| “ | A photographer looks with an unbiased eye, and a traveler walks with a light foot.[1] | ” |
Bio[]
As a travel photographer that has been all over Tierra, he enjoys making a record of his travels by taking photos of Tierra's various sights. He enjoys the wandering lifestyle and looks like a dissolute playboy, but he also seems to have a mysterious past.
Food Introduction[]
Prosciutto di Parma, or "Parma ham" originates in the southern mountains of Parma, Italy, and it is famous throughout the world for its long history and unique flavor. A top-quality Parma ham weighs in at 9 kilograms or more, with a rosy red color and an even spread of marbled fat. It has a soft, rich texture that lingers on the palate and is a first-tier gourmet food item that no Italian dining table can do without.
Other Info[]
How to Acquire[]
Associated Events
Initial Stats[]
 Soul Power
|
1985 |
|---|---|
 Attack
|
65 |
 Defense
|
23 |
 HP
|
559 |
 Crit Rate
|
1255 |
 Crit Dmg
|
511 |
 Atk Spd
|
1456 |
Skills[]
| Surprise Journey | Basic Skill | |
|---|---|---|
|
Prosciutto di Parma rolls his little pig at the enemy, dealing 40% (80%) ATK as damage plus 351 (4563) extra damage to all enemies, with a 50% chance of stunning all enemies for 3 seconds. | |
| Freeze Frame | Energy Skill | |
|
Prosciutto di Parma kneels down and takes a photo, releasing a massive flash the instant he presses down the shutter, dealing 40% (80%) ATK as damage plus 632 (8216) extra damage to all enemies and also stunning three random enemies for 3 seconds. | |
| Super Freeze Frame | Link Skill | |
|
Prosciutto di Parma kneels down and takes a photo, releasing a massive flash the instant he presses down the shutter, dealing 60% (120%) ATK as damage plus 766 (9958) extra damage to all enemies and also stunning three random enemies for 3 seconds. | 
|
blue = lvl 1
red = max lvlVoice Lines[]
| JP | CN | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract | Heh-heh. Looks like a little cutie-pie has stepped into my frame~ | ||
| Log In | Mm, whenever I smell that fragrant scent, I know it's you. | ||
| Ice Arena | Want to get closer? I've got plenty of room under my cloak to squeeze you in. | ||
| Skills | Get lost in the illusions of film and flowers~ | ||
| Ascend | Hm~ I'm feeling pretty good. I can probably snap some amazing pictures. How about you come along~? | ||
| Fatigue | After all that walking, it's hard not to feel a bit fatigued. | ||
| Recovering | Did I have you worried? Well, to make it up to you, you can do whatever you want right now, and I won't stop you. How's that~? | ||
| Team Formation | I get it. These nuisances have to get taken care of first, and then we can be undisturbed, right? | ||
| Knockout | Even the freshest flowers eventually fade... | ||
| Notice | I've never tasted my own cooking, but the perfect dinner companion is more important than flavor when it comes to filling one with joy. | ||
| Idle 1 | Disasters can't be forgotten, and since it's already over and done with... no one can forgive anyone on behalf of the victims... | ||
| Idle 2 | Ow... I don't know when Feijoada's ever going to curb that temper of his. Ugh, at least he didn't get my face, or else Attendant would get all worried for sure. | ||
| Idle 3 | Light and shadow are illusory things, but the photographs they weave do indeed encapsulate a moment of truth. Perhaps that's the real charm of travel photography. | ||
| Interaction 1 | What's the fun of always eyeing my camera? How about... we go do something really fun? | ||
| Interaction 2 | Should I take this as you throwing yourself at me~? Heh-heh, why are you running away? I never said I was turning you down. | ||
| Interaction 3 | It's fine. I know I'm too captivating of a presence, and you just can't help yourself... Huh? I've got a smudge on my face, you say? Ahem, I guess it's a small price to pay for plucking the freshest rose for you. | ||
| Pledge | Do you see this sky filled with flower petals? I swear by the name of the rose that I will give all my pure and burning love entirely to you until the end of my life. Until the very last ember of my heart's fire is extinguished. | ||
| Intimacy 1 | All those sights I saw in my travels used to be the most precious things to me. But now, you're more important than them, so... I don't want to just keep you around. Precious things must be enjoyed... | ||
| Intimacy 2 | Even if the whole world is laid to waste, you will always be that eternal, one-of-a-kind rose in my heart. Although, before that day comes, we still have lots of time. Let's spend it wisely. | ||
| Intimacy 3 | Now I seem to be able to see through your thoughts more easily... For instance... when you get this close, you definitely want something a little more intimate than a hug~ | ||
| Victory | Like I said, when I promise you something, I do it. | ||
| Defeat | Hm... I almost forgot what defeat tasted like. | ||
| Feeding | If you don't stick around and enjoy this food with me, it won't mean a thing no matter how good it is. | ||
Notes
- ↑ CN Version: There's no bias in the eyes of photographers, there's no way home under the feet of travelers.
| Food Souls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Main[]
Sprites[]
Sprite Animations[]
Normal[]
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Contents of this page has been fan-translated by SpaceBites01 and may not be completely accurate. Official translations will be added whenever it's available. |
I. First Encounter
Moonlight poured through the high glass dome, covering the ground in a field of ghostly blue. Tall bookshelves coiled along the stairs, and the walls were filled with dense spells.
