What's wrong with me, a mage, loving to farm?

Chapter 359. An Unbearable Imprint of Friendship

Being prepared for a rainy day is a truly admirable virtue.

Ivy, of course, would not refuse, and it gave Kroa a special magic rune.

"Having this magic mark can prove your identity."

"This priestess's name is Cassandra."

"She is probably the only priestess of Athena that can be found at present, existing only on the Ring of Creation."

As it said this, it seemed to glance at Miya several times, as if it were referring to something.

Kroya didn't quite understand, but she still looked at Mia and blinked, "Teacher, you won't refuse me, right?"

The latter looked helpless: "She should be related to Medusa, who was imprisoned in the Ark back then; she's from a different branch of history."

When Medusa was mentioned, Cloa immediately thought of her legend.

Legend has it that a priestess of Athena caught the eye of Poseidon, and then did some things in the temple that were not suitable to be described. The pure Athena was so angry that she turned the priestess into a monster with snakes for hair. Later, a hero cut off her head and made it into a trophy.

Well, to put it simply, it was actually quite tragic.

Being forced by a god is bad enough, but to have your own god curse you is a disgrace to Athena.

However, he also knew that it was just one version of the legend, and there were also versions that said it was a born monster—that's how legends are, there are many versions, but if you have to say, the most bizarre version is the one that spreads the most.

The presence of Medusa in the Ark didn't surprise Kroya much, since Treden had already secretly complained to him about Mia's "atrocious acts" of exploiting child laborers and tormenting him with Medusa.

"So who is this Cassandra?" he asked curiously. "I don't think I've ever heard of her legend."

Ivy replied, "She was also a priestess of the goddess Athena. In a battle, she was insulted by a hero named Ajax the Lesser, and in the end, Athena destroyed him with Zeus's thunderbolt."

"Actually, Athena is a goddess who is very protective of her own."

"She was even willing to use special methods on the mortals she favored, even if they were gods."

"Judging from your expression, it seems that Athena and Dionysus had a pretty good relationship?" Chloe's understanding of ancient Greek stories was actually limited to some basic, widely circulated tales; she didn't really know anything deeper.

"It's alright, I guess." Ivy sighed with a hint of nostalgia. "I really wish I could taste Dionysus's wine again..."

"Isn't the grapevine in the Demon Field the same one as the one belonging to the god of wine?"

"Hmm... I didn't see the grapevines this time."

Kroya suddenly realized something very important: this time, when he was trapped, the grapevine hadn't appeared—it should have come, right?

"Does it not love me anymore?"

"..."

Miya rubbed her forehead with difficulty, and surprisingly felt a headache coming on.

However, He was indeed curious as to why the grapevine hadn't come over this time, so He suggested, "Shall we go and take a look?"

Kroya casually pulled up the entire Northern Magic Grid and scanned it, only to find that the magic fluctuations of the Magic Field Grapevine were actually in the same location as the sunflower and Pandora's light spot.

That is……

Location of the Flametail Dog Farm.

"Hmm, could it be... that dog?" Chloe mused.

Ivy suddenly said, "I have a feeling there might be something important over there—friendship!"

……

The rain that had been lingering over half of the Kingdom of Norland finally dissipated.

The agony of being surrounded by dampness and unable to breathe in the rain seemed to be over. Sean, who was busy on the farm, let out a soft breath, but was reluctant to let the rain go.

He stood in the sun-drenched farm, but his heart was filled with uncertainty.

It has been a full fifteen years since he arrived in the North.

Over the past fifteen years, he has worked hard to build up the Flametail Hound Farm. From his initial arrival, he has now established himself as the farm owner and has even received an award from Kroya.

To be honest, he was considered to be in the upper-middle ranks of the Kroya faction.

Having a magnanimous leader who appreciates you, and being able to do what you love, is actually quite good.

However, he has been very distressed lately.

Because of his dog, Robert.

Although Flame-tailed Hounds are magical beasts, they are only level one magical beasts and their foundation is not very good. In addition, they often go out to fight with him, which has caused them serious physical damage.

