Surviving The Fourth Calamity

After a long conversation, Russell left Felis, who he had filled with healing potion, as a large ice block, and returned to the hall with a thoughtful expression.

”Brother Russell?” Carpenter poked her head out from the corner.

Clearly, she had been waiting anxiously. To suppress her emotions, she went over there to copy books... Russell had told her that if there was no activity in the secret passage monitoring array within ten minutes, then there would be no further danger.

After all, the secret chamber where Felis was located wasn’t easily found by just anyone.

Carpenter was originally quite relieved... until she realized Russell seemed to have moved downstairs.

She certainly understood what Russell and Felis would discuss, but, compared to those unknown futures, she was more worried about whether the medicated Felis was actually salvageable.

”He’s still alive, and doing well, he will continue to be so.” Russell first gave her some reassurance.

Carpenter barely managed a relieved smile before suddenly realizing: ”He can become an official mage now?”

”Yes.” Russell looked at her amusingly, ”If you don’t hurry up, Felis will always be your brother.”

Carpenter was bewildered.

She really didn’t expect that in the end, she would be the one victimized by all this!

The superior mentality she had from standing above Felis all these years, relying on her talents... although it was just a little bit, it still existed... how could she just give that up?

Damn it, even for a day, as long as she’s first!

Carpenter gathered a pile of books from the corner, determined... this time, her determination to forge ahead even surpassed that moment when she watched Russell descend the underground passage!

However, upon reaching the entrance to the corridor, Carpenter suddenly remembered something. She hesitantly turned her head to ask, ”Brother Russell, should I remind the family about Felis’s situation?”

Although spoken nicely, her aunt chose avoidance over danger... even though this world is inherently brutal.

It’s simply impossible for parents to give up their lives for an impossible victory for their children.

Yet, there’s a Gilbert Hainarson Clan that shows emotion doesn’t completely transcend emotion’s existence.

Although strong forces may abandon the struggle, neither Gilbert nor Ulrich and his father have completely given up struggling.

Felis’s mother’s decision can be understood rationally, but Felis... he actually values emotion a lot.

Otherwise, he could have completely followed Rolando.

Though his decision also saved himself, a correct choice doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.

”You don’t need to worry about this.” Russell said softly, ”I can feel that Felis has made a decisive decision.

He still considers himself part of the Hainarson Clan, but... he’ll probably only have dealings with Ulrich’s side.

This is already a very good outcome.

You’re also a mage, consider what decisions you’d make if experiencing all this, don’t make it hard on yourself, and don’t think there’s anything wrong with Felis because of it.

Carpenter, just asking me this surprises me... has too much illusion study made your emotions abundant?”

”No, I’m just worried my mother will make a wrong decision.” Carpenter shook her head, ”She does have some sisterly love, but certainly not much.”

Russell blinked, suddenly realizing: Rolando’s attack on Felis certainly couldn’t be kept secret.

Coupled with the threat from Prutt behind... if Felis’s mother went crazy over her child’s experience, Carpenter’s somewhat patient but limited mother, could very well directly turn against her own sister.

How to say... although Felis wouldn’t become close with his mother again, he wouldn’t stand by watching her meet a miserable end.

After all, that woman is just timid, irresponsible, but compared to Rolando, she unexpectedly still seems human.

This is really... Russell pondered for a few seconds, still refusing Carpenter’s idea: ”Ulrich should know Felis’s disappearance has something to do with us.

Let him handle this.

If your mother, under Ulrich’s suppression, still makes wrong decisions, then it can only be said it’s her fate.

You don’t need to be too concerned.

Even if unaware Felis can become a mage, he’s still a high-level apprentice!

As long as news of his death hasn’t spread, his mother’s situation might not be good, but there wouldn’t be any life danger.”

Russell turned to look out the window: ”Just a bit of suffering, Felis won’t do anything.

He’s a person who distinguishes between gratitude and resentment.”

Carpenter pursed her lips: ”I understand.”

Watching her retreating figure, Russell spoke leisurely: ”Dear sister, you better give up illusion study for a while, and learn frost ray more.”

”What... do you mean?”

”Felis used that spell to freeze the mess in his own brain.” Russell said sincerely, ”I think you might also learn from him, a little freezing could make you clearer.

I’ll say it again... you’ve learned too much illusion.”

Carpenter somewhat understood this time, she frowned tightly hugging the books in her arms: ”Have I been affected that clearly?”

”You’re learning spells, not opera performances.” Russell stated affirmatively, ”You’re too much into the act, step out from it.

Felis at least was due to medication, are you planning to make real magic with your strength?”

Carpenter’s focus on Felis and family was a bit excessive... if it were before, as long as she confirmed Felis was alive, she wouldn’t interfere.

Russell actually guessed a bit about why she turned out like this.

The illusions Carpenter excelled in producing indeed showcased her talents: sometimes, even knowing the face opposite was fake, he would be dazed for a few seconds.

Of course, the reason it became this way was because Carpenter initially used this spell mainly with familiar people from the family.

Besides Carpenter’s family members, Russell was also well acquainted with many of them.

So, of course, he could sense how vividly Carpenter mimicked... though initially, such realism was delightful, it became increasingly concerning later on.

Especially today’s Carpenter, actually starting to care for the family’s future, even worrying whether her parents would be neglected by the family due to wrong decisions... such useless emotions.

What a joke?

At 12 or 13, they knew that feelings for family must be maintained at a certain level, never exceeding it... otherwise, they’d be seen as fools.

Gilbert’s experience actually instills profound caution in every mage apprentice.

Although Ulrich and his father indeed didn’t overly fail Gilbert’s sacrifice... yet Gilbert was lucky enough to meet two good individuals.

The family’s other members’ behaviors were the real deal.

The sacrificed ones could be praised, but no one would save them.

And so what if Ulrich had a slight conscience?

Powerless conscience, worthless.

Russell’s words were a shock to Carpenter.

She was just considering how to swiftly use illusion to advance to mage... now she could even swiftly switch several faces and even had thoughts about illusion arrays: utilizing fixed furniture or stones to make surroundings resemble enemy’s recalled scenes.

She even learned Dance of Light spell as a result, then combined Sound Illusion Technique with Dance of Light spell.

Carpenter initially thought this was her prideful creation and intended to use this combined spells to advance to mage... why turn out this way?

”Your illusion isn’t wrong.” Russell observed her varied expressions, abruptly realizing his little sister might be overreacting, ”I’m only asking you to learn Frozen Ray first, not to abandon illusion.

When overly focused on one thing, it’s really easy for someone to fall into a dead end, with no way out, looking only from that angle’s perspective.

But once stepping out from that thought, you’ll realize, the world is never just about one corner.

Carpenter, Felis learned a shaping spell nobody taught in days, I don’t believe with such detailed notes from the teacher, corrected by me letter by letter, you’d need so long.”

Carpenter looked up at her brother, solemnly nodding: ”Three days, three days is enough.

In fact, I’m not completely unaware of the shaping spell... otherwise I wouldn’t have learned Dance of Light spell so quickly.

I just felt, since illusion is my talent, it should be glorified.

Rest assured, Brother Russell, Felis can’t advance sooner than me.”