Chapter 44: Recollections of Four Years

Xu Xi met Klisa in the late autumn of the sixth year of the simulation.

Now it is the tenth year of the simulation.

In other words, nearly four years have passed since Xu Xi saved Klisa, took her away from the filthy, stinking alley, and gave her a "human" life.

Four years of time, four years of companionship—just how heavy is that weight?

Even Xu Xi, who experienced it firsthand,

could not give an accurate answer.

Thud—

Thud—

Pushing open the door of the Meditation Room, Xu Xi, who had successfully advanced, walked down the corridor. The slightly thick soles of his boots made heavy, muffled sounds that echoed continuously in the air.

The hum repeated, lingering persistently.

Suddenly,

Xu Xi stopped walking, slightly raised his head, and looked toward the azure sky and bright sun outside the corridor.

"The sunlight today is truly dazzling…"

The overly glaring sunlight had completely evaporated all the water vapor that usually lingered over Alenson City. The sun was so bright that Xu Xi instinctively squinted his eyes.

The halo triggered memories to resurface.

In his blurred vision, Xu Xi recalled many things—the bits and pieces since he arrived in the simulation world.

In the ten-year simulation, Xu Xi spent six years living alone, and the latter four years living with the witch.

It was strange.

Even though the former period was much longer than the latter,

he didn't remember many details from it.

What he remembered were all the daily moments spent with the witch.

For example, two years ago, Klisa worked hard practicing cooking and finally made a decent meal. Although the surface was a bit charred and the taste slightly bitter, Xu Xi still ate it all.

Or a year ago, when Klisa was practicing 3rd-level Water Magic, her talent with the water element was so strong that it caused a flood that washed over the Courtyard, leaving all the flowers and plants completely bare.

She herself was also drenched, dripping with water from head to toe.

Klisa immediately apologized to Xu Xi.

Xu Xi smiled, neither blaming nor scolding the girl. He simply took her to change into clean clothes and, for the first time in a while, used wind-fire composite magic to help dry the girl's wet hair.

One daily moment after another.

Just trivial little things in life.

Yet they were like faint miracles, sparkling in the ordinary years, bringing warmth and beauty.

"It's just a pity that we have to temporarily bid farewell to this kind of life."

Xu Xi's gaze remained fixed on the sky. The clear, cloudless sky was beautiful, like a beautiful painting evenly spread out, without any annoying moisture.

But precisely because of this, Xu Xi felt a strong sense of crisis rising within him.

This situation was not normal.

"To power the entire city's operations, the underground steam engines in the center of Alenson City are extremely massive. Their output and steam volume are far more turbulent than what we see today."

"But over the past month, the activity of the central steam engines has been decreasing."

"Moreover, steam airships have been frequently dispatched, transporting some people away from Alenson."

Something was wrong.

Absolutely something was wrong.

Xu Xi had gone to the Mages Association to gather information, but to his surprise and unease, the association's higher-ups, like those nobles, had also disappeared at some point.

Only the most basic staff remained, responsible for the normal operation of the Mages Association.

From this, Xu Xi concluded: [Something is about to happen in Alenson City]

Insufficient information made it impossible to determine what it was.

But staying away would not be wrong.

"I have already achieved a Breakthrough to Archmage. Even if we move to another city, there won't be any economic issues. We must evacuate as soon as possible."

Xu Xi pondered in his heart.

A magic shield appeared in front of him, blocking the overly glaring sunlight.

It was not Xu Xi's own magic.

"Thank you, Klisa. You used the magic shield very well," Xu Xi looked to his right. At some point, the 16-year-old witch had walked to his side.

Four years had passed, and the witch was no longer that thin, pitiful figure.

She had grown much taller.

Her features were delicate.

Her gray-silver hair cascaded past her neck and shoulders, like overlapping and merging water reflections. When the wind blew, it swayed gently like ripples on water.

She lacked the liveliness typical of girls her age.

Her expression was calm, devoid of joy or sorrow.

But this did not diminish her beauty and appeal.

She wore a light white dress, with a pale blue short coat adding a gradient effect. Without overly flashy attire, the girl's outfit was simple. Coupled with the Sea-blue Necklace Xu Xi had given her, she easily surpassed the so-called noble daughters of her peers.

Her natural beauty, polished through enduring malice, appeared even more enchanting and unique.

"You flatter me. This is what I should do."

Klisa stood beside Xu Xi, her hands crossed in front of her abdomen, appearing quite quiet.

Her voice was like her face—

devoid of any emotion.

Looking at such an obedient witch, Xu Xi felt regret in his heart. Over these four years, he had tried many times but still failed to restore the witch's emotions.

"Klisa, while I was away, was there any news from outside?"

Walking on the path to the living room, Xu Xi asked.

"As per your instructions, I paid attention to the usage of steam airships. The last three steam airships left this morning."

"This morning? Today?"

"Yes."

Listening to Klisa's calm reply,

Xu Xi's footsteps halted. The sense of crisis in his heart was stronger than ever.

"Something's off. They didn't leave a single one behind. Does this mean they've completely abandoned Alenson City?"

"It seems we have to leave too, Klisa."

"We leave today."

Xu Xi took a deep breath, closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.

He turned to look at the girl: "Klisa, go to the market now. Buy as much food and daily necessities as possible, pack them into the spatial ring, and bring them back."

"There's no need to hide your magic anymore. Go, use the Wind Riding Technique to fly there directly."

"Yes, as you wish."

Without asking why,

Klisa nodded lightly, then took out her Magic Wand 'grey rekindling'. With a wave of her arm, wind element enveloped her body as she soared into the sky.

As for Xu Xi, he quickly entered the study outside the Courtyard.

He pulled two magic books from the bookshelf.

The sense of crisis in his heart grew even stronger.

His intuition told him that relying solely on 4th and 5th-level magic would definitely not handle the unknown danger.

So, he would use this brief time while Klisa was shopping to learn the 6th and 7th-level magic that only an Archmage could use, adding strength for the upcoming evacuation.

[The atmosphere in Alenson City has turned strange. You keenly observe something]

[Observer trait activating… continuing to activate…]

[You have noticed the crisis hidden behind the events. The departure of all steam airships makes you realize that the crisis might descend upon Alenson City soon, perhaps even today]

[You send the witch to urgently purchase daily supplies]

[You begin learning magic to increase the feasibility of evacuation. Mortals Wisdom continues to activate…]

[You observe the workings of the world. Your understanding of magic efficiently improves. You have learned your first 7th-level magic. You have learned your second 7th-level magic]

[You begin creating new magic…]