Keeping Jon’s consciousness inside the dream wasteland permanently seemed highly possible right now. With this settled, they had to decide how to treat Jon’s body next.
Since Angor still had no viable approaches to cure Jon’s condition, he could only talk to Sunders, the only wizard he trusted.
Jon took a long moment thinking about Angor’s suggestion.
“There’s a certain religious belief back on Earth, that your body is only a vessel, while what is within you is more important. I’m not into religions, but I might agree with this. As long as I’m here, in another form, and someone like you still remembers my name, then I have no problem throwing my old vessel away.
“But Angor… You told me that wizards can be ‘mad scientists’ when they feel like it. Will they use my body to do terrible things? Such as invading my home?”
“I wouldn’t consider this completely impossible, but the chance is very, very scant. Suppose the strongest wizard in this world found your body, the best he can do is to tell that you’re a human from Earth, but he won’t find out how to get there. Even if he somehow learns the exact location of Earth, he will not travel through different universes to aim for it. Someone who can perform such space travels will not be interested in a random world out there anyway.
“Besides, there isn’t anyone who’s capable of such a thing as far as I know.” Angor briefly explained the levels of wizards. “The last ‘legendary wizard’ disappeared from the southern region over a thousand years ago. Legendary is the current best level people have witnessed, and even those wizards cannot travel through time and space at their free wills.
“There are rumors that suggested the existence of even stronger wizards. These rumors might describe them as the most unimaginable miracles, yet they did not say anything about them exploring another universe. In my view, your concern isn’t necessary.”
Your presence is no longer a secret anyway, Angor thought.
Jon sighed. “Maybe you’re right. I just… don’t want to end up as someone who brings doom to Earth, even if there’s only the slightest chance of it.”
“I’ll get better until I can protect you and everything you care for,” said Angor. I just hope I have enough time for it…
Just a few months ago, Jon still remembered Angor as a small and playful milk-lover who would often come up with childish mischiefs. He found it hard to believe that this trustworthy gentleman in front of him used to be that same kid.
“Okay.” Jon nodded. “I’d be lying if I tell you I don’t want to live a normal life. Just… Don’t burden yourself too much, alright? I’m fine with staying in this city. Don’t let me drag you down.”
“Ha. You know, I’m still thinking about taking you home someday. I mean YOUR home.”
“That’s nice to hope for. Wait…” Jon’s smile suddenly froze. “You still have the Alien Eye on you! Unlike my body, that thing has gotta be useful for finding a course to Earth. Make sure you don’t lose it!”
Angor gave Jon a determined nod.
The truth was, many people including Sunders had noticed this artifact till now. Strangely, none of them said anything about it. They all saw it as a worthless decoration.
Well, maybe Toby was an exception. There was one time when Toby saw the Alien Eye shining and floating on its own. It happened during his first trip to the Fey Continent. When staying on Sunders’ cloud whale, the item suddenly shone brightly at night and brightened his tent, and Angor had no idea of it in his sleep.
Although he wasn’t worried about Toby at all. Judging from Toby’s character, the bird probably had already forgotten about this matter. Besides, there were many alchemy items that gave out light. An easy excuse would deal with any suspicion.
Angor only hoped that no wizard like Sunders would suddenly get interested in the Alien Eye.
For now, he didn’t have any good means of hiding the item. It couldn’t go inside his bracelet for some reason. It could still be put inside a personal dimension such as a Sorcerer’s Garden. But it was not like he had one of those.
He had been keeping it in his pendant necklace and did not meet any trouble because of it yet. The only thing worth noticing was the strange incident in the tent when it glowed, and Nausica saw it too.
He kept this in mind and planned to check the item later so that the same thing didn’t happen again out of the blue and perhaps ruin something in the process.
“Are you sure we can trust that professor of yours?” asked Jon. He still didn’t know much about Sunders.
“I don’t know about other wizards, but Mister Sunders is fine.”
Putting emotional factors aside, Angor believed that Sunders at least wouldn’t harm him because they had many common interests. Nightmare Form, projection bloodline, and alchemy… If Sunders would like to gain the most out of these things, he would make sure Angor was well and alive.
“Do as you wish then. This city is pretty good. Don’t worry too much about me.”
“Sure, Jon. Tell Sunny and Alda if you need anything, and they’ll convey the message to Freud.”
Angor woke up and felt his head still throbbing a little. Drawing the power of Gatekeeper had impacted both his body and spirit, he still needed some time to fully recover.
When Gondola returned to Padt Manor, everyone saw his ill look and grew worried.
When the message got out, Auri and Mana quickly came to him and talked about preparing a healthy meal tonight. Even Leon climbed off the sickbed and paid him a brotherly visit.
“I’m fine. Pulled too many all-nighters and needed some rest, that’s all.” Angor used the same excuse each time someone asked.
Following the servants, Eureka soon heard about Angor’s recent condition as well.
She had not paid much attention to Angor because she and Thewis were working on making spirit remedies. It was Brulee who sent the news.
“He looks weaker than before. Dunno what’s gotten into him,” Brulee explained while resting on the Demeter’s branch. The owl had somewhat taken a liking to Angor after Angor gave it the Mermaid’s Shell and the new monocle. When people in the manor talked about Angor’s problem, Brulee also showed concerns.
“Angor’s not feeling well?” Eureka looked at the manor castle and saw through the walls.
Angor stepped onto his balcony when he felt Eureka’s inquiring sight.
“Oh, he’s not happy.” Eureka chuckled and canceled her far-sight spell.
“Is he alright, Master?” asked Brulee.
“He’s good. Obstructed by his bottleneck, nothing serious.” Eureka sighed. “He reached the peak of a level-3 apprentice so soon? Impressive. Or should I say, this is a bit frightening.”
A shadow materialized in front of her. It was Thewis, who just returned from his personal dimension.
Thewis had a bottle of green liquid held in one hand. Telling from his facial skin and neglected stubble, he had been having a taxing time.
“Success?” Eureka quickly joined him.
“Only one bottle, out of seven servings of materials. Sigh… Such waste and deficiency. If only we can ask Angor to… Forget it. What are you talking about just now? Who’s peaked?”
“Guess who?” Eureka pointed toward Angor’s room and explained what she just heard.
Thewis briefly checked Angor’s condition as well without raising Angor’s suspicion.
“Yeah… He topped out his level already. The hindrance is so obvious on him, which means he didn’t go through such things before. So his entire apprenticeship was smooth and trouble-free? I never heard of such cases before.
“Does he have secret training techniques? Or perhaps the channeling method he learned befitted his talent perfectly?”
