"It's you, Mr. Adam. I'm sorry, but I can't let you in right now. The master just passed away, and it's not convenient for visitors," Ai said at the door, offering a polite smile while delivering news that seemed rather ominous.
"Are you not afraid of being dismissed for saying such things about Alva?" Adam remarked, recalling that he had just seen Alva at the church. Had the old man passed away at the speed of light?
"Then what if I said the master just went mad?" Ai pondered briefly, then nodded before turning back to Adam. Despite her polite demeanor, she still stood firmly at the door, preventing him from entering.
It seemed Adam, much like Doug, had been added to Alva's blacklist.
"I saw Teacher Alva at the church earlier," Adam said. "He asked me to retrieve a painting titled The Past."
"Ah, I see. Well, come on in then," Ai finally sighed in relief, opening the iron gate to let Adam enter.
Following Ai, Adam entered the reception room and was asked to wait while Ai went to fetch the painting.
Adam, accustomed to not being overly curious in other people's homes, refrained from unnecessary exploration. He knew that probing too deeply would only lead to awkwardness and provide no benefit.
Still, that did not stop him from observing the room.
"The clear marks of nobility," Adam mused. "This residence must have once belonged to a noble family."
During his last visit, Adam hadn't had the chance to observe carefully, as Alva's two choices had filled his mind. Now, upon closer inspection, he noted that the design of the space was strikingly similar to that of the Reflection Tower.
"The style itself is not surprising, but the decorative symbols are almost identical," Adam thought, his mind beginning to form a theory.
"This residence must have once belonged to Anthony. Afterward, since Anthony became reclusive in the Reflection Tower, it was likely given to Alva."
This would explain why Alva referred to the place as the Ratu family home rather than calling it "my house."
"Perhaps Alva inherited the name 'Ratu' from Anthony," Adam mused. It wasn't an unreasonable assumption. Some nobles, after losing their noble standing, would abandon their former surname and adopt their noble title as a surname to honor past glory.
If Anthony had no heirs to inherit his noble name, and given his secretive nature, it made sense that Alva would relinquish his own surname in favor of the Ratu name, a name that had effectively become extinct with the fall of the family.
"Some paintings," Adam's attention was then drawn to a series of artworks on the walls.
This time, his perspective had changed. He sensed that these paintings were imbued with magic. If he wasn't mistaken, they likely served as portals to other dimensions, much like the one he had encountered in the Thousand-Painting House.
"Is Alva's domain akin to Anthony's Reflection Tower?" Adam wondered. He wasn't yet sure who among the two—Alva or Anthony—was the more powerful.
"Perhaps the Reflection Tower is Anthony's domain, while Alva's domain is the Thousand-Painting House," Adam speculated.
Before he could continue his thoughts, Ai returned, carrying a painting.
The painting, large enough to cover a desk, was draped with a white cloth, obscuring its contents.
Adam took the painting, and upon removing the cloth, he saw a tranquil lake. The scenery was breathtaking, with sunlight—either setting or rising—casting a long beam of light across the surface of the water.
Once Adam confirmed that this was indeed The Past, he didn't linger, instead making his way to the Reflection Tower.
Before leaving, he heard Ai muttering to herself about wasting two good excuses.
As expected, he encountered Selene once more at the door.
Selene's expression wasn't the best, and upon seeing Adam, she shot him a glare.
"The master has been waiting for you," Selene said, her tone unfriendly. However, she quickly noticed something, and her tone shifted, becoming more insistent. "Who does this painting belong to?"
Adam sensed that speaking Alva's name would likely lead to trouble.
It was clear that Selene's hatred for Alva had reached a boiling point. From the moment Adam arrived, bearing Alva's recommendation, to the current situation, her resentment toward Alva had only grown.
"Selene…" Anthony's soft voice interrupted, and Selene's near-furious expression slowly calmed.
"Come in, Adam." Anthony, his face pale, managed a weak smile.
Adam nodded, his curiosity about what had transpired growing stronger. From his interactions, it was clear that Alva was concerned about Anthony's wellbeing and understood his current condition. However, the reason Anthony hadn't visited the Reflection Tower in such a long time, or why he had placed a curse on Adam to prevent him from revealing Alva's condition, remained a mystery.
Adam entered the study, carrying the painting, and handed it to Anthony.
"Teacher Alva heard you've been unwell and asked me to bring this to you," Adam said, observing Anthony's pale complexion. His concern grew; typically, those who had established their domains should not be in such a weakened state.
"Could it be that, once a monk, Anthony still refuses to pursue immortality through non-human means, even after renouncing his identity and becoming a sorcerer? Is it the flaws in the immortality formula that have led to this state?" Adam wondered silently.
Speculation remained speculation, but when Anthony touched the painting, Adam could see a noticeable change. The frailness in Anthony seemed to fade, and his mental clarity improved, so much so that Adam had the fleeting thought of "revival."
He quickly dismissed this thought. As Anthony gently caressed the depiction of the lake, he softly spoke.
"Adam, this is the lake by the Divine Academy," Anthony said, his voice tender with nostalgia.
"Back then, our studies were demanding. We had to begin early prayers before dawn, and after, we'd study on the other side. We only had ten minutes to rest during the transition, and most sunrises happened during that brief time."
"We had to climb the walls and sit there to enjoy the sunrise for just a few moments," Anthony continued, his voice filled with longing. "Our greatest wish was to graduate early and sail to the lake to watch the sunrise, basking in its warmth."
"Sadly, despite numerous attempts, we could never gather the whole group together," Anthony said wistfully, his gaze softening as he looked at the painting.
Adam watched his expression, reluctant to disturb him.
Even Selene, who was carrying tea, slowed her pace, her sapphire blue eyes fixed on Anthony with concern.
Noticing their worried gazes, Anthony smiled gently and reassured them, "Don't worry. The Reflection Tower is my domain. As long as I remain there, I will be fine."
"Teacher, you should still take care of your health. You don't need to be in such a hurry to teach me," Adam said, realizing that Anthony was clearly not suited for prolonged activity. For so long, he had waited in the study to instruct Adam every day, which explained why Selene had been displeased with Adam's tardiness that day.
"That statement doesn't serve my interests. I shouldn't have said it," Adam thought, but he had already spoken. "Forget it, I'll take it as a way to gain favor with both Anthony and Selene, making my studies smoother in the future."
"Really, you don't need to worry about me," Anthony said, shaking his head. "I am stronger than you think."
"By the way, Adam, as my student, there's more I need to teach you beyond the sorcerer's knowledge," Anthony said with a smile. "Perhaps you won't want to hear it, but hear me out."
"Life can be long or short; it's a great miracle. We must be grateful to the gods for the gift of life," Anthony said softly.
"But in this life, there are some things that are more important than life itself."
"It's not about sacrificing life for these things, but about letting them become the driving force of our lives, supporting us as we move forward."
"I'll never forget the promise to sail with my friends to the lake, even if I'm here in the Reflection Tower. I'll always cherish those moments of watching the sunrise from the wall."
"Adam, perhaps life is all about finding these things. When you find them, remember not to waste them, and don't regret it later."
Adam's lips moved slightly, but in the end, he simply nodded in acknowledgment.
"Mm."