In front of me was an old man wearing a tall pointed hat and holding a staff.
His silver-white snow-like beard almost reached the ground, and his eyes were as deep as a lake in the depths of a secret forest.
I didn't know who he was, but I vaguely sensed a special power, invisibly linked between us.
But before I had time to clarify the situation in front of me, the old man suddenly knocked the end of his staff to the ground, snorted coldly from his nose, and then turned around and left.
...What is going on?
"Hmm...? This old gentleman, did I do something wrong? Why did he leave without saying a word?"
I caught up with him, but he looked like he had no intention of paying any attention at all.
"It seems that you are the one who summoned me? Out of politeness, perhaps we need to get to know each other. My name is Parma."
Hearing those words, he finally gave me a sideways glance. However, that face that was as gloomy as a ten-thousand-year-old dark cloud still exuded a majestic and untouchable aura at all times.
"Don't follow me, Food Soul. Not killing you is already my greatest mercy. I never intended to summon you in the first place."
He coldly threw out these last words and disappeared around the corner.
I could only swallow back my unfinished words and spread my hands helplessly.
It seems that this Master Attendant not only dislikes me, but is also dangerous...
"Are you a Food Soul?"
Just when I was still at a loss what to do, a young man's voice suddenly came from the other side of the corridor.
I couldn't help but straighten my back.
Like I said: how could everyone be so dismissive towards Food Souls? Surely some still have some sense...
Inevitably, he turned around with a bit of pride, only to then see that he was also wearing a robe and a pointed hat, and the scorn and arrogance in his eyes and brows were clearly visible.
"Hmph, Savoy doesn't need any Food Souls at all. As the chief apprentice of the Great Magician, the teacher's successor can only be me."
"Well... it may be true that money is not a necessity for a wealthy family, but who would not say no to gold, especially compared to a pet dog that can only bark..."
"Oops, sorry. I'm new here, and I don't know anything about your land yet. Please forgive me if I have offended you."
Forcingly changing the subject, I bowed politely to the young man.
Getting into an argument with him at this time isn't a good choice. But he seemed to be at a loss for words for a moment, and then left with a cold grunt.
I couldn't help but sigh.
It seems like my current situation is a real headache for me...
The name of this ancient nation, which has existed since the age of the Fallen Angels, is Savoy.
Savoy's longevity relies on the power of magicians. Because of this, this land is almost isolated from the rest of the world, and no Food Soul has ever been born before.
Since ancient times, magicians have been honored as gods, and their status is second only to that of the Emperor.
Now in the fifth generation, they are known as the Three Great Magicians—Aleister, Parsesus, and Feylamairre.
The most powerful among them, Aleister, is also my Master Attendant.
Looking through Savoy's historical records, I finally got some insights.
Although Aleister didn't want to admit it, I was indeed a Food Soul accidentally summoned during his magic experiments.
And he did have talents and abilities that were above the norm, even more powerful than the other two Great Magicians, and he could summon Food Souls at the drop of a hat.
No wonder he ignored me, and no wonder he was so arrogant about his talents. Even his students are like this.
After all, what has sustained Savoy from the beginning is the power of the magicians. To them, Food Souls that have never left their names in history are just insignificant things.
I closed the heavy book and with nothing else to do for a while, I just wandered around the castle out of boredom.
The towering ancient stone walls are wrapped around by gnarled branches, and the deep blue rose petals seemed to be dyed by the endless sky.
I captured those deep and beautiful flower branches in my lens, and a sense of comfort slowly came over me.
Aleister was obsessed with the study of magical power all day. Since that day, he stopped caring about me, not even looking at me.
I was happy to take it easy, and deliberately avoided the complicated and weird spells that everyone here was delving into, and instead picked up the unattended camera that had been left in the corner.
Just as I continued to adjust the shooting angle, two unfamiliar figures suddenly appeared in the viewfinder frame.
It's just... that man with short white hair, who clearly had a handsome face yet was wearing a gorgeous court dress, seemed to be full of anger and humiliation, and his hands were dancing around, saying something.
The pink-haired man next to him was full of calmness, and even had a light smile.
Seeing smoke almost coming out of the man's head looked really interesting. I couldn't help but zoom in, but who knew...
*Click-click—* The crisp sound of the shutter suddenly echoed all around.
...The air suddenly stagnated. Looking at the shutter button that I had unfortunately mistakenly pressed, I felt my fingers become stiff.
"Who?!"
