Using the drawing as a basis, Purple Mage utilized her illusion magic to create a nearly two meter tall 'Avatar.'
The Avatar that has been born for less than a minute began to examine his surroundings. The curious look on his face made it seem like he was truly a creature living in this world.
When he walked toward Joshua and extended his open palm toward Joshua who was also doing the same thing, Joshua's hand passed through his hand. Only then was Joshua reminded that the Avatar was merely an illusion.
"If I didn't experience it physically, I truly cannot believe this to be an illusion."
Joshua passed through the Avatar and walked toward Purple Mage. She was emitting a large quantity of light purple colored runes from her hand. Her expression was also extremely focused.
"In Farucci's stage play performances, they would occasionally utilize illusion magic too.."
Purple Mage gently grasped her hand and the rune inscriptions disappeared. The Avatar behind Joshua also disappeared. The next moment, she opened her hand and a large quantity of rune inscriptions began to overflow from her hand.
The art exhibition hall began to transform with Purple Mage as the center. The walls disappeared in a flash and transformed into a theater hall that Joshua had never seen before. Originium crystals inscribed with illumination magic were shining light upon two performers on stage.
Facing the stage, the gallery was completely packed.
Joshua was not standing where the audiences were. Instead, he was standing behind the stage. At this place, he saw a girl roughly fifteen or sixteen years old holding a staff backstage.
"Back in my youth, I've done this sort of thing," Purple Mage was looking at the girl. Her voice sounded slightly self-mocking, "As someone who only knows illusion magic, this is the only sort of job I'm capable of finding. I was tasked with creating scattering flowers or flickering starlights for those famous performers."
This scene was a memory of the Purple Mage. It was likely a memory from many years ago. The two performers dancing gracefully on the stage have likely been added to textbooks of Farucci's Art Institute now.
The performance soon ended. The performance was perfect. Joshua could see the young Purple Mage clapping her hands. But, when those two performers walked down the stage, they did not even bother to take a glance at her. Afterwards, he witnessed the exceptionally vile treatment she received from the theater's stage manager.
"Many years ago, extremely few mages would bother to learn illusion magic. Illusion magic is known as a third-rate magic… Equally, the mages that believed in the God of Mind of Illusion held no status in society."
With a very undisturbed tone, Purple Mage spoke of her not-at-all-luster past.
"Even now, there hasn't much change. Thus, forgive me Joshua Annerlaude, I do not wish to have the grace given to me by the God of Mind and Illusion become ornaments to please others on the stage," said Purple Mage.
"Ornaments? To please others?"
Joshua quietly listened to Purple Mage's speech. Then, he started walking around the illusion 'theater' created by Purple Mage. Then, he arrived next to the crying girl.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself with my other identity. I am a movie director and not a stage manager. Sage Mellors, to me, the illusion magic you've used earlier is akin to a miracle. How could I possibly allow it to become a mere ornament?" With a smile on his face, Joshua looked to Purple Mage.
"I've seen the movie 'Hachiko: A Dog's Tale' after being recommended by Gray Mage. I admit that it is indeed a touching story. But, is there any difference between a movie and a stage play?"
Purple Mage was also someone who locked herself in her Sage Tower all day. On top of that, she was someone who felt a sense of rejection toward theaters and theatrical troupes. As such, she had never bothered to pay close attention to the recent transformation that happened to Norland's theaters.
She only bothered to watch 'Hachiko: A Dog's Tale' once in the Weissenasche Theater after being strongly recommended by Gray Mage.
"Of course there's a difference."
Joshua passed by the illusion of the young Purple Mage and walked toward the stage. Purple Mage pulled the stage closer as if to cooperate with him. Just like that, Joshua was standing in the center of the stage.
The grand performance that occurred in Farucci a hundred years ago was fixed in this place. All the performers had already left the stage. Joshua was the only person standing on the stage.
"The performance stage for stage plays is limited to the two ends of the stage," said Joshua, "No matter how many performers are changed, no matter how realistic the created illusions might be, the audiences are still seeding performers standing on top of wooden floors. They are performing on a narrow stage. As for movies…"
Following his memory, Joshua walked toward the entrance of the art exhibition hall. He opened the door and saw the attendants outside. Through the hallway's windows, he could see the streets of Norland.
"Its stage is the entire world," Joshua pushed open a window. Coincidentally, a flock of unknown birds flew past the sky outside. The endless sky extended till the end of the horizon.
Unfortunately, standing where he was, Joshua cannot possibly see the horizon.
"Although I've not yet analyzed the principles behind movies, I am able to guess the production method. If you only wish to have this fictional 'Avatar' creature appear in your next movie, I can recommend you an excellent mage."
Purple Mage was still not interested. Compared to following Joshua around creating an imaginary creature for the sake of a movie, she was more interested in spending the time providing guidance for Ciri.
"Avatar creature? Sage Mellors, I think you're completely mistaken. Avatar is not the name of the creature you've created. It is merely the term for an incarnation. Didn't I say it earlier, he belongs to a race called Na'vi," said Joshua.
"Race called Na'vi?"
When Purple Mage heard those words, she was slightly startled. She connected the words Joshua said earlier and was able to vaguely guess what the demon before her wanted to do.
"That's right, it's a race of humanoid living in a world called 'Pandora.'" Joshua returned to the art exhibition hall. The illusion had already disappeared from the hall. Joshua took out a thick pile of papers from Ciri's bag.
"This is a world imagined by myself and your disciple Ciri. Before seeing it, please agree to keep it confidential."
"With Lursk as my witness, I guarantee that I will not leak any secret."
Purple Mage doesn't understand why Joshua would act this careful. But, keeping things confidential was not something difficult for her to do.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
Joshua handed the pile of papers to Purple Mage. After the Sage received the movie designs made by Joshua and Ciri, she started skimming through them.
The first thing she saw was a world covered by trees. There were two exaggeratedly large moons in the sky. The moons reminded her that the forest in the drawings does not belong to the world she was familiar with.
Then, she saw a bunch of drawings of various different creatures and vegetations she had never seen before. Some introductions were attached to those creatures and vegetations.
For example, they included their method of reproduction, their behaviors, their habitats etc.
Only after those was she finally able to meet the indigenous peoples of this world, a humanoid creature by the name of 'Na'vi.'
They possess their own wisdom, tradition, customs and various other aspects enjoyed by human civilization.
The later drawings detailedly described how this race of humanoid lived in this world called Pandora.
Gradually, the world by the name of Pandora began to construct itself in Purple Mage's mind. It was becoming more and more realistic.
As she continued onward, she saw a whole bunch of strange arcanotech puppets. On those arcanotechs were weapons created by humanity two hundred years into the future.
"These are all…" In the end, Purple Mage raised her head to look at the demon standing before her.
"A concept or perhaps a blueprint of another world. Whenever I film a new movie, I will have to create a new fictional world. 'Beauty and the Demon' and 'Hachiko: A Dog's Tale' were movies based on the actual world. But, I've already made multiple movies based on the actual world…" Joshua extended his hand toward Purple Mage, "So… why don't we create a movie based on a whole new world?"
"The power to create a new world is something possessed only by the gods," Purple Mage mumbled as she continued looking at the 'blueprint' in her hand, "But, I still want to give it a try."