"Overall, I’m satisfied with your task this ti. Professional, efficient, concise; you didn’t make a single low-level mistake during execution... except for the final wrap-up... including number three, I’ve received requests from many people to extend the experint process, or even help the experintal subject escape..."
"Professor, my intention is..." Crow No.3 couldn’t help but speak up to explain.
But he imdiately felt a stern gaze fall from the raven’s back.
Professor Montreya lowered his eyelids and cut off Gan Ning’s explanation with his gaze, slightly emphasizing his tone: "As I just ntioned, out of consideration for preventing problems before they arise, I don’t mind reiterating a few things again.
The purpose of our experint this ti is to verify experintal data and deceive others, to hold a grand funeral for the ’Ravens’ in others’ eyes, not to release a Great Demon-level monster to ravage Buji Island.
No one from the school should die. This could probably be considered as the last limit of tolerance from certain entities within the school towards our small organization.
An ordinary Black Wizard, an ordinary verification experint, is not worth us breaking the limit for it... If you cross the line, it ans I cross the line too. If I cross the line, it ans the experint is over. So, please stay clear-headed, and don’t mistake occasional indulgence from the school for your capabilities."
The forest was silent.
Not a single sound ca from the birds, beasts, or insect beasts, nor from the cold wind sweeping through the forest or the trembling dry leaves on the branches; under the professor’s serious tone, everything fell silent, maintaining absolute quiet.
"Now, please look up and take a glance at the sky." The professor’s tone shifted, presenting an odd request.
One by one, the raven masks hesitated, slowly raising their heads to look at the sky with confusion yet seriousness. In the cold depths of winter, the weather wasn’t good; they could see neither brilliant sunlight nor spotless white clouds; everything was shrouded in gray, misty fog.
"What color is the sky?" the professor asked.
"White."
"Blue..."
"Gray?"
The scattered answers reflected the Ravens’ mixed emotions at this mont.
"It is white, gray, blue, but also black."
With an underlying aning, Professor Montreya taught aningfully: "Behind the Sun, the true universe is darkness and silence. The vast starry sky, the infinite life, the splendid civilization, all of it is nurtured in this darkness and quietness. Only by facing the purest darkness can one detect that tiniest ray of hope.
This is why I’ve walked this far with you on this path, and why the school hasn’t strictly prohibited it. Because the black background is the easiest to find the light, and because at any ti, this world always needs so people to observe the darkness.
You are like seeds deeply buried in the unlit soil underground, full of vitality, as long as there’s enough nourishnt, water, and sunlight, one day you can grow into towering trees.
Yet before that, you cannot indulge in the surrounding darkness.
You must rember, we are only using the background of darkness to seek that ray of hope, do not let the black completely engulf the light in your eyes."
...
...
Later.
Professor Montreya visited Elder Ruoyu’s office again.
The spacious office was devoid of any light. Including the Ancient Gublai Fairy Fire on either side of the entrance and the magic torch inserted into the walls on either side, all were extinguished now.
In the darkness, faint sounds of beasts grinding their teeth and clawing could be heard.
Montreya guessed these sounds might be emitted by the magical creature statues in the office. Only in the dark did they dare to stretch their bodies like living beings.
"I extinguished those torches."
In the darkness, suddenly the voice of the office’s owner rang out; perhaps due to an illusion, Montreya found that voice to appear older than it sounded months ago: "There’s no fire in the world that can’t be extinguished, it’s just a matter of wanting to extinguish it or being able to extinguish it."
Pop.
A snap of fingers sounded.
A pea-sized fireball abruptly appeared in the darkness, illuminating Professor Montreya’s disheveled gray hair and prominent cheekbones, as in the firelight, he took off his hat, slightly bowed toward the direction of the desk courteously.
Then he straightened up and sincerely apologized: "My apologies. But I believe any point of fire in the dark is very precious because it can drive away beasts."
Outside the glow of the pea-sized fireball, ca the rustling sounds, mixed with the deep roars from the throats of the magic sculptures, as if warning the fireball.
Phoo.
A heavy smoking sound arose behind the desk; imdiately, the room fell into absolute silence, a speck of crimson quietly appeared, slowly flickering in the dark as if a sleeping giant beast opened an eye.
"Half a year ago, in this office, I inford you of the school’s decision, demanding the halt of experints related to Demon Bloodline modification, which you agreed to."
Elder Ruoyu’s voice was light as he spoke, as if afraid a louder voice would scare away the guests at the steps: "... We all know how much personal effort you invested in those experints. So, I’ve always told others not to rush, to give you so ti, not to put too much pressure on you as you adjust your mindset..."
"You said," Professor Montreya rudely interrupted Elder Ruoyu: "’This era doesn’t need a new trumpet sound,’ but in my view, the trumpet of a new era has already been blown, we cannot keep our ears plugged, pretending not to hear the massive sound waves generated when the Magic Tide rises and falls. There is no more ti to waste."
"If spending ti is to clean the ears a bit more and listen more clearly, then the ti is not considered wasted."
"My ears have never been more sensitive than they are now."
This ti, Elder Ruoyu didn’t speak imdiately.
After a mont, the room again filled with the heavy sound of smoking.
Phoo...
The tiny crimson again flickered, then extinguished.
"I always felt you have a ’Xiezhi’ like talent, able to discern what is good and what is bad." Elder Ruoyu’s voice spoke again, the tone becoming much more serious: "’Good’ things—whether it’s magical knowledge, a few words, or a suggestion—should help you go farther on the magic path. Not beco a stumbling block to your further progress. You know how much ’that proposal’ helps you, right?"
"Yes." Professor Montreya sincerely lowered his head to express gratitude to the elder hidden in the darkness.
"Then, I hope before the start of the next sester, you can clean up the ’bad’ components thoroughly. This is the last ti. We have given you enough ti; just as you said, there’s no more ti to waste."
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