In the next second, a sharp chill ran down my spine, and when I looked up again, a blistering figure had swept over like the wind.
Oh no... this murderous aura...
In order to prevent the hot-tempered, short-haired man from doing anything impulsive, I lightly coughed, intending to pretend that nothing happened.
"Haha, I was just taking a stroll in the garden. I'm sorry for disturbing you two accidentally."
"I clearly heard some strange noise. What are you sneaking around for?"
The man's suspicious eyes looked over, and I stood still as I quietly hid the camera, continuing to smile.
"Ahem, it's nothing really. I'm just practicing some unskilled magic."
"...These flying petals are your magic?"
"What happened?"
The man was about to say something, but was gently interrupted by another man approaching slowly.
When he saw me, a trace of surprise seemed to flash across his face, but he quickly raised a gentle smile.
"Pink hair, wearing a cloak... If I am not mistaken, you are Mr. Prosciutto di Parma?"
"Parma...? Oh~ You're the Food Soul Aleister summoned."
"You... know my name?"
"Well, I'm Iberian Ham, and he's Bresse Chicken Soup. We're Food Souls, just like you."
Catching the keyword in Iberian's words, I couldn't help but be a little surprised. It turns out that I wasn't the only Food Soul to be born in this era.
While my thoughts were flowing, Bresse's yelling suddenly came to my ears.
"—Iberian! How dare you lie to me? What kind of rubbish magic you made me practice?!! Quickly turn these shabby clothes away from me!"
"If you hadn't dozed off during class, how could you have misremembered the spell? I just didn't remind you in time... Perfect timing, let's review the most basic restoration magic, shall we?"
"Screw magic! I'm not learning!"
Looking at this sudden change, I couldn't hold back my laughter for a moment.
"...Hey, if you dare to tell what happened today... Tch, how can anyone be here at this time?! You guys stop laughing and take off your cloaks for me!!"
"Why don't you just take it off? Why don't I use the petals to help you? It seems to go better with the dress."
"Who wants these messy petals of yours?! Aachoo—I'm sick of the smell!"
Bresse's explosive voice nearly pierced my eardrums. I tried desperately to hold back my laughter, and felt an unprecedented joy in my heart.
Maybe life will no longer be so boring in the future.
II. Disagreement
"...I heard that Lord Feylamairre and Lord Parsesus are planning to study magic through Food Souls?"
"The two Great Magicians have already thoroughly studied magic, so they have nothing better to do... Anyway, Lord Aleister still hates Food Souls as always."
"It goes without saying that Food Souls are nothing to us but servants of some use at best, and the one named Parma does nothing but wander around and annoy Lord Aleister."
"When will that annoying Food Soul be kicked out like a lost dog? Haha—it's quite exciting to think about it..."
Within the empty silence of the room, the words of wanton talk and laughter kept coming through the walls, amplifying and echoing repeatedly.
In the next moment, the scene in front of me suddenly disappeared, replaced by Aleister's disgusted eyes and his back walking away with fluttering sleeves.
My palms felt cold, and I tried to raise the corners of my mouth, but no matter what, I couldn't get rid of the feeling of loss that nearly overflowed my heart.
......
"Wake up, wake up. Sleeping like a fool?
"...!"
"Hey, you hit my head! What's your head made out of? It must be really tough..."
When the clear light returned to my vision, I clearly saw that I was lying on a haystack in front of a cursing Bresse who was covering his forehead.
Pain came slowly, and I rubbed the corner of my slightly dazed forehead as my thoughts gradually returned.
By the way, we obviously skipped class and went out...
"You agreed to accompany me out for horseback riding today, but you're just here sleeping by yourself."
"Ahem, if Iberian hadn't caught me reviewing my homework in the middle of last night, I wouldn't be so sleepy."
"Did you just have a nightmare? Your face is screwed up like a bitter melon."
I pretended to be casual, avoiding his probing eyes, trying my best to get back to my old poise as I spoke.
"Yes, it was indeed a nightmare. I dreamed of you wearing a long dress and wig, dancing in the square~"
"Parma—!"
Easily dodging his foot as he tried to kick me, I took in a breath of fresh air, and most of the heaviness in my heart dissipated.
After meeting them by chance that day, we gradually became familiar with each other. Perhaps it was because as one of Savoy's few Food Souls, we had an unexpected chance to get to know each other.
Although we are Food Souls, we were treated very differently. But in this boring castle, meeting these two guys is the luckiest thing that happened to me.
At least there was a place to stay for the long nights when Aleister was particularly looking at me badly.
It was nearly evening by the time Bresse and I bickered our way back to the castle when we were greeted by Iberian's figure.
"Where have you two been again... There was an impromptu magic quiz today..."
Iberian gave a worried look and silently sighed again.
"Isn't that just right? It'd spare us from watching all these boring tricks."
I've always been in high agreement with Bresse on such matters, so I simply echoed along with his words.
