Chapter 287

Chapter 287 Awakening and Reflection

Strange ceiling.

Lolan Hill opened her eyes, looking at the gauzy curtains hanging above, the soft blankets and mattress were warm, the square pillow emitted a faint lavender scent. Moonlight shone through the transparent window, casting a cold light on the walls. The wooden table and chairs in the room were made of sandalwood, with ornate oil paintings hanging on the walls. A bronze incense burner was placed not far from the bed, emitting wisps of heat and a calming fragrance. Only the hollow bronze patterns revealed a hint of light, suggesting that this was likely a piece of alchemical creation.

Where am I? Feeling somewhat unfamiliar, Lolan Hill propped herself up with her hands, sat up, turned her head to look around, and recalled the memories before she fell asleep.

At that time, she should have been at the Winter Festival banquet. For some reason, seeing those flying figures caused a severe feeling of nausea and dizziness, then her consciousness gradually became dizzy and blurry.

Was it Florasia who sent her back? Sitting beside her at the time was Florasia.

Shaking her head slightly, she felt a bit clearer. Lolan Hill roughly guessed what happened next. It should have been Florasia who sent her back, which means this place must be where she lives. No wonder it’s so luxurious.

Pulling back the covers, she slowly got out of bed and looked out the window. Snow-covered branches and trees filled her view. It seemed like she was in the forest. The place with the most Emanas trees would naturally be the Fortress Academy.

Pulling the latch, she gently pushed open the window. A hint of emerald flashed in her eyes. A gentle breeze blew between her fingers, circling through the forest. She closed her eyes to sense her surroundings.

The forest under the moonlight was quiet and cold. Small buildings made of white stone bricks were hidden halfway up the mountain. Through the tall trees blocking the view, one could see the still Moon Lake in the distance. The giant stone pillars from yesterday had long disappeared; the lake surface was as calm as a mirror. A large castle stood by the lakeside, its shape graceful and not bulky. Occasionally, green moss could be seen in the gaps between the stones. There were a few lights in the castle, giving off a warm glow in the darkness.

Withdrawing her slightly cold fingers, Lolan Hill closed the window again. Since Florasia had brought her here, she might as well stay and sleep comfortably tonight. She wasn’t picky about beds and didn’t want to disturb anyone so late by saying she needed to go back. It was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

She lay down on a light purple pillow, and the silver-haired girl slowly fell asleep, her fair face gentle and dreamlike.

—

The next morning.

After sleeping for a long time, Lolan Hill woke up unusually early today. However, she did not get up immediately because it was cold outside the covers.

The girl lying in bed was reflecting on last night’s events. After some investigation over this period,

The annals suggest that she already had some understanding of the so-called ‘Chaos Phantom.’

Mana is a special substance or energy; only entities with souls or consciousness can mobilize and condense it. This explains why the Ivar World has mana, yet no objects become sentient. Even plants, though possessing faint consciousness, still do, which is why a few extraordinary plants come into being. Otherwise, they would remain like stones, even if soaked in mana for ages, they would never become extraordinary.

By inference, although the ‘Chaos Phantom’ appears to lack wisdom, it should also be a living entity with consciousness. Ancient people once burned creatures infected by the Chaos Phantom, and the ashes still had the ability to erode and infect. If the Chaos Phantom were a single entity, it should have long perished after breaking down into such tiny particles.

However, as an existence capable of disrupting and manipulating mana, it clearly possesses consciousness, meaning it is alive. Since it is alive, even when divided into countless smaller parts, it does not die. This implies that from the very beginning, they existed as countless small individuals (particles). Thus, when attaching themselves to larger entities, they cause the latter to appear chaotic and distorted.

Initially, there weren’t many ‘Chaos Phantoms’; they gradually multiplied and spread through continuous erosion and infection.

Reflecting on this process, it is akin to turning large, rational souls into small, chaotic ones, much like a virus.

Most of the existing ‘Chaos Phantoms’ likely originated from the transformation back then, meaning:

These ‘Chaos Phantoms’ are actually remnants of human souls.

Or more accurately, they are mutated remnants of the souls of past beings.

So, where did the initial ‘Chaos Phantoms’ come from?

They crossed the vortex, transcended the boundaries of space and time, and arrived here. — From inscriptions unearthed at ancient ruins of the Giant King’s court.

Dragons fell from the starry sky to the earth, dying with mournful cries. Their wings were already rotten and broken. Twisted maggots crawled out of their corpses, spreading across the world. — From ancient inscriptions on the Eastern Continent.

The ‘Chaos Phantom’ lacks wisdom or, rather, lacks much rationality. They generally do not use schemes or complex thought, which is why they could be quelled during the calamity a thousand years ago.

They instinctively pursue pure souls or the power of the world, craving to devour them. After devouring, the ‘Chaos Phantom’ seems to become somewhat smarter and more rational? — From the fifth major investigation report on the chaos disaster.

I boldly speculate that these initial ‘Chaos Phantoms’ might be the product created or produced by a race that delved deeply into the extraordinary realm. — Summary by Sage Jiunan at the post-war conference.

Thoughts and organization…

Memories and thoughts swirled in her mind as the door to the room opened.

Golden spiral hair cascaded over a white, elegant dress adorned with light green decorations and patterns. As she stepped forward, a fresh floral scent wafted through the air, and her blue eyes like a lake came into Lohil’s view.

“You’ve woken up, Lohil,” Florasia’s voice echoed. She blinked and helped the young lady up.

“Are you feeling better?” she asked.

“I am,” Lohil replied, her clear voice resonating. She then turned to look at this Miss of the Landsworth family.

“Did you bring me back here, Florasia?”

“Yes, you suddenly fainted, which startled me. I used magic to examine you thoroughly but couldn’t find the reason. Eventually, it was the Calming White Rose that slowly stabilized you,” Florasia said, touching Lohil’s forehead to check her temperature, satisfied it was normal before withdrawing her hand.

“Thank you, Florasia.”

Lohil felt a lingering fear; the situation had been too sudden. Fortunately, it was Florasia by her side. Without a familiar person around, things could have been dangerous. It seemed she needed to accelerate her studies in the Angel Sequence.

Afterwards, Lohil got up, washed, and dressed herself, with several maids serving her. Then came breakfast prepared by the chef, allowing her to enjoy the luxury of having everything done for her, reminiscent of her days in the merchant guild.

The morning sunlight slanted into the forest, casting a faint golden hue over the tender sprouts through the layers of shade, while sparse morning mist brought fresh air. Lolan Hill descended the white stone steps and waved goodbye to Florasia standing at the door.

“Are you free tonight, Florasia?”

“Of course,” Florasia replied, looking at the silver-haired girl in the morning light, curious about her sudden question.

“I’ll come find you this evening.” As Lolan spoke, she felt like she was reliving a scene from her childhood, sneaking out with friends to play games.

“Of course, I’d be delighted,” Florasia answered with a smile.

Leaving the forest shrouded in morning mist, Lolan’s silver hair gradually turned pure black, and emerald wings materialized behind her, soaring towards the sky. Unbeknownst to anyone, the high altitudes saw the gathering of gentle winds, swirling together from all directions, then blowing across the entire campus.

Whether it was the snow-capped towers in the north, the turbulent rivers in the south, the bustling towns to the west, the vibrant lakeside forests to the east, or the noisy school buildings in the center.

At ten thousand meters above, countless pieces of information began to converge and feedback in her consciousness, reflecting like flowing light in her emerald eyes.

Thank you, Night Spirit OwO, Sakura Yurisa-chan, for your support.

Special thanks to Night Spirit for your support.

(End of Chapter)