"How did you recognize it?"
The young man smiled slightly, this sentence undoubtedly admitted that he was Orlok, the old magician who was supposed to be dead.
"I heard that the so-called butterfly magic is a mysterious magic that is discovered from the process of a caterpillar dissolving its body through the pupa form and turning into a butterfly. The larva dies and is reborn as a butterfly. If so, it is not difficult to understand that it can be applied to such resurrection."
"As expected of someone who can fake his death in front of me, but the term 'real' is not quite right."
Although the timbre and tone of his voice were completely different, his tone was no different from that of Orlok before.
"This body is a man-made human made of my blood and genetic genes. In fact, it was transplanted step by step with the magic seal, and the personality was moved here in the end. However, it happened suddenly, and there was a lot of loss in the process of transfer. And because of the influence of the magic seal just now, half of the functions of those who have been preserved have stopped. Judging by the standards of butterfly magic, I should be the remnant of a failed transformation."
The great loss of personality and the cessation of half of the functions of the magic imprint were undoubtedly a disaster for the magician, but for some reason, there was no frustration or regret on Orlok's face. Instead, he revealed obvious relief and relief.
"Lord Orlok, you..." Hua Ye Hishiri hesitated to speak.
"There's nothing to hide. I think you can see that I'm dying. Everyone knows that caterpillars will transform into butterflies after breaking out of their cocoons, but how many people have thought about the fate of caterpillars that fail to transform? The same is true for butterfly magic. I, who failed to transform, will eventually face this ending, just like that child, but I didn't expect to die in your hands. This is karma."
The old man in the body of a teenager reached out and touched the monster's face. From the remaining outline, it must be a beauty.
"She...she is?"
"She is Grivyn's wife and Guranid's mother."
"And your lover too. You killed Grivin because of her? No, more than that. You are Guranid's real father!"
Kanono Hishiri was skeptical at first, but soon nodded in confirmation. Guranid was still alive, but Orlok had no intention of seeking revenge on the enemy who killed him. The answer was obvious.
"Can you please give the old man some face, young man?"
During the conversation, the boy's body gradually became older. It was his dying soul that was affecting his flesh, gradually making him approach his proper posture.
"Ha ha."
He sneered, not knowing whether he was laughing at himself, at the dead Grivyn, or both.
"Yes. Although there is a big age difference, she was indeed my lover. More than ten years later, I met her again through Griffin's introduction... Ah, I lived in vain for so many years before that relationship. Whenever I see her snow-white skin, I can't help but have fantasies."
The increasingly elderly man reminisces about the past.
"Now that I think about it, Griffin probably knew about this, too. He had a premonition that his wife would come to lament about not having a child, and that the old man would take advantage of the situation. Under these circumstances, he arranged the meeting, and in the end, only the child didn't know about it."
"Then, Guranid Ashburne..."
"The mistake only happened once."
The old man said.
"Later, my wife got a terminal illness and died not long after giving birth to our son. It was a disease based on the cause and effect of life. Modern medicine seems to call it genes or something. Even the secret medicine obtained from the druids had no effect. From that time on, Grivin went crazy. Not long after, that guy said he wanted to show me something good. Hahahaha, what did he show me? No need to tell me, right?"
A man who turned into a wild beast.
I was told that my wife died shortly after giving birth.
"That guy said happily - how about that, she finally overcame the terminal illness. A woman who can't have normal children, but has the talent to be a familiar. I plan to use her body as a storehouse for magic seals. It is also because of your butterfly magic that I can let her store various magic seals like this. Please give your blessing."
"... "
Kanono Hishiri remained silent, listening quietly to the old magician's confession.
"... Now that I think about it, that guy might be sincere. His love for his wife and his son might all be genuine. Turning his wife into a monster out of love might be a natural thought for a magus. I also think that he is right as a magus. Even if I think so, I still can't stand it."
A magician should sacrifice for magic.
No matter what the cost, as long as it takes you one step closer to the mystery of magic, then it is the right path.
This was the first lesson for everyone, but Orlok, who was one of the people closest to the secret, forgot everything in that instant. He didn't remember clearly how he escaped from the Stripped City after killing his former friend Grevyn Ashburn.
"In fact, you are more suitable to join us."
When Hua Ye Hishiri said this, the old man was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. This laughter made people feel that it was the most innocent laughter since the beginning of this incident.
"Most magicians, including me, regard you as heretics and bigots. Perhaps we are the ones who are bigoted. Ms. Kanono Hisiri, can I ask you for one last favor?"
"Please go ahead."
"I'll leave my child in your care. Even though only remnants are left, at least he will suffer less."
The old man turned around and bowed tremblingly to Hanano Hishiri. Although he was almost as rotten as a skeleton, he still completed the etiquette.
The woman in kimono accepted the old man's greeting because she knew that the old man would not feel at ease if she didn't accept it.
"I can only try my best. After all, your and Grivin's research violates taboos that would scare most magicians."
"That's good, that's good. If there are any problems, let's go to the afterlife to solve them."
At this time, the old magician could no longer stand up. He just lay on the ground, moving slowly and with difficulty, as if it was a long journey. Although there was pain on his shriveled face, there was more of a smile, a pure smile like a child's.
He finally touched the dead Ashburne's monster.
"My love."
The old man hugged tightly his former lover who had turned into a wild beast.
"Perfom a dance."
Swarms of golden butterflies are dancing in the world. That is the most essential secret of "butterfly magic", a secret method that can restore a transformed woman to her original appearance even if only for a moment.
Amid the fluttering butterflies, the wolf-spider-like synthetic beast regained the form of a beautiful woman. Although the right half of its body was damaged and could not be restored, the two people embracing each other were as beautiful as if they had been blessed by the moonlight.
Kanono Hishiri, who was watching this scene silently, took off his glasses, walked lightly, and waved his sleeves. The shrewdness and calculation in his snake-like eyes faded, and were replaced by solemnity and dignity.
She was dancing, the ancient dance of calming the soul.
"Magicians dance with deception and mystery. May there be no expiration date in the afterlife. May you be together in the afterlife and find eternal peace."