Back at the house, Carter greeted him, her voice weak.
"Master, would you like breakfast?"
"No… bring it to the study." Lynn had meant to refuse, but quickly changed his mind.
Whatever was happening outside, he needed to keep his own routine steady. Only then could he face whatever crises might come.
Carter nodded, but could not hold back a fit of coughing.
"Have you taken your medicine, Carter?" Lynn asked.
Carter gave a small nod.
"Doesn't it work?"
Another nod, then a shake of the head.
"It helps, but master… I fear this isn't a chill. I'm just getting old. Age always catches up eventually. I may…"
"Carter." Lynn's firm voice cut her short.
Carter blinked, then gave a faint smile and shook her head.
"My apologies, master. I'll prepare your breakfast."
"Mm." Lynn nodded and went into the study.
He sat down and meditated briefly, turning his vision inward.
Tiny motes of golden light gathered.
The translucent screen appeared before him.
Five days had passed since the incident, and thanks to the unexpected supply of secondary mixed source energy, his progress had been immense.
He had refined every spell under his command to the level of mastery, able to cast them instantly.
Not only that, but he had also pushed Hossens Apprentice Meditation (Rank Three) and White Crow Swordsmanship, Level Two, to the level of mastery.
And still he had 12 units of secondary mixed source energy remaining.
It wasn't that he had deliberately saved them.
In truth, he had spent most of the past five days immersed in study.
The reason he still had reserves left was simply that the efficiency of insight when using secondary mixed source energy was far lower than with true mixed source energy.
Previously, his longest session of insight had taken only minutes.
But with the secondary kind, every 10 points consumed often demanded nearly a full day, and the result was only roughly equivalent to one or two normal sessions.
Even so, Lynn was not concerned.
After all, slow or not, it was still far faster than waiting for his natural energy to recover.
Knock, knock, knock
The door to the study was rapped upon.
"Come in," Lynn said, withdrawing his gaze from the glowing screen.
Lynn guessed it was probably Carter bringing his breakfast.
After eating, he planned to resume his Insight training.
The only thing he hadn't decided yet was what exactly to focus on this time.
"Good morning, Lord Lynn," a clear voice suddenly rang out.
"Here is your breakfast."
Lynn looked up, a little surprised.
"Mrs. Carter wasn't feeling well, so she asked me to bring it to you instead. I hope you don't mind," Adeline explained.
Lynn gave a small shake of his head and accepted the tray. "Thank you, Adeline."
Adeline smiled. Ever since learning of Somlai's death, her mood had noticeably improved.
After a moment's hesitation, she added,
"Lord Lynn, since Somlai is gone… I've been thinking of moving out in the next couple of days. What do you think?"
Lynn nodded. "It's your decision."
Though she had expected Lynn wouldn't stop her, Adeline still felt relieved and smiled faintly.
As an ordinary human, though she carried a trace of bloodline power that gave her some minor extraordinary abilities, she was still prone to worry.
Like when she had stayed with her uncle's family, often it was easy enough to move in, but not nearly as simple to move out.
But Lynn was different. In her time living here, she had been happy.
That thought stirred a pang of regret in her heart.
Sometimes moving out was easy… but moving back in again? That was much harder to justify.
"Is there anything else?" Lynn asked.
"…No." Adeline shook her head and left the study without disturbing him further.
...
Meanwhile, in the study, Lynn ate his breakfast while carefully weighing how best to use the rest of his secondary mixed source energy.
All the spells I've mastered are already at the level of instant-casting in battle.
Pushing them further might slightly boost their power and precision, but it would be like raising a score from ninety to a hundred, expensive for little gain. Most wizard apprentices never take their non-specialized spells beyond this level anyway.
So spells are off the list.
As for magical arrays, my current skill is sufficient… That leaves me choosing between meditation techniques and the White Crow Sword Art.
After some thought, Lynn decided to pursue Insight into the meditation method.
The White Crow Sword Art had already been completed and refined to proficiency more than enough for now.
What he truly needed to make up for was his lack of magical energy.
After all, the life-saving Golden Mist Form was a voracious mana-drainer, not to mention the other spells he needed to maintain.
Decision made, Lynn wasted no time. He went to the meditation chamber and began an Insight session into the Hossens Apprentice Meditation Method · Rank Three.
By the time it ended, the sky outside had already dimmed into evening.
Checking his progress, Lynn saw that his mastery of the Hossens Meditation Method · Tier Three had advanced to Great Achievement.
He tried meditating briefly and instantly felt a significant surge in efficiency.
With a Great Achievement meditation technique supporting me, I shouldn't be far from advancing to Second-Rank Apprentice!
After leaving the meditation chamber and finishing dinner, Lynn returned to his study to read.
That was when someone triggered the protective ward at his door.
A gray-robed man revealed himself with an awkward expression, muttering,
"It hasn't even been that long, and already your ward feels stronger again."
The newcomer was none other than Daniels, the First-Tier member who had once delivered the Golden Shadow pendant to him on Wizard Golden Shadow's orders.
Realizing what this meant, Lynn withdrew the ward.
Daniels shook out his legs and said, "I think you already know why I'm here.
Come with me. Lord Golden Shadow wants to see you."
"Sir Daniels, may I ask what for?"
"I've no idea. I'm just the messenger." Daniels shook his head and extended a hand.
Lynn's eyes flickered. He knew he had no real choice but to comply.
"Please wait a moment, I'll just inform my steward I'm going out."
"Go ahead." Daniels didn't object.
Lynn quickly told Carter and Adeline he'd be away for a while and instructed Carter to send a note to Giggs. Then he followed Daniels out.
Before long, they arrived at the Golden Shadow Society's headquarters.
At the entrance to a concealed downward passage, Daniels stopped.
"My duty ends here. The rest of the way, you'll have to walk alone.
Go on, Lord Golden Shadow is waiting inside."
Lynn nodded and proceeded calmly down the corridor.
He had no idea how long he had walked before emerging into a vast square chamber.
At its center stood a towering structure shaped like a spire. Lynn recognized it as the core of a high-level magical array.
And hovering beside that core, suspended in midair, was a middle-aged wizard in a white robe lined with golden sigils.
His blond hair was streaked with pale silver, fine lines marked the corners of his eyes, and the power radiating from him was undeniable.
Lynn lowered his head respectfully.
"Good evening, Lord Golden Shadow."
Lyman didn't look at him. Instead, his voice came slow and measured:
"Did you see the Hossens wizards flying from the mountain today?"
"I did," Lynn replied.
"Do you know where they were headed and why?" Lyman asked again, just as evenly.
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