Warlock Apprentice

Although the spring has moistened inspiration, yet—

Maya opened her eyes again. What kind of nonsense did she just see?!

In a lush forest, a Flower Demon was singing by the lakeside!

Even though she couldn’t determine the forest’s location, there was no need to, as it was another meaningless fragment!

Calling it ”meaningless” might be too arbitrary, as it is indeed something that will happen in the future, and is somewhat useful data information. However, for a Prophecy Apprentice, collecting more data helps with growth; but for Maya, this data information is like tasteless mortal food, lacking nutritional value for true Transcendent life.

No choice, Maya could only patiently continue studying the Star Map above her.

In the following time, Maya felt as if she became a trash can, all sorts of meaningless fragments stuffed into her mind. Most fragments, like the previous ”Flower Demon singing,” were of no value, lacking even highlights.

Occasionally, a few fragments would make Maya ponder slightly.

For example, she saw a corner of a city, though just a nook, the city’s construction was unlike any city she had experienced before, seemingly entirely Otherworld styled.

Maya paused to think about the city. But the future fragment didn’t offer much information, Maya could only shake her head and put it aside.

Another fragment was still about a city, but this was a city filled with Phantasmal Beasts. A man in formal attire, kneeling before his white-veiled partner, conducted a beautiful proposal ceremony amidst the cheers of Phantasmal Beasts.

Maya’s interest lay not in the proposal’s outcome, but in the city filled with Phantasmal Beasts. She had never seen such a spectacle before, as if Phantasmal Beasts had become the citizens.

Although these two fragments caught Maya’s slight attention, they still didn’t garner Maya’s true concern. Because she didn’t know when exactly these events occur, nor where the Otherworld style city and city of Phantasmal Beasts are; even if known, there seemed to be no particularly valuable attraction.

So, viewing these future fragments was equivalent to watching them in vain.

Might as well watch the theatrical Shadow Box Lianna brought her from the Sky Mechanical City, at least the stories in the Shadow Box are more complete and poignant.

Maya sighed, she still hasn’t obtained any valuable information even by the end of Stargazing Day, lacking prophecy fragments worth discussing with others.

This made her a bit embarrassed, as her nickname is ”Measuring the Stars,” proficient in astrology prophecy. And the Mystery of the Stars precisely suits her strengths, yet if she gained nothing, not only would she struggle to explain to Rhein, she herself would feel quite disappointed.

Facing astrology, Maya knew she couldn’t be impetuous.

Once again, she forced herself to curb her slightly emotional heart, and looked again towards the floating and sinking stars above.

This time, Maya did not immediately feel a touch of inspiration, but was weaving through the dense stars until her thoughts collided with a bright star.

After a radiant burst, Maya saw a fragment.

Upon seeing the scene within the fragment, her heart started to race suddenly.

After experiencing numerous inexplicable future fragments, this time she finally saw imagery related to Barbarian Cave!

Underneath the dim sunset, the tranquil Snowy River was reflecting a reddish glow, with its rippling patterns resembling a crimson cloak draped over the glacier-melting river spanning Pamiji Plateau.

However, at a certain moment, the scarlet glow that the dusk draped on Snowy River suddenly gained a black shadow blemish.

Looking upward, it was a Steam Airship making the sound of ’da-da-da’ with its air motor, emitting copious white smoke from over a dozen chimneys, sweeping across the sky above Snowy River, casting shadows upon the river’s surface.

Maya recognized this near-half-scrapped Steam Airship from Windmill Town’s airport, seeing its direction flew towards the natural moat of Barbarian Cave’s entrance.

However, Maya didn’t know what this scene signified.

While Maya was pondering, the fragment kept flashing, her gaze moved to the high sky, seeing the situation on the Steam Airship.

On an open-air platform of the Steam Airship, a teen with his right hand tightly bandaged, clad in a black tattered cloak, was surrounded by a group of others. This group had both males and females, and they seemed to be saying something to the teen.

From their lip movements, it wasn’t good words, most probably scolding this teen.

Maya could see the youth’s eyes showed grievance and fear, yet his expression was contrary to his inner emotions, acting carefree, sticking out his right hand to shout at the crowd.

It seemed that he hid some secret within his right hand. Those surrounding him, after hesitating for a moment, stepped back a few paces.

As the youth felt slightly smug, the open-air platform’s door was pushed open, and a slender girl as thin as paper walked out with a cold demeanor, came among the crowd indifferently, passed through the crowd, walked to the edge of the railing, staring solemnly into the distance.

After the girl appeared, the crowd seemed to see a demon, all showing fear, whispered to each other briefly, and quickly left the open-air platform.

On the platform, only the emotionally peculiar youth and the speechless girl remained.

Suddenly, the scene began to disintegrate. Maya understood that this fragment was disappearing, she opened her eyes, returning from future moments to reality.

Maya’s expression was slightly peculiar.

This fragment, for once related to Pamiji Plateau and Barbarian Cave, looked like it has nothing to do with Angel or the Seed matter.

Maya could tell that the people on the open-air platform were all Mortals, or rather, talented Mortals.

Judging by their path, it seemed they were flying towards Barbarian Cave.

The likelihood was high that these youths, would be the newly appointed Talented Ones entering Barbarian Cave in the future.

Thinking of this, Maya rubbed her temples in distress.

Talented Ones indeed are important, foundational to a Witcher Organization’s development. But seeing this now, holds no significance; knowing who the new batch of Talented Ones are in advance, could they be selected earlier?

Even if selection was necessary, the counterpart must have prophecy talent. And those with prophetic talent, other Wizards at Barbarian Cave wouldn’t contest with her, because currently Maya is the only Prophet Wizard, qualified to take on Prophecy Apprentices.

So after viewing, Maya’s expression was peculiar. Rarely did a future fragment related to Barbarian Cave appear, and yet it still didn’t have any nutritional value.

Maya thought to herself: ”Forget it, at least it shows that stargazing is gradually becoming fruitful, starting to link with Barbarian Cave. Perhaps next time, wishes will come true.”