Chapter 679 - Archmage Tutor (1) (2/2)

Elard didn’t even know how to react. He just clutched his face and glared at Link in angry shock.

Unexpectedly, Link’s fury disappeared after the slap. “Okay, are you awake now?”

“Awake?” Eliard was confused, but he soon felt the change. The dark thoughts weakened a lot. They still remained, but they’d become fleeting clouds. They no longer affected his mind. When he thought back to those terrifying ideas, he found them incredible.

“Link, I…” Eliard felt strange and embarrassed.

Link waved his hand. “Don’t, I understand. When I first got the fragment, I had the same thoughts. Now, we have to get rid of the fragment.”

He was a powerful Soul Magician now. He didn’t slap Eliard just to slap him. He used this insulting action to sway Eliard’s heart. When a flaw appeared in his soul, Link yelled further to create an advanced defense barrier in Eliard’s soul.

The entire process was traceless but effective. It successfully helped Eliard escape from the fragment’s influence. Of course, this was only temporary. As long as the Divine Fragment was still beside them, Eliard could fall back into it. They had to get rid of it as soon as possible.

After he recovered his senses, Eliard felt belated fear. He didn’t dare look at the wooden box again. “You’re right. We can’t let this into Ferde… Link, are you preparing to go to the Aragu Realm now?”

“That’s the plan.” Link’s expression was strange. He looked to the Grinth Forest in the northwest. “But for some reason, a voice keeps telling me that the forest is the right direction.”

“Soul Premonition?” Eliard was a powerful Magician too. He knew that all strong Magicians had this ability. Link also had studied Secret spells before.

Link was a bit hesitant. “I think so, but to be honest, the Divine Fragment is too powerful. The enemies watching it are also impossibly powerful. I don’t know if the premonition is mine or if some creature is affecting me.”

The premonition was a good thing in lower-level battles. But at this level, most Magicians had touched on this field before. The so-called Soul Premonition wasn’t as trustworthy anymore. If he relied on it for directions, he could walk right into a trap.

Eliard had no solutions. “Which path do you choose? If you want to go with logic, it’s Aragu. If you want to follow your gut, let’s visit the forest. I’ll go with you either way.”

It was hard to choose.

Every physical appearance was a reflection of the heart. Right now, he was in a mess, so he decided to tidy it bit by bit. He looked carefully at the root and tip of each train of thought.

A few seconds later, Link opened his eyes. They were clear as water.

In that instant, Eliard was shocked by the clarity of Link’s eyes. They were as pure as a child’s eyes and as clean as a pool of water. But they also carried such wisdom. It was impossible to describe. He’d never seen this look on another man.

He believed that Link had the answer.

“To Grinth. There should be an elder waiting for us there,” Link murmured dreamily.

“Elder? Do you know who it is?”

“We’ll know when we see him. He shouldn’t be an enemy.” Link walked towards the forest; Eliard hurried after him.

The two were very fast. Around fifteen minutes later, they were at the edge of the forest. There was a clear creek with a flat stone beside it. An elder with a snowy robe leaned on his wand and sat there, smiling at the two.

When Link and Eliard approached, the elder said, “Ferde lord, you didn’t disappoint me.”

Eliard doubted the elder’s identity, but Link understood. He bowed and said, “Archmage, it is my honor to see you.”

With that, Link handed over the wooden box with the Shadow Divine Fragment. He didn’t want to hold it a second longer.

Unexpectedly, the Snow Mountain Archmage didn’t accept it. He shook his head. “Fate has told me that now is not the time yet.”

“What?” Link wanted to throw the thing down and leave.

“A powerful enemy is hurrying over. You and your companion need more strength. There isn’t enough time. Let us start.”

With that, a magic book appeared in the Archmage’s hands. He flipped to a page and pointed at a magic seal that was too complicated to be ever replicated. “Level-17 magic seal: World of Ice and Snow. Learn it in three days!”