Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 814 - 755: Lyle’s Big Defeat

"Ladies of Naslan send their regards," Frost Wanderer Ivan released the reins of his Ghost Horse, doffed his hat and, seated on his own carriage frame, engaged Lyle in conversation. Fluffy snowflakes fell from the top of the carriage, gathering small Phantoms in twos and threes, who came closer, sat at the clearing beside the carriage, and outstretched their small hands to catch the glistening snowflakes. Nia did not join them; she had played many times before and was now leaning on Lyle’s back showing an expression of grown-up pride and disdain.

Lyle felt somewhat sorry, and with an awkward laugh, said: "Once things are settled here, I’ll return promptly. I truly apologize for making you take the trip."

The aloof Ivan smiled politely, "This is my job, and I’m happy to run errands for Naslan. Besides, I have other messages to convey to you." A ghostly palm caressed the neck of the horse, eliciting a contented snort of icy mist from the caressed Ghost Horse.

"I came to Posuwa also to help War Seeker Vaul calm his spirits. The curse on this land must be periodically suppressed. Vaul has noticed many Posuwa refugees roaming around lately, like panicked rabbits sometimes trespassing onto his territory. Vaul is asking for your advice on how to deal with them."

"Refugees from Posuwa?"

"Yes, survivors of a fallen nation, chased by warfare, forced to wander their homeland for the sake of survival."

"Who is pursuing them?"

"Their former compatriots."

Recalling the fierce battles he witnessed upon arrival in Posuwa, Lyle thought of how the country had perished, with warfare thriving on its corpse like a newborn life.

"But why seek my opinion?" Lyle was puzzled.

Ivan slightly bowed his head, so subtly that Lyle scarcely noticed.

"Although we have some ability to judge for ourselves, we have the habit of following our master’s commands."

Before, Posuwa had only Vaul who could make unilateral decisions, but now that Lyle was also in Posuwa, the subordinates of Naslan who often communicated with Ivan had become aware of the identity of this Necromancer.

Lyle was unsure; he was a researcher, not an administrator.

"I am curious about what Vaul would do with his autonomy if I were not here."

Frost Wanderer Ivan’s response brought a cold breeze to Lyle’s ear.

"Vaul will eliminate the intruders. Though it may harm the positive image of the Naslan Clan, my colleague is not a person of calm and kind nature."

"Even if they have no ill intent?" Lyle found this difficult to accept.

"Vaul’s power is to devour souls; he grows stronger by taking the souls of others."

"This is wrong." What is this, disregard for life?

The polite Ivan showed Lyle another side of Naslan, the evil and malicious nature expected of a Resentful Spirit.

"Our desire is to strengthen Naslan, our clan. Mr. Lyle, being unscrupulous and strengthening the clan in one’s own way is... loyalty."

Lyle’s silence drew Nia’s attention; she used her tentacles to touch Lyle’s face, creating dimples on his soft cheeks.

"There must be a better way," Lyle’s sense of justice showed its final defiance.

Ivan smiled, a sincere smile tinged with the melancholic frostiness unique to snow.

"I believe there will be one, but it will be Mr. Lyle’s way. We are not as talented or as powerful as our master, we can only contribute to the clan in our own way."

Lyle looked at the coachman and could only express with a sigh, "You really love Naslan a lot, Ivan."

"Of course I do. When the old master passed away, the accident made the lady bear the resentment of us all. We witnessed her early days of madness and knew then that even Resentful Spirits can feel pain. If they can feel pain, naturally, they can love."

The impressive presence of the coachman lifted Lyle’s spirits. He regained his optimistic and positive attitude, much like the warm feeling he got the first time his spirit merged with the Phantom Clan.

"Believe me, Ivan, let Vaul spare those refugees. In exchange, I will use my power to make Naslan even stronger." Lyle felt confident in his own worth, considering the evident results of granting physical bodies to Alianna and Helena.

Ivan accepted the deal and left in the frost, reluctantly parting under the gaze of the Phantoms. Lyle, seeing the little friends surrounding him with some loss, comforted them by stroking their heads.

"Such a big reaction, as if you’ve never seen snowflakes before. Doesn’t the Stream Princess bring down blocks of ice from the mountaintop every day? You could also ask the Great Phantom to simulate snowfall."

The small Phantom, in the form of a child entwined with flowers and leaves in their hair, shook their head.

"No, the adults all have their work, and those small animals and flowers in need are more important than us. We can’t bother the adults."

Lyle raised an eyebrow and crouched down to look eye to eye with the earnest little one and made a playful joke, "So it’s okay to bother me then?"

After hearing this, the small Phantoms became flustered, tears swirling in their eyes, "Eh, did we disturb your conversation? Sorry, Lyle, we just wanted to be closer. Was that cold uncle driven away by us?"

Lyle felt a sense of guilt and took some effort to mollify the Phantoms. By the time he returned the little Phantoms to the care of the Snake, the living horticulture’s tone was tender and embarrassed.

"I’m very sorry they bothered you and your friend, Lyle."

"Not at all! The little Phantoms are very well behaved! Ivan wasn’t annoyed by them; we had finished talking, so he left! They are very cute! Ivan likes children who love snow too!" Lyle said all this in one breath, as if facing the priest on the other side of the confessional, feeling relieved of guilt yet as if he had taken on something else.

Snake finally gave Lyle a heavy bouquet of flowers, the weight of which may or may not have been a figment of Lyle’s imagination. He went to sit by Mumu’s roots, leaning against the trunk, chewing on an apple, listening to the Applewood’s comfort.

"There’s no need to worry about it, Lyle. Snake has taken care of the children for too long and has become overly sentimental, and this worry... makes both parties uncomfortable."

Lyle looked up to notice the shade reserved for him, and the sweet fruit suddenly lost its flavor.

"How does Mumu know about this, when you’re always with Wall Monster guarding the entrance to paradise?"

Applewood twisted its branches, carefully smoothing out the moss and lichen on top of the nearby wall.

"Have you forgotten, Lyle? We Phantoms are closely connected, sharing a mind-link network. Whatever happens in the Central Courtyard, everyone knows."

Lyle covered his face, curling up against the trunk like a caterpillar.

"Now everyone knows I teased the little Phantoms, really, I wish I could die."

Mumu consoled him, "Don’t say that, your joke makes sense. Those little ones are a bit spoiled and erratic in their temperaments."

"Stop it, stop it..." I’m really sorry.

"Lyle, come join the Phantom network, listen to their hearts, no one blames you. Cheer up!"

"No, let me take a moment."

Lyle understood that Phantoms take every word you say seriously, so you can’t make jokes with them.