Higher above the common travel routes of clouds, a man with a wiry body suddenly looked below him.
He was wearing a fascinating wizard robe with bright-colored stitches and linings. His light blonde hair was tied behind his head using a simple green headband, and there was a small lock of fringe that went over his left eye.
This man wasn’t stylish, but he looked gentle like an academician. But when one looked more closely, one could see the unyielding ambition shown in his eyes.
He was heading to where Brute Cavern was when he was attracted by a flying boat traveling beneath him.
The clouds that separated their distance did nothing to obstruct his view—he was observing the delicate vehicle full of starry decorations clearly, which was silently sailing across the sky.
He didn’t know much about alchemy, but he still recognized that the boat was made from common materials. However... The flawless design was spectacular! Especially the use of Wavy Clams, which allowed the boat to treat anywhere as the sea.
He was always a man of great fashion, and he already took a liking to this brilliant alchemy item that was both fast and looked lovely.
“It has only been 50 years, and they started distributing new vehicles to their students? So they aren’t using broomsticks anymore?”
If so, he would like to get one as soon as possible.
But something told him that the vehicle he saw was only an exception. Also, the owner of the vehicle seemed to be a level-3 apprentice... and a pretty young one too. Perhaps he was an elite student who received extra attention from the organization? And that boat was a reward?
Either way, since the owner of the boat came from the organization, it shouldn’t be hard to find another one.
With this in mind, the man only wished to return to his organization faster.
“Oh, there’s the chasm, and below that is the mirror entrance. How fares Lady Mirror, I wonder? Did she get a new body already? Did Mister Tree Spirit successfully charm Yetheway? Is Flora still the unruly prankster like before? Did my professor discover more mysteries far and beyond?”
More importantly... is my tea garden still in good hands?
He brought some newly found tea seedlings in his space ring, and he was eager to get these planted.
He continued flying toward Brute Cavern without minding the strange boat.
He soon reached the mirror entrance. To his surprise, Lady Mirror did not show up to welcome him.
He then realized that Tree Spirit was not inside the Tree Spirit Palace. Even the workers in the palace failed to recognize him.
“Fifty years... and everyone has already forgotten about me?”
He shook his head and headed to Phantom Island. The most important task was, of course, to report his condition as well as what he learned during his journey to Sunders.
He was surprised yet again when he saw the vegetation of Phantom Island had changed greatly, and many phantom beasts were no longer here. He would have thought that he came to the wrong island if not for the general landscape of the place, which remained the same.
He landed inside the mansion and saw Butler Goode already coming to him.
“Excuse me, sir, you are...”
He removed his hood.
“Su-Mister Sumesh!” Goode lost his composure for a moment and almost yelled out.
“It’s been quite a while, Butler Goode.” Sumesh smiled as he looked around the mansion. “The house didn’t seem so different... but what did you do to the trees out there? Did the professor ask you to use the new decoration? Oh right, is the professor inside his study?”
Goode shook his head. “Master left the organization one week ago. He traveled to the Abyss Plane in order to fulfill a request of Mister Monkey.”
“The Abyss?” Sumesh frowned. “I guess a lot of fishy matters are going on. I wonder if the professor will be alright... but yes, we should not neglect Mister Monkey’s invitation.”
“As for the replaced trees,” Goode said, “it’s because of Miss Greya—”
“Greya? Greya the Gourmet Wizard? She’s here at Phantom Island?”
Goode explained Greya’s “challenge of truth”, but only what he saw with his own eyes. He didn’t tell anything that could be considered as rumors or guesses. As for why Greya was here, Goode said that Sunders invited her.
Sumesh replaced his relaxed expression with a more serious one.
“Sigh. Greya is believed to be the final hope of all Gourmets, and she deserves to be.”
Sumesh spent 50 years to finally find the path of truth, while Greya already succeeded twice on her way of creation.
She was a true genius. No one would say otherwise.
Since Sunders was absent, Sumesh decided to visit Greya before going to The Tributary. However, Goode stopped him.
“After seeing Mister Padt off, Miss Greya entered a seclusion session.”
“Seclusion? Can’t be helped then. But who’s this ‘Mister Padt’? Is he the new student professor found several years ago?”
“Yes. It was three years ago, to be precise. He left Brute Cavern today to travel back home. If he had known that you’re returning today, Mister Sumesh, I believe he would stay and meet with you.”
“Judging from your words... you like him, don’t you, Butler Goode?”
“Everyone likes him, Mister Sumesh. Mister Padt has a lovely nature.”
“Lovely? Now... this is interesting.” Sumesh raised an eyebrow. “I see it then. He’ll always come back one day, no? That’s when we can see each other.”
Sumesh bade farewell to Goode and headed to The Tributary.
He planned to pay Flora a visit, but he felt as if he couldn’t wait to see his precious tea garden.
While on his way, he noticed that the whole organization didn’t look as lively as before, and there were fewer people moving around compared to what he could remember.
“Did something bad happen? I think I may need to go and see Mister Rein later.”
As soon as he entered The Tributary, the Iron Fortress was already parked in front of him.
“Nice to see you again, Granny.” Sumesh entered the metal house and greeted the old woman politely. “Did you perhaps study prophecy? You saw me coming so soon.”
Sumesh took a seat and enjoyed the fragrance of hot tea with a relaxed smile.
“Ah... how I miss your rose tea, Granny. It brings back the memories of the old days.”
“Congratulations, by the way.” Iron Granny gently placed a teacup in front of Sumesh.
“I was lucky.” Sumesh smiled so widely that his eyes grew narrower; it was plain to see that he felt proud.
“The path of truth isn’t worth going after if everyone can simply find it by luck.” Iron Granny carried a steaming teapot to their table. “Help yourself if you like some rose tea. And no, I know nothing about prophecy. I’m staying at the entrance because I just sent a young friend of mine away, and I didn’t have time to go elsewhere yet.” She sipped some tea and grinned. “I’m glad I did.”
“Young friend? An... apprentice?” Sumesh also poured a cup of rose tea and was enjoying the smell with a captivated look.
“That’s right. A very interesting and promising apprentice.”
“You believe so, granny?”
“I do. I also believe that it won’t be long before he surpasses you.”
Sumesh widened his eyes a little as he had never heard Iron Granny spoke so highly of an apprentice like this before. She might not be a Prophet, but her words were always true. Almost.
And this got Sumesh really curious.
“Did our organization find a genius with a special property? A Sage Morph?”
Iron Granny shook her head. “Special property? Perhaps you mean a Nightmare Form. Speaking of him, he’s not a total stranger to you.”
“A Nightmare Form who’s not a stranger? Don’t tell me he’s that little junior whom I have yet to meet?”
Iron Granny nodded while grinning.
“My word. He’s so talented that even you endorsed him?”
Earlier, Sumesh didn’t find Angor’s name to be so special when he heard it from Goode. But now, he really hoped that he would get to meet with this young man soon.
He then decided to ask about Angor’s information, and Iron Granny simply told him what she knew without holding back.
“I heard rumors that he once reached out to Mystery energy, so it was real? And an alchemy illusion that was approved by Greya and Mister Rein? Yes... that’s something,” Sumesh exclaimed. “I’m glad we Phantom Island found a brilliant alchemist. This will benefit all of us in the long run.”
Iron Granny removed the rose tea from the table and showed Sumesh a box of strange leaves that showed faint energy signatures.
“What’s this, Granny? You found a new type of tea?”
Iron Granny gave him a mysterious smile. “Try it, and you’ll see.”