********************************

"This black fog is usually an ominous sign, or even a way to cover up a crime. Now it seems more like a simple natural phenomenon." Storm Silverhand whistled. "After a day of swords and sabers, a quiet night is quite nice."

"So, what are you looking for us for?"

At this moment, Emiya and his group had returned to the sisters' temporary residence. Storm Silverhand seemed to be in a good mood and was able to chat with them.

"As I said, gifts," Storm Silverhand replied, "Giving you gifts is such a headache... I guess Eir has already given you quite a few rewards?"

"Lord Elminster has given us a copy of the spells he collected from the Greyhawk world." Emiya nodded, "Although, we haven't finished copying them yet."

"I can't even copy all the spells... It's a real problem for rising stars." Storm Silverhand said with some relief. "There are more young people growing up. It seems there's hope that the long night of a hundred years will finally end."

As she spoke, she pushed a stack of notes towards me. "Ever since we met, I've been thinking, 'Since you stayed to protect me, I can't be so stingy as to just express my gratitude... Please take this."

Before Emiya could reply, Yin excitedly rushed over and hugged the notebook. He was only a step behind and asked, "Excuse me, what is this?"

"All of the Harpers' most advanced esoteric spells are here," Storm Silverhand gushed. "My arcane skills aren't particularly outstanding among the Seven Sisters. I think only spell reversal is worth seeing. But the other sisters' spells are so comprehensive and powerful that I can't possibly describe them with just words."

At this point, she stood up and leaned forward slightly. "—Even including Khelben Blackstaff's spells. Among the Chosen of Mystra, although Eir excels in wizard duels, he prefers to use unconventional tactics. Blackstaff is the one who prefers to defeat his peers with the most traditional magic duels.

"If Khelben were still alive, he probably wouldn't have liked others spreading his magic." Miss Silverhand shrugged with some pride. "But this half-elf gentleman has been summoned to Arvandor by Corellon as an exception. So, as long as he doesn't run from Arvandor to stop me, I will take it as his consent."

However, while she was speaking, she intentionally or unintentionally expanded the area of ​​her body so that Emiya and her companions would not notice Xinbu who was in a light sleep again.

Unfortunately, her little tricks were useless against the most persistent group.

——For example, Miss Yin.

Yin flipped through a few pages with great interest and couldn't help but ask, "Including Miss Xinbu's spells?"

"Uh..." Storm Silverhand's face froze, "There are still a few. For example, the secret method of medical transformation."

"Elminster has already taught us that spell." Silver didn't grasp Storm Silverhand's implication at all and continued to ask, "I heard that Xinbu has several spells that are so powerful that they are almost unmatched..."

Seeing that he couldn't get away with it, Storm Silverhand could only shake his head: "...Sorry, no."

She slumped down in her chair. "The fact that she and I weren't close enough was secondary. The most crucial issue was that I didn't know those spells."

"You can't do it either!" Yin almost jumped up, "Aren't you sisters? And both are chosen by Mystra! How could you not know it?"

Storm Silverhand waved his hand: "...At least, the spells of the other sisters, Elastra, Lyra, and Hiren, are all here."

Emiya felt like sweat was about to break out on his head. He could only hold Yin's hand and said, "If you must get angry, you should get angry at me when you get back."

Silver's eyes flickered, but he finally calmed down and held out his hand to Storm Silverhand: "But anyway, that has nothing to do with you. Thank you."

Miss Silverhand didn't understand why, but she subconsciously extended her hand: "...You're welcome?"

Metatron frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then turned his eyes away.

Emiya's talent for arcane magic was not particularly strong, so in his opinion, the two of them just put their hands together, and Yin just squeezed it slightly.

Yin said in a very relaxed manner, "Silver Hand, you haven't been getting enough rest these days. Could it be that Xinbu has taken up all your sleep time?"

Storm Silverhand was a little bewildered, but he said seriously, "I used to have some reputation in Faerun, but now I have no power to protect myself. I can only watch others fight to the death for me. In this situation, it is really difficult to rest well."

"That won't do." Miss Yin, who usually avoids sleep if possible, said very seriously, "You should get more sleep these few days.

"——Maybe it will help you recover."

Hearing this, usually a phrase elders use to educate younger generations, being applied to him, Storm Silverhand felt a mixture of laughter and tears: "...Uh, thank you?"

At this moment, several more footsteps quickly approached the room. The black fog had already dissipated without a trace, and no one knew when.

At this moment, Apodel's voice came from outside the door: "Miss Storm Silverhand, are you resting? Can I come in?"

Storm Silverhand was stunned for a moment, then stood up and replied, "No. Please come in. Also, you've come just in time, Team Emia is here too."

"...That's perfect." Apodale was silent for a moment, then said, "Besides, I've brought a distinguished guest with me."

