Everything he did at the Trade Wind Ring was in preparation for the impending war. Many people, including the Princess’s followers, were quite critical of their compromise with the Crown Prince this time, but Brand appreciated it.
Like him, the Princess seemed to have already seen the ominous war clouds rolling at the edge of the sky.
If one’s sight is solely focused on the current civil war, Erune will be completely overturned in the upcoming storm. It’s a lesson of history, and Brand will certainly not repeat it.
"Oh?" William seemed to have discerned Brand’s thoughts and asked somewhat surprised, "Little one, have you come to know something?"
Brand glanced at William. This was his second meeting with the silver-robed Great Mage Leader. In his past impressions, the image of the leader of the Droloa Witch, the Silver Storm, was one of an NPC laden with immense authority, but in actual encounters, William Pest left him with the impression of a very kind elder.
Although they were strangers previously, the Great Mage Leader’s assistance to him was of considerable significance. The past engagement with Andesa and the victory in the Ambeser War were thanks to the cloak from Buni given by him.
Of course, Brand knew this was due to William’s affections for past friends and Erune, but he was always someone who reciprocated and was not accustomed to owing favors. In the future, the Bujia too will be embroiled in that prolonged war, where the forces entangled in the Stone Plate War are too numerous and too complicated; even the Silver People have moments of disadvantage. Realizing this, he raised his head to warn:
"As the Holy War approaches, the earth will indeed be engulfed by the clouds of turmoil. Meanwhile, the Mages of Bujia must have already observed the incoming Great Demon Tide. Master William, the rise and fall of the Magic Tide has influenced the historical ebb and flow of the Vornede Continent for thousands of years, and this time will be no exception. Before the arrival of chaotic times, there are precursors. I believe history has already sounded the alarm to the world."
When Brand mentioned the mortals’ Holy War, William was indifferent. Mortals and the Silver People are two worlds apart; apart from the bold provocation in the Year of Revelation, the Holy Wars between the Four Great Sanctuaries and the Earth Temple have never affected Bujia. However, when the former mentioned the Great Demon Tide, the Mage Leader’s eyebrows began to furrow.
"Brand, do you think Vaun will re-enact the history of the Saint War?" He turned his head and asked seriously. His form of address for Brand elevated from ’little one’ to his actual name, indicating that at this moment, the Mage Leader considered Brand an equal for discussion, at least in some degree.
The reason is simple; the incoming Magic Tide itself was something Bujia’s astrologers had only recently realized was unusual. And as Brand mentioned, the rise and fall of the Magic Tide has affected the historical changes of the continent for thousands of years; any sudden monster attack could completely alter Vornede’s historical course.
Even William had to consider this carefully.
"It may not be historical re-enactment, but potentially new dangers," Brand pondered for a moment and described somewhat tactfully.
"Ha ha," William suddenly laughed heartily, "Your words are really like those of Bunosson’s witch," He suddenly saw Roman beside Brand, initially startled, then somewhat realized, "Little one, have you been studying astrology recently?"
What a jest, William’s joke made Brand half amused, half exasperated. The old wizard probably thought Brand was joking, but sometimes expressing the future ambiguously can sound like those predictive mutterings of witches; yet if stated plainly, it might be deemed rambling of a Godman.
"The Dark Dragon has long been dead, but the chaos on the civilized border might be a problem." William then continued.
Brand felt stirred upon hearing this. So this is what the Bujia’s mages are concerned about, the airborne fortresses constructed by the Silver Candle Society over the Sea of Eternal Darkness to monitor the southern borders of Erune were for this very reason.
But unfortunately, they’ve chosen the wrong direction.
Brand noted the history following the two Black Rose Wars, 1st.385 Silver Year, the Poem of the Blue mentioned three days and three nights followed by Eternal Night setting in, the complete alteration of Tiamat Law amidst the Magic Tide, the War Tablet surfacing, Wolf Calamity ravaging the earth, and the era of war fully arriving.