Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1596 - 551: The Secret Hidden in the Murals (Part 2)

Right now, all traces had vanished, leaving just dark red blood marks on the passage walls and a lingering bloody aroma in the atmosphere, hinting at a brutal clash that had unfolded earlier in this spot.

The spot concealing the murals lay at the deepest layer, inside a storage area on the identical level as Graham's lab, though labeling it a cavern might suit it better.

Upon stepping inside with the trio, Rein immediately spotted more than a dozen faded paintings etched into the nearby stone surfaces, their hues dulled and hazy, betraying their ancient origins.

"Your Crown Rein, Sect Leader, it’s located here," Bradley indicated toward the cavern wall while speaking.

The initial mural illustrated a band of human fighters and mages clad in old-style bronze armor, clashing with a girl in dark robes near the ocean shore, amid raging, savage marine creatures.

Warriors bellowed as they brandished their blades; mages chanted incantations with force, confronting the crashing ebony tides, the scene rendered with striking realism and energy.

The second mural...

"It looks like portrayals of ancient people battling the Divine," Moria observed in shock following a quick glance.

Records about the Divine, eroded by endless years and endless conflicts, seldom preserved visuals, and even textual mentions came in scattered bits.

Furthermore, cults across the board appeared to have an unspoken pact, intentionally wiping out certain connected documents.

"That’s the Nether Sea Goddess Hela... and over there... the God of Hunting Luen..."

Examining the opening murals, Rein promptly identified the foes facing the old human soldiers and wizards as the handful of Evil Gods he knew well.

Yet the central panels showed humans prevailing, guided by a particular divine figure, overcoming multiple Evil Gods.

Regarding the final panels...

"Huh?"

"Could this be... a Fiend Demon?" Rein narrowed his gaze, lost in quiet thought.

The concluding murals presented captivating scenes; various entities, some known to Rein and others not, encompassing both Divine and Evil Gods, were fending off a massive dark Entity in their domains, yet evidently losing ground...

That enormous shadowy Beast struck Rein as oddly recognizable.

Flanked by numerous ebony sickles on its form, sporting several sets of dark talons below, crowned with upward spikes on its skull, and sporting a savage maw packed with countless fangs, shrouded in shadowy vapor, hovering aloft.

It was unmistakably a scaled-up rendition of the Fiend Demon.

"Evil Gods clashing with the Fiend Demon?" Rein hesitated briefly, his expression pensive.

He'd long figured the Fiend Demon allied with the Evil Gods, both serving as humanity's timeless adversaries in this realm, yet the evidence suggested otherwise.

Besides, the artwork implied humans as the frailest side, Evil Gods holding a middle ground, and the Fiend Demon dominating as the mightiest.

"This piece dates back to the medieval period, no less than six thousand years in age."

"All of them show Evil Gods, but what's that savage dark Beast in the ending scenes? It comes across as exceptionally daunting," Moria mused, gesturing at the later works.

Though Moria led a sect, his knowledge of the Fiend Demon remained limited, stemming in part from his preoccupation with crafting Mechanical Golems and Demon Statues.

"That’s a Fiend Demon, a... truly horrifying being." Rein offered the clarification right then from his side.

"Fiend Demon? Horrifying?" Upon hearing Rein's assessment, Moria's countenance grew grave at once.

For only after ascending to Dawn Wizard status did Moria grasp that he couldn't yet gauge Rein's power's true extent; indeed, Rein's aura of spiritual energy, faint yet oceanic in scope, grew ever more enigmatic.

"Sir Bradley, any additional murals in the vicinity?"

"None, Your Crown Rein, I've inspected it multiple times."

"Alright, install some shielding sorcery here to safeguard these murals properly."

"As you wish, Your Crown Rein."

...

Back at the Isodre School outpost, Rein unexpectedly encountered his teacher, Mogaro, in the corridor, engaging in friendly chat with three graceful, elongated women dressed in outfits far removed from human styles.

"Rein!"

The most youthful Elf maiden among them, resembling a lively butterfly in flight, infused with a fresh aroma of foliage and woods, darted straight into Rein's hold.

"Anna, what brings you here?" Embracing Anna's soft, lithe form, Rein savored her lively spirit, though surprise crept in, prompting his question.

Reason suggested that, even alerted to head to the Imperial City Tamriel, Anna ought to be with her mother by now.

"You've saved numerous lost kin this round. Elder Nasha desired to express the Elf Clan's gratitude in person, and learning you'd arrived at the Shirendil Plateau, I requested Ms. Olena escort us to meet you."

While explaining, Anna gestured toward Olena at her side.

"Plus, my mother has mostly healed and hopes to... meet with you."

Suddenly aware of the onlookers, particularly her mother, Anna's cheeks tinted pink with embarrassment; she parted from Rein's grasp with reluctance, fluttering her wide, lovely eyes as she continued.

Rein displayed a flash of understanding and shifted his attention to the pair of Elven ladies.

Sure enough, the Elf female radiating an elegant, timeless allure with subtle lines at her eyes was the absent Elder Nasha, whereas the one beaming and eyeing Rein and Anna ongoing was Ms. Darien Yueling, Anna's mother.