eventually save the continent.”

***

Niss fell silent and pondered on his words, which were the enlightenment she needed to cast away all her doubts. 

Seeing that Niss had understood something, Hol looked seriously at her. “Just like me, you have to follow your heart and do the things you think are right. I don’t care if the archmages are right or wrong. In the end, every magician has to leave the Tower and break free from the chains.”

“Should I persevere even if my decision turns out to be wrong?” Niss asked meekly. 

“There’s nothing in this world that’s absolutely right or wrong other than the Dark Tide. You may think I’m evil, but looking at it from another perspective, you have to admit that I’m doing the right thing. Since that’s the case, why wouldn’t I do it?” Hol explained patiently. 

“Then how do I know if I’m doing the right thing? Without the Tower’s guidance, I really don’t know…” Niss lowered her head in sorrow and clenched her fists.

“You’ll grow to be more mature during your trial, and you’ll eventually make the right decision. Remember, once you’ve made a decision, you have to stick to it steadfastly and don’t let anyone change your mind. Even the Tower shouldn’t be able to affect you.” Hol looked smilingly at her. “Moreover, with your companions on the journey, you’ll find the right answer one day and break free from the chains of the Tower.”

Follow my heart and do the right thing… Break free from the Tower’s chains… Niss repeated his words in her mind.

***

In puzzlement, she raised her head to look at the old magician. “Why are you telling me this? Aren’t you supposed to kill me?”

“Just like what I’ve said, there’s nothing in this world that’s absolutely right or wrong other than the Dark Tide. A person could be good and evil at the same time.” Hol hid his hands in his sleeves. “You can see me as the illusion created by the Source of Magic. Maybe I had wanted to kill you just now, but that was just part of the process. All I’m doing is to enlighten you and save you from your inner demon. Before you conquer your inner fear, you can’t go any further in your journey.”

“So, are you an illusion? Have you appeared here to give me some guidance since the very beginning?” Niss thought she found the answer. 

“That doesn’t matter anymore as I’ve completed my task. Goodbye, Niss. Take care, for we’ll meet again. That’s a promise.” His voice sounded distant as though it wasn’t coming from the other side of the river. 

***

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