Mage Manual

Chapter 1534 - 1121: Punishment

Ash was not surprised at all by Weiser’s thoughts.

Weiser was the most energetic person he had ever met, only Tamasi could match the radiance she emanated, making everyone else seem dim in comparison. It’s not that Sword Witches weren’t good, but only in the Land of Senluo, that absurd and dark wasteland, could there bloom such dazzling exotic flowers like Silver Lamp and Black Crow.

Their stunning existence seems completely out of place in the Senluo Wasteland, Ash initially thought the land filled with chaos and slaughter only deserved vultures to drift down. Yet it seemed precisely because Senluo was so twisted and grotesque, even a slight fall would lead to an irreversible doom, forcing the life within to burst forth with pure passion.

Without that fervor, they couldn’t survive, without that intensity, they would extinguish. As the last Senluoians, Silver Lamp and Black Crow practically embodied Senluo civilization.

Their life force was so vibrant that they needed to find a great and beautiful vessel to host their oversized selves, to project their abundant beliefs and passion. Otherwise, they would inevitably fall into emptiness and consume themselves, like flames heading towards self-destruction after losing fuel.

To Ash, Black Crow and Silver Lamp were actually the same kind of people: Black Crow’s vessel was "Absolute Justice," while Silver Lamp’s vessel was "Destroy the World." Although their goals were opposed and they disliked each other, they were saints that walked the world.

Ordinary Senluoians needed the Great Skill as their faith, because they weren’t saints. When faced with unattainable ideals, they would waver and doubt, without steadfast faith to solidify themselves, they would crumble. Yet Black Crow and Silver Lamp were so extraordinary, they didn’t need any external validation, being able to persistently strive towards nearly impossible aims, attempting to change the tide of time with their own efforts. If wise ones said ’History, I know where you’re headed,’ and great ones said ’History, I’ll ride you,’ then saints said ’History, you’re not allowed to go this way’—that’s them.

They don’t need faith, for they are faith itself.

Compared with them, even Vishi seemed a bit inferior. Not that Vishi had a smaller vision, but Vishi had failed too much and for too long before, as the saying goes, ’enthusiasm fades after initial effort.’ Vishi was like a dust-covered war drum that hadn’t been struck for years, making her seem lifeless, only able to stubbornly guard her ambitions, gritting her teeth to persist till now.

No matter how arrogant or cruel she might be, it couldn’t hide that she was a failure, having fled three thousand years ago to now. Being a deserter for too long, she could no longer muster the courage to enter the battlefield.

Even after Ash lost memories of Vishi, he was still attracted to her, not only because of initial fondness, but more due to Vishi’s slowly revitalizing life force. Compared to Female Mages like Sword Witch who hadn’t faced setbacks, Vishi was constantly in a restless state. After Ash shared the Wonder with her, although not visible externally, the aura she emitted had become much brighter.

It was not love or gratitude, more akin to a dust-ridden war drum suddenly struck by a hammer, the dust vibrantly scattered, and the heart hidden inside resounded with a thundering roar.

She lingered for too long, failed too often, desperately needing tangible recognition and progress to rekindle her life.

But whether it’s Vishi or Black Crow, they were still on the path of pursuing dreams, while Weiser was different... she had already completed the mission of Gray Fox’s legacy, destroying the Senluo Wasteland, deciding the fate of countless Senluoians.

She had reached her endpoint.

Like someone financially free, Weiser could choose to live according to Free Will, but her overly expansive self wouldn’t allow her to live negligently. Having burned her life for over two decades, without a new vessel to dedicate to, she would only self-destruct in emptiness.

At that crossroads of uncertainty, the option that could simultaneously satisfy the needs of life’s legacy, reproductive instincts, and love was so alluring to her.

Ash asked himself, at this moment, the person he was willing to have children with was actually only Silver Lamp. Vishi could be excluded, Sword Maiden and Witch were too young, their impulsiveness would easily overshadow reason, and might lead to regret in the future. Only Silver Lamp was the mature woman Ash recognized, any decision she made had certainly been fully considered, and she was a partner to trust.

