Chapter 369: An Embrace
Ace decided to gather all the wizards for a speech to unify their thinking.
The Wizard Apprentices of the High Tower were still somewhat uneasy. They didn’t know where the path ahead lay, nor did they know if they could continue to research magic in the High Tower with peace of mind. They needed comfort and confidence.
Not only determination regarding the prospects of the magical path, but also determination regarding the future of the entire High Tower led by Ace.
He first summoned Daina and Betty. Having not seen Ace for many days, Daina first glared at Aleias, who was standing in attendance nearby. Seeing Ace’s head full of silver hair, she felt a bit sorrowful and couldn’t help but say, “Teacher Ace, did you pay a great price to go south and defeat the Abyssal Projection Lord Alex this time? Your hair has turned completely white…”
Ace spoke gently to Daina, “I am fine. I just used 4-Ring spells beyond my limits and consumed a little lifespan.”
Hearing this, Daina’s heart tightened. She clutched the pendant on her chest, tears swirling in her eyes.
Ace smiled and said to her and Betty:
“I have already advanced to a 4-Ring Wizard. From now on, I can be called a Golden Wizard. I possess true peak Level 2 combat power. Even against a Level 3 Legendary Hero, I might be able to hold my own!
“Don’t be sad about a little lifespan consumption. A Level 2 life spans no more than five hundred years; what does losing a few years matter? When I advance to a Level 3 life, there will be nearly ten thousand years of lifespan waiting for me to spend. You must keep up and not relax your research into magic. I don’t wish for ten thousand years of solitude, hahaha.”
Daina nodded. As long as she could follow Ace forever, she would be content.
Betty looked at Ace with joy. Although Ace had said he was about to advance to 4-Ring Wizard, he hadn’t actually advanced back then. Hearing this news today, she was very inspired.
“Lord Ace, in that case, our High Tower is equivalent to having one Golden Hero and one Great Hero. Considering the diversity of our methods, we are at least a notch stronger than existences of the same level. Even compared to any city-state in the Salia region, we are strong enough to rival them!”
Ace nodded, then shook his head and said:
“If comparing explicit power, that is indeed true. But do not forget, every human city-state was established by a Legendary Hero. The six human city-states of Salia all have a Legendary ancestor and are guarded by Deities. We can defend against them if they invade, but it is impossible to conquer them.
“Lacking the protection of a Deity is our biggest shortcoming right now.”
Betty frowned. What Ace said was indeed correct. She had to admit, “You are right. I was too optimistic.”
Ace’s eyes shone with determination as he said:
“I called you here today because I want to organize a speech tomorrow morning.
“We need to unify our thinking—unify the thoughts in the hearts of everyone who has stepped onto the path of magic. We must clarify who our enemies are, who our friends are, whom we should rely on, and where the way out for the High Tower lies.”
Betty and Daina looked at each other. Both read the resolution in Ace’s eyes. It was indeed time to unify everyone’s thinking. They bowed to Ace and said, “We obey your will, Lord Firelinker!”
After Betty and Daina left, Ace used his magic book to notify Arno to come to the West Tower immediately.
Arno, who was testing new armor at Betty’s place, received the message and immediately flew to the West Tower wearing the semi-finished full body armor.
In the living room, Ace was stunned for a moment looking at the fully armed Arno. The runes in his eyes flickered and layered as the Eye of Truth (Pseudo) activated.
“I see. You are having difficulty controlling the Hatred Heart Power within you, so you want to use magic items to suppress the pressure?”
Ace said to Arno.
Arno, wearing a helmet, spoke in a buzzing voice, “Yes. The power of Hatred is too destructive. Even the pressure alone can hurt ordinary people.”
Ace nodded and didn’t continue discussing this matter. Although he was very interested in Arno’s changes and had many thoughts about the hatred shadow that appeared in the first playthrough, there was no time for research now. He adjusted his emotions and said in a slightly low voice:
“Arno, I asked you to come this time to tell you about the condition of Ollie and Ancestar.”
Inside the armor, Arno became somewhat agitated. He had wanted to ask Ace why he hadn’t treated Ollie yet for a long time, but Ace was too busy after returning to the High Tower. After confirming that Ollie still had vitality, he hadn’t wanted to disturb him.
Ace saw through Arno’s thoughts. He patted Arno’s armor and said:
“It’s not that I don’t want to treat Ollie now, but that I haven’t found a strategy for immediate treatment yet.
“Ollie is sealed in an ice coffin, and I have never stopped infusing vitality. Her body and soul are slowly improving. The Greyness corroded part of her soul. Although I have expelled the power of Greyness with Heart Fire, the damage to her soul cannot be recovered immediately.
“For now, sealing her in an ice coffin and slowly infusing vitality, waiting for her soul and body to recover on their own, might be the best method.”
Arno’s dark red eyes grew dimmer. He buzzed, “Lord Ace, I am already very grateful that you can keep Ollie alive. It is my incompetence; I didn’t protect her well. If I had stronger power, I could have protected her and protected our High Tower well.”
Ace looked at Arno and suddenly remembered the first time he met him. He had only given the magic book to Ollie. He hadn’t expected that the boy he ignored back then would grow to this extent. Perhaps it was this heart—even after falling into Hatred, he still retained a kind heart—that achieved everything Arno was today.
Ace suddenly thought of his father, Romon. He always liked to laugh heartily and give people a bear hug to comfort them. It had been a long time since Ace visited his father and mother.
Ace took a few steps forward. He, who hadn’t had physical contact with anyone for many years, actually hugged Arno’s cold, hard armor tightly.
Arno froze. He had never imagined that Lord Ace, whose gaze was always stern, Lord Ace, who always calmly shouted “Man is the measure of all things,” Lord Ace, who was cruel and ruthless to enemies, would actually give him, huddled inside his armor, a hug.
In this moment, Arno felt warmth all over his body. His eyes stung, and he suddenly wanted to cry. He thought of his own father and the Melancholy Uncle Ancestar. If it were them, they would probably give him a hug too.
After a long time, Ace said to Arno, “You have shouldered too much. I understand your heart. You have always been kind; you just want to protect everything around you. Whether it is Courage or Hatred, they are both your means of protection. In my heart, you will always be a true Knight.”
Arno’s lips trembled slightly. He had never thought Ace could say such warm and understanding words. Finally, he knelt on one knee and said loudly to Ace, “Lord Ace, I will always be a Knight, no matter what power I use!”
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