Chapter 31: The Deep Blue Aria

On the last day of April each year, the seven crescent moons of the Noland continent simultaneously hang high in the night sky. This day is said to be a moment that can change a person's fate throughout the year, hence it is also known as the Day of Destiny.

The Day of Destiny is a festival celebrated in many countries on the continent, as well as a shared festival among numerous semi-intelligent tribes. Tribes centered on witchcraft, such as gnolls, snake people, and goblins, consider this day the most important. Strangely, even races that live in underground caves year-round, such as troglodytes, as well as aquatic creatures like fishmen and nagas, also hold the Day of Destiny in high esteem, despite some of these races rarely seeing the moon throughout the year.

Legend has it that on the Day of Destiny, the gods will lend an ear to the voices of their believers, or send spokespersons, or even descend to the mortal realm in avatar form to listen to the wishes of their followers. The devout will be rewarded, while those without faith will gain nothing. However, those who have traversed different realms understand that legends are merely legends.

Yet, on this year's Day of Destiny, the fate of many people did indeed change.

In a breathtaking battle of assault, penetration, and counter-encirclement, Alize's framed knights finally appeared on the battlefield, engaging in a direct confrontation with the framed knights of the Neo and Solam families. Twenty against eighteen, the allied forces of Solam and Neo still had the advantage, though it was a slim one. However, the outcome of the decisive battle was that Alize annihilated the allied framed knight team at the cost of only five framed knights!

This was the battle that determined the outcome of the war. With the framed knights as the vanguard, Alize's army was like a sharply pointed cone, fiercely piercing through the allied forces' formation, tearing a gap in the steel flood defense line. The wound quickly deepened and expanded, and eventually, the entire battle situation collapsed completely. Thousands of allied soldiers were captured, and nearly a thousand cavalry and heavy cavalry were lost. Solam officially announced his withdrawal from the war, while Neo's peace envoy was dispatched promptly as the battle had just ended.

There are ancient rules among military nobles, and the outcome of the peace negotiations is actually determined by the previous battles. Marquis Neo will lose up to one-third of his territory in exchange for peace for the next ten years. Alize, on the other hand, will acquire all the land lost by the defeated side. The bountiful spoils of this victory will grant her sufficient legitimate territories, and once the decree of the Holy Alliance Emperor is issued, her title will become Countess Alize.

The war between the framed knights laid the foundation for victory, but what people will talk more about is definitely the victory resulting from the disparity in combat effectiveness. For some time in the future, people will speculate about who the mysterious frame crafter behind Alize is. At least his skill level should far surpass that of Saint Crus, who has been famous for decades.

On the southwestern front of the Holy Alliance, Alize will be a central topic of discussion for a long time. However, at the continental level, more people are talking about Gavin Warsong, specifically Gavin Warsong Akmond. Gavin Warsong chose to officially enter Faust, the capital of the Holy Alliance and the "City of Miracles" of the continent, at noon on the Day of Destiny.

The path to Faust has always been paved with steel and blood. Many forces will openly or secretly obstruct it, and some major families will even blatantly send people to intercept and kill. This is the tradition of the Holy Alliance and a rule set by the first emperor. Families that are unable to break through the blockade and interception are simply unqualified to establish themselves in Faust. During the process of a family entering Faust, attacks on their territories are legal.

Over the past hundred years, behind the glory of each family successfully entering Faust lies a path stained with roses and blood. However, people often only remember the successful ones and forget that more families have completely disappeared from this path.

Gavin Warsong's decision has astonished the entire continent. One reason is that while the Akmond as a whole might be qualified to challenge Faust, they have never been united. As the clan leader, Gavin Warsong only represents himself. Moreover, Gavin Warsong's rise has been too swift, lacking the depth that established nobles see as crucial. Depth is not an empty word; on the contrary, it signifies secret private realms, mountains of wealth, numerous framed knights, well-equipped armies, and talents capable of supporting expansion. The sum of all these is called depth. Depth requires time and accumulates over the years.

This is why upstarts rise quickly but also fall quickly. There is no doubt that Gavin Warsong Akmond is an upstart, and a particularly foolish one at that.