"But..." Ash hesitated in his tone, "You already..."

"Yes, a Divine Being cannot have children." Weiser softly said, "Not just because we are fundamentally different forms of life, but also because Divine Beings inherently lack reproductive capability. Besides, if you could have children with Divine Beings, it would be problematic; Sword Maiden wouldn’t just have to guard against us, but also watch souls locked, shattered lakes, and gospels, those Divine Beings." She laughed towards the end.

"Still, it’s pretty interesting to think about; if we had a child, would they be human, a Technique Spirit, or a Divine Being?" The Divine Being leaned against the Mage’s chest, listening to the human heartbeat, "Whether a boy or girl, I hope their personality is like yours, not mine."

"Why?"

"Because a person like me would live very bitterly and exhausting," Weiser’s voice was light and fragile, as if fearing her words were a curse. "Besides, it’s not very likable."

"Indeed," Ash nodded seriously, "After all, I’m already a demigod, not considered a human, my liking for you certainly shouldn’t be the evidence of your likability."

"But, do you care about whether others like you? Did you save the world just to see applause from strangers?" Ash tickled Weiser’s waist, pretending to be angry as he asked, "Doesn’t my liking for you fill you with satisfaction?"

"Ash, are you a bit too confident..."

"Huh?"

Watching Ash put on a sad face, Weiser chuckled, feeding him pineapple juice with a tone akin to coaxing a child, "But I just like you so confident. Even if the whole world dislikes me, as long as you like me, I’m content."

"Moreover, being with you has also made me foolish; if we have children, should we let them suffer? Even if they have a personality like Vishi, we wouldn’t let them feel wronged."

"Don’t say that... I’m scared..." Ash’s mouth twitched, "If my child has a personality like Vishi, it would only prove my educational ability is terrible..."

"Don’t worry," Weiser chuckled lightly, looking at Ash she said, "Because after all, I can’t have children with you."

"I will never be able to have children, never be a mother, always be a Divine Being reliant on you."

The tent suddenly grew quiet, the eight silver light crystals seemed to dim.

"I’m not complaining, nor do I feel injustice, this is the price I should pay," Weiser said, "This world was utterly destroyed by me, millions died because of me, no punishment I receive would be excessive. Now, I can even awaken self-awareness, remaining by your side as a Divine Being, what more could I ask for? I deserve my sins."

Ash shook his head repeatedly, "I don’t think you did anything wrong, if not for you—"

"If not for me, all Senluoians would have fallen into an even worse apocalypse," Weiser said, "But what right do I have to make decisions for them? Because it’s correct, do I get to decide others’ fate?"

"Ultimately, am I any different from Dazzling Star who destroyed the Allstars prison? Both following the justice we believe in, shedding others’ blood."

"Ash, you’re lenient towards me only because you pity me." She softly said, "You think I’ve paid a terrible price."

"Perhaps it’s just because I am also a hypocritical person," Ash kissed Weiser’s forehead, gently stroking her back, he laughed, "I also find excuses for those I like. Because I like you, everything about you is good."

"But I thought your thoughts should be similar to Dazzling Star’s, like ’I have the power to decide their fate, so I do, I don’t care what they think’."

Weiser refilled the pineapple juice in the cup, feeding Ash as she nodded, "I indeed don’t care what they think, but that doesn’t mean I deny my sins... I merely have the resolve to pay the price, and I’m willingly bearing all consequences."

"You might think the price I pay is losing my body, becoming a Divine Being, or being trapped in a Dark Forest, having to atone for my sins for the rest of my life," raising her brows, Weiser looked up at Ash, "But actually it’s not, these misfortunes don’t count as punishment for me, I don’t feel the suffering at all."

"Fate’s greatest punishment for me is meeting you, Ash," she softly spoke, "My every pain, every regret, all stem from you... you are the tool that torments me the most."