Xu Xi first met Krisha at the end of the autumn of the sixth year of simulation. Now, it is the tenth year.
In other words, nearly four years have passed since Xu Xi rescued Krisha, taking her away from the filthy and foul-smelling alleys to give her a “human” life.
Four years—such a significant span of time.
Even for Xu Xi, who had lived it, there was no accurate way to measure its weight.
Snap—snap—
Pushing open the door of the meditation room, Xu Xi, now a Great Magician, walked along the corridor. The slightly thick soles of his boots produced a steady, muffled sound that reverberated softly in the air.
The hum echoed, consistent and unbroken.
Suddenly, Xu Xi stopped. He lifted his head slightly and looked out at the bright sun and clear blue sky beyond the corridor.
“Today’s sunlight is exceptionally dazzling…”
The halo of light stirred his memories.
With his vision blurred, Xu Xi recalled many moments from his life in the simulated world.
Ten years of simulation—six years alone, followed by four years with the witch.
It was remarkable.
Despite the earlier years being longer, most of his vivid memories came from the latter.
He remembered simple, shared moments with Krisha.
For instance, two years ago, when Krisha worked hard to improve her cooking skills and finally prepared a passable dish. Though slightly burnt on the outside and a bit bitter, Xu Xi ate it all without complaint.
Or a year ago, when Krisha practiced level 3 water magic for the first time. Her talent for water elements was so strong that the spell flooded the courtyard, leaving the flowers and plants bare. She had soaked herself completely, water dripping from her hair and clothes.
Krisha apologized profusely, but Xu Xi only smiled, helped her change into dry clothes, and used his combined fire and wind magic to dry her hair—a spell he hadn’t used for a long time.
Everyday moments, simple yet profound.
It was these unremarkable instances that shone like quiet miracles, bringing warmth and beauty to their otherwise ordinary days.
“It’s a shame I’ll have to leave this life behind for now.”
Xu Xi’s gaze remained fixed on the sky. The clear blue expanse was stunning, like a flawlessly painted canvas, unmarred by even the faintest hint of vapor.
Yet, this very perfection gave him a deep sense of unease. Something wasn’t right.
“To power the entire city, the underground steam engines in Allenson’s center are massive. The sheer amount of steam they generate is far greater than what we see today.”
“But over the past month, the steam engines’ activity has significantly decreased.”
“Moreover, steam airships have been frequently dispatched, seemingly to transport people out of Allenson.”
There was no denying it—something was wrong.
Xu Xi had visited the Magicians Association for answers, but he found its top leaders had vanished without a trace, much like the city’s nobles.
Only a skeleton crew remained to manage the association’s daily operations.
From this, Xu Xi deduced: [Something is about to happen in Allenson City.]
While the exact nature of the crisis remained unclear, one thing was certain—staying wasn’t an option.
“I’ve already advanced to Great Magician. Moving to another city won’t pose any financial issues. I must evacuate immediately,” Xu Xi decided.
As the sunlight became unbearably bright, a magic shield materialized in front of him, shielding him from the glare.
It wasn’t his own magic.
“Thank you, Krisha. Your magic shield is quite effective,” Xu Xi said, turning to his right.
At some point, the 16-year-old witch had quietly joined him.
Four years had transformed Krisha. She was no longer the frail, pitiful figure he had found in the alley.
She had grown taller, her features more refined. Her long gray-silver hair flowed smoothly over her shoulders, shimmering like water under sunlight.
Though her expression remained calm, devoid of joy or sorrow, her beauty was undeniable.
Dressed simply in a light-white gown with a pale blue outer layer, Krisha exuded elegance. The sea-blue necklace Xu Xi had gifted her complemented her simplicity, enhancing her natural grace.
Even without extravagant attire, Krisha’s beauty rivaled that of the most distinguished noble daughters, her refinement shaped by adversity.
“You flatter me. This is what I should do,” Krisha replied, her hands folded neatly in front of her.
Her voice, like her expression, lacked emotion.
Looking at her well-behaved demeanor, Xu Xi felt a pang of regret. Despite his efforts over the past four years, he had been unable to restore Krisha’s emotions fully.
“Krisha, did you notice anything while I was away?” he asked as they walked toward the living room.
“Following your instructions, I monitored the steam airships. The last three departed this morning.”
“This morning?”
“Yes.”
Krisha’s calm response heightened Xu Xi’s sense of urgency.
“Something is definitely wrong. No airships left behind means they’ve abandoned Allenson City entirely.”
“We have to leave as well, Krisha. Today.”
Taking a deep breath, Xu Xi closed his eyes briefly before reopening them with resolve.
“Krisha, go to the market and buy as many supplies as possible—food, daily necessities, anything we might need. Use the space ring to bring everything back.”
“There’s no need to hide your magic anymore. Use wind control to fly directly.”
“Yes. I will follow your instructions.”
Without hesitation, Krisha retrieved her wand, Gray Resurrection, and activated her wind magic. The elemental currents enveloped her, lifting her swiftly into the sky.
Meanwhile, Xu Xi hurried into the study room.
The sense of crisis weighed heavily on him, urging him to act.
Level 4 and 5 magic alone wouldn’t suffice against an unknown danger. He needed to use the time Krisha spent gathering supplies to master level 6 and 7 magic, enhancing their chances of survival during the evacuation.
[The atmosphere in Allenson City grows increasingly strange. You observe the unfolding crisis keenly.]
[The observer entry activates… continuously activating…]
[You realize the hidden danger. The departure of all steam airships signals that the crisis may strike Allenson City soon—perhaps even today.]
[You send the witch to urgently purchase supplies.]
[You begin to study advanced magic, activating your mortal wisdom…]
[You deepen your understanding of the world’s operations, rapidly improving your magical knowledge.]
[You successfully learn your first level 7 magic spell. Then your second.]
[You begin creating new magic…]