Warlock Apprentice

Toby’s eyes suddenly brightened, and he chirped incessantly for most of the day. To Sharley and Asaz, it was just meaningless noise. Even with ”Language Analysis,” they still couldn’t comprehend Toby’s intentions without substantial examples for reference.

However, to Angel and Greya, Toby was clearly expressing intricate and logically structured long and short sentences.

Seeing Toby so exhilarated, Greya thought it might have defeated the Extreme Resentment Thoughts within the lucid dream. But after Toby finished speaking, she realized it still hadn’t succeeded this time.

Although it didn’t succeed, Toby had come very close to vanquishing the Extreme Resentment Thoughts that had taken the form of a massive Snake Bird. Instead of being disappointed, Toby excitedly described a hopeful future.

Next time, next time it will definitely defeat the Extreme Resentment Thoughts! At this moment, Toby’s eyes resembled the early dawn star—bright, and representing the hope of piercing through the night mist to usher in a new day.

Though Toby had failed again, its spirit grew even more fervent, itching with anticipation, eager to start the next challenge immediately.

However, Toby had undergone continuous challenges for several days. Its mental energy may have approached the brink, reaching the rebound point after overstretching. For Toby’s well-being and to let Sharley get some rest, Greya didn’t agree to Toby’s immediate challenge. Instead, she carefully took out a brooch from her pocket.

It was a brooch adorned with intricate reliefs. Upon closer inspection, its surface featured two patterns: one resembling a seabird, and the other a Gryphon.

When Sharley and Asaz saw the brooch, a hint of delight flashed in their eyes. The impatience on Toby’s face also began to fade imperceptibly.

”Take a rest for a while. We’ll continue later,” Greya said as she began stroking the brooch. With her fingertip’s touch, an invisible, peculiar aura slowly enveloped everyone.

Toby, Sharley, and Asaz all closed their eyes simultaneously, their expressions serene.

”I plan to rest inside for a while too. What about you? Feel like going in?” Greya turned to Angel and asked.

Angel thought for a moment and nodded, ”Alright, it’s been a while since I’ve gone inside.”

Greya smiled faintly, and the familiar peculiar aura from the brooch enveloped them both. As darkness descended, accompanied by the eerie sensation of weightlessness, they arrived at a pitch-black mountain range shrouded in night.

”Night vision deprived again, Magical Core perception still vague—this place remains as fiercely domineering as ever.” Sharley sat cross-legged under a big tree before quickly climbing it. After rubbing against it for a while, Sharley jumped down from the tree, holding in her hand a small transparent homemade pouch containing a flickering firefly.

Though the firefly’s faint glow couldn’t brighten the surroundings, it brought a sense of comfort.

”The moist air, the earthy fragrance, and the howling night wind... It’s truly unimaginable that this place is just an Illusionary Realm,” Asaz marveled, his eyes reflecting a trace of disbelief. Despite having visited multiple times, he still found it incredibly astonishing.

”Indeed, it’s practically indistinguishable from the True World,” Sharley responded.

At this moment, Toby, perched on Angel’s shoulder, suddenly began chirping sharply with a quick frequency. Sharley and Asaz were immediately drawn closer. Under the faint light of the firefly, Toby could be seen puffing his chest and raising his head—a smug, proud posture.

”What’s Toby saying?” Asaz asked curiously.

Angel didn’t answer, but Greya chuckled lightly, ”It’s saying Angel refined this.”

Though Toby claimed Angel had refined it, the smug and self-satisfied attitude it displayed seemed to imply it had also participated in the process, sharing in the glory.

”Is this something crafted by Master Chaowei?” Sharley and Asaz asked in surprise.

Greya paused and replied, ”Yes, Toby isn’t lying. This was indeed refined by Angel for me. Moreover, it was crafted during his apprentice days. It’s called—Dream Twin. So, you two... still have a long way to go.”

Greya spoke while throwing a flirty glance at Angel, mouthing silently: ”What do you think? Doesn’t this make you look good?”

Angel ignored Greya’s teasing and instead directed his gaze toward the distant foothills, where a cave lay.

