Mage Legend-Chapter 348 - 26 Episodes Meeting (Part 1)

Lynch was not the only one contemplating the meaning of the soul; beside him was someone who spent the entirety of their early life unable to find an answer to this question. If she had not encountered unforeseen events and could live through the eternal life of an elf, then this question would accompany her forever.

Since birth, she had always lived in her own shadow. The identity of a princess and possessing the second set of eyes capable of prophecy within the Elf Clan made her feel unlike herself. In the early centuries of her life, she stayed by her mother’s side, learning the use of spells and how to find a path forward through the layers of fate’s mist.

Furthermore, her innate beauty also troubled her immensely. While many believed beauty to be a woman’s greatest asset, it also became her greatest burden. Particularly among the elves, countless poems and music were composed to praise her, with beautiful words dedicated to her "face."

Later, Yilinrui often sat by Heather’s lake, watching her reflection without uttering a word. She could not be certain if the shadow reflected in the lake was truly herself, or what her soul would be like beneath a perfect exterior.

In addition to words of praise, love naturally did not fall behind. When she was appointed as the next Prophetic Messenger, ready to take over her mother’s role, a male elf entered her life. He was a minstrel, who sang to her every moonlit night with his seven-stringed lyre. Yilinrui gazed at this man, but her eyes always revealed scenes of the future. No matter how she looked at him, the elf before her had a dark fate. She could not stop these visions from appearing; she felt powerless.

She gradually grew weary of this life, one that seemingly held no joy. Yilinrui never showed her emotions in front of others, but would sigh after the elf played his music.

"Who am I really? What should this soul be like?"

The elf misunderstood this lament as helplessness and resentment at the shackles that bound Yilinrui’s freedom. He left without a word, as he was unable to answer the question that troubled his beloved.

But ten years later, the elf picked up the seven-stringed lyre again, appearing before Yilinrui. Although his song was no longer as graceful and subtle as before, to Yilinrui, it sounded more beautiful than heavenly music.

However, the dark visions of the future remained.

At this moment, he cast a spell, a necromancy spell learned from a human mage. Hundreds of blue orb-like flames floated before Yilinrui, filling the space between them.

With a slightly hoarse voice, he said, "I’m sorry, even though I’m able to directly control these souls, I still don’t know the difference between them."

After speaking, he turned and left, never appearing before Yilinrui again.

The eyes of the Elf Princess revealed terrible scenes; unbeknownst to her, the yearning for this man had made her prophetic ability surpass her mother’s level—despite her efforts to avoid such an outcome. She saw the calamity that would befall the Elf Clan, a terrifying attack that would destroy Heather, and the Holy Land where elves of this era resided.

And the start of this catastrophe began with the male elf who had become a necromancer before her. Yilinrui was at a loss, and in a state between dream and reality, she told some of her visions to her mother.

"That elf will bring about a catastrophic disaster," Yilinrui said mechanically, her eyes devoid of any lively sparkle, "Something must be done..."

Regardless, the elves would not allow an elf who had learned human magic to continue living in Salantir, especially one who specialized in necromancy. The male elf was permanently banished from the Elf Kingdom. It is said that he received an even harsher punishment, though such claims lack evidence, and none of Salantir’s residents ever saw him again.

A few days later, Yilinrui awoke from her confusion, finally realizing what she had done. No matter how others asked, she refused to speak of the future she had seen in her prophecy. She sank into deep guilt, believing she had pushed the elf onto an irreversible path. She began to hate this innate ability of hers, began to hate her identity, and began to hate this "leather bag" she was trapped in.

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