Connelly previously dismissed this concern until her son nearly sacrificed his precious life for art; only then did she start taking it seriously.
"Initially, Queen Rowling advocated for a love of art because the Empire had experienced a devastating war, and in the aftermath, most people were immersed in the pain of ’loss.’ She hoped to rekindle the people’s hope through art."
"She probably never expected that the art in Saint Sem City would eventually lose its essence. Art for the sake of art itself is not true art."
As Lady Connelly spoke, they happened to arrive at Cypress Lake.
Not far from the shimmering lake surface, it looked serene and inviting under the starry sky.
"Young man, I’ve arrived. I’m going to feed the fish now. Remember, don’t go near the fire, and don’t be like my son, sacrificing for art—that’s foolish behavior."
Lady Connelly waved to Angel and then walked toward the lakeside with a bag of feed.
Watching Connelly’s slightly plump and unattractive figure, Angel lowered his head and chuckled softly: compared to most people in this city, the farmer-born Connelly seemed to understand life better.
It is precisely because of people like Connelly...
"That’s why I love humans."
Angel smiled and turned around, heading toward the Silver Heron Royal Palace.
The brief companionship with Connelly, listening to the values of an ordinary person, was just an insignificant little interlude. However, this little interlude still occupied some space in his memory. If Angel were to write a wizard’s travelogue in the future, he might include her story when writing about the city of art.
Setting aside this little interlude, Angel reached out his left hand, slowly opening the fist he had been holding. A few sparks gently floated out.
The sparks ascended, transforming into small flames before Angel.
"It really contains a trace of special flame power," Angel remarked. "Though very faint now, it still carries the taste of Dangross."
Angel watched the flame, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Although it’s just a tiny spark, its residual warmth is quite remarkable. If it truly ignites, its temperature might only be slightly lower than Kelonkcro’s.
Moreover, the special hidden meaning within this flame is not mixed; it’s quite pure, suitable for refining many magic ores requiring pure fire. No wonder Fritz takes an interest in Dangross.
"I haven’t really seen Dangross unleash its full firepower before; I didn’t expect it to be quite impressive," Angel muttered, grasping the floating flame tightly, extinguishing it.
Without further delay, he took great strides toward the palace.
His visit to Saint Sem City this time was to bring Dangross back. And Dangross, at this moment, was deep within the Silver Heron Palace.
Throughout the journey, the guards and knights seemed to be completely unaware of Angel’s presence, allowing him to pass as if in an empty realm.
After passing through a series of elegantly designed palaces, Angel arrived before a high wall.
He could sense Dangross was in some corner within the high wall.
This gray wall had no visible door; to enter, one needed to input magic power to find the hidden passage or simply fly over.
Clearly, ordinary people couldn’t achieve this.
Inside the high wall was where the Silver Heron Royal Wizard Group resided.
Angel did not choose to fly over because he was right before the hidden passage. If he could walk through, there was no need to waste energy.
As Angel’s body made contact with the wall, the previously perfect wall suddenly rippled like water waves, engulfing Angel’s figure.
When Angel reappeared, he was inside the wall.
Standing right before him was a middle-aged beautiful woman wearing a light red wizard robe.
"Neya." Angel softly called out her name.
"Master Pat." Neya quickly bowed in ceremony. Upon sensing unfamiliar energy entering within the walls, she immediately flew over, thinking there was an external enemy intrusion. Unexpectedly, it was Angel who had arrived.
"No need for excessive ceremony; I’ve come to take Dangross away this time," Angel said.
Neya’s face flashed with embarrassment. When she returned, she learned Drue had sent word to Frode about Dangross setting Cypress Street ablaze. At that moment, she realized Drue had informed Angel, probably fearing Dangross and hoping Angel would promptly take this troublesome ancestor away.
Although Neya also somewhat feared the flames Dangross produced, suggesting Angel to take Dangross away through implication would bring disgrace upon her.
Besides, she worried it might offend Angel.
"Actually, Dangross is quite fulfilled here, and lately it’s been researching the art of pottery-burning. Perhaps the master could allow it to stay a bit longer?" Neya said with some reservation.
Angel: "Better not. I’ve seen the situation at Cypress Street; it’s extremely severe."
Neya: "It’s okay. Cypress Street is burnt, but it can be rebuilt; there were no deaths."
Angel: "I’m afraid if it stays longer, without restraint, it might burn half of Saint Sem City."
Pausing, Angel continued: "Let’s go. Since you’re here, why don’t you lead the way?"
Neya sighed gently in her heart and nodded: "Please follow me, master."
Soon, Angel was in a backyard paved with rubies, where he saw Dangross rolling on the ground.
Dangross had its eyes closed, flipping its entire hand over the exquisite rubies, wearing a face of enjoyment. Beside it, an elderly apprentice in a fiery red wizard robe was flipping through a handbook on a stone bench, occasionally using a red feather pen to gently dot toward Dangross, causing some fiery liquid to sprinkle over.
Dangross did not dodge or evade, allowing the liquid to soak into its skin, continuing to roll on the gems, moaning as if intoxicated.
This scene was rather unsightly, and Neya couldn’t hold back a couple coughs.
"Ahem."
The elderly apprentice immersed in the handbook, raised his head in confusion. Upon spotting Neya and the man behind her, he abruptly sprang up.
"Ma-ma-master," the elderly apprentice murmured with a slight trembling.
"Is he Fritz?" Angel asked. He had seen a title on the open handbook in the elderly apprentice’s hand—Boiling Blood Red Water.
Cypress Street had been burnt because Fritz attempted to refine a material for Boiling Blood Red Water, which resulted in an accident.
Neya nodded: "Yes. Fritz had been confined by me earlier, but this morning Dangross came to plead, so I let him out again, only ordering him to stay by Dangross’s side."