"Yeah, well the two of us were excluded from the academy for a long time anyway. So it doesn't really matter if we go or not."
"I treat all magic interns as my own children, so don't say such sad things to me."
A sudden voice rang out from behind me, sending a chill down my spine.
Sure enough, in a corner out of sight, the figures of the three Great Magicians were slowly approaching.
Bresse froze for a moment as if he hadn't expected it either, but within a few steps, I knew it was too late to run away, so I had to bite the bullet and make a stiff bow with Iberian.
There's no need to look at Aleister to surely know he was cold-faced. Parsesus remained taciturn, and only Feylamairre smiled to smooth the conversation.
"Are you Parma? Haha, it seems like this is my first time meeting you."
"I'm also honored to meet you, Mr. Feylamairre. I know that magicians are very busy during their days, and it's even more inconvenient for us little interns to disturb them."
"Are these rose petals your magic? They look good."
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Feylamairre."
As soon as I finished speaking, Aleister gave a cold grunt of feigned impatience and turned to leave, only to be stopped by Feylamairre's immovable hand.
"It's just that if you want to use magic better, you need a wand... It just so happens that this is Aleister's used old one. There should still be a little bit of his magic left, so why don't I give it to you to take and use?
I looked at the wand Feylamairre handed over, not daring to move for a moment.
Aleister's clearly sullen voice quickly came from the sidelines.
"...Feylamairre, do you know what you're doing?"
"Is there a problem? Parma has good talent for magic. Wouldn't it be a good thing if your heir could have another outstanding Food Soul?"
Feylamairre's words made me shudder immediately. Although I can hear the banter, Aleister's attitude towards Food Souls was almost universally known...
Sure enough, the atmosphere suddenly froze the next second.
"I don't care if you want to hang out with Food Souls, but don't get me involved."
"Don't say that. You summoned the Food Souls yourself. No matter how hateful you are to them, you are destined to be with them."
"..."
"Aleister, it's true..."
When Parsesus, who had always been taciturn, spoke solemnly, Aleister's face completely blackened, and a magical aura jolted around him like a firebox that could explode at any moment.
"I said: Savoy will never need Food Souls!"
For a moment, the heavy air pressure was like a thousand pounds, and I wanted to stuff myself into my cloak.
Under the wide brim of his hat, that pair of pale and ghostly eyes reflected a sharp edge, and the words he spoke became more and more icy.
"I don't force others to agree with me. After all, this world will always have idiots in the majority... from now on, don't harass me with your stupid ideas."
Aleister's figure quickly disappeared from sight, and the atmosphere once again returned to silence.
"This old man is still so grumpy. Sorry, I must have scared you."
Feylamairre didn't seem to be surprised by this. He still smiled to reassure us, and half-forced the wand into my hand.
I couldn't shrug it off, and could only cautiously accept it, yet a bad feeling rose in my heart...
Sure enough, when I returned to my quarters that day, I found a tall, tight iron fence erected outside the castle.
Aleister hid himself behind the fence, no longer appearing in front of others or saying a word, except for necessary teaching or examinations. He even instructed his apprentices to do the same.
Aleister and I never spoke to each other since that day.
I was a thorn in his side, and until he calmed down and reconciled to the situation, I had to do my best to avoid him to prevent any further accidents.
But even though I had gone as far as to not provoke him like a quail, Aleister's attitude towards me was dropping to the freezing point by the day.
When his boredom almost broke through the roof of the castle, I was finally kicked out of the gate by him.
The emotions of wretchedness and relief intertwined, and I felt that my heart was very mixed.
I couldn't help but sigh, but a familiar figure appeared in front of me.
A gentle young man cast a concerned look, as if he's been waiting for a long time.
"Iberian? Why are you here?"
"I'm here to pick you up."
III. Forbidden Book
The corridor was quiet, and the candlelight silently floated in the air.
I walked out of the darkroom with the developed film in my hand. When I looked back, I saw that the study not far away was still lit up.
Iberian was focused as ever on his mountain of books that he didn't even notice my arrival.
"Staying up late is not a good habit, Mr. Good-to-be-Great Magician. Look at you, you've got a few more grey hairs."
I laughed teasingly and placed the hot tea in front of him. Seeing that the person in front of me was staring at the cup of tea and hesitated to speak, I had no choice but to explain in an aggrieved manner.
"Don't worry, the tea leaves were taken from your room, not the rose petals from me."
About to confirm what I said, Iberian took a light sip of tea before speaking slowly.
"...You're obviously staying in the darkroom later than me lately. Besides, Food Souls don't have grey hair."
"Hey, who made that guy Bresse suddenly get interested in the royal palace and had to go learn about emperors? You're either at the academy or in the study every day, so I can only go and keep my lovely camera company~"
As if it was an illusion, for a moment, I saw a subtle flicker that seemed to cross the bottom of Iberian's eyes.
"It's a good thing that you've found something you like. We will continue to figure out a solution regarding Lord Aleister's matter... as well..."
