The ensuing battle was without suspense.
Although confronting the Highly Poisonous Bluebells at the senior Extraordinary level was not easy, after breaking through her Illusion Technique disguise, this Killing Ghost turned out to be merely a formidable Knight. Together with the City Guard, Aiven and the others eventually felled her with their swords.
Despite being the so-called Evil Spirit released by the Box of Dead Souls, the Killing Ghost had a clear gap in comparison to those enigmatic, immortal existences recorded in tomes.
In Aiven’s view, most of them were no more than vengeful spirits with strong grievances, at most contaminated with the mysteriousness of the Box of Dead Souls, a high-tier Extraordinary item belonging to a God, leading to mutations inclined toward Evil Spirits.
Even the strongest White-Faced Dancer only preliminarily possessed some of an Evil Spirit’s eerie abilities, far from attaining immortality.
No casualties for Aiven and his four tonight.
Except for Delis, who was almost unscathed, the three gentlemen only took half a day to rise from the ground after the effects of Witchcraft: Vigoration wore off, merely suffering some post-combat muscle soreness.
Quickly consuming the tailor-made Magic Potion Aiven had prepared earlier, the symptoms soon subsided without much harm.
This was also Aiven’s researched solution after obtaining the Witchcraft: Vigoration scroll from the Blood Hand Gang’s den, safer and more practical than the original version.
Regrettably, those City Guards controlled by Highly Poisonous Bluebells through Mind Witchcraft had long become empty shells. After confirming post-battle, a total of three Extraordinary and four apprentices, including the City Guard deputy Chester, perished in this battle.
It was undeniably severe.
However, these matters were no longer related to Aiven and the others. Higher-ranking among the four, Anthony and Delis stayed behind to assist the Governor in cleaning up after the event and calming down the guests who had broken free from the feverish dance desire.
Aiven then called Krell along to escort his aunt and her friends back. He hadn’t forgotten that there were still two Killing Ghosts, Demon Disciple and Sudden Host, lurking outside.
Of course, the focus was on Aunt Daphne; the others were just additional.
Nonetheless, Aiven received all their gratitude. Everything that happened tonight was clear to them; it can be said that without Aiven and the others, tonight might well have been the end of their lives.
"It’s all thanks to Aiven today. Once this period is over, Daphne must bring Major Aiven to our home!"
"Indeed, give us old sisters some face, to have the chance to thank Major Aiven!"
At this point, no one treated Aiven as a junior to be mocked casually; even the address had become much more formal.
Together with Daphne, her status in this small circle had increased sharply. Though the noble lady was still somewhat spooked, there was more smile on her face.
"No problem, definitely, definitely."
For Daphne, nothing made her happier than seeing her juniors being more successful. She agreed to the invitations from her sisters with a smile.
No one noticed that in the corner of the carriage, the handsome blonde, blue-eyed youth Lemon, was gritting his teeth somewhat. He lowered his head slightly, not letting others see his face: "Why?! Why?! Why do I not possess this strength and honor? I should be the one admired by all!"
Different from the family members of Navy officers, Lemon, a mere ordinary piano teacher, had never before witnessed so-called Extraordinary Power. Tonight’s encounter had vastly shocked his worldview and cognition!
The human heart is the hardest thing to control.
Instead of feeling grateful to Aiven, who saved everyone, Lemon was filled with envy, as if everything Aiven had was snatched from him!
Although Aiven was a remarkable Wizard, he couldn’t always overhear others’ thoughts. Even if he knew what Lemon was thinking, he wouldn’t care, such individuals posed no threat to him.
Moreover, Aiven believed it wouldn’t be long before the Crowman squad from New Inn Port might approach one by one, either warning, controlling, or hypnotizing those ordinary people who inadvertently discovered the existence of the Extraordinary World, using appropriate means to prohibit further exploration of the unknown and hidden.
Breaking unrealistic obsessions!
Soon, they dropped everyone off along the way, and after embracing his aunt goodbye, reminding her to stay safe, Aiven and Krell headed back to academy overnight.
The night was gloomy, with a reddish-yellow moon foretelling ill omens.
Clip-clop.. clip-clop.. clip-clop, a solitary carriage traveled on the gravel path.
Aiven and Krell sat facing each other in the carriage.
"Alright, no one’s here now, ask whatever you want to ask."
In fact, after the battle ended, Aiven noticed Krell was hesitant to speak, having him accompany him was not primarily to deal with possible "Killing Ghosts" but for this moment.
Krell had accumulated too many questions within him tonight, but wasn’t sure if he should ask. Upon receiving Aiven’s permission, he naturally poured out his queries like beans from a bamboo tube.
"How did you meet people like Anthony and Delis? Those special effects during the battle, I’m not mistaken, right? In the end, Aiven, you used Witchcraft, it was Witchcraft, right?!"
After speaking, Krell felt regretful again, watching Aiven anxiously, particularly under the civilized world’s overall rejection of Wizards, these questions were already quite out-of-line.
"Restricted by certain rules, I can’t tell you too much information, but I can say that part of the truth is as you guessed."
Aiven knew Krell had repeatedly applied for the Shadow Library borrowing permission over the years, indicating his deep obsession with mysterious knowledge within. Given today’s shared combat and Killing Ghosts rampaging, considering their roommate status, a favor couldn’t be ruled out.
Aiven saw Krell’s legs tremble slightly, showing first surprise, instantly followed by hesitation, pausing in silence.
The air in the carriage grew somewhat stagnant.
Krell gazed far and misty, speaking slowly:
"Aiven, actually I’ve been obsessed with mysterious Witchcraft since childhood, with the family often having my uncle as the face, seldom mentioning my father.
That’s because he had died in service at sea when I was young....
And legend has it that the Sea God in the Black Sea oversees the souls of maritime deceased and their final resting place...."
Aiven listened silently, though Krell’s narration was fragmented and even out of order, he soon understood Krell’s obsession.
After his father died at sea, Krell hoped to use the power of Witchcraft to communicate with the Sea God, to see his father once more.
But as he grew up, he had long realized that this was nothing but a delusion. Even if a Wizard is found and willing to help.
Even great divine spirits cannot bring the deceased back to the world, unless it’s a tragic creature like a Dead Spirit.....something he did not wish to encounter.
With this fellow’s background, if he desperately pursued Wizards without regard to cost, could he still have waited until now? At least, his grandfather, an academy professor, and his uncle, a General, certainly were aware of the Shadow Library.
Today faced with a Wizard firsthand, the dream finally ought to awaken.