Warlock Apprentice

Angor did not reach the minimum requirement for learning Narda’s Vision’s yet, so he spent the next days inside The Tributary to learn relevant subjects related to alchemy materials and applications.

The book collection in his tablet had saved him numerous efforts because he did not need to search for books or receive lessons from other people using time and money. Even if with enough resources, one could not simply buy alchemy knowledge in this world easily.

It was another peaceful day for Angor to read his hologram tablet in the basement of his laboratory when he suddenly heard Toby knocking on his door.

He hid his tablet and was going to remind Toby not to bother him during his important studies, but a small piece of note in Toby’s beak caught his attention.

The note had random, incomprehensible drawings on it. However, in Angor’s view, they contained a message hidden behind nightmare energy.

A finger-swipe was all he needed to dispel the energy, which obediently entered his right hand.

In the next second, the drawings and symbols on the paper rearranged themselves until they became a brief phrase.

[Come to me.]

“I… don’t know much about tea, but I do make wonderful pastries to go with it. Do you like some, Granny?”

“Please, no. If I were to try something from the hands of a Gourmet, I’m afraid I can no longer sit still in this isolated place,” Iron Granny said with a smile. “You didn’t come here just to visit this pathetic old soul, did you?”

“I’m looking for Angor. I have some questions to ask him.”

“Bad timing.” Iron Granny closed her eyes. “He left The Tributary half an hour ago.”

“He did? Can you tell me where he went, Granny?”

“Sunders arrived at Brute Cavern this morning, so… you guessed.”

“Mister Phantom has come back?” Greya narrowed her eyes. “Thank you, Granny. I’ll… pay you another visit next time.”

“Forget it. Don’t come.”

Greya left the room without saying anything else.

Iron Granny poured a cup of rose tea and drank.

For some reason, the sweet-flavored tea water that used to be her favorite tasted dull and stale this time.

…

Angor found Sunders resting on a chair.

The gentleman’s face looked pale, which proved Iron Granny’s words. Angor wondered what happened. Not many things in this world could wear down a truth-finder wizard in merely a month.

Sunders’ current condition reminded Angor of what he saw from the gentleman back at Floating Mech City.

“Sir,” Angor greeted him.

Sunders spoke without opening his eyes, “I have something to tell you. Do not get involved in anything related to Sleepless City for the time being. I dealt with some loose ends and removed your traces in the matter so that no one would come and bother you for it. However, you should stay alert nevertheless. Prophets like Anglo will keep your name in their minds, no matter what I told them.”

Angor quickly thought about his reunion with Dave, during which Dave mentioned the rumors centered around Sleepless City, which did not involve his name at all.

So it WAS my professor who did it…

“What’s the situation now, sir? Did you get rid of the remaining puppet strings in the victims?”

“The situation… is not good. The darkness is growing larger and is earning more interlayer sections by the day. Anyone who wanders inside will have no hope of escaping. I’m afraid the entire Evernight Kingdom will fall at this rate. As for the golden strings… I can remove them, but not all of them, because they spread too fast.”

Sunders frowned and suddenly changed the topic, “About that dog, I think it has left Sleepless City.”

“But where did it go?”

“I do not know. Back to the Nightmare Realm, perhaps. I can no longer sense its presence in Sleepless City.”

Sunders sounded rather disappointed since his plan of capturing the strange dog was no longer possible.

“Fox said that it was Yorkshire who took Spotty away from its owner and brought it to the wizarding world. Maybe this ‘owner’ took Spotty back?” Angor looked a little depressed as well. “If Spotty is really a Mystery item, it must be one of the high-leveled ones. Too bad it won’t come with me…”

“Speaking of that dog, did you figure out what that crystal is?”