In front of Gavin Warsong Akmond, the path to Faust was not smooth. However, instead of summoning armies from various realms to break through the blockade as his successful predecessors had done, he did the opposite, ordering all armies, including those in their native realm, to stay put and guard against other families seizing the opportunity for their own gain. He didn't even use his authority as the clan leader to request cooperation from other members of the Akmond family.

When Gavin Warsong Akmond embarked on his journey, he was accompanied only by his thirteen knights of constructs.

At noon on the Day of Destiny, Gordon Akmond appeared punctually at the gates of Faust, causing a stir throughout the Holy Alliance.

This was the first time the Akmond family had set foot in Faust, marking the day when the Akmonds officially became one of the most prominent families on the continent.

The Day of Destiny was also a special day for Grey, as he would be summoned by the legendary mage at 11 p.m. He instinctively felt that this would be a very special meeting.

As the night gradually descended upon the majestic Ice Bay, the Deep Blue had already been illuminated on this special evening.

A hazy blue magical glow continuously spilled out from the textures of the tower's grand structure, rising upwards. From a distance, it looked like a magnificent and mysterious blue crystal tower standing at the end of the Ice Bay. Thousands of bonfires burned on the open ground around the Deep Blue, resembling stars twinkling in the night sky from the higher levels of the mage tower. People, seemingly unaffected by the chill and biting cold, gathered around the bonfires, singing, dancing, indulging in strong liquor, and admiring the spectacle of the Deep Blue's illumination, which occurred only once a year.

Most of them were people living in the fringe areas. The Deep Blue was their shelter for survival and their spiritual pillar. As long as this mage tower stood tall in the north, their pride would grow.

Yet, on this revelrous night, the upper levels of the Deep Blue were already quiet. The archmages had seen more grand celebrations and were no longer moved. For them, the vast magical world was already inexhaustible to explore, and they no longer needed to rely on the revelry of celebrations and festivals to anesthetize themselves and seek solace.

The agreed time had arrived.

Before Grey, a massive magical puppet pushed open two heavy steel doors, revealing the spiraling staircase behind them.

The doors were still towering, conforming to the aesthetics of the upper levels of the Deep Blue. However, the surface of the heavy steel had not been specially treated, exposing a strong reddish-brown color and weathered textures, filled with primitive beauty, which reminded people of the metal's origin and the wild scenery deep in the Desolation of Destruction and Despair.

The layers of staircases were exquisite and delicate, shining with a faint glow. The glow didn't seem special at first glance, but if one gazed intently, they would immediately feel dizzy and confused, unable to discern the original material of the stairs. Every sculpture on the handrails was a masterpiece of art, which looked even more enchanting under the glow. The height of the stairs made Grey dizzy. This area already belonged to the uppermost levels of the Deep Blue. Going further up would lead to Liana Dawn's truly private area, a restricted zone that even the archmages were not qualified to enter.

Was the legendary mage going to meet him in her private area?

Grey calmed his mind and ascended the stairs. At the end of the staircase, a small door almost hollowed out by sculptures of various forms opened automatically. Surprisingly, two dark elf girls stood behind the door. Seeing the ferocious race from the legendary underground world suddenly appear before him, Grey was startled and almost cast an instant magic spell. However, he immediately remembered that this was the legendary mage's private domain, where enemies were unlikely to appear. It seemed that the two dark elf girls were her personally kept subordinates.

The two dark elf girls apparently knew Grey. One of them gestured an invitation and said, "Mr. Aiden Grey, please follow me." After speaking, she led the way, while the other girl closed the small door.

Looking at the light and silent footsteps of the dark elf girl ahead, Grey suddenly felt fine beads of sweat seeping out on his body. Naya had once taught him to observe other people's movements. The girl's every step was as precise as a pendulum, equivalent to her shoulder width, not more or less, and each step only touched the ground with the tip of her foot, yet it demonstrated a full sense of strength in her gait. Although this walking posture was full of rhythm and had the beauty of dance, it seemed extremely dangerous to Grey. It indicated that the girl actually possessed terrifying martial skills. If she suddenly launched an attack, Grey would be unable to resist with his current abilities.