Its once glossy fur has become dull, and there is some grayish-white in its eyes. It doesn't move around much, and it eats very little of its favorite food. Sometimes it even responds very slowly to its calls.

The difference was so obvious in his companions, even though he hadn't spent much time walking on it.

At that time, he had already keenly realized that his partners and friends who had been with him for more than ten years were about to leave—he was certainly unwilling to accept such an outcome, so he went to beg and sought help from many people.

Given his status, he could certainly obtain some valuable items.

But to ensure everything went perfectly, he even went to ask Chloe for help and obtained several bottles of Sunshine Potions infused with the Fountain of Life from her. With these potions, extending his lifespan would be a piece of cake.

But what he didn't expect was...

He gave those bottles of Sunshine Potion to Robert, but the latter used them to feed his children. He taught his children extremely strictly, almost always keeping them by his side to teach them.

Its offspring were indeed quite promising, quickly learning all of their father's skills, to the point that whenever Sean saw it, he would always hallucinate a young Robert.

His mood grew increasingly heavy.

As the rain began to fall, Robert suddenly left its little nest woven from sunflower grass and went straight into the rain. When Sean heard this, his heart sank. He put down his work and immediately went to look for it, but he couldn't find it anywhere.

They still hadn't found it by the time the rain stopped.

"Ugh."

Where are you?

"..."

Sean sighed deeply, very reluctant to let Yu Mu leave.

In the rain, he felt the world was only so big, and that as long as he searched, he would find it sooner or later. But when the rain cleared and he looked at the vast sky and earth, he suddenly didn't know how to find his companions anymore.

Even the feeling of being in sync with each other, which we used to share, has vanished without a trace.

"Is there no other way but to go back?"

He was very unwilling, but he also knew that if Robert wanted to hide, it would be really difficult for him to find him—in the past fifteen years, he had thoroughly explored the farm, and these Flametails knew every blade of grass and tree here better than he did.

Just as he was about to give up, a strange magical fluctuation suddenly came from afar. It was a golden-red magical fluctuation, exactly the same as the "sun" that he had just seen falling from the sky.

It was as if she was guiding him.

He should have been cautious, but for some reason, he instinctively followed the fluctuations of magic, crossed a hillside, and then a stream. It took him a great deal of effort to finally reach a very secluded valley surrounded by mountains.

This place may look only a hundred or two meters high, but because it is hidden among the green plants of the mountain peaks, it is full of vitality and has an indescribable tranquil beauty.

It is here, in the cracks of the valley above, that clusters of crystal-clear grapevines grow.

They grew so lushly that they shaded the valley above, both concealing the place and filtering the sunlight, turning it into a beautiful yet secluded paradise.

If it weren't for the guidance of magic, Sean would never have known that such a place existed, let alone that the legendary magic field grapevines that had nurtured most of the human world were actually here.

Upon entering this place, the almost severed mental connection was restored, and the mental energy transmitted was an extremely weak consciousness carrying the aura of death and pleading.

He took a deep breath at that moment.

Looking into the distance, a figure stood directly beneath the grapevines, seemingly looking down at a slightly grayish-white red shadow below.

"Robert!"

Sean's eyes instantly brightened, tears glistening in them. He wanted to run over, but before he could take more than a few steps, he was blocked by some hanging, crystal-clear grapevines.

Please... add to your favorites (69 Bookstore!)

The slender grapevines with their drooping leaves were like a wall, and he knew he could never cross it, for the magic they exuded within.

But seeing his friend not far away, he gritted his teeth and decided to force his way over.

Just then, a golden-red light accompanied a warm voice: "It doesn't want you to see it as it is now, Sean."

A sunflower suddenly appeared from the side. There was no way around it; if it didn't come out soon, this guy would definitely stubbornly run into it, and then the Magic Field Grapevine wouldn't care who you were.

"Lord Sunflower!" Sean pleaded immediately upon seeing it, "Just let me go over and take a look, just one glimpse!"

