Everything he did in the Trade Wind Ring was to prepare for the impending war. Many people, including the Princess’s followers, had a lot to say about their compromise with the Crown Prince this time, but Brand admired it greatly.
The Princess and he seemed to have both seen the skies filled with impending storm clouds.
If one’s gaze is only focused on the civil war at hand, Erune will completely topple in the upcoming tempest. It’s a historical lesson, and Brand certainly wouldn’t repeat it.
"Hmm?" William seemed to perceive Brand’s thoughts and asked somewhat surprised, "Little guy, have you figured something out?"
Brand glanced at William. This was his second meeting with the silver-robed Great Mage Leader. In his past impressions, the Droloa Witch leader, the Silver Storm, was an NPC with an incredibly majestic image, but during the actual experience, Master William Pest left him with the impression of a very amiable elder.
Although they were previously strangers, the Great Mage Leader’s help to him was undeniably significant. Whether it was the battle with Andesa or the victory in the Ambeser war, it was thanks to the cloak from Buni that the other sent to assist.
Of course, Brand knew it involved William’s sentiments for past friends, and for Erune, yet he was always one to repay kindness, and was not accustomed to being indebted. In the future, the Bujia will also be drawn into that prolonged and arduous war, where the forces involved in the Stone Plate War are so numerous and complex that even the Silver People have their share of hardships; considering this, he lifted his head to offer a reminder:
"The Holy War is imminent, and the earth is destined to be shrouded in the clouds of chaos. At the same time, I suppose Bujia’s magicians should have already observed the approaching Great Magical Tide. Master William, the ebb and flow of the Magic Tide has influenced the history of the Vornede Continent for millennia, and this time will be no exception. The heralds of a chaotic era are always preceded by signs, I believe history has begun to sound the alarm to the world."
When Brand spoke of the mortal Holy War, William was indifferent. Mortals and the Silver People are worlds apart, except for the arrogant provocation during the Year of Revelation, the Holy Wars of the Four Great Sanctuaries and the Earth Temple never affected Bujia. But when he mentioned the Great Magical Tide, the Mage Leader’s brows finally began to furrow.
"Brand, do you think Vorn will reenact the history of the Saint War?" He turned back, seriously asking. The address for Brand had upgraded from ’little guy’ to his proper name, indicating that at this moment, the Mage Leader at least viewed Brand as someone worthy of equal discussion in some respects.
The reason was quite simple; recently, Bujia’s astrologers had only begun to realize the extraordinary nature of the upcoming Magic Tide. And just as Brand mentioned, the rise and fall of the Magic Tide have influenced the historical shifts of the continent for thousands of years, any sudden monster invasion could completely alter the course of Vorn’s history.
Even William had to consider this carefully.
"Not necessarily a repetition of history, but perhaps a new danger," Brand thought for a moment, describing it in a somewhat euphemistic manner.
"Haha," William suddenly laughed, "You certainly speak like the Droloa witch," he suddenly noticed the Romantic beside Brand, was initially surprised, then seemed to realize something, "Little guy, have you been studying astrology recently?"
Which was nowhere near it, William’s joke made Brand feel amused and exasperated. The old wizard probably thought Brand was joking, but sometimes when you ambiguously describe future events, it does sound like those witches’ cryptic prophecies, yet if you speak plainly, you’ll probably be regarded as a godman.
"The Dark Dragon has long perished, but the chaos on the border of civilization might be a problem." William finally continued.
Brand’s heart was moved upon hearing this. So this is what the Bujia magicians were concerned about; the Silver Candle Society’s aerial fortress built above the Sea of Eternal Darkness was meant to monitor the southern border of Erune for this reason.
But unfortunately, they’ve got the wrong focus.
Brand reflected on the history after twice the Black Rose War—1st 385 Silver Year, the Poem of the Blue foretells three days and three nights before the Eternal Night descends, the Law of Tiamat was completely altered during the Magic Tide, the War Tablet surfaced above water, the Wolf Calamity prevailed across the Earth, and the era of war fully arrived.