Chapter 958 (1/2)

Hao Ren finally found Willy and Master Orrow in one of the inns in the royal city. The two, a noble bastard and a shaggy scholar from a distant city state did not have the rights to live within the royal fortress. When Willy saw Hao Ren and the rest he was shocked, especially when his eyes fell upon Vivian. The young lad immediately sprang to his feet from the chair. “Ice Witch!”

“Oh, even you too?” Vivian smiled. “The people in the city are afraid of me.”

“So you really are the Ice Witch.” Willy shrunk by reflex before carefully looking about. This was a cheap inn, and only had a thin layer of planks to separate the simple room from the corridor outside. He felt that there were countless of people trying to eavesdrop into the conversation here.As he knew he was now speaking to the Ice Witch, the royal knights may have already stood guard over the entry way. “I said that when I first met you… but you did not admit to that… and you never said that this world had a Fire Witch as well.”

Lily scratched her head, slightly embarassed. “Actually, I was just trying to act co…”

“So are you still afraid of the Ice Witch?” Hao Ren asked Willy with a smile. “You see, we do have the ability to let this world fall into an eternal winter. We have fixed the Furnace of the Ancestors, and conversely we could annhilate it as well at a whim.”

“Of course.” Willy admitted honestly. Perhaps he was brave in admitting the fact that he was a coward. “But I don’t think the Ice Witch is an evil person. And frankly, I always though that the Ice Witch was a demon that will lead the world into an eternal winter. My nan had said it before, on the first night of winter, the Ice Witch will come on a chariot of frozen metal from the edge of the world, and blasts cold wind into the Furnace of the Ancestors, and permanently freezing the heart of the world. But you had fixed it together with the Ice Witch. Seems like the legends weren’t real after all.”

“That’s right. The legends aren’t real. It’s just that men did not hold on to the truth, they held on to the drive to pursue the truth.” Hao Ren patted Willy’s shoulder, before pulling out a few photographs from his pocket and passed it to the young man. “We will be leaving soon. These are for you.”

“Wha…” Willy took over the photographs quizzically. He had never seen such exquisite paper before. Firm, smooth, without mold, and the colours were vibrant. On it was a picture that was beautiful beyond words, and was so life-like it felt like magic. “What are these?”

“Pretty ain’t it?”

“Pretty…?” There was still some sense of doubt in Willy’s tone. “They are pretty, but I don’t know what these are.”

“Forest, sea, the deep blue skies, and the stars.” Hao Ren gestured towards the pictures in the photographs. “These were left behind by your ancestors… I found them in the library and printed out some. These pictures were pictures of the world your people had once lived. I’ve met many people on the ark, but it’s a shame that you are the only one that is interested in this. So I’ve giving it to you.”

willy immediately passed the photographs back. “I can’t possibly accept such a valuable item…”

“The fact that you know these are valuable is more than enough.” Hao Ren smiled. “I’m here to say my farewells, and pass on somethings. Now that my job here for now is done, we’ll have to go back. Nolan, prepare transference.”

Willy stepped forward by reflex but the screen of white light that appeared out of nowhere stopped him in his path. Hao Ren stood behind the white light as he looked towards the stunned Master Orrow. “Master, tell this boy’s father when you get back. Willy had led the Witches of Ice and Fire into the Furnace of the Ancestors. His name has been engraved deep within the Furnace. His viceroyalty may be a lifetime work, but his accomplishments will never compare to even the pinky toe of this bastard son of his.”

Master Orrow smiled as he bowed slightly. “I shall request his Majesty to pen this to the viceroy himself, and have the royal seal on it so that it can forever be placed within Hearthfire’s treasure vault.

This old man does have a wicked bone in him too!

The transference beam then disappeared in a flash, and the next moment, Hao Ren and the rest were back onto Petrachelys’ bridge.

Y’lisabet leapt out from her seat to welcome Hao Ren excitedly as she complained about being bored standing by on the ship. Nolan’s holographic projection then appeared not far away. “We have ascertained the ark’s situation.”