Water Mage in the Flame Realm-Chapter 425 - 405: World Will (Part 2)
Standing atop the mountain, the view is expansive, but at the same time, one must withstand the cold high-altitude winds and the battering rain; one careless misstep would mean a fall into a deep abyss.
The situation Silver faces now is just like that.
"It’s my fault! I was careless! I should have given Silver a heads up beforehand, to at least prepare her psychologically a bit."
Andrew blamed himself internally, "With her strength, if she were somewhat prepared, even if impacted, she wouldn’t have been injured like this."
Andrew couldn’t immediately rescue the Flame Realm, so he first offered comfort and then plotted a rescue plan.
As for Silver, Andrew went directly to her side, holding her hand with one hand and gently pressing the center of her forehead with the other.
The strongest Healing Magic Series, the "Water Priestess Series," was activated in full force.
At the same time, Andrew fully leveraged the power of this temple, this island, and the Lake of the Ocean in this underground space.
The water mages widened their eyes in amazement as they watched the water around the island, seemingly inspired, gather from all directions, ultimately flowing into Andrew’s palm and into Silver’s forehead and brow.
What harmed Silver was the negative emotions from the Flame Realm.
At this moment, the world’s consciousness seemed to feel guilt and remorse, so it countered with its own positive, supportive side to assist Andrew in healing together!
Such worldly assistance is the best medicine in the world.
Coupled with Andrew’s "Water Sacrificial Magic," Silver’s condition visibly improved and recovered at a speed noticeable to the naked eye.
"Tha... thank you, sir." Silver shivered no more, yet was still somewhat weak, and asked in a low voice, "This ’homeland world’, what’s going on? I just felt like this world was near death, the negative emotions were so immense, for a moment I felt like I was going to die too."
"You will not die, and neither will the world." Andrew patted her shoulder and helped her sit back up slowly.
Silver instinctively looked left and right, trembling as she asked, "Where is Lord Li... didn’t come with you?"
All the water mages turned to look.
Andrew flipped his hand, and a miniature Rainbow Bridge quietly floated above his palm.
Although Andrew said nothing, upon seeing this scene, everyone understood naturally: Lord Li had transformed into a bridge, not coming along, yet also somehow accompanying them.
Despite the sorrow, everyone forced a bit of comfort.
But more was confusion.
Confusion towards this unfamiliar world called "homeland," confusion about the future and the path forward.
Andrew also understood very well, standing from the water mages’ perspective, losing their long-time leader and spiritual guide, and suddenly arriving in a completely unfamiliar environment, must be difficult to face and handle.
After thinking for a moment, Andrew spoke, "First, I want to tell everyone that we are not unable to return to the Water God Realm.
Lord Li, transformed as a bridge, has connected two worlds; it’s not just a one-way teleport. So whenever everyone wishes, I can ask Lord Li to take us back to the Water God Realm."
Andrew knew that the vast majority—perhaps ninety-nine percent—of the water mages actually regarded the Water God Realm as their homeland.
So the first thing was to let everyone know they had not lost their roots, had not become rootless floating plants.
This was truly important; the effect brought by this concept was something no healing, calming, or tranquil magic could replace.
Indeed, upon hearing that they could return to the Water God Realm anytime, especially with the help of the bridge Lord Li had become, a renewed glint appeared in everyone’s eyes.
Silver slowly came to her senses again and spoke, "Since we can go back anytime, everyone can rest easy. But..." Her face grew serious, and she asked again, "This world... the world we are in now, what is going on?"
The group was located on the island at the center of the Underground Ocean Lake, in front of the temple.
After not returning to the Wildfire Territory for some time, the current Underground Ocean Lake was already radically different from the nearly dried-up "shallows" Andrew remembered.
The water level of the lake had risen by an unknown amount.
No matter how deep the water was, it remained crystal clear.
Under the dreamlike glow cast by the arched dome of the underground space, various aquatic creatures within the lake created a vibrant underwater world.
One could say this was already the most beautiful place in the Flame Realm. Its friendliness to water element professionals was almost on par with the Water God Realm.
Yet, water mages, who could be considered the most sensitive professionals, honed their sharpness through endless years of confrontation and struggle with flame warriors in the Water God Realm. Nearly every water mage possessed Andrew’s "water sixth sense," and many were even sharper.
So not only the strongest, like Silver who could hear the world’s voice, but the other water mages couldn’t hear the Flame Realm’s voice; they could sense: this world before them was far more than just this beautiful underground scene.
All seemed to sense faintly that outside this underground sanctuary might lie a wasteland extremely unfriendly to water element professionals!
One by one, their eyes focused on Andrew, waiting for his response.
Andrew thus succinctly said, "It’s the Magic Guild; they have turned our world into this."
After pausing, Andrew continued, "It’s not just the Magic Guild; behind it is that—"
Andrew didn’t finish.
Because after hearing "Magic Guild," the water mages soon began shouting: "Damn it, the Magic Guild again? The one behind the flame warriors’ Magic Guild again?!"
"Lord Li died because of this damned Magic Guild!"
"Destroy the Magic Guild! Avenge Lord Li!"
"Avenge Lord Li!!"
Andrew opened his mouth, "Ah... this..."
Initially planning to say something to soothe everyone’s emotions.
But after the crowd heard "Magic Guild," they no longer appeared confused but instead turned fervently energetic!
They say revenge is bad, revenge is wrong, and only letting go of hatred can bring peace of mind.
Yet, looking at the crowd in front of him, whose souls had been rekindled by the flames of revenge, Andrew suddenly thought: Revenge... is not always bad after all.
For now, the world no longer cried out in pain.
Silver progressively recovered.
The water mages were no longer confused.
Andrew’s heart, unsettled by the passing of the beam, finally calmed a little, no longer as tightly clenched.
Finally, he had the mind to properly observe the surrounding scenery.
Changes in the Lake of the Ocean included not just the rising water levels, increased water volume, and restored aquatic life.
Also, columns of water, like tornadoes, rose from the water’s surface, reaching the dome of this underground space.
In the Inner Sea Desert, seen from the outside place considered a life-forbidden zone, life could barely continue where there were water tower trees.
Each water tower tree’s roots actually connected to this underground space, drawing water from here, storing it in the tree trunks, and using it to nurture the beings around the trees on the surface.
Andrew quickly recognized: those water tornadoes connected to the tips of the roots of the water tower trees above the dome.
"So these water tornadoes are actually the water tower trees on the surface drawing water from this underground space, from this Lake of the Ocean?"
Andrew started to comprehend.
In his heart, he vaguely sensed that everything in the Wildfire Territory seemed somewhat different from when he initially left with Barbara.
But in any case—
"Finally... We’re back!"
Andrew murmured, "Home!"
To Silver and the water mages, the Water God Realm was their true homeland.
But for Andrew, this was home.
The place where this journey first began was also where Andrew’s roots were in this Flame Realm.
Andrew had left the Wildfire Territory, traveled to the Shield of Flowing Fire, Warm Fire City, the Royal Court, and the Outer Battlefield, essentially visiting everywhere except the areas controlled by the Magic Guild.
And now, finally, they were back.
