Lin Yuan stood next to Nick. Jiuchong Ring spoke in his head, "Host, stay here for ten seconds."
He furrowed his brows, then let out a sigh. "I knew it. This time, it's about copying the Black Magic Book, right?"
There was a hint of pride in Jiuchong Ring's tone. "Yes, Host, you're so smart."
Lin Yuan looked down at the sleeping Nick. At this moment, Nick was still enveloped in a magical aura of interlaced black and white, with complex runes appearing on his forehead. On his chest, the Black Magic Book floated quietly, surrounded by faint black energy.
Soon, Lin Yuan felt an invisible force spreading from the Black Magic Book, like an intangible link extending into his spiritual sea. Jiuchong Ring trembled slightly, and a faint glow emerged between his fingers. Though a duplicate of the Black Magic Book, it carried no trace of the original's potent darkness. Some arcane force had subdued its sinister energy.
"Ding!"
[Main quest completed.]
[The Host will be teleported to the next plane in seven days.]
As the departure date drew closer, Lin Yuan decided to take the time to bid farewell to everyone in the White Tower and the Royal Capital.
At the White Tower, Lin Yuan stood on the top of the high tower as the night wind blew past. Ute stood beside him, looking conflicted. "You're really going?"
Lin Yuan nodded, his eyes wistful. "Yeah, gotta go."
"I'm leaving the tower in your hands," Lin Yuan smiled. "Don't go and collapse it on me."
Ute sighed and said earnestly, "Although you haven't been here for long, the impact you've had is far greater than you can imagine."
Lin Yuan shrugged. "Oh? Isn't it just winning a battle?"
Ute shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he took out a small box from his pocket and handed it to Lin Yuan.
"What's this?" Lin Yuan questioned, taking the box and cracking it open. A pristine, blue magic crystal glinted back at him, its interior alive with the soft glow of ancient runes.
"This is a Time - Space Condensed Crystal. If you ever find a way to come back here in the future, use it. No matter where I am in this world, you'll be able to find me," Ute said slowly. "Of course, I'm not sure if you can return, but... at least it's a glimmer of hope."
Lin Yuan stared at the crystal. After a moment of silence, he smiled softly and put it away. "Thanks."
After saying goodbye to those at the White Tower, Lin Yuan met with the members of the adventurer team. Wensy, Dapon, Deshanluo, Shirori, and the rest waited at the city gate.
"Leaving?" Wensy murmured, her eyes clouded with emotion.
"Yeah, I can't accompany you on adventures anymore," Lin Yuan smiled, his tone light, as if it were just a brief parting.
Dapon knitted his brows. "Your speech is so peculiar... Regardless, may fortune be with you."
Seven days elapsed, and a letter suddenly manifested in front of the adventurer group.
Wensy, Dapon, Deshanluo, Shirori,
Well, I'm sure you've already guessed it. It's me, Master Lin Yuan, haha.
There's a lot I never got around to explaining, but I'm sure you've sensed I'm not like others.
If you need anything, go to Ute. He's not far from reaching the Grand Mage level.
Stay safe. I'm out.
— Lin Yuan
=================
林远站在尼克身旁,脑海里响起九重戒的声音:"请宿主在尼克身边停留十秒."
他皱了皱眉,随即叹了口气:"我就知道,这次是复制黑魔法书吧?"
九重戒的语气带着一丝得意:"是的,宿主真聪明."
林远低头看向沉睡中的尼克,此刻的他仍旧笼罩在黑白交错的魔法气息中,额头浮现着复杂的符文.而在他的胸口,那本黑魔法书静静地漂浮着,周围环绕着缥缈的黑色能量.
很快,林远感到一股无形的力量从黑魔法书中扩散出来,像是某种无形的链接延伸到他的识海.九重戒微微震动,一道微弱的光辉在他指间浮现,那是黑魔法书的复制体,但没有原本那样强烈的黑暗气息,而是被某种神秘的力量压制了.
"叮!"
[主线任务已完成]
[七天后,宿主将被传送至下一个位面]
离开的日子渐渐逼近,林远决定抓紧时间与白塔和王都的众人道别.
在白塔,林远站在高塔之巅,夜风拂过.乌特站在他身旁,神色复杂:"您真的要走了?"
林远点点头,眼里带着一丝怀念:"是啊,时间到了."
"塔楼就交给你了." 林远微微一笑,"你可别给我弄塌了."
乌特叹了口气,认真地说道:"您在这里待的时间虽然不长,但带来的影响,远比您想象的要大."
林远耸耸肩:"哦?不就是打赢了一场胜仗么."
乌特哭笑不得地摇了摇头,忽然,他像是想起什么似的,从怀里取出一个小盒子递给林远.
"这是什么?" 林远疑惑地接过,打开后,发现是一颗晶莹剔透的蓝色魔法晶石,里面隐隐闪烁着符文光辉.
"这是一块时空凝晶,如果您以后有办法再回到这里,就用它.此方世界,无论我在哪,都能找到我." 乌特缓缓说道,"当然,我不确定您能不能回来,但... 至少这是个希望."
林远盯着晶石,沉默片刻,然后轻轻一笑,把它收了起来:"谢谢."
道别完白塔,林远又与冒险者小队的众人见面.万玟丝,达破恩,德珊萝,士嫆莉等人早已等候在城门口.
"你要走了?" 万玟丝轻声问道,眼神复杂.
"嗯,不能再陪你们冒险了." 林远笑了笑,语气轻松,仿佛只是一场短暂的分别.
达破恩皱着眉:"你这家伙,每次说话都这么奇怪... 算了,祝你好运."
七天后,一封信凭空出现在冒险者小队的眼前.
万玟丝,达破恩,德珊萝,士嫆莉:
嗯,你们也猜到了吧,是我,林远大法师,哈哈.
其实,有些事我一直没有解释太多,但我相信你们早已察觉到我的不同.
有事找乌特,他现在离大法师的级别不远了.
照顾好自己.我走了.
——林远