The girl led Grey into a vast space. If Liana Dawn's kilometer-long reception hall simulated the picturesque scenery between mountains and waters, then this nearly ten-thousand-square-meter enormous space emulated the natural environments of various planes. There were lava worlds, icy and cold polar tundras, arid deserts, damp and muddy swamps, and even a dragon's lair!

Different terrains were separated by magical barriers, without interfering with each other. And each environment was neither static nor silent. Through magical barriers of different attributes, glowing purple, blue, green, and so on, one could see shadowy figures flickering, barely recognizable as strange creatures that could only be seen in the Complete Illustrated Bestiary, fleetingly active.

After traversing this area and ascending another level along the staircase, another door appeared in front of Grey. This gate was made of stone, with no particular oddities except for its smoothly polished surface. The girl lightly touched the door, and the stone door silently slid open. The dark elf girl refused to take another step forward, instead indicating that Grey should enter on his own.

At the end of the long and deep corridor was a dreamlike place.

Countless Ice Abyss crystals were embedded in the walls and ceiling like stars in the sky, emanating blue light of varying intensities, coating everything in the room with a dreamlike blue hue. The floor was as smooth as a mirror, unknown what kind of stone it was paved with, and stepping on it didn't give a cold sensation but was warmly comfortable. Standing here, the ground reflected the starry sky above. In a trance, Grey felt as if he was at the center of the planar system, looking out at the endless starry sea.

In the distance was a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, and the first panoramic view that came into sight was the Eternal Winter Mountains under the night sky. The magnificent and majestic Eternal Winter Mountains lay there quietly, like ancient titans, vast and solemn, merely witnessing the changes of the continent's history without participating.

Standing by the ten-meter-high floor-to-ceiling windows was a graceful figure. In this dreamlike space, she was actually quite inconspicuous, so Aiden Grey didn't see her at first. But once his gaze fell on her, it was naturally drawn and could no longer be diverted.

That was the legendary mage, plane conqueror, dragon slayer, and demon terminator, Liana Dawn.

Such a space, such a time, such a woman, combined together, made Grey have some sort of illusion, as if he was in a dream, or had entered someone else's memory, with his body and mind filled with vicissitudes and exhaustion, as if he had been battling across the planes for ten thousand years, or had been wandering for even longer.

"Teacher, you wanted to see me?" Aiden Grey suppressed his unusual emotions, stepped forward, and greeted her.

The legendary mage slowly turned around, gazing at him, and said, "Aiden Grey, you are already a man, and you have also demonstrated your talent and ability." At this moment, Liana Dawn's expression and demeanor were quite different from usual, more like a gentle and dignified woman than an immature little girl. She paused slightly before asking, "So, are you willing to inherit my knowledge and go further on the path of a constructor?"

Grey's heart suddenly skipped a beat. He deeply bowed and said, "Absolutely willing!"

Liana Dawn smiled warmly and said, "You know, every gain requires a price. And so far, all the prices have actually been paid by your father, Gavin Battlecry Akmond. But I think this shouldn't be the situation you desire. However, now I can give you a chance, a chance where you can use yourself as the price to obtain great power. Are you willing?"

Grey didn't answer immediately. What Liana Dawn said sounded casual, but he was pondering what he had that could be comparable to his father's support. Even if Grey didn't know what the proceeds of a plane's ten years in Norland time meant at first, he now fully understood. Even if he sold himself completely, how could it compare to such a huge amount of support? Grey was very intelligent, and his wisdom talent and studies in Deep Blue had always given him a clear understanding of his own worth. Currently, ten Greys together couldn't match the cost of training a constructor. As for the future... In the future, if he wanted to achieve what Gavin Battlecry has today, he would need to maintain his current diligence and also have sufficiently good luck. Just as some archmage said, luck has always been an important part of strength, or even the most important part.

It was cruel, but this was reality.

Each person has a price, even if they firmly believe they cannot be measured in gold coins, they still have a price. And since everyone's price is actually determined by others, there will always be a deviation from their own psychological valuation, usually a significant one. Therefore, unable to confirm the height he could reach in the future, Gray couldn't make a promise.

