Arcane Lord

After the rehearsal.

Xia Duo declined the exchange invitations of several high-level mage pioneers, quickly returned to the temporary residence, set up protection and warning magic, and began to recall the memory of observing the clouds during the rehearsal.

In his consciousness, Xia Duo first used space as a clue to construct a cloud state diagram of Offa Square excluding the area where the central princess was.

Afterwards, he added the cloud states at the same location at different times to the previous illustrations according to chronological order.

Such a state chart is undoubtedly incomplete, but incompleteness also reflects certain trends. This is the most basic statistical common sense.

Knowing the changes in January, March, and May, we can naturally infer the general changes in February, April, and June.

Of course there may be special cases, but what Xia Duo wants is just to make a rough qualitative analysis and know what the situation is.

There is no requirement to find all the details of the special magic the princess cast.

This is unrealistic and unnecessary. Although Xia Duo is curious and not very young, curiosity has limits. Sometimes knowing too much is not necessarily a good thing.

…

Soon, Xia Duo completed the incomplete cloud state diagram according to the changing trend of the clouds during the rehearsal. Even the clouds of the princess in the middle of the square were roughly made up in his mind.

Carefully understanding the dynamically changing clouds and atmospheres in his consciousness, he gradually understood the essence of the commendation ceremony in terms of clouds and atmospheres.

This ceremony does not absorb a kind of pioneer's cloud gas, but adjusts the distribution of cloud gas according to certain rules. In the former, even if Xia Duo does not know the changes in cloud gas during the rehearsal, he can know it from his own changes in cloud gas afterwards.

Yes, after today's preview, his cloud energy suddenly increased. It not only made up for yesterday's decrease, but even increased.

Of course, the abruptness here is directly compared to yesterday. If we put it into the entire change process, that is, the rehearsal process, today's increase in cloud gas is actually very smooth.

Although Xia Duo did not clearly see his cloud gas increase bit by bit during the preview, it was reflected in the cloud gas change map that was integrated afterwards.

As for the adjustment rules of the pioneers' cloud energy during the commendation ceremony, Xia Duo can't tell clearly yet. After all, cloud energy cannot be quantified at all and can only be estimated based on feelings.

He only knew that he and the other nine pioneers who had turned positive in advance were the core of this ceremony, and all changes in the clouds flowed through these ten cores.

Of course, by observing the changes in the clouds, Xia Duo also knew that he was not actually the absolute protagonist of the ceremony. At least as far as the ceremony itself was concerned, he was not much different from the other nine pioneer lords.

As for the princess——

Xia Duo was very puzzled. The princess's cloud changes could not be seen on the cloud change map at all. This may be because he did not collect the princess's cloud data, or it may be because the princess's clouds were too huge.

but--

However, there was no obvious migration or transfer between the overall cloud energy of these pioneers and the princess. Xia Duo suspected that there was another ritual core.

And it is a core comparable to their ten pioneer lords combined.

This can be seen from the overall changes in the clouds of these pioneers. The total amount is increasing. If the source is not the princess, then what is it?

If the cloud energy is faith and luck, then the cloud energy may come from the pioneers' subjects, subordinates, etc. However, there was no change before, and now it is increasing out of thin air, which is somewhat unreasonable.

This even made Xia Duo shake his previous views on Yun Qi.

In short, there were many doubts, but one thing he was sure of was that the New Year celebration had really begun, and it was a special ceremony involving many people and things.

…

Soon, time came to the last day the pioneers were left alone in the demiplane, and the last rehearsal before the official celebration began.

This time the rehearsal was the same as yesterday, one person was missing from the beginning, but today, Xia Duo was not as confused as yesterday about why there was one missing person.

As for the disappearance of today's pioneer, he had a premonition when he analyzed the preview of cloud changes yesterday!

According to his speculation, the changes in the clouds were carried out according to certain rules in order to meet certain requirements of the real ceremony behind the commendation ceremony.

In order for the ceremony to proceed smoothly, there must be no interference items.

The pioneer who disappeared today was named "Elpav" and he behaved very normally in yesterday's preview. Shado still remembered that he had nodded his head and expressed approval for his behavior.

However, Elpav's behavior in the cloud gas change chart was abnormal. Others' cloud gas would increase, and it would increase a lot, but his increase would be small, and it might not even be able to make up for the lack of the day before yesterday.

Of course, Xia Duo did not observe the changes in the clouds during the preview the day before yesterday, so he did not know if there was anything unusual about Elpav.

But it is obvious that these three rehearsals in which the princess personally participated were not without reason, and must achieve a certain purpose. During this process, something abnormal happened, and the easiest way is to take it out.

After all, there are only a few days left until the official celebration.

In fact, the special ceremony involving many people and things behind the commendation ceremony has already begun, but it may not have reached the critical moment yet and adjustments can still be made.

Divog, who disappeared yesterday, may have been adjusted out for this reason.

As for the reason why Divag and Elpav are not compatible with the ritual, Shado has no way of knowing yet. At least based on what he knows so far, he can't see anything unusual about those two people.

Perhaps this is why Greta did not explain the reason for the lack of people yesterday and today.

Either it involves the secrets of the ritual, and Greta can't tell; or there really is nothing wrong with the two of them, but they just don't fit in with the ritual. Greta doesn't know how to explain it, so she doesn't say anything.

Which one is it, Xia Duo prefers the former.

…

In the last rehearsal, Xia Duo was still the same as yesterday, carefully observing the changes in the clouds in the square under the cover of a slightly exaggerated expression.

Of course, he also observed and wrote down the changes in the background fluctuations of the magic network, and could leave it to Niya for analysis later. After all, there are specialties in the art industry, so it would be nice to have another professional analysis.

The rehearsal went well and no accidents occurred, but this time Greta did not leave with the princess, but stayed and announced to everyone:

"The rehearsal is over here. We are just waiting for the official celebration in two days. Archmage Woweide will come to pick you up later. I want to warn you here -"

At this point, Greta's voice suddenly stopped and her face became gloomy. This was of course not for any deliberate emphasis, but because someone had already left.

However, Greta controlled her emotions well and continued: "Before the celebration officially begins, it is best for everyone not to leave the Old City!"

After saying that, he teleported away without giving anyone a reaction.

Later, Archmage Woweide came and sent everyone out of the demiplane.

Until he returned to Giles Tower, Shado was still thinking that there might be something going on between Greta and Sigler!