Chapter 128: The Sun

It had been more than half a month since the last battle. Mulan remained in the city of Solence, though he had moved out of the inn and into a more private and better-equipped residence.

In the evening, the last rays of the setting sun had already faded from Mulan’s room, leaving only a faint, lingering glow in the distance outside the window. Mulan, who had been lying in bed, opened his eyes at that moment.

After another night and day of insomnia and nightmares, Mulan’s mental state was still passable, but the long-term lack of sleep had inevitably left deep shadows beneath his eyes. They were not quite dark circles, yet they made him appear all the more solemn.

Mulan pushed back the quilt and sat up, looking at his left shoulder. A faint trace of blood was visible on his pajamas; the wound, which had been healing well, had shown signs of regression over the past few days.

"Knock, knock."

"Master Jonst, may I come in?"

A familiar voice from the past few days drifted in from outside the door. Mulan knew it was the physician sent by the Queen. He was always attentive to Mulan’s condition and had arrived right on time once again.

"Come in."

As Mulan spoke, the door opened. A tall, thin middle-aged man walked in carrying a medical kit. Besides him, Farolinch was leaning against the doorframe.

Upon entering, the physician first lit the gas lamp in the room, then looked at Mulan’s left shoulder, unable to hide a frown.

"Master Jonst, how is your mental state?"

"Although I have been suffering from insomnia, I have managed to get enough rest, so my mind is not too bad."

The physician carefully observed Mulan’s condition, examined the wound, listened to his heartbeat, and finally replaced the bandages.

"It might be the lingering effects of the werewolf toxin, combined with the intense battle you fought, which has made the wound difficult to heal. When injuries involving the transcendent realm enter a stagnant, repetitive state, they are usually quite troublesome. I can only try prescribing a new concoction."

"I see. Thank you for your hard work."

Compared to Mulan, the physician seemed even more exhausted, his brow furrowed deeply as he left, clearly troubled by the lack of progress in Mulan's recovery.

Of course, in terms of complexion, the worst of the three was undoubtedly Farolinch, though he did not allow the physician to examine him, and the physician had no interest in the eccentric fellow anyway.

Watching the physician depart, Farolinch leaned against the doorframe and said to Mulan, "Your physical condition does not look optimistic. This is not normal. I don't think this doctor can help you. Don't go dying on me too early."

"Don't worry, Farolinch. I will definitely fulfill my promise... unless I truly suffer a sudden death."

Farolinch’s deadpan face cracked into a grin.

"Is there anything I can do to help? Even if you can still make jokes, I don't think your current state has anything to do with getting better."

Mulan rose from the bed, changed his clothes, and draped a heavy coat over his shoulders. As he dressed, he seemed to be lost in thought.

"I believe I understand my own condition. My spirit and will are still quite strong, but my body can no longer keep up. The Radiant Knight sequence I chose, combined with my victories over several powerful enemies, may seem formidable, but in reality, I am overdrawing my own life force."

"While the will has a powerful feedback effect on the body, there is a limit. The birth of 'True Mana' requires not only a strong spirit but also a physical vessel. When my spirit exceeds its limits and I unleash immense magic, my body is subjected to pressure far beyond its capacity. Furthermore, since I have not formed a complete world, I lack the crucial link to balance the spirit and the material. If this continues, my body will collapse before anything else."

Farolinch could not help but recall the Holy Spear of Light Mulan had used in their previous battle—gorgeous, brilliant, and yet filled with destructive power. Thinking of this, he watched Mulan adjust his clothes, his mouth twitching slightly.

"And you say that so casually."

As Farolinch said this, he asked with curiosity, "I think I understand what you mean by forming a world, but what is this distinction between 'true' and other types of mana?"

Mulan adjusted his appearance in the mirror and turned to look at Farolinch.

"It is a term I coined, which will be explained in detail in the mid-term of the first year at the Black Castle."

Mulan glanced at the twilight outside the window, watching the plant leaves fluttering in the wind, and continued in a relaxed tone.

"In the various pieces of information regarding the transcendent world, there exist many mysterious and unpredictable forces that influence every aspect of life. Among the various overlapping and similar terms used to describe them, 'mana' is one of the most frequently used."

Mulan tapped his cane against the wooden floor and walked to the window to open it. A chilling breeze swept in, stirring the curtains and Mulan’s hair.

"This place can be called the 'Surface World' or the 'True World.' The strange entities of the 'Inner World' desperately crave souls and bodies; they yearn to manifest their 'selves' in the real world because the influence of such existence is vital. However, they often lack a carrier. You can simply understand it as a body truly capable of bearing their various powers. Without it, their mana is difficult to radiate or project fully outside the Inner World."

Farolinch nodded slightly, and Mulan continued.

"That is why our physical bodies are absolutely critical. The mana born from the combination of physical strength and spiritual will can be fully expressed on all levels; this is 'True Mana.' Many magic books treat this concept with ambiguity, heh."

Farolinch sighed sincerely.

"It is no wonder you managed to become a professor at that so-called Black Castle. So, Professor, do you have any solutions for your own situation?"

Mulan was already walking toward the door.

"The best way, of course, is to ascend. In fact, that was my original purpose for coming here. To the ignorant, I may appear powerful, but in truth, I am an incomplete transcendent. Before a powerhouse who can see through this, I am nothing more than an infant learning to babble."

"Extremely fragile!" Mulan concluded.

Farolinch stepped aside at the door and asked with a teasing grin, "This must be a very private matter for you. Is it really alright to tell me?"

"Haha, strictly speaking, to those who are determined to find out, this is hardly a secret."

Mulan had reached the doorway. He looked directly into Farolinch’s eyes, his relaxed smile fading as he answered earnestly and calmly.

"And although we haven't known each other long, my intuition tells me that you are someone who can be trusted, Farolinch."

"Alright, let's go. I called you here because I believe there is something you might be quite interested in."

Not until Mulan left did Farolinch snap out of his slight daze. He quickly followed, having a rough idea of what Mulan was referring to.

As a 'Revenant,' it was difficult for Farolinch to withstand sunlight at this stage. He usually only operated at night or on heavily overcast days. When he had appeared during the day last time, even while draped in thick black robes, he had risked being harmed.

Thus, Mulan’s choice to start working after dusk was a gesture of consideration for him.

This was a private mansion with deep corridors and many rooms, but it seemed devoid of any other people. The two walked along the hallway lit by gas lamps until they reached a heavy, imposing door at the end.

Mulan touched the door. Its weight and color suggested it was reinforced with lead and other mixed substances. The symbols upon it flickered with a faint light as Mulan pushed it open.

"Creak..."

The door opened to reveal a room containing only a single table.

Farolinch followed Mulan inside, and the sound of the door closing echoed behind them. The room was instantly plunged into complete darkness.

*Click.* Something on the table was opened.

A moment later, beams of light emerged. The box Mulan had opened seemed to radiate a brilliant glow.

As the box was fully opened, the light became even more dazzling against the darkness of the room. It was a light Farolinch had not seen in a long time, one he had always longed for. Lying in the box on the table was something that looked like a shining sun.

"This is the Stone of the Sun!"