Turning Chapter 1050

Chapter 1050

"We've arrived."

Finally, when all the dizzying scenes came to an end and the view returned to normal, Yuder discovered a house sitting in front of him, unbelievably intact, as if by a lie.

It looked implausibly intact for a place that had witnessed a thousand years pass by. Had he not known about the Gyllandr Hill, he might have mistaken it for someone's secluded villa nestled deep within a dense forest.

Looking around, the surroundings seemed not much different from the Sanctuary Forest they had traversed earlier. So much so, that even something resembling the far edge of the First Emperor's statue was visible.

'To think it was here all along, and yet remained unknown.'

Enon approached the house confidently, crossed his arms, and let out a thoughtful hum.

"I'll take a look around before we enter. Stay here."

Yuder acknowledged with an agreement. Soon, Kishiar approached, his expression more intrigued than ever.

"Did you feel the flow of magic on our way here? Even though we were merely walking, it felt as though everything around us, excluding ourselves, was transforming. The direction of the wind and light, the weight and temperature, everything perceptible through our senses seemed to change. It made us feel as though we were ascending even while moving across flat land. Such an experience is new to me."

Kishiar lacked the Eye of Magic. He did not see what Yuder saw, yet he seemed to sense the change in his own way.

"For me... I sensed something slightly different. With one eye as an Eye of Magic and the other seeing normally, I saw two disparate visions."

"How were they different?"

"The Eye of Magic saw the sky and earth inverted. When combined with the normal vision, it truly felt as if I was climbing a hill."

"Weren't you dizzy?"

Kishiar expressed his concern. It seemed somewhat embarrassing that such a curious individual would prioritize worry in matters related to him.

"Yes, I was fine."

"You saw that with your Eye of Magic? You truly grasped its essence."

Enon interjected nonchalantly, joining the conversation.

"The 'Gyllandr' of Gyllandr Hill was said to be the name of a fairy of reflections in water. Luma concealed part of the forest's space here, inspired by it. Those who wish to enter must adapt to a spell that inverts their perception and senses, feeling as if they are ascending and descending the path."

Reflections in the water, indeed. It seemed that the combined visions he witnessed were akin to that.

"But Luma inverted the sensations along with the normal ones. Someone like you can perceive both, feeling not just the shifting sensations but also seeing and merging both phenomena. It allows one to truly see the surreal landscape of the magically created hill."

Enon's explanation shed more light on the spectacle Yuder had observed.

"It's not actually on a real hill, but that's why it's called Gyllandr Hill. Do you understand now?"

"A bit."

Kishiar had said the word 'Gyllandr' sounded archaic but wasn't sure of its exact meaning. If it was a name of a fairy unknown in today's world, it made sense why it was unrecognized.

"It's regrettable. If I had studied magic more diligently, perhaps I could have seen the same."

"It's normal not to see that far. It's peculiar that he could see it with his Eye of Magic."

Enon, curtly putting an end to Kishiar's lament, gestured for him to follow.

"It seems safe, so let's go inside."

—

The creaking sound, indicative of long-neglected maintenance, revealed a dimly lit interior as the door opened. Following Enon inside, Yuder involuntarily halted in his tracks, taken aback by the sight before him.

'...It surely wasn't this vast from the outside?'

From the outside, the house had appeared to be a single-story structure, indistinguishable from an ordinary cabin. Yet, inside, it was as spacious as a noble family's mansion, complete with stairs leading to a second floor and a basement.

"Is this also magic?"

"Altering the perception between what is seen and what is real was Luma's forte. This is hardly surprising."

Enon nonchalantly observed his surroundings, his bright yellow eyes flickering with indiscernible emotions.

"This place is exactly as I last saw it. Had you not been with me, I might have thought I left just yesterday."

"..."

"Well, anyway, this is Luma's laboratory. And the place where I first opened my eyes."

Enon slowly moved deeper inside. The still lifes on the walls and the curtains hanging not far away didn't look very old, providing a definite sense of habitation. Yet, the realization that people had lived here a thousand years ago only stirred a strange feeling within.

They stopped in front of the staircase.

"The second floor is for sleeping quarters. The basement houses the laboratory and library. So, we'll head down first."

Enon descended confidently. Though it felt like they had only moved down a single floor, upon regaining their senses, they found themselves in a pitch-dark abyss. Looking back, the stairs they had descended appeared tenfold more extensive, stretching upwards.

Despite knowing that altering reality was Luma's specialty, adapting to such phenomena never became easier.

'Really, the term great mage suits perfectly.'

In contrast to the current mages who struggled to summon even a single flame, relying solely on high-quality magic stones for any significant magic, the disparity was glaring. The magic they employed paled in comparison to what was once possible.

Standing before the door to Luma's laboratory, Enon instinctively reached out. Unlike his usual effortless entries, he suddenly withdrew his hand as if burned, furrowing his brow.

"What's wrong?"

"Why? What's the issue?"

Yuder was ready to exert his power at any moment.

"It should have been untouched since I left... but the door is already open. Strange. Is my memory incorrect?"

"Or perhaps someone else has been here. If so, it would only be the owner, right? Though the pharmacist never returned after leaving, we can't be certain about the owner."

Kishiar, who had remained silent, finally spoke.

"It's unlikely. Surely... no, but..."

Enon, usually confident, trailed off uncertainly. After a moment, he pushed the door open with a new sense of tension.

An unexpected brilliance assaulted their eyes in the underground darkness. Yuder squinted, shielding his eyes before gradually adjusting.

Expecting a desolate scene akin to the secret laboratories inside Tainu's underground prisons, they were met with the exact opposite.

The warmth of wooden walls and floors enveloped them, with light streaming through high windows, and aged wooden sculptures lined the walls.

An old desk, haphazardly placed chairs, and at the center, a tree.

'...A tree?'

Taller than even Kishiar, the tree appeared dead, its branches barren. Notably, a large hollow gaped within its trunk.

The expansive cavity seemed large enough to conceal a person.

"What's that?"

"Ah, that. It's where I was before I fully awakened."

Enon responded.

"Before awakening means..."

"Yes. This is where I was created."

A definitive answer to Yuder's query.