What’s the deal with this “music box alchemist”?
Angor tried to hide his displeasure because he was looking at a famous wizard. “I’m Angor, mister. No offense, but those interesting titles you heard were all made up by irresponsible people.”
“But you kinda like making new music boxes, right?” Madelyne giggled. “Tree Spirit told me that the high-tier tool that got so many people curious is also a music box. It’s just right for people to call you like that.”
Angor’s lips twitched. He pointed to his pocket, where Toby was sound asleep. “He likes music, so I chose music boxes to practice when I started as a new alchemist and slowly got used to it. I’m capable of making other types of items.”
“I see.” Madelyne then looked at Vifet, wondering what Vifet wanted to do.
Vifet smiled. “I wasn’t sure it was you when I saw you come onto Frozen Wing. Now I am.”
Even though Angor’s deeds earned him lots of attention, these could be slowly forgotten in the wizarding world when there were many other matters to be focused on.
The most recent news about Angor only used his picture that was taken two years ago, during which Angor had gained a big boost in body height, making it harder for people to recognize him using the magazines they read.
Besides, no one would have expected that Angor would get sent to the Abyss Plane.
Vifet had been attempting to figure out whether the young apprentice with Madelyne was Angor. When he saw Madelyne mentioning “alchemy” and “music box”, he was finally certain of it.
He knew it was impolite to barge into their conversation like this, but when he thought about how Gauss mentioned that Angor knew what was haunting the Evernight Kingdom and that the disaster might make its way to Moxa Westland, he really wished to learn more about it.
“Do you need something, Mister Vifet?” asked Angor.
Vifet kept his gentle smile of an old man as he spoke, “Nothing important. I just want to look at the rumored little genius up close. What was Mister Rein thinking? I would never make such a decision and put you to waste.”
“It has nothing to do with Mister Rein. It’s me who wants to go to the Abyss.”
“I heard that Sumesh just went there and is still wandering around the entrance. Then here you are. Is Mister Phantom planning something big?”
Madelyne narrowed her eyes. “Curious about Mister Phantom now, Vifet?”
“Heh heh. Just a bit interested, that’s all.”
“Mister Vifet, I’m going to my professor for advice because I need to tackle my major limit really soon. I just returned to Fey Continent recently, so I do not know much about what’s going on here,” said Angor.
Vifet saw Angor’s cautious look and sighed. Even without being violent, he had many ways to get Angor to talk. But none of his methods would work if Madelyne was watching.
He considered and decided to use another approach.
“I’d like to offer a trade.”
“Trade?” Angor frowned. “If it’s alchemy work, I’m afraid I can’t accept it. I need to fully concentrate on my breakthrough.”
“I completely understand. While I do have alchemy requests on my mind, that can wait. Here, I only want to procure a piece of information from you.”
Madelyne paid attention as she was curious about why a resourceful wizard like Vifet would ask an apprentice for information.
“What is it, sir?”
Vifet stroked his beard. “The incident in the Evernight Kingdom.”
The “dark domes” that occupied several cities in the Evernight Kingdom were slowly expanding to other areas, and Moxa Westland, as the neighbor of the kingdom, would soon get affected. For this reason, it was reasonable that Vifet asked such a question.
Sunders already did lots of work to convince wizards that Angor had little to do with the dark domes, but this wouldn’t easily persuade everyone. For example, “Plucker of Strings” Anglo from White Coral Floating Island Academy had been openly showing his concerns about Angor’s involvement in this matter. Not to mention there were many more “stubborn” people who wouldn’t give up their suspicions regarding Angor after they heard so many rumors about him.
When Angor was still trying to make up excuses, Madelyne spoke to Vifet first, “He’s just a lucky apprentice who happened to be there under Sunders’ protection. If you want to know the truth, how about you ask Mister Sunders? After all, we’re all heading to the Abyss.”
Vifet simply kept his neutral smile. “Of course I’ll consult Mister Sunders when I’m there. But now, I’d like to hear Angor’s opinion as well.”
He then gave Angor an inquiring gaze. “A friend informed me that it was you who created that energy storm at the center of Sleepless City, which was powerful enough to dispel the dark dome if Sunders did not put a stop to it. Also, ‘Whipping Witch’ Rak’sel saw you stepping out of the supposed forbidden area alone, but you walked back inside when you saw her.”
Angor slightly shook his head. He knew someone would question him like this sooner or later, and he should be expecting more of them at this rate.
He made up his mind and looked at Vifet in the eyes, and Vifet returned the same look.
Vifet wasn’t lying when he said he would ask Sunders about what truly happened in Sleepless City, but he wouldn’t depend on it. Compared to talking to Sunders, it was easier to tell whether Angor was speaking truthfully even without using truth-detection spells.
Under Vifet’s hopeful look, Angor said his answer clearly, word by word, “I will reject your offer, sir.”
Vifet’s smile froze, while Madelyne began laughing.
“It’s supposed to be a ‘trade’, right? Too bad. Angor doesn’t want to do it.” Madelyne found it funny that Angor straightforwardly said no to Vifet. She thought Angor would at least be roundabout about it.
Vifet’s expression grew dark. This was the second time someone rejected his request within this month. Beals was a powerful wizard, so he couldn’t really complain, but how could an apprentice treat him, a renowned wizard, like this?
When he wanted to resolve to harsher means, somebody suddenly yelled loudly and drew everyone’s attention, “You all look! Something’s coming!”
People looked that way and saw a small dot in the sky, which was getting bigger and bigger as it drew closer quickly.
It was a man covered under a black robe, who was directly heading Angor’s way, thus preventing Vifet from giving Angor a small punishment he had been preparing.
“Oi! There you are, Angor. I made it in time!” The figure landed on Frozen Wing and hurried to Angor’s side. “A lad in Brute Cavern said you just left with Frozen Wing, so I thought I lost you for good. Why is it stopped? Never mind. Glad it did.”
While on his way, the speaker and Vifet glanced at each other and both took a step back.
“Vifet?”
“Beals?”
“What are you doing here?”
“That’s my question!”
Vifet looked between Angor and the leader of Ashen Traders, and he felt something clicking in his mind.