Turning Chapter 1050

“Welcome.”

As the disorienting sights receded and Yuder’s vision stabilized, a house stood before him, appearing so suddenly it felt unreal.

The structure seemed impossibly well-preserved for its supposed thousand-year existence. Without prior knowledge of Ghilandre Hill, one might mistake it for a quaint villa tucked away in a dense woodland.

Surveying the surroundings, the landscape bore little distinction from the Sanctuary Forest they had just traversed. The distant silhouette of the First Emperor’s statue was even visible. It became apparent they hadn't actually departed Sanctuary Forest at all.

“It was this close the entire time, and no one knew?”

Yuder questioned the feasibility of such a feat, even with advanced magic. Witnessing it firsthand, the reality still felt like a carefully crafted illusion. Had he been told of such a hidden location previously, especially in his former life as Yudrain Aile, he likely would have dismissed it outright.

Without hesitation, Inon approached the house, arms folded, and let out a soft sigh.

“I’ll reconnoiter to ensure it’s safe to enter. Remain here.”

Yuder acknowledged his understanding. The moment Inon vanished through the entrance, Kishiar moved to Yuder’s side, his fascination evident.

“Did you perceive it? The flow of mana during our approach—I was doing nothing, yet everything around us seemed to shift. The wind’s direction, the light, the pressure of the air, the ambient temperature… every sensory experience. It was akin to traversing level ground while being deceived into believing we were ascending. I’ve never encountered anything quite like it.

Kishiar, lacking the Sight, hadn't witnessed Yuder’s vision but had sensed the spatial anomaly in his own way.

“For me… it was somewhat different. The eye possessing the Sight perceived a reality entirely distinct from the one without.”

“In what manner?”

“Through the Sight, the sky and earth appeared inverted. However, my other eye registered everything normally. The interplay between these two perceptions created a genuine sensation of climbing a hill.”

“Did it cause you dizziness?”

Kishiar’s concern was unexpected. The perpetually inquisitive man invariably voiced worry regarding Yuder, a trait that felt oddly disarming.

“No. I was quite alright.”

“You observed it with the Sight? You truly grasped its fundamental nature.”

At that juncture, Inon reappeared, interjecting with his characteristic measured tone.

“‘Ghilandre,’ from Ghilandre Hill, is the name of a water nymph. Luma once mentioned designing this space inspired by that imagery—partially concealed through mirrored perception. All who enter must undergo a process of correctly inverting their perception and senses, which consequently imparts a feeling of upward movement.

A reflection in water. Indeed—that peculiar, overlapping dual vision had precisely mimicked that phenomenon.

“However, when an individual can simultaneously perceive both the reversed and the normal, as you can, they are able to integrate these phenomena and witness the illusory landscape constructed by the magic. The enchanted hill becomes fully perceptible.”

With Inon’s explanation, Yuder began to attain a clearer comprehension of his experience.

“So, it’s not intrinsically situated on a hill, but due to this magical effect, the designation Ghilandre Hill became established.”

“Precisely.”

Kishiar had previously remarked on the archaic sound of “Ghilandre,” though he remained uncertain. If it originated from the name of a forgotten nymph, its current obscurity was understandable.

“A pity. Had I applied myself more diligently to magic, I might have been capable of perceiving the same.”

“It is expected that you could not. The fact that you can perceive anything at all is peculiar in itself.”

Inon’s abrupt dismissal of Kishiar’s wistful sentiment concluded with a nod, signaling them to proceed.

“Everything appears to be in order. Let us proceed inside.”

Creaaaak. The door emitted a drawn-out groan, as if unused for ages, revealing a dimly lit interior.

Yuder followed Inon inside—and stopped short.

“…From the exterior, its size was not apparent.”

From the outside, the dwelling had resembled a modest, single-story wooden cabin. In contrast, the interior was as expansive as a noble estate, encompassing two levels, complete with staircases ascending to the upper floor and descending into a basement.

“Is this also a manifestation of magic?”

“Indeed. The manipulation of discrepancies between perceived appearance and actual reality was Luma’s forte. This is minor.”

Inon responded casually while surveying their surroundings. A fleeting series of unreadable emotions crossed his bright yellow eyes.

“This place is precisely as I recall. Had you not accompanied me, I might have believed my departure was only yesterday.”

“……”

“Well, regardless—this was the final documented residence of Luma. And it is also where I regained consciousness.”

Inon slowly advanced further into the house. The still-life paintings adorning the walls, the heavy draperies—all contributed to an atmosphere suggesting recent habitation. Yet, knowing it had lain dormant for a millennium rendered the scene eerily surreal.

They halted before the staircase.

“The upper floor contained the sleeping quarters. The basement housed the research laboratory and library. Therefore, our initial destination is the basement.”

Inon plunged downward without a second thought. The descent felt as brief as one floor, yet upon turning, Yuder observed the stairs had elongated tenfold, vanishing into an abyss of darkness above.

Even with Luma's unparalleled abilities, this environment was disorienting.

‘He truly was a High Mage, no question about it.’

Contemporary mages found it challenging to conjure a simple fireball without arcane instruments. The majority of current "spells" relied on refined mana stones. In contrast, this experience felt like a vastly different paradigm, suggesting that the magic employed today wasn't even in the same league.

Halting before the entrance to Luma's research sanctuary, Inon casually placed his hand upon the door. They anticipated it would swing open, as all previous barriers had. However, after a brief pause, Inon snatched his hand back as if burned, his brow knitted in confusion.

"...What in the blazes?"

"What is it? Is something amiss?"

Yuder tensed instantly, his senses on high alert, ready for any eventuality.

"No one should have accessed this place since my departure... yet the door stands unlocked. This defies logic. Did I misremember?"

"Or perhaps someone did arrive," Kishiar finally interjected, his voice cutting through the prolonged silence. "And if so, the only logical candidate would be the master of this domain. You claim you never returned after leaving, but we cannot be certain if the owner remained absent as well."

"...No, that cannot be right. Absolutely not... Or perhaps..."

Inon's expression was etched with an uncharacteristic uncertainty. For the first time, absolute conviction eluded him.

A moment later, with newfound tension, he pushed the door inward.

The scene that greeted them was entirely unforeseen.

A piercing brilliance assaulted their vision, starkly incongruous with the subterranean depth of this hidden chamber. Yuder instinctively brought a hand up to shield his eyes, his sight adjusting slowly.

They had prepared for a stark, desolate environment – a clandestine laboratory buried deep underground, reminiscent of the concealed chamber within Tainu's prison, meticulously crafted by the first Duke of Ta-in.

Yet, this space was its antithesis.

Walls and floors of warm, polished timber met their gaze. Sunlight cascaded through tall, slender windows overhead. Elaborately carved wooden artifacts and sculptures lined the walls.

An aged desk. Scattered chairs. And at the room's core – a solitary tree.

…A tree?

This tree towered over Kishiar, its branches stark and lifeless, resembling weathered bone. Most striking was the cavernous hollow within its trunk.

This opening was immense – ample space for an individual to conceal themselves within.

"What is that?"

"Oh, that?" Inon replied, his tone surprisingly calm. "That is where I resided. Before my complete awakening."

"You mean to say...?"

"Indeed. That is where I was brought into existence."

This declaration provided the definitive answer to Yuder's persistent inquiries.