Galestine Ocean.

The ancient colossus, Tebu, drifted across the blue expanse of the planet, slowly headed towards its place of birth, the continent known as the Land of the First Magi.

Although this Mana Core being swam at a leisurely pace, his speed was, in fact, anything but slow. It was only due to its sheer gargantuan size that it appeared to be moving slowly. When in truth, he was moving through the waters at an exceptionally fast speed.

Furthermore, due to him being a Mana Core existence, and arguably the strongest, if not one of the strongest entities within the waters of Tron, Tebu roamed unimpeded.

The Galestine Ocean was filled with countless horrors of the deep. Many scholars even claimed that its depths were far more dangerous than even some of the forbidden zones on the various continents.

Moreover, most of the oceans and seas of Tron remained unexplored. Owing to their sheer size and depths, the fear of the unknown had gradually taken root in the hearts of adventurers and travelers.

"Ah, I recall reading a report by Ravenfell's Chamber of Commerce stating that nearly five out of ten merchant vessels bound for Europa never make it to their destination," Adam murmured.

He currently lay down upon a coral plateau on the eastern side of the island. With nothing better to do, and sleep becoming a distant memory, he simply gazed at the starlit skies, talking to himself.

"Weather is the least of their worries, and so is the threat of pirates," he continued.

"The true danger to these vessels is the creatures of the deep. No one can predict when a powerful creature might rise from beneath the surface and launch an attack. From what I've read, the depths are said to be teeming with Mana Core existences…"

As the pale glow of Selene and Luna gently cascaded on the large and beautiful coral island, Adam was reminded of his home… Ravenfell.

As the memories of his home resurfaced in his mind, his charred lips curled up into a bright smile. And his heart… it was filled with overwhelming sorrow.

"I wonder how everyone is," he murmured. "Have they begun rebuilding the city? Ah, I wish I could be there…"

His thoughts eventually drifted to the people who died in the Battle of Ravenfell, his smile turning into a wide grin.

"Professor Whitaker, Lady Benton, Headmaster Blackwood… and how many more? How many more that I'm unaware of? Is Elysande alright? What about Raidon? And… my three foolish disciples? Ah, it hurts, haha… hahaha, it hurts so much! Do they think I betrayed them?"

Adam's shoulders trembled, and he gasped for air. Immense grief and agony engulfed his heart, yet he only laughed.

He laughed and laughed and laughed.

"Hah!" With an acrobatic move, he sprang to his feet. "Let's look at the bright side, eh? Not everyone is dead. As long as a few of them survived, there would always be a Ravenfell. There would always be… a Saratoga Castle."

He clenched his fists and lowered his head, whispering to himself, "And as long as I breathe… there will always be a Dark King."

At that moment, a voice spoke to him.

"Naive."

Adam flinched. He slowly turned around, scanning his surroundings. But there was no one there—just him, the colorful corals, and Tebu.

The youth's expression darkened, and a dangerous aura emanated from him. His lips parted, and he coldly muttered:

"Oi, who the hell are you?"

But, of course, there was no response. Adam waited for a long, long time, expanding his Sphere of Resonance to its maximum capacity, yet he found no one.

There was no one at all.

Just him.

At last, the youth heaved a helpless sigh. Placing his hands on his waist, he raised his head and laughed to the skies, "I really am going crazy!"

It bothered him.

It really, really bothered him.

The ravings of the Faceless Mask always whispered to him in Jotun. Tebu always conversed with him in Old Lunari. But this… this strangely familiar voice spoke to him in Acaros.

Moreover, the frequency at which it spoke to him grew with each passing day. Perhaps this was the true measure by which he could gauge his descent into madness?

And if that were true… what would happen to him at the very end?

"I don't know." Adam shook his head. "I don't know anymore."

He raised his head and gazed at the myriad stars shining brightly in the sky. His lips curled into a sad smile, and he whispered:

"Mother, Father… are you watching over me?"

Of course, he received no response. All he heard was the sound of waves and the gentle rustle of the wind. Adam lowered his head and sighed.

"What do I do now? Lord Tebu's head has gone underwater. I can't practice my techniques and bother him again. Val is… still sleeping. When did life become so boring? I wish I had some wine..."

He suddenly looked over his shoulder and asked, "How is Anna? Do you know?"

Then, he turned over the other shoulder and continued, "And what about the Old Man? Is he doing what I asked of him? Well, I hope he does…"

Adam looked around the multicolored place. There was no one else there, and he was simply talking to… himself.

The Laughing God continued to whisper.

And Adam listened.

It was getting increasingly difficult to sleep with the ravings constantly assaulting his mind. And with nothing else to do, he went back to his cave and began carving those mysterious symbols on the ground and the walls with his bare finger.

He continued carving the Jotun language on the walls for hours on end, trying to study it and decipher the true meaning of the whispers. All the while, he kept talking to himself, desperately hoping that by the time his mind was utterly fatigued, he would have no choice but to collapse into sleep… despite the endless ravings.

The twin moons gradually dipped below the horizon, and the sun rose in the east, once again dyeing the morning sky in beautiful shades of warmth.

Yet, the Laughing God continued to whisper, and Adam continued to listen.

"Sleep seems like a distant dream now," the youth murmured.

Suddenly, the island trembled.

Adam immediately turned eastward, his lips curling into an excited smile. "He's finally risen!"

Wiping the blood from his fingers, he got to his feet and exited the cave. "Time to ask him about the Mabi Con...ti...nent…"

His words trailed off when a sudden realization struck him.

He froze in his footsteps, then broke into a laugh. "Didn't I just recently receive a map of the Lost City of Feypore, gifted to me by the Prince of Acadia? The very ruins said to be buried in the heart of Mabi?"

Shaking his head, he stepped out of the cave as he muttered under his breath:

"Ah, what a coincidence…"

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