Strongest Necromancer System Chapter 730: The Queen of Wind Spirits

A tranquil sensation welled up within Gina’s chest as she gazed at the radiant lights illuminating her surroundings. Although these emanations were entirely unfamiliar, she suddenly grasped their nature, her breath catching in a moment of pure epiphany.

"Spirits..."

A brilliantly white light pulsed forward, and its voice resonated directly inside her mind.

’You are quite correct, child~ We are spirits who have been observing your progress for several years now~ The path you navigated to arrive at this juncture has earned our esteem, and for that reason, our queen has granted you entry into this realm today~’

’Your Queen? The queen of Wind Spirits?’

’Indeed~ You ought to feel honored by such a rare opportunity! Very few possess the privilege to cross into this dimension, let alone have an audience with the Queen herself! Come now, let us proceed~’

The spirit afforded Gina no time to accept or decline before drifting toward the cavern located on the far side of the lake of remembrance. Gina swallowed hard as she watched the other lights converge on the cave. Letting her thoughts drift toward advancement, she felt a slight grin as her own spirit form began to glide through the air. Upon arriving, Gina noticed that the ferocious winds previously guarding the path were now unnaturally still. She followed the trail of lights into the yawning, dark maw of the cave, descending deep into the earth.

This was no ordinary cave native to Arandelle. The realm of Sages and Spirits was a mystical layer of reality largely unknown to the masses. In the entire Primordial Expanse, fewer than a hundred individuals possessed the sight to perceive spirits, and many Sages lived their entire lives without obtaining such a gift. Yet, in every world where a civilization had dedicated itself to manifesting a specific element of magic, there remained a singular cave that served as a gateway to the spirit governing that elemental branch. All such caves were interconnected through an Alternate Dimension. Thus, regardless of where Gina had pursued her path to sagehood, as long as that world housed a race devoted to wind magic, she would eventually be led to this exact location.

Gina moved deeper into the cavern, surrounded by spirits, her expression full of wonder as light pulses greeted her in passing. She waved at the figures, hearing the lighthearted giggles of the child-like spirits as they drifted along. After several minutes, she reached a grand altar at the end of the tunnel. Resting upon it was a massive blue flower, taller than a mortal, emanating a mysterious white glow. As the spirits quietly migrated away, leaving her alone, Gina swallowed nervously, sensing that the 'queen' existed within the bloom and feeling completely unprepared for what might emerge.

’Ah, this form shall suffice~’

The melodious voice echoed through the vast chamber moments before the blue lotus began to unfurl its petals. In the center, reclining on her side with an elegant posture and an empathetic gaze, was the most breathtaking woman Gina had ever witnessed. She was unclothed, yet her fair skin possessed a flawless luster, and two pointed elf ears poked through flowing, golden locks. Her brilliant blue eyes rested on Gina, causing her to gasp in sudden recognition.

’The Elf Queen.’

Overwhelmed by the resemblance, Gina struggled to maintain her composure before bowing with practiced respect. "It is an honor to stand before you, your majesty."

’Oh, how polite indeed~ I anticipated little from a mortal, yet you have truly exceeded all my expectations, young one~ To command the forces of nature in only a few months is unheard of, yet you have achieved just that. Tell me, what is the driving force behind your desperate yearning for this power~? Why do you pursue sagehood with such relentless intensity~?’

Gina heard the Spirit Queen’s inquiry clearly in her mind. Despite the jovial tone, she detected a gravity beneath the words, aware that her response would dictate the trajectory of their encounter. She deliberated for a moment before replying.

"I seek to protect those I love, your majesty."

’Yes~! That is it~! That is the perfect answer~!’

In a blur of motion too fast for the eye to follow, the Queen arrived directly before Gina’s face. She possessed a brilliant, toothy smile and traced a finger along Gina's jaw. Displaying no regard for mortal concepts of modesty, the Spirit Queen maintained an intense, piercing look as she continued.

’You know, you are the first to approach me with such conviction~ The first who truly understands what it means to be a Sage~ The others simply exhaust themselves in meditation, yearning for an inner stillness that strips them of all emotion! They treat their histories like ailments to be purged and dismiss the future as unworthy of pursuit~ It is tragic that such individuals represent the peak of what Sagehood has produced~ I have never denied them power because their logic was sound, yet I never granted them everything because their conviction was misplaced~ But you, you have deciphered the true essence of wind entirely on your own~’

Gina remained quiet, eyes fixed on the ethereal Queen as she imparted her wisdom.

’Wind is emotion itself~ It is the discovery, the acceptance, and the outpouring of all feeling~ A sudden gust represents the shock of a broken heart~! A steady breeze is but a manifestation of peaceful calm~! A raging storm reflects the unyielding hunger for vengeance~! That is the true face of the wind. Most wind sages kill their emotions to find their answers. They avoid empathy, fearing that the actions of others might influence them~ They seek freedom because they perceive the wind as a form of liberation from responsibility, possession, and sentiment~ But that is not wind~! By surrendering their mortal nature, they have sealed themselves off from the true pinnacle of a Wind Sage~’