His tone was filled with despair and pleading, completely unlike his usual spirited demeanor, as if he would collapse if rejected.

But Sunflower could only refuse him.

"It rejected Eden."

"They rejected my oil."

"She even refused her father's symphony."

The person in the center of the flowerpot stared intently at Sean: "Do you know why?"

"Waaah."

Sean was filled with bitterness and could no longer hold on. He squatted down, covered his eyes, and choked out sobs. Of course he knew, he knew everything.

In the world of Flametails, "needing care" is something that makes them feel frustrated. They are fearless and will stand in front of their owners to block all dangers.

However, they do not allow themselves to be cared for—some disabled Flametails even self-destruct.

These loyal and brave companions also have the most "cold" hearts. Once they sense that they are about to die, they will no longer accept anything and quietly wait for death to come.

Perhaps in their eyes, their teeth are no longer sharp, their claws have fallen out, and their bodies have become old, which is already a burden.

Sean had seen far too many people send off their partners. From that moment on, he began to worry and strive to climb higher, hoping to achieve a "miracle" in this world through his own abilities.

—Croa truly gave him this miracle.

But his partner rejected this miracle.

"Sigh." The sunflower sighed softly. It could sense the pain and fear in Sean's heart. Robert was not only his friend, but also his family, even his only family.

But unfortunately, there was nothing it could do.

Robert has rejected Eden and the symphony and its light, and won't even eat the grapes from the magic field's vines, but... why did he attract Pandora?

It felt strange and couldn't help but look.

The clay puppet, crafted by the deity, crouched beside the dying Robert, its slender fingers gently stroking his fur, and whispered:

Why?

"You made a wish to me."

Aren't you afraid of the rain?

As a puppet created by the gods, she was in a sense close to the gods, able to hear prayers and feel faith, but this was the first time she had felt such a clear prayer.

She was hope, a veiled hope, a hope that wanted to hide away. No one would like her, and no one would even want to see her.

"...Woof."

Robert managed to make a sound, then stretched his head out and looked toward his owner. A few seconds later, he silently lowered his head and let out one last "woof".

Life had completely departed; the gray of death filled its eyes, and the flames on its tail, which had burned with life, slowly died out.

Pandora, however, made no move.

After a long while, she suddenly reached out and pressed her fingers on Robert's body. Gray feathers and rain briefly rose, guiding out a cluster of newly formed red magic runes.

If Chloe were here, she would surely be able to discover that this is the mark of friendship that she saw in Sean and Robert, representing a deep connection of souls.

It has now taken full shape, like a simple line drawing of a boy and his dog standing side by side, depicted with childlike strokes, shimmering with a powerful magic.

Pandora stared at the crystallized magic, gently stroking it with her fingers. Her magic, capable of concealing everything, instantly erased Robert's image.

Only she could erase the "existence" of something without affecting its integrity.

"Okay, I agree."

"You are the only one who prays to me, you will be my only benefactor, and you are also a benefactor who does not exist."

She then slowly walked up to Sean and bent down, saying, "Here, this is from your friend."

The latter raised his tear-stained face, but his eyes became somewhat bewildered the moment he saw the engraving. He could feel some memories fading in the rain, eventually disappearing completely.

The crystal in his hand, formed from blood and magic, shone brightly, warm like the fluffy, cozy little creature he had known countless nights.

but……

Who is the little one?

Who is... Robert?

Sean opened his mouth wide, not knowing why he wanted to cry, but he felt an overwhelming urge to cry. In his gradually blurring vision, all that remained was Pandora's receding figure.

"It asked me to tell you that it also wants to be a little selfish, that it has raised its own child to be like it, and that it will be able to accompany you in the future."

"Just... forget about it."

She had barely finished speaking when she saw Chloe, Mia, and Ivy standing not far away.

The expressions on the faces of the person, the Ring of Radiance, and the demonic plant were all quite complex.

Thank you everyone for your monthly tickets and recommendation votes!

(End of this chapter)