"Well, it's just that I'm not being treated well. It's not like it's a big deal. There's nothing wrong with me eating and drinking at your place right now~"
After being kicked out by Aleister, Bresse and Iberian took me in under the instruction of the other two Great Magicians.
It's just that Bresse always suspected that I'm sleeping dishonesty, so Iberian, who never refuses, became my regular roommate.
"We are friends, so there is no such thing as eating and drinking... it's just a magic course at the academy, so you should not fall behind too much. After all..."
"I know. Since Mr. Feylamairre and Parsesus are willing to let you guys take me in, I certainly won't let them down, and study magic well so that their research on Food Souls can proceed smoothly."
After hearing my words, Iberian just blinked quietly, and followed with a sigh.
"No... aside from that, what I mean is that I don't want you guys to be looked down upon by others because of your grades in magic class. You guys are obviously outstanding."
"Pfft, you're the only one who would compliment us like that."
Realizing the comforting meaning in his words, I couldn't help but sigh. This guy truly deserves to be everyone's favorite Food Soul.
Walking out of the study, I strolled alone on the path, not feeling sleepy in the moment, but only feeling a little moved in my heart.
Whether it's the loss of always being unappreciated or the despondency of being swept away in public...
As long as they are around, all frustration and depression can be slowly dissolved.
Even though we didn't say it explicitly, we understood each other, and we have become inseparable companions long ago.
Time flows like water, and I still couldn't memorize those spells, Bresse still disdained magic, and Iberian was still far ahead among the many apprentices.
Despite the unceasing bickering, such simple days gave me that initial trancelike illusion for a while.
Until... everyone's fate was quietly rewritten by that book.
It was by chance that I spied on the secrets of that book in the library—
The legendary "Book of the Nether" seals mysterious and dangerous magic, which can lead to devastating disasters if not used carefully.
It was due to its treacherous nature that the Book of the Nether has always been strictly guarded, and even the Three Great Magicians cannot easily touch it.
At the same time, Feylamairre's prediction that all members of the royal family would die began to spread.
So much so that some people speculated that it was because of the Book of the Nether.
On that day, while my mind was still pondering about the fragmentary news about the Book of the Nether, the sound of a horse-drawn carriage's sharp brake suddenly rushed to my ears.
When I reacted, the familiar silhouette of the ghostly blue castle was very close by, and the iron railings that were cast in the past still stood firm like tall guards.
I actually unknowingly walked here...
"I'm sorry sir, the horse was a little frightened. It didn't hurt you, did it?"
An unfamiliar voice came in front of me, and a man dressed as an aristocrat with an elegant smile was greeting me.
"It's alright, I was the one who accidentally blocked your carriage, sir."
"Haha, are you also here to visit the Great Magician Aleister? If you don't mind, why don't you let me give you a lift?"
He raised his decent smile once again, but I couldn't help but pause on the spot.
"I'm not here to see him..."
"In that case, I'm sorry. I'm the one who offended."
The nobleman was about to leave as he spoke, but in a split second, an idea suddenly popped up in my mind.
The old wand that Feylamairre forcefully gave me earlier is of no use to me now...
"Wait...! If it's convenient... could you please pass on an item for me?"
"An item... Haha, of course I can. I'd be happy to help you."
The noble gentleman raised his eyebrows slightly and kindly accepted my request without much questioning.
"Um, may I ask for your name, sir?"
"...Franz, my name is Franz."
It was only when that carriage traveled all the way into the castle that I suddenly realized something.
I heard from Iberian that magicians reside on the borders of Savoy, and except for going to the palace once a year, they hardly have any contact with the palace the rest of the time...
But that Mr. Franz has an extraordinary temperament, so maybe he's some kind of big shot.
In any case, what does it have to do with me?
But no one ever expected that shortly after that, the Book of the Nether would suddenly be stolen overnight.
And the evidence left at the scene pinpointed the suspicion to Aleister.
IV. Catastrophe
By the time I learned of the theft of the Book of the Nether, the Three Great Magicians had already locked the doors to the council chamber.
Iberian told me that there was a faint hint of magic lingering at the scene of the theft—
It belonged to the most powerful magician of all, Aleister, and no second person in the world could replicate or even imitate that magic.
No one knew what the Three Great Magicians were discussing. Everyone in the castle is doing their best to find the whereabouts of the Book of the Nether.
Looking at the people running around in front of me, I suddenly remembered that magic wand.
Could it be that...
After a few days, I returned here again.
The blue castle stands as lonely as ever, but the iron barrier is covered with some mottled marks, making it look like an old man who has gone through vicissitudes of life.
I broke into Aleister's room, not caring about how he would reprimand and punish me afterwards. I just wanted to turn his house upside down.
In addition to his bedroom, I searched the storage room, the magic research room...
No, the wand that I asked someone to return was not anywhere in this castle.
That guy, the black-haired nobleman named Franz, didn't return the wand that still contained Aleister's magic!
