Chapter 424: Memories

Ace approached with some curiosity and found a notice; it turned out that the public library was organizing a painting exhibition.

This was considered a relatively elegant event in Medimus City-State. Many nobles and citizens were heading there one after another. Since Ace had nothing else to do, he followed the flow of people to the public library.

The Medimus Public Library was still as tall and majestic as ever. The entire building was made of snow-white marble, with delicate textures on the walls. Ace climbed the steps and walked into the library’s hall.

Everything was as it used to be. In a trance, Ace felt as if he had returned to his youth, when he entered the library for the first time and obtained the starting point of the supernatural path—”Nicholas’s Diary.”

Many paintings were displayed in the hall. Ace was surprised to find that all the paintings here were oil paintings! Whether portraits, landscapes, or others, all were oil paintings!

He clearly remembered that the entire Medimus City-State didn’t know what oil painting was. Except for himself, he hadn’t taught anyone else oil painting. What exactly was going on?

While browsing the paintings, Ace listened attentively to the conversations of the people around him. The words of a young blonde man caught his attention.

The man seemed to be speaking excitedly to a beautiful young woman, spitting as he spoke. The pimples on his face jumped along with his speech, making him look somewhat comical.

The beautiful woman covered her small mouth politely and moved slightly away, seemingly to prevent the other party’s saliva from splashing onto her.

“This is the Oil Painting Exhibition. Look at these paintings; every one of them is incredibly realistic. Legend has it that oil painting was born thirteen or fourteen years ago. Who exactly painted first is unverifiable. The city-state’s master oil painter, Mr. Mordi, accidentally discovered oil paintings by an anonymous gentleman in the royal palace. He studied these paintings meticulously for seven years and finally painted his first oil painting, ‘Sunset in the First District’.”

While speaking and spitting, the blonde man pointed with his hand. Ace looked in the direction he pointed and saw a brilliant sunset and a hazy district. But Ace was immediately attracted by the painting next to it, his breathing becoming somewhat rapid.

This was a full-body portrait. Ruby-red eyes curved like crescent moons, sky-blue ponytail hair, exquisite beauty, and a gentle smile. Silver-white skirt armor added a bit of martial valor to the beauty. The sunlight overlapped with the beauty, making the smile feel bright and radiant.

The beauty was holding an ugly-cute murloc baby clay figure in her arms, seeming extremely happy, yet her smile was very reserved—bright, innocent, martial, and charming.

“Athena!”

Ace couldn’t help but cry out. This painting was exactly the one he had personally painted for Athena. Buried memories suddenly surged. He recalled that bright young girl, that martial Princess.

“I didn’t expect you to be so knowledgeable, brother. This is indeed the full-body portrait of the late Princess Athena. It is said to be the masterpiece of that unknown painter and also the earliest existing oil painting.”

Hearing Ace’s voice, the young blonde man seemed to have met a kindred spirit. He walked up to Ace and chattered endlessly.

Ace had no intention of conversing with the blonde man. He nodded slightly and looked at the other party with cold, indifferent eyes. The blonde man instantly felt his mouth go dry, his mind blank. He was awed by the trace of Golden-level pressure Ace leaked.

Ace scanned the entire oil painting exhibition and successively discovered other works he had painted for Athena. He suddenly remembered what Athena had said.

“Wait two years, when I become an adult. I’ll take this painting and your other works to hold a private art exhibition for you in Medimus City!”

For some reason, Ace’s memories awoke like surging waves. His eyes actually became somewhat moist. The late Princess… what did that mean?

Could Athena have already passed away?

Ace found it somewhat unbelievable. Although his acquaintance with Athena wasn’t entirely voluntary, Athena had held no malice towards him from beginning to end, and even helped him a lot. Such an ending was unacceptable to Ace.

He tried his best to calm himself down, his eyes carrying a cold glint. Perhaps he should understand in detail what happened in Medimus City-State after he left.

Ace did not go through the local magic council organization. In fact, he didn’t intend to contact the local magic council organization at all. The less contact, the less exposure.

“The old way. Sneak into the dreams of a few older Divine Descendant nobles, especially Heroes, to gather information.”

Having made up his mind, Ace glanced at Athena in the oil painting, whose smile was as bright as sunshine, turned around, and left.

The noon sun warmed people, but Ace’s mood was somewhat gloomy. Returning to Medimus City-State this time, he had also entertained thoughts of looking at Athena from afar. That bright smile had always been in the depths of his memory.

The sun slowly set, and Medimus City gradually fell into the embrace of the night. Ace turned into a shadow, leaping in the darkness, and easily sneaked into a villa.

This was the noble district. The owner of the villa was a young man in his twenties. Ace shook his head, turned around, and left for the next villa.

The shadow slowly crawled into the bedroom of a villa. Runes flickered in Ace’s eyes. The owner here was a male around sixty years old, an experienced Divine Awakened. Dream mist spread, and Ace instantly pulled him into a dream.

In the pitch-black bedroom, a dreamlike scene emerged. Under Ace’s guidance, the dream returned to the day the Northern Fortress fell. The entire city was filled with sorrow and fear. Athena stood on a high platform, wearing silver-white skirt armor, her sky-blue long hair tied up, her ruby eyes flashing, her expression resolute.

She held high the Quasi-Noble Phantasm “Lament of the Frost” and bestowed it upon Dickens, who was kneeling on one knee.

Ace watched and quickly fast-forwarded the subsequent scenes. Athena, with bare snow-white feet, stepped on the solid marble stairs, walking out of the temple step by step. She exuded infinite divine might, making the owner of the dream bow down involuntarily.

The sound of waves came from far to near. Boundless seawater hung upside down in the sky, and a giant of the sea leaned out.

“Respected Goddess of Elegance, Pontos concludes a covenant with you!”

Athena’s ruby eyes had been replaced by pure golden pupils. Elegant music sounded, and spirits were born from the void. With her bare, snow-white, tender feet, she stepped on the void, walking towards the giant step by step.

Ace watched the dream with a frown. The owner of the dream seemed unable to observe the scene too carefully; subsequently, only hazy light was seen.

Vaguely, a lion’s roar was heard, and blood light was seen floating in the sky.

After that came a long wait. Ace fast-forwarded the dream again. Finally, it reached the triumph ceremony. Dickens held “Lament of Frost” high, followed by an ice coffin with Athena lying quietly inside.

The dream ended here. There was no follow-up, only some rumors saying the Crown Princess was dead. King Tedius maintained silence on this and gave no response.

Advance chapters at Nightjar Reads · nightjarreads.com