A crisp ”ding-ding” sound emanated from the cave, accompanied by faint tremors in the ground.

Sharley and Asaz were still processing the revelation that Angel was the creator of the Illusionary Realm. Their attention quickly shifted due to the tremors.

As the ”ding-ding” sounds grew louder, two beams of light piercing through the night emerged from the cave.

Soon, a soft yet agile figure dashed out of the cave and swiftly reached the group under the cover of night. It was only then that they saw the figure clearly—a large orange-striped cat. Its glowing eyes resembled headlights, and its hollow body featured compartments akin to vehicle windows.

Amidst the soft honking, the cat bus stopped. ”Passengers, the Cat Bus is at your service~” it said.

Having visited many times before, they skillfully boarded the Cat Bus. Yet despite their familiarity, Sharley and Asaz couldn’t hide their subtle wonder.

”Where should we go to relax?” Greya mused from her plush seat. After a moment’s thought, she decided, ”To the Hot Spring House.”

With Greya’s decision made, the Cat Bus began weaving swiftly through the dark mountain range until it vanished into the distance...

The Hot Spring House was a station within the Dream Twin Illusionary Realm. Its name bore some resemblance to the ”Ladies’ Hot Spring Pavilion” situated across various regions of the Elysium Pavilion. However, their functions differed greatly.

This Hot Spring House was an expansive hot spring retreat. Since Angel had left traces of Nightmare Illusion Breath here to soothe the mind and calm the spirit, soaking in its hot springs allowed guests to swiftly unwind and recover.

The hot springs here were numerous, and everyone dispersed into different ones.

Angel, meanwhile, soaked atop the mountain in one of its springs alongside Toby. While stroking Toby’s feathers, Angel reclined by the edge of the steam-filled pool, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

The sounds of flowing water and the bubbling of steam created a soothing melody, enough to lull Toby into a yawn. Relaxing beside Angel, Toby let its thoughts drift as it drowsed off.

Angel, too, seized this rare opportunity for tranquility, quietly closing his eyes to rest.

After an unknown span of time, Angel suddenly opened his eyes.

A soft, delicate hand rested on his shoulder, accompanied by a faintly sweet fragrance wafting into his nose.

”Shall I give you a hot-spring massage?” A seductive voice purred, as her hand lazily wandered over Angel’s shoulder.

Angel furrowed his brow. ”Why are you here?”

”Didn’t I just say—to give you a massage? If you’d prefer a deeper level of ’service,’ I could also...” Her sentence dangled provocatively, suggesting endless possibilities.

Angel paused before turning to look at the woman behind him... Greya.

”Don’t forget, this is just the Illusionary Realm,” Angel said coldly.

The tactile heat of the spring and the sultry atmosphere had all been conjured by the illusion.

Greya’s expression froze briefly before she rolled her eyes and put away her playful demeanor. ”So boring,” she huffed.

She stood, walked to another side of the hot spring, and immersed herself in the water wearing a strapless chemise, ignoring Angel entirely. ”That scene just now didn’t feel unfamiliar to you, did it?” she remarked.

Angel thought for a moment. ”Snowy Night Visitor?”

Snowy Night Visitor was a stage play. Indeed, it contained a scene where the male protagonist was seduced by a snow maiden during his bath. Angel had previously refined numerous drama Shadow Boxes for the Breeze Demonic Material Shop, among which was Snowy Night Visitor.

”Looks like you’re familiar enough. Why not just humor me a little? It wouldn’t hurt you,” Greya said.

Angel silently mused: If he went along with the act, the next scene would likely be the snow maiden’s assassination of the male protagonist. How would she handle that?

Angel shrugged off thoughts of the play’s plot and instead asked, ”How do you even know about Snowy Night Visitor? If I remember correctly, I handed it over to the Breeze Demonic Material Shop.”

Greya shot Angel a sidelong glance. ”Who knew you were so prolific with those drama Shadow Boxes? Yet you only gifted me The Princess Who Killed The Dragon. Naturally, such Shadow Boxes are worth collecting in abundance, so I had no choice but to buy them myself from that shop. And as if that weren’t enough, you’ve even limited purchases to one per person...”