So he could have stolen the Book of the Nether, and then used the wand to leave Aleister's magic residue at the scene and frame him!
Traveling from the castle to the academy at an unprecedented speed, all I wanted to do was to rush to the council chamber as soon as possible and tell the two other Great Magicians about this...
A strange and uneasy premonition jumped up to my heart for no reason.
Suddenly, a powerful and familiar force spread from all directions.
It was so distant that it seemed to burst out from the depths of the firmament, yet it was so close that in an instant, it made people tremble uncontrollably.
The next moment, a strange light lit up in my field of vision.
Aleister was holding his staff high, his whole body covered in blazing fire, and his eyes were tinted with a blood red that I had never seen before.
He was looking straight ahead at the high platform where Feylamairre and Parsesus were.
Without any time to think about anything, I immediately rushed in front of him.
"The Book of the Nether, you didn't steal it, did you?!"
"This is none of your business. Stay away, Food Soul."
"What on earth did that nobleman do? Mr. Feylamairre and the others must all still believe you, so why don't you explain..."
"Go away!"
Blazing flames exploded around me at once. Even though I knew he would never pay attention to my words, however...
"Your current state is so unstable that I can't let you pass. At least Mr. Feylamairre and the others have helped me once."
Pulled by an unknown force, I walked through the scorching hot flames and stood right in front of him.
Perhaps never having seen me so at odds with him, Aleister's anger almost visibly burst out.
"You have no right to order me, damn Food Soul!"
The scalding flames descended again, like the roar of raging magma.
A searing pain came down my arm, and I understood that this was his final warning to me.
Even though I knew that my power was no match for him at all, I still couldn't help but clench my teeth and refuse to move away.
If I fell now, it would be too unlike a magician's Food Soul.
The building behind me began to burn and collapse, and some apprentices were burned by the flames one after another.
Subconsciously, I raised a barrier and tried to block the flames.
But at the same time, Aleister flew to the top of the high platform and stood opposite of Feylamairre and Parsesus.
In just a moment, a murderous intent penetrated every crevice with his movements.
The horn of destruction suddenly sounded, and the sky surged with endless dim fire, enough to annihilate everything that came overwhelmingly.
A stream of fireworks fell like a cluster of meteors, and the earth incessantly kept trembling and wailing.
More and more cries drilled into my eardrums, mixing with the dust and smoke into the raging fire in the sky.
It was the first time I felt so desperate and powerless.
Soon, the remaining power was no longer enough to maintain the barrier, and I had to use my own body to resist the falling attacks for them.
I don't know how long it took, but my throat was filled with a sweet, fishy taste, my whole body with a burning, tearing pain, and my organs seemed to be burned through.
The subsequent scenes were so blurred that I can't seem to remember them clearly.
I only remember that when I closed my eyes at the end, I seemed to vaguely hear the voices of those two guys...
......
After I woke up, I realized that everything had been turned upside down.
The Three Great Magicians finally chose to die together. The Book of the Nether was found in the Third Prince's palace and was recovered for safekeeping in the library.
The whole of Savoy was like the setting sun burning away its remaining warmth, falling into the eternal cold night.
Looking at the scattered ashes and dust within the four fields, I was speechless for a long time.
If... if I had been able to stop Aleister at the time, if I hadn't handed my wand over to that guy called Franz, and had instead studied magic properly according to the expectations of Feylamairre and Parsesus...
Then this disaster would not have happened...
Time was drawn out by silence for an unusually long time. I only remember sitting on top of the ruins that day.
The sky seemed to have rolled over several times until Iberian anxiously found me.
In the end, I didn't tell anyone about the wand and Franz.
I admit that I was afraid; Bresse, Iberian and I were in different situations, and if they knew that Feylamairre and Parsesus had passed away in a hurry because of my laziness and mistakes...
I am afraid that even the last bit of tenderness and happiness I could have in this world would be robbed clean of me.
So Iberian remained gentle and composed as ever, comforting the apprentices who had lost their teacher.
Bresse also picked up the crown he had once disdained the most, and walked headlong into the broken and decaying royal family.
Savoy was gradually returning to prosperity, and it seemed as if the fires of that day had never been lit, yet they did sear a huge hole in my heart, and a nightmare-like feeling lingered no matter what.
The endless self-blame and regret are like a huge cocoon. Whenever I think of it, it will tighten and tighten until it is suffocating.
Until this cage was compressed and broken, until by chance, I accidentally dug out some old photos.
Looking at photos of the majestic castle, the distant wilderness, and the roadside wildflowers, the memory of the novelty feeling washed over me again.
Suddenly, an idea gradually emerged from the bottom of my heart.
That night, I sat in the carriage and burned the farewell letter that I had put pen to paper and crossed out completely.
The remaining flames stained the corners of an old photo, and I couldn't help but blow them out before the blackened color spread further.
The two surprised faces on the photo were covered by the lapel on my chest, still having a burning afterglow.
