Strongest Warlock - Wizard World Irregular
Chapter 758: A Very Precious Treasure

"Young people these days sure know how to have fun," Agnes commented as she looked at the young man, who was casually sipping the coffee she brewed for him.

The old lady then gave Nicole a sidelong glance before shaking her head to the side.

"You're slow, so the early worm was eaten," Agnes said to Chloe. "Next time, you should eat the worm first and not let other birds eat it. Do you understand?"

Chloe's face immediately turned red after hearing her grandmother's meaningful words.

Nicole, who was also drinking coffee beside Ethan, smiled faintly. She looked like she had won something instead of someone who had lost her Legacy a few hours ago.

"The rain has finally stopped falling," Agnes commented as she looked outside of the window. "It seems that the sun will be coming out anytime today."

After hearing the Old Lady's words, Ethan glanced at Nicole and presented his palm to her.

The Witch looked at it for a few seconds before understanding what Ethan wanted from her.

Although reluctant, she placed two identical rings on the palm of his hand.

These rings were the wedding rings that belonged to Ethan and Lilian, which contained strong magic power.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Chloe asked Nicole, who had returned the rings that she had stolen from their owners.

"Maybe travel around for a while," Nicole replied. "I've been cooped up in this territory for a long time, and frankly, I want to see other places."

"Good riddance," Chloe muttered under her breath, but Ethan was still able to hear it due to his heightened senses.

Ethan couldn't help but smile after hearing their playful banter.

The two of them seemed more like friends instead of enemies who were at each other's throats just half a day ago.

"Well, then. I need to go," Ethan said as he pocketed the rings in his hand.

"You're going to the lake?" Nicole asked.

Ethan nodded. "Yes. I need to return Lilian's ring."

Nicole seemed to want to say something but decided that it wasn't worth it.

Chloe, on the other hand, spoke her mind.

"WIll you be staying here for a while longer?" Chloe asked. "We still have free rooms, you know?"

"Perhaps next time," Ethan replied. "Maybe I'll drop by here again one day."

"Make sure to send me a Raven if you are coming," Nicole said with a devilish smile on her face. "Since you took something precious from me, you need to take responsibility for it like a man."

Ethan didn't affirm or deny Nicole's words.

Truth be told, he had a nagging feeling that he would return to the world of the painting again one day.

This was also why he didn't want to burn bridges with the Witch of the East and chose to replace a compromise instead.

"Goodbye for now," Ethan said as he waved goodbye to Chloe, Nicole, Agnes, and Benjamin. "If Fate wills it, our paths will cross again."

After saying those words, Ethan left the tavern and headed straight to the Lake.

The travel was smoother this time, and it only took Ethan twenty minutes to reach his destination.

The rain clouds were slowly dispersing, and the light from the sun was shining through the gaps in the clouds.

One of those light beams shone over a young lady with long blonde hair, who was wearing a white dress, similar to that of a wedding dress.

The scene looks so picturesque that, for a moment, Ethan could only look at her as if embedding this scene in his memory.

Lilian smiled faintly and beckoned for him to hurry up to her side.

Ethan did as she wanted and walked in her direction.

"When you told me about your reckless plan, I thought you just wanted to have a good time with that Witch," Lilian said in a disapproving tone. "Fortunately, you were not only using your lower head to think. Your gamble paid off, and the Witch has lost the power that she was unable to control."

Ethan nodded before reaching out to hold Lilian's left hand.

He then slowly but gently slid the ring into her ring finger before raising her hand toward his lips, giving it a kiss.

Something stirred deep within the young lady's eyes, which disappeared just as quickly as it came.

"You're leaving, right?" Lilian asked.

"Yes," Ethan replied.

"Will you return?"

"… I think I will."

As if replaceing his answer satisfactory, Lilian smiled.

This smile was different from the sad smiles that he usually saw.

It was a genuinely happy smile that made Ethan feel as if his heart was melting inside his chest.

"Before you go, I want to say one last thing to you," Lilian said as she rested her hands on Ethan's shoulders and stood on tiptoe.

"You should treat her better," the Lady of the Lake said with a serious expression on her face. "You should treat your Lilian better."

"I will," Ethan replied.

"Promise?" the Lady of the Lake arched an eyebrow.

Ethan nodded. "Promise."

The Lady of the Lake then gave Ethan a kiss on the lips that only lasted for three seconds before she reluctantly pulled back.

"May the road rise to meet you, and may the wind be always at your back," the Lady of the Lake said. "May the sunshine always warm your face, the rain fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand."

The Lady of the Lake then gently gave Ethan a push toward the lake, making him fall over its surface.

"Goodbye, Ethan." The Lady of the Lake said with a smile. "See you soon."

———————

Ethan found himself lying on his back and looking at the familiar ceiling of the Forbidden Section of the Library.

He slowly propped himself up from the floor and looked at the painting in front of him, which had returned to its normal state.

A few words, which hadn't been there before, appeared at the bottom of the painting, which confirmed Ethan's suspicion.

Painting of Enlightenment.

While Ethan was remembering everything that happened inside, a familiar voice spoke from behind him.

"Well, look who's back." Lyle chuckled before circling Ethan, trying to see if something in him had changed. "You sure took your time inside the painting. It's been a week since you went in there, and things have been getting a tiny bit difficult in reality."

"A week?" Ethan blinked. "So a day inside the painting is a day in the outside world as well?"

"More or less," Lyle replied. "People have been looking for you, you know? Fortunately, I informed the current Headmaster that you're inside the painting. He quickly made up an excuse and told everyone that you were currently undergoing a special mission for the academy.

"Ah! Before I forget, don't go out yet. I need to inform Professor Rinehart that you have returned. That way, the story that the two of you will tell will match each other."

Without even waiting for Ethan's reply, Lyle had already flown toward the wall, leaving the teenage boy behind.

"I want to see them," Ethan said while looking at the wedding ring on his finger. "I just hope that they didn't worry too much about me."

Ethan would know, after he left the library, that his lovers were indeed very worried about him because he disappeared without telling them anything.

Although Professor Rinehart told them that he was on a special mission outside of the academy, the girls were feeling doubtful because Ethan wasn't someone who would leave them without bidding them goodbye.

Fortis Dud told him that he had left a treasure inside the painting, and he was right.

The treasure Ethan got wasn't a physical treasure.

It was something more precious, which would change his life in more ways than one.

—--------------------

A/N: Nicole fan service is over. No need to thank me. Now they can stay as best friends for life. Kekeke!