One-Eyed Monster

Igor walked groggily to the Great Witch Biggs, feeling not joy but rather surprise.

”Respected Witch, do you have instructions for me?” Igor asked politely, knowing that clarifying things was more important than anything else.

”Well, it’s just, you know, in my Divination House...” The Great Witch felt a bit embarrassed to ask for the Spirit Book she had given Igor, so she hesitated.

Igor scratched his head, puzzled by her broken words: ”I did divination about the Adventurer in the Divination House, what does that have to do with anything?”

”There is, there is a connection, that divination...” The Great Witch couldn’t quite express it. She thought she could learn a thing or two from Elder Rostellum, especially at moments like these, wishing she could turn away without acknowledgment...

”You mean... are you going to do divination?” Igor tried to follow the Witch’s pace but was still clueless about her intentions.

”It’s... it’s about that book!” After much hesitation, the Great Witch finally blurted out, feeling an immense relief as if a heavy weight was lifted off her shoulders.

”Uh, book?” Igor was slow to react, failing to remember the Spirit Book immediately.

Seeing Igor’s confused gaze, the Great Witch felt a chill—was the book not with this young man?

Indeed, this young Igor couldn’t even keep Rain Crystal Stones safe. Could he keep a Spirit Book? Perhaps someone had bought it off him with gold coins at the mountain’s base... that would explain his lack of impression of the book.

The thought made the Witch uneasy; out of so many books, this one she hadn’t read closely. It was a Travelogue, a kind of travel diary—which she wasn’t interested in.

But now, regardless of her interest, the book’s whereabouts seemed lost...

Igor’s reaction worried the Witch, so Biggs explained to him with a glimmer of hope, wishing he could preserve it, as it was her last hope to understand the changes in her wizard robe.

”It’s the talking book.”

The Witch’s explanation was concise and without any embellishment.

Simple things often attract and convince people. Upon hearing ”talking book,” Igor instantly understood.

”Oh, you mean that fellow.”

”That fellow?” The Witch was surprised to hear Igor describe the Spirit Book as though it was a friend, though it was merely a book.

This indeed seemed like a peculiar behavior.

Fortunately, this young Igor remembered it, avoiding the Witch’s worries.

If Igor had forgotten the book, that would be sad. Of course, the book wasn’t particularly important, or she wouldn’t have given it to Igor so easily.

However, she recalled many book records and found nothing about the flickering spots on wizard robes, which led her to think of this Travelogue. Initially bought from the Dusk Market because its author was Lord Soron, without Soron’s name, she’d likely have ignored the book.

But after buying it, she felt deceived; except for its rich Spirit Power, she’d have discarded it, as it was merely Soron’s travel reflections across the Yoweien Continent. She couldn’t fathom why Soron made it a Spirit Book.

These questions were no longer her concerns, she just wanted to see if the bizarre Travelogue recorded the flickering robe colors!

It was her last shred of hope; if shattered, she’d be deeply saddened...

She had advanced with difficulty, only to encounter strange troubles afterward, making her a bit frustrated.

Frustration couldn’t capture her feelings; she even felt a touch of despair, fearing the flashing robe might turn her into a sunlight-fearing Dark Wizard, which would strip her of everything...

Her worries deepened, as she felt turning into a Dark Wizard would leave her unable to face her mentor. She had hoped to visit her mentor at the Wizard Alliance with her apprentice, Bigas.

Honestly, Biggs didn’t know her apprentice had such a significant family background—being from the Kangen Family. She had noticed Bigas being favored but never understood Bigas was from a prestigious family...

These were things for later; she couldn’t dwell on them, as people around her were discussing her changing state endlessly. She needed to find answers quickly or she’d crumble.

”Does Respected Wizard need that book?” Igor asked when the Great Witch fell silent after speaking for a while, growing awkward and taking initiative.

”Um, yes, that book, is it still around.” The Witch hesitated, feeling ominous as if the book had met misfortune.

”It is, but that fellow probably won’t come out now!” Igor scratched his head, feeling embarrassed.

Igor felt unable to handle the book; only after using force did it become obedient.

”What do you mean?” The Witch didn’t understand Igor’s words, feeling uneasy, thinking perhaps the Spirit Book was damaged?

”Well, Respected Wizard, see, this fellow remains in deep sleep, impossible to awaken.” Igor awkwardly pulled the Spirit Book from his pack, completely intact without a single mark.

The Witch breathed a long sigh of relief, realizing Igor never treated the book as just a book; he regarded the Spirit Book as a partner, hence calling it ”that fellow.”...

Indeed, although the Spirit Book could communicate, to the Witch it remained merely a book.