Perhaps they would have worn similar expressions, or even worse, after realizing that I had left without saying goodbye...
But this was the best choice I could come up with.
To Savoy, I am a sinner, so this was both as much my own redemption and my exile.
The floating ashes blended with the boundless eternal night winds, drifting towards a path of no return.
V. Prosciutto di Parma
The snow-colored morning sun rose from the top of the mountain, the warm wind kissed the clouds and mist, and the whole world was filled with a soft light.
*Click-click—*
In the continuous sound of the shutter, time, light, and shadow were frozen in a small viewfinder frame.
The fellow collector let out a sigh of surprise, and Prosciutto di Parma smiled in satisfaction.
"Brother, you really are amazing. I didn't even know this was the best place to watch the sunrise."
"Haha, it's natural to have more experience the more often you see it."
"Heh-heh, speaking of which, can I see the pictures you took? If you're so good, your photos must be beautiful~"
Prosciutto di Parma didn't refuse the enthusiastic request of the collector. He dug out his past photo albums, only to find a slightly yellowed photo fluttering to the ground by chance.
When he picked it up, his fingers couldn't help but stop in place.
In the picture, Bresse Chicken Soup, who was unexpectedly wearing a long dress, had his cheeks reddened and was giving the camera a startled look. Behind him, Iberian Ham's face was unperturbed, only warmly smiling.
Little did they know that this unexpected picture had actually been packed in the deepest part of the photographer's bag.
The youth stared at the thin piece of paper, his eyes flashing in a moment of trance.
After a long silence, an inaudible laugh escaped from the corner of his mouth.
"Oh, if these photos can be submitted to newspapers in the city, they'll definitely make a lot of money... Hey, why are you crying, brother?"
"What crying? It's just that I had some sand accidentally get into my eyes... Okay, stop looking."
Hearing the youth's reply, the turbaned collector suddenly laughed.
"It's really easy to recall past events when looking through old photos... Let me guess, you must be missing your companions."
A wave of confusion swept through Prosciutto di Parma's eyes, and he soon returned to his usual smile.
"For me, those are just things that are beyond my reach. Nowadays, I prefer traveling and photography, and I also want to record more beautiful things and moments."
"Sir, thank you for the encounter. However, I now have to go to the next place."
As he spoke, he had already repacked his bag, only to find after a few steps that the collector was still following him as if nothing had happened, his smiling eyes even being a little puzzling.
"Don't be in a hurry to say goodbye. Didn't you say before that after taking a photo of the sunrise, you wanted to go and see the ruins of the mountain forest? It just happens that I'm going there as well~"
Prosciutto di Parma suspiciously cast his gaze towards the very calm and collected man in front of him, more and more feeling something was wrong in his heart.
"...I remember when we first met, you said that you happened to want to watch the sunrise as well, so you followed me..."
"Ahem, there's an old saying in the Light Kingdom that there's no such thing as a book without a coincidence~ having a companion on the journey is also a way to take care of each other, right~"
"What you mean by taking care of us is forcing me to lead the way, and as a result, you ended up getting lost here with me..."
"Oh, you can't say that. If we hadn't gotten lost, maybe we wouldn't have seen such a beautiful sunrise~"
"Hey, look brother, there seems to be someone over there!"
Prosciutto di Parma's words of rebuttal were interrupted. For a moment, he had no choice but to look in the direction he pointed.
Near the bushes not far away, a short-haired girl carrying a huge backpack was digging something with a shovel, and her surroundings were filled with a variety of tools.
"...This stone is older than the previous ones... Looking at the direction of the footprints, it should be..."
The young girl muttered something seriously, oblivious to even the approach of the two people behind her.
"...Hmm... it must be continuing in the southeast! I must find the elven relics today! —Woah, who ambushed me?!"
*Boom!* As the girl screamed, the shovel she waved just managed to brush past the hem of the two men's clothes, and smashed down on the ground with a crisp sound.
"Hoo... so close, otherwise my camera would be out of warranty."
"Ahem, but brother, it seemed like you were trying to use me as a shield just now, right?"
"You saw it wrong, my hand just slipped~"
Looking at the two strangers who inexplicably appeared in front of her and started chatting among themselves, the girl couldn't help but feel confused.
"Wait... what do you want to do? I'm warning you, don't get any ideas about this precious stone! I found it first!"
She alertly hugged the stone in her arms tightly, and the two of them paused for a moment, then bursting out laughing at the same time.
"Beautiful lady, I'm sorry to have disturbed you. Let me make it clear first that this strange man and I are not necessarily related. You can call me Parma."
"Hey, well how can you call me a strange man when you've at least shared a beautiful scenery together? Let's make it official. My name is Baklava."
"..."
Facing the rose petals flying around and the two extremely enthusiastic people, the young girl's eyebrows involuntarily twitched twice, then turned around and left. Unexpectedly, the two smiling faces jumped up to her again.
