Chapter 552 Time Flows
Chapter 552 Time Flows
In the distant valley behind Saratoga Castle, several cottages were provided for the professors and the senior students of this magical institution to live in.
Each of these cottages came with large patches of land numbering in the hundreds of acres.
The Magi of Saratoga believed that only by living close to nature could they deepen their understanding of magic.
That is why many of them chose to live in these countryside cottages near the grand castle, instead of residing in the bustling city of Ravenfell.
One of these cottages, nestled near the edge of a small pond, exuded a charm that blended perfectly with its natural surroundings.
Beside the pond, there was a small herb field where all sorts of precious and rare magical ingredients could be seen growing.
The cottage itself was constructed from weathered stones with ivy creeping up its walls, giving it an ancient and cozy appearance.
Although the cottage seemed to be made of simple materials, in truth, the stone walls were carved with intricate runes that were concealed from the common eye.
The front door was made of thick oak, and adorned with intricate carvings of magical creatures such as dragons, phoenixes, and unicorns.
Sunlight seeped in through the small round window on the stone wall, revealing the scene inside the cottage.
Sitting at the study table, a young man wearing loose, silk robes was deeply engaged in the act of writing something in a small journal.
He had broad shoulders and from the silk fabric gently pressing against his body, one could tell that he was lean, yet incredibly muscular.
The young man had long, raven hair tied into a ponytail that flowed down his shoulders, and a neatly trimmed mustache and beard that framed his cheeks and chin.
His face was unremarkable, with features so plain that they might blend into a crowd. His complexion was neither too pale nor too tan. Nôv(el)B\\jnn
There was nothing on his face that made him stand out, except for one striking exception - his eyes!
His eyes were mesmerizing, unforgettable in their intensity. They were lotus-shaped, as if fondly carved by the sculptor of the gods. His pupils were deep and dark, like the abyss.
The feathered quill in the young man's hand danced across the pages of the book lying before him.
'In the morning, when you rise unwillingly, let this thought be present: I am rising to do the work of a human being.'
'So why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist, for which I was brought into this world?'
'Every time you struggle to get up from the bed, ask yourself this: Have I been made for this? To lie under the blankets and keep myself warm?'
He dipped the quill in ink and then continued writing.
'But this is more pleasant, my mind could argue.'
'Then ask yourself this: Do you exist then solely for the sake of pleasure, and not at all for action or exertion?'
'Do you not see the little plants, the little birds, and the little animals working together to put in order their separate parts of the universe?'
'So why then are you unwilling to do the work of a human being?'
Adam gently put the quill on the table and looked over his journal entry for the day. Then, he put away his personal journal inside his earring and gazed at the beautiful scenery outside through the round window.
His eyes sparkled with maturity and wisdom as he gazed at the herb field outside the cottage.
Ever since the war with the orcs in the Southern Federation, he had always wanted to record a personal journal.
He wanted to do this primarily as a personal guide to self-improvement and reflection. He used these journal entries to reinforce his own philosophical beliefs, reminding himself of the principles he aimed to live by.
It served as a form of self-discipline, helping him navigate the challenges of everyday life, dealing with personal struggles, and maintaining moral integrity.
It was so he could explore his thoughts on virtue, duty, and the Way.
It reflected his effort to cultivate wisdom, patience, and resilience in the face of adversity.
When he read the journal entries of the founder of the Twilight Brotherhood all those years ago, it only further reinforced the idea of recording his own personal journal.
Seeing the leaves gently falling on the ground, Adam's heart felt elevated and he recited a beautiful poem.
"Seasons shift with timely grace;
In fall's gold, spring's tender face;
Winter's breath, and a frosty sigh;
Gives way to summer's blazing sky;
Time gently flows like a river's rhyme;
Leaves fall, bloom, and fade with time."
In the blink of an eye, seven years had passed since Adam came across the founder's journal.
The youth's shock was immense when he learned that the mysterious founder of the Twilight Brotherhood did not hail from Tron.
Instead, he belonged to a certain planet in the Greater Universe and had only happened to arrive at Tron by accident.
How he arrived here was a mystery.
Over time, Adam's shock gradually turned into hope.
He figured that if there was a way for the founder to arrive on this planet, then that meant there was also a way for him to leave this planet!
However, nothing conclusive was written about this interstellar traveling method in the journal that he had read.
Fortunately, the founder had written several journals in the time he was alive!
All Adam had to do was get his hands on the rest of the journals, and he was sure he could find a way to leave this planet and travel to the Greater Universe.
He slowly got to his feet and grabbed the large wine gourd placed on the ground by the table. Carrying the gourd over his shoulders, he walked out of the cottage.
That journal only recorded the founder's insights on rune magic, as well as some of his entries about his day-to-day personal life, Adam thought to himself.
The rays of the early morning sun gently landed on his face and he softly muttered, "I need to complete more missions given by the Brotherhood and acquire the rest of the journals left behind by the founder…"
He raised his head and looked at the sky, his gaze seemingly piercing the clouds and spying into the depths of the cosmos.
His lips curled up into a confident smirk. "One day…"