Upon carefully pondering the words of the legendary mage, Gray realized that Liana Morninglight had a... preference for him.

This made him even more hesitant, because Gray knew he had already owed her too much. If he wanted to get more without considering whether he could reciprocate, that wasn't the style of Ailia Silvermoon. Ailia Silvermoon's pride, belonging to the Silvermoon Elves, had all been left to Gray. However, what prevented him from immediately refusing was the blazing fire deep within his heart!

If he rejected Liana Morninglight's help, Gray didn't know where he could get enough resources in the future to become strong enough to fulfill his mother's last wish. His father was a massive shadow, and it was still expanding.

The choice was so difficult.

Liana Morninglight walked to Gray, reached out, and touched his face, making him lift his head.

This was their first physical contact. The legendary mage's hand was so delicate and icy that it made one shiver. Suddenly, he realized that standing face to face, they were actually of equal height. Demons were much taller than humans, and Silvermoon Elves were also a head taller than ordinary people. Gray inherited bloodlines from both his parents, and his childhood spent in the mountains had made him taller than his peers. The breadfruit that Ailia Silvermoon constantly gave Gray to eat in the first ten years was actually a main ingredient in an ancient Silvermoon Elf recipe, and in the special meals of the past year in the Deep Blue, Liana Morninglight had invested heavily. So, unconsciously, Gray had become no different from an ordinary human youth.

At such a close distance, Gray saw the legendary mage's face, which was unexpectedly so gentle. This was encouragement, and it finally gave him the courage to say what was in his heart.

"Teacher, I... I don't have anything that can be compared to your cultivation. As for the future, it's very far away. Who can say what will happen three years later?"

Liana Morninglight smiled gently, and even the magic glow in the room couldn't overshadow the sparkling light in her eyes as she said, "So you're worried about this, stubborn little one. You're exactly like your mother."

Gray was truly surprised this time: "You knew my mother?"

"I met her twice, and we were good friends. Ailia Silvermoon was a respectable person, and your personality is exactly like her, so you remind me of her. About her and your father... well, that's all in the past, let's not talk about it. I just want to tell you that I can actually guess a little about what's on your mind now." The legendary mage's voice was gentle and peaceful, but it easily broke through the deepest freeze in Gray's heart, making him lower his head so she wouldn't see the tears that shouldn't be there.

"I'm willing to give you such an opportunity, partly because of Ailia Silvermoon, and partly because I want to give myself a little more hope and try to realize a dream that I originally thought was completely impossible to achieve. Just a short while ago, I was close to complete despair, but your appearance has given me a glimmer of hope. So you don't need to consider what you can specifically give. Just having the determination to give everything for this is enough."

Gray no longer hesitated: "I'm willing! And in my lifetime, I will..."

His words were covered by Liana Morninglight's small hand. She smiled joyfully and said, "You don't need to say the rest. Just the first three words are enough."

"Alright, Gray, it's time to show you the real magic tattoo constructs."

Liana Morninglight stepped back a few paces as if floating on the water's surface, then without making any gestures or incantations, her whole body rose slowly into the air as if it had lost weight, stopping when her toes were one meter off the ground. She gracefully unfolded her arms like a swan, and her magical robe and all her clothes instantly turned into thousands of flowing lights, swirling and dancing around her in the air.

Gray stood transfixed, never imagining that such a fantastically beautiful body would appear in front of him, and without any concealment.

The body of the legendary mage was even more perfect than the limits of imagination.

Before Gray could recover from his shock, water-blue patterns began to emerge on her skin. In the blink of an eye, they grew and spread like living branches, covering her entire body. Then they suddenly shone brightly, emitting a mesmerizing blue glow like a veil.

Gray's mind, already a blank, was now filled with the dazzling blue. His thoughts had frozen, unable to flow anymore, and words and ideas failed to describe this beauty.

Liana Morninglight's voice drifted as if from the heavens: "Do you see? This is my magical tattoo armor: Deep Blue Aria. It's not yet complete. I never thought I would have the chance to complete it in this lifetime. Now I want to give myself a little hope. Gray! If possible in the future, complete it for me!"