"Beautiful lady, from what you said just now, it seems that you are also going to the Elven Ruins. I also want to see the scenery there. I wonder if I would have the honor to share this journey with you?"
"The journey will definitely be more interesting if we're companions together. Don't worry, we'll never hit on your precious stone. Right, brother Parma~?"
"I definitely won't, but I can't guarantee that for this strange man."
"I also definitely won't! If I hadn't gotten lost all the time after entering this forest, I wouldn't have grabbed onto anyone I saw~"
"...You can go if you want, but you must listen to me and not touch anything in the ruins. Also, my name is Caramel Macchiato, not some beautiful lady. Hearing this gives me goosebumps..."
Seeing that the young girl agreed to the request, Prosciutto di Parma and Baklava deepened their smiles in unison.
"Yes, beautiful Miss Caramel Macchiato!"
"Why is this name calling getting weirder and weirder—?!"
As he walked in the morning light, Baklava narrowed his eyes and relaxed his steps comfortably.
"It feels like the three of us are getting quite harmonious now, so why don't we just form an expedition team~? Well, I've already thought of a name—"
"How about calling it—Sumehar Expedition Team?"
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| Togi Node I - Crit Rate | |
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In battle, boosts your Crit Dmg (6%, 7%, 9%, 11%, 13%, 15%, 17%, 21%, 25%, 30%). |
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In battle, boosts your Atk Spd (6%, 7%, 9%, 11%, 13%, 15%, 17%, 21%, 25%, 30%). |
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In battle, boosts your ATK (6%, 7%, 9%, 11%, 13%, 15%, 17%, 21%, 25%, 30%). |
| Togi Node II - HP | |
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Adds special basic skill (15s CD): Grants all allies invincibility for 3s and boosts their dmg (3%, 3.8%, 4.7%, 5.6%, 6.6%, 7.6%, 8.9%, 10.6%, 12.5%, 15%), lasting 6s. |
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Adds special basic skill (15s CD): Grants all allies invincibility for 3s and boosts their skill dmg (6%, 7%, 9%, 11%, 13%, 15%, 17%, 21%, 25%, 30%), lasting 6s. |
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Adds special basic skill (15s CD): Grants all allies invincibility for 3s and boosts their Atk Spd (8%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17%, 20%, 23%, 28%, 33%, 40%), lasting 6s. |
| Togi Node III - Attack | |
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Basic skill bonus effect: Heals three random allies for (6%, 7%, 9%, 11%, 13%, 15%, 17%, 21%, 25%, 30%) of HP lost. 20s CD. |
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Basic skill bonus effect: Deals (36%, 46%, 57%, 67%, 79%, 92%, 107%, 127%, 150%, 180%) ATK as dmg to three random enemies. 10s CD. |
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Basic skill bonus effect: Deals (4.8%, 6.1%, 7.6%, 9%, 10.6%, 12.3%, 14.3%, 16.9%, 20.1%, 24%) ATK per sec as continuous dmg to all enemies, lasting 5s. Also stuns for 2s. 15s CD. |
| Togi Node IV - Crit Dmg | |
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Every 20s, makes all allies invincible and boosts their ATK (5.2%, 6.9%, 8.8%, 10.6%, 12.6%, 14.8%, 17.5%, 20.9%, 24.9%, 30%), lasting 3s. |
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Every 20s, makes all allies invincible for 3s and restores (3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 16, 20) pts of energy for them. |
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Every 20s, makes all allies invincible for 3s and restores (3.5%, 4.6%, 5.8%, 7.1%, 8.4%, 9.9%, 11.7%, 13.9%, 16.6%, 20%) of Max HP as HP. |
| Togi Node V - Crit Rate | |
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Every 15s, all allies are immune to stuns for 5s, and every skill cast deals (17%, 23%, 29%, 35%, 42%, 49%, 58%, 69%, 83%, 100%) ATK to lowest-HP% enemy, with a 20% chance of dealing (2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 15%) ATK as dmg per sec, lasting 4s ((8, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4)s CD for each effect). |
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Every 15s, all allies are immune to stuns for 5s, and each basic atk or skill cast from the highest-ATK enemy deals (12%, 16%, 20%, 24%, 29%, 34%, 40%, 48%, 58%, 70%) ATK as dmg to a random teammate, with a 20% chance of stunning for 2s ((8, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4)s CD for each effect). |
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Every 15s, all allies are immune to stuns for 5s. Each basic skill cast boosts dmg dealt (4%, 5%, 7%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 14%, 17%, 20%, 25%) for all allies, lasting 6s. Meanwhile, there is a (4%, 5%, 7%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 14%, 17%, 20%, 25%) chance of making all allies invincible, lasting 3s. (Invincibility CD: (20, 20, 19, 19, 18, 18, 17, 17, 16, 16)s; Dmg Boost CD: (20, 20, 19, 19, 18, 18, 17, 17, 16, 16)s). |