Angor shook his head in embarrassment. “I’ve been working to study Narda’s Vision these days, but I need a lot of time to learn the preliminary subjects.”
“I’ve heard about this cantrip as well since it is essential to all alchemists,” said Sunders. “It sure asks for extensive knowledge gain. You’re free to come to my book room should you need to.”
Angor nodded. He knew his hologram had enough books stored to provide enough knowledge, but it would take time.
The world was developing rapidly as new technologies such as steam trains and cargo ships were created. Countless new records and discoveries were made by wizards from different realms by the day.
Angor’s book collection, which he found in Nether City, was probably left there thousands of years ago or more. He never fully relied on the books he saved since it was very likely that most of the theories and intelligence they possessed were already replaced in the course of history.
Outdated knowledge was still valuable knowledge, but to insist on learning it without accepting modern education would only hinder or even stop his progress. He had to keep an eye on both old and new wisdom.
Sunders’ book room might not have as many books as what he recorded in Nether City, but Sunders’ books could be considered “modern”, which was what Angor needed.
“Narda’s Vision’s is a level-3 cantrip. Even if you gained enough from books, you still need a long time to work out its model. There’s no reason to make haste. Proceed at your own pace.”
Sunders knew his student had been extremely efficient when learning new cantrips, but level-3 cantrips were no longer something that could be mastered overnight using one’s talent and luck.
“I understand, sir.” Angor nodded.
Yet in his mind, he would still like to grasp Narda’s Vision as soon as possible because he needed to get stronger badly, especially when Sunders had told him about the disaster that was about to strike the southern wizarding world.
“Apart from these, I need to tell you something else.” Sunders opened his eyes with a somewhat painful expression and gave Angor a serious look. “I’m leaving the region and heading to Abyss Plane soon. I do not know when I’ll return. Before I do, I’ll leave Phantom Island in your hands.”
Angor heard about this in Floating Mech City, but Sunders didn’t mention “Abyss Plane” back then. Angor was a bit surprised to hear about his professor’s destination.
“Mister Sumesh is coming back soon, right? You can always ask him to—”
“Flora has her own territory in Brute Cavern,” Sunders interrupted Angor, “and so does Sumesh. Don’t worry, you can place your trust in Goode, who’ll take care of most daily affairs that might concern Phantom Island. I know you’re planning to visit your home recently. When you do, tell Goode to close off the island. He’ll know what to do.”
Sunders continued without giving Angor any chance to speak, “These are all trivial matters. What I’m about to tell you next...” He took out a “crystal ball transmitter” and placed it in front of Angor. “Look for yourself.”
The crystal ball glowed and started to blur. It then showed an old figure inside like a monitor.
“Miss Maya?” Angor mumbled.
The figure was exactly “Star Measurer” Maya, who was standing on her observation platform with a grim look. There was someone else standing behind her, but Angor could only see an arm.
Is that Dodoro? As someone who spent several months traveling together, Angor easily recognized Dodoro’s features from the arm.
Maya spoke in the image, “I do not want to contact you without a good reason, yet I decided to help Dodoro this time because he cannot get into Phantom Island.”
Wait, Dodoro tried to enter Phantom Island? Angor glanced at Sunders.
Sunders pointed at the crystal ball to tell Angor to keep watching.
“I don’t care, nor do I wish to meddle with your business,” Maya continued speaking in a slow and distant voice. “I spoke to you because Dodoro sensed something. Something about your student... Angor.
“There will be people. People who planned to harm Angor. Dodoro could not tell who exactly, but it should be someone who resents you or at least a man with past grudges against you. This is all I have to say. How you deal with this warning is for you to decide.”
The image vanished.
Before Angor could fully comprehend those words, Sunders asked, “What’s your opinion?”
Angor took a moment to consider.
“Prophecy is always something uncertain. Since there’s a prophecy that revealed a possible ill fate... I’ll do my best to avoid it or get rid of it.”
Sunders frowned before he began snickering.
“Now this is interesting. You heard Maya, it’s probably one of MY enemies who wants to get to you. You’re not blaming me?”
“He must be weak since he chose to come after me rather than getting revenge on you, sir.”
Sunders nodded. “Speaking of my old enemies, they should all know that it’s hopeless to confront me. However, I only remember wizards who might do such a thing, which means they are a lot stronger in terms of raw strength compared to you. Do not let your guard down.
“Now I think about it... if I have any enemies who would go out of their way to attack an apprentice, I can only think about one particular organization, which is the Centipede Guild. It’s an overstatement to call them a wizard organization because they’re smaller than most wizard families. A group made of rogue wizards. And just like how they look, they only do shady and injudicious business.
“I destroyed them once, but I let two of their leaders escape. They’ve gathered someone and become active again, and they’re always claiming to get back on me, which never happened,” Sunders scoffed. “The two wizards I knew are level-1 wizards, not much of a threat. However, they are pretty good at running and hiding, even from Prophets. If they do wish to abuse you while I’m away... be careful.
“If I guessed right, they will not come and look for you personally. I’ll send a false message later that a group of wizards will raid their organization recently, which will scare them for good. And if they sent some lesser lackeys after you, it shouldn’t be hard for you to deal with them.”
It wasn’t the first time Angor heard about the Centipede Guild since many magazines would talk about them occasionally, which were all about bad things. This guild functioned similarly to common underground groups operated by villains rather than a wizard organization.
Obviously, these people knew they were too weak to attack Sunders, so they chose to pick on Angor so that their grudge had somewhere to go.
Angor felt more annoyed at the matter than scared. In fact, as Sunders’ student, he had expected something like this to happen. He knew both Flora and Sumesh went through similar things, and he would not be an exception.
His title of a promising alchemist discouraged a lot of people from plotting against him since it was more profitable to befriend or at least stay on peaceful terms with an alchemist compared to provoking one. But apparently, the Centipede Guild would not agree.
Angor was glad he learned about the warning beforehand. He might not change the prophecy, but this allowed him to make preparations.
He probably didn’t have what it took to defeat a wizard in a fight, but it wasn’t difficult for him to hide from them.
“Glad you understand.” Sunders nodded and closed his eyes again.
Angor thought his professor would like him to leave now, but he stopped moving when Sunders suddenly talked again.
“I’m going to the Nightmare Realm later.”
Angor turned back. “May I ask where exactly, sir?”
Sunders lifted a hand, and a wooden lock full of nightmare energy lingering on it appeared on his hand.
Angor knew about the item—Sunders “tricked” it from Irisa not long ago. According to Irisa, she obtained the item along with Travel In Dreamland, which was supposed to come from an ancient wizard who explored the Nightmare Realm.
“Are you going to check the rumored ‘treasure vault’, sir?”
The scroll Travel In Dreamland mentioned a mysterious shelter, which was said to contain lots of Mystery treasures all around it, such as a mirror that copied absolutely everything, a swing that reflected fate itself, a box that showed random content each time someone opened it...
The wooden lock came from there as well.
“I need to see which section the shelter is located in the Nightmare Realm.” Sunders rubbed his temples. “Hope it’s not too close to the core areas.”
Sunders saw Angor’s excited smile and added, “No, you’re not coming this time. I can’t guarantee your safety when looking around an uncharted place in the Nightmare Realm.”
Sunders shook his head when he thought about their previous explorations. Even when traveling in “charted” places like Nether City or Witch’s Town, something unexpected and dangerous still found their way to Angor. Of course he would not bring Angor to a completely unknown area.