In the dream, Alex felt the pain of being stabbed with a poisonous dagger through the chest. He had felt it many times before, but it was still horrible. The familiar burn spread through his ribs, creeping toward his heart like hot acid.
He gave thanks that the mana improvement had also steeled his mentality, because if he had been dreaming this nightmare when he wasn't a mage, he would have probably suicided already. Even now, the sensation lingered with a sharp clarity that made his breath tighten.
Still, he listened properly this time.
"Well… thank you, master. Unfortunately, we, Dyonisus, can't allow you to heal Sylvana, as we need both her and your core to make our plans come true, so you will need to die for me," Sebastian said.
"Why!? Why do this after all we went through together!? I saw you grow from all the way back when you were a mere master mage in the academy!" the alchemist said.
"Back at that time, I had already been saved by my actual master. You just found potential in an already taken apprentice, but my master found a future for me when I was a street boy, when nobody even gave me a piece of crumb to eat. That's why I'm loyal to him," Sebastian roared like a maniac.
"That's why I have been staging all those terrorist acts where we passed. Ah! You sure are a dumbass, not noticing how all the places we went found themselves in chaos not long after, hahahaha!" the man laughed.
"So you were the one who instigated the Verethorn royal academy's terrorist attack in 1464!?" the alchemist asked. That attack had been the act of the century. Many powerful nobles' children died there, causing the most united continent to break apart, which eventually ended with the deaths of the king, resulting in Alicia going mad. Her actions brought ruin all over the world, since she, together with Vanessa, were an unfathomable force who, after being dethroned, had nothing to fear or lose.
"YES! AH! It was so delightful to see the fall of those preposterous, self-righteous bitches! I enjoyed every moment!" Sebastian replied euphorically.
The master didn't waste a second questioning why his pupil of over five hundred years would betray him. It didn't matter anymore, and the seconds were far too precious.
After that last part, the dream ended as usual, writing the recipes and sending the book away.
Alex gasped awake, opening his eyes wide.
"1464! That's four years from now!" he said.
He hadn't known the remaining part of the memory held such critical information. Not only was the attack insane, but the aftermath even more so—it would end with Aurethia thrown into complete disarray.
'I have to find a way to let this be known to the royalty. It must be stopped!' Alex thought.
He knew both Vanessa and Sylvana. Even with their differences, he considered them good people—something rare for nobles in his eyes.
Alex quickly walked to his desk and wrote the information on a piece of paper. He didn't trust the dream to remain after hearing this.
He then went to his secret lab and began preparing for their visit. Most of the preparation consisted of removing the map he'd painted, pieced together from fragments, and placing it carefully into his ring. He also arranged the books and notes he wanted visible and hid the ones that were too sensitive.
After that, he went to several places in town and bought used books on various subjects related to magic and alchemy. Once back in the lab, he scattered them around to match the impression he intended to give—organized chaos with purpose behind it.
Satisfied, he returned home and started making potions with Evelyn. With today's work, they managed to finish four months of quotas for the royalty.
Once they were done, Evelyn sweetly asked, "Have you found an academy for me to attend?"
"I have asked the princess, and she promised to help me. Today she will tell me," Alex replied.
"Yey! Thank you!" Eve said and hugged him.
Alex took a critical hit of cuteness. Even after everything he'd seen in his dreams, Eve's affection was the one thing that always anchored him.
"Do you want to go paint?" he asked after recovering.
"I can't! I have to get ready to go to the academy!" Evelyn said proudly.
"Oh, okay," Alex replied, slightly dispirited.
"Don't feel bad, I will paint with you next time!" Eve said, feeling his mood dip.
"Sure," he said, smiling warmly.
The siblings then went out on their separate ways—Alex to his office, and Eve to her room.
In his office, Alex took the painting materials and stared at the blank canvas for a moment. Painting helped him calm down, helped him think. After a dream that intense, he needed the comfort of brush strokes.
He remembered a majestic scene etched in his mind and began to paint. His brush moved swiftly and skillfully thanks to years of practice and his improved mind. The smell of paint, the quiet scratch of bristles, and the soft glow of afternoon light through the window helped him process the weight of the dream. In just two to three hours, he was giving the painting its finishing touches.
"Oh! That's a nice painting of me you did there. How interesting. Is that how you saw me?" Alex heard a voice and turned to see Sylvana and Vanessa standing in his office.
He froze for a moment. He hadn't sensed them. That alone was unsettling.
Sylvana approached the canvas and took a good look at it.
Alex had painted the cathedral where he found her, Sylvana unconscious on the altar, surrounded by red cloth, though he had added flowers and plants to soften the image, giving it an ethereal, almost sacred beauty.
"How come I didn't feel you coming?" Alex asked. It was the first time he couldn't feel either Sylvana's or Vanessa's aura.
"I hid our aura with my will," Sylvana said.
"Oh, I see," Alex replied. Will was the final upgrade for a martial artist. When they reach the legendary realm, it grants a wide range of advantages, from ignoring weaker shields to concealing one's presence entirely.
"I told you he was a nice painter," Vanessa said.
"Mind if I take the painting? I kind of like it," Sylvana said.
"Sure," Alex replied.
Sylvana stretched her hand and, before storing it, said, "Sign it," while pointing at the corner of the back side.
"What?" Alex asked.
"Sign it. As the creator, you have to leave a piece of you in the painting," Sylvana replied.
Alex did as instructed, then Sylvana stored it with a simple, "Thank you."
"Next time, paint me, will you? I also want a nice and elegant painting of me," Vanessa said. Now that her aunt had one, she wanted one too.
"Don't you already have many done by skillful artists?" Alex asked.
Sylvana almost facepalmed.
"Yeah, but I want one done by you," Vanessa said, insisting and thinking nothing more of it.
Sylvana placed her hand over her face. 'How can these two be so damn dumb when it comes to romance? What am I seeing!?'
She wanted Alex to fall for Vanessa, but he was a blockhead, and her niece was too pure to use her charm intentionally. Their magical contract forced them together, but emotionally, they were both hopeless.
"Sure then," Alex finally said, prompting Vanessa to smile happily.
Sylvana watched his reaction. He seemed uninterested—but he had dodged Vanessa's gaze a bit quicker than usual.
'Hehehe… so there is a chance…' she thought.
"So, what are you doing here?" Alex asked.
"We've come to see the lab first, then we'll go together to train, since after training, I'm too tired and don't want to go anywhere but my bed," Vanessa said. "Besides, we have the stuff you asked for—except the plants. Those will take a few more days."
"Okay, that works for me. I also have something to talk to you about. In fact, it's something that can lead to catastrophic consequences."
The girls immediately turned serious.
"Let's go then," Sylvana said.
And so, Alex walked out with them, heading toward his lab.