Only God

Even under the heavy surveillance of Aler and others, Prince Mura, or rather King Mura, as a puppet, still managed to secure a chance to visit Belvan.

In the narrow study, the air was stiflingly hot, and King Mura looked every inch a king. It seemed that, even though he was treated as a puppet, Aler and the others did not dare to skimp on his royal attire.

Upon finally seeing his long-lost teacher, King Mura immediately shed two lines of tears. Overwhelmed with emotion, he lost his strength, knelt down, and clung to his teacher's legs, sobbing like a child.

Compared to the intensely emotional King Mura, Belvan looked extremely calm. Only when Mura entered the study did his eyes flicker with excitement before quickly settling down. He slowly helped the drained Mura to his feet and led him to sit on a long bench.

"Teacher, oh, teacher, they killed my father, I will not forget, I will not forget..."

King Mura repeated "I will not forget" several times; that bloody banquet was still etched in his heart,

"However, I now have no choice but to obey them, to publicly proclaim my father was a tyrant, and to always display an appearance of hatred."

Belvan stopped his disciple's pained words, his eyes trembling continuously, as if he deeply empathized:

"Play your role well, Mura, for now, you are powerless."

King Mura nodded hastily and continued:

"Hiris, the praised Hiris,

Had It not appeared to extinguish the great fire, Aler would not have let me ascend to the throne so soon.

I once heard they wanted to harm me, but the emergence of Hiris deterred these petty schemers, making them too fearful to outright seek power and usurp the throne, afraid of Hiris's retribution.

This is advantageous for me. For now, they guard me tightly, treating me as a puppet, but once they gradually let down their guard, sooner or later, I will take control of the power.

Teacher, I heard they stopped your research; this is them settling scores with anyone associated with my father, and soon, they will judge you."

Upon hearing the word "judge," Belvan's pupils shrank slightly.

Having been in contact with Aler and others for a long time, even as a puppet, King Mura had learned plenty of credible insider information.

Seeing his teacher's reaction, King Mura quickly said:

"Don't be afraid, teacher, you have always stayed away from politics; they will not sentence you to a severe punishment—it will be nothing more than expulsion from the Royal City, and you're unlikely to be in any danger.

Teacher, once I hold power, I will bring you back, and then I will fully support your continued research; teacher, you must hold on until then."

Facing his disciple's extremely sincere words, Belvan's eyes did not ignite with hope; instead, they became even more desolate than before.

King Mura noticed something unusual about his teacher, immediately wiped away his tears, and shook his teacher's shoulders:

"Teacher, teacher, what's wrong, don't you believe me? I swear by Hiris..."

Before King Mura could finish, Belvan spoke:

"No need to swear.

Mura, I have no doubt you will regain power."

Saying this, Belvan paused for a moment, then whispered as if saying goodbye, with a smile:

"It's time for it to end."

King Mura was taken aback, unable to come to terms with what was happening. Was this still the spirited teacher he knew? He shakily lifted his eyes and saw that Belvan suddenly seemed much older.

Mura didn't know how to describe the Belvan before him.

He... was like... an old man who'd seen the vicissitudes of life and was now frail and aging.

Life, knowledge, and emotions had lost their meaning in his eyes; the only thing he longed for and awaited was a peaceful afterlife.

"What's happened to you?"

Mura asked, gazing at him blankly.

"I... I'm fine, I just think that's enough," Belvan paused, then as if bidding farewell, smiled and said:

"It's time to end."

King Mura grasped Belvan's shoulders, urgently asking:

"Teacher, what are you planning to do?"

Belvan did not answer him directly.

The Alchemist rose from the bench, calmly, without any rush, took a book from the bookshelf and placed it in Mura's hands. It was a collection of poems, and Belvan slowly turned to a bookmarked page.

King Mura looked down and his hands shook even more.

Written on the page was a line:

"Death is a beauty, how can I not pursue her?"

His apprentice, trembling all over, raised his head and saw the weak sunlight of the setting sun casting its rays on Belvan, with floating dust all around, standing there was a ragged soul.

"The past Sages said: at life's end, one must drink bitter wine."

The scholar turned his head away, with the sunlight leaving its trail on his withered collarbone. He opened his mouth as if he had a lot to say, but what came out was a voice like the flaking off of rust,

"We are too tragic."

This was the pain of a Pioneer.

I search for a way out, but see none.

I wish to transcend, yet I'm bound on all sides.

King Mura shuddered, understanding his teacher's choice. The newly crowned king fell to his knees, desperately clutching his teacher's legs, trying to hold him back, his cries resonating with persistent sorrow.

But Belvan gently pushed away the king's hands. The Alchemist slowly walked to the window, turned his back on his student, his figure suffused with the afterglow of sunset, as he gazed alongside at the city rising from the ashes. Amidst the sprawl of broken walls and rubble, buildings that had survived the great fire formed a patchwork; the streets teemed with people like ants, while the long river stretched into the orange mist. As he watched the city, Belvan knew that one day, it would be returned to Mura, reborn, grander than before the fire.

The Mechanical Book, God's Path, and all sorts of technology would be the cornerstone of this city.

Looking out over the city, Belvan pondered for a long time, finally speaking,

"You will witness a great era, an era of transformation; you will see the countless curses and stigma on me lifted, as well as the enduring praise and admiration when the truth is revealed."

His disciple responded anxiously:

"No, no, don't do this."

The scholar merely smiled.

"When the trajectories of stars meet dramatic changes, a new era arrives in full."

Belvan still had his back to him,

"You will witness all of this,

But I,

Will know nothing,

My path ends here."