Thirty-two first encounters

[There's a Chosen of Mystra outside the door.] Silver suddenly said in the team's telepathic link, [I can feel her silver fire.]

"Will they?" Elaster asked. "Every single one of the Chosen Ones currently living is a prominent figure in Faerûn. Lord Apodel should be the first to introduce them."

In other words, Apodale was deliberately not introduced first.

Thinking so, Emilia took a few steps forward and opened the door.

However, to his surprise, the first face that caught his eye was not Apodale's.

The man who came was dressed in black armor, with an unremovable gloom between his brows, and his pale skin was even a little dazzling under the reflection of the armor.

That was Kelemvor, the god of death.

He looked at Emilia expressionlessly, waiting for him to clear the way without saying a word.

Even though Kelanwo did nothing, Emiya felt that the air in her lungs was so stagnant that it was almost impossible to flow, and she subconsciously stepped aside.

It was also at this moment that he saw the real guest behind Kelanwo.

A black-haired adventurer, a rather beautiful and capable but tired-looking female mage.

Although if he were to comment, her appearance was still a bit different from Silver and Elastrid.

However, when he saw Mr. Appledale quietly following behind the two men, and Storm Silverhand, who had been smiling, couldn't help but gasp, he understood something.

Storm Silverhand immediately stood up and muttered, "...Am I dazzled?"

"You are not mistaken," Kelemvor said. "Your goddess of magic has returned."

The words of the god of death were like an extremely heavy stone, instantly pressing down on everyone's heart.

Mars nearly cried out, while Silver looked bewildered, as if he hadn't understood Kelemvor's words at all. Metatron's face darkened, and though he remained silent, he quietly stepped between Midnight and Silver.

Emiya glanced out the window almost reflexively.

The increasingly dense aura of death that lingered inside and outside Candle Castle had completely dissipated at some point, as if it had never existed.

Then, he shouted in his heart: [Yin!? Didn't you say that the person who came was an ordinary voter?]

[I mean she's weak. Silver Fire's activity is about the same as that of an ordinary elect!]

The most prestigious of the seven sisters took a short breath, took a few steps forward, and tried to kneel before Midnight to pay her respects. However, Midnight quickly supported her and said gently, "Ms. Storm...it's been a hundred years since we last met."

At this point, Midnight couldn't help but laugh: "Normally, I would say you've gotten older at this time - but you're clearly younger than when I first met you."

When Midnight ascended to godhood, Storm Silverhand had already lived a life of near-retirement. But now Storm had turned back into a young girl, which made Midnight somewhat amused and confused.

But Storm Silverhand didn't laugh. Instead, he said, "I'm no longer at the age where I can use my looks to seduce handsome young men. This is the calamity I suffered during the Arcane Plague."

"Arcane Plague?" This term, familiar to the people of Faerun, was still quite unfamiliar to Midnight. It took her a moment to realize what she had done. A look of shame appeared on her face. "...I'm sorry. This is all my fault."

She held Feng Bao's hand, felt it, and exclaimed in surprise, "...Feng Bao, are you really hurt?"

Storm Silverhand didn't react and asked, "...Of course?"

"But you clearly..." Midnight frowned, but then shook her head, "Let's talk about it in detail later."

Although Midnight was the goddess of magic, and Storm Silverhand was theoretically her chosen one, their friendship wasn't very deep. As Storm had said, by the time Midnight ascended to godhood, she had already been semi-retired.

The third generation magic goddess looked around, noticed Xinbu's presence, and couldn't help but lower her head.

Xinbu, who was always high-spirited and even domineering, was now sleeping on the table like an ordinary girl.

If the great wizard was in good condition, Xinbu would never allow himself to appear in front of everyone in this posture.

Midnight paused, looked at Emiya and his group, and smiled gently: "I heard Apodel say it on the way - he said all the good things about you on the way.

At this point, she nodded her forehead and said, "And... Mars, judging from your age... you should be a paladin guided by Sister Selune?"

Mars was a paladin of Mystra. Yet, today, the third generation of the goddess of magic had appeared before him without any warning or sound.

At this point in time, no matter what excuses Mars has, he cannot do nothing.

Even though Mars was proud of his intelligence, he almost failed to react in time to this silent but earth-shattering change.

The young paladin hurriedly took a few steps forward and knelt solemnly on one knee: "...Goddess Mystra, I am Mars of Candlekeep, a disciple of Apodel."

"—A paladin from Candlekeep!?" Mars's bizarre background had apparently astonished the true goddess of magic. She looked at Apodel in surprise, "No wonder you traveled all the way to Candlekeep to accept him as your student."

Then she asked softly, "Are you from Candlekeep? Are your parents also from Candlekeep? Or were you raised by Candlekeep?"

Mars was silent for a moment, then looked at his teacher with some difficulty.

Apodel was silent for a moment, then said awkwardly, "Although Mars is my student... he is also my... brother. Please allow me to explain this matter in detail later."

"Brother..." Midnight just repeated it and immediately reacted. Even she couldn't help but gasp.

However, she did not hesitate. Instead, she patted Mars' shoulder encouragingly and said, "Son of Bhaal... your background is irrelevant. Your teacher is your role model... I guess your divine power has always been handled by the Moon Goddess Selune. Candlekeep should be safe for a few days... How about I hold a formal ceremony for you the day after tomorrow?"

Even Mars, caught off guard by such courtesy, couldn't help but stutter: "...I... am very happy and deeply grateful!"

"...Then," Midnight said, "Would you mind... introducing me..."

However, Midnight suddenly stopped talking in the middle of his words.

She glanced back at Apodel and blinked. "...Forget it. Putting the paladin in the middle is not my style."

There are always tacit understandings and secrets between paladins and their allies. Hiding these from the gods is disloyalty to one's benefactor. Revealing everything is dishonest to one's friends.

Finally, Emiya and his group officially met Midnight.

Everyone else had an extremely direct relationship with Midnight. Now, they were not completely unrelated to Midnight, but they were definitely not directly affiliated with her either.

Emiya took a deep breath and was about to speak, but her eyes met Kelanvor's first.

From the beginning, Kelemvor had been observing him silently.

Emiya's movements were slow for a moment, but Yin couldn't help but peek out from behind Metatron: "Are you... the Goddess of Magic?"

Midnight was stunned for a moment, then said frankly, "Strictly speaking, I am not yet. Everyone present can probably see that I am extremely weak at the moment. Until I regain all my strength and return to the kingdom, I will not be the Magic Goddess."

"Hmm..." Yin was a little confused. It was obvious that this was not what she wanted to ask, nor did she care about it. So, while dodging Metatron's hand, she asked a second question, "If you were the goddess of magic, then you must like magic very much?"

"Like... magic?" Midnight mentally lowered Silver's age, while at the same time seeming to ponder. She was silent for a moment, then shook her head. "I wasn't a pedantic mage when I was younger. I always dreamed of using magic to impress everyone I knew. I even gave myself the pseudonym Midnight for that reason. Does that count as love?"

"Now, I hope to guide spellcasters to use magic for the right purpose, rather than simply using it as a tool to vent their desires."

"Well...it's okay?" Yin seemed to be thinking about something, and then immediately looked at Emiya vigilantly.

Why does this concept sound familiar?

Yin's words didn't sound serious at all, and paired with her somewhat rambling attitude, they actually lightened the atmosphere considerably. Yin was truly open-minded when it came to magic, eager to even chat with the magic apprentice. And so, the two of them actually ended up chatting about magic, turning the goddess' return into a casual chat between close friends.

However, Emilia couldn't relax.

This was his first face-to-face encounter with the god of death. But for some reason, Kelemvor's gaze gradually became fixed on him.

Thirty-three Covenants

It's probably true that the Midnight Goddess is weak.

But the problem is that among the people present, there is one person who is not only not weak, but also strong enough to tear apart the sum of all the remaining people.

Ever since Kelanwo entered the room, he had been staring at Emiya himself.

"...Lord Death, why are you staring at me?" Emilia frowned. "I've never used necromancy, and I hardly ever kill anyone. I don't have any relatives or friends who have passed away recently."

Even he himself doesn't care that much about life and death.

He may have some overlap in creeds and ideas with many gods, but he has nothing to do with the god of death.

Neither hostile nor friendly, like horizons that never intersect.

"Perhaps," Kelemvor said. "Demons have always been active in the Twilight Realm. Therefore, the name of the informant is well known to me. It's strange that they haven't put a bounty on you, though."

"In theory," Emilia replied, "we are at a truce with the demons, and they are supposed to cease all hostile activities. As for what they are actually doing, I don't know."

Kelemvor's gaze flickered between Metatron and Emmya. He then said, "During this time, I've been focusing a little on you. It's strange, your activity has been a bit too intense."

Even if Emilia didn't hate this non-stop life, he couldn't have the audacity to say that this kind of life was normal.

So he could only say: "Perhaps death is chasing me."

"Chasing?" Kelemvor shook his head. "Perhaps death is merely recording you."

This sentence was a bit too much of a riddle. Even a brain strengthened twice by magic books could not guess the meaning of the god of death without any information.

Especially when Death clearly didn't want to explain himself.

Midnight was obviously much more reliable than Silver. Even when the silver-haired girl opposite her was completely in a frenzy, she managed to find the focus of the day in time.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like