Chapter 364: Double Image


    Trantor: Meh/TransN Editor: - -


    ...


    The snow outside was bing heavier again. Snowkes that were the size of a fingernail fell from the sky and covered Border Town. Gray elves danced in the wind and descended towards thend together, where they blended in with the white roofs and tree branches. In all probability, witnessing such a scene made one feel nothing but cold.


    Yet, the more it was so, the warmer Tilly felt.


    She leant back on her deckchair, with half of her body covered by a soft woolen nket, and her legs extended towards a fire barrel. This convenient device for warming oneself was invented by Rnd. A charcoal brazier was ced inside a square barrel, which was arranged in line with a chair separated by a horizontal wooden nk. It was different to a zing bonfire, which could cause burns if one got too close, yet did not provide much heat if one was far away. By cing one’s feet on the wooden nk, one could safely enjoy the warmth of the charcoal fire from a close distance. And by additionally tucking into a nket, one’s entire body would feel warm.


    The swirling snow outside the window entuated the cosiness of indoors, and the sense of bliss created by this contrast was deeply memorable.


    She had to say that the treatment that the witches received in Border Town waspletely different from one year ago. Understandably, the witches did not wish to leave as even she herself was immensely enjoying the stay.


    Apart from her, Anna and Agatha were also staying in the room. This was originally Anna’s bedroom, and whenever there was a rare downtime, Tilly would bring her books to the room and seek advice from Anna for things she did not understand. At first, there were only the two of them, but now, there was also an ancient witch who had awakened from the ruins. Anna simply moved the fire barrel from beside the table to an empty space in the room and asked Rnd to install two more deckchairs. The three of them sat around the fire barrel with their legs resting on each other, and together they learned eye-opening and arcane knowledge.


    Of course, most of the time, Tilly and Agatha asked questions while Anna answered.


    "It’s hard to believe that a book like this could be written by a mortal." Agatha closed the cover of Natural Science Theoretical Foundation, and inhaled deeply. "The more I read, the more I realize that the world is the way it is. Amidst the mass chaos there are hidden rules, and everything operates ording to the same rules. If he was born in Taqu, the Union would certainly ept him as a member, and there’s a chance that he’ll possess the same status as a Senior Witch."


    At first, she asked many questions regarding the book’s contents, but through Anna’s detailed exnations, Agatha’s attitude towards Rnd changed significantly.


    However, Tilly believed that this change was only directed towards Rnd, while together, they continued to see other mortals as extremely dull and stupid.


    As she thought of this, Tilly sighed uncontrobly. Only she knew that all of this knowledge did not originate from Rnd Wimbledon but another person who suddenly appeared in his mind.


    Through these few days of contact, as well as Sylvie’s supporting evidence, Tilly was able to confirm this exnation. However, it would be impossible for them to prove he was still Rnd Wimbledon. What was even more suspicious was that he did not know where this portion of memory came from or who it belonged to. It was hard to believe that memory could bepletely separated from his life, or at least, she herself was unable to do so. As long as he recalled in his mind the knowledge of the court mentor and professor, the relevant segments of memory would sh in front of his eyes.


    "Where exactly did he acquire all of this knowledge from?" Agatha sighed and said, "I had thought that the mortals’ research has been extensive, but after these few days of observation, it seems that there’s not much difference from 400 years ago—and perhaps even a little behind."


    "I don’t know either." Tilly shrugged. "In any case, the knowledge couldn’t have been acquired in the pce."


    "How was he like in the past?"


    This question made Anna raise her head.


    "In the past..." Tilly hesitated for a moment. "He was arrogant, cowardly, bigoted, ignorant, unskilled and terrible... His only merit was probably that he didn’t make use of his status as a prince tomit any atrocious act."


    "Oh... so, he was equal to other mortals?"


    "No. Even among mortals, he was considered a terrible fe." She said, grumbling, "Though he improved aftering here, it’s still never clear what he’s thinking... He would always hold back his words and yet wanted people to trust him. How is that possible?"


    The room suddenly quietened.


    "What’s the matter?" Tilly sensed something odd in the other two’s eyes.


    "No... Nothing." Anna smiled with her mouth closed. "This is the first time I’ve heard you speak about this."


    "Damn, she only now realized that she had spoken too much. This kind ofint shouldn’t being from an ally. It was probably because in recent days she had been too rxed." She tried to exin. "What I mean is..."


    "It’s OK, His Highness wouldn’t care." Anna shook her head andughed. "He probably has his own reasons."


    "Rnd..." Tilly hesitated briefly and asked, "didn’t mention these to you before?"


    "No," Anna said casually, "I haven’t asked him either. If he wanted to talk about it, he would."


    "Indeed," Tilly sighed in mind. The first time that Anna met the prince, he was already a changed person, and hence it was meaningless to consider this question.


    "From what you said, he was a totally different person in the past?" Agatha asked with interest. "There used to be a saying in the Quest Society that the more umon a person is, the more distinct quirks he has. Perhaps this kind of change is a normal urrence. While in the pce, did Rnd howl at the moon, or spend a long time staring and gesturing at the wall?"


    "What kind of quirks are these?" Tilly could not help but shake her head. "Apart from being a little entric in the way he did things, he was no different from ordinary people. However... I heard people mention that once during a court lesson, he publicly eximed that he would marry a witch, and probably because of these words, Gerald and Timothy constantly picked on him in the name of purifying the Devil’s minions, while his own father was also unhappy with the behavior. After that, his personality became more and more stubborn and unruly."


    "He was discriminated against because he wanted to marry a witch?" Agatha curled her lips. "This was a noble goal in Taqu. Of course, the number of people who were sessful to do this was very small, because most witches were unwilling to spend their lives with only one man."


    "But we’re different from 400 years ago. If he married a witch, it would mean that he wouldn’t have children to seed him. How could his father feel good about such an idea?" Tilly sighed, "It has already been more than 10 years. He has most probably already forgotten those silly words."


    "Is it?" Anna spoke suddenly, "But now he’s still willing to marry a witch."


    "Oh, he still remembers? Wait..." Tilly’s eyes widened uncontrobly. "You said now?"


    "Yes," Annaughed gently, "His Highness said so himself."